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…?

Take Root Trees Sold Out After First Run

A joint City of Guelph and Trees For Guelph initiative with Forest Ontario has handed out the entire first batch of trees through their new Take Root program, according to a rep from Forest Ontario. The program provides residents of the city with access to no-cost, native trees for their homes and neighbourhoods, making tree planting accessible for all. The program is designed to help municipalities provide knowledge and training about developing urban forests, and to properly plant and care for those new trees.

“Giving residents access to the right tree, for the right place, and at the right price, is only the start,” said Rob Keen, Registered Professional Forester and CEO of Forests Ontario. “By working with our partners to share our knowledge about planting and caring for trees with the community, the Take Root program can help create a healthy, thriving network of interconnected, urban green spaces.”

Sign Up for Humane Society Walk-a-thon Fundraiser

The Guelph Humane Society is counting down to the Happy Trails Walk-a-thon, a fundraiser that aims to raise $25,000 to support vulnerable animals in Guelph and Wellington County. “The Happy Trails Walk-a-thon will help us continue to provide essential care and support for more than 3000 sick, orphaned, lost or abandoned animals that arrive at our door each year,” explained GHS executive director Lisa Veit in a media release.

The Walk-a-thon will take place on Sunday June 4 at the Humane Society’s office at 190 Hanlon Creek Boulevard. According to the release, corporate opportunities, such as sponsorship and teams, are also available and this  is also an opportunity for local businesses to showcase their commitment to animal welfare and promote their brand to a wide audience.

You can register for the Walk-a-thon here, and if you have any questions, email give [at] guelphhumane [dot] com.

Guelph Tool Library Launches Bike Repair Space

Along with the April Repair Cafe today at their Old Quebec Street space, the Guelph Tool Library will launch their new Freehub Community Bike Centre, which will give members of the public access to a repair space, tools, parts, and the assistance of a volunteer mechanic to help them learn and perform basic, do-it-yourself bike repairs.

“For many, a bicycle is their main mode of transportation for getting around. The Guelph Tool Library wants to support these folks by providing them a place and tools to maintain and repair their bikes,” said John Dennis, Guelph Tool Library co-founder and board member. “This is just another example of supporting our mission to build community resilience by engaging our members in sharing knowledge, skills and resources.”

The bike centre’s hours from the rest of April and into May will be Saturdays from 1-5 pm, Tuesdays from 4-7 pm, and Thursdays from 4-7 pm. For information about the centre, or to volunteer your talents, shoot an email to freehub [at] guelphtoollibrary [dot] org.

Conestoga and WCDSB Team Up For New Program

Grade 12 students at the Wellington Catholic District School Board will soon be able to take part in a new program in co-ordination with Conestoga College that will allow to get an early start on their college career. “Students travel to Conestoga College where they learn from college instructors and gain invaluable experiences on campus,” explained Dual Credit Resource teacher Sarah Gammie in a media release. “The program is called Dual Credit because students get high school credits that also count as college credits. This allows them to graduate with two college credits already completed.”

The variety and type of programs available will depend on the year, but courses available now include security guard licensing, early childhood education, culinary and baking techniques, and many different skilled trade fields. The program is open and accessible to anyone in grade 12 who are college or apprenticeship bound. “All transportation is provided to students. If they need any supplies for their class (work boots, safety glasses, textbooks) they are all covered under SCWI and Dual Credit,” Gammie added. “This program removes all barriers and makes this learning experience accessible to all students, no matter where they live or their financial situation.”

Annual Booms and Buoys Installation Begins

If you see some activity on local waterways in the next couple of weeks, it might be because the Grand River Conservation Authority is installing booms and buoys upstream of dams as a warning to paddlers, anglers, and boaters. The installation of these buoys and booms will take place between April 17 and April 27, but that’s subject to change depending on weather conditions. In accordance with regulations set by Transport Canada, which oversees navigable waterways, the GRCA is gradually replacing the existing orange booms with yellow booms.

Additional Notes

10C Shared Space is looking for some new people to join their Board of Directors. The deadline to apply is Friday April 28.

Alan Doyle will be joined by local musicians like  James Gordon and Mikalyn for an evening of story and song on April 30 at Cutten Fields to kick off Oak Tree Project #8. This is the official kick-off of the eighth year for Oak Tree, which in 2023 focuses on youth mental health and sharing stories about how music is a tool of healing, connection and renewal. Get your tickets here.

Nominations are now open for the Board of Directors of the new Guelph Sports Council. To inquire about making a nomination or to receive an application, send an email to GuelphSportsCouncil [at] gmail [dot] com.

Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington will kick off their annual spring mulch fundraiser on May 6 at JL’s Home Hardware here in Guelph from 9 am to noon.

Erin District High School was named one of the Top 50 Terry Fox School Run Fundraisers of 2022. The school made 18th place by raising $11,886.46 last fall, and a lifetime fundraising total of nearly $199,000.

New and Upcoming Construction

Installation of the water barriers around the downtown core for the upcoming patio season will be installed this weekend on April 15 and 16.

Sidewalk repairs on Wyndham Street North from Quebec Street to Woolwich are starting on Monday April 17, and it will continue for six to eight weeks.

There will be lane reductions on University Avenue East from Gordon Street to Cutten Fields for one day on Wednesday April 19 to create subsurface utility engineering mapping.