From The Publishers

Dear Londoners, old friends, new neighbours, and those just discovering the Forest City,

Welcome to the very first issue of LiveLondon Magazine.

What you’re holding is a prototype, a glimpse of what we are building here in London, Ontario. This inaugural issue marks the beginning of a larger vision: a spring launch followed by summer and fall editions, and eventually a more frequent publishing schedule as the magazine grows. To make that possible, we will rely on the support of this city, its people, businesses, creators, and communities.

The idea for LiveLondon began around our kitchen table and scribbled restaurant napkins, in conversations about a city we both care deeply about. London has always been a place of stories, some rooted in generations of history, others just beginning to unfold. With this magazine, we hope to capture a bit of both and literally unfold the pages before us.

For Sher, this city is home in the truest sense. Born and raised in London, she attended Lester B. Pearson School for the Arts, studied at Western, and worked across the city from Covent Garden Market to London Health Sciences Centre. Like many Londoners, she eventually left to pursue opportunities in career and academia. After earning a Masters and a law degree and working in regional and national politics in Toronto and Ottawa, she ultimately found her way back home.

Jamie arrived by a different path. Originally from Toronto, with years spent in northern Ontario, he came to London with fresh eyes and quickly fell for the city’s creativity and strong sense of community. An editor and publisher by trade, he has taught at Fanshawe and Humber and began his career reporting for rural newspapers before moving on to roles as a copy editor at The Globe and Mail and creating publications for organizations and his own ventures. You can also see him lacing up the skates every season playing senior men's hockey. 

Together, we now share a perspective shaped by both memory and discovery. We spend our days exploring neighbourhood restaurants, festivals, music venues, markets, and small businesses constantly reminded that there are remarkable stories around every corner of this city.

London is a festival town. It’s a creative town. It’s a proud town. Just look downtown on a Knights game night. That sense of pride of belonging is what we want to celebrate and amplify. 

We’re actively seeking content from organizations, venues, artists, businesses, and community groups, including events, fundraisers, programs, initiatives, and profile-worthy stories. Bursting with life, local flair, and possibility, LiveLondon is a free, modern, independent print magazine, supported by a digital platform that dives into the arts, culture, business, and heritage of our city. Our goal is simple: to become a go-to source for everything London.

Whether you’re a lifelong Londoner or discovering the Forest City for the first time, LiveLondon is your backstage pass to the people, places, and events that make this city shine.

Thank you for joining us at the very beginning of something special.

With pride and gratitude,

Sher Monastyrski
Publisher

&

Jamie Monastyrski
Editor & Publisher
LiveLondon Magazine

Image courtesy of Museum London. Photographer: Richard Cairns