Unusual Cuisine - What Is This?

This dish arrived at the studio for last Wednesday evening’s show when we were chatting with Oxanna Adams about pesticides.

There’s Martha Stewart and then there is the Wonderful Diane!

What is it and why was it on the show?

I know it at least contains cheese because I supplied it.

Tune in to Royal City Rag, this coming Wednesday evening to find out it’s significance. We need to know.

Worth Repeating - City of Guelph Waste Management Survey

I should thank Magda Konieczna from the Guelph Mercury and 59 Carden St Blog for encouraging me to read a little more closely.

This was a random telephone survey of 400 city residents by Oraclepoll Research.

This particular question pertains to possible new services for the City. Makes interesting reading.

I’d suggest printing out a copy of the this page, circle the changes you like best, then talk to your councillor about what’s on your wish list.

You can read the whole survey here.

 

Speed River Clean-Up, Royal City Park - June 7

City of Guelph Landscape Assessment Program - Now Available

Let me banish any cynicism that may have crept in during previous postings. This program sounds like a great idea; it should be over-subscribed. This really is walking the talk!

Landscape Assessment Program
Make your landscape a healthy landscape and experience the benefits of going green!

To help Guelph residents and businesses establish low water-use and pesticide free environments the City of Guelph is now offering the Healthy Landscapes - Landscape Assessment Program.

Through this exciting new program Guelph residents and businesses can book a complimentary 30-minute consultation with a City Landscape Advisor to review their landscape and discuss potential landscape based alternatives to make the property more water efficient and naturally beautiful.

What does a Landscape Assessment visit include?

Through this program, a City of Guelph Landscape Advisor will visit your property to provide site-specific suggestions and landscape advice. The focus of the landscape assessment will be catered to you to provide suggestions regarding site landscaping alternatives and to answer questions you may have. Some typical items which may be covered through a landscape assessment site visit include:

• Evaluation of your landscape’s current physical characteristics and growing conditions
• Identification of non-invasive and drought tolerant plant alternatives for your property
• Overview of proactive lawn and garden maintenance steps to limit the effects of pests and impacts of seasonal drought
• Discussion of lawn and turf alternatives such as ground cover, shade gardening and hardscapes
• Discussion of lawn and garden watering best practices
• Identification of alternative watering systems such as rain barrels and drip irrigation
• Overview of natural, safe, and effective pest control practices

Book your landscape assessment
To sign up for the Landscape Assessment Program send an e-mail to healthylandscapes@guelph.ca or call 519-822-1260 x 2153.

Please note there are a total of 500 available Landscape Assessment Program site visits to be completed throughout the spring and summer of 2008.

Bookings will be completed on a first-come-first-serve basis.

Landscape consultations will begin on Monday, May 12. Landscape assessments will be booked Monday through Thursday between 12 p.m. and 7 p.m. and will continue throughout the spring and summer until August 21, 2008.

Waste Diversion - Citizens of Guelph Expect More

I received this from the city this morning. Its encouraging to see a clear message has been sent that residents of Guelph expect the city to be a leader in waste management. We can debate whether the city was ever truly a leader in waste management. Some would say, yes. I would say, that in less you continue to walk the talk, it doesn’t matter what you say.

I particularly like the idea of a Reuse centre where you could drop off and pick-up items. Getting rid of the fee you need to pay to drop off bulky items would also be helpful. It would also discourage dumping.

Anyway, I’ll try and follow up with a live interview sometime soon. Health permitting, a visit to the Waste Resource Innovation Centre (formerly Wet-Dry Recycling Centre) would be very interesting.

Is anyone out there aware of when the name change occurred? Rebranding is great but if there is no real change in what goes on, does it ever mean anything? Or is this just part of the corporate rush to appear as Green as possible?

The city should have an educational program out there focusing around the 3Rs; Reduce, Reuse, Recycle. I’d like to see the city develop interactive programs for both primary and high school students. You’ll get more traction by encouraging our young people to take this information home to their parents. I’d also like to see the university doing more. I still feel like a lot of what they do in this area is lip service rather than anything more substantial. They want to be leader, the too need to be encouraged to go the extra mile.

Which reminds me, when is the university going to make a real push to get a reusable water bottle into the hands of its students and cut the dependence on bottled water? There’s no time like the present to look good doing this.

Please note that there will be a Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP) Open House in early June. A good opportunity to put pressure on the city to be as innovative as possible in this area.

Here is the news-release:

GUELPH, ON, May 8, 2008 – The results of a recent telephone survey indicate strong community support for waste diversion, with 68 per cent of residents in favour of Guelph exceeding the provincial waste diversion goal of 60 per cent. An additional 27 per cent of residents support meeting the provincial waste diversion goal.

Four hundred randomly selected Guelph residents participated in the solid waste management survey, conducted by Oraclepoll Research Ltd. earlier this spring. Participants were asked to provide feedback on various waste reduction, diversion and disposal options being considered for Guelph.

Findings reveal Guelph residents largely support a number of waste diversion options, including improved multi-residential recycling and composting programs, three-stream receptacles in public spaces, and a reuse centre that would allow residents to drop-off and pick-up household items.

Survey results also confirm that residents want Guelph to be a leader in waste management. More than 90 per cent of respondents agree that the community needs to reduce the amount of waste it produces, reuse more materials, and divert as much waste as possible from landfill.

Findings from the survey will be used by the steering committee as it begins to evaluate the list of waste diversion and disposal options. The recommended options will be presented to the community in early June when the City hosts its second Solid Waste Management Master Plan (SWMMP) Open House. The SWMMP will guide the future of waste reduction, diversion and disposal in Guelph for the next 25 years.

You can find more information about the SWMMP, including the waste management survey summary, here.

You can take read the full survey results here.

Downtown Community Improvement Plan Open House - May 22

This sounds pretty important for anyone interested in the health of our downtown. Especially, when we are comtemplating infill development to satisfy the needs of the province legislation, Places to Grow.

You may also want to re-read this piece.

These events are not unconnected.

One way or another the city has to get on board with the province’s recommendations even if we want to debate how much growth Guelph can cope with.

