Middlesex Centre, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Middlesex Centre is a township
in south-western Ontario
, Canada
. It is located to the north and west of London
and is in Middlesex County
. The Corporation of the Township of Middlesex Centre, formed on January 1, 1998 with the amalgamation of the former Townships of Delaware, Lobo, and London (not to be confused with the adjacent City of London).
(Richmond Street) and Medway Road (7th Concession
). The community is the home of Medway High School
, Centennial Central Public Dual Track School, Tamarak tree farm, Weldon Park, the Arva Flour Mill, a consignment store, a furniture store, a sewing store/quilting shop, a tack shop, a post office, and two churches, as well as personalities such as former Member of Parliament
for London North Centre
Joe Fontana
. Arva is located on a pond (known as "the mill pond") on Medway Creek. There is also a forest known as the sanctuary (in St.John's Estates); the bush runs along the creek and goes down in to a camp site that at one time was quite popular.
In the 19th century Arva was a critical rest stop on the Underground Railroad
, and home to several homes constructed as part of the Railroad.
On July 7, 2007, the The White Stripes
performed a free concert at the Arva Flour Mill as part of their Canadian tour.
(Richmond Street) and the 13th Concession. Despite its small size, Birr has maintained itself and supported various private business throughout the years. There are also currently two churches, three cemeteries, a general store called Legg's General Store, a furniture store and a book store.
Until it was replaced by a modern low-rise cement bridge in the mid-1970s, Birr had a one-lane iron bridge on the 13th Concession that crossed the Medway Creek. Birr had a hotel in the late 19th century; afternoon stagecoaches running between London and Lucan, 17 miles to the north, would stop overnight in Birr, in those days the approximate half-way point, and resume travel the next day.
The Friend’s Meeting House was established on Quaker Lane in 1850 and a library was organized in 1887.
Much of the industry that Coldstream was founded upon has relocated to larger towns and cities such as Ilderton and London.
, and is accessed by the old highway (Highway 2
) linking London and Chatham
and the freeway (Highway 402) linking Sarnia
along with Port Huron
and Toronto
. The community of Delaware was first founded in 1796. Delaware was the objective of an American
raid into Upper Canada
in 1814 during the War of 1812
, which resulted in the Battle of Longwoods
, on March 4, 1814, just about 24 km outside of Delaware.
Delaware has two elementary schools
, Delaware Central Public School (The Mustangs) (Thames Valley District School Board
), and Our Lady of Lourdes (The Saints) (London District Catholic School Board
). They are located about one kilometre apart from one another. Delaware Central has about 175 students, while Our Lady of Lourdes has around 400.
Delaware is nestled in the Thames River Valley, although it has now expanded over the top of the valley ridge. Most of the area surrounding Delaware is made up of forest
s and floodplain
areas. Corn
, soybeans and tobacco
are farmed extensively in the area around Delaware, as well as inside the town limits in some areas. Delaware has undergone modest growth in housing over the last 30 years, with the developed area nearly doubling in that time. Many of the buildings in the heart of Delaware are reputed to be over one hundred years old. These include the building that is now Delaware Variety as well as the antique shop across the street. Belvoir Manor is a private home that was at one point a seminary and a private school for boys, and at one point was destroyed by fire. The surrounding Belvoir Farms in which it is located is a prominent croquet venue for Croquet Canada.
Delaware boasts a number of tourist destinations despite its small size. Delaware Speedway
is a half-mile paved race track that is one of the oldest in Canada. The track hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer, as well as several Saturday and Sunday race features. The track has also hosted major concert events in the past including I Mother Earth
and Matthew Good
. The Longwoods Road Conservation Area features Skah-Nah-Doht, a recreated Iroquoian
village complete with longhouses and tours, as well as a museum featuring exhibits of Iroquoian culture and archaeological artifacts. The park hosts a yearly native festival as well as a re-enactment of the Battle of Longwoods
.
and Highway 7
, with the junction of Highway 23
just to the east. The University of Western Ontario
operates an observatory
near the community.
(Richmond Street), at the junction of Middlesex County Road 20 (Hyde Park Road). Prior to the late 1990s, the village was also accessible by railway. CN Rail had a rail line running north from Hyde Park to Clinton
through the village. This rail line was abandoned from Ilderton north to Centralia in 1988, and south of Ilderton circa 1996. The portion of the former rail line south of County Road 16 has been converted to parkland.
