MANGEZ! Dine Safe Guide for July 16-31, 2016

Twice-monthly, Guelph Politico posts the latest inspection results from the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit inspection of local restaurants, hotels, cafes, grocery stores and other businesses that handle food. We call it "Mangez!", and this column highlights the latest inspections done by WDGPH, and the results they've posted.

Beware of Coyotes on the Niska Trail

This might be a cause for concern. If you enjoy hiking or walking along the Niska trail in the southwest corner of Guelph. Two close encounters with coyotes have the City of Guelph and the Guelph Humane Society warning trail users to keep their eyes open, and know what to do if you should cross paths with a coyote.

GUELPH POLITICAST #44 - Steven Petric, Transit Advocate

Oh what a year it's been for those that take the bus in the city. First, the price of passes went up, then service was cut down to one-hour on statutory holidays, and then the loss of peak service for the summer seemed to throw a lot of things into chaos until city council conceded that they had created a problem in trying to save the city money and put on extra buses. That's a lot to talk about and I'm tired of talking to myself about it.

Downtown is Cool with the Change in Hillside Dates

As reported in the Guelph Tribune the other day, the Hillside Festival is conceding victory to WayHome after two years of struggle against the upstart music festival just a few hours further away than our own Guelph Lake. The 34th annual Hillside Festival will be held on the weekend of July 14-16, which is a couple of weeks earlier than normal, but does it also put Hillside into conflict with another of Guelph's summer festivals?

What Does the New Ward 5/6 Boundary Look Like?

It was kind of buried in the consent agenda of last week's city council meeting, but if you live in certain portions of Zaduk Place, Paddison Court, or Sweeney Drive, you might not be in the same ward in 2018 that you are right now. The boundary will now head north at Zaduk Place off Kortright Road East and continue to MacAlister Boulevard to Victoria Road South, but what does that look like, and where can you register your concern if you don't like it?

OHL Storm Re-Up in Guelph for the Next Decade

At City Hall this morning, in the heat of midsummer, the City of Guelph announced that Guelph Storm hockey will be sticking around in the Royal City for the next decade. That's good news since the Storm is the anchor tenant for the Sleeman Centre, but it still leaves a substantial hole in the City's bottom line.

A Brief History of Hillside (With a Chance of Doom)

The year was 1984. A generation of young people were given the eternal answer to "Who you gonna call?", Cirque du Soleil redefined just how far you can make certain body parts bend, and John Turner began an epic three-month ride as Prime Minister of Canada. Meanwhile, here in Guelph, a small community music festival was launched that more than three decades later endures as a summer destination that's synonymous with the Royal City.

City Pushing to Eliminate the Last Lead Pipes in Guelph

If you've seen these black signs pop up around your neighbourhood, it's no cause for concern, unless you've gotten a postcard-size version of it in your mailbox, in which case the City of Guelph wants to hear from you. The City of Guelph is targeting a few hundred houses that remain untested for lead pipes in the hopes of finally closing the book on that infrastructure misstep.

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for July 18, 2016

This is the last city council meeting before the summer break, so let's make it a good one. You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here to read Politico's preview of tonight's meeting. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight's council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the July 18 Meeting?

It's all been leading to this... The epic midseason finale of Guelph City Council! After Monday night's meeting, council goes on its traditional midsummer break, so that means there's lots and lots of business to take care of before school let's out for (the rest of) summer - so to speak. 

MANGEZ! Dine Safe Guide for July 1-15, 2016

Twice-monthly, Guelph Politico posts the latest inspection results from the Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health Unit inspection of local restaurants, hotels, cafes, grocery stores and other businesses that handle food. We call it "Mangez!", and this column highlights the latest inspections done by WDGPH, and the results they've posted.

City of Guelph Has Official Statement on Nice Attack

Last night's deadly attack in Nice on revelers celebrated Bastille Day got the whole world's attention, including members of Guelph's City Hall. 

What's the Deal with the Multi-use Pathway on Woodlawn?

In a follow-up to last week's Guelph Politicast about biking in Guelph, I though it might be a good time to share a bit of critical, need to know information should you happen to be on your bike, on Woodlawn Road, and are interested in using the Multi-use Pathway, or MUP if you like.

LIVE BLOG: City Council Meeting for July 11, 2016

Food trucks, affordable housing, and planning matters are all on the agenda for tonight's meeting. You can click here for the amended agenda from City Hall, and you can click here to read Politico's preview of tonight's meeting. For the complete blow-by-blow of tonight's council meeting, you can follow me on Twitter, or follow along below via Storify.

GUELPH POLITICAST #43 - Bicycling in Guelph

Once we get to driving age, a great many of us forget the joy and exhilaration that comes from getting out and about on one's bicycle. Over the last several years, many municipalities, including Guelph, have been busily trying to make their communities more bike-friendly in the hopes of maybe getting people to catch that spirit once more (much to the chagrin of those that think that the road's for cars only). But is Guelph bike friendly enough? This week we talk to some experts.

City Council Preview - What's on the Agenda for the July 11 Meeting?

Sure, it's summer, but considering the following agenda it looks like city council isn't taking a break (that's next month). Reports on affordable housing and food trucks will be heard, along with the usual planning, developing and rezoning matters heard at the first meeting of every month. 

What Guelph Cases Are Currently Before the OMB?

We hear a lot about the Ontario Municipal Board - the various cases they hear, the call for reform in some quarters of the province (including our own) - and there's no denying the influence they have in how our cities are shaped and who gets to do the shaping. But would you be surprised to learn that there are nearly a dozen open cases concerning the City of Guelph before the OMB? So where are they, and what are they about? 

GUELPH POLITICAST #42 - Jay Reid and Hayley Kellett of the Making-Box

Comedy is big business in Guelph. Who woulda thunk it? Guelph has been long known as a destination for artistic works, unique music festivals, and accomplishments in filmmaking and media art, and now the Royal City is staking a claim to comedy. If there is a comedy revolution in Guelph, then the Making-Box is ground zero, and this week, the Guelph Politicast goes inside with the two people behind the wave.