At a special meeting of the Upper Grand District School Board on Tuesday night, trustees heard the plans of their staff to ensure the safe re-opening of schools in Guelph and area in just a few weeks time. According to the staff report, the new school year is going to come with big challenges, and a big price tag, but confidence is high that it’s a good plan that will give school kids a taste of normalcy. Continue reading “Masks For Everyone, Says Upper Grand District School Board”
The year was 2010. Things started rough with a massive earthquake in Haiti, President Barack Obama got the Affordable Care Act passed but it came at the cost of one of the biggest midterm sweeps in American history, and Spain won that year’s FIFA World Cup. Meanwhile, in Toronto, whatever goals there were for the G20 Summit were overshadowed by violence in the streets and the overreaction by Toronto Police that’s now been backed up with a court settlement. Continue reading “After a Decade, a Settlement is Finally Reached with G20 Protestors”
Months of advocacy finally paid off for the City of Guelph and other municipalities in Ontario on Wednesday with the announcement of the first phase of emergency operating funds. Just in time for Guelph city council’s monthly COVID-19 response meeting, Mayor Cam Guthrie shared the news that Guelph’s share of $1.6 billion in funding under the Safe Start Agreement is $12 million. Continue reading “Cities Finally Get Details on Emergency Funds, Guelph to Get $12 Million”
It’s not the firs time that someone’s been removed from a position of authority because of something they posted on social media, but this is perhaps the most high-profile instance to happen in Guelph. Marino Gazzola, the now ousted chair of the Wellington Catholic District School Board, has formally apologized for some kind of negative social media posts though no one can say what those were. Continue reading “Gazzola Apologizes But For What is Still an Unanswered Question”
Back in February, a big rake out concerning leash-free, fenced in dog parks in the city was called off when a Committee of the Whole motion to eliminate the amenity at Peter Misersky Park, and cancel all further projects, was found out of order. But the debate is back on the radar with a Notice of Motion coming forward at Monday’s council meeting. Continue reading “Dog Park Debate Makes a Comeback With Notice of Motion”
On Thursday night, the Ward 6 city councillors hosted a virtual town hall after a very busy month around the digital horseshoe. The post-pandemic world in Guelph, future budget concerns, upcoming changes to policy and development, and even a small dive into the world of conspiracy theories was all part of this special, from home edition constituency meeting! Continue reading “RECAP: Ward 6 Councillors Talk Virtually About South End Concerns”
As we enter midsummer, and the fifth full month living in a COVID-19 world, it seems like some of us are forgetting first principles about stopping the spread of the virus. A joint statement from Mayor Cam Guthrie and Medical Officer of Health Dr. Nicola Mercer is asking Guelphites to remember that there is such a thing as the “new normal” and that everyone still has to follow the advice of public health to slow the spread of COVID. Continue reading “Guthrie and Mercer Ask for Help to Hold the Line on COVID”
Back in June, as the economy started to re-open and City services started to get back to normal, there was one particular service that was lagging behind as it sorted out its own safety requirements. For all those that have eagerly awaited a return to the library in order to do more than just pick up requested materials, you’re time is coming, and it’s on August 4. Continue reading “Guelph Libraries to Re-Open on August 4”
In other signs that life is slowly turning back to some semblance of normalcy, the City of Guelph announced Monday that they’ve set re-opening dates for Guelph Civic Museums. For other non-profits struggling because of the pandemic, the City also announced Monday how they will be implementing the council-approved $350,000 in funding to assist non-profits with emergency funding. Continue reading “Guelph Museums Re-opening, and Assistance for Non-Profits Announced”
So, there are Nazi monuments in Ontario? You might have never found that out if someone hadn’t vandalized the “Monument to the Glory of the UPA” in the St. Volodymyr Ukrainian Cemetery in Oakville before Friday. This is the latest instance of racist, or colonialist, monuments and statues to be challenged or vandalized since protests for social justice started after the killing of George Floyd by police in Minneapolis in May, but this one has a twist. Continue reading “Graffiti Abounds! Guelph Black Heritage Hall Vandalized, But So is Nazi Monument (?) in Oakville”
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