Royal City Rag, May 29 – Canadian Environment Week, Contemporary Dance And Spark Of Brilliance

Royal City Rag on May 29 was our last 7.00 a.m. start before we move to our new, more-civilised 8-10 a.m. Saturday slot.

In the first hour we were joined by our good friends Chris and Sally from Transition Guelph. Among other things, we chatted about Canadian Environment Week (May 30 – June 5), Saturday’s ecomarket at Stone Road Mall and the Council of Canadians special townhall style meeting on Growth, Gravel and Groundwater and the threats facing our community that takes place at Harcourt Memorial United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph, ON on June 3 a 7 p.m.

An expert panel featuring members from Gravel Watch, Grand River Environmental Network, FORCE (Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment), CARRA (Cranberry Area Ratepayers and Residents Association),  North Dufferin Agriculture and Community Taskforce (opposing the giant quarry above Luther Marsh, at the top of Grand River headwaters) as well as local hydrologist Hugh Whiteley will discuss the impact of quarries, pipelines, roads and new development on the future sustainability of both our city and the Grand River watershed.

Listen to Hour 1:

Download Hour 1

In the second hour, Royal City Rag Culture Vulture Daniel Poulin returned to the show to discuss the upcoming Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival.

This year the festival runs from June 3-6 at locations throughout our lovely city. On the Stage A, B & C (formerly the Main Stage Series) and Youth Moves will be held at the River Run Centre. In the Park (formerly the Site-Specific Series) will be taking place at Exhibition Park and On the Street (formerly the Noon-time Series) in St. George’s Square. The four days of dance will feature youth performers, local artists as well as acclaimed national performers from across Canada.

Listen to Hour 2:

Download Hour 2

In the third hour (9-10 a.m.) we were pleased to welcome Jay Lefler, co-founder of Spark of Brilliance into the studio.

Spark of Brilliance is a community-based initiative that promotes healing and recovery for people coping with mental health challenges. Creative art programs and services are designed to enhance quality of life for participants, inspire independent thinking and grow self-esteem. Spark programs empower individuals and families with the skills they need help make meaningful contributions to their community.

Spark of Brilliance is bringing the work of four talented artists to Guelph community space, 10 Carden in an exhibition entitled “Power To The Arts”. This exhibition will demonstrate a broad range of artistic expressions in oil, ink, collage, mosaic, and mixed media. Artists Barb Cohen, Lisa Cosier, Marcey Gray and Jay Lefler hope to raise awareness of how their personal experiences with mental health issues have been overcome. They also want the community to understand how recovery can happen through connecting with the creative spirit.

This special event takes place on Monday, May 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Local singer-songwriter D Eve Archer will entertain and refreshments will be served.

Listen to Hour 3:

Download Hour 3

Music:
Kate Bush, Hello Earth from Hounds Of Love
Peter Mayer, Blue Boat Home from Earth Town Square
Kermit The Frog, It’s Not Easy Being Green from Muppets Greatest Hits
Ray Charles, Lucky Old Sun from  A Look Homeward
Gord Downie And The Country Of Miracles, The East Wind from The Ground Bounce
Kid Coma (featuring Doug Larson), Little Bird from Nightmares And Dreamers
Los Lobos, Little Things from The Town And The City
M Mucci, Chase Down Alice Street from Time Lost
Kid Coma (featuring Doug Larson), Omar Bradley from Complete Metamorphosis
Don Amero, Hometown from Change Your Life
Darden Smith, The Painter from Native Soil
Spark Of Brilliance Troubadours, Healing Embers from Healing Embers

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Coming Up… A 3-Hour Royal City Rag… Canadian Environment Week, Modern Dance And Art

We have a 3-hour Royal City rag planned for May 29. This will be our last show starting at 7.00 a.m. before we move to our new, more-civilised 8-10 a.m. Saturday slot.

In the first hour we will be joined by our good friends Chris and Sally from Transition Guelph.

Among other things we’ll be chatting about Canadian Environment Week (May 30 – June 5), Saturday’s ecomarket at Stone Road Mall and the Council of Canadians townhall meeting on Growth, Gravel and Groundwater and the threats facing our community that takes place at Harcourt Memorial United Church, 87 Dean Ave, Guelph, ON on June 3 a 7 p.m.

An expert panel featuring members from Gravel Watch, Grand River Environmental Network, FORCE (Friends of Rural Communities and the Environment), CARRA (Cranberry Area Ratepayers and Residents Association),  North Dufferin Agriculture and Community Taskforce (opposing the giant quarry above Luther Marsh, at the top of Grand River headwaters) as well as local hydrologist Hugh Whiteley will discuss the impact of quarries, pipelines, roads and new development on the future sustainability of both our city and the Grand River watershed.

In the second hour, we’ll be reconvening the renowned Royal City Rag Culture Vultures when Marie Zimmerman and Daniel Poulin return to the show to discuss the upcoming Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival.

This year the festival runs from June 3-6 at locations throughout our lovely city. On the Stage A, B & C (formerly the Main Stage Series) and Youth Moves will be held at the River Run Centre. In the Park (formerly the Site-Specific Series) will be taking place at Exhibition Park and On the Street (formerly the Noon-time Series) in St. George’s Square. The four days of dance will feature youth performers, local artists as well as acclaimed national performers from across Canada.

In the third hour (9-10 a.m.) we will be welcoming Jay Lefler, co-founder of Spark of Brilliance into the studio.

Spark of Brilliance is a community-based initiative that promotes healing and recovery for people coping with mental health challenges. Creative art programs and services are designed to enhance quality of life for participants, inspire independent thinking and grow self-esteem. Spark programs empower individuals and families with the skills they need help make meaningful contributions to their community.

Spark of Brilliance is bringing the work of four talented artists to Guelph community space, 10 Carden in an exhibition entitled “Power To The Arts”. This exhibition will demonstrate a broad range of artistic expressions in oil, ink, collage, mosaic, and mixed media. Artists Barb Cohen, Lisa Cosier, Marcey Gray and Jay Lefler hope to raise awareness of how their personal experiences with mental health issues have been overcome. They also want the community to understand how recovery can happen through connecting with the creative spirit.

