Click the map to view an interactive Google map
City of London Information 2001 Census:
- Population growth in
Westminster is up and exceeds
that of London. Compared to
other neighborhoods in London,
Westminster is above average in
population.
- The top five ethnic origins
of residents of Westminster are:
English, Canadian, Scottish,
Irish and French.
- Home ownership in
Westminster is holding steady
but higher than London with
approximately 8 out of every 10
private dwellings owned.
- Statistics
In March of 1793, Governor Simcoe, his aides and Jack Sharp (the family Newfoundland Dog) camped overnight at the Westminster Ponds the evening before they hiked down to the forks of the Thames to the Village of London. The Westminster are saw a lot of action during the Rebellion of 1837 while farmers revolted as they listened to William Lyon MacKenzie at Swartz's Tavern; located on Commissioners where the hospital incinerator building is currently located. At that time, the corner of Wellington and Commissioners was known as Odell's Corners, where the Odell families, United Empire Loyalists had settled in the early 1820s. (See note below about Odell)
Swartz's Tavern became the Guthrie House, the London Ontario location for the Home Children from England. (Wikipedia Home Children Link) Guthrie house was burned down by the London Fire Department in the early 1970s as a practice for extinguishing fires.
The Westminster ponds area was owned by William Saunders, a pharmacist and son of William Saunders who commenced the wheat breeding program that resulted in the development Canadian Marquis Winter Wheat, the variety that opened the Canadian West.
William, the son, (a friend of Jack Miner) had turned the ponds area into a local sanctuary for the study of flora and fauna, and lead excursions in the area. The property was expropriated from Saunders by the Canadian Federal Government and turned into a recovery area for WWII soldiers.
Saunders Pond was also known as Walker's Pond, a family that lived on Wellington Road, who invented the well-known "Walker's Fencing." Some of Walkers fencing can still be seen at the corners of White Oaks Road and Westminster.
Architectural Styles:
Westminster provides a variety of residential architectural styles to meet any home buyer's wishes.
Schools
The school facilities listed show the schools located in the area. No assumption of automatic enrolment of your child into any particular facility is implied. Parents must speak to the school board of interest for child enrollment.
Public Elementary:
Arthur Stringer P.S.
Wilton Grove P.S.
Catholic Elementary:
St. Francis London
Public Secondary:
Sir Wilfrid Laurier S.S.
Catholic Secondary:
Regina Mundi
Post Secondary Institutions
University of
Western Ontario
Neighbourhoods
Westminster Industrial Park
Millers Green
Heritage Estates
Pond Mills Industrial Park
Wilton Grove Industrial Park
Sports Facilities and Parks
Earl Nichols Arena
South London Community Centre
Heritage Park Baseball Diamond
Westminster Optimist Park Community Pool
Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Conservation Area
Westminster Ponds Environmental Services
Libraries
Jalna Public Library Branch
Hospitals
London Health Sciences
St. Joseph's Health Care
Parkwood Hospital
Transportation
London Transportation Commission Ride-Guide Map
Shopping
White Oaks Mall
Super Store Mall
Post Secondary Institutions
University of Western Ontario:
Fanshawe College
Sports Facilities and Parks
Westminster Ponds/Pond Mills Conservation Area
Storybook Gardens
Springbank Park
Hospitals
London Health Sciences
St. Joseph's Health Care:
Transportation
London Transportation Commission Ride-Guide Map
Other
Cemetery
Odell: Joseph Odell, Sr's eldest son John Odell, who was married to Enor Scriver, lived in Burtonville (no longer existing) and was a farmer and tavern keeper. They had 10 children by the time John Odell died December 29, 1812. Enor remarried Jacob Manning and had 8 more children. She and her children moved to the London, Ontario area where many of her descendants are today and where she is buried in the Old Wesleyan Methodist Churchyard, Brick Street, south of London. This "Old Methodist Church" is currently the Montessori Day Care located next door to the London St. Thomas Association of REALTORS building.