A good turnout from the community is essential.

 

Downtown Community Improvement Plan
Open House
Thursday, May 22, 2008 4 to 7 p.m.
City Hall, 59 Carden St, Council Committee Room C

Hear information and provide comments on plans to designate downtown Guelph as a Community Improvement Plan (CIP) area.

The establishment of a Downtown CIP will assist with the implementation of community priorities as outlined in Guelph’s Strategic Plan, the Downtown Action Plan and Official Plan. A CIP would provide Council with the statutory authority to sell, lease or dispose of downtown lands and buildings acquired or held by the municipality for economic development reasons.

The plan would also give Council the ability to provide loans, grants and tax assistance to private owners to assist with rehabilitating lands and buildings.

City Operations Department Open House - May 24

I don’t know how many people ever take the City up on these offers but, you know, seeing as they asked, we should go. I’m involved with the Operations Department through Guelph’s wonderful farmers market. They seem like good folk. I’m sure they’d love to see you.

Can someone out there do me a a favour and go and then tell me what went on?

You can either leave me note here or, if you are really interested you can get to learn what radio is all about, and come on the show. I’m always on the look out for enthusiastic new correspondents. Especially, as I can’t currently do as much as I used to.

By the way, it is possible to sign up for city news to be sent to you directly. That’s how I get to write these posts. You can visit the city’s very informative and now fairly user-friendly website and sign up here but please continue to read what Royal City Rag has to say and, of course, keep listening to the show!

Saturday, May 24
9 a.m. to 12 noon
50 Municipal St

Operations departments in virtually all communities provide a variety of services that enhance residents’ daily lives. In Guelph, these include downtown parking facilities and bylaw enforcement; maintenance of the City’s fleet and equipment; maintenance of sanitary sewers and above-ground infrastructures located on roads, boulevards, greenways and parklands.

Drop in, speak with staff, see equipment and displays.

This year’s theme is The Future is Now – the Open House will feature a display of past and present equipment used around the city.

We look forward to seeing you then!

Guelph Waterworks Open House - May 10

With all this talk about our water supply this could be a very interesting open house.

Come one, come all to the Waterworks Open House!
Saturday, May 10, 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

29 Waterworks Place (located just off York Road)

Join the City of Guelph Waterworks Division for a fun and informative weekend event! Learn about what we do at Waterworks and how you can help conserve and protect our water supply.

Refreshments and door prizes!
Activities for kids - bring them along!

 

Here is the Press Release:

Learn more about Guelph’s water supply at Waterworks Open House, May 10

GUELPH, ON, May 7, 2008 – Ever wondered how your drinking water gets from the ground and into your glass? Or what you can do to reduce your indoor and outdoor water use? The City of Guelph Waterworks Division will answer these questions and more during its Open House on Saturday, May 10. 
Residents are invited to drop by F.M. Woods Pumping Station, located at 29 Waterworks Place (just off of York Road), between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. to talk to City staff, view equipment and interactive displays, and learn more about the City’s various water based programs and services.
“Our past open houses have been well attended,” said Peter Busatto, Manager of Guelph Waterworks. “They offer a wonderful opportunity for customers to learn about Guelph’s unique, 130 year old groundwater supply and meet the dedicated professionals who provide customers with safe and secure drinking water.”
Join City staff for a fun and informative weekend event and learn more about Waterworks’ programs and services. The Open House event will also include a complementary barbecue, door prizes and activities for kids. 

 

 

The Show - May 7

Considering the health issues I’m struggling with, I’m calling this one “The Lazarus show’. Not because I feel like I’ve turned the corner but because, like Lazarus, I’m determined to get my life back.

Appropriately we started off with “Dig, Lazarus, Dig” from the wonderful new Nick Cave and the Bad Seeds album of the same name.

In the first half of the show Oxanna Adams, from Guelph Environmental Network (left) joined us to talk about Guelph’s new pesticide bylaw.

A lot of people have worked hard to develop a bylaw that protects the community. Hopefully it won’t be derailed by a weaker provincial law because of intense lobbying by lawn care companies. As pesticide products have started to disappear off the shelves at major retailers its hard to imagine that the clock will be turned back again.

Oxanna indicated it is very important that people send comments in to the Environmental Registry to ensure that the legislation and regulations will most effectively protect human and environmental health. The form can be completed online here. For more information on what to write, read this post.

We also had a short interview with the mayor, Karen Farbridge, that I recorded at the youth charette put on by the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal this past Saturday in downtown Guelph. Fifteen Guelph high school students have been involved in the urban design exercise over the past three months. It was great to see our young people so thoughtfully engaged in planning for community. For more information on the charette, take a look at this post. I have interviews with students and ministry personnel that I’ll play on a future show.

Which reminds me, what a great name for a ministry; “The Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal”? In honour of the Lazarus show, I’m going to kick off the “Jan Hall Personal Infrastructure Renewal Project”!

Listen to the interview:

Brian Holstein joined us in the second half for his monthly review of goings on around City Hall finding time to cover the pesticide bylaw, overnight street parking, the success of both Doors-Open Guelph and Jane’s Walk, the controversial proposed improvements to the Hanlon expressway and Storytelling at the Boathouse with Tom King. 

 

Brian delivered one of his trademark rants but sounded curiously mellow this time around, focusing on Spring flowers, trash, car alarms and, oh yes, corporate bullies at the Ontario Municipal Board. He even accepted that the municipal election is finally over now we have a responsible and community oriented council in place. Well, that is, until the next time!

What will next month’s rant bring? More ranting about jay-walking in the downtown, people who drive Hummers, and those who wear white before Victoria Day? You can’t keep a good man down. Tune in next month to find out.

Listen to Brian’s Rant:

Music:
Nick Cave: “Dig, Lazarus, Dig” from “Dig, Lazurus, Dig”
Ryan Adams: “To be young (is to be sad, is to be high)” from “Heartbreaker”
The Seekers: “One step forward, two steps back” from “The Best of the Seekers Today”

PS: The Seekers were my favorite group when I was eight!

