Surprise! It’s a surprise meeting, and that means a surprise meeting recap! Following up the first big political controversy of 2026, a special city council meeting was called to figure out what was to be done about the sudden cancellation of the daytime shelter plan out of Royal City Mission and Stepping Stone. The details were mostly in-camera, but you will learn all about what came out of it in this recap of the meeting…
Special Meeting of Council – January 13, 2026
Before Tuesday’s special meeting got started there was a rally outside city hall with about 50 community members calling for action from city council on the loss of a daytime shelter program that we were meant to believe was a done deal before Christmas.
“Heading into this meeting, we want [council] to know that we need the funding they’ve already allocated to go to a service provider immediately so that we don’t have any more days where nobody can get shelter,” said Bonnie Powell, one of the rally organizers. “Long term, we’re looking for annualized funding tied to inflation, and we need a plan in place for winter shelter by the middle of the year, every year.”
City Councillors Phil Allt, Leanne Caron and Katherine Hauser joined the rally (Erin Caton joined virtually), and they were presented with a petition featuring 1,200 signatures demanding that immediate action on a daytime shelter.
“When we go into council, the councillors that are here with me, including my friend online, don’t know what is going to happen, but I can assure you that any decision made will be based on humanity and not on politics,” Allt said. “We need to do something for people and not something that is politically shrewd and is possibly meant to upset some people. Let’s make it right for everybody in a community that truly cares and prides itself on caring.”
With that, everyone went inside city hall in anticipation for the start of the meeting. When the time came, Mayor Cam Guthrie, the 11 councillors present (Ken Yee Chew sent regrets), and senior city staff immediately went in-camera to discuss the situation. Many of the community members soon left but nearly a dozen remained so that they could hear the outcome, and they waited for nearly two hours.
Just before 7 pm, Guthrie convened the open meeting again. He announced that council had directed staff to make a new contract with Stepping Stone to provide daytime shelter services starting on March 1. Between now and then, Guthrie had some additional news. “We also recognize that there is a gap, so we will have a funding envelope of $120,000 that will be available for people to get access to,” he said.
“Staff have worked with numerous community partners to explore interim emergency solutions for daytime space and food security, and it’s become clear that no one organization has the ability to fill the immediate gaps for our community,” said Jodie Sales, general manager of Strategic Initiatives and Intergovernmental Services.
“Capacity in our community is limited and relies highly on volunteers and partnerships, so in an effort to provide additional support to community non-profit organizations, the City will be launching a one-time emergency community grant for daytime space and food security program,” Sales explained. “We will have up to $120,000 available for community organizations who believe they are in a position to increase the availability of daytime space or meals in the community between now and March 1.”
More information was shared in a press release the City of Guelph sent out shortly after the meeting. “The one-time grant — known as the Emergency Community Grant for Daytime Space and Food Security — will allow organizations that qualify to expand opening hours or offer additional meals between January 19 and March 1, 2026.” Details about the grant program, including the eligibility requirements, will be released before the end of business on Friday.
You may now return to your regular council meeting schedule for 2026.
Click here to see the complete recap of the meeting.
Guelph Politico 