Julie Atchison

A fresh new garden takes root, celebrating London’s peony heritage and Bicentennial spirit
The City of London officially unveiled the Bicentennial Peony Garden today at Rayner Gardens in the Civic Gardens Complex, marking a meaningful milestone in London’s Bicentennial celebrations and honouring the city’s long-standing connection to the peony as its Civic Flower.
The new garden features three interpretive signs that highlight London’s rich horticultural heritage and the contributions of notable Londoners A. Percy Saunders and Lyman Cousins, whose work in peony hybridization in the 20th century helped establish the city’s international reputation in plant cultivation.
The Bicentennial Peony Garden is designed as a living legacy space that will continue to grow and evolve over time, offering residents and visitors an opportunity to connect with London’s horticultural history while enjoying one of the city’s signature floral traditions.
“The Bicentennial Peony Garden is a celebration of who we are as a city,” says Mayor Josh Morgan. “It honours our history, our Civic Flower, and the remarkable individuals like Percy Saunders and Lyman Cousins whose work helped put London on the map as a leader in horticulture. This is a legacy that will continue to grow for generations to come.”
“This garden and its new signage help bring London’s horticultural history to life,” says Cheryl Smith, Deputy City Manager, Neighbourhood and Community-wide services. ”It connects residents and visitors to the stories behind the peony, the people who shaped its development, and the lasting legacy they’ve left in our community.”
The Bicentennial Peony Garden is part of the City’s broader Bicentennial programming, which celebrates London’s past while investing in meaningful public spaces for the future.
Residents are encouraged to visit Rayner Gardens throughout the growing season to experience the evolving garden as it matures in the years ahead.
For more information about London’s Bicentennial initiatives, visit getinvolved.london.ca/london200.

MANITOBA

Devastating thunderstorms...some with reports of
tornadoes...affected much of Southern Manitoba on Tuesday. While it
will be some time before the full extent of the damage is known, the
following is some preliminary information regarding this severe
weather outbreak.

Tornadoes...Reports of tornadoes were received from the vicinity of
Ste Anne and Otterburne. Numerous reports of funnel clouds/possible
tornadoes were received through much of the Red River Valley, and
the Parklands area of Western Manitoba.

Rainfall: Torrential rainfall was reported in Stonewall, with over
250 mm reported by 3 am accompanied by major flooding. Woodlands
reported over 120 mm, and the Forks in Winnipeg reported 117 mm.
Many other stations reported over 50 mm of rain. Numerous reports of
flooding.

Winds: Dand and Deloraine both reported gusts of 130 km/h, and many
other sites reported wind gusts over 100 km/h. Brandon had a gust to
100 km/h, with Winnipeg clocking a gust to 94 km/h.

Hail: Tennis ball sized hail was reported in parts of Winnipeg,
Sanford and Otterburne. Numerous reports of golf-ball sized hail
were received from other areas of Southern Manitoba

Photo of the day- Kevin Taylor
London-White Oaks

Dog of the day-Submitted by Michelle Hoggarth

Wildfire Risk

🔥 Wildfire Risk Increasing Across Southern Ontario with Widespread High to Extreme Danger Expected Thursday

Heads up! While we’ve been enjoying a stretch of warm, sunny and dry weather, those same conditions are causing wildfire danger to steadily increase across much of Southern Ontario.

Over the past few days, wildfire danger ratings have already climbed into the “high” category in many areas. By Thursday, the Canadian Wildland Fire Information System (CWFIS) is forecasting widespread “extreme” wildfire danger across Southern Ontario.

An extreme wildfire danger rating means fires can start very easily, spread rapidly, and become difficult to control. Even a small spark from a campfire, cigarette, ATV, trailer chain dragging on pavement, or outdoor equipment can quickly ignite dry grass and brush.

If you’re planning any outdoor burning, be sure to check with your local municipality first. Fire bans and burn restrictions may already be in place, or could be issued as conditions continue to worsen.

You can also help reduce the risk by properly extinguishing campfires, avoiding the use of fireworks where permitted, disposing of smoking materials safely, and keeping vehicles off dry grass whenever possible.

The good news is that slightly cooler temperatures and the chance of more widespread rainfall this weekend should help lower the wildfire danger, at least temporarily. However, current forecasts suggest next week may trend fairly dry again after the weekend rain, so we wouldn’t be surprised to see the wildfire risk climb once more.

Stay safe and be extra cautious with any activity that could create a spark. 🔥

- Brennen

Source: CWFIS

Now showing under the stars: Outdoor Movie Nights return to London parks this summer
Outdoor Movie Nights are back for another summer of free, family-friendly entertainment in neighbourhood parks across the city.
Starting June 19, the program features outdoor movie screenings hosted in partnership with residents and neighbourhood groups. Families, friends and neighbours can connect with each other and enjoy a relaxed evening close to home.
With support from presenting sponsor WFCU Credit Union and powered by London Hydro, the program continues to grow while remaining free and accessible to all Londoners.
What to know before you go:
• Outdoor Movie Nights are free to attend. No registration or tickets are required.
• Movies begin at dusk, usually between 8 – 9 p.m.
• Londoners should plan to bring any items that would make movie watching more comfortable, including seating, blankets, movie snacks and drinks.
• Events are weather-dependent, so if it rains, the movie may need to be cancelled. Keep an eye on the City’s social channels (Facebook and Instagram) for updates.
“There’s something special about watching a movie outside on a summer evening,” says Cheryl Smith, Deputy City Manager, Neighbourhood and Community-Wide Services. “Outdoor Movie Nights are a fun and unique way to enjoy our City’s outdoor parks. They have become a favourite summer activity for many families and a fun way to connect with friends and neighbours.”
Whether rewatching an old classic or discovering something new, Outdoor Movie Nights in the park are a must-do this summer. Londoners are encouraged to check the full schedule and find a movie night close to home.
For more information, visit london.ca/OutdoorMovies.

2026 schedule:
Date Location Movie
June 19 Lorne Avenue: 723 Lorne Ave
Mighty Ducks
June 20 Earl Nichols: 799 Homeview Road
Sonic 3
June 20 Harris Park: 531 Ridout Street North
Elemental
June 26 Meredith Park: 450 Nelson Street
Smurfs 2025
June 26 West Lions Park: 20 Granville Street
Lions heart- Nollywood
June 27 Oakridge Arena Park: 825 Valetta Street
The Lorax
June 27 Stoney Creek Community Field 920 Sunningdale Rd E
Spellbound
July 4 East Lions Community Centre: 1731 Churchill Ave
W***y Wonka and the chocolate factory
July 4 Southeast Optimist Park: 237 Deveron Crescent
Thunderbirds
July 11 Gibbons Park: 2A Grosvenor Street
Mufasa: The Lion King
July 16 White Oaks Park: 1119 Jalna Boulevard
Harold and the Purple Crayon
July 17 Coronation Soccer Fields: 955 Gainsborough Rd
Finding Nemo
July 17 Jesse Davidson Park: 731 Viscount Road
Lilo and Stitch (live action)
July 18 Huntington: 63 Meadowridge Road
Fantastic Mr. Fox
July 18 Village Green: 429 Village Green Avenue
Charlottes Web
July 24 Gainsborough Meadows: 102 Brandy Lane Road
Sonic
July 24 White Oaks Park: 1119 Jalna Boulevard
Space Jam (Original)
July 25 Cedar Hollow Park: 564 Killarney Road
Princess Bride
July 25 Hastings Park: 1428 Hastings Drive
DC League of Super Pets
July 31 Forest View Park: 323 Hudson Drive
Lightyear
August 7 Gibbons Park: 2A Grosvenor Street
K-Pop Demon Hunters
August 7 Constitution Park: 725 Grenfell Drive
School of Rock
August 8 Coronation North: 1965 Coronation Drive
Elio
August 8 Windermere Fields: 745 Windermere Road
The Lion King
August 14 Byron Hills Park: 955 Byronmanor Road
A Minecraft Movie
August 14 Sugarcreek Park: 460 Sugarcreek Trail
Zootopia 2
August 15 Bonaventure Meadows: 150 Vaubois Place
A Minecraft Movie
August 15 Jesse Davidson Park: 731 Viscount Road
Madagascar
August 21 Southcrest Park: 10 Hazelwood Avenue
Ron’s Gone Wrong
August 21 Jorgenson Park: 1308 Norman Avenue
The parent trap
August 22 Boyle Community Centre Field: 530 Charlotte St
The Wild Robot
August 22 Mornington: 800 High Holborn Street
Detective Pikachu
August 27 St. Julien Park: 15 Tommy Hunter Way
Luca
August 28 Ed Blake Park: 449 Barker Street
Lilo and Stitch (live action)
August 29 Victoria Park: 580 Clarence Street
Scott Pilgram vs the World
September 5 CCH Football field 450 Dundas St.
IF
September 11 Ralph Hamlyn Park: 83 Dennis Avenue
Despicable Me 4
September 12 Carling Park: 675 Grosvenor Street
Jumanji: Welcome to the Jungle
September 12 Springbank Park: 1085 Commissioners Rd W
Secret life of Pets
September 18 The Green 165 Elmwood Ave E
Inside Out 2
September 19 Oakridge Arena Park: 825 Valetta Street
Hocus Pocus
September 19 South Branch Park: 2 Homan Street
Indian Horse

❗️Northern Tornadoes Project Confirms Viral ‘Tornado’ Pictures From London Were Likely FAKE 🌪️

Following the major storm that caused widespread damage across London and surrounding areas on Tuesday, several photos began circulating online that supposedly showed a tornado on the ground within the city.

As soon as we became aware of these images, we shared them directly with the Northern Tornadoes Project (NTP), who we work closely with as an official partner. The NTP immediately expressed skepticism about the legitimacy of the photos. Because of that, we made the decision not to share them publicly until they could be properly verified.

After further investigation, including identifying where the photos appeared to have been taken and the direction the camera was facing, the NTP compared the images against radar data, damage reports and on-the-ground surveys.

Their conclusion was clear. The photos do not match the observed damage path or radar signatures from the storm. In both cases investigated, there was no evidence of a tornado where the photos claimed one existed. The NTP concluded the tornadoes were likely digitally added to otherwise real photos.

This is yet another example of a growing problem with fake storm content being created using AI or photo editing tools and then spread across social media as if it were real. Unfortunately, these images spread extremely quickly and were shared widely before they could be investigated.

This is not harmless fun. Tornadoes are life-threatening events and many people experience very real storm anxiety. Creating fake tornado photos, even as a joke, can cause unnecessary panic and misinformation during dangerous weather situations. Even if your intention is only to prank friends or family, screenshots can easily spread beyond your original audience and quickly become treated as legitimate storm reports.

Please do not generate or share fake storm photos under any circumstances!

This is also why we ask that any photos or videos sent to us are either taken by you personally or shared directly on behalf of someone you know who captured them. If you are passing along second-hand information, please make that clear so we can take the proper steps to verify it.

If you ever spot a tornado yourself, the best thing you can capture is video (only if it’s safe to do so). Video is much harder to fake and makes verification significantly easier. If video is not possible, take multiple photos from different angles and avoid editing the files in any way. Keeping the original files intact can help confirm authenticity.

Unfortunately, due to the increasing amount of fake storm reports online, we now have to approach every submission with caution until it can be verified. We know the vast majority of people have good intentions, but extra vigilance is necessary in today’s environment.

As a weather organization, we take credibility seriously. We are committed to making sure the information and storm reports shared on our platforms are verified to the best of our ability. We will never post unverified images simply to be first or to chase engagement.

We also encourage everyone to think twice before sharing unverified storm images online. If you have not seen the photo verified by Instant Weather, the Northern Tornadoes Project or another trusted media source, it’s best to assume it may not be legitimate until proven otherwise.

Thank you for helping us keep storm coverage accurate, responsible and trustworthy!

- Brennen

Hey friends, I’m back in the weather centre Tuesday. Heading home from an amazing weekend in Montreal. https://www.instagram.com/reel/DYxI-MYqkQR/?igsh=cnBxdTFhdzRlOXFw

The F1 race in @montreal was a time! A crazy awesome experience. Shoutout to @hometownstyle_hts in Ingersoll @oxfordcountyca for the awesome race fits! From the racetrack to nightlife Fav dress in F1 orange/red #f1fans #f1race #montrealgrandprix #f1race

The Northern Tornadoes Project confirms that a tornado did occur yesterday just southeast of London, ON, at Derwent. Video, radar and a preliminary investigation done last evening provided the necessary evidence. An NTP survey team will still visit the area to determine intensity and track.

Now that the severe storms in Ontario over the past couple of days have moved on, the NTP is mobilizing two damage survey teams.

One will investigate damage from yesterday's storms in the London area. The other will investigate damage in the Huntsville to Mattawa area from the May 18 storms.