With Western University’s Homecoming approaching this weekend, the City of London is warning partygoers to avoid unsanctioned street gatherings and noting heavy fines are possible.
In a statement, the city said its “unsanctioned street party task force” has been preparing for anticipated gatherings this weekend. It includes city hall, London police, the London Fire Department, paramedics and the university itself.
“While Homecoming is an exciting time for students, we encourage everyone to keep safety, kindness and respect top of mind,” Amanda Pfeffer, city hall’s director of municipal compliance, said in the statement.
Fines are possible for “multiple infractions,” city officials said, adding “the same person can be fined multiple times in one day.” They listed the potential fines that could be levied:
Hosting a nuisance party: $1,130
Attending a nuisance party: $930
Failing to leave premises: $65
Using a closed road: $615
Making, causing or permitting noise likely to disturb inhabitants: $305
Urinating in a public place: $305
Homecoming often draws large crowds, with the centre of celebrations being around Broughdale Avenue, a dead-end street near the university’s Richmond Street gates.
As many 18,000 people packed the streets around the university last year during the celebrations. London police and bylaw officers handed out 136 tickets for nuisance parties, excessive noise and parking violations throughout the weekend in 2025. Paramedics also took 23 people from the campus area and downtown to hospital during celebrations last year.
Members of the Ontario Provincial Police along with officers from Hamilton and Windsor assisted London police last year.
In the statement, city officials also wrote that access to Western’s campus from Richmond Street will be closed on Saturday, and that additional road closures may be in place to address large gatherings and support public safety.
In an email response to questions from The Free Press, a spokesperson for Western University said the school has closed roads on campus during Homecoming for a number of years to help keep pedestrians safe.
University Drive will be closed to vehicles from Richmond Street to the Talbot intersection from 7 a.m. Saturday to 2 a.m. on Sunday, and will remain open to pedestrians and cyclists.
A marquee part of the weekend will be the Mustangs football game, against McMaster, set for 1 p.m. on Saturday at Western Alumni Stadium. Visitor parking is available across campus, including the Springett lot off Western Road. Access to the Medway lot will be maintained via Sunset Street, officials with the school said.
“Controlled access” to the Huron Flats and South Valley parking lots near the stadium will be in place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday for Mustangs football season ticket owners, individuals with accessible parking passes, and VIP guests.
Born and raised in the Forest City, Ryan Goodison joined The London Free Press in 2025. He covers housing, business, Middlesex County and much more.
rgoodison@postmedia.com