Ilderton is home to a district fire station, a seniors apartment complex, two pub/restaurants, two variety stores, a county library, a nature trail, two pizza businesses, and three parks - one of which contains a splash pad for children. As the community is surrounded mainly by agricultural land, industry in the area is mostly farming. However Ilderton is also is home to Spencer Steel, a structural steel fabrication firm which distributes structural steel to small- to mid- sized construction sites. Notable projects include Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
Due to Ilderton's proximity to London, many low-density subdivisions have been developed. This has led to an increase in the community's population in recent years. The population today is approximately 2000.
Ilderton is the hometown of ice dancer
Scott Moir
, who captured gold with partner Tessa Virtue
at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Ilderton is also the hometown of Philadelphia Flyers
forward #24 Matt Read
.
Komoka is currently experiencing a population growth due to several new subdivision developments. Consequently, the elementary school's enrolment has rapidly increased resulting in substantial renovations. In 1986 a 20 unit seniors apartment building was built and named the Malott Apartments, after the Late Arthur Malott who donated all the funds for its construction. In 2009 a second 20 unit seniors apartment building was added to form the Komoka Seniors Apartments Complex. In 2011 the new Komoka Community Wellness Centre was opened and is home to the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs AAA Hockey teams. It also offers a YMCA fitness centre, walking track, two NHL size ice rinks, a library, and meeting rooms. Komoka Provincial Park with walking trails is close by, as well as Fire Rock, so named because of finding an old native fire rock on the site during the new golf course construction, Oxbow Glen Golf and Country Club and The Oaks golf courses. A Middlesex County EMS satellite ambulance station is located in the village. Komoka has the most to offer of any Middlesex Centre community.
In partnership with Delaware and Mount Brydges
, the three communities rotate responsibilities of hosting Canada Day celebrations. The partnership is called "Del-Ko-Brydge". The celebrations, which has been held every year since 1981, feature a free pancake breakfast, morning parade, events and competitions throughout the day, a baseball game at night with fireworks following the game.
which is south of County Road 14 (Glendon Rd) and north of Komoka Provincial Park and the Thames River. It is separate from Kilworth, which lies along Glendon Rd on the east side of the Thames River and is part of London.
Although Kilworth Heights is part of Middlesex Centre, demographically most of Kilworth Heights is a commuting exurb of London. It has no independent industry, no schools, no major grocery store, no banks, and only two small commercial areas, including child care, veterinarian, restaurant, and a gas bar. All the rest of Kilworth Heights is single-unit residential. "Old" Kilworth Heights, to the east, still relies on individual wells and septic tanks. "New" Kilworth Heights, to the west, receives water and septic services from Komoka. Recent residential development in the western part of Kilworth Heights is responsible for much of Middlesex Centre's population growth.
Along with Komoka and London, Kilworth Heights lies along "Tornado Alley" in Canada. As such, it experiences occasional severe weather. In 1990, the Komoka Community Church, which lies halfway between Komoka and Kilworth Heights, was destroyed down to the foundation by an F2 tornado.
Township (Canada)
The term township generally means the district or area associated with a town. However in some systems no town needs to be involved. The specific use of the term to describe political subdivisions has varied by country, usually to describe a local rural or semi-rural government within the county...
in south-western Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. It is located to the north and west of London
London, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
and is in Middlesex County
Middlesex County, Ontario
Middlesex County is a primarily rural county in Southwestern Ontario. Landlocked, the county is bordered by Huron and Perth counties on the north, Oxford County on the east, Elgin County on the south, and Chatham-Kent and Lambton County on the west.The seat is the city of London, although the city...
. The Corporation of the Township of Middlesex Centre, formed on January 1, 1998 with the amalgamation of the former Townships of Delaware, Lobo, and London (not to be confused with the adjacent City of London).
Communities
The township is composed of the communities of Arva, Ballymote, Birr, Bryanston, Coldstream, Delaware, Denfield, Duncrief, Ettrick, Ilderton, Kilworth, Komoka, Littlewood, Lobo Village, Melrose, Poplar Hill, Sharon, Southgate, Telfer and Vanneck.Arva
Arva is located at the intersection of Provincial Highway 4Highway 4 (Ontario)
King's Highway 4, also known as Highway 4, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Originally much longer than its present length, more than half of Highway 4 was transferred to the responsibility of local governments in 1998. In its present form, it travels...
(Richmond Street) and Medway Road (7th Concession
Concession road
In Upper and Lower Canada, concession roads were laid out by the colonial government through undeveloped land to define lots to be developed; the name comes from a Lower Canadian French term for a row of lots. Concession roads are straight, and follow an approximately square grid, usually oriented...