Listen to the full show:

Support a Pesticide Free Ontario - We Need Your Help

To Members and Supporters of a Pesticide Free Ontario:

On April 22, 2008, Ontario’s Cosmetic Pesticides Ban Act was introduced for first reading. It is imperative that you submit your comments before May 22, 2008 to the Environmental Registry to ensure that the legislation and regulations will most effectively protect human and environmental health.

Please read the EBR Registry Number:  010-3348 here.

Complete the form online.

The key points to emphasize are:

1. Overall, I strongly support the ban on lawn pesticide use and sales.

2. The only exemptions should be to protect public health. There should be no exemptions for golf courses and “other prescribed uses”.

3. The only allowed products/active ingredients for both commercial and home use should be based on the accepted list of municipal bylaws as follows:

• A product that uses pheromones to lure pests, sticky media to trap pests or “quick-kill” traps for vertebrate species considered pests, such as mice and rats.
• A product that is or contains only the following active ingredients: a soap, a mineral oil, also called “dormant or horticultural oil”; silicon dioxide, also called “diatomaceous earth”; Biological pesticides, including Bt (Bacillus thuringiensis) and nematodes, Borax, also called “boric acid” or “boracic acid”; Ferric phosphate; Acetic acid; Fatty acids; Sulphur; or Corn gluten meal.

4. The provincial ban should still allow municipalities to pass more restrictive bylaws, as stated by Premier McGuinty when the legislation was introduced.

Tree Planting in Riverside Park - May 10

I received this from OPIRG. Tune in next Wednesday to hear Erin Harkins from the OPIRG-Guelph Speed River Project live on Royal City Rag.

Tree Planting - Saturday, May 10th at Riverside Park! Rain or Shine!

Extreme weather date: Sunday, May 11th

Join your neighbours and OPIRG’s Speed River Project for a morning of planting trees and wildflowers and general cleanup; fun for the whole family!  This is our last planting event of the season. Planting will take place from 9 a.m. -1 p.m.  Wear long pants, closed-toe footwear, sun gear and bring water and an extra shovel if you have one. Access Riverside Park from Woodlawn Rd. or Riverview Dr.  Look for signage. We encourage you to walk, bus or cycle.  Parking available in the parking lot off of Woodlawn Rd. and along Riverview Dr. Thank-you to EcoAction Community Funding Program, our major sponsor; and to the City of Guelph Operations Department for providing assistance in-kind. Through neighbourhood-based naturalization projects we can diversify and rehabilitate degraded urban river banks one neighbourhood at a time.

Visit www.opirgguelph.org or call for more information (519) 824-2091.

Office hours: Monday - Thursday, 11 a.m. -5 p.m.

Contact opirg@uoguelph.ca re: Volunteer Opportunities. 

Have Fun Reducing Your Own Carbon Footprint

This sounds a great way to decrease your environmental impact and have fun at the same time.

Guelph Urban Wilderness Weekend
Reduce your carbon footprint this May long-weekend and adventure locally!

Four local groups collaborate to bring you the first ever Guelph Urban Wilderness Weekend.  This three day nature lover’s dream is specially geared to beginner paddlers, birders and hikers, but promises something interesting for everyone.

Hike: 9:30 a.m. May 17th
Join the Guelph Hiking Trail Club for an engaging hike featuring the best of Guelph’s riverside cultural and natural heritage.

Paddle: 9:30 a.m. May 18th
Join OPIRG-Guelph’s Speed River Project and Waterloo-Wellington Canoe Club for a guided paddle down the Eramosa River; from Eden Mills to the Covered Bridge.

Bird Watching: 7:30 a.m. May 19th
Enjoy a guided bird watching hike along urban stretches of the Speed River and learn about seasonal, migrating bird species with the Guelph Field Naturalists.

You must register in advance for all events; however, the May 17th and 19th hikes are free of charge.

The OPIRG Paddle costs $20 per person (children 12 years and under participate for free) and you must rent, or bring your own boat. All proceeds from the OPIRG Paddle will support OPIRG’s Speed River Project. Register in person (cash or cheque only) at the OPIRG office, 1 Trent Lane on the University of Guelph Campus. Late registration of $40 will be accepted on May 15th and May 16th. Office hours: Monday – Thursday, 11am-5pm.

Registration information:
Visit www.opirgguelph.org or call (519) 824-2091.  

Guelph Urban Wilderness Weekend Partners:

Guelph Field Naturalists: www.guelphfieldnaturalists.org

Guelph Hiking Trail: www.guelphhiking.com

OPIRG Guelph: www.opirgguelph.org

Waterloo-Wellington Canoe Club: www.waterloowellingtoncanoeclub.ca

Two Rivers Community Garden 7th Annual Plant Sale and Exchange

A rite of Spring in Guelph…

Two Rivers Community Garden 7th Annual Plant Sale and Exchange

When: Saturday, May 17th, 2008 from 10 am - 1 pm

Where: Tytler Public School parking lot (on Toronto St. at York Road)

Bring your garden extras!

• seeds you’ve saved
• perennials you’re splitting
• seedlings you’ve started

Take home something new.

Just starting out?  Don’t have anything to share?  Plants available at reasonable prices!

Chat with fellow gardeners about what’s best for sun, shade, boulevards, backyards, birds and bees.

Seeds, flowers, vegetables, trees, shrubs and all gardeners welcome!

Call (519) 824-9095 for more information.

Guelph Symphony Orchestra Garage Sale - May 10

Guelph Symphony Orchestra 2nd Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser
Saturday May 10, 2008 from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m.
Dublin St United Church, Guelph

The Guelph Symphony Orchestra will hold its 2nd Annual Garage Sale Fundraiser on Saturday May 10, at Dublin St United Church, located at the corner of Dublin and Suffolk Streets. The sale will run from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m. and all are welcome. To donate good quality items for the sale, please call 519-836-6573 or email svbarclay@rogers.com. The sale will feature a coffee bar sponsored by Planet Bean Fairtrade Coffee.

Visit the Guelph Symphony Orchestra website at guelphorchestra.ca

Thomas Homer-Dixon “Values and the Prospective Mind” - May 14

I received this from The Guelph Seminar. Thomas Homer-Dixon lectures are always very popular.

