After Almost Three Years of Work, Grace Gardens is Now Open

Nearly three years after the project was first brought up as a council delegation, the ribbon was finally cut on Grace Gardens. What was once the Parkview Motel and an occasional emergency shelter used by Wellington County and Stepping Stone, is now 32-units of permanent supportive housing with wrap-around supports. On Tuesday, the official opening was celebrated as the latest step in Guelph’s action on homelessness. Continue reading “After Almost Three Years of Work, Grace Gardens is Now Open”

OP-ED: Strong Mayor Powers “Unacceptable”, Even as a “Tool”

The Ontario Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing has announced the extension of Strong Mayor Powers to 26 municipalities including Guelph effective July 1st 2023. Previously only Toronto and Ottawa mayors had these powers. Continue reading “OP-ED: Strong Mayor Powers “Unacceptable”, Even as a “Tool””

GUELPH POLITICAST #368 – The Realtor’s View of the Housing Crisis

When we’re talking about the housing crisis we frequently talk to activists or government representatives. This is understandable, but there are a lot of pieces to the housing puzzle and we don’t lean on all of them equally, and in so much as we want to vilify the people who take part in the open housing market that so many of us are priced out of, we still need them if we’re going to have a hope in developing solutions to the crisis. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #368 – The Realtor’s View of the Housing Crisis”

GUELPH POLITICAST #359 – Starting Fresh

For this first new podcast of 2023, let’s clear the air. In the process of going non-stop, 52 weeks a year on all the issues that come at us on a regular basis, how often do we just stop and take stock? How can we keep up with everything and not get caught in the undertow? How can we overcome that feeling that we’re not doing enough and stay hopeful in an ever changing world? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #359 – Starting Fresh”

GUELPH POLITICAST #353 – Christmas With Lloyd

For the last couple of years, we’ve used the Christmas week episode of the podcast to sit down with an influential Guelphite and talk a little more broadly about life and politics while looking back at some of the year’s highlights. This week’s podcast interview comes to you via a Zoom call from the hallways of Parliament Hill, which was the site of what the Canadian Press calls the Biggest Story of the Year. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #353 – Christmas With Lloyd”

Watch and Listen to All The Available Local Candidate Debates!

Election Day is Monday October 24, and while seven per cent of us have already cast our ballot, 93 per cent of us have not. Perhaps you need some help deciding. Wouldn’t it be great if you could scan all the available candidate debates in one convenient place? Welcome! Below, you will be able to find the videos and audio recordings of various candidate debates featuring the mayoral candidates, and people running in all the wards. Continue reading “Watch and Listen to All The Available Local Candidate Debates!”

CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE – William Albabish, Mayor

“I am running for mayor of Guelph because I believe that we can do better. This city has had enough of high taxes, unaffordable living, failing infrastructure, petty theft crime, and more. I want to make sure that the city is a place where everyone feels welcome and has an opportunity to succeed. I want us to be a city where people are proud of their community and feel connected with each other.” Continue reading “CANDIDATE QUESTIONNAIRE – William Albabish, Mayor”

Wards 4, 5 and 6 Candidates Get Their Turn to Talk About SDG Goals

On Wednesday, 10C Shared Space’s SDG Cities office held the second of two in-person campaign events. The anti-debate (so to speak) has a chance for candidates from Wards 4, 5 and 6 to meet and exchange ideas about how Guelph city council could best achieve the U.N.’s Sustainable Development Goals, or SDGs, like environmental protection and social equity. So what were some of the ideas generated by this motley crew? Continue reading “Wards 4, 5 and 6 Candidates Get Their Turn to Talk About SDG Goals”

Former City Councillor Moziar Passes Away at 86

In this time of municipal campaigning, it’s sadly poignant that we say one last goodbye to a previous member of city council. Last weekend, former two-term Ward 2 City Councillor Dan Moziar passed away away. Moziar is being remembered for his consequential work as a councillor, his active political life, and being a proud alum of Queen’s University. Continue reading “Former City Councillor Moziar Passes Away at 86”

RECAP: 5 Mayoral Candidates Answer Audience Questions at Dublin United

With a little over two weeks to go until Election Day, the vast majority of the mayoral candidates were finally able to put their heads together at the same debate. The venue was the Dublin Street United Church, and the questions covered a variety of matters from housing and affordability to transit and the environment. Did any of the challengers make a case for their election, or did Guthrie convince you to stay the course? Continue reading “RECAP: 5 Mayoral Candidates Answer Audience Questions at Dublin United”