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.
While trying to take a wanted Kitchener man into custody, and in the course of trying to stop him from swallowing a golf ball-sized bag of something, a Guelph Police officer was bitten. Three times.
Traffic was backed up on the 401 just west of Guelph after a tractor trailer lost two coils in the middle of the road.
If nothing else, Guelph General Hospital posted a $6.4 million surplus last year.
Protestors came out in downtown Kitchener on Wednesday to protested the forced eviction of a homeless encampment on a piece of city-owned land. Meanwhile, a long-time encampment on private property in Cambridge is being pressured to leave as the land owner now says the property is unsafe.
Doug Ford and the new cabinet will be sworn in at Queen’s Park later this morning.
Let’s preface these updates with a general word that the official numbers released do not represent the true number of COVID-19 cases, which are likely higher due to limited testing.
The now weekly update to the Wellington, Dufferin and Guelph Public Health COVID-19 dashboard says there were 72 new COVID cases this week, which keeps the current number of active cases to 94. In terms of current conditions, we’re still around where we were late November as the 7-day moving rate fell slightly to 22.1 per 100,000 and the test positivity rate is now just 6.5 per cent.
The current vaccination rates for eligible populations:
Region-wide: 91.4 per cent have one shot, 88.9 per cent have two shots, and 59.5 per cent have a booster.
Guelph: 93.2 per cent have one shot, 90.6 per cent have two shots, and 62.2 per cent have a booster.
In Ontario this week there are 486 people currently being treated for COVID-19 in hospitals around the province, with 96 people currently in intensive care, both numbers are down from 491 and 109 respectively one week ago. The weekly case numbers have dropped 14 per cent among those eligible for testing, but the total test positivity rate is 6.8 per cent, which is down ever so slightly from 6.9 per cent last week.
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Pope Francis has officially confirmed the dates for his visit next month. A hole in the pontiff’s schedule opened up after he cancelled a tour through Africa on the advice of his doctor.
A local entrepreneur is starting a watch company that will donate 10 per cent of all profits to the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo-Wellington.
Students pushed trustees at the Upper Grand District School Board to declare a climate emergency and take other immediate actions to fight climate change.
Did you see who won this year’s Guelph Awards of Excellence?
Healthcare workers are pushing the Ontario government to start making fourth boosters available to everyone starting as soon as possible (if not sooner).
About 750 CN Rail workers across Canada are now on strike. Workers in London said that they faced real risks during the pandemic and deserve a pay bump.
A Cambridge woman is concerned about all the squirrels that are dying, or getting really sick, in her backyard.
No people, or llamas, were harmed after a fire Wednesday at a Waterloo park.
Shareholder Meeting of City Council for GMHI – June 27, 4 pm.
While the audited financial statements were in the agenda, the report to the shareholders was not. You can see the Politico preview here, and you have until today at 10 am to register with the clerks office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Shareholder Meeting of City Council for GJR – June 27, 5 pm.
Guelph Junction Railroad returned to pre-pandemic levels of business in 2021. You can see the Politico preview here, and you have until today at 10 am to register with the clerks office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Regular Meeting of City Council – June 27, 6 pm.
The jam-packed agenda will include the Emma-Earl Bridge discussion delayed from this week, an update about the recreational vehicle bylaw, more public appointments, a discussion about options with the Edinburgh Road rail crossing, and the Committee of the Whole agenda. You can see the Politico preview here, and you have until today at 10 am to register with the clerks office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – July 4, 2 pm.
The new and improved (?) council schedule for 2023, plus the paramedic performance update and issues of homelessness and mental health are on the agenda for the last committee meeting of this term. You can see the Politico preview here, and you have until next Friday at 10 am to register with the clerks office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Special Meeting of City Council – July 11, 1 pm.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City of Guelph’s website on Thursday June 30.
Planning Meeting of City Council – July 11, 6:30 pm.
The agenda for this meeting will be posted on the City of Guelph’s website on Thursday June 30.
For more information on Guelph City Council meetings, from agendas to live-tweets to recaps, you can visit that page on Guelph Politico here.
REMINDER #1: Get ready for this fall’s Municipal Election by making sure that you’re on the voters’ list.
REMINDER #2: Guelph-Wellington’s Smart Cities Office wants to know how climate change has influenced your buying habits. Take their survey anytime before Sunday June 26.
REMINDER #3: Would you like to help develop the licensing requirements for short-term rentals? The deadline to apply is July 3.
REMINDER #4: There will be a special transit schedule to help get people home from Riverside Park on Canada Day.
REMINDER #5: The Comprehensive Zoning Bylaw and Companion Official Plan Amendment will be available for viewing and feedback in an open house on July 6, and the statutory planning meeting will take place on July 13.
The final decision on the full review of the Official Plan is coming to a special session of city council on Monday July 11 at 1 pm.
According to the latest satisfaction survey, 95 per cent of respondents are proud to say they’re from Guelph, 94 per cent say Guelph is a welcoming community, and 90 per cent think that Guelph is an environmentally responsible city.
Looking for a summer activity? The Guelph Public Library suggests their Downtown Guelph StoryWalk Challenge.
Tom Cochrane, Serene Ryder, Jann Arden, and Gowan are among the acts announced for the River Run’s 2022/23 season.
Plaudits for Brant Avenue Public School as teacher Robb Graham was selected as the Ontario-wide 2022 CAA School Safety Patrol Supervisor of the Year and Guelph Police Service Patrol Supervisor of the Year, while Brant Ave. student Dilnaaz was named the Guelph Police Service Patroller of the Year Award.
Wellington County has added a new EarlyON Family Centre at Sacred Heart Catholic School in Rockwood.
The Grand River Conservation Authority is now accepting applications for cover crop funding to be paid out in spring 2023.
Metrolinx has announced some slight changes to GO Train schedules to London, St. Marys and Stratford, and special summer bus routes to Canada’s Wonderland and St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market.
Students in the Upper Grand Board needing mental health help this summer can call the support line at 519-822-4420 ext. 588, but keep in mind, this is not a crisis line.
Road Construction Update:
Structural repair work is now underway on levels two, three and four of the West Parkade downtown, and it will continue until late fall.
Land reductions on Westmount Road between Highview and Kimberly will continue until late next week as crews install a fire hydrant.
There will be lane reductions on Victoria Road between Speedvale and Delta for one week starting on Monday June 27 for the removing and repairing concrete curbs, raising manholes and repaving the road surface.
Starwood Drive between Grange and Watson will be closed for a week starting on Monday June 27 for the installation of new sewer and water pipes.
There will be lane reductions on Marilyn Drive for one week starting on Tuesday June 28 for the installation of new sewer pipes and the repaving of the road.
#HaveaNiceWeekend
And 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!