We often hear how a budget tells us what a city values, and one of the things that residents clearly valued in the City of Guelph budget was funding for the park stewards program. We often talk about environmentalism and civic pride as big reasons to live in Guelph, so is the park steward program the ultimate expression of that, and if it is, why didn’t we talk about it before we almost lost it? Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #497 – Park Stewards Never Say “Die” (feat. Margaret Middleton)”
Way back in October, Guelph City Council sent five recommendations concerning accessibility issues with the Parks and Recreation Master Plan to, who else, the Accessibility Advisory Committee. In a special off-month meeting on the subject, the AAC went through the council recommendations, and made some recommendations of their own. So what will be coming back to council? Check out the recap… Continue reading “RECAP: Accessible Committee Sets Terms for Parks & Rec Plan Supplemental”
Yes, it’s May, but accessibility matters do not take a holiday even when it’s one of the Accessibility Advisory Committee’s usual months off. Unlike most AAC joints, this one will focus on one issue, and it’s a referral from city council. The committee will be asked to bring their expertise and experience to bare on a matter of playgrounds and their level of accessibility in a key piece of City policy. Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Accessibility Advisory Committee for May 21, 2024”
After a timing forced delay back in February, the time was finally right for the final showdown between City of Guelph staff and the Accessibility Advisory Committee about voting options for the 2026 municipal election. Well, showdown was a bit strong, but so were the concerns that the AAC has about another election without internet voting. Now the matter is going to council next month, but for now there’s the recap of this month’s AAC meeting… Continue reading “RECAP: Accessibility Committee Plots Its Own Path for Election Options”
After skipping March like usual, the Accessibility Advisory Committee will pick up where it left off in February, with questions about the direction on alternative voting methods for the 2026 municipal election. That’s going to be complicated, but fortunately much of the rest of the agenda seems straightforward with some items on heritage, waste collection and transit to consider, and then we have to get ready for a special meeting in May. Continue reading “MEETING PREVIEW: Accessibility Advisory Committee for April 16, 2024”
Pickleball is huge. Don’t believe it? Consider this line from a recent CNN Business story: “The number of people playing pickleball [in the U.S.] grew by 159 per cent over three years to 8.9 million in 2022.” Here in Canada, a survey by Pickleball Canada last year showed that eight per cent of Canadian households have one pickleball player who plays the game at least once a month. This is a growing trend too. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #367 – The Pickleball Revolution Begins”
On Thursday night, Councillor Dan Gibson hosted a town hall at City Hall that gathered representatives from many different sports groups around the city to look at the challenges facing local sports and to begin the process of organizing. Despite the forward momentum on the South End Community Centre, it was the main point of the town hall that we’re still lacking space for just about every sport you can think of. Continue reading “RECAP: Guelph Sports Groups Agree That They Need More Space (Plus Video)”
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: Rec Programs, Library Robots and Open Houses”
The Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) spent the day in Guelph on Friday with nearly $13 million to burn in her pocket. Two stops on her public schedule delivered money for a new green technology innovation fund, and money to help improve area tourist attractions including Guelph’s biggest and most famous park. Continue reading “FedDev Minister Brings Millions of New Investment to Guelph and Wellington”
It’s getting a bit easier to get together as capacity limits are changing in Guelph and across Ontario as the COVID-19 case loads remain relatively low. Locally, more areas and activities at Guelph recreational facilities will be a little easier to access, while the Government of Ontario is loosening the limits on outdoor gatherings just in time for Halloween, Remembrance Day, and Santa Claus Parade season. Continue reading “City Expands Capacity at Facilities, Province Expands Capacity Outdoors”
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