The Guelph Seminar is pleased to present a lecture by Thomas Homer-Dixon on  Wednesday the 14th of May at Dublin St. United Church, Suffolk at Dublin St. at 7:30 p.m. on “Values and the Prospective Mind: Personal Resilience in a Volatile World”. 

Admission: $10 ($5 students)

Thomas Homer-Dixon currently holds the George Ignatieff Chair of Peace and Conflict Studies at the Trudeau Centre for Peace and Conflict Studies at University College, University of Toronto. He will leave that position this summer to become the first high-profile appointment for the fledgling Balsillie School of International Affairs, a partnership of the University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University.

Thomas Homer Dixon’s recent research has focused on threats to global security in the 21st century and on how societies adapt to complex economic, ecological, and technological change.

His books include The Upside of Down: Catastrophe, Creativity, and the Renewal of Civilization (Knopf, Island Press, 2006), which won the 2006 National Business Book Award, The Ingenuity Gap (Knopf, 2000), which won the 2001 Governor General’s Non-fiction Award, and Environment, Scarcity, and Violence (Princeton University Press, 1999), which won the Caldwell Prize of the American Political Science Association.

Taste the Best Ontario Riesling and Support the Masai Centre

I received this from Orest Poluch, Product Consultant at the LCBO. I wouldn’t normally feel the LCBO needs the publicity but the proceeds of this event will benefit the Masai Centre Project.  And who doesn’t enjoy a nice bottle of wine?

Ontario Riesling Tasting Session

The tasting event takes place on May 31st from 11.30 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. in the tasting room at the LCBO on Scottsdale Drive.

14 great dry and off-dry Ontario Rieslings will be available to sample. All products are to be available in the LCBO or soon to be released. There will be an opportunity to vote for the best Ontario Riesling.

Cost: $10.00 for 6 samples

All proceeds will go to support the MASAI centre project, www.masaicentre.ca.

Hanlon Expressway Improvement Workshops

This past weekend the Ontario Ministry of Transportation (MTO) held a couple of workshops with community members and other stakeholders to discuss the proposed improvements to the Hanlon Expressway.

You can review the Guelph Mercury report on the workshop here.

The good news, according to the Mercury report is the MTO’s preferred plan is off the table. Only time will tell whether the MTO will truly take the concerns of the Guelph citizens at the meeting into consideration when they come up with “son of the preferred plan”.

An excellent report from one of the community members at the workshop, David Graham, is available here. David’s blog, www.cdlu.net is an excellent source of alternative transit solutions to the “lets just build another highway” lobby.

The results of the workshop discussions will be presented back to the participants at another workshop on May 13th.

Credit is due to all those working hard to ensure that the concerns of the citizens of Guelph are taken into consideration as the proposed improvements are finalized.

For the Love of Sue Richards… There’s a Lift

I’m sure many of you will be aware that Guelph artist, Sue Richards, creator of Art Jam, Blog Guelph, My Menopause Blog and the Breast of Canada Calendar, was recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease.

Sue was my first ever guest on  Royal City Rag. Her visit to the show was notable for my inability to use the on-air board and cue up a CD properly. We nearly didn’t get to Sue’s special request, Tannis Slimmon’s “There’s a Lift” from “Oak Lake”.  Sue took it all in good fun.

On another visit, as “Empress of Concept and Design” for the Breast of Canada Calendar she provided me with a great Royal City Rag Station ID.

Listen to Sue’s Royal City Rag Station ID:

What you may not know is that as an artist Sue does not have access to a medical benefits coverage package that many of us (myself included) take for granted. Because of the progress of her condition Sue has been having trouble with daily tasks like walking and simply getting up from a chair. Her ability to use a keyboard has been severely compromised as well and that’s how she makes her living as a freelance writer.

Friends, Gareth Lind, Tony Leighton and Chris Iwanowski have set up a website, www.helpingfriends.ca/supportsue/ to help Sue with her on-going expenses.

“The goal is to recruit at least 100 big-hearted people willing to contribute $10 per month (or more if inclined) to help Sue through the coming stages of her journey. It is an ongoing commitment. We want to make sure she doesn’t have to worry about basic necessities while attempting to recover from this frightening disease. A number of Sue’s friends have already signed up, but dozens more are needed if we are to build a meaningful monthly stipend from numerous small contributions.”

Please consider helping Sue. She is a community member who needs us. Helping is easy. First, visit the website, then follow the links to Paypal where you can use your credit card.

For those who prefer not to make transactions overr the web, there is a downloadable transfer debit form.

Preauthorised debit form

A very successful fundraiser took place in Eden Mills to help Sue featuring Jude Vadala and Friends, the Great Wooden Trio and the Exceptions.

I received the following note from Jude Vadala concerning the event.

“Regarding the Fundraiser for our friend Sue Richards, I am happy to announce that we raised $5,200, and more funds are still trickling in.  This will really help Sue get through the next few months. I want to thank everyone for helping with this event.  The sense of love and support that I felt from our community will stay with me for a long time. I’m sorry that some of you couldn’t get tickets. Next time we’ll find a bigger venue.”

Another event took place Saturday April 12th, a Retro Dance with DJ PK (Paul K) at the Bullring at 8:30 p.m. The proceeds for the evening went to support Sue and Robert Howson.

Guelph Pride 2008 - Celebrate Diversity

I received the following information from the Guelph Pride organizing committee. It would great to see as many people as possible out supporting the queer community as we celebrate diversity in Guelph.

Guelph Pride 2008 - Celebrate Diversity

On Monday May 26th, 2008 at Noon, Mayor Karen Farbridge will raise the rainbow flag at Guelph City Hall to announce the City of Guelph’s support for gay, lesbian, bisexual and transgender rights.

 

Barbara McDowall of the Guelph Pride Committee notes that “while this is not the first time the flag has been raised at City Hall, it is an inclusive moment to have participation by the Mayor. It is a small step which speaks loudly to the queer community that we are citizens too. We know anecdotally that last year many in our community would detour past City Hall just to see the flag. It is a very emotional symbol.”

