For the first time in 15 months, a political rally was held live and in-person in Guelph. The host was Guelph MPP and Green Party of Ontario leader Mike Schreiner, and the guest was his Federal counterpart, Annamie Paul. The pair were kicking off a summer tour, and announcing their intention to work closely on a myriad of issues, but for Paul, she did not want to call this a pre-election tour. Continue reading “Schreiner Joins Paul as She Kicks Off a Don’t-Call-It-a-Pre-Election-Tour Tour”
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”
On Monday May 23, 1921, a small group of people gathered in a barn on the outskirts of Guelph to found the Communist Party of Canada. It was three years after the Russian Revolution, and there was already widespread concern about the spread of Marxist ideas, but economic stagnation, a global pandemic, and societal disillusionment post World War I made people hungry for some kind of change to the status quo. Sound familiar? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #275 – 100 Years After the Meeting on Metcalfe Street”
As you may have noticed, it’s a tough time out there for businesses, and a tougher time for businesses run by Black people, Indigenous people, and People of Colour. No one knows that better than Chidi Nwene because he talked to BIPOC-owned businesses to discuss their struggles in this third wave of the pandemic. What he learned was not necessarily surprising, but it still needs to be said. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #271 – Takin’ Care of Business”
If you happened to be on Facebook Tuesday night, you might have come across an impromptu Q&A with Guelph’s Mayor, Cam Guthrie. The nearly hour-long affair covered a wide range of topics that were mostly related to COVID-19 and the recent provincial restrictions, though there were some oldies-but-goldies like complaints about the new library, and the lack of an east-end grocery store. There was also a cameo from an honest to goodness local anti-mask celebrity! Continue reading “RECAP: Guthrie Talks about Restrictions, Signs of Hope and Other Things in Live Chat”
The most dramatic cultural shift of the pandemic has not been “care-mongering”, or an appreciation of essential workers, it’s been the growing number of people who believe that the things we all see and hear are fake, and reality is something entirely different. With the province locked down again, these groups have found a curious new ally: small business owners. So now what happens? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #269 – Pandemics Make Strange Bedfellows”
It’s the holiday season, and along with the usual need to give presents, food, and other festive delights is the life-or-death need to give blood. The hospital is still in business treating more than just COVID-19, and there are a myriad of medical emergencies that require blood from millions of generous donors from across Canada, including Guelph. ‘Tis the season for giving after all, so why not give blood? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #253 – Give Blood.”
We know that small businesses everywhere are struggling, but every business is struggling in its own way. Halloween is Christmas for those businesses that sell costumes, make-up, and party supplies, but there’s definitely not going to be any parties this year, and even the possibility of Trick or Treating is in doubt. So what will Halloween look like, and where does that leave the people for whom Halloween is big business? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #242 – This is Halloween”
We’ve heard a lot of talk about this being a moment, and June 6 was indeed a memorable moment in the history of Guelph with over 5,000 people in Market Square to march for Black Lives Matter. It amplified of a lot of voices who don’t always get heard in our community despite best intentions, but moments pass and that one was almost four months ago. How have things been going lately? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #240 – Catching Up with Kween”
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