London—Fanshawe

London—Fanshawe covers the southeastern portion of the City of London, Ontario. Its boundaries are defined by Highbury Avenue to the west, the Thames River's south branch, the CN railway corridor, Commissioners Road, and the city limits to the south and east. The riding takes its name from Fanshawe College, one of Ontario's largest post-secondary institutions, which anchors the riding's northeast corner. With a population of approximately 107,000, the riding is ethnically diverse: about 67.7% white, 5.8% Arab, 5.4% Black, 5.0% South Asian, and 4.4% Indigenous. The riding includes established working-class and middle-class neighbourhoods such as Argyle, Pond Mills, and the areas surrounding the college campus.

Candidates

Lindsay Mathyssen (NDP) * — Mathyssen holds a bachelor's degree in English and political science from Queen's University and studied non-profit management at Western University. Before entering politics, she worked at London Life and Staples before spending over a decade as an NDP staffer for four different members of Parliament. She is the daughter of former MP Irene Mathyssen, whom she succeeded in 2019.

Mattias Vanderley (Conservative) — Born and raised in London, Vanderley grew up working in his father's landscaping business before accepting an internship with the provincial government assisting with constituent outreach. At the time of the 2021 election, he was pursuing studies at the Ivey School of Business. He volunteered with organizations including Uplift Ontario and Trek for Teens.

Mohamed Hammoud (Liberal) — Originally from southern Lebanon, Hammoud immigrated to Canada at age eight in 1976 and grew up in St. Thomas, Ontario. He has been an advocate for diversity, equity, and inclusion, working to support initiatives that break down barriers for immigrants and newcomers to London. He lives in London with his wife Nada and their three children.

Kyle Free (PPC) — Free grew up in a small town in northern Ontario and spent seven years living overseas in China and South Korea, where he taught English and worked in media. He returned to Canada in 2014 and worked as Senior Director in private education at an international school in London.

About the Riding

London—Fanshawe's economy is shaped by its position as the southeastern hub of a mid-sized city with strengths in healthcare, education, and manufacturing. Fanshawe College, with over 43,000 students across four campuses, is a major employer and economic driver, feeding skilled graduates into the local workforce. The college offers more than 200 programs and plays a critical role in training workers for automotive and advanced manufacturing sectors.

The riding includes significant industrial and commercial corridors along Highbury Avenue and Dundas Street. London's broader economy supports over 90 agri-food companies employing more than 7,000 people, and a digital technology sector with over 350 companies employing some 9,000 workers. General Dynamics Land Systems, which builds armoured vehicles and employs roughly 2,400 people in London, is among the city's most prominent industrial employers, though its facilities sit outside this riding's boundaries.

London—Fanshawe has been held by the NDP since its creation in 1997, reflecting the riding's working-class character and the significant student population. Federal issues in 2021 centred on pandemic recovery—particularly for service-sector workers and small businesses—affordable housing, the opioid crisis, and mental health services. London's population grew at the fastest rate in Ontario between 2016 and 2021, reaching 422,324, intensifying pressure on housing and social services throughout the city.