The flag will be passed (symbolically) to City Council at the kick off event for Guelph Pride week – “Concert Q” a concert by the Rainbow Chorus on Saturday May 24th at 8:00 p.m. at Harcourt United Church.

Other events planned as part of local Pride celebrations include:

• Pride comedy night with internationally known comedian Maggie Cassella and her show “Because I Said So” on Wednesday May 28th at 9:00 p.m. at the Ebar. Tickets are $21.00 and are available at the Bookshelf.
• Pride film screening on Thursday May 29th at 9:00 p.m. at the Bookshelf of “For the Bible Tells Me So”.
• Pride Party & dance on Saturday May 31st at 9:00 p.m. at the Holiday Inn on Scottsdale
• Pride brunch on Sunday June 1st from 11:30 am to 1:00 pm at Diana Downtown.

Spokesperson McDowall extends an open invitation to all to join the Rainbow Community at the flag raising ceremony and to attend events during Pride week. She says “we welcome everyone to join us in our celebration!”

Places to Grow Youth Engagement Project 2008

As part of Ontario’s Places to Grow initiative, the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal (MPIR) have been going out into the province to engage young people in planning charettes. Guelph was one of nine cities to be included in this project. 

Over the past three months, 15 high school students from Guelph have been meeting with a facilitator to come up with their own vision for our downtown, specifically the area bounded by Wellington, Wyndham and McDonnell . The students made use of aerial photographs, elevation drawings and scaled images to develop their ideas.

Mayor Karen Farbridge joined the group of young people, and representatives from the Ministry of Public Infrastructure Renewal, at a press conference on Saturday to discuss downtown revitalization and how to design communities that allow people to work and play close to where they live. I was able to be there to interview Mayor Farbridge and the students for Royal City Rag.

Listen to the interview:

Although this project is somewhat self serving in that it allows MPIR to get out their message about the need for downtown intensification, I was particularly encouraged by the way the students took to their task. One thing is clear, they understand the need for planning for community, not the automobile.

 

As Places to Grow supports the development of complete communities where people can live work and play we really need to embrace it. We just need to make sure the end result the planners give us is what we as a community want.

Studies have shown that complete communities are better for human health and are more environmentally-friendly because they support walking, biking and transit use while reducing gridlock-related smog. 

Its great to see our young people thinking this way. There is hope for the future. Time will tell whether it really makes a difference in how our city is planned.

Wouldn’t it be great if the Ministry of Transport invited the youth to weigh in on what they think about the proposed improvements to the Hanlon Expressway?

 

The Show - April 30

Our first show in CFRU’s amazing new studio.

We’ll call this one “The Singalong Community Show” in honour of the start of Singalong Fridays at the Pantry Cafe, and featuring Sam Turton, Jane Lewis, Heather MacRae, Monique Vischschraper and a cast of thousands (well, hopefully a few more singing at home!)

We had the special pleasure of having Sam singing our theme, Nick Lowe’s “What’s so Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?” live in the studio with Jane, Monique and Heather on backing vocals. What a great job he did too. An amazing way to kick things off in the new space. The new studio has a great feel to it. When you listen to the podcast version below, you’ll realise what a great time we all had. Quite the singalong, and quite the community event.

Don’t forget to make Friday Night Singalongs with Sam Turton and Ashley Condon part of your regular weekend plans. They take place every Friday from 7-9 p.m. To get to The Pantry Cafe, if you’re coming along Woolwich from Downtown, turn right (East) at Speedvale and continue to Stevenson. Turn into the plaza by the Timmy’s, and the Pantry is halfway between the 7-11 and the Price Chopper. Visit riseupsinging.ca for more details.

Later in the show, I played an interview with author/phographer and retired U of G Geography Professor, Fred Dahms, about his new book, “Wellington County”. Fred has a launch party in The Bookshelf E-bar on May 5 from 7-9 p.m. He will be giving a short slide presentation followed by a book-signing. The book is gorgeous. I hope as many people as possible will buy a copy. A great gift for long-lost Guelphites, family members of Guelphites or anyone new to the area. We’ll be doing a book review of “Wellington County” on Royal City Rag sometime soon. I’m hoping to have Fred back in the studio for a chat later in the year.

In the final third of the show we had a chance to talk to Andra Zommers about the second installment of Guelph Speaks. The goal of the project is to provide our community with an anthology that affirms the diversity of the City of Guelph. The Guelph Speaks project aims to provide a platform for some of the many stories that are not commonly heard, in an effort to create a collection of dynamic and inclusive city narratives. Submissions may be any length, however to ensure that as many different voices are included as possible published written works will be limited to 1000 words, and audio and film submissions to 10 minutes.

The community anthology will be released to the public on September 20th, 2008, during a free and catered gathering of story-telling and multi-media presentations at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan Street, featuring excerpts from this year’s submissions.  Additionally, the free, not-for-profit compilation will also be made available to interested individuals, resource centres, and public libraries throughout the city.

Stories can be submitted via email attachment to guelphspeaks@gmail.com, or by mail to 32 Edinburgh Road South, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 5N9. The deadline for story submission is May 16th, 2008.

Music:

Sam Turton Singalong Band:

“What’s So Funny About Peace, Love and Understanding?” (Nick Lowe) - Lead vocal, Sam

“You Ain’t Going Nowhere” (Bob Dylan) - Lead Vocal, Jane

“I’ll Fly Away” (A.E. Brumley, Traditional Style as in “Oh Brother, Where Art Thou?”)

“With A Little Help From My Friends” (Lennon and McCartney)

“Lean On Me” (Bill Withers) - Lead Vocal, Sam

Listen to the show:

 

Coffee House Fundraiser at Planet Bean - May 7

 

This sounds like a great way to spend a Wednesday evening… after listening to Royal City Rag, of course!

An Evening Coffee House

Guelph-Wellington Women in Crisis are hosting a coffee house at Planet Bean, 51 McDonnell Street in Downtown Guelph on May 7th at 7 p.m. featuring a conversation and readings by Rozena Maart, author of the novel The Writing Circle  with music by guitarist Jonas Gregorio.