This special event takes place on Monday, May 31 from 7 to 9 p.m. Local singer-songwriter D Eve Archer will entertain and refreshments will be served.

As always we’ll wrap the whole thing up with some great music. Should be fun. You won’t want to miss it!

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 8-10 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm in Guelph. Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live , you can always pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, a day or so later.

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Royal City Rag, April 24 – Equity In Transition, Celebrating Guelph’s Heritage And Jane’s Walk

Sally Ludwig and Chris Mills from Transition Guelph were back in the studio on April 24 to talk about Earth Day, and the upcoming visit to Guelph by U.S.-based community advocate Tina Clarke.

First launched as an environmental awareness event in the United States in 1970, Earth Day (April 22) is now a part of the mainstream with events taking place throughout the week worldwide.

Earth Day is the perfect time to make your own commitment to helping the environment. In partnership with Transition Guelph we’d like to collect your Earth Day resolutions or intentions.

How did you mark Earth Day? How do you plan to make a difference to help the planet? Send us your comments.

Tina Clarke will be in Guelph on Monday April 26 to talk about Community Resilience and Social Equity in Changing Times. The presentation will focus on how Guelph can respond to the triple challenge of rising energy prices, climate change disruptions and economic instability while also improving social justice. Tina will outline the problems and suggest some useful strategies to cope with these threats as well as provide real word examples of successful community implementation.

The presentation takes place at 7.00 p.m. at Harcourt Memorial United Church. Suggested donation: $10 waged, $5 unwaged.

Also, check out Transition Guelph’s amazingly informative website at www.transitionguelph.org if you haven’t already done so.

Listen to Hour 1:

"The Ward" tour, June 2009 (courtesy Guelph Arts Council)

In the second hour, community heritage activist Susan Ratcliffe joined us for a fun and wide-ranging conversation about the importance of protecting and celebrating the heritage and life of the city we call home and featuring Doors Open Guelph (taking place April 24) and the Guelph Arts Council Historical Walking Tours and Jane’s Walk.

The  Guelph Arts Council Historical Walking Tours are offered on selected Sundays between April 25 and October 17, and trace Guelph’s heritage through its architecture, its people, and the stories that contribute to this City’s unique character.

There are normally six walking tours, each of which explores a different area of historic Guelph, although, this year, Where Guelph Began, which encircles the original Market Square area laid out by John Galt in 1827, will not be offered because of construction and road closures in that area of the City. 

The other five  tours offered in 2010 include:

• Downtown Walkabout which covers Guelph’s current Downtown
• The Slopes of the Speed which explores the slopes of the Speed River where many of Guelph’s largest and most distinguished historic homes are located
• Altar and Hearth which covers the area west of Downtown and includes several historic stone churches and many historic homes representing a variety of architectural styles
• Brooklyn and the College Hill  which focuses on one of Guelph’s early industrial sections on the south side of the Speed River, as well as the area that developed around the Ontario Agricultural College
• Ward One Guelph  which covers the area southeast of the downtown, between the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, and features a diversity of historic architecture and the diversity of peoples who formed Guelph.

All tours start at 2 p.m. from different locations.  They take about two hours to complete and cost $3 per person. Tour booklets are available for $5 each at the Guelph Arts Council office and several other retail locations.

For other information, please contact the Guelph Arts Council office at 147 Wyndham Street North, Suite 404, Guelph, or phone (519) 836-3280; Fax (519) 766-9212; email gac@sentex.net.

Jane’s Walk takes place on the weekend of May 1 – 2. Created by the Centre for City Ecology (CCE), Jane’s Walk celebrates the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs by putting citizens in touch with their environment and each other.

There are currently 18 Jane’s Walks planned for Guelph. These free guided walks led by community members take place throughout each day beginning at 10 a.m.

Check out the Jane’s Walks for Guelph HERE.

Listen to Hour 2:

Music:
Darden Smith, First Day Of The Sun from Deep Fantistic Blue
Tim Flannery, Farther Down The Road from Highway Song
The Vaughan Brothers, Tick Tock from Family Style
Mark Graham and Orville Johnson, Their Brains Were Small And They Died from The Kings Of Mongrel Folk?
Guelph Youth Singers, Song Of Our City from Song Of Our City
The Eramosa Brass and Of Chords We Are Barbershop Quartet, When St George’s Square Was Pretty from Song For Our City
James Gordon, Home’s Not Just Where The Heart Is from Song For Our City

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag… Equity In Transition, Doors Open Guelph and Jane’s Walk

We have a busy Royal City Rag planned for April 24.

Tina Clarke (Photo: Transition US)

In the first hour we’ll welcome back into the studio Sally Ludwig and Chris Mills from Transition Guelph to talk about some upcoming activities including the presentation by U.S.-based community advocate Tina Clarke on Community Resilience and Social Equity in Changing Times taking place on Monday April 26, 7.00 p.m. at Harcourt Memorial United Church. Suggested donation: $10 waged, $5 unwaged.

Sponsored by Transition Guelph with Harcourt Justice and Outreach Committee, Kairos Guelph, and Midwestern Ontario Regional Green Jobs Strategy, the presentation will focus on how Guelph can respond to the triple challenge of rising energy prices, climate change disruptions and economic instability while also improving social justice?

This is a very important question and a serious issue especially when you also consider that Guelph under, the provincial growth plan Places to Grow, will also have to contend with a massive increase in population as it goes from 105, 000 to 165,000 by 2031.

Tina will outline the problems and suggest some useful strategies to cope with these threats as well as provide real word examples of successful community implementation.

Sounds like it will be a great presentation. We have some huge issues to deal with if we are to have a sustainable future.

Check out Transition Guelph’s amazingly informative website at www.transitionguelph.org if you haven’t already done so.

In the second hour, community heritage activist Susan Ratcliffe will be joining us to chat about both Doors Open Guelph and Jane’s Walk.

