There are 145,000 stories in the Royal City, and this is some of them. Looking at a week’s worth of media releases from the Guelph Police Service, there’s a lot going on in our little city crime-wise speaking, so let’s run down some of the charges, issues, and requests for information from the Guelph Police Service over the last seven days. Continue reading “POLICE NOTES: High-End Car Theft, Stabbing Solved, and Car Fire in the Park”
When the Government of Ontario announced changes to the stay-at-home order a few weeks to allow for the re-opening of outdoor recreation facilities, there was a question mark locally about splash pads. On Tuesday, the City of Guelph cleared the question mark and announced dates for the opening of water-based amenities, plus summer recreation programs, while the Province formally announced the extension of the order. Continue reading “City Preps COVID-Safe Rec Programs, While Province Extends Stay-at-Home Order”
Municipal governments, including the City of Guelph, have been keeping up the pressure against the upper levels of government, and have been demanding more fiscal assistance to combat the negative effects of COVID-19 on the local bottom line. On Thursday, the Government of Ontario opened their own pockets to offer assistance, and they challenged the Federal government to be equally generous. Continue reading “Ontario Government Announces More Money for Municipalities”
Back in November, Guelph City Council reached the conclusion that they need to get more feedback about the future of council composition. Fortunately, there was a second phase of input for the project, and it’s finally here: the ward boundary review. City of Guelph staff are now looking for feedback on where the new wards should be, and they’re also hoping that there might now be consensus on how many councillors that those wards should have. Continue reading “City Staff Starting Ward Boundary Review (Plus Feedback for Procedural Bylaw)”
For the eighth year in a row, the City of Guelph has secured a AA+ rating from the Standard & Poors global rating agency. This good economic news comes in the midst of a fiscal year where Guelph has been hit with the negative effects of COVID-19 and the economic problems created by the pandemic, and although Guelph is not alone in these conditions, it seems again we’re doing better than some of the others. Continue reading “Guelph Stays AA+ Despite the Financial Fallout of the Pandemic”
Months of advocacy finally paid off for the City of Guelph and other municipalities in Ontario on Wednesday with the announcement of the first phase of emergency operating funds. Just in time for Guelph city council’s monthly COVID-19 response meeting, Mayor Cam Guthrie shared the news that Guelph’s share of $1.6 billion in funding under the Safe Start Agreement is $12 million. Continue reading “Cities Finally Get Details on Emergency Funds, Guelph to Get $12 Million”
The Government of Ontario has announced a lot of changes lately, but the latest changes involve where COVID-19 has hurt the most, long-term care homes. The medical officer of health for Ontario has given the greenlight for people to be able to visit their family members in long-term care again, but under some very strict guidelines. Continue reading “Ontario Announces Changes for Long-Term Care, and the Creation of Social Circles”
In parts of Ontario, there’s a certain anxiousness about the second stage of the Ontario government’s re-opening of the economy, but things are not going to totally get back to normal in at least two parts of Guelph society. In separate press announcements today, one Guelph institution said that they’re keeping the status quo, and the other is actually taking away service effective immediately. Continue reading “Library Keeping to Curbside, GRCA Shutting Parks Again”
Although many members of the City of Guelph workforce have found themselves laid off as a result of the pandemic, when the members of three public unions return to work they will at least be doing so with a new agreement. Three Canadian Union of Public Employees locals that represent City of Guelph staff have approved a deal reached between them and the City at the end of last month. Continue reading “CUPE Unions Have Ratified New Agreement with the City”
June will bring some adjustment to the new normal in our pandemic times. As promised, the Guelph Public Library will begin curbside pick-up on Monday, and speaking of promises kept, the City of Guelph is also following up on city council’s May 11 decision to create options on city streets and sidewalks to get better social distancing. Continue reading “Library Announces Curbside Pick-Up Deets and City Releases Modified Street Deets”
Guelph Politico 