Worth Reading - Law on Groundwater Murky

This is definitely worth reading. Took me a while to track it down. Great job, Murray Campbell!

For more information, visit this cool website from the Polaris Institute, insidethebottle.org.

Kudos to the Wellington Waterwatchers yet again.

Law On Groundwater Murky
Murray Campbell
Globe and Mail
April 24 2008

The Ontario government was draping itself in green on Earth Day for its decision to ban the sale and use of domestic pesticides but there’s another, equally profound, environmental issue on which it is struggling to find its way.

The issue is bottled water and the government’s willingness to grant permits to companies to withdraw millions of litres a day of groundwater. The McGuinty government has made progress on the issue but not enough to satisfy critics who think the bottled-water industry is getting a free ride.

The issue has heated up with a decision last week to grant the Swiss firm Nestlé a permit to extract up to 3.6 million litres of water a day near Guelph for the princely price of a $3,000 processing fee and - as of next Jan. 1 - an additional fee of $3.71 for every million litres it withdraws. That would be about $13.36 for a day’s production that could sell for nearly $4-million.

To be sure, the Ministry of the Environment placed some restrictions on a permit that has existed since 1984. It gave Nestlé a two-year renewal, rather than the five-year term that it wanted. And it is requiring the company to do extensive monitoring to ensure its extractions are not harming the environment. But a local watchdog group, Wellington Water Watchers, charged that the government is ignoring the 8,176 people who formally expressed concernthat 3.6 million litres daily is a slurp too much.

“To us, it makes no sense to have a multinational company come in, take our water for free, put it in plastic bottles, which we have to dispose of, and sell it back to us for more than the price of gasoline,” said group co-founder Marc Goldberg.

Environment Minister John Gerretsen shares the opinion although he doesn’t use such stark language. He simply doesn’t understand why people buy bottled water. “I would encourage everyone to drink water right out of your tap,” he said. “That’s what I try to do.”

Sales of bottled water are declining after years of popularity but the demand isn’t going to disappear and that will put pressure on the government to devise a tighter policy. In 2004, the bottled-water industry had 31 permits to extract about 20 million litres a day but that doesn’t count the unknown litres drawn from municipal tap-water supplies by Coca-Cola and PepsiCo for its Dasani and Aquafina brands.

“Nobody knows how much water is actually being taken,” said Tony Clarke, executive director of the Ottawa-based Polaris Institute and author of Inside the Bottle.

Mr. Gerretsen and Premier Dalton McGuinty both said yesterday that the current permit fees are too low but the government will need to deal with decisions that say governments can’t charge more than their administrative costs. It will also have to resolve the question of whether water is a commodity or a product and whether it can deny it to some users, such as bottlers, but not to others, such as brewers. “The law is definitely murky,” said Anastasia Lintner, co-ordinating lawyer at Ecojustice (formerly Sierra Legal).

Ministry officials say the $3.71 fee for a million litres may be inadequate but it’s better than the giveaway that prevailed until 2004. (Better also than a Florida decision to charge Nestlé just $230 for a permit to pump water from a state park affected by drought.)

The government is hoping technical studies of Ontario watersheds due in 18 months will provide the basis for a science-based extraction policy. Ms. Lintner believes much higher fees, which would likely dampen sales, can be framed as necessary to protect a resource.

While all this is being sorted out, would you please recycle your empty plastic bottles? That would be a start on curbing an industry that needs to be curbed.

Wellington County - Book Launch May 5

Fred Dahms, author/photographer and retired University of Guelph Geography Professor will be unveiling his new coffee-table book, “Wellington County” at the E-Bar at The Bookshelf on Monday May 5 from 7-9 p.m. Fred will be on hand to give a short slide presentation featuring some of the beautiful images from the book. He will also be signing a few copies.

This book will defnitely be a popular gift for anyone who has lost touch with this area. Look out for the book review on Royal City Rag.  I’m hoping to have Fred back in the studio for a chat later in the year.

“Wellington County” by Fred Dahms is on “The Boston Mills Press” and available for $39.95 at all fine independent bookstores.

Listen to the interview:

Rise Up Singing for Women - Discover Your Own Voice

Rise Up Singing for Women

I received this from my friends Ashley Condon and Jane Lewis. Join them for an introductory weekend workshop where you can explore your voice through exercises, sharing and discussion in a safe, suppportive environment. 

Facilitators: Ashley Condon and Jane Lewis

May 24-25, 2008
Saturday and Sunday, 1:00-4:30 p.m.
Cost: $95

Website and registration info: www.riseupsinging.ca
e-mail: riseupsinging@sympartico.ca
phone: 519-763-5881

 

Friday Night Singalongs - Start May 2

I received this from my good friend, Sam Turton.

The Friday Singalong nights are back at a new location, The Pantry Cafe starting May 2 from 7 - 9 p.m..

The Pantry Cafe is a cozy, neighbourhood hang out that’s perfect for singing along with friends. Sam and Ashley (Condon)’s singalong nights were great fun when they were downtown at the Wooly. Its great that they are moving out into the community.

Songs include well-known folk, pop/rock, bluegrass, country, and gospel numbers, as well as traditional Irish/English/Scottish pub songs. Song books are provided.

I gather that the owner, Brad Inglis, is a bit nervous about starting these off as this will be the first time he’s been open in the evening. It would be great to have a big crowd out there to surprise him!

To get to The Pantry Cafe, if you’re coming along Woolwich from Downtown, turn right (East) at Speedvale and continue to Stevenson. Turn into the plaza by the Timmy’s, and the Pantry is halfway between the 7-11 and the Price Chopper.

Visit riseupsinging.ca for more details.

Have Scottish Blood or Love Cool Celtic Music?

I received this from Lil Milanovich from Kaleidoscope Promotions, (519) 763-7628.

The Scottish traditional band, LAU will be playing The Stage, 33 MacDonell St., Guelph on Sunday June 8, 2008.  Doors: 7:30 p.m. Concert 8.00 p.m. Tickets: $20, from Ground Floor Music (Quebec St.) and The Wee Scottish Shop (Fergus). Out of town reservations (519)763-7628

This is going to be Lau’s only small venue show in Canada should definitely be of interest to anyone who loves traditional celtic music. LAU are Kris Drever (guitar, vocals), Martin Green (piano accordion) and Aidan O’Rourke (fiddle), three of the finest and most innovative exponents of modern traditional music in Scotland today.

