Royal Bank: 9th largest in the world

 

Canada's Royal Bank is larger than I knew. Retirees in Canada often have some Royal Bank stock in their portfolios. Why? Solid dividend income that can be trusted through good times and bad. In fact, all five of Canada's top banks have impeccable reputations when it comes to delivering on promised dividends.

Today in London, the Royal Bank logo marks the top of Talbot Centre in the city core. One might think that such a huge bank would own the building in which it conducts its business in London but it doesn't. Canada's largest bank, the 9th largest in the world, rents its downtown location and shares the building with other businesses and at least one other Canadian bank.

It's clear the Royal Bank didn't ascend to the summit of Canadian banking by wasting money on showy buildings and addresses when there are less costly alternative.

It's a basilica and not just a cathedral

 

Many Londoners know the large downtown Roman Catholic Church as simply St. Peter's Cathedral. Truth be known, the gothic revival style cathedral was declared a minor basilica in 1961 by Pope John XXIII. This is quite the honour as there may be only 25 minor basilicas in all of Canada.

Victoria Park and the Canada geese problem

 

Victoria Park is a popular park, popular with Canada geese. If you listen to my granddaughters, it's not as popular with people -- certainly not with them. Why? The geese, their droppings and their aggressive attitude. Canada geese, when fed in parks can congregate in large numbers, even into the hundreds, and can be downright pushy -- even frighteningly pushy if you are an easily frightened little girl.

Boer War monument

Known as the Boer War monument in Victoria Park,  The Soldiers' Monument is a tribute to those who fought in the South African War more than a hundred years ago. The monument was erected in 1912 at a cost at the time of $10,000.

Engraved deeply into one side of the base are the names of the local men, all privates, who died in the war.

Victoria Park hanging flower pots

 

Cities seem to love overflowing flower pots today. One sees them decorating islands in the middle of large streets and hanging from posts found just below the lamp on street lamps. In London, I believe, a lot of the flowers may be grown in the city greenhouse. Still, all these flowers cannot be cheap and keeping them all watered must take a lot of staff.

Stobie's: a popular take-out pizza location

Stobie's is not much more than a small sign on the side of an older downtown building. Inside there are few tall stools and a shelf to hold your slice of pizza but it certainly is not what anyone would call a sit-down restaurant. Stobie's is best known for its large, single slices of pizza.

Hungry? If you are in downtown London and close to either Richmond Row or Victoria Park, Stobie's is the place to go if a giant slice of pizza and a juice box or can of pop will suffice. 

Stobie's often has two to four kinds of pizza cooked and sitting in a warming oven. Pick the one you'd like, for instance vegetarian or pepperoni, grab a drink and head off for the park.

Kids love Stobie's. The pizza is simple and delicious. Parents love Stobie's. The choices are limited making it easier for kids to make a decision as to what to eat. Students love Stobie's. The price is right. And downtown workers love Stobie's. It is quick.

Big cities have lots of places like Stobie's. London has a few but they are located well distanced from each other. They are not grouped together offering a rich mix of fast, inexpensive food for those in a hurry.

Jenga Tower One and Jenga Tower Two

The National Post reported the new apartment tower in downtown London may be a knock-off of a building built a few years ago in a Toronto suburb.

Both are known by the nickname "Jenga tower" in their respective cities. The building in London was praised in The London Free Press for its “decidedly un-London design.” Sounds right. The London tower appears to have a decidedly Etobicoke look. 

https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/mirror-mirror-what-happens-when-a-brand-new-building-looks-very-familiar