Update on Southend Community Park

The City of Guelph released a short update about the wall collapse at Southend Community Park that killed 14-year-old Isabel Warren, a student at Bishop Macdonell. There's still not much in the way of explanation though as to why the wall fell.

GUELPH, ON, June 26, 2009 – The Ministry of Labour (MOL) has released the washroom building at Southend Community Park to the City of Guelph after concluding its investigation into last Tuesday’s tragic accident.

The washroom building will remain closed while the City conducts an on-site study of its own beginning today.

In the meantime, the City continues to work with an independent structural engineering firm which is evaluating all City-owned public washrooms.

To date, the MOL has not released any information from its investigation to the City.

GCL Releases Their Voting Record

The Guelph Civic League (GCL) this week released their second annual Voting Record round-up. The civic advocacy group compiles data from councillor votes cast in the year 2008, and ranks each member of the city council according to how closely their vote aligns with the values of the GCL. Obviously, the GCL’s values lean towards the progressive, but their main goal is to help facilitate an informed and active local electorate. “The purpose of the report is to facilitate interest and to increase accessibility to council's record, often difficult to ascertain due to the sheer volume and format of the minutes of council meetings,” said a GCL statement issued with the report. “The hope is that these reports might provide a forum for discussion between residents and their council representatives.”

So who’s most inline with the ideals of the GCL? Well, Ward 5 Councillor Leanne Piper gets that honour with Ward 2 Councillor Ian Findley who tied for 86.7 per cent each. Both councillors won points for supporting a pesticide ban by-law, and for voting against the 6&7 development expansion on Woodlawn and the Hydro merger. Reversely, Ward 4 Councillor Gloria Kovach is at the top of GCL’s naughty list with 35.7 per cent while Ward 6 Councillor Christine Billings follows close behind with 42.9 per cent. Overall, council’s average is 73.4 per cent, with eight councillors scoring 80 per cent or more.

“By the 2010 election, there will be four reports in all - one for each year of this council's term in office,” says GCL, who added that their report this year involved the input of more members than ever. “A volunteer working group selected sample votes, representing GCL's community values, from each month. This list was then posted for several weeks in February. GCL's member organizations and supporters were invited to come in and indicate which of the 25 votes, were most significant to them as individuals or groups. The final 15 votes represent those chosen most frequently.”

From the League:

For the record...

We've gathered the votes from city council's second year and compared them with the values you told us were most important to you. We encourage you to examine these records and reflect upon how your elected officials are doing based on what you care about.

Voting Records for 2008: See for yourself.

GCL's Annual Voting Records Report has become the cornerstone of the groups' effort to educate and engage citizens by making access to local government quick and easy. Since the first release of Council Voting Records in October of 2006, citizens groups in many communities across Canada have adopted GCL's voting record template. By the 2010 election, there will be four reports in all - one for each year of this council's term in office. The purpose of the report is to facilitate interest and to increase accessibility to council's record, often difficult to ascertain due to the sheer volume and format of the minutes of council meetings. The hope is that these reports might provide a forum for discussion between residents and their council representatives.

As an advocate for participatory democracy, this year GCL endeavoured to engage more of its membership in the development of the Voting Records report. A volunteer working group selected sample votes, representing GCL's community values, from each month. This list was then posted for several weeks in February. GCL's member organizations and supporters were invited to come in and indicate which of the 25 votes, were most significant to them as individuals or groups. The final 15 votes represent those chosen most frequently. As with previous versions, each councillor's vote is 'scored'. A positive score is assigned for votes aligned with GCL values. In 2008, individual councillor scores ranged from 35.7% to 86.7%.

LIMITS Parties

The environmental advocacy group LIMITS is continuing their push on to keep the Hanlon Creek Business Park from coming to concreted fruition. In my mailbox today, I got this invite from the group for an event happening this Sunday. Hopefully, the weather will clear up by then.

The City of Guelph's proposed Hanlon Creek Business Park continues to be at the forefront of Guelph's environmental issues. To continue raising awareness and building momentum against this 675-acre industrial project, and to build positive community relationships, LIMITS (Land Is More Important Than Sprawl) is hosting a family-friendly summer solstice event this Sunday. The best time for photo/camera shots would likely be around lunch.

When: Sunday June 21, 11am-4pm
Where: An old homestead on the proposed-HCBP site, just South of Downey and Teal (look for signs)
Who: Members of LIMITS, local and out-of-town musicians, and local youth and families
What: See schedule below:

10:00 am - Local activists will meet at the Farmers Market for a leisurely bike ride to the site.

11:00 am - Music by Beth Prysnuk and Lady O' Lakes from London, Ontario
- Crafts and Face Painting
- Information table out about LIMITS, the Old Growth, and the Jefferson Salamander.

12:00 - Fun games for kids, including Three Legged Races and Pin the Tail on the Salamander
- Information session for parents about the Old Growth, the proposed
development, and the Jefferson Salamander.

12:30 - BBQ
- Music acts by Sarah Mangle, Vicki B, and Kelly
- Medicinal Plant Walk

2:00
- Forest Walk
- More games for kids

3:30 - Wrap up, discussion

City Hall Celebration Postponed

In the wake of the tragedy in which a Grade 9 student was killed when a washroom wall collapsed in a south end park yesterday, the City has called off it Grand Opening ceremonies for the New City Hall this Saturday.

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Guelph mourns Bishop Macdonell student; City postpones City Hall grand opening celebration

GUELPH, ON, June 17, 2009 – The City of Guelph joins the Wellington Catholic District School Board and the community in its mourning of a student who was fatally injured after a partial wall in a public washroom in Southend Community Park collapsed yesterday.

"This is a terrible tragedy for the family, Bishop Macdonell High School, and our entire community," said Guelph's mayor, Karen Farbridge. "The City of Guelph extends its heartfelt condolences to the family, who are undoubtedly suffering at this time."

In respect for the family, the City will postpone its City Hall grand opening celebration, originally
scheduled for this Saturday, June 20. The City is in the process of contacting everyone involved in Saturday's event. At this time, the cause of the collapse is unknown. The washroom building has been secured by the Guelph Police Service, who are investigating along with the Ministry of Labour. The City is working with Guelph Police Services to assist in any and every way possible. The washroom building will remain closed until a structural review is conducted.

The City wishes to reassure the public that City facilities are inspected regularly, and that it is committed to safe, healthy public spaces. The City awaits the results of the investigation so as to understand what happened.

The City is also working closely with the Wellington Catholic District School Board. The City and the School Board were in touch with various ministries yesterday, including the Ministry of Labour and the Ministry of Education, to inform them of the incident.

From what I understand, the official grand opening will now not happen until September. And of course, I offer my own deepest condolences to the family and friends of that young girl. This is truly one of those freak accidents; one of those things that blindside you at 4 pm on some idle Tuesday, as Mary Schmich once observed.

Check back here for more information as it develops.