). The community is the home of Medway High School
Medway High School (Arva, Ontario)
Medway High School is a baked school located in Middlesex County, Ontario, Canada. Approximately five minutes north of London, Ontario, Canada.-History:...
, Centennial Central Public Dual Track School, Tamarak tree farm, Weldon Park, the Arva Flour Mill, a consignment store, a furniture store, a sewing store/quilting shop, a tack shop, a post office, and two churches, as well as personalities such as former Member of Parliament
Canadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
for London North Centre
London North Centre
London North Centre is an electoral district in the province of Ontario, Canada, that has been represented in the Canadian House of Commons since 1997....
Joe Fontana
Joe Fontana
Joseph Frank "Joe" Fontana, PC is the current mayor of London, Ontario. He was previously a Liberal member of the Parliament of Canada for the riding of London North Centre....
. Arva is located on a pond (known as "the mill pond") on Medway Creek. There is also a forest known as the sanctuary (in St.John's Estates); the bush runs along the creek and goes down in to a camp site that at one time was quite popular.
In the 19th century Arva was a critical rest stop on the Underground Railroad
Underground Railroad
The Underground Railroad was an informal network of secret routes and safe houses used by 19th-century black slaves in the United States to escape to free states and Canada with the aid of abolitionists and allies who were sympathetic to their cause. The term is also applied to the abolitionists,...
, and home to several homes constructed as part of the Railroad.
On July 7, 2007, the The White Stripes
The White Stripes
The White Stripes was an American rock band, formed in 1997 in Detroit, Michigan. The group consisted of the songwriter Jack White and drummer Meg White . Jack and Meg White were previously married to each other, but are now divorced...
performed a free concert at the Arva Flour Mill as part of their Canadian tour.
Birr
Birr is located at the intersection of Highway 4Highway 4 (Ontario)
King's Highway 4, also known as Highway 4, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Originally much longer than its present length, more than half of Highway 4 was transferred to the responsibility of local governments in 1998. In its present form, it travels...
(Richmond Street) and the 13th Concession. Despite its small size, Birr has maintained itself and supported various private business throughout the years. There are also currently two churches, three cemeteries, a general store called Legg's General Store, a furniture store and a book store.
Until it was replaced by a modern low-rise cement bridge in the mid-1970s, Birr had a one-lane iron bridge on the 13th Concession that crossed the Medway Creek. Birr had a hotel in the late 19th century; afternoon stagecoaches running between London and Lucan, 17 miles to the north, would stop overnight in Birr, in those days the approximate half-way point, and resume travel the next day.
Coldstream
Coldstream is a hamlet in Middlesex Centre with a population of approximately 350. The municipal offices for Middlesex Centre are located in Coldstream. Before it became Middlesex Centre by combining the Townships of Delaware, Lobo, and London in 1998, Coldstream was included in Lobo Township and was situated in the centre of Lobo. It is estimated that immigrants from Scotland obtained land grants and settled as early as 1820 in Lobo. Coldstream was previously known as Cutler, likely because the Cutler family operated and owned much of the town. Today Coldstream has an antique and quilt shop, elementary school (Valleyview Public School), fire hall, library, concrete business, conservation area and the Municipal Office for Middlesex Centre, as well as many volunteer organizations and events within the community.The Friend’s Meeting House was established on Quaker Lane in 1850 and a library was organized in 1887.
Much of the industry that Coldstream was founded upon has relocated to larger towns and cities such as Ilderton and London.
Delaware
Delaware straddles the Thames RiverThames River (Ontario)
The Thames River is located in southwestern Ontario, Canada.The Thames flows west through southwestern Ontario, through the cities of Woodstock, London and Chatham to Lighthouse Cove on Lake St. Clair...
, and is accessed by the old highway (Highway 2
Highway 2 (Ontario)
King's Highway 2, usually referred to simply as Highway 2 is a provincially maintained highway in Ontario. Once the primary east–west route across the southern end of the province, Highway 2 became mostly redundant in the 1960s following the completion of Highway 401, which more or less...
