CITY PAGES: Feedback Wanted, Photo Contest, and New Deputy Chief

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…?

Inspector Steve Gill Named New Deputy Police Chief

The Guelph Police Services Board has announced that Inspector Steve Gill has been selected to join Daryl Goetz as the second Deputy Police Chief for the Guelph service. In a media release, Gill was touted for his over 20 years experience with Guelph Police, including his most recent role overseeing Investigative Services.

“The Board Selection Committee undertook a comprehensive selection process and is confident that Inspector Gill’s varied experience, education, and expertise will be of great benefit as we continue to build on the solid foundation of the Guelph Police Service, plan for the future, and continue to ensure the highest level of policing to the citizens of Guelph,” said Board Chair Peter McSherry in a statement.

The addition of a second deputy chief is not a new position in the service, but this will be the first time in many years there’s been more than one deputy chief at any given time. Funding for the second deputy chief was approved in the 2023 police budget, and Gill take up the role starting on Monday.

“Deputy Chief Gill has grown up in our city and raised his family here. His appointment to this role will greatly support the ongoing growth and evolution of our service as we strive to ensure the best possible service delivery for our very diverse and rapidly growing city,” added Chief Gord Cobey.

Input Wanted for Margaret Greene Splash Pad

Guelphites are being asked for their feedback about the potential design and features for the new splash pad coming to Margaret Greene Park later this year. If you go to the online survey, you will be asked to judge between two different renderings of the design, and there’s also some “inspiration imagery” available as part of the survey. The deadline to provide you input is April 16, and construction is expected to begin on the splash pad later this year.

City Looking for Feedback on Parking Plan

If you caught any part of this past Wednesday’s council meeting about the Downtown Parking Master Plan and feel like that you might have something to say on the matter, it’s now you’re turn. You can now “Have Your Say” about the plan until April 25 by filling out a survey on the City’s website. There will also be a virtual presentation and discussion on Thursday April 13 at 7 pm, and you can register to attend on the project’s Have Your Say page.

County Marks Archives Awareness Week

April 3 through 6 marks Archives Awareness Week, so Wellington County Archives will open the doors for behind-the-scenes guided tours of the processing room and storage vault. The Archives are open weekdays from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm, and Saturdays from 1:00 pm to 5:00 pm, and staff will be available to answer questions related to family history research using Ancestry.ca, family photograph preservation, or how to research the history of your house. No appointment is necessary, and online video calls can also be arranged too.

“Archives are used by many different user groups, including genealogists or family historians, individuals working on building histories, students, and professionals such as lawyers, surveyors and engineers,” said archivist Karen Wagner. “Archival records relating to Wellington County need to be preserved to ensure that our rich documentary history is available for the future.”

Library Looking for “Hidden Past” in Photos

The Guelph Public Library is looking for photos from “Guelph’s Hidden Past”. The photo’s must be original whether it was something you snapped on your phone or something that you found in “great, great granny’s tickle trunk”, and the Library is inviting you to submit that picture to the judgment of Guelph famous historians Bonnie Durtnall, Ed Butts and Cameron Shelley for a prize valued at approximately $50.

The deadline for submission is 5 pm on Sunday April 30, and if you have an original printed photo, the only place you can submit them is at the main branch on Norfolk Street. Click here to fund the contest entry form.

Additional Notes

REMINDER #1: The City of Guelph is collecting feedback for the review and update of the Private Tree Protection By-law. The deadline to have your say is April 14.

REMINDER #2: The Clean and Green local clean-up campaign returns this April, and you can register right now to sign up your team to make one of Guelph’s parks, trails and open spaces spick and span. Register by April 9.

Details for the Ward 5 town hall next week have been released. This town hall will be a hybrid format, so you can attend on Zoom, or you can go to the town hall in-person at Kortright Presbyterian Church at 55 Devere Drive.

Big Brothers and Big Sisters of Guelph are looking for volunteers to help them raise money by riding the MEGABike on Friday June 2.

Upcoming Rotary events: Charmaine Hammond, executive producer of the mental health recovery film Back Home Again, will speak at a virtual event on Wednesday April 5 at 8 am, and there will be a movie night at the Bookshelf Cinema for the documentary Call of the Forest and a Q&A with director Jeff McKay.