The Fridays For Future Climate strikes have become a familiar site in Downtown Guelph over the last year, but they seem to have lost none of their enthusiasm. Over the lunch hour on a cold November day, nearly 200 people filled St. George’s Square to carry signs, dress in costumes, sing songs, and die-in to promote more climate action. Continue reading “Songs and Pageantry Promote Climate Action in Latest Strike”
At the meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board on Tuesday, trustees voted unanimously to declare a climate emergency. The motion will create a new climate change committee of the board, which will look for ways to reduce the carbon footprint at Guelph and area public schools, and promote others to lead by example. Continue reading “School Board Declares Climate Emergency in Unanimous Motion”
In a year that saw City of Guelph departments and boards do everything possible to keep their budget increase close to zero, the Guelph Police Service asked for a nearly 10 per cent increase. That accounts for over half of this year’s total tax levy increase, which currently sits at 3.78 per cent, but Guelph’s Police Chief is firm, his service needs those fund and the new people they will secure. Continue reading “Chief Cobey Says This Year’s Budget Crunch is a ‘Perfect Storm’”
The last town hall of the budget season unfolded Tuesday night at the West End Rec Centre as Ward 4 Councillors Christine Billings and Mike Salisbury answered constituent questions about the 2020 budget, and then talked to some west side concerns. You can read the live tweets below, or, if you don’t care for reading, you can watch the original live stream. Continue reading “RECAP: Ward 4 Town Hall Rounds Out Direct Feedback on Budget ’20”
Somewhere in William Winegard Public School, someone was rhythmically beating a drum. The slow tap of that drum was always there in the background, and it did nothing for the mood on the second floor, where, in the library, Ward 1 Councillor Dan Gibson was walking a fine line between outrage and need. Continue reading “Motion Sickness: How One Request for Info Pitted a Neighbourhood Against City Hall”
Ward 2 Councillors James Gordon and Rodrigo Goller joined a couple of dozen of their constituents on Saturday afternoon to do a deep dive and some Q&A on the 2020 Guelph Budget. You can follow the tweets or watch the video from the live stream below: Continue reading “RECAP: Ward 2 Town Hall Goes Deep in Budget Discussions”
After another Homecoming celebration this year that made more news about the after party than it made about the game, the Guelph Police Services Board is worried about the cost of celebrating in the city. At Thursday’s board meeting, options were explored about how they can approach the University of Guelph about making up some of those overtime costs. Continue reading “Guelph Police Board Wants U of G to Help Cover Homecoming Policing Costs”
Ward 5 Councillors Leanne Piper and Cathy Downer gathered over 40 of their constituents at Mary Phelan Catholic School on a rainy Thursday night for a town hall. Several things were discussed including the Dolime Quarry deal, the comprehensive zoning bylaw review, and yes, the 2020 Municipal Budget. Here’s the recap. Continue reading “RECAP: Dolime, Bylaw, and Budget Were all Discussed at Ward 5 Town Hall”
A key vacancy in City Hall’s senior management has been filled after a year long game of music chairs among the ranks. A few months ago, Kealy Dedman made the move to becoming Deputy CAO of Infrastructure, Development and Enterprise Services, which left her old position, City Engineer, vacant. But now Guelph’s got a new engineer. Continue reading “New City Engineer Takes Over for Promoted Dedman”
Almost nine out of ten Guelph citizens are satisfied with the delivery of City services, and nine-and-a-half out of 10 rate the quality of life in the Royal City as good or very good according to a new Citizen Satisfaction survey done by the City of Guelph. Continue reading “Guelphites Pretty Satisfied With Life in the Royal City, Says Survey”
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