City of Guelph and Guelph Police Thinking Ahead to This Weekend’s Protest

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The civil rights demonstrations and marches that have erupted after the killing of George Floyd while in police custody last week continue to occupy people, politicians and current affairs both here and in the United States. After thousands showed up at a march in Kitchener Wednesday, the City of Guelph and the Guelph Police Service have both put out messages in advance of Saturday’s event in Downtown Guelph. Continue reading “City of Guelph and Guelph Police Thinking Ahead to This Weekend’s Protest” →

Public Health Board Told COVID Costs Have Topped $1 Million (So Far)

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On Wednesday afternoon, the local Board of Health met for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic began, and while the general message was that the pandemic response has been good, it’s not come without cost. Many of the regular programs at Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph have been interrupted due to the pandemic, and the literal price tag to protect us from COVID might be close to $1 million. Continue reading “Public Health Board Told COVID Costs Have Topped $1 Million (So Far)” →

Guelph’s Leaders Offer Messages of Hope and Encouragement

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People around the world have been watching the events unfolding in the United States last weekend, and some of those people live in Guelph. As we struggle with our own feelings about the death of another Black man in police custody, and we think about our own roles in combating anti-Black racism, Guelph’s leaders have been offering words of comfort, understanding, and self-reflection. Continue reading “Guelph’s Leaders Offer Messages of Hope and Encouragement” →

GUELPH POLITICAST #224 – It’s Been a Long School Year…

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Last September at the Labour Day Picnic in Riverside Park, there were already signs that it was going to be a long year at the province’s schools. The contract with all four teachers’ unions in Ontario had expired, and the Ontario government was in no mood to approve new spending or pay raises for teachers and other school workers employed at our Catholic and separate public schools. That was only the beginning. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #224 – It’s Been a Long School Year…” →

Provincial State of Emergency Extended Until June 30

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In a vote that sends the message to Ontarians that the pandemic is far from over, the Ontario Legislature voted to extend the provincial state of emergency until the end of June. According to the Government of Ontario, this action comes as a recommendation of the medical officer of health, and it will allow them to continue to respond to the pandemic in a “measured and responsible way.” Continue reading “Provincial State of Emergency Extended Until June 30” →

Province Orders Change in Management for 7th Long Term Care Home

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Since last week’s incendiary report on the state of five long term care homes in Ontario as observed by the Canadian Forces, the Province has taken over management of six long-term care homes, and now they’ve added a seventh. This new home is up the road in Kitchener where St. Mary’s Hospital is taking over Forest Heights Long Term Care, where over 200 cases of COVID-19 have been diagnosed. Continue reading “Province Orders Change in Management for 7th Long Term Care Home” →

Federal Government Offers Cities Money They Were Going to Get Anyway

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson1 Comment

In his daily press briefing from Rideau Cottage Monday morning, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced that Canada’s municipalities will be getting $2.2 billion in infrastructure money this month in a one-time payment. Cities, and the organizations that represent them, have been begging the Federal government for financial help, but this is probably not what they were thinking of exactly. Continue reading “Federal Government Offers Cities Money They Were Going to Get Anyway” →

Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic Waiting for Key Docs to Finish 2020/21 Budget

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson1 Comment

At the Upper Grand District School Board Meeting last Tuesday, a series of meetings about the budget for the 2020/2021 school year were cancelled because the board is still waiting for documents from the Ministry of Education that they need to finalize the budget. With a deadline of June 30 for the final budget to be submitted to the ministry, school boards across Ontario have 30 days to get their financial plans in order even through there are still so many questions that have to be answered. Continue reading “Upper Grand and Wellington Catholic Waiting for Key Docs to Finish 2020/21 Budget” →

The Month at Council: COVID Continued and Back to Regular Order

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City council got back to some kind of business as usual in May with the announcement of a new schedule for a slate of meetings to carry us through to September. Will we be allowed to attend these meetings in person by then? Who can say? But for this month we got our COVID update, plus a planning meeting, and a regular meeting of city council. Here’s the recap from May. Continue reading “The Month at Council: COVID Continued and Back to Regular Order” →

City of Guelph Says No Programs, Permits, or Events Till September

Published on by Adam A. Donaldson1 Comment

Whether it’s an event at the River Run Centre, your child’s favourite summer camp, or booking a picnic site in Riverside Park for your family reunion, when it comes to City of Guelph properties, it’s “See you in September” for local amenities and the people. City officials announced today that all scheduled programs, performances, and events at their facilities are cancelled until after Labour Day. Continue reading “City of Guelph Says No Programs, Permits, or Events Till September” →