126 - Meet Joan 👋
Meet Joan
With a love for thrifting, photography and local history, Joan Sam has been weaving herself into the fabric of this city for years...which is why we were so excited to pull on a few of those threads for this week’s interview! So, without further adieu, here’s what our friend (and patron) had to share!
1. What’s one of London’s best-kept secrets? 📍
For me, it’s the combination of urban and rural living. We live in a city surrounded by small towns like Arva, Delaware, Ilderton, Talbot Village (even Lambeth) within a 15-30 minute drive. Commuting is another bonus as getting across town doesn’t take too much time. Even if you want to work out of town in Woodstock or St. Thomas, you can still drive there within an hour.
2. What’s your favourite way to spend a weekend in London? 📸
If I am not visiting family or friends you can find me thrifting or exploring the city’s restaurants and tasting different cuisines. I also love taking photos of old houses and am always curious to learn their history. I’ve spent a lot of time enjoying the various architectural styles at the corner of Waterloo and Piccadilly.
3. Tell us about the last London thing you recommended to friends. 👋
The last thing I recommended to a friend was The London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership and the many programs they have available for newcomers. They are doing a fantastic job in the community. I also recently recommended Payless All African and Caribbean food market on Hamilton Road because they carry pretty much every food item from West Africa.
4. What are you looking forward to in London this year? 🐔
I would love to see more entertainment, artwork and benches downtown—we just need little touches like these to really bring it to life. I’m also looking forward to The Factory at 100 Kellogg Lane—it's going to add some real perk to our tourism industry.
5. Who should Londoners be paying attention to? 👂
I think we should pay more attention to upcoming local entrepreneurs under 30. To name just a few, I’ve recently discovered: Patchworks University of Design; 519 Clothing Company; The Fortunate Female, who shares beautiful stories of positivity and gratitude; and 519 Pursuit—who's main focus is on homelessness.
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