Our lives are too managed at the federal and provincial levels for anything to emerge that would make us "different". Too much is centralized with the goal of eliminating differences so we can appear equal on the surace.

We've lost our local autonomy and decision-making and I think people resent that so they stick to "their own" and look with hesitation at other groups.

If we could take control of our lives locally, we might have qualities that make us different but don't divide us. Canadians have allowed the view that distinctiveness, distinctions, exercising discriminatory choices and actions as a negative. Everyone rushes to samenesss. We'll have to go a long way back to be different.

A good place to start would be with cities taking back control of their decision-making capacities and allow differences to re-emerge. We're like a collection of cliques. That could be turned to advantage if these cliques felt a sense of unity and participation in our city's decisions and designs instead of leaving in the hands of Queen's Park or Ottawa.

Cities had different characteristics when they were all legislated to same-ness. it's almost out of our hands unless we insist on reversing the loss of local autonomy and local character.

"Let's focus on what makes us different." This was the theme of an old radio play where folk were encouraged to discover their uniqueness and went quickly mad from the impossible challenge. As you say many places have nice neighbourhoods, markets, even rivers. Mostly, we do what everyone else does but if we want to stand out we must do these things better. Quality is the word. Defining quality is the really tricky part.

I would be remiss if I didn't applaud your story today: and to the LFP for their initiative in this effort. I believe London would be a better place if we returned, at least in thought, to a previous era when good manners were practiced... appreciated and fellow humans were respected.

It isn't necessary to "celebrate" aspects of the community - that overused media favourite is a real turn off. We need to understand them and be able to communicate them to others and discuss them. That said, didn't the
"Forest City" - first used in the LFP in the 1870s or thereabouts ? - come from the original amused reference to "a London in the Bush" when the idea of creating from scratch a capital of All Canada (UC+LC) in the empty wilderness was floated in 1793 by Lt. Gov. JG Simcoe ? (Like Brasilia of later era..) appears in print about the Courthouse construction era, no official settlement yet, The Forks one name for location. (Huge building rising in the wilderness...a welcome sight for weary travellers...)There's a booklet at London Room, done for a Centennial Museum (RIP) exhibit at EPW Library property (RIP) about 1977 titled "LONDON IN THE BUSH". Factcheck by D Brock, composed by volunteer Vi Cunningham.
Heartily support the move to get rid of the tiresome trivializing tree logo which replaced our Victoriana "Coat of Arms" (adopted 1840 if you ask Mayor's office, 1855 re City Incorporation if you check a history book..
.Even worse is the menopausal purple Dove of the Holy Spirit or something used elsewhere. Giving us the bird...

Because of all the students, London has a very young energetic side. If you pay attention there is also a very entrepreneurial, thrifty, and let's make a deal vibe going on here. Compared to other major cities, realestate, and often even groceries are more affordable than elsewhere. Slower pace of life, and quicker commute times help improve the quality of life. Also what other city can you flag down a limosine to get you home? While freight trains rolling through the city gives us a small town country feeling. Those beautiful old mansions in different parts of the city sometimes puts me back in time. Ivan Kasiurak is always quick to give a smile and hello even when he is not running for mayor. What a great place!!!