Ontario Loosens Restrictions, Extends Emergency

The Government of Ontario announced Wednesday that they are getting ready to take another small step to re-opening the provincial economy. According to the Premier and his cabinet, the sacrifices of stay-at-home orders and social distancing have allowed them to start to ease restrictions, even though they’re also extending the state of emergency that was initiated way back on March 17. Continue reading “Ontario Loosens Restrictions, Extends Emergency”

City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the May 11 Meeting?

For the first time in nearly a month, Guelph’s city council will once again meet digitally, and it will likely come with the promise of more frequent meetings in the weeks to come. For this meeting though, we’ve got COVID updates, a deferred vote, and a motion to create more active transportation in town, at least on a temporary basis. Continue reading “City Council Preview – What’s on the Agenda for the May 11 Meeting?”

The Month at Council: Mostly COVID-19 Stuff, and Only One Meeting

For the second time in the COVID-19 era, city council sat for what is now being called a special meeting. The mayor and senior staff were socially distant in the council chambers while the members of council called in from home in what was the one and only council meeting for the month of April on Thursday April 16. Continue reading “The Month at Council: Mostly COVID-19 Stuff, and Only One Meeting”

Guelph Museums Wants Your COVID-19 Remembrances and Stuff

There’s been a lot of discussion about the historic moment we’re living in, but is anyone keeping track of that history and preserving it? As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, Guelph Museums is asking residents for any artifacts people might have that captures the experience. Whether it’s something digital like a photograph, or something physical like a homemade mask, the Museum might be interested in collecting it from you. Continue reading “Guelph Museums Wants Your COVID-19 Remembrances and Stuff”

Public Health Issues Statement on Death at Assessment Clinic

These are scary times, and one would think that showing up at a medical clinic might give one a little bit of hope and safety. Yesterday though, the COVID-19 assessment centre saw a bit of tragedy of its own as a person reportedly passed away Friday morning at the clinic, which forced the temporary closure of the facility. Continue reading “Public Health Issues Statement on Death at Assessment Clinic”

GUELPH POLITICAST #218 – COVID Administrative Officer

From time to time, the Guelph Politicast likes to do a sit down with a member of City of Guelph staff to talk about their job in detail with all its day-to-day demands, challenges and rewards. This podcast is in the mode of one of those past explainers, but with a COVID-19 twist because what is possibly affecting City business more these days than the global pandemic? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #218 – COVID Administrative Officer”

City Will Stay Closed till the End of the State of Emergency

The City of Guelph had been looking to reopen its facilities and get back to some sense of normalcy at the beginning of May, but as we itch closer to the end of April that plan was starting to seem less likely to come to fruition. On Tuesday, the City confirmed that facilities will remain closed until the state of emergency is lifted,  and they will only open on the best advice of public health and the Province. Continue reading “City Will Stay Closed till the End of the State of Emergency”

City of Guelph Puts Some Full-Time Staff on Emergency Leave

Over 200 more City of Guelph employees are out of a job because of COVID-19. In an announcement made Friday afternoon, the City is temporarily putting 127 full-time employees on declared emergency leave temporarily. On top of that, most of the library’s staff is also being put on temporary leave, which all told means that about half to the City’s staff is now out of work because of the pandemic. Continue reading “City of Guelph Puts Some Full-Time Staff on Emergency Leave”

Mayor Guthrie’s Economic Task Force Officially Announced

It was just a few months ago that Mayor Cam Guthrie was telling everyone in his State of the City address about getting the Task Force on Homelessness together again to discuss supportive housing. Circumstances have changed rather quickly though, and now Mayor Guthrie is looking to explore another type of support for Guelph in the form of economic action post-COVID-19 with a whole new task force. Continue reading “Mayor Guthrie’s Economic Task Force Officially Announced”

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for April 16, 2020

Been missing city council as much as Guelph Politico? Tonight, you can get your fix! You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here for the Politico preview. For the complete blow-by-blow of today’s council meeting, you can follow along on Twitter, or follow the tweets below. You can also watch the City’s own live-stream of the meeting here. Continue reading “LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for April 16, 2020”