Arrival & Settling In

Rent does not always include utilities like electricity (hydro), heating, water and gas. Ask your landlord the following questions so that you can budget for the cost of living:

• Does rent cover utilities? If so, which ones?
• Is the home heated by electricity (hydro) or gas?
• How much did the previous tenants pay for utilities each month?
• How much did the previous tenants pay for the coldest month of winter?

If utilities are not included in your rent, you can arrange for the companies below to set up them up. Your monthly bill will depend on how much electricity, heating, water or gas you use. In addition to the monthly bill, a deposit and/or an initial installment fee may be required.

Utility Companies in London

Natural gas line services	Electricity and water services
Enbridge Gas Telephone: 1-888-362-7434	London Hydro Telephone: 519-661-5503

Electricity in Canada

In North America, electricity is 120 volts and 60 Hertz. Electrical outlets take a 2-prong plug, with the option of a third prong, called a ‘grounder’. The prongs on the plug are rectangular, not circular. Depending on which country you are from, you may require a:

Plug adapter: If your electronic devices do not fit into Canada’s 2-prong electrical outlets.

Transformer: If your electrical devices require more or less than 120 volts of electricity.

For more information please review The Ultimate Electricity Guide for World Travelers. 

Most houses come with a washing machine and clothing dryer that you may use whenever you want. Apartment buildings usually provide a laundry room with numerous coin or card operated machines. Each machine will cost approximately one to two dollars per use. Ask your landlord about the cost of the machines and how to use them.

If you do not have laundry machines in your house or apartment, you can go to a laundromat. Laundromats have numerous coin or card -operated washing machines and dryers. They usually have ironing equipment and dry cleaning services too. Machines cost approximately one to three dollars per use. You can keep the cost low by bringing your own soap and fabric softener to the laundromat.

These are a few laundromats in London:

1. The Laundry Café
   590 Oxford St. E. (at Adelaide St.)
   Telephone: 519-432-8222
2. Tommy Sud’s Laundry & Café
   79 Commissioners Road West
   Telephone: 519-679-7428
3. The House Of Laundry
   507 Pall Mall St
   Telephone: (226) 505-3496

Before you start shopping, here is some important information to know about shopping in Canada:

• Sales tax will be added at the checkout. In Ontario, sales tax is 13%, so you should expect to pay 13% more than the listed price.
• Plastic bags are no longer available in most stores. Make sure to bring or buy reusable bags for your shopping. Most stores will offer paper or reusable bags for purchase for a small fee.

For a wide variety of stores and maximum selection, we recommend visiting one of two major malls in London which are easy to get to from campus: CF Masonville Place or White Oaks Mall.

Other stores that are easy to travel to and are popular among students include: Winners, Marshalls, HomeSense, Dollarama, Dollar Tree, Mountain Warehouse, Giant Tiger, Walmart, SportChek and Old Navy.

Many students also save money by buying used items (also known as “Thrifting” or “Consignment Shopping”) at stores like Goodwill, Value Village, Talize, and Mission Thrift Stores. You can also join “Buy and Sell” Facebook groups or search Facebook Marketplace for used items.

Are you looking to explore a variety of cultural foods and ingredients? London offers a diverse selection of grocery stores that cater to a variety of cultural needs. From Asian markets to Middle Eastern shops, you can find a wide range of international products to remind you of home!

For a list of cultural grocery stores in London view the Alt Grocery website.

Being a student comes with its perks, including a variety of discounts that can help you save money. Below is a list of offers that you can take advantage of as a Western student. Please note that these offers are subject to change based on the store’s policy.

Discount Cards/ Apps

• SPC Card (Student Price Card) grants you access to discounts at stores across Canada.
• UNiDAYS Canada allows you to use your student email address on the UNiDAYS Canada app to gain access to discounts at clothing stores, fitness-memberships and fast-food restaurants.
• ISIC (International Student Identity Card) offers a variety of student discounts and offers in Food & Drinks, Entertainment, Travel and much more!

Groceries

Many grocery stores offer student discounts be sure to check their websites and be ready to show your Western ONECard at checkout. Here are some stores that usually offer a discount:

• Food Basics
• Metro
• Loblaws/ Real Canadian Superstore/ Valu-Mart
• Sobeys

Technology and Entertainment

• If buying technology and electronics, be sure to look for student discounts! The following brands typically offer exclusive discounts for students: Apple, Dell, Samsung, HP and Lenovo.
• Many entertainment services, including Prime Video, Spotify and Apple Music, offer student discounts and free trials.

London Perks

• Western Libraries gives students free access to movies and videos. Log into OMNI with your student ID, to search for movies, videos and films in a variety of languages.
• Your Western email grants access to Microsoft Office 365, offering many services, including Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Microsoft Teams and more.
• London Public Libraries offers a variety of books, audiobooks, movies and music when you get a library card.

Want to stay up to date with what’s happening at Western? Check out these Western-affiliated social media accounts for the latest updates and events:

• Western International: @westernuinternational
• Western University: @westernuniversity
• Western Student Experience: @westernustudentexperience
• Western University Students’ Council: @westernusc
• Society of Graduate Students: @westernsogs

Looking for things to do in London? Explore these social media accounts for a variety of suggestions and updates on local events and attractions.

• London Tourism: @tourismlondon
• City of London: @cityoflondonont

Looking for useful apps to enhance your experience as a Western student? Check out these useful apps to stay organized, informed, and connected on campus. The following apps will also be helpful as you explore the city of London.

• USC Now: On the USC Now app, you can find everything from campus events, services and resources to job postings, club info, and more–right in the palm of your hand.
• WesternU: Western University's app provides access to everything from the latest news and updates, faculty information, Mustang scores, access to detailed parking information, and access to Western's OWL eLearning tool.
• Western Rec: Western Recreation’s app features easy-to-navigate schedules for Drop-in Recreation, Lane Swim, Group Fitness, and Women's Only. In addition, you can reserve squash courts or find out more information about intramural sports, recreation clubs, first aid, and much more.
• Brightspace Pulse (New OWL/Brightspace app): The Brightspace Pulse app can help you stay connected and on top of your coursework. It offers all the features, information, and tools available in the web version of OWL Brightspace.
• LT Watch: The LT Watch app allows you to view London Transit Commission’s (LTC) bus route’s estimated arrival times and schedules.
• Honk Mobile: The Honk Mobile app is a fast way to pay for your parking in all City of London on-street locations and Municipal parking lots. When you pay with the Honk parking app, they use your license plate as identification to let local parking enforcement know you've paid.

The cost for cell phone service is usually more expensive in Canada than in other countries. Ask about all fees for a phone plan or contract before you sign up, such as the cost of an activation fee, sending and receiving texts, long-distance calls, internet access, etc. To set up an account, you will need to bring your credit card and passport.

Major Canadian Cell Phone Companies 

Buying a New Cell phone

If you arrive in Canada without a cell phone, you can get one in two ways: 

1. Sign a contract with a cell phone company. Contracts include the cost of the phone and a monthly bill for phone use. Most contracts require a minimum commitment of one year.

2. Buy a cell phone and join a ‘pay as you go’ plan. In a ‘pay as you go’ plan you purchase minutes to use on your phone and you buy more as you need them. No identification or credit card is required. If you use your cell phone frequently or use your cell phone for long-distance calls, this option can be much more expensive than a contract.   

Several cell phone stores are located in Masonville Place, a London shopping mall close to campus. 

Bringing Your Cell Phone from Home

If your phone is unlocked and has similar technology to Canadian phones, you may be able to use it here. You can take your phone to a store in London to find out if it will work in Canada (see stores listed above). To sign a contract with a Canadian phone company and still use your own phone, you will need to buy a new SIM card and pay $30-$40 for the activation. Bring a credit card and your passport.

SIM Card Providers at Toronto Pearson International Airport

Toronto Pearson International Airport has two phone plan providers near International Arrivals Terminal 1 should you wish to purchase a phone or SIM card as soon as you arrive in Canada. Below you will find an overview of the providers and links to the full list of services for each. 

CHATR Wireless

• Hours of operation 10:00 am - 10:00 pm daily (any changes can be viewed here).
• Located at International Arrivals Terminal 1, before security. The exact location can be found on the offical Toronto Pearson map.
• More details

Fido

• Hours of operation 6:00 am - 8:00 pm daily (any changes can be viewed here.)
• Located at International Arrivals Terminal 1, before security. The exact location can be found on the official Toronto Person map.
• More details

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Home Phone

To set up a home phone installation, call one of the phone companies below or register online. Customers are billed monthly. On your first bill, there might be a one-time installation fee, a monthly service fee, a rental fee (if you rent a phone) and charges for any long-distance or overseas calls made using their long-distance plan. Once the line is activated in your name, you are legally responsible for all calls made on the line.

The phone companies above offer plans that combine the following features in various ways:

• Telephone rentals
• Overseas and long-distance services
• Internet services
• Calling cards
• Cable/satellite television

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Overseas and Long-Distance Calls

Carriers

You can only get basic phone installation and maintenance through a local telephone company, but many companies offer competitive rates on overseas and long-distance calls for telephones. If you find a company that offers better rates for overseas calls than your local provider, you can use that company as your long-distance carrier. You would receive two different phone bills each month, but you might prefer this minor inconvenience to paying more.

• Many long-distance carriers offer a reduced price for calls at certain times of the day. Ask your carrier about special deals.
• You can buy Pre-Paid Calling Cards from your phone company that allow you to make calls from any phone and charge them to your account

Some carriers:

Long-Distance Calling Cards

Long-distance calling cards may be the cheapest option depending on the country you are calling. They are usually sold in denominations of $5, $10 and $20 at convenience/variety stores or pharmacies (e.g., the pharmacy in the UCC basement). Remember to check the expiry date (3-6 months is average) and whether there is a connection or maintenance fee. You can use long distance calling cards on any phone, with any carrier.

How to Dial Long-Distance

Dial 011 + country code + routing code + local number  OR  1 + country code + routing code + local number depending on which area you are calling. Country codes and routing codes are listed in the phone book.

To make a long-distance call through a public phone, dial 0 and tell the operator that you are making a ‘collect call’ to your country and provide the phone number. The person who receives the call will be asked to accept the charges. Charges for operator-assisted calls are the most expensive; the minimum charge is for three minutes.

Note: You will NOT be charged for calls made to long distance numbers with the area codes 800, 866, 877 and 888. These numbers indicate a 'toll free' call.

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Internet Phones

In general, Internet phones offer free long-distance calling within the U.S. and Canada and free world-wide calling to anyone with the same type of phone. Students can buy two Internet phones and send one to their family at home so that they can talk for free. Make sure the phone will work in your country before you make the purchase. Internet phone services start at $3.30 per month. If you prefer to order plans in person you can often find start-up kits at local electronic stores (Best Buy, Future Shop, Sears, Walmart, Tiger Direct, etc.).  

Note: If you have an Internet phone, the phone number will not be a local number and people who call you from London will have to pay minor long distance charges.

Some options:

1. Magic Jack
2. Net Talk
3. Vonage

At Home

Dial-up is the cheapest Internet option, but also the slowest. With dial-up, you cannot use the hand phone and the Internet at the same time unless you have a separate phone line for you computer. High-speed (broad band) is more expensive than dial-up, but also much faster. It allows for simultaneous internet and phone use. The companies below offer both high-speed and dial-up.

Popular Internet Companies

On Campus

With a Western email username and password, you can access the internet wifi all over campus. There are computer labs for you to use in the Health Sciences Building, North Campus Building, Natural Sciences Centre, Social Science Centre and Somerville House. You can also take advantage of Western's wireless network.

If you have any questions or concerns, contact Western’s IT department:

Western Technology Services (WTS)
Telephone: 519-661-3800
 

You can sign up for digital TV through Rogers Cable or Bell Canada’s satellite service. These services will have several fees attached to them, like one-time set-up charges and monthly service fees. Each company offers a variety of packages with different prices and advantages.

• Bell: 519-310-2355
• Rogers: 1-888-764-3771
• Shaw Direct: 1-855-654-5738  
• Start.ca: 1-866-434-5888

TV on the Internet

You can also view television shows and movies on your computer by paying for a low cost online television service like Netflix. You can connect shows to your TV with a video game console, Apple TV player or an Android TV player. Keep in mind that there are both free and for fee streaming sites.

• Netflix: 1-877-320-4701
• CBC TV: 1-855-388-5050
• Prime Video
• City TV 
• and many others!