The City of Guelph, and it’s various partners and agencies, put out a lot of information on a weekly basis, and while it all ends up on the City’s website somewhere, wouldn’t it be easier to just scroll through it all on one easy-to-read article on Guelph Politico here…?

Public Health Finds Rabid Bat, First Case of 2022!

A bat found in the Melancthon area of Dufferin County is the first animal to be confirmed with rabies in our region in 2022. The bat was found on August 10, and there were two people exposed to the animal who are now receiving treatment. It’s worth noting that although the Ministry of Natural Resources and Forestry distributes rabies vaccine baits to curb the spread of the virus in wildlife, there is no vaccine or bait for bats.

“While rabies is relatively rare, it can be fatal if untreated,” said Dr. Matthew Tenenbaum, Associate Medical Officer of Health for Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health, in a statement. “Please don’t take a chance on a bat found in your home, yard or outdoors. Contact your local animal control agency. If anyone has direct contact with the bat, call your family doctor, or visit your local hospital immediately.”

Public health warns everyone to be weary around bats, raccoons, foxes and stray cats and dogs and to contact local animal control service or the police if you suspect an animal has rabies. Also, keep an eye on your own animals when they’re outside.

Last Call for Parks & Rec Master Plan Feedback!

The City of Guelph is in the “home stretch” of developing the Parks & Recreation Master Plan, and they’re looking for your final throughts on how to ensure everyone has access to parks and recreation amenities as Guelph grows, what our parks and recreation service levels should be and how we should get there, how we can improve access to information, and how to reduce barriers to participation with parks and recreation.

How can you give your feedback? You can log that now at the City’s Have Your Say site, or you can find City staff at one of the pop-up events happening at Guelph parks around town through August. There will also be a virtual information session will take place on Wednesday August 17 at 7 pm, and an in-person one will take place at the West End Red Centre on Saturday August 20 at 10:30 am.

The deadline to post your feedback is August 28.

City Putting Together Forum on OR Lands Heritage Issues

The City of Guelph is putting together the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Study Community and Landowner Group (CLG) and is looking for four people to join up. The purpose of the CLG is to provide a forum for input into the heritage study to supplement the input received through broader consultations, and these four volunteers will join six to 10 others including reps from groups like the Yorklands Green Hub, the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, Heritage Guelph and the Grand River Conservation Authority.

The City is looking for volunteers from the following categories:

• two (2) former employees or residents of the Guelph Correctional Centre
• one (1) resident of east Guelph
• one (1) resident of the City of Guelph at large

If this sounds like you, the deadline to apply is midnight on August 30, 2022. Find the application and other details by clicking here.

New Automatic Reminders for Ontario ID Cards! 

The Government of Ontario announced this week that you now sign up for free reminders by email, text, or phone call 60 and 30 days before it is time to renew your licence plate, driver’s licence, health card, or Ontario Photo Card. You can sign up to get those reminders now either through the online porthole at Ontario.ca/Reminders or by calling ServiceOntario at 1-800-387-3445 (TTY: 1-800-268-7095). When it comes time to do the renewing, you can do so online at Ontario.ca/Renew, or visit a ServiceOntario centre in-person by either popping by your local office or by booking an appointment in advance at Ontario.ca/Appointment.

County Museum Invites You to the Wedding Festival

The Wellington County Museum and Archives is hosting a Wedding Festival on September 11, from 11 am until 3 pm as part of their current exhibit, Here Comes the Bride. The event will include live music, food and drink, wedding stories from Wellington County and around the world, games and crafts for children, and a free photo booth. Plus, people attending the festival are being asked to come “dressed in wedding attire, be it from their own wedding, a relative’s closet, or a second-hand store. Tacky bridesmaid dresses, ruffled tuxedos, and adorable ring bearer outfits are also welcome at this all ages event.” Learn more here.

United Way Hands Out $275,000 For Marginalized Groups

The United Way Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin has given out $275,000 to support 15 different groups from marginalized communities through their new Equity, Diversity & Inclusion (EDI) funding stream.