Doors Open Guelph takes place this Saturday, April 24. Between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m., several of Guelph’s finest buildings, many of which are not normally open to the public, will open their doors for free public tours.  Guided tours will be available at each site, led by knowledgeable tour guides who will talk about the site’s history and important architectural features. Guides will also pass on some of the interesting stories associated with each site.

Check out all the sites on the tour HERE.

For more information about the sites and tips on how best to plan and enjoy the day, pick up a Doors Open Guelph 2010 brochure at various locations around the City (e.g Visitor Information Centre, Guelph Public Library, Guelph Civic Museum) or visit the Doors Open Guelph website at www.guelpharts.ca/doorsopenguelph; or contact Guelph Arts Council by telephone at (519) 836-3280, or e-mail gac@sentex.net.

Jane’s Walk takes place on the weekend of May 1 – 2. Created by the Centre for City Ecology (CCE), Jane’s Walk celebrates the legacy and ideas of urban activist and writer Jane Jacobs by putting citizens in touch with their environment and each other.

There are currently 12 Jane’s Walks planned for Guelph. These free guided walks led by community members take place throughout the day beginning at 10 a.m. Check out the Jane’s Walks for Guelph HERE.

As usual we’ll wrap up the whole show with some great music. You won’t want to miss it!

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus-Community Radio Station.

Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live on CFRU93.3fm, you can pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, the next day.

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Royal City Rag March 13 – Transition Guelph, International Women’s Day And Guelph Go Go Grandmothers

We started off CFRU 93.3fm’s Royal City Rag on Saturday, March 13 with another beautiful song from Peter Gabriel’s fantastic new album of re-interpretations, Scratch My Back. This time we listened to his version of Lou Reed’s Power Of The Heart. Absolutely gorgeous and dedicated to lovers everywhere, especially those that get to snuggle in bed together on a Saturday morning! I hope you enjoyed it.

Later in the hour we chatted to Transition Guelph‘s Chris Mills and Sally Ludwig who updated us on some of their current projects and some important upcoming events.

Transition Guelph are part of a worldwide grassroots intitiative, dedicated to helping communities cope with the potentially devastating threats of peak oil and climate change. 

The Transition Town initiative that started in the U.K, has now lead to the development of 14 different transition communities in Canada, as well as, this month, a national group, Transition Canada. The goal of the national group will be to help other Canadian towns and cities get started on the road to local resiliency.

After the debacle of Copenhagen and the laissez faire attitude of our national government it is now more clear than ever that we can’t afford to wait on governments to act – we need to act for ourselves.

Check out Transition Guelph’s amazingly informative website at www.transitionguelph.org if you haven’t already done so.

Transition Guelph will be celebrating the World Wildlife Fund’s Earth Hour “lights out” event with their second annual Earth Hour Potluck and Social on Saturday March 27 from 6-9 p.m. at the Unitarian Congregation, 122 Harris St.

Bring a friend or neighbour, some light food (finger food, snacks, dessert) and a plate or bowl, and join in. Bring a candle too (in a safe holder) or a lantern, or even a flashlight. There will be an open stage, so if you play an instrument or sing, or tell jokes, or recite poetry or spoken word. Its all about community. Have fun in fellowship while making a difference!

Listen to Hour 1:

In the second hour we celebrated International Women’s Day in music with a short set that started with Sandy Posey’s “Born A Woman” , and moved via Loretta Lynn’s “The Pill”, Arethra Franklin’s “Respect” ending with Martha Wainright’s updated version of Helen Reddy’s “I Am Woman”.

We wrapped it all up with a reading of the beautiful Sri Lankan International Women’s Day Song with lyrics by Pushpa Ramlani Dissanayake.

I hope you enjoyed the set as much as I enjoyed putting it together.

Later in the hour we were joined by Sya Van Geest and Rikki Durbin from Guelph Go Go Grandmothers. Locally known as the 4Gs, the group have been working hard for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign, that seeks to build solidarity, raise awareness and mobilize support in Canada for Africa’s grandmothers and the Turning The Tide campaign, the foundation’s innovative community-based response to HIV/AIDS in Africa.

There are well over 200 groups of Canadian grandmothers involved in the campaign in Canada . To date, they have raised nearly $8 million for African grandmothers and the children in their care. These funds are spent at a grassroots level in 15 sub-Saharan African countries providing grandmothers with much needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counselling.

The 4Gs are a group of over 120 women in Guelph. 30-40 are VERY active, meeting every third Tuesday each month at Dublin St United Church, 68 Suffolk St. Over the last three years the 4Gs have donated almost $87,000.00 to the Grandmother’s Campaign.

The 4Gs have a Steering Group which tries to keep up with the Achievers’ Group, dynamic women who either make things to sell or organize events. This year the 4Gs participated in the charity Tree Decoration contest at the River Run Centre. Members have also donated from their bridge clubs, bowling groups, musical events and plant sales. Their Spring 2010 activities will involve a Card Night and a Plant Sale over two weekends in May and hopefully a Stephen Lewis Foundation walk.

The 4Gs would love to encourage more Grandmothers and GrandOthers to join their group to enjoy their fellowship and help out with fundraising activities. They can be reached at 4ggggs@gmail.com or Rikki Durbin at 519-821-3509.

Listen to Hour 2:

Music:
Peter Gabriel, Power Of My Heart from Scratch My Back
James Gordon, Kelvinator from My Stars Your Eyes
Bruce Cockburn, Waiting For A Miracle from Anything Anytime Anywhere
Xavier Rudd, Messages from Food In The Belly
Sandy Posey, Born A Woman from Golden Old Juke Box Hits Vol 1
Loretta Lynn, The Pill from Blue Eyed Kentucky Girl
Arethra Franklin, Respect from The Very Best – The 60s
Martha Wainright, I Am Woman from Song Of America
Miriam Makeba, Pata Pata from World Hits
Oumou Sangare, Yala from Oumou
Angelique Kidjo (with Joss Stone), Gimme Shelter from Dijn Dijn

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag… Transition Guelph And Guelph Go Go Grandmothers

On CFRU 93.3fm’s Royal City Rag, this Saturday, March 13, we’ll be enjoying another visit from Transition Guelph‘s Chris Mills and Sally Ludwig. They will be updating us on their group’s current projects and  also highlighting some important upcoming events.

