Author: Adam A. Donaldson

When he’s not the main/only contributor to Guelph Politico, Adam A. Donaldson also contributes to GuelphToday.com as their city hall columnist and co-hosts a political and current affairs show on CFRU 93.3 fm called “Open Sources Guelph" as well as the movie review show "End Credits."

GUELPH POLITICAST #REPEAT – Guelph: A John Galt Project (feat. Gil Stelter)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

This is a big year for Guelph. Our downtown landscape is changing, we have an election in the fall that will usher in a new mayor and council, and then we will mark the city’s 200th birthday in the spring. Two centuries ago, it all began with one man from Scotland cutting down a tree near what we now call the Eramosa River, but how much about John Galt do we actually know? Well, as you will recall, one local academic knows a lot… Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #REPEAT – Guelph: A John Galt Project (feat. Gil Stelter)” →

POLICE NOTE: Lincolns Taken, Aeroplan Fraudster Busted and New Arrest for LCBO Heist

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days. Continue reading “POLICE NOTE: Lincolns Taken, Aeroplan Fraudster Busted and New Arrest for LCBO Heist” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #536 – The Year at Council… So Far (May to July)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

Guelph City Council is now on summer break, a long break and then just a few more meetings before the municipal election campaign can really get underway. Perhaps you can’t handle anymore council talk, maybe you just want to be free to think about getting an ice cream at the Boathouse, or plan to visit all your favourite vendors at Ribfest, but after this you will be free… The recap of May, June and July’s council meetings! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #536 – The Year at Council… So Far (May to July)” →

RECAP: The GRCA Board Votes to Proceed With Sale of Agricultural Land on Niska

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It’s unusual for the Grand River Conservation Authority Board to meet in July, but these are unusual times. For the most part, this meeting was reserved to start the 2027 budget discussion, a necessity given the Ontario government’s push to amalgamate the GRCA with three other authorities. For Guelphites though, there were other stakes: eight hectares of agricultural land next to the old Niska Waterfowl Park that the GRCA wants to sell. How did it go down? Check out the recap! Continue reading “RECAP: The GRCA Board Votes to Proceed With Sale of Agricultural Land on Niska” →

This Week at Council: Public Space Changes and the “Future” Reviewed

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It was the last city council meeting… before summer break! There will be a couple of more meetings in September before the October 26 election, but will there be anything as controversial as the unscheduled return of the Public Space Use Bylaw? That one was put on the revised agenda, along with a matter of development changes being applied to a non-profit’s renovation project. We’ll get that, and the update about the City’s Strategic Plan in this last recap of the summer! Continue reading “This Week at Council: Public Space Changes and the “Future” Reviewed” →

POLICE NOTES: Hondas Taken, Another Hammer Attack, and Plant Theft

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days. Continue reading “POLICE NOTES: Hondas Taken, Another Hammer Attack, and Plant Theft” →

RECAP: City Council Meeting for July 22, 2026

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It’s the last city council meeting…. before summer break! We will plan for the last time before summer vacation! You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along during the meeting on Blue Sky or recap the complete thread after the meeting below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “RECAP: City Council Meeting for July 22, 2026” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #535 – The State of Local News in a Local Election Year (feat. Mirko Petricevic)

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It seemed to pass by without much commentary earlier this year, but January 29 marked the tenth anniversary of the last edition of the Guelph Mercury. Recently, with the closure of 570 News in Kitchener, a discussion about the shrinking state of local news is timely again, and as we head into municipal election season, shouldn’t it be more top of mind as we get ready to elect a new mayor and council? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #535 – The State of Local News in a Local Election Year (feat. Mirko Petricevic)” →

RECAP: City Council Meetings for July 21, 2026

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

It’s two meetings for the price of one! You can click here and here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along during the meeting on Blue Sky or recap the complete thread after the meeting below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “RECAP: City Council Meetings for July 21, 2026” →

MEETING PREVIEW: Grand River Conservation Membership Meeting for July 27, 2026

Published on by Adam A. DonaldsonLeave a comment

No rest for the weary, at least if you’re interested in Grand River Conservation Authority business. Although the board typically takes July off, the demands of the pending amalgamation with the Catfish, Kettle Creek, and Long Point Region Conservation Authorities requires some conversations around the budget. For Guelph peeps, you’re favourite piece of environmentally sensitive property is coming back to the front burner. Here’s the preview! Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Grand River Conservation Membership Meeting for July 27, 2026” →