London—Fanshawe

London—Fanshawe had been held by NDP MPP Teresa Armstrong since she first won the seat in 2011, defeating Liberal incumbent Khalil Ramal. Armstrong was re-elected in 2014 and 2018 and by 2022 served as the Official Opposition’s Chief Whip and critic for Home Care and Long-Term Care. The riding covers the southeastern portion of the City of London, including the diverse Argyle neighbourhood and the area surrounding Fanshawe College, which enrolls roughly 21,000 full-time students at its main campus.

The riding contained some of London’s most economically challenged neighbourhoods, and issues of homelessness, healthcare access, and affordability were front and centre during the campaign.

Candidates

Teresa Armstrong (NDP) — The first Portuguese woman elected to the Ontario Legislature, Armstrong had worked as a professional insurance broker before entering politics. She was involved with community organizations including the East London Lioness Club and the LUSO Centre, and was instrumental in the creation of the Argyle Resource Centre.

Jane Kovarikova (Progressive Conservative) — A child welfare advocate and founder of the Child Welfare Policy Action Committee Canada, a national charity that helped create tuition-free college and university spots for current and former youth in care. Kovarikova grew up in foster care and began living on her own at age sixteen. Between 2012 and 2019, she also served as an international election observer.

Zeba Hashmi (Liberal) — A community builder with a BA in Sociology and Family Studies from Western University and an MA in Education Administration. Hashmi had served on the City of London’s Advisory Committee and volunteered with organizations including Hutton House and the Salvation Army.

Zack Ramsey (Green Party) ran for the Greens. Adriana A. Medina ran for the New Blue Party, Doug Macdonald for the Ontario Party, Dave Durnin for the Freedom Party, Stephen R Campbell for the None of the Above Direct Democracy Party, and T Paul Plumb for Consensus Ontario.

Local Issues

Homelessness had escalated into a full-scale crisis in London by the time of the 2022 election. The city’s homeless population was growing rapidly, with visible encampments appearing in parks and public spaces. London Cares homeless response services reported dramatic increases in calls for assistance. Average rents for recently vacated two-bedroom apartments had climbed substantially, while the vacancy rate remained extremely low, compounding the housing affordability challenge.

Healthcare was another critical concern in the riding. A shortage of doctors and nurses meant many residents lacked access to primary care, and long-term care homes in the area had been heavily impacted during the COVID-19 pandemic. As the NDP’s critic for Home Care and Long-Term Care, Armstrong had made these issues a central part of her advocacy at Queen’s Park.

The economic impact of the pandemic on lower-income residents was keenly felt in London—Fanshawe. Job losses in the hospitality and retail sectors had hit the riding’s workforce hard, and many families were struggling with the rising cost of groceries, fuel, and housing. The city’s east end was also undergoing significant infrastructure work, with the East London Link rapid transit project set to revitalize more than six kilometres of road from downtown to Fanshawe College.