Transition Guelph are part of a worldwide grassroots intitiative, dedicated to helping communities cope with the potentially devastating threats of peak oil and climate change. 

The Transition Town initiative, that started in the U.K, has now lead to the development of 14 different transition communities in Canada, as well as, this month, a national group, Transition Canada. The goal of the national group will be to help other Canadian towns and cities get started on the road to local resiliency.

After the debacle of Copenhagen and the laissez faire attitude of our national government it is now more clear than ever that we can’t afford to wait on governments to act – we need to act for ourselves.

Check out Transition Guelph’s amazingly informative website at www.transitionguelph.org if you haven’t already done so.

We’ll also be sharing some cool music. Its always fun having Chris and Sally on the show. You won’t want to miss it.

Photo: http://www.internationalwomensday.com

In the second hour we’ll be celebrating International Women’s Day in music and welcoming into the studio, members of the Guelph Go Go Grandmothers.

Guelph Go Go Grandmothers, locally known as the 4Gs, have been working hard for the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign. The campaign seeks to build solidarity, raise awareness and mobilize support in Canada for Africa’s grandmothers. The campaign was launched on March 7, 2006, on the eve of International Women’s Day. 

Since the launch, some 220 groups of Canadian grandmothers have taken up the call to action. To date, the campaign has raised more than $6 million for African grandmothers and the children in their care. SLF has directed these funds to community-level organizations in 15 sub-Saharan African countries that provide grandmothers with much needed support, such as food, housing grants, school fees for their grandchildren and grief counselling.

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus-Community Radio Station.

Remember if you don’t catch Royal City Rag live on CFRU93.3fm, you can pick it up later that day via the CFRU archive or here, on the blog, the next day.

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Royal City Rag, January 16 – Transition Guelph And Tannis Slimmon With Lewis Melville Live In The Studio

Susan (former weather pixie)

We were back on CFRU93.3fm with another fun show on January 16.

I even had a co-host, former weather pixie Susan joining us again. It seems that she doesn’t like to do the weather!

We started off with a really beautiful song from one of my long-time favourite bands, Stackridge, (Waiting For You And) England To Return from their wonderful 2009 reunion album “A Victory For Common Sense”.

Stackridge are very much an English institution although they may be best known in North America as the band that gave us “The Korgis”, who had a hit with Everyone’s Got To Learn Sometime in the late 70s. Its great to have them back. It would be even better if they would tour over here.

We also gave a repeat airing to the fabulous interview we recorded with Sarah Harmer recorded at last year’s Environmental Science Symposium. She really is inspiring.

Listen to the interview with Sarah Harmer:

Transition Guelph's Chris Mills and Sally Ludwig

Later in the hour, Sally Ludwig and Chris Mills from Transition Guelph joined us with an update on the group’s activities.

Transition Guelph are a group of people committed to transitioning our city from oil dependency to local resiliency, while weathering the impact of climate change. After the debacle of Copenhagen its now more clear than ever that we can’t afford to wait on governments at act on climate change – we need to act for ourselves.

Check out their amazingly informative website at www.transitionguelph.org if you haven’t already done so. Their next meeting is January 19 at 7.00 p.m. in 10 Carden.

Listen to Hour 1:

Tannis Slimmon and Lewis Melville live in the studio

In the second hour of the show, we were pleased to welcome Tannis Slimmon and Lewis Melville back to Royal City Rag. Tannis has a solo show at the River Run Centre on January 22, as part of the Borealis Music Series, sponsored by the Borealis Grille & Bar. Joining Tannis will be Lewis and Jude Vadala. It promises to be a fabulous night.

Tannis Slimmon in Concert
Friday, January 22 at 8.00 p.m.
Co-operators Hall, River Run Centre
Woolwich Street, Guelph

Tickets:
$25.00 Adult
$23.00 Student and Senior
$20.00 uGO: (University or College Student – valid ID required)

Contact the River Run Box Office at 519-763-3000 for more information.

Listen to Hour 2:

Music:
Stackridge, (Waiting For You And) England To Return from A Victory For Common Sense
Sarah Harmer, Escarpment Blues (Live) from At The Barricades Vol 1
Sadies, Never Again from New Seasons
Tannis Slimmon, What’s So Funny About Peace, Love And Understanding? (Live In The Studio)
Tannis Slimmon, Ernest, Charlie And Allan from Lucky Blue (Live In The Studio)
Tannis Slimmon, Our Time Now from Lucky Blue (Live In The Studio)
Tannis Slimmon, Around Him from Lucky Blue (Live In The Studio)
Tannis Slimmon, Noah’s Work (Live In The Studio)
Tannis Slimmon, There’s A Lift from Oak Lake (Live In The Studio)

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Transition Guelph – January 19

From Chris and Sally at Transition Guelph:

Our next general meeting is this coming Tuesday, January 19, at 10 Carden, starting at 7 p.m..

On the agenda we have opportunities to learn, participate in on-the-ground projects, and plan for a resilient future: 

• A short Transition Orientation (as it looks like there will be several new attendees)
• Local happenings in green business or sustainability projects
• Lea will present the Seeds of Diversity “seed library” and discuss the opportunity to work together to save and share garden seeds
• Ben will share plans for upcoming Permaculture workshops
• Martin will tell about the Sharing Backyards program starting this year
• Other working groups will report on discussions they are having and activities being planned
• Timeline for transition – “backcasting” from the desired outcome, Resilient Guelph 2030, to identify some of the steps needed to get there
• Refreshments and time to connect.

Looks like it’ll be a good one! We look forward to getting together again, and hope to see you there…
 
Cheers,
 
Chris & Sally

Catch Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph on Royal City Rag, January 16 between 7-8 a.m.
 

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag… Transition Guelph, Tannis Slimmon With Lewis Melville

We have another hectic show planned for January 16. Its great to feel like I have energy again! Seems like its a good start to the new year. Long may it continue.

Anyway, back to the show… Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph will join us again in the first hour on Saturday with an update on the group’s activities.

