Latest news with #WhiteOaksMall
CTV News
27-05-2025
- Business
- CTV News
Last week for liquidation at Hudson's Bay, with storied company set to lay off more than 8,000
Everything must go at Hudson's Bay stores. The Canadian retail icon is winding down operations, with retail stores across the country set to close this weekend. At Hudson's Bay, White Oaks Mall, London, the doors opened for business at 11:00 Tuesday morning for one of the very last times. A small crowd hurried in. Moments later a group of ladies emerged with some 'new friends' in tow. 'They're mannequins, we just think they're fun,' explained one of the women. 052725 - Hudson's Bay Shoppers attempt to stuff mannequins they bought at Hudson's Bay White Oaks into their car. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London) Hudson's Bay is selling off its furniture, fixtures and equipment. But in the midst of its liquidation, Canada's oldest company has filed a court motion stating it's terminating more than 8,000 employees by this coming Sunday, spelling the end to a storied Canadian institution- one that failed to keep pace with changing consumer trends, explained Jamie Hyodo, Assistant Professor at Western University's Department of Management and Organizational Studies. 'Whether that's in terms of e-commerce. Whether that's in terms of having an offering that's at an advantage to their competitors. And whether that's in terms of having a specific clientele that is loyal to the organization. The Bay lost all of those,' he said. 052725 - Hudson's Bay Hudson's Bay is liquidating its furniture, fixtures and equipment. (Bryan Bicknell/CTV News London) CTV News spoke with a 25-year employee at the Hudson's Bay White Oaks location, who was too distraught to appear on camera. She said the staff at her store are like family, and that the Hudson's Bay company has been a 'loyal' employer. But not everyone feels that way. Unionized Hudson's Bay workers held rallies in Windsor and Scarborough Tuesday to demand the company honour severance operations. 'These members, because of this situation of being unsecured creditors in the captive liquidation process, they are at the back of the line to get their severance which they should be entitled to,' said Dwayne Guiness, the President of Unifor Local 40, which represents Hudson's Bay workers. 'And also, the third component is the enhancement that we require to wages and a protection program run through service Canada and the government needs to be enhanced with workers like this and other workers across the country,' Guiness explained. Hudson's Bay has also ended several employee benefits since liquidation began.
CBC
20-02-2025
- Climate
- CBC
Early voting window opens today in Ontario winter election
With one full week to go before voting day, Elections Ontario is working to reverse a recent downward trend in voter turnout, which set a record low of 43 per cent the last time Ontarians went to the polls in 2022. That election happened in June. As a contrast, this vote is set to take place on Thursday, Feb. 27 in the midst of what continues to be a stormy winter in most regions of the province. This week's snowstorm in southern Ontario led to widespread road closures, hindering political canvassing efforts in the areas north of London. It's enough to give some voters an excuse to sit this one out. However, Elections Ontario spokesperson Greg Flood said there are multiple ways to vote in this election, and contingency plans are in place should rough weather strike again on voting day. "We're trying to make voting in Ontario as easy as possible for all Ontarians," he said. "We do recognize there could be weather challenges in the future, but we're going to adapt and adjust to those to make sure we're taking the necessary steps to ensure people can cast their ballot on the 27, or during the advanced voting period." There are a number of ways to vote, including vote by mail, advanced voting and even voting at home for people with mobility challenges. Information about all the options is listed here on the Elections Ontario website. Advanced voting begins Thursday and continues through to Saturday. Flood said Elections Ontario will be ready to take measures to ensure everyone can vote if there's bad weather. He pointed out that voting times were extended in some Eastern Ontario ridings due to weather in the 2022 election. Flood said if anything like that happens this time, voters will be able to find information on the Elections Ontario website or on their social media channels. Will voters vote? In 2022, voter turnout was low in London's three central ridings: London North Centre: 42 per cent. London West: 49 per cent. London-Fanshawe: 37 per cent. CBC News spoke shoppers at White Oaks Mall on Wednesday about their voting plans. The south London mall is located in London-Fanshawe. Larry Wright, a retired hospital worker, said he's not yet decided if he's going to vote. He said he'd be motivated to cast a ballot if he heard a good plan from any candidate on how to deal with economic uncertainty caused by tariffs threats from U.S. President Donald Trump. He's worried about the auto industry in particular. "A lot of the men and women that work for those companies could be out of a job, and those are good paying jobs," he said. Michael Clayton said he won't be voting because he doesn't like any of the options. "I'm just further left than most of the candidates," he said. That's not the kind of decision you can make on a whim. You have to put as much thought into that