London North Centre

London North Centre occupies the northern and central portions of the City of London, Ontario. The riding is bounded roughly by Wonderland Road and Wharncliffe Road to the west, the Thames River and Oxford Street to the south, Highbury Avenue to the east, and the city's northern limit. It encompasses the University of Western Ontario (known as Western University), University Hospital, and St. Joseph's Hospital. The riding has a population of approximately 109,000, with demographics reflecting the riding's university character: 65.5% white, 8.3% South Asian, 4.6% Chinese, 3.7% Black, and 3.7% Arab. The riding includes affluent neighbourhoods in Old North and Masonville as well as student-heavy areas near campus.

Candidates

Peter Fragiskatos (Liberal) * — Born in 1981, Fragiskatos holds a BA from Western University, an MA from Queen's University, and a PhD from the University of Cambridge, where he studied Kurdish human rights. Before entering politics in 2015, he was a political science professor at Western University. He was appointed to the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians in 2021 after obtaining top-secret security clearance.

Stephen Gallant (Conservative) — Gallant served nine years in the Canadian Armed Forces as an infantry officer, leaving at the rank of Captain. He subsequently built a career spanning over 25 years in the financial services industry. He has been married to his wife Marina for nearly 27 years and is the father of two children.

Dirka Prout (NDP) — Prout is a lead geotechnical engineer and project manager with a Master of Science in Civil Engineering and more than 25 years of experience on provincial and municipal infrastructure projects. She served as co-chair of the federal NDP's Women Commission from 2015 to 2018 and was president of the London chapter of the Spelling Bee of Canada from 2005 to 2021, promoting youth literacy.

Marc Emery (PPC) — Born in 1958, Emery is a cannabis rights activist and entrepreneur widely known as the "Prince of Pot." He spent decades campaigning for cannabis legalization and has been incarcerated multiple times for civil disobedience related to cannabis laws. He previously ran as a Libertarian candidate in the former London East riding in 1980.

About the Riding

Western University is the dominant institution in London North Centre, with approximately 40,000 students and a strategic plan to expand enrolment to 50,000 by 2030. The university ranked 43rd globally in graduate employability in the 2022 QS rankings and is a major research hub, contributing significantly to London's healthcare and knowledge economy. London Health Sciences Centre, the city's largest employer with over 10,500 employees, operates University Hospital within the riding.

The riding's commercial core includes the Masonville Place shopping centre and the retail corridors along Richmond Street and Oxford Street. Healthcare dominates the local employment landscape, with St. Joseph's Health Care London providing additional thousands of jobs. The presence of two major hospitals and a research university gives the riding a strong professional and academic character.

Federal issues in 2021 included housing affordability—rental costs had risen sharply in London, particularly near the university—healthcare system strain, and support for post-secondary institutions dealing with pandemic-related disruptions. London North Centre has been a competitive riding, and its mix of established professionals, students, and newcomer communities creates a diverse electorate with varied priorities.