Transition Guelph are a group of people committed to transitioning our city from oil dependency to local resiliency, while weathering the impact of climate change. After the debacle of Copenhagen its now more clear than ever that we can’t afford to wait on governments at act on climate change – we need to act for ourselves.

Check out their amazingly informative website at www.transitionguelph.org if you haven’t already done so. You can also visit their booth at Saturday’s 16th Annual Environmental Sciences Symposium in Rozanski Hall at the University of Guelph.

Tannis Slimmon

In the second hour of the show, we are pleased to welcome Tannis Slimmon and Lewis Melville back to Royal City Rag. 

Tannis has a solo show in the Co-operators Hall at the River Run Centre on January 22, as part of the Borealis Music Series, sponsored by the Borealis Grille & Bar. Joining Tannis will be Lewis Melville and Jude Vadala. It promises to be a fabulous night.

Wth musical roots firmly planted in the soil of the Canadian Prairies, Tannis has been singing, songwriting, recording and touring locally, nationally and internationally for close to 30 years. After working with numerous bands including the critically acclaimed female trio The Bird Sisters, her solo career was launched in 2001 with the release of ‘Oak Lake’, followed up recently by ‘Lucky Blue’, a rich offering of songs and artwork influenced by recent travels to Mali, West Africa and Cuba. You will find Tannis’ name on over 70 albums, contributing songs or singing harmonies for others including Willie P. Bennett, Valdy and James Gordon.

Tannis Slimmon in Concert
Friday, January 22 at 8.00 p.m.
Co-operators Hall, River Run Centre
Woolwich Street, GuelphTickets:
$25.00 Adult
$23.00 Student and Senior
$20.00 uGO: (University or College Student – valid ID required)

Contact the River Run Box Office at 519-763-3000 for more information.

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Royal City Rag, December 12 – Climate Change, Supporting Local Artisans And Songs For A Miserable Holiday Season

On December 12, we were pleased to welcome Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph back to Royal City Rag to talk about the Candlelight Vigil For A Real Deal On Climate Change taking place at 4.30 p.m.in St. George’s Square, Downtown Guelph and the progress in the Copenhagen climate talks.

This event is part of an unprecedented mass mobilisation on climate action, The World Wants A Real Deal and sponsored by Transition Guelph, the TckTckTck campaign and other local NGOs and environmental groups. The participants will join hundreds of other events in countries around the world as part of a global day of action. They will urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to sign a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal in Copenhagen. 

10 year old Lil Peppi, The King of Eco-Rap: “My goal is to get young people to realise that saving the planet is a big deal and we should all do our part to keep her beautiful”

Melting Ice (2009)

Listen to Hour 1:

In the second half of the show, Guelph potter Bunny Safari joined us live from the Guelph Farmer’s Market to talk about why you should support local artisans this holiday season.

We also played some decidedly miserable holiday tunes; tales of what happens when things don’t go quite as planned and you find your (often unreal) expectations for the season unmet. I’m sure we’ve all experienced that.

Enjoy these songs to please your inner curmudgeon. Bah humbug!

Listen to Hour 2:

Music:
Loreena McKennitt, Snow from Maybe This Christmas (Compilation)
Sufjan Stevens, Sister Winter from Songs for Christmas Vol VI, Peace (2006)
The Nylons, This Island Earth from Happy Together
Will.i.am, Take Our Planet Back (YouTube)
Dean Martin, Let It Snow! Let It Snow! Let It Snow! from Christmas With Dino
Bob Dylan, Winter Wonderland from Christmas In The Heart
Be Good Tanyas, Rudy from Maybe This Christmas Too (Compilation)
Teddy Thompson and Jude Rogers, I Won’t Kill You This Christmas (Digital Download, http://www.Guardian.co.uk)
The Handsome Family, So Much Wine from Blue Christmas (Compilation)
Sufjan Stevens That Was The Worst Christmas Ever from Songs for Christmas Vol III, Ding Dong (2003)
Graham Parker, Christmas Is For Mugs from Leather Canary Xmas Mix

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Stand With Youth In Copenhagen, Attend The Candlelight Vigil – December 12

Joanna Defoe is with the Canadian Youth Delegation at the climate talks in Copenhagen. She sent the following message and asked that it be circulated as widely as possible.

Dear Friends,
 
I apologize for keeping so quiet from Copenhagen.  The truth is that this negotiation has been a total whirlwind.  The politics alone can take up 24 hour in the day just to follow. But on top of the negotiation analysis, there is so much at stake that the emotions run strong throughout the conference center.  Any moment it is possible to hear or read about someone’s impassioned plea for leadership.  There is a large number of savvy, coordinated, young people that are so tired to see their calls for leadership ignored. Just the other day, my friend Teryn made a very brave speech to Canada’s lead negotiator calling on even civil servants to show greater leadership.
 
I have a lot more to debrief and process from this experience, but the most pressing thing worth writing to friends about concerns what you can do to help break the negotiation deadlock.  The most pressing thing is to sign up for a candle light vigil tomorrow.  I am asking that you consider joining myself and millions of other people who are participating in a global candlelight vigil for a real deal at Copenhagen.  The tone of this action is very appropriate for the political climate we are currently in.
 
I would like to say this confluence of leaders and policy makers is leaving me charged with hope.  The truth is that my biggest hope lies in community back home, and their ability to develop a political base that ensures that a more fair climate policy can be put forward.  We still have time – there is one week left.
 
In solidarity and with love from Copenhagen,
 
Joanna

Guelph’s Candlelight vigil for a real deal on climate change takes place on December 12 at 4.30 p.m. in St Georges’s Square. If the weather is too cold, the vigil will move into Old Quebec Street. Musicians James Gordon, Dave Sills and Chris Mills will be playing. Please bring candles and flashlights.

This family friendly event is part of an unprecedented mass mobilisation on climate action, The World Wants a Real Deal and sponsored by Transition Guelph, the TckTckTck campaign and other local NGOs and environmental groups. The participants will join hundreds of other events in countries around the world as part of a global day of action. They will urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to sign a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal in Copenhagen. 

