London Bicentennial History Symposium

The Bicentennial 200^th Anniversary History Symposium event celebrating the Founding of the London District as a Settlement in 1826.    

This event is being organized by the London Heritage Council together with its partners History Symposium and City of London Culture Services. On October 17, 2026, the History Symposium will be hosted at the Middlesex County Old Courthouse where our City developed after John Graves Simcoe stopped at the Forks of the Thames to find a suitable location for the Capital of Upper Canada.   This History Symposium will feature an Indigenous welcoming ceremony, keynote speakers, Western Public History Masters Student Poster Sessions, mini heritage fair, diverse and historical performances and tours with participating local museums with historical interpreters.  On October 18, 2026, historic tours at various locations including, but not limited to the Old Courthouse, Eldon House and Labatt Memorial Park will take place.

This is a ticketed free public event with pre-registration for both the History Symposium and Historic Tours administered by the London Heritage Council. The History Symposium organization will also make this a hybrid live stream event and available afterwards on YouTube.