GUELPH POLITICAST #512 – “Do Your Own Research” Comes For Local Crimes (feat. Dr. Ahmed al-Rawi)

In this space and others, we’ve talked a lot about the effect of misinformation and conspiracy theories on our political culture, but there’s a growing and pronounced impact on our legal system as well. From local missing person’s cases to crimes so heinous that they capture the consciousness of a country, can our online culture be trusted with their role in law and order matters? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #512 – “Do Your Own Research” Comes For Local Crimes (feat. Dr. Ahmed al-Rawi)”

This Week at Council: Mo’ Money Motion, Mo’ Problems in March

Just when you thought it was safe to talk about council pay and benefits… After a contentious conversation about the subject at Committee of the Whole earlier this month, city council re-opened the debate for further discussion, and then they decided that they want to talk about it further next month. That was the big action at this month’s regular council meeting, but it was not the only action. Let’s recap… Continue reading “This Week at Council: Mo’ Money Motion, Mo’ Problems in March”

POLICE NOTES: Assault Rifle Seized, Honda CR-Vs Taken, and Copper Wire Boosted

There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days. Continue reading “POLICE NOTES: Assault Rifle Seized, Honda CR-Vs Taken, and Copper Wire Boosted”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the March 10, 2026 Meeting?

March’s planning meeting will put a couple of massive new projects on the table, but at this point they’re only theoretical. There will be two statutory planning meetings for this month’s planning meeting, and there will also be two new heritage designations, and if we’re talking about housing this much, then it makes sense for staff to combine their talents and present to council the sum and total of the City of Guelph’s housing development initiatives, this far. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the March 10, 2026 Meeting?”

GUELPH POLITICAST #511 – Gab Fest and Scrambled Eggs (feat. The Breezy Breakfast Gang)

Breezy Breakfast has been one of the primary venues for local political discussion and information for the last 10 years. Now, not everyone can take time out first thing in their busy day to have a sit down breakfast and chew the fat about the doings at city hall, so presented here thanks to the miracle of digital recording tech is all the hot goss and chit chat that you missed when maybe you were on your way to work, or were maybe already there… Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #511 – Gab Fest and Scrambled Eggs (feat. The Breezy Breakfast Gang)”

RECAP: City Council Meeting for February 24, 2025

Council has back in session this week after taking their own Reading Week off. You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along with the thread below, or you can watch the whole meeting for yourself by watching it on the City’s website here. Continue reading “RECAP: City Council Meeting for February 24, 2025”

POLICE NOTES: Jewelry Store Smash and Grab, Missing Sentimental Guitars, and 31 Grand in Coke Seized

There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days. Continue reading “POLICE NOTES: Jewelry Store Smash and Grab, Missing Sentimental Guitars, and 31 Grand in Coke Seized”

Committee of the Whole Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the March 4, 2026 Meeting?

This month’s Committee of the Whole meeting is going to be a stacked affair. On the agenda will be at least one item that always appears at this time, plus a review of an important new piece of governance policy, a review of the allocation of rec facility space, and potential changes to how the Sleeman Centre operates. And if that’s not enough sports and recreation for you, the committee will get to know that department a little better. Here’s the preview! Continue reading “Committee of the Whole Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the March 4, 2026 Meeting?”

GUELPH POLITICAST #510 – The Unknowable(?) History of the Waterfowl Park (Real Audio News)

Last week’s discussion at city council about the City of Guelph buying a portion of the old Kortright Waterfowl Park lands on Niska Road captured a lot of attention from the community and community activists. No one’s going to debate the need for more parks and open space, but it’s hard to get a full sense of the history of *this* because it goes back before the internet, so can we ever really have a firm sense of that background and the stakes? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #510 – The Unknowable(?) History of the Waterfowl Park (Real Audio News)”

This Week at Council: This Land *Is* Our Land

At February’s planning meeting, council showed some love to community advocates by voting their way on a couple of key issues. First up, the last meeting about the heritage conservation district for the OR Lands will now be the second-to-last meeting after council sent it back to staff for a change. Council also asked staff to make a change to the Official Plan in the name of protecting a well-loved, and long ignored piece of property. Here’s the recap! Continue reading “This Week at Council: This Land *Is* Our Land”