What To Know For The Weekend…
Here’s what you should know this weekend:
- Orange Shirt Day: Today marks the 10th anniversary of Orange Shirt Day and the third annual National Day for Truth and Reconciliation. This day is marked to remember the more than 150,000 indigenous children that were taken away from their families and forced into Canadian residential schools. These government funded schools operated from the 1880s with the last one closing in 1996. The main purpose of these schools was to strip children of their culture and language, and convert them into a more European society. Approximately 4,100 children have been identified to have died in these schools, but that number is estimated to be much larger. This is a day to honor those who passed and those that survived. There will be many events hosted throughout the city in remembrance of these children. The city of London’s website has a full list of events organized. People are encouraged to wear an orange shirt in solidarity. The London Public Library will be closed today, and all city offices including Citi Plaza will be closed on Monday.
- Minimum wage increase: Ontario’s minimum wage is set to increase to $16.55 this weekend. This will result in a 6.8 per cent pay increase from the previous $15.50 minimum. “This latest increase is a fair and balanced approach that means more money in their pockets so they can support their families and continuing building a stronger Ontario for all of us,” said former Minister of Labour Monte McNaughton back in March. This increase means Ontarioans will take home an extra $2,200 each year. For students under 18, the minimum raise will jump from $14.60 to $15.60. The raise will come into effect October 1, 2023.
- Strike deadline set with Unifor and GM: As of Monday, October 9th, if there is no deal reached between Unifor and GM, members of the union are set to strike. After talks in Toronto, Unifor reached a deal with Ford last week where 54 per cent of its members voted in favor of the contract. The contract consisted of a 15 per cent pay increase over three years. Unifor wants the same agreement with General Motors and also wants them to reduce the grow-in from eight years to four. Once a deal is reached with GM, Unifor will start talks with Stallantis.
- Roundabout project beings: The intersection at Southdale Rd W. and Colonel Talbot Rd. will be closed for the next five days for construction as the roundabout project begins. The intersection will reopen October 5, where it will serve as a temporary one-lane roundabout. Pedestrians will still be able to cross during construction and businesses will remain open. Most of the construction should be completed by December, with finishing touches continuing into the spring of 2024.
