A Song of I.C.E. and Firefighters
Plus, they're smelling gas in Wheatley again...
Welcome to the Guelph Politico Tip Sheet, a thrice-a-week newsletter meant to “tip” you off about some of the important stuff going on in the Royal City. It arrives directly in your inbox on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays.
The Upper Grand District School Board has passed their 2025/26 budget, but only after non-classroom expenses were pared down “to the bone” according to the chair.
A Guelph couple is being sued by the Jesuits of Canada for $7.2 million over accusations that they took the money and used it to buy, renovate and flip properties in Guelph, St. Catharines and Florida, not to mention the rest of the money that they allegedly just flat out stole.
Criminal defence lawyer Perrin Valli will be taking over as the executive director of Stepping Stone while current E.D. Gail Hoekstra will be taking on a new role.
The pilot of a small plane was taken to hospital Wednesday afternoon after his aircraft flipped over on the runway at Guelph Airpark.
Both Waterloo Region and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph are reporting that measles infection rates are slowing.
Nearly four years after two buildings in the centre of town blew up, residents of Wheatley (including the publisher’s sister and her family) were evacuated Thursday afternoon after hydrogen sulphide gas started leaking from behind the library. But it’s totally okay because Minister of Natural Resources Mike Harris Jr. is coming to town today! (Update: Actually he’s not.)
It begins! Two First Nations groups are setting up an encampment near the site of a proposed bridge to Ring of Fire.
Canadian officials are demanding answers after Johnny Noviello, a 49-year-old lawful permanent resident of Florida, died while in the custody of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
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The Ontario Ombudsman received 104 complaints from Guelph and 92 from Wellington-Halton Hills according to their annual report.
The artBar is closed, but the old eBar space above the Bookself will soon become something else.
Wellington County OPP are investigating the drowning of a 24-year-old man at Elora Quarry Tuesday, despite life-saving efforts.
Arkell residents have concerns after the township decided to build fencing and not underground culverts to deal with the drainage from ditches in Boreham Park.
Cambridge Ward 7 Councillor Scott Hamilton got the chance to wear the long thought lost Captain Canuck costume.
The recent heat dome actually caused some sidewalks to buckle in Waterloo Region.
The thieves who tool a Stratford business’ food truck were caught and the truck itself was recovered.
Grad night at South Collegiate Institute in London was abruptly ended when lightening struck the school.
Metrolinx interim CEO Michael Lindsay is now the permanent president and CEO. Just in time too because new figures are showing that the cost of the Scarborough subway extension has nearly doubled from the original budget.
Ontario forest fighters are getting $3 more per hour more a name change, they will now be called Resource Technicians.
NATO members have pledged to spend five per cent of GDP on national defence, and that includes Canada.
The infamous Anna Wintour, inspiration for The Devil Wears Prada, has announced that she’s stepping down as Vogue’s editor-in-chief after 37 years.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – Tuesday July 8, 2025 at 2 pm.
A new administrative penalty system for red light cameras, plus accessible ramps, the future of St. George’s Square, and a possible bid for the 2027 Memorial Cup are on the agenda for the July committee meeting. You can see the agendas on the City’s website here, and you have until next Friday at 10 am to register with the clerks’ office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Shareholder Meetings of City Council – Tuesday July 9, 2025 at 4 pm.
This is a closed meeting follow-up for Guelph Municipal Holdings Inc. You can see the agendas on the City’s website here.
Planning Meeting of City Council – Tuesday July 15, 2025 at 6 pm.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City’s website on Thursday July 3.
Orientation Meeting of City Council – Wednesday July 16, 2025 at 6 pm.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City’s website on Thursday July 3.
For more information on Guelph City Council meetings, from agendas to live-tweets to recaps, you can visit that page on Guelph Politico here.
Here are the Canada Day hours for the City of Guelph, the Guelph Public Library, and Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health.
Dr. Rene Van Acker has been appointed the University of Guelph’s 10th president and vice-chancellor.
Dr. John Kelly, Deputy Minister of the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agribusiness (OMAFA) will be taking on the role of 2025 Campaign Chair for the United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin.
The Yorklands Green Hub will be hosting one last ride (so to speak) for the Wooden Trestle Bridge on the OR Lands on Sunday.
The Guelph Police Service, Habitat for Humanity, and the Guelph General Hospital have published their annual reports.
The City of Guelph will be replacing gates and pay stations in downtown parking lots with a new digital parking payment and enforcement system.
HOPE House is looking for peanut butter donations.
Here are the list of winners from this year’s Guelph Chamber Business Awards of Excellence.
The County of Wellington won two Municipal Waste Association Awards for innovative promotional and educational materials.
Our Lady of Lourdes student Kellyanne Mangali has been awarded this year’s OCSTA-OSTA Student Trustee Servant Leadership Award.
The Rotary Club of Guelph has donated $250,000 to help complete the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre.
Phase 2 of the Youth Climate Action Fund has awarded $61,000 to young people in Guelph to drive real, visible impact on climate action.
The Rotary Club of Guelph has given this year’s 2025 Turtle Island Heritage Youth Award to Reese French, Grade 11 honour student and representative on the First Nation, Metis, Inuit Education Council.
The University of Guelph has created the Local First Nations Award that will provide funds equivalent to tuition for students enrolled in associate diploma and undergraduate programs for future and current students from the 11 First Nations communities on whose treaty lands and territories the University resides.
Crime Stoppers Guelph Wellington won several awards at the Ontario Association of Crime Stoppers annual conference, and board member John Svensson was singled out for his 20 years of support for the organization.
You can now go tubing in the Elora Gorge Conservation Area.
The Wellington County Museum & Archives is marking 80 years of the Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games with a new display.
Guelph Museums will stage We Lived, Felt Dawn, Saw Sunset Glow from July 17 to July 26 at this year’s Backyard Theatre production.
The University of Guelph granted noise exemption August 30 and 31 on Johnston Green, and on September 3 at Alumni Stadium.
The Friends of the Guelph Public Library annual Book Sale will take place from September 25-28 at 440 Elmira Road North.
Current “Have Your Say” opportunities: Community Planning Permit System, Guelph’s Bicentennial, Moving You Forward, Official Plan Update: Phase 1, Water and Wastewater Servicing Allocation Policy Development, and York Road Reconstruction Phase 4.
Transit Detours/Notices:
There will be free transit after 7 pm on Canada Day!
Routes #1 Edinburgh College, #2 College Edinburgh and #15 College will be detoured from June 23 to December 19 due to construction on College Avenue.
Upcoming Construction:
Ottawa Crescent will be closed to through traffic from Calgary Avenue to Callander Drive from Wednesday July 10 till Wednesday July 24 for the upgrading of underground water pipes.
Finally, feel free to reach out to me by email at adamadonaldson [at] gmail [dot] com, or find me on Facebook, Twitter, and, of course, GuelphPolitico.ca!