According to Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph,  “It is clear now that many citizens of Guelph want to see real action on climate change from our leaders in Copenhagen. The time is past for rhetoric and delay. Climate change is happening now. We need a real deal now. To uphold Canadian values of social justice, we want to show our support of efforts to avert catastrophic climate change, live simply and sustainably on the Earth and equitably with our neighbours around the globe.”
 
This global mandate comes at the mid-point of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen where world leaders are meeting to sign a new climate treaty. Candlelight vigils will begin Friday night at embassies, consulates, and iconic places worldwide. On Saturday, in Guelph and in major cities in countries around the world, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to sign their names on message walls and petitions in support of a fair, ambitious, and binding climate deal. Then on Sunday, the air will reverberate with this growing demand for climate justice and action when faith communities around the world ring bells and sound ceremonial horns in support of a Real Deal.
 
Transition Guelph is a group of concerned Guelph residents who have come together with the shared vision of building resilience and sustainability into our community in response to the challenges of peak oil, accelerating climate change, and global economic instability. Visit their website at www.transitionguelph.org 

TckTckTck is an unprecedented global alliance made up of leading international, national and local organizations addressing environment, development, poverty, human rights, health and humanitarian issues. Representing hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life, it represents faith-based groups, youth groups, trade unions and individuals all calling for a fair,  ambitious and binding climate change agreement in December 2009 in Copenhagen. The world is ready!  Visit their website at www.tcktcktck.org

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Coming Up on Royal City Rag – A Real Deal, Go With The Flo And Buy Local!

On December 12, we are pleased to welcome Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph back to Royal City Rag to talk about the Candlelight Vigil For A Real Deal On Climate Change taking place downtown in St. George’s Square at 4.30 p.m.

This event is part of an unprecedented mass mobilisation on climate action, The World Wants A Real Deal and sponsored by Transition Guelph, the TckTckTck campaign and other local NGOs and environmental groups. The participants will join hundreds of other events in countries around the world as part of a global day of action. They will urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to sign a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal in Copenhagen. 

Will.i.am with Al Gore… on the need to push our leaders to take serious action on climate change and take our planet back!

10 year old Lil Peppi, The King of Eco-Rap: “My goal is to get young people to realise that saving the planet is a big deal and we should all do our part to keep her beautiful”

Mother Nature’s Crying (2006)

Later in the show, Guelph potter Bunny Safari will be joining us live from the Guelph Farmer’s Market to talk about why if you indulge in gift-giving this holiday season you should support local artisans.

Royal City Rag, Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3fm. Don’t miss it!

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Candlelight Vigil For A Real Deal In Copenhagen – December 12

On Saturday, December 12, people from all over Guelph will gather downtown at St. George’s Square at 4.30 p.m. for a family friendly candlelight vigil. This event is part of an unprecedented mass mobilisation on climate action, The World Wants a Real Deal and sponsored by Transition Guelph, the TckTckTck campaign and other local NGOs and environmental groups. The participants will join hundreds of other events in countries around the world as part of a global day of action. They will urge world leaders to take bold and immediate steps to sign a fair, ambitious and binding climate deal in Copenhagen. 

According to Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph,  “It is clear now that many citizens of Guelph want to see real action on climate change from our leaders in Copenhagen. The time is past for rhetoric and delay. Climate change is happening now. We need a real deal now. To uphold Canadian values of social justice, we want to show our support of efforts to avert catastrophic climate change, live simply and sustainably on the Earth and equitably with our neighbours around the globe.”
 
This global mandate comes at the mid-point of the United Nations Climate Change Conference in Copenhagen where world leaders are meeting to sign a new climate treaty. Candlelight vigils will begin Friday night at embassies, consulates, and iconic places worldwide. On Saturday, in Guelph and in major cities in countries around the world, hundreds of thousands of people will gather to sign their names on message walls and petitions in support of a fair, ambitious, and binding climate deal. Then on Sunday, the air will reverberate with this growing demand for climate justice and action when faith communities around the world ring bells and sound ceremonial horns in support of a Real Deal.
 
Transition Guelph is a group of concerned and active Guelph residents who have come together with the shared vision of building resilience and sustainability into our community in response to the challenges of peak oil, accelerating climate change, and global economic instability. Visit their website at www.transitionguelph.org 

TckTckTck is an unprecedented global alliance made up of leading international, national and local organizations addressing environment, development, poverty, human rights, health and humanitarian issues. Representing hundreds of millions of people from all walks of life, it represents faith-based groups, youth groups, trade unions and individuals all calling for a fair, ambitious and binding climate change agreement in December 2009 in Copenhagen. The world is ready!  Visit their website at www.tcktcktck.org

Catch Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph on Royal City Rag, Saturday December 12 between 7-8 a.m.

If it happens in Guelph you’ll hear about it on Royal City Rag. Saturdays 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3fm

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Candlelight Vigil For A Real Deal On Climate Change – December 12

A massive weekend of action for action on climate change is planned for the weekend of December 12 to coincide with the Copenhagen climate talks.

Wherever you are in the world, you’re invited to participate in a candlelight vigil to help give politicians the wake-up call they so desperately need.

Each tiny flame represents people planning to come together in their community for hope and to show solidarity with the citizens of the world whose lives and homes are on the line, asking for fair, ambitious and binding agreement on changes for our climate.

Transition Guelph and other local groups will be hosting a candlelight vigil on December 12 at 5.00 p.m. in St. George’s Square, Downtown Guelph.

Join us for a family friendly event feturing thought provoking songs and speakers. Bring your bells, drums, noise makers and posters. Candles will be available or bring your own light.

For more information, please visit www.350.org/vigil.

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Transition Guelph, Orientation To Transition – November 19

Following up on last week’s great Royal City Rag featuring Transition Guelph, their next meeting will be Orientation to Transition on November 19 at 7.00 p.m. at 10 Carden.

If you are curious to learn what Transition Guelph is about, this is the meeting to attend. You can help get involved and create a more resilient community and a more life-embracing future. You will also meet some great people who share your concerns about the challenges facing humanity.
 
When: November 19 at 7.00 p.m.
Where: 10 Carden, Downtown Guelph

Concerned about Climate Change? Unsure how we should move forward?