This band has buzz . Lau were Winner of “Best Group” at the prestigious BBC Radio 2 Folk Awards (2008). They were also nominees for “Best Album” & “Best Live Act” at the BBC Folk Awards 2008 and the 2007 Scottish Traditional Music Awards.

In the last year and a half, they have become one of the most sought-after acts on the current Scottish scene as well as at festivals worldwide.  Their debut album is “Lightweights and Gentlemen”.
www.lau-music.co.uk
www.myspace.com/laumusic
 

Jane’s Walk in Guelph May 3-4 - Walk Your City

I received this from the Guelph Civic League. Sounds like a great idea.

Jane’s Walk in Guelph May 3-4

Jane’s Walk is a celebration of urban living in recognition of Jane Jacobs, urban visionary who believed that we learn most about your city by getting out and walking.    Her ideas on urban planning and healthy neighbourhoods inspired millions. Jane’s Walk is an event geared to inspire and re-inspire us about the city we call home. 

Guelph has been chosen amoung eight Canadian cities that will be conducting free walking tours throughout the weekend of May 3-4.    Guelph will be out walking with Ottawa, Toronto, Charlottetown, Halifax, Vancouver, Winnipeg and Calgary. The CBC will be covering the event.

Guelphites, who have currently committed to show off their part of the city include Mayor Farbridge, Councillors Hofland, Beard, Piper and Burcher, Brian Holstein, Susan Ratcliffe, Betty Mottin , David Corks, Mark Rodford and folks from Two Rivers, Howitt Park and Old University Neighbourhood Groups. 

All you need to get involved is a pair of walking shoes and a love for your city. Tours can last anywhere from 30 mins to 90 mins and can be lead by one person or a group. 

Visit the national website, www.janeswalk.net for more tips on leading tours, as well as some sample walking tour descriptions.

 

Currently walks planed for Guelph include…

Saturday May 3
 
Downtown’s Nature Trails, with hosts Bill Hulet and Tim Allman starting at 10:00 a.m.
 
Pollinator Trail Walk with host Vicki Beard at 10:00 a.m. 
 
St George’s Park Neighbourhood Stroll with hosts Mayor Farbridge and Martin Bosch at 11:00 a.m. 

Exploring the Shores of the Speed River with host Susan Ratcliffe at 2:00 p.m.

 
Sunday May 4
 
Alleys, Nooks and Crannies with host Dean Palmer  at 9:30 a.m. 

Rivers, Parks and Buildings New from Old with hosts Andrew Lambden and Georgia Simms at 10:00 a.m.
 
Baker Street: Guelph’s Ghost Neighbourhood with host David Corks at 10:00 a.m. 
 
From Days Gone By to New Urbanism in the Old University Neighbourhood with hosts Leanne Piper and Lise Burcher at 10:00 a.m.

Downtown’s Nature Trails with hosts Bill Hulet and Tim Allman at 10:00 a.m.

An Urban Walk with Tom King: “The Homes I Almost Bought” with host Tom King at 11:00 a.m. 
 
Jane Jacobs Walk and Great Tree Hunt with hosts the Youth Advocacy for Park Preservation at 12:00 p.m. 

Walking the Rails, Rivers and Swamp with host Phil Alt at 1:00 p.m.

Sidewalk Ballet Around Howitt Park Neighbourhood with hosts June Hofland and Karen Moore at 1:00 p.m. 

Exhibition Park, Then, now and what next with hosts Brian Holstein and Jim Mottin at 1:00 p.m. 

Historic Downtown Walkabout with host Betty Mottin (a Guelph Arts Council Heritage Walk)  at 2:00 p.m.

Visit the Jane’s Walk website for full descriptions of all the walks talking place in Guelph including information on meeting point etc.

If you’d like to do a walk in your neighbourhood, there’s still time! 

Email your walk title, overview, starting time and place to  info@guelphcivicleague.ca

All walks are free. Rain or shine. Take some time to get out and enjoy your city.

 

Same Old Show, Fabulous New Studio

 

As of Thursday April 24th CFRU is now broadcasting from our newly constructed on-air studio located in room 202 of the University Center, just next to our old control room.

Thanks to Professor Helen Hambly and the generous support of the Don Snowden Program for Development Communication at the Capacity Development and Extension Department of the School of Environmental Design and Rural Development.

Guelph Speaks! Call Out for Stories

I received this from the Guelph Speaks Editorial Collective. Its a great idea. Lets all get involved.

Guelph Speaks - Call Out for Stories

Last year, a group of graduate students from the University of Guelph published a book and audio CD of stories collected from people living in Guelph.  Guelph Speaks. The goal of the project was to provide our community with an anthology that affirms the diversity of the City of Guelph.

The book was so well received that this year, a group of undergraduate students from the university, have decided to continue the project and publish a second edition, Guelph Speaks Volume II.

As a city, Guelph is interpreted in many different and very personal ways. The goal of the project is to encourage contributors to critically explore the connection between Self and City.

In Guelph, as in every city, some stories tend to gain far more prominence than others. The Guelph Speaks project aims to provide a platform for some of the many stories that are not commonly heard, in an effort to create a collection of dynamic and inclusive city narratives.

The project organizers want to hear from as many different community members as possible, speaking in their own voice using their own preferred medium whether that be literary, musical, photographic, video, or other.

Submissions may be any length, however to ensure that as many different voices are included as possible published written works will be limited to 1000 words, and audio and film submissions to 10 minutes.

While all participants must sign a waiver giving permission for their stories to be used, submissions may be published anonymously. Each submission must be accompanied by a completed waiver, available as a download from their website, www.guelphspeaks.ca.  Waivers will also be available at local downtown businesses and Community Centres as part of a promotional pamphlet. Demeaning or hateful submissions will not be accepted. As this is a juried anthology, not every submission will be published.

