A new website launched at the end of August will help new incoming students familiarize themselves with the Forest City.

Your London Calling was created with the help of student university groups from Fanshawe and Western, and the result is something that FSU VP Athletics and Residence Life Alan Bushell said has “potential” to take off with its intended student audience.

City bylaw-enforcement officer, Orest Katolyk, worked closely with the students involved and said this was a resource students needed.

“Earlier this year we had a forum with students and one of the questions we asked the students [was], ‘Where do they get information about living in London; exploring London,’” he said. “We’ve noticed there was a gap – that there wasn’t really one website students could go to, to get information about living in the city.”

“Together with engaging a local web forum called Atmos Marketing, the students built the website, did the photography, did the logo and led the development of the site”

Katolyk was happy with how quickly the site came together.

“The energy was full tilt – all cylinders [were] going,” he said. “Everybody had to be rolling at the same speed ahead because everybody had different things to do … All these things were done over four meetings this summer.”

Fanshawe Student Union President, Matt Stewart wasn’t directly involved with the project, but said it was a good resource to build.

“The initiative is there to help new students new to London find their legs and find their feet around London with all the different aspects,” he said.

Stewart thinks Your London Calling will create a “cushioning” to help students find their way.

“The students that usually have a bit of trouble usually get homesick a lot quicker and they drop out of school because they can’t handle it,” he said. “The more cushioning or the more services that we can provide to cause that cushioning to help them off their feet, the better off the students [will be].”

Bushell wanted to get involved with the project because he knows the struggle of moving to a new city.

“I was something that really would have helped me out because I was new to the city last year,” he said. “This is an initiative to help out students new to the city, so I felt that this would be some [way] for me to give back to a city that’s given so much to me.”

Before Your London Calling, Bushell said he had no resources to turn to whatsoever.

“I didn’t have any resources … For instance, figuring out hydro – London has its own hydro system,” he explained. “This website will guide you in the right direction.”

Stewart echoed Bushell in saying Your London Calling would become the number one source for finding out information about the city.

“[There was] nothing like this [before],” said Stewart. “This compiles it all into one area so it’s easier for students to find, and they don’t necessarily have to go out and try to find different services in different ways.”

Bushell thinks it was important to create the website.

“I’ve been through the struggles and I want to help everybody move forward, and I want to help the students of next year – it’s something near and dear to me.”

Katolyk said the current brain trust is on a hiatus but will reassess it’s progress at the end of the month.

The site will change as new information and new ideas come up, he said. He encourages students to become involved in the future.

“We have a city Town and Gown committee. Students are always welcome to that community to do presentations.”

Visit yourlondoncalling.ca to find out more.