GUELPH POLITICAST #443 – The Aftermath Downtown

Last week, the reality of the Public Space Use Bylaw came into effect with the formal eviction of everyone in tents from St. George’s Square. The square is clear now of tents, but the people who lived in those tents have not disappeared or found permanent homes. In fact, they’re more vulnerable than ever, and even before the eviction last week, they were hurting. This is a story about the human toll of the Public Space Use Bylaw. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #443 – The Aftermath Downtown”

GUELPH POLITICAST #431 – Space, Supply and Stigma (feat. Jean Hopkins and Leandra Gilbert)

As we do at the end of August, we’re marking Drug Poisoning Awareness Day, and it hasn’t been a great week for the people fighting this issue. Last week, the Ontario government decided that no safe consumption site can be within 200 metres of a school or daycare, including the one at Guelph Community Health Centre. The drug poisoning crisis is not getting any better, and now there’s the possibility that it’s going to get worse. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #431 – Space, Supply and Stigma (feat. Jean Hopkins and Leandra Gilbert)”

CITY PAGES: Drug Poisoning Increase, Pandemic Training, and Cute Pet Photos

The City of Guelph, and it’s various partners and agencies, put out a lot of information on a weekly basis, and while it all ends up on the City’s website somewhere, wouldn’t it be easier to just scroll through it all on one easy-to-read article on Guelph Politico here…? Continue reading “CITY PAGES: Drug Poisoning Increase, Pandemic Training, and Cute Pet Photos”

RECAP: Ticks, Falls, and Vices All at Issue at April’s Board of Health Meeting

There’s a wide variety of interesting topics in the realm of the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Board of Health this April, which is a spring month. With spring here, there was a lot of talk about ticks and mosquitoes and the diseases they carry, but accident season is any season when it comes to the increasing rate of falls in our community. Also, there’s talk about Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer’s thoughts and an update about school suspensions. Here’s the recap… Continue reading “RECAP: Ticks, Falls, and Vices All at Issue at April’s Board of Health Meeting”

MEETING PREVIEW: Board of Health Meeting for April 3, 2024

This month, the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Board of Health will make the seasonal transition… to meeting in-person again! And speaking of seasonal, the big presentation of the month is going to be about bugs, the one’s that spread dangerous and life-threatening diseases. Also, there will be some annual reporting involving injuries and vaccine waste, plus some new reporting about rabies and a life-saving community service. Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Board of Health Meeting for April 3, 2024”

“We Love All of You, We Hear You, And We’re Here for You.” Guelph Gathers Again to End the Stigma

“My name is Nicolas. I’m an addict. I’ve done fentanyl, I’ve done meth, I’ve done every drug out there, but I am not a bad person.” If there was an overarching sentiment on the sixth annual Drug Poisoning Awareness Day (formally Overdose Awareness Day), it was that. Several community members took part and offered words of remembrance, words of caring, and words of desire that we further advance the cause of ending overdose deaths. Continue reading ““We Love All of You, We Hear You, And We’re Here for You.” Guelph Gathers Again to End the Stigma”

$1.8 Million More Going to Safe Supply and Another Addiction Treatments in Guelph

As local addiction agencies mark Drug Poisoning Awareness Day in the next week, a special delivery came from from the federal government on Tuesday. Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield announced additional funds through Health Canada’s Substance Use and Addictions Program (SUAP); $1.8 million that will go to three programs that will ensure support and treatment for people in the Guelph area who are addicted to substances. Continue reading “$1.8 Million More Going to Safe Supply and Another Addiction Treatments in Guelph”

Public Health Sends Warning After Six Drug Poisoning in an Hour

In case you haven’t heard, there’s an opioid crisis. It’s not unusual to get an alert from Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health and the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy about drug poisonings in the area, we’ve gotten more than a few this year already, but multiple poisonings in an hour? That is something that’s definitely worthy of a health alert! Continue reading “Public Health Sends Warning After Six Drug Poisoning in an Hour”