In these waning days of 2023, we know what you all need: Another end of the year list! It was another busy year in the news business here in Guelph, a lot of meetings, and issues, and debates, and announcements, and groundbreakings… How do you make sense of it all? With a Top 10 list! So let’s look at the year in Guelph from great progress to big protests, and all the issues that we mulled over, and will likely mull over some more in 2024. Continue reading “Top 10 Guelph News Stories of 2023”
For years, Guelph has been a hotbed of protest, a very politically inclined city on a variety of issues including climate change, poverty, workers rights, equality, Black Lives Matter, and the systemic abuse of Indigenous peoples. Last Wednesday, direct action was on display again as people gathered in Market Square, but this was a protest completely unlike any other in a number of ways, and we need to take a moment to unpack things. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #390 – How to Cover a Protest in 2023”
Two things were observably true on Wednesday morning in Market Square: a planned demonstration by around 250 people under a banner called “1 Million March 4 Children” where met by a counter-protest three times its size, and there was considerable enmity between those two sides. All told, about a thousand people gathered in the one acre-sized square in front of City Hall but in ideology they were worlds apart. Continue reading “Tensions Fray as ‘Million’ Marchers Met Bigger Counter Protest at City Hall”
The site of flags, signs and marchers through downtown is hardly an unfamiliar site for Guelph, and it will be seen again this coming Wednesday as a group of people will gather at City Hall and undertake a long march to College Avenue in the name of “Uniting diverse backgrounds and faiths” to eliminate “Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity (SOGI) curriculum, pronouns, gender ideology and mixed bathrooms in schools.” But what does that mean? Continue reading “They’re Marching for Children, But Some Are Concerned There’s Another Message”
It was blue skies and rainbow cookies on Thursday morning as City of Guelph staff and officials took a ceremonial first walk across the street on the City’s first, official rainbow crosswalk. Just days ahead of the annual Pride months festivities, City crews spent the night on Wednesday laying down the (technically) thermoplastic material in the colourful symbol of inclusivity and welcome for all members of the LGBTQ+ community. Continue reading “Guelph Opens New Rainbow Crosswalk Ahead of Pride Month”
Much of the hate and vitriol aimed at the LGBTQ+ people comes from religious communities still promoting ideas in the 21st century that being anything other than straight and cisgender is a violation of centuries of religious dogma. How can you find a faith space where you can be respected and accepted as openly queer? That’s a good question for the “Rainbow Papa-Bear”! Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #327 – Queer as Faith”
Police services around North America have been challenged in the last year to do better outreach with marginalized groups, and the Guelph Police Service is no exception. A recently-launched police program meant to promote better relations between the police and minority groups is now coming under criticism though with one group of residents saying that the Guelph Police never consulted their community in the first place. Continue reading “Guelph’s LGBTQ+ Community Not Pleased with New Police Diversity Officers”
Three days in advance of the Trans Day of Remembrance, and one week in advance of AIDS Awareness Week, the Ontario PC Party decided that the timing was perfect to question whether “gender identity” is a thing. To members of the LGBT community, and their allies, the fight for equal rights was once again front and centre. Continue reading “GUELPH POLITICAST #146 – Sky Gilbert, Professor and Playwright”
In response to the tragic events in Orlando, FL early Sunday morning, and the death of 49 people with another 53 injured after a gunman with ISIS sympathies opened fire at a queer nightclub, the City of Guelph has lowered its flag to half-mast and released an official statement. Continue reading “City of Guelph Issues Statement About Orlando Tragedy”
Guelph Politico 