It was a very unusual Canada Day, wasn’t it? In some ways, it was even more unusual than last year’s Canada Day in the immediate aftermath of the pandemic’s first wave, but there was a lot of room for some kind of outdoor festivities, but there wasn’t much in terms of will. In the aftermath of our frightening new understanding of our own history, is there a better way to mark Canada Day in 2021 than protest? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #281 – #CancelCanadaDay”
This Canada Day was one unlike any other as the country reckoned with the legacy of residential schools, and the hundreds of Indigenous youths discovered so far buried in unmarked graves on those properties. At a Cancel Canada Day march here in Guelph on Thursday, Indigenous elder Maani Anne Cheesequay was the first to speak, and presented below, verbatim, are her heart felt words that began an afternoon of anger, mourning and reconciliation. Continue reading “Canada Day Words and Thoughts from an Indigenous Elder”
It was tough navigating downtown on Thursday afternoon. At one intersection, Wyndham and Macdonell Street were closed for the enjoyment of patio dinners, while up the road, at Norfolk and Macdonell, the streets in front of the Basilica of Our Lady were closed for a very different holiday activity. Hundreds of people in Guelph used their Canada Day to support local Indigenous people as we all continue to cope with the reckoning around residential schools. Continue reading ““No Pride for Genocide”: A Different Canada Day with a Different Message”
The news that an unmarked mass grave with 215 young Indigenous children had been uncovered on the grounds of the former Kamloops Residential School has become a national scandal, and a source of national grief and sorrow. Those emotions were expressed by hundreds of people from Guelph who showed up for a vigil in front of the Basilica of Our Lady on Tuesday evening. Continue reading “Indigenous Leaders Offer Sorrow, Anger and Healing at Basilica Vigil”
The discovery of a mass grave with the remains of 215 children at the Kamloops Indian Residential School has re-opened a national sorrow, and prompted new demands for accountability and reconciliation. Guelph is no exception as key Royal City institutions have lowered their flags to half-staff in recognition of the loss while community activists organize a vigil at Guelph’s most recognizable landmark. Continue reading “Guelph Marks Discovery of Mass Grave at B.C. Residential School”
In what have been the most wild debate night in Guelph yet for this election cycle, the seven male candidates faced off in the basement of the Basilica of Our Lady in what could only be described a lively chat over questions submitted by the audience. Did abortion come up? You better believe it did. Twice. Check out the tweet-by-tweet recap below. Continue reading “RECAP: The Seven Male Candidates Face Off at the Basilica”
Jakki Jeffs was sweeping grass and dirt off the stone path in the Garden of Grace. Alone. Today was supposed to be the official unveiling of the Garden of Grace, a memorial park on the lands of the Basilica of Our Lady meant for people mourning the loss of a child to abortion or miscarriage, but with a group of over a dozen people demonstrating on the street below, Jeffs cancelled the opening event. Why? The matter’s gotten too political. Continue reading “Garden of Grace: A Soft Open With Hard Opinions”
For a last minute protest on a Friday before a long weekend, the rally against the so-called Garden of Grace at the Basilica of Our Lady brought out a number of very enthusiastic people of all genders concerned about the placement of a blatantly political monument on the grounds of Guelph’s biggest tourist attraction. Continue reading “VIDEO: Enthusiastic Crowd Demonstrates Against Planned Right to Life Memorial”
Guelph Politico 