The Finish Line
If you're sick of winter, March arrives on Sunday!
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 owners of a south end townhouse that was the site of a deadly fire almost two years ago have been fined and given probation for failing to follow the rules of Ontario’s Fire Code.
A 24-year-old man has been charged with possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose, and an assault-style rifle and loaded magazine were seized after police were called to a downtown apartment Tuesday.
Centre Wellington wants to cap short-term rentals in the township at 265 units.
Water wars in Waterloo Region continue as council looks to rescind a 1980 policy that puts limits on the amount of water that can be taken from Wilmot Township in order to help combat the capacity issue.
One week after Guelph and Wellington issued a health alert concerning drug poisonings, the health units in Waterloo and Brantford have released a similar warning for those regions.
Premier Doug Ford announced the $1 billion contract to build the new Ontario Science Centre on Thursday while saying that the old centre was in a “terrible location” and “decrepit.” The Ontario government also announced that they’re spending another couple of million dollars on promoting their Ontario Place plans.
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Service was disrupted on the Kitchener Line on Thursday morning after a person was struck and killed on the tracks near York and Watson.
Meanwhile, a GO bus driver was charged with careless driving after a collision with a Honda SUV at Woodlawn and the Hanlon on Tuesday night.
The plates of a commercial vehicle were seized by Wellington OPP in Guelph’s north end after the driver was slapped with $1,900 in fines.
Woodlawn Memorial Park is shutting down their crematorium after 40 years.
Frustrated Erin residents want more action on littering.
Another huge shift for Wellington County is in the offing as one councillor is pushing the idea of live-streaming and recording all public meetings.
Wellington County is still waiting for over $5 million in fines from their now-deactivated automated speed cameras to be collected.
Mapleton’s mayor wants to know why they keep getting passed over for needed funds from the federal government to upgrade the PDM Arena.
From the “man bites dog” file, a snowmobiler was taken to the hospital with minor injuries after crashing into a hay trailer.
Speaking of Wilmot, the town council opted to postpone a decision on allowing Waterloo Regional Police to install CCTV cameras indefinitely.
St. Jacobs Antiques Market is closing temporarily as they deal with financial difficulties.
Edmonton MP Garnett Genuis wants all federal departments, including the military, to report if anyone in their ranks is antifa, meaning “anti-fascist”, to which I think we’re all thinking, “I certainly hope so!”
Mr. Clean has announced his retirement after 68 years of mascotting.
Committee of the Whole Meeting – Wednesday March 4, 2026 at 10 am.
Council will look back at the first year of the Lobbyist Registry, upcoming changes to the Development Charges Bylaw, and a new operating model for the Sleeman Centre. You can see the agenda on the City’s website here, and you have until today at 10 am to register with the clerks’ office as a delegate or to send a correspondence.
Planning Meeting of City Council – Tuesday March 10, 2026 at 10 am.
Council will look at two big new planning projects, and they will hear the 2025 Housing in Guelph Report. 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.
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: The Coldest Night of the Year fundraiser is this weekend.
The City of Guelph has updated their Report a Problem Map.
The Upper Grand District School Board has released their 2026/2027 school year calendar.
Guelph General Hospital’s new diagnostic imaging centre will be open and ready to receive patients on March 2.
The United Way Guelph Wellington Dufferin has wrapped up their annual campaign announcing that they raised $2.4 million.
Alectra has handed out over $1 million in community support, including $35,000 for various Guelph non-profits.
Water Watchers is co-sponsoring a webinar called “Alternatives to Road Salt: Exploring Perspectives & Empowering Action” on Tuesday March 3 at 6:30 pm.
The Guelph Community for Active Transportation is looking for new board members. The deadline to apply is March 8.
All spots have been filled for the Guelph Police Citizens’ Police Academy.
The Information, Heritage, and Seniors Committee meeting and the Joint Social Services and Land Ambulance Committee meeting at Wellington County have both been cancelled for March.
An exemption to the noise control bylaw was approved for Stone Road Mall during the week of April 14-21 for spring parking lot maintenance. If you would like to request a council review, you will have to submit it by March 10.
The Upper Grand District School Board is looking for feedback on a few new and different policies including Purchasing, Data Governance and Security, Safety (Behaviour Prevention and Intervention), and Service Animals for Students.
Wellington County Engineer Don Kudo has been re-elected to the Ontario Public Works Association Board of Directors for 2026.
Current “Have Your Say” opportunities: Affordable Housing projects (including the vacant home tax); Downtown Infrastructure Renewal Program; Downtown Renewal - Wyndham St. and St. George’s Square; New Community Gardens; Gordon Street and Clair/Laird Road Class Environmental Assessment; South End Community Centre; University Avenue West Reconstruction; the Victoria Road, and Stone Road and McQuillan’s Bridge EA Study.
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!