Take a look at the great video for James Gordon’s great climate change song, “How?”

Get involved with Transition Guelph!

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Royal City Rag – November 7, Trees And Transition

We devoted the whole of Royal City Rag on November 7 to environmental issues.

In the first hour we talked to Brenlee Robinson from The Ontario Urban Forest Council and Sean Fox, horticulturist at The Arboretum,  University of Guelph about the importance of Guelph’s urban forest.

Trees are increasingly regarded as beautiful and effective tonics to our polluted planet, with a long list of social, environmental and economic benefits.   Sadly, preserving trees or allocating adequate space for future planting is rarely considered in the development process.

The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) will be holding their annual conference in Guelph this year.  The conference takes place on Thursday, November 12 at the University of Guelph Arboretum. The theme of this year’s conference is   “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process –Moving Ahead”.  Speakers will include city planners, environmental planners, politicians, development consultants and educators who will bring their professional experience and municipal perspectives to share ideas.  The City of Guelph and some of its real planning issues will be showcased to stimulate discussion of how best to protect our urban forests.

View the conference flyer

Later in the first hour we aired a special commentary from mother, grandmother, citizen of Guelph and taxpayer Eileen LaBerge about the by invitation only sod-turning for the Hanlon Creek Business Park held by the City of Guelph. The commentary had to be cut short because of time constraints. We are including the whole commentary here.

Listen to Hour 1:

Listen to Eileen LaBerge’s Commentary:

In the second half of the show, Sally and Chris from Transition Guelph joined us to chat about Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan’s visit to Guelph on Monday November 9.

Pat Murphy is executive director of the Institute for Community Solutions at Yellow Springs, Ohio, a nonprofit organization in devoted to small community living, and is also the author of Plan C: Community Survival Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change. He lectures widely across North America on energy, Peak Oil, geopolitics and lifestyle solutions, and on community resilience and long-term sustainability. His main interest is on the techniques and strategies for a steady reduction in the per capita use of fossil fuels in the years to come. Pat has been involved in community much of his life and sees it as the context within which sustainability can be reached.

Murphy is also a co-writer and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.

Faith Morgan is the Director of The Power of Community, and also a co-writer.

An Evening with Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan takes place at St. Matthias Church, 171 Kortright Road West on Monday, November 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Musical guest Larry Nusbaum will open the evening.

Advance tickets are $10 waged and $5 student/senior/unwaged, available at Ground Floor Music, The Bookshelf, and The University of Guelph Landscape Architecture Building. Admission at the door is $15 and $7.

Music:
Lindisfarne, Think from Elvis Lives On The Moon
Platters, Trees from Magic Touch, Anthology
Pope High School, Marietta, Georgia, Trees from Songs From The Greyhound Greenhouse
James Gordon, How? from Youtube
Martyn Joseph, How did we end up here? from Deep Blue (Live version)
Bruce Cockburn, Beautiful Creatures from Life Short Call Now

And the song suggested by Chris we didn’t get time to play but with an inspiring video you really need to see…

Listen to Hour 2:

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Transition Guelph, An Evening With Pat Murphy And Faith Morgan – November 9

From Transition Guelph:

Transition Guelph are proud to host An Evening with Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan at St. Matthias Church, 171 Kortright Road West on Monday, November 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Musical guest Larry Nusbaum will open the evening.

Pat Murphy is executive director of the Institute for Community Solutions at Yellow Springs, Ohio, a nonprofit organization in devoted to small community living, and is also the author of Plan C: Community Survival Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change. He lectures widely across North America on energy, Peak Oil, geopolitics and lifestyle solutions, and on community resilience and long-term sustainability. His main interest is on the techniques and strategies for a steady reduction in the per capita use of fossil fuels in the years to come. Pat has been involved in community much of his life and sees it as the context within which sustainability can be reached.

Book reviewer Frank Kaminski said of Plan C: “Whereas so many other books on curtailing energy usage simply describe ways to cut consumption, Plan C goes way beyond mere description to take a truly penetrating look at how our individual choices make a difference. It also serves as a rich treasury of real, quantifiable answers for anyone still wondering what he or she can do to help mitigate the multiple world crises now facing us. In Plan C, one finds not platitudes, pontifications or vague suggestions—but a wealth of actual, concrete things that can be done right now. Murphy presents an optimistic, realistic and empowering vision of how people can take action to change to world. “

Murphy is also a co-writer and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.

Faith Morgan is the Director of The Power of Community, and also a co-writer.

They will be in Hamilton to address city council and to present the 2009 Spirit of Red Hill Creek lecture, and they have graciously agreed to speak in several other local communities as part of their Southern Ontario visit.

This event is being co-sponsored by The University of Guelph World Town Planning Committee, Kairos, St. Matthias Church, and Eden Mills is Going Carbon-Neutral.

Advance tickets are $10 waged and $5 student/senior/unwaged, available at Ground Floor Music, The Bookshelf, and The University of Guelph Landscape Architecture Building. Admission at the door is $15 and $7.

For more about Community Solutions go to: www.communitysolution.org/about.html 
For more about Transition Guelph, please visit: www.transitionguelph.org

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag – Trees And Transition

We’re devoting the whole of Royal City Rag on November 7 to environmental issues.

In the first hour we will be talking about the importance of Guelph’s urban forest with Brenlee Robinson from The Ontario Urban Forest Council and Sean Fox, horticulturist at The Arboretum,  University of Guelph.

Trees are increasingly regarded as beautiful and effective tonics to our polluted planet, with a long list of social, environmental and economic benefits.   Sadly, preserving trees or allocating adequate space for future planting is rarely considered in the development process.

The Ontario Urban Forest Council (OUFC) will be holding their annual conference in Guelph this year.  The conference takes place on Thursday, November 12 at the University of Guelph Arboretum. The theme of this year’s conference is   “Tree Preservation and the Planning Process –Moving Ahead”.  Speakers will include city planners, environmental planners, politicians, development consultants and educators who will bring their professional experience and municipal perspectives to share ideas.  The City of Guelph and some of its real planning issues will be showcased to stimulate discussion of how best to protect our urban forests.