The community anthology will be released to the public on September 20th, 2008, during a free and catered gathering of story-telling and multi-media presentations at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan Street, featuring excerpts from this year’s submissions. 

Additionally, the free, not-for-profit compilation will also be made available to interested individuals, resource centres, and public libraries throughout the city.

Stories can be submitted via email attachment to guelphspeaks@gmail.com, or by mail to 32 Edinburgh Road South, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 5N9.

The deadline for story submission is May 16th, 2008.

Contact guelphspeaks@gmail.com for additional information,

The Guelph Speaks Editorial Collective are Mel Walther, Andra Zommers, Jennifer Bechard, Laura Tozer

Eden Mills Studio Tour

It’s always nice to be able to promote a studio tour. This one is in Eden Mills.

A nice way to say a final goodbye to winter.

Surely, it will be definitely over by then?

 

Weekend May 3-4, 2008, 11.00 a.m. to 5.00 p.m.

Tree-planting in Wolfond Park

I received this rom OPIRG. More tree-planting this coming weekend.

Join your neighbours and OPIRG’s Speed River Project for an afternoon of planting trees and wildflowers and general cleanup; fun for the whole family!  Planting Guides needed, please contact us for details. Planting will take place from 9am-1pm.  Wear long pants, closed-toe footwear, sun gear and bring water and an extra shovel if you have one.

Access Wolfond Park on Arthur St. N., just off of the Eramosa Rd. Look for signage. We encourage you to walk or cycle.  Parking available on Arthur St. N.

Thank-you to EcoAction Community Funding Program, our major sponsor; and to the City of Guelph Operations Department for providing assistance in-kind.

The final planting event of the season will be held at Riverside Park, Sat., May 10^th.

Through neighbourhood-based naturalization projects we can diversify and rehabilitate degraded urban river banks one neighbourhood at a time

Visit www.opirgguelph.org or call for more information (519) 824-2091.

Email opirg@uoguelph.ca re: Volunteer Opportunities. 

The Show - April 23

The last show in the old studio.

It was our great pleasure to welcome writer, broadcaster and NDP candidate Tom King into the studio to chat about his involvement in the city-wide reading project, Guelph Reads, that took place on Saturday evening at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, as well as his own reading series that started on Wednesday evening at the Fat Duck Gastro Pub (210 Kortright West in Guelph ).

Tom, as always, was a great interview.  I had lots of fun during the interaction. There’s no doubt that he brings a new dimension to the local political scene. If he does manage to make it to Ottawa I’m sure he’ll liven up parliamentary proceedings. One of things that appeals to me is the fact that he is not a career politician. And certainly not another lawyer…

The Culture Vultures, Marie and Daniel, joined us again in the studio for the second half of the show for a funfilled  review of upcoming events.

Events covered included the Off-Site Series, Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, Dancetheatre David Earle, the upcoming YMCA Women of Distinction Awards (arts and culture category), The Guelph Little Theatre production of The Merchant of Venice, the Guelph Jazz Festival Art auction, Doors Open Guelph as well as the 5-festival marketplace where it will be possible to purchase tickets and merchandise for five important Guelph Festival (Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, Hillside Festival, Guelph Jazz Festival, Eden Mills Writers Festival and the Guelph Festival of Moving Media).

Music:
Cuff the Duke: “Rossland Square” from “Sidelines of the City”
Hayden “Girls are Gross”

Listen to the show:

Coming Soon! Guelph Reads, April 26th

Guelph Reads

April 26, 7-10 pm at the Guelph Youth Music Centre, 75 Cardigan Street. Admission Free.

A unique city-wide reading project. Based on CBC’s popular Canada Reads, it engages four local celebrities in a debate to figure out what book all of Guelph should read. In the end, democracy decides.

Panelists: Politician and writer Tom King; doctor and AIDS activist Anne-Marie Zajdlik; writer Rozena Maart; librarian Norm McLeod
Moderator: Phil Andrews
Books: 28: Stories about AIDS in Africa, by Stephanie Nolen; Walden, by Henry David Thoreau; I Write What I Like, by Steve Biko

Visit the Guelph Reads website, www.guelphreads.org, for a book blog, video bios of panelists and reviews of chosen books, and more.

Help us spread the word that Guelph is reading for social change!

Some Days…

What do you call those days when just getting up is a huge effort?
What do you call those days when the phone rings and you reach to unplug it?
What do you call those days when grocery shopping is an accomplishment worthy of celebration?
Well I could go on and on, but who really wants to listen?
We all know some day our health will deteriorate, but when it sneaks up on us, we just have to suck it up.
As some one special to my heart would say, “it is what it is”.
Another some day has come my way, but here I am, still blogging away about Guelph.

Tom King About Town Reading Series

On April 26th, Tom King will be taking part in Guelph Reads, a unique city-wide reading project based on CBC’s popular Canada Reads that engages four local celebrities in a debate to figure out what book all of Guelph should read.

Tom, who is also the NDP candidate for Guelph, will also be about town in the coming weeks with his own reading series.

The first session takes place on Wednesday, 23 April at 7:30 p.m. at the Fat Duck Gastro Pub, 210 Kortright West in Guelph.

Tom will read from his recent stories and talk about his work as an acclaimed and award-winning author. The audience is invited to bring along copies of Tom’s books to get them signed. Admission is free.

The Ontario Liberal Government Does Something Sensible… Again!

Is this a record? The Ontario Liberal Government does something sensible twice in a week. Last week it was vetoing the clotheslines ban, this week it is banning pesticides. 

What will they do next? Prevent Nestle selling our water for profit? Oh, I think I’m dreaming on that one!

“Ontario Bans Pesticides” Toronto Star, April 21 2008

http://www.thestar.com/article/416766

I’m starting to think this must be an election year… It can’t be though, unless the Ontario Liberals are trying to help out Stephane Dion’s woefully inept Federal Liberals?

Well, we should applaud the government on this one. They’ve saved our own Mayor and Council from having to make a popular but also potentially damaging decision amongst those sections of the electorate who see garden weeds as the worst blight our neighbourhoods can possibly suffer.