LPSB endorses plans for $50 million first responder training facility

London Police Services Board endorsed a proposal from the City of London requesting funding from the province.

London Police Services Board (LPSB) endorsed a proposal from the City of London requesting funding from the province on Thursday afternoon.

The proposal outlines the city’s plans to finance the construction of a new training facility for both fire and police.

“It’s our position that we feel that this is a great project for the province to invest in and be a capital partner,” said Mayor Josh Morgan in his remarks to the board. “Should the province choose to make that investment they would be a full partner in what would be potentially a regional facility”

011625_LPSB meeting mayor josh morgan Mayor Josh Morgan comments on the city's proposal for provincial funding to the London Police Services Board, Jan. 16, 2025 (Bailey Shakyaver/CTV News London)

Outlined in the city’s 2025 pre-budget submission with a proposed cost of $49.9 million, the proposed training facility hopes not only to help London emergency service workers but serve as a resource to the broader region.

“We’re trying to be at the forefront of policing not just in the region, but in the province, and in the country,” said Board Chair Ali Chahbar. “Part of that is to have training centers where we can have the most state of the art, up to date training for our officers here in London and having a new training centre is part of that process.”

A collaborative project with London Fire Department, annual operating costs are estimated to cost the city $2.1 million beginning in 2027.

011625_lehman london police services board Councillor Steve Lehman speaks to the London Police Services Board at their Jan. 16, 2025 meeting (Bailey Shakyaver/CTV News London)

The request for funding was spurred by the province’s investment in other municipal policing expenses – in November 2024, the Ontario Government announced over $77 million in support for 330 small and rural municipalities.

In a similar pattern to many smaller communities across the province, the operating budget for policing in London has risen steadily over the past several years, accounting for 20.8 per cent of London’s budget, up from 18 per cent in 2020.

“London is no different from other municipalities where, we’re feeling the budget crunch as well,” posited Chahbar. “If there’s support to be had from the provincial government that’s going to smaller municipalities, we would like to be included as part of that conversation.”

The project would also fill a void left by the 2021 closure of the Ontario Fire College.

011625_LPSB chahbar walker Vice-Chair Megan Walker and Chair Ali Chahbar at a Jan. 16, 2025 meeting of the London Police Services Board (Bailey Shakyaver/CTV News London)