On Wednesday, November 11 from 7 to 9 p.m., the OUFC will be holding their AGM at the Shakespeare Arms near the Campus Estates Plaza.  Well respected urban forest professor, Dr Andy Kenney will give a short presentation entitled  “Preserving Trees and the Planning Process:  Covering Your Assets”.

View the conference flyer

Later in the first hour we will be airing a special commentary from mother, grandmother, citizen of Guelph and taxpayer Eileen Laberge about the by invitation only sod-turning for the Hanlon Creek Business Park held by the City of Guelph. Anti-democratic… autocratic… you won’t want to miss what Eileen has to say!

In the second half of the show, Sally and Chris from Transition Guelph will be joining us to chat about Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan’s visit to Guelph on Monday November 9.

Pat Murphy is executive director of the Institute for Community Solutions at Yellow Springs, Ohio, a nonprofit organization in devoted to small community living, and is also the author of Plan C: Community Survival Strategies for Peak Oil and Climate Change. He lectures widely across North America on energy, Peak Oil, geopolitics and lifestyle solutions, and on community resilience and long-term sustainability. His main interest is on the techniques and strategies for a steady reduction in the per capita use of fossil fuels in the years to come. Pat has been involved in community much of his life and sees it as the context within which sustainability can be reached.

Murphy is also a co-writer and co-producer of the award-winning documentary, The Power of Community: How Cuba Survived Peak Oil.

Faith Morgan is the Director of The Power of Community, and also a co-writer.

They will be in Hamilton to address city council and to present the 2009 Spirit of Red Hill Creek lecture, and they have graciously agreed to speak in several other local communities as part of their Southern Ontario visit.

An Evening with Pat Murphy and Faith Morgan takes place at St. Matthias Church, 171 Kortright Road West on Monday, November 9, beginning at 7 p.m. Musical guest Larry Nusbaum will open the evening.

Advance tickets are $10 waged and $5 student/senior/unwaged, available at Ground Floor Music, The Bookshelf, and The University of Guelph Landscape Architecture Building. Admission at the door is $15 and $7.

Royal City Rag, 7-9 a.m. on CFRU 93.3fm in Guelph. Don’t miss it!

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Royal City Rag – October 24

The 350 Guelph Banner (Photo: Owen Cherry)

Sally and Chris from Transition Guelph joined us in the first hour on October 24 to talk about the International Climate Day of Action and the work of 350.org.

350.org is a global movement urging bold action at the Kyoto II summit in Copenhagen in December. Leading scientists say 350 parts per million (ppm) is the safe upper limit for atmospheric carbon dioxide. The CO2 level in the atmosphere is now at 385 ppm and rising.

Thousands of communities around the world held events on October 24 to encourage world leaders to take a stand on the need for immediate action to combat climate change.

In Guelph, 350-Guelph organized a family-friendly Guelph Climate Festival at St George’s Church, Woolwich Street followed by a special talk by David Noble from 2degreesC and music from James Gordon. Participants also created a special 250-Guelph banner (see photo).

Music:
Arcade Fire, Wake Up from Funeral
Stephen Fearing, Bells Of Morning from The Man Who Married Music
David Francey, The Waking Hour from Set List, Live At Folk Alley
Levon Helm, When I Go Away from Electric Dirt
Joanna Finch, Michaelmas Daisies from The Arms of Morpheus
Ingrid Gatin, How Did I Get So? from Tin Heart E.P.
Leonard Cohen, Anthem from The Future
Jann Arden, Everybody’s Broken from Free
Hawksley Workman, All The Trees Are Hers from Between The Beautifuls
Final Fantasy, The Lamb Sells Condos from He Poos Clouds
Martin Sexton, Glory Bound from Black Sheep

Listen to the show:
Part 1

Part 2

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Coming Up On Royal City Rag – Demand Action On Climate Change!

Sally and Chris from Transition Guelph will be joining us on October 24 to talk about the International Climate Day of Action and the work of 350.org. 350.org is a global movement urging bold action at the Kyoto II summit in Copenhagen in December. Leading scientists say 350 parts per million (ppm) is the safe upper limit for atmospheric carbon dioxide. The CO2 level in the atmosphere is now at 385 ppm and rising.

Thousands of communities around the world are holding events on October 24 to encourage world leaders to finally take a stand on the need for immediate action to combat climate change. In Guelph, 350-Guelph has organized a family-friendly Guelph Climate Festival to have fun while sharing information and ideas about how we can all help reach our global goal of 350 ppm. There will be music, arts competition, films, face painting, storytelling, art activities, juggling. Everyone present will be invited to contribute to the making of a 350-Guelph Banner that will be photographed and sent out over the internet.

The Guelph event takes place at St George’s Church, Woolwich Street from 12 Noon until 4.00 p.m., with a special talk by David Noble from 2degreesC and music from James Gordon at 7.00 p.m.

Catch Royal City Rag on CFRU 93.3fm on October 24 from 7-9 a.m.

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In Transition, The Film – Catch It In Guelph!

We’re hoping to catch up with the folk behind Transition Guelph on Royal City Rag very shortly.

In the meantime, they are planning to show the new film, In Transition, an hour-long documentary on Transition Towns.

The film will be shown on September 9 and September 24 at 7.00 p.m. at 10 Carden. 

The film, the work of director Emma Goude, is being screened in over 100 transition towns worldwide with input from Transition communities around the world.

It is the first feature-length documentary about the global Transition Town movement, which is working to move our communities away from fossil fuel dependence and toward a more resilient, sustainable future.

The perfect sequel to ‘The Age of Stupid’, In Transition tells the story of the generation that looked peak oil and climate change square in the face, and responded with creativity, compassion and genius.

You will see the stories of communities creating their own currencies, generating energy locally, planting trees, growing food. You’ll see local authorities getting behind their local Transition initiatives, and get a sense of the scale of this emerging movement.

It is a story of hope, and a call to action.

This showing is free (although donations are accepted).

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Transition Guelph Home Energy Renovation Workshop – May 30

From Transition