) linking London and Chatham
Chatham, Ontario
Chatham is the largest community in the municipality of Chatham-Kent, Ontario. Formerly serving as the seat of Kent County, the governments of the former city of Chatham, the county of Kent, and its townships were merged into one entity known as the Municipality of Chatham-Kent in 1998.Located on...
and the freeway (Highway 402) linking Sarnia
Sarnia, Ontario
Sarnia is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada . It is the largest city on Lake Huron and is located where the upper Great Lakes empty into the St. Clair River....
along with Port Huron
Port Huron, Michigan
Port Huron is a city in the U.S. state of Michigan and the county seat of St. Clair County. The population was 30,184 at the 2010 census. The city is adjacent to Port Huron Township but is administratively autonomous. It is joined by the Blue Water Bridge over the St. Clair River to Sarnia,...
and Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
. The community of Delaware was first founded in 1796. Delaware was the objective of an American
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
raid into Upper Canada
Upper Canada
The Province of Upper Canada was a political division in British Canada established in 1791 by the British Empire to govern the central third of the lands in British North America and to accommodate Loyalist refugees from the United States of America after the American Revolution...
in 1814 during the War of 1812
War of 1812
The War of 1812 was a military conflict fought between the forces of the United States of America and those of the British Empire. The Americans declared war in 1812 for several reasons, including trade restrictions because of Britain's ongoing war with France, impressment of American merchant...
, which resulted in the Battle of Longwoods
Battle of Longwoods
The Battle of Longwoods took place during the Anglo-American War of 1812. On 4 March 1814, a mounted American raiding party defeated an attempt by British regulars, volunteers from the Canadian militia and Native Americans to intercept them near Wardsville, in present-day Southwest Middlesex,...
, on March 4, 1814, just about 24 km outside of Delaware.
Delaware has two elementary schools
Primary education
A primary school is an institution in which children receive the first stage of compulsory education known as primary or elementary education. Primary school is the preferred term in the United Kingdom and many Commonwealth Nations, and in most publications of the United Nations Educational,...
, Delaware Central Public School (The Mustangs) (Thames Valley District School Board
Thames Valley District School Board
The Thames Valley District School Board is a public school board in southwestern Ontario. It was created on January 1, 1998 by the amalgamation of the Elgin County Board of Education, The Board of Education for the City of London, Middlesex County Board of Education, and Oxford County Board of...
), and Our Lady of Lourdes (The Saints) (London District Catholic School Board
London District Catholic School Board
The London District Catholic School Board is a separate school board in south-western Ontario, Canada. It serves students from Elgin, Middlesex and Oxford counties, and also those from the cities of London, St. Thomas and Woodstock....
). They are located about one kilometre apart from one another. Delaware Central has about 175 students, while Our Lady of Lourdes has around 400.
Delaware is nestled in the Thames River Valley, although it has now expanded over the top of the valley ridge. Most of the area surrounding Delaware is made up of forest
Forest
A forest, also referred to as a wood or the woods, is an area with a high density of trees. As with cities, depending where you are in the world, what is considered a forest may vary significantly in size and have various classification according to how and what of the forest is composed...
s and floodplain
Floodplain
A floodplain, or flood plain, is a flat or nearly flat land adjacent a stream or river that stretches from the banks of its channel to the base of the enclosing valley walls and experiences flooding during periods of high discharge...
areas. Corn
Maize
Maize known in many English-speaking countries as corn or mielie/mealie, is a grain domesticated by indigenous peoples in Mesoamerica in prehistoric times. The leafy stalk produces ears which contain seeds called kernels. Though technically a grain, maize kernels are used in cooking as a vegetable...
, soybeans and tobacco
Tobacco
Tobacco is an agricultural product processed from the leaves of plants in the genus Nicotiana. It can be consumed, used as a pesticide and, in the form of nicotine tartrate, used in some medicines...
are farmed extensively in the area around Delaware, as well as inside the town limits in some areas. Delaware has undergone modest growth in housing over the last 30 years, with the developed area nearly doubling in that time. Many of the buildings in the heart of Delaware are reputed to be over one hundred years old. These include the building that is now Delaware Variety as well as the antique shop across the street. Belvoir Manor is a private home that was at one point a seminary and a private school for boys, and at one point was destroyed by fire. The surrounding Belvoir Farms in which it is located is a prominent croquet venue for Croquet Canada.
