COVID-19: London officials hopeful but prepared as Homecoming approaches

While this year's Homecoming is filled with virtual celebration and tame in-person events, there's concern over massive unsanctioned parties that typically surround the weekend.

Officials in London, Ont., are bracing for the worst, but hoping for the best as Western University‘s Homecoming weekend gets underway.

While the weekend, which runs from Thursday to Sunday, itself is filled with virtual celebrations and tame in-person events, concerns from local officials are rising amid the potential for massive unsanctioned street parties on Saturday.

The unsanctioned parties, which largely involve students and are organized outside of Western’s purview, were a common occurrence around this weekend prior to the COVID-19 pandemic.

While an estimated 25,000 people had attended similar celebrations in 2019, last year saw students skip out on the parties after local officials issued warnings tied to coronavirus concerns.

During a briefing hosted by the Middlesex-London Health Unit (MLHU) on Thursday, Mayor Ed Holder urged students to once again skip out on the celebrations.

“I am absolutely and terribly concerned that another student is going to get hurt or worse, and I think Western, in just a few short weeks, has been through enough already,” Holder said.

Much of the attention is being placed on Broughdale Avenue, an neighbourhood in London’s Old North neighbourhood that sits just south of Western University.

Broughdale, which is largely comprised of student housing, would often see thousands gather on its roadway during pre-pandemic Homecoming weekend or Fake Homecoming (FoCo) weekend, an informal bash that was organized in protest of Western pushing back its Homecoming date in an effort to reduce unsanctioned parties.