CITY PAGES: Library Head Retires, Winter Walk Month, and Housing News

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…?

Library CEO Announces Retirement

It was announced at this past Monday’s Library Board meeting that CEO Steve Kraft will be retiring from the Guelph Public Library after 41 years in its stacks, including nine years as CEO. His last day will be Leap Day, Thursday February 29.

“Over the years, I have experienced how libraries transform lives. They truly are amazing community connectors and continually adapt to serve patrons in a multitude of ways,” said Kraft in a statement. “It has been an absolute privilege and delight to work for the Guelph community. I could not have asked for better staff, Board of Directors, and the many library patrons who I now call friends.”

Deputy CEO Dan Atkins will assume the role of interim CEO starting March 1 as the Library Board begins the recruitment process.

More Details About Stepping Stone Expansion

Last month, Stepping Stone went to Committee of Adjustment to seek a variance that would allow them to proceed with an expansion of their shelter at 23 Gordon Street, and this past week Wellington County released some details about what that’s going to look like, and how much it’s going to cost.

Working with Grinham Architects, the expansion will create 24 new emergency shelter beds and 12 new transitional housing units in addition to the units already there. The project is expected to cost $3.5 million exclusive of HST, design, permit fees, and furnishing and equipment; the County has secured just over $3.9 million in capital funding, but they can’t yet say where from due to a “communications embargo”.

“If experiences of homelessness grow in our community and more shelter space is needed, the floor could be converted from 12 transitional housing spaces into 24 shelter beds,” said Warden Andy Lennox in a statement. “This critical project would not be possible without the generous funding the County has received. We look forward to publicly recognizing our funding partners at the appropriate time.”

The tentative completion date for 23 Gordon St is February 2025.

County Gets Housing Funding Too

In December, Wellington County received $633,318 in one-time funding from the Reaching Home under Infrastructure Canada. The money will go to cover increased demand for homelessness services and supports during winter 2023-2024 and it must be spent by April 30. Those services can include temporarily expanding shelter spaces, timelimited rent assistance; the provision of basic needs supplies; increasing service availability (e.g., meals, warming spaces); purchasing cold weather supplies; and more.

“On behalf of County Council, I would like to thank Infrastructure Canada for this critical funding,” said Warden Andy Lennox in a statement. “Housing and homelessness continue to be a top priority for Canadian municipalities. This generous funding will help the County support individuals who are experiencing or who are at risk of experiencing homelessness in the City of Guelph and Wellington County.”

A report about how the money is being spent will be brought to the March meeting of the Social Services committee.

Volunteers Sought for Patient & Family Advisory Council

Guelph General Hospital is recruiting volunteers to join their Patient & Family Advisory Council. Members of this new council will use their first hand experience either receiving care, or being the family member or caregiver of someone receiving care to lend their experience and point-of-view to hospital decision making.

“Committees where an Advisor is part of the conversation are far more meaningful,” said Melissa Skinner, vice-president of Patient Services and Chief Nursing Executive at the Hospital in a statement. “We can put our best foot forward and plan for what we think is the best possible care, but we can’t feel what it is like to be the patient who receives it. These volunteers can; they share those details with us openly to help us design better programs and provide better care.”

Members of the council can be anyone aged 18-plus who has been a patient or supported a patient at Guelph General Hospital in the last three years. The council meets monthly and some of the ongoing projects that advisors participate in include patient surveying, quality improvement planning, and reviewing patient and family educational material. If you’re interested, fill out an application form here, or send an email to gghpatientexpereince [at] gghorg.ca.

February is Winter Walk Month at Local Schools!

Both the Upper Grand District School Board and the Wellington Catholic School Board are marking Winter Walk Month in the area, and Winter Walk Day itself will be on Wednesday February 7. Sponsored by Ontario Active School Travel, during Winter Walk Day and Month “students and families are encouraged to walk or wheel on their journey between home and school throughout the month of February. Students can also participate by walking around the school yard at lunch. The aim is to celebrate active school travel and to spend time outside in all seasons.” You can register to take part in Winter Walk Day and Month by going to the OAST website here.

Additional Notes

Bookmark for later: Here the holiday hours for the Guelph Public Library on the Family Day long weekend.

The Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington is marking National Eating Disorders Awareness Week this week to support the nearly one million Canadians that suffer from an eating disorder at any given time.

GO Transit is adding trains on the Kitchener Line on Saturday February 17 and Saturday February 25 to help ferry students to and from Reading Week destinations.

Guelph-Eramosa Township Mayor Chris White has been re-appointed the chair of the Grand River Conservation Authority with North Dumfries Township Mayor Sue Foxton returning as vice-chair and Brantford Mayor Kevin Davis taking on the role as the new second vice-chair.

Wellington County Warden Andy Lennox has been elected as the vice-chair of the Western Ontario Warden’s Caucus (WOWC).

Nine downtown buildings including the Wellington Building, Old Quebec Street Shoppes, the Old Post Office, the Guelph Civic Museum, Hope House, Frank and Steins, Skyline, The George and Royal City Church will be lit up in the colours of the African Nova Scotia flag for Black Heritage Month.

The City of Guelph will be hosting an open house on the Downtown Guelph Heritage Conservation District Study on Tuesday February 20 at 4:30 pm in the Marg Mackinnon Room at City Hall.

The second annual Secret 3K run/walk marathon to promote gender equality will take place on Wednesday March 6.

The City of Guelph has launched a new porthole to handle all property tax business. You can access the site here.

A noise exemption has been granted for the Junction Craft Beer Fest at Fixed Gear Brewing on Edinburgh Road from June 7 through 9.