Delaware boasts a number of tourist destinations despite its small size. Delaware Speedway
Delaware Speedway
Delaware Speedway is a half-mile paved race track that is one of the oldest continuously operating tracks in Canada. It is located a few minutes west of London, Ontario northeast of Delaware, Ontario. It hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer...
is a half-mile paved race track that is one of the oldest in Canada. The track hosts stock car racing every Friday night during the summer, as well as several Saturday and Sunday race features. The track has also hosted major concert events in the past including I Mother Earth
I Mother Earth
I Mother Earth, or IME, was a Canadian alternative rock band. The band was at the peak of its popularity in the mid-to-late 1990s; its members have moved on to other projects.-Early years:...
and Matthew Good
Matthew Good
Matthew Frederick Robert Good is a Canadian rock musician. He was the lead singer for the Matthew Good Band, one of Canada's most successful alternative rock bands in the 1990s, before dissolving the band in 2002...
. The Longwoods Road Conservation Area features Skah-Nah-Doht, a recreated Iroquoian
Iroquoian languages
The Iroquoian languages are a First Nation and Native American language family.-Family division:*Ruttenber, Edward Manning. 1992 [1872]. History of the Indian tribes of Hudson's River. Hope Farm Press....
village complete with longhouses and tours, as well as a museum featuring exhibits of Iroquoian culture and archaeological artifacts. The park hosts a yearly native festival as well as a re-enactment of the Battle of Longwoods
Battle of Longwoods
The Battle of Longwoods took place during the Anglo-American War of 1812. On 4 March 1814, a mounted American raiding party defeated an attempt by British regulars, volunteers from the Canadian militia and Native Americans to intercept them near Wardsville, in present-day Southwest Middlesex,...
.
Elginfield
Elginfield is located at the corner of Highway 4Highway 4 (Ontario)
King's Highway 4, also known as Highway 4, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Originally much longer than its present length, more than half of Highway 4 was transferred to the responsibility of local governments in 1998. In its present form, it travels...
and Highway 7
Highway 7 (Ontario)
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
, with the junction of Highway 23
Highway 23 (Ontario)
King's Highway 23, commonly referred to as Highway 23, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. The route travels from Highway 7 east of Elginfield north to Highway 9 in Harriston...
just to the east. The University of Western Ontario
University of Western Ontario
The University of Western Ontario is a public research university located in London, Ontario, Canada. The university's main campus covers of land, with the Thames River cutting through the eastern portion of the main campus. Western administers its programs through 12 different faculties and...
operates an observatory
Observatory
An observatory is a location used for observing terrestrial or celestial events. Astronomy, climatology/meteorology, geology, oceanography and volcanology are examples of disciplines for which observatories have been constructed...
near the community.
Ilderton
Ilderton is located along Middlesex County Road 16 (Ilderton Road) to the west of Highway 4Highway 4 (Ontario)
King's Highway 4, also known as Highway 4, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. Originally much longer than its present length, more than half of Highway 4 was transferred to the responsibility of local governments in 1998. In its present form, it travels...
(Richmond Street), at the junction of Middlesex County Road 20 (Hyde Park Road). Prior to the late 1990s, the village was also accessible by railway. CN Rail had a rail line running north from Hyde Park to Clinton
Clinton, Ontario
Clinton is a community in the Canadian province of Ontario, located in the municipality of Central Huron. Established in 1831, Clinton first began when Jonas Gibbings, Peter and Stephen Vanderburg cleared out a small area to start. Clinton started to grow in 1844 when William Rattenbury laid out...
through the village. This rail line was abandoned from Ilderton north to Centralia in 1988, and south of Ilderton circa 1996. The portion of the former rail line south of County Road 16 has been converted to parkland.
Ilderton is home to a district fire station, a seniors apartment complex, two pub/restaurants, two variety stores, a county library, a nature trail, two pizza businesses, and three parks - one of which contains a splash pad for children. As the community is surrounded mainly by agricultural land, industry in the area is mostly farming. However Ilderton is also is home to Spencer Steel, a structural steel fabrication firm which distributes structural steel to small- to mid- sized construction sites. Notable projects include Greater Grace Temple in Detroit.
Due to Ilderton's proximity to London, many low-density subdivisions have been developed. This has led to an increase in the community's population in recent years. The population today is approximately 2000.
Ilderton is the hometown of ice dancer
Ice dancing
Ice dancing is a form of figure skating which draws from the world of ballroom dancing. It was first competed at the World Figure Skating Championships in 1952, but did not become a Winter Olympic Games medal sport until 1976....
Scott Moir
Scott Moir
Scott Moir is a Canadian ice dancer. He ice dances with Tessa Virtue. Moir and Virtue are the 2010 Olympic champions, the 2010 World Champions, the 2008 Four Continents Champions, the 2006 World Junior Champions and the 2008–2010 Canadian national champions.They were the first ice dance team to...
, who captured gold with partner Tessa Virtue
Tessa Virtue
Tessa Virtue is a Canadian ice dancer who competes with Scott Moir. Virtue and Moir are the 2010 Olympic champions, the 2010 World Champions, the 2008 Four Continents Champions, the 2006 World Junior Champions and the 2008–2010 Canadian national champions.At the 2009 Skate Canada competition, they...
at the 2010 Winter Olympic Games in Vancouver, B.C., Canada.
Ilderton is also the hometown of Philadelphia Flyers
Philadelphia Flyers
The Philadelphia Flyers are a professional ice hockey team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the Atlantic Division of the Eastern Conference of the National Hockey League...
forward #24 Matt Read
Matt Read
Matthew Read is a Canadian professional ice hockey centre who plays for the Philadelphia Flyers of the National Hockey League .-Playing career:...
.
Komoka
Komoka is a crossing point for many railway lines and was formerly a railway hot spot featuring various hotels and development. Today, the Komoka Railway museum keeps the local railway history alive and features unique artifacts such as a 1913 Shay Steam Engine and a 1972 Grand Trunk Western caboose. There is an elementary school, Parkview Public School, and Providence Reformed Collegiate, a private Christian high school in the village. The village also supports a number of youth sports teams, including baseball and soccer.Komoka is currently experiencing a population growth due to several new subdivision developments. Consequently, the elementary school's enrolment has rapidly increased resulting in substantial renovations. In 1986 a 20 unit seniors apartment building was built and named the Malott Apartments, after the Late Arthur Malott who donated all the funds for its construction. In 2009 a second 20 unit seniors apartment building was added to form the Komoka Seniors Apartments Complex. In 2011 the new Komoka Community Wellness Centre was opened and is home to the Elgin Middlesex Chiefs AAA Hockey teams. It also offers a YMCA fitness centre, walking track, two NHL size ice rinks, a library, and meeting rooms. Komoka Provincial Park with walking trails is close by, as well as Fire Rock, so named because of finding an old native fire rock on the site during the new golf course construction, Oxbow Glen Golf and Country Club and The Oaks golf courses. A Middlesex County EMS satellite ambulance station is located in the village. Komoka has the most to offer of any Middlesex Centre community.
In partnership with Delaware and Mount Brydges
Strathroy-Caradoc, Ontario
Strathroy-Caradoc is a municipality located just west of London, Ontario, Canada. It was created through the merger of the former township of Caradoc and the town of Strathroy in 2001. Its two largest settlements are Strathroy and Mount Brydges....
, the three communities rotate responsibilities of hosting Canada Day celebrations. The partnership is called "Del-Ko-Brydge". The celebrations, which has been held every year since 1981, feature a free pancake breakfast, morning parade, events and competitions throughout the day, a baseball game at night with fireworks following the game.
Kilworth Heights
Kilworth Heights takes up most of the area between Komoka and London, OntarioLondon, Ontario
London is a city in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, situated along the Quebec City – Windsor Corridor. The city has a population of 352,395, and the metropolitan area has a population of 457,720, according to the 2006 Canadian census; the metro population in 2009 was estimated at 489,274. The city...
which is south of County Road 14 (Glendon Rd) and north of Komoka Provincial Park and the Thames River. It is separate from Kilworth, which lies along Glendon Rd on the east side of the Thames River and is part of London.
Although Kilworth Heights is part of Middlesex Centre, demographically most of Kilworth Heights is a commuting exurb of London. It has no independent industry, no schools, no major grocery store, no banks, and only two small commercial areas, including child care, veterinarian, restaurant, and a gas bar. All the rest of Kilworth Heights is single-unit residential. "Old" Kilworth Heights, to the east, still relies on individual wells and septic tanks. "New" Kilworth Heights, to the west, receives water and septic services from Komoka. Recent residential development in the western part of Kilworth Heights is responsible for much of Middlesex Centre's population growth.
Along with Komoka and London, Kilworth Heights lies along "Tornado Alley" in Canada. As such, it experiences occasional severe weather. In 1990, the Komoka Community Church, which lies halfway between Komoka and Kilworth Heights, was destroyed down to the foundation by an F2 tornado.
Demographics
Population trend:- Population in 2006: 15,589
- Population in 2001: 14,242
- Population total in 1996: 12,985
- Delaware (township): 2436
- Lobo (township): 5553
- London (township): 4996
- Population in 1991:
- Delaware (township): 2405
- Lobo (township): 5529
- London (township): 4646