After two turns running for provincial office, James Gordon is throwing his hat into the Ward 2 race in this fall’s municipal election. Gordon officially filed his papers yesterday joining a five person race (so far) that includes Ray Ferraro, Chris Keleher Sr., Sian Matwey, and Mark Paralovos. Continue reading “James Gordon to Give Municipal Politics a Try”
Despite registering to run for re-election the first day that nominations were open, Ward 5 Councillor Lise Burcher has decided to withdraw her name from the ballot. Burcher’s is the second departure from the Ward 5 race in the last two weeks as Robert Routledge withdrew his candidacy last week citing work commitments. Continue reading “Burcher Exits Ward 5 Race”
From some it’s a return to normalcy, for others its the deafening end to a precious few months of peace and quiet. However you see the start of a new school year, it’s beginning again this weekend, and the city is responding to the influx with the implementation of the Safe Semester Program. Taken for a test drive last year and deemed a success, the program makes a comeback with one small change, and the hopes that the weekend flock to pub row downtown is run as smooth as humanly possible (given that many of those humans are deeply inebriated). Continue reading “Safe Semester Kicks Off Next Weekend”
The close of nominations for the 2014 Municipal Election is fast approaching, and with only a couple of weeks left to file papers, the ballots in races for the City of Guelph have seen quite a few new additions in the last couple of weeks. In brief, a new name makes the mayor’s race even more competitive, the ranks of the Ward 4 contest swell, and a couple of new old names are making their play in another election run. Continue reading “More Candidates Enter Race as August Draws to Close”
A special guest came to town yesterday in the person of Federal Finance Minister Joe Oliver. After a couple of meetings with local business leaders at the Holiday Inn, it was time for that annual summer tradition of the political barbeque, and from the sounds of it, at least according the Guelph Federal Conservation Electoral District Association (EDA), it was all a smash success. Continue reading “Conservative EDA Says Oliver Visit a Success”
Yesterday’s conviction of Michael Sona managed to do the impossible, prompt a response from Marty Burke. Continue reading “Marty Says Mea Culpa”
Wrapping up an odyssey that’s been in play for over three years, Michael Sona was found guilty in a Guelph courtroom this morning of “willfully preventing or endeavouring to prevent an elector from voting.”
After a summation of the trial and the facts offered into evidence, Judge Gary Hearn rendered his judgment to a packed gallery of media and observers at the provincial courthouse on Wyndham Street. Hearn said that upon consideration of the “balance of evidence” he was satisfied that Sona had aided and abetted the May 2, 2011 robocall scheme to misdirect nearly 7,000 Guelph voters to different polling stations, and “was a party to it.” Continue reading “Sona Found Guilty But May Not Have Acted Alone”
Since last Friday, Guelphites from Watson Parkway to Elmira Road, from Woodlawn to Claire, have all enjoyed the renewed freedom of movement and cost efficiency of riding Guelph Transit. Both the Guelph City Council and the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1189 moved quickly last Tuesday to ratify the negotiated agreement, and city hall offered a small token of peace to transit users by making buses free for a week. So to quote the song from a popular animated movie, “Everything is Awesome,” right? Continue reading “EDITORIAL – Council Leadership Pitiful During Lockout”
It was sudden though not terribly surprising last week when it was announced that local arts scion Sue Richards had passed away. She had been suffering from Parkinson’s Disease since 2007, but kept up the good fight up until last Saturday when she couldn’t outpace her illness anymore. Richards was only 56, but her legacy and contributions to the culture of the Royal City will be felt for years to come. Continue reading “Artist/Activist Sue Richards Passes Away”
A new candidate who entered the mayoral race this week hopes to shake things up, and he’s making a pretty big noise as he’s filing his papers. University of Waterloo professor Jason Blokhuis is the sixth candidate to declare for the mayor’s race in Guelph this election cycle, and he’s making a play to position himself as a middle path between incumbent Karen Farbridge and her immediate challenger Cam Guthrie. Continue reading “New Candidate Aims to Shake Up Mayor’s Race”