as you can. - Eric Simon, London voter Eric Simon, 25, said he's committing to casting a ballot on Feb. 27, but he's not yet made a decision. "There's a lot of uncertainty these days with rising costs of everything," he said. "We need a sense of certainty and someone who can put us on a path. That's not the kind of decision you can make on a whim. You have to put as much thought into that as you can." Amy Brydges, 30, said she's motivated to vote because she's been unhappy with the current PC government. "The past administration has made some decisions that have really not been beneficial to me," she said. "So I want to get my voice out there in what little way I can and say 'No, this is not good.'" Senior Darlene Baird hasn't yet made a firm decision about whether or not she'll vote. "I was thinking about it, but I'm not sure," she said. "I'm not sure who to vote for anymore. Everything has gone haywire. I'm turning 70 this year, and we need to have better health care." Student groups work to spur engagement And while young voters are often singled out for staying on the sidelines during elections, that isn't the case at Western University. Western has active student groups focused on politics, some of them tied to political parties. The UWO Conservatives group has held weekend canvassing events for candidates in London's core ridings, including Jerry Pribil (London North Centre) and Beth Allison (London West). The NDP also has an active student group at Western. The group's co-chair Alex Wild said their 40 members are helping local NDP campaigns and trying to engage students of all political stripes in the election. She said the cold weather isn't keeping them inside. "A bunch of people in our group are knocking on doors every day working on the campaigns," said Wild. "It's definitely cold but if we don't vote, decisions still get made but they're just made without student input."
CBC
08-02-2025
- Business
- CBC
RBC Place, White Oaks Mall warn of scams targeting vendors and artisans
As the spring fair and festival season grows closer, small businesses in London are being warned to ensure the events they see advertised online are legitimate before handing over deposits. The warning comes after some local small business owners alerted the public about being scammed on Facebook posts soliciting interest for fake events. Some posts targeted vendors for a craft and vendor show at Wortley Public School, while others promoted a spring market at RBC Place and a family event at White Oaks Mall. The posts have since been taken down. In an email to CBC News, London police said the department hasn't received any reports regarding the fake events as of Friday. "We have had about half a dozen different inquiries over the last few weeks inquiring whether this event was real," said Sarah Imrie, White Oaks Mall's marketing manager. The post appeared in a Facebook group for vendors in the Durham Region, east of Toronto. It said vendors were needed for a "Kids and Family Expo" at White Oaks Mall on March 1 and 2. Early this week, the mall warned on social media that no such event was planned, and an identical post, which has since been deleted, was also found in a London Facebook group with the location changed to Centennial Hall. The mall has since added an events page to its website to help local vendors avoid future scams. "It was definitely more proactive, wanting to make sure no one did get impacted by this, obviously, very incorrect information," she said. "We don't want to see anyone out of funds and given false information while using our name." Such scams using fake profiles are all too common, said Allison Neufeld, coordinator of the Old South Artisan and Vendor Market, a biannual fundraiser for the home and school association at Wortley Public School in London. Earlier this week, a post in a local Facebook group issued a call-out for a "Celebration of New Year Craft and Vendor Show" at the school on March 1 and 2 — but it's all fake. Neufeld said she worried the similarities between the fake event and her April market will keep vendors from reaching out to her. In the past, she says scammers have taken her posters and added their own information to trick people. "It happens about three or four times a year, and it's getting worse. The scammers also post underneath all of my events, to have the vendor send them money directly," she said. "If we get a bad reputation for being a scam [or] if they use my poster and send out scam messages, vendors get suspicious, and then they don't apply to my real event." Last month, RBC Place also found itself roped into a scam. A post in a London event Facebook group was spotted calling for applications for a spring market it claimed would run over two weekends in April. "There is no such event scheduled, and we have been actively warning vendors not to send money to this individual," said Joy Gallaiford, a spokesperson for RBC Place. "We received some inquiries from concerned vendors, which is why we posted on our own social media channels encouraging potential vendors and attendees to verify events through our official website or speak with our guest services team." An online search of an email address provided for the fake event turns up a Facebook post plugging a spring market in Calgary. The user and event poster are identical to the phony London event. The Calgary post links to an online form that reads: "Please remember spaces are limited and your spot is not guaranteed until we receive payment." A second email address is also listed.
