Election Year Day 2 - More Names on the Ballot

Either an indication of how busy the local balllot's going to be this election, or that there are a lot of eager beavers out there, three more names have been added to the rolls for the 2014 Municipal election. As per the Guelph Votes website, three people have added themselves to October 27 election, including two for mayor and one for city council. 

The BTBB Awards for 2013

I'm writing this both as a way of organizing my own thoughts and encapsulating the year that was according to the criteria of the annual "Beyond the Ballot Box" Awards show. These year end analyses are always tricky; a balancing act of what was important, what was fascinating and what was overlooked. For this year's awards show, I was very conscious to sidestep around the words "Rob Ford," as he could have easily taken the prize in two, maybe three, of the categories. The truth is that even without RoFo, there was still a lot of material out there. I'll be interested to hear what the rest of the gang has to say, and who they give out their awards to (and by the time this article goes live, we'll all know). For now though, here's my BTTB Award winners, and my reasoning for their getting the laurels.

The Election Year Begins

If you're still hung over from the New Year's festivities. sober up(!) because the 2014 Municipal Election is officially underway as of today. Today was the first day that potential candidates could file papers to run for mayor or city councillor in the October 27th election, and both here in Guelph and in Toronto, some early birds were hoping that they have what it takes to get the worm.

New Year's Message from GCL

Happy New Year! Now let's talk about the election.

Just kidding. (Sort of.) As you undoubtedly know (and since you're reading this blog, I assume you do know), 2014 is a Municipal Election year. So the time is right to start a discussion of the important issues facing Guelph this year, and how we're going to promote greater voter engagement and get out the vote this fall. But where to begin? How about at the Annual General Meeting for the Guelph Civic League. The details for next week's meeting can be found in the open letter from the GCL below.

Guthrie Plans New Year Surprise

It appears that there's enough time in 2013 for one last surprise, and Cam Guthrie is it's author. An invite was sent out to media this afternoon for an announcement at the noon hour on Thursday January 2nd. The subject? "2014 Municipal election intentions," the e-vite said. Interesting, right? While it is possible, I doubt that Guthrie would hold a press event first thing in the new year to announcement his re-election campaign for Ward 4 councillor, so it begins the question: does Guthrie have his eye on the top seat? Is he announcing his run for mayor on Thursday? Stay tuned.

Press Release - Ice Storm Clean-Up Continues...

Re-establishing power to all homes was just the beginning, there's still a city full of downed trees and branches to clean-up. As the emphasis is less on the power side of things, the city's looking to start the nitty gritty of cleaning up all the debris. Nearly two weeks later, there's still a lot of loose shrubbery lying around, and that appears to be the next phase of the aftermath efforts as a press release from City Hall today seems to indicate.

Guelph Politicast #2.4 - Andy Best, Guelph Civic League

To close out the year, and to kick off the election year that's coming, the final Guelph Politicast of 2013 is an interview with Guelph Civic League President Andy Best.

Top 10 Documentaries of 2013

If you’re looking to take a break from all your troubles this holiday, might I suggest ploughing into someone else’s? The documentary remains a great vehicle for incredible, true life stories, and the year 2013 had some remarkable ones. Thanks to the boom of online distribution and video on demand, it’s never been easier to get great docs in your home, and there’s always a selection of pretty great ones on the old-fashioned big screen too. Many of the titles below are available online in someway, shape or form, so if you’re looking for something to watch during your downtime this holiday season, these titles should fill your head and feed your soul.

Top 10 National/International Stories of 2013

Last week, I looked at the Top 10 Local and Provincial stories of 2013, and, as promised, we now open our scope wider to the national and international stages. I believe I said that last week's list was easier to compile than this one, but the struggle with the National/International Top 10 was a "Sophie's Choice" of which stories make the cut and which to leave off. A couple of the stories below could be easily separated into their own categories, but since the year was jam-packed with activity, I can be understandably forgiven to fold a couple of things together in order to create a more inclusive picture of the year that was. So, without further ado, let's look at the national and international news that made the head of the headlines in 2013.

Press Release - Seriously, Just Stay Home

You know what folks, the mall will still be there tomorrow. The storm system that passed through our area last night and this morning has left a terrible mess in its wake from downed power lines to fallen trees and icy roads. If you haven't been out yet, the City of Guelph is advising people that there's no need to go out now.  The best course of action is to stay at home, and enjoy a snow day (as it were) till emergency services and Guelph Hydro can get the place sorted out. 

So far it seems like the biggest concern is the trees and power lines. Unlike Toronto, which reportedly once had half a million people without power, Guelph's power problems seem localized to a  few places right now, particularly around the Hanlon between Stone Rd and College St and in the Ward. If you do need to go out, take care and take extra time as needed. Guelph Transit is running, but there are delays, and from what I've heard some buses have some difficulties taking more hilly portions of town, so be aware of delays on that end too.