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…?

City Looking for Business Support for Waste Reduction Strategy

The City of Guelph is collecting feedback now from the general public, and specifically local food-service businesses, about how they can support the City’s waste reduction strategy. What City Hall wants to know is how easy or hard it is to do various activities like accept a customer’s clean reusable cup and container, offer in-restaurant dishware for dine-in drinks and food, offer foodware accessories like cutlery or stir sticks by request, and use recycled content in paper and reusable bags. The survey is open on the Have Your Say site until February 29. Get more information here.

U of G Names New Lang School Dean

Dr. Sara Mann has been named the new dean of the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics. Mann, who holds a PhD in management from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, is a professor of organizational behaviour and strategic human resource management, and previously served as interim dean of Lang School after Julia Christensen Hughes completed her term in 2019.

“As dean, Dr. Mann will continue to build on Lang’s commitment to global leadership through both research and experiential learning opportunities for our students, while also strengthening our relationships with our valued Lang alumni, donors and community partners who play a pivotal role in enabling the success of our students,” said Dr. Gwen Chapman, provost and vice-president (academic) in a statement.

“It is a tremendous honour to continue to serve as Dean for Lang,” Mann said.  “Business as a force for good is in our DNA and our students gain a unique understanding of how responsible and sustainable business practices can Improve Life here in Guelph and around the world. I look forward to advancing our mission and positioning Lang on the global stage,” she added.

25 Local Non-Profits Get Community Foundation Funds

To end their 2023 giving, the Guelph Community Foundation gave out another $107,400 in funding to bring there total giving for the year up to $2.49 million. Funding of up to $5,000 was made available to the various applicants, and the decisions by the board were made challenging, according to a press release, by the number of applications received. Charitable organizations seeking funding had to demonstrate that their application fit within the framework of local Toward Common Ground wellbeing concepts and connect to one of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals.

The 25 groups that received this round of funding included Art Not Sham, the Children’s Reading Room, Community Hearts, Guelph and District Multicultural Festival, the Guelph Black Heritage Society, Immigrant Services Guelph Wellington, The Grove Hubs, and Your Downtown Guelph Friends. To see the complete list, and the programs, click here.

City of Guelph looking for 2024 Artist-in Residence

The City of Guelph invites artists and art collectives (collaborations by two or more artists) to submit Expressions of Interest for the 2024 Artist-in-Residence program. The program invites artists from a variety of disciplines – literary, media, performance and visual – to put together a program that considers how the community might witness, contribute to, engage with or participate in their art. This year’s program will award two projects with a residency and a $7,000 project budget. To learn more, visit this City of Guelph website here.

Wellington County Launches Low-Income Green Energy Pilot

The County of Wellington has announced the launch of something called the Energy Coach pilot programme, which will help low-income residents reduce their home’s energy costs, energy usage, and greenhouse gas emissions. From now through May, the program will pre-screen residents to see what programs they qualify for, provide information about home energy systems, guide residents to resources, and answer questions about energy efficiency.

“Low-income residents who rent or own a property will be able to contact the Energy Coach via email or phone to receive tailored assistance and step-by-step guidance on how to benefit from the available energy-saving upgrades, including new doors, windows, heating systems, smart thermostats, and more,” said James Seeley, Planning Committee Chair in a statement. “The Energy Coach will assess the residents’ current energy usage and pre-screen them and direct them to the best and most-suitable programmes.”

Additional Notes

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

Give your feedback on new playground designs for three Guelph parks in 2025: Colonial Drive Park, Holland Crescent Park and Highview Park.

Donna Graham is this year’s Peter Moore Vocational Services Award from the Rotary Club of Guelph Trillium for being one of the founders of the Food4Kids program.

The Guelph Arts Council is interested in recruiting volunteers who would like to write about the local  arts scene.

Check out the Lightfoot Band, Gordon Lightfoot’s original touring band, at the River Run Centre on Leap Day, Thursday February 29 at 8 pm.

The Rotary Club of Guelph, Trees for Guelph, and the City of Guelph are planning a tree planting at the Hanlon Creek Forest on Laird Road in the south end on Saturday April 27 at 9 am.

Current “Have Your Say” Opportunities:

Dark Sky Bylaw, Guelph’s Bicentennial, Housing Affordability Strategy, New Community Gardens, Playground Replacements for 2024, and Waste Reduction Strategies.

Transit News & Detours

Nothing to report.

New and Upcoming Construction

There will be lane reductions on the southern end of Southgate Drive for three days starting on Monday February 12.

The City is collecting feedback about a proposed community garden for Skov Park near Victoria and Eramosa. You have until February 28.

PNR Railworks has applied for a noise exemption to do construction work on the railroad bridge along Paisley Road west of Elmira on May 11 and 12. If you live in the area and would like council to review the request, you can file your request by February 23.