“In the process of reviewing our Community Impact Strategy, it was clear that without dedicated funding United Way wouldn’t have the opportunity to support the great work of some of our community’s smaller, grassroots organizations or organizations led by marginalized communities, in part due to systemic factors that some have faced in accessing funding previously,” said Colleen Murdoch, director of Community, Engagement and Impact in a statement.  “This support recognizes the need to empower those closest to the issues and prioritizes work led by members of the community they look to serve.”

Here’s the list of groups and the programs being funded:

• Community of Hearts Lifelong Learning Centre – support for the Boxes of Hearts program, which provides job-readiness training for developmentally disabled individuals
• Seed, Soil and Spirit School – an Indigenous, Black and racialized women-run organization providing education programs in plant medicine, nutrition and land stewardship
• Dufferin Child and Family Services – in partnership with the Dufferin County Canadian Black Association, funding to support a racialized trauma-based mental health support program for Black youth
• Canadian Arab Women Association – funding to support Arab women with safe food handling training and the resources to build culinary and entrepreneurship skills to empower and create a sense of belonging
• Compass Community Services – funding to support the 2SLGBTQ+ Talk & Text support line
• Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre (SOAHAC) – programs to build resilience in children, youth, adults, and elders by increasing access to language, culture and traditional foods, and integrating cultural supports that promote health, traditional healing, and mental wellness
• Anishnabeg Outreach Employment & Training Inc. – Centre of Healing in Guelph, which will provide a space for First Nation, Metis, and Inuit communities to connect, belong and regain a sense of identity while working to heal from the ongoing processes of colonization
• Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington – multi-language support for individuals and families suffering with Alzheimer’s disease
• Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre – medical translation services for residents in Guelph-Wellington
• Career Education Council – “Let Me See Me”,  a program that will let youth see themselves in career paths they may have previously felt apprehensive about due to a lack of visible diversity
• Guelph Black Heritage Society – support for the #ChangeStartsNow initiative
• Immigrant Services Guelph Wellington – a peer-led learning and tutoring program
• March of Dimes – financial assistance with mobility devices
• Guelph Wellington Women In Crisis – Sexual Assault Centre
• Dufferin Child & Family Services – GLOW (2SLGBTQ+ program for youth)

Additional Notes

REMINDER #1: Get ready for this fall’s Municipal Election by making sure that you’re on the voters’ list.

REMINDER #2: The City of Guelph is still looking for election workers.

The University of Guelph has re-appointed Dr. Samantha Brennan as the Dean of the College of Arts.

Metrolinx has announced some adjustments to GO train schedules for the remainder of August, and although the Kitchener wasn’t affected, it was last week, Metrolinx is asking everyone to double check their schedule.

10C is looking for volunteers to work their front desk.

The Hanlon Creek Park splash pad is now officially open for business.

CrimeStoppers Guelph Wellington will be hosting their fall shredding fundraiser on Saturday September 24 (details coming soon).

The main entrance to Guelph General Hospital will be locked between 9 pm and 5 am starting on Monday August 15 as a new video intercom will have to be used by people in order to access the hospital after hours.

The County of Wellington is looking for vendors to take part in the annual Christmas Market at the County Museum and Archives. This year, it’s on the weekend of November 25-26, but you have to submit an application through the museum’s website by September 16 if you’re interested in being a vendor.

New and Upcoming Construction

Sewers under various streets in the downtown core will be flushed at different times overnight during the week of August 15.

The City of Guelph will be installing groundwater monitoring wells at the Indian Trail unopened road allowance for six days starting on Monday August 15. People are being asked to avoid the area from 7 am to 7 pm. The wells are being installed to better understand the geology and hydrogeology in the headwaters of Clythe Creek.

Lee Street will be closed between Cityview Drive and Breesegarden Lane for two weeks starting on Monday August 15 for the installation of new sewers and water pipes.

There will be lane reductions on Woolwich Street around Marilyn Drive for two weeks starting on Monday August 22 to complete sewer and water pipe work that started earlier this year.