After a 148 year run, Kingsmills Department Store closed its doors in 2014. Marcus Plowright conceived and organized “Changefest” at the shuttered store raising money for candidates fighting in support of London’s downtown revitalization. Showcasing the property and working for months with sitting councillors and candidates, with huge support from the Downtown Business Improvement Association, a deal was struck to bring a $65,000,000 investment and reimagining of the store. Fanshawe College brought programs, students, professors and staff downtown, envigorating retail and service establishments in our core. Fanshawe’s commitment to our downtown set the stage for Western University’s later investment in the former Harrison Pensa building on Talbot that is being reimagined and renovated for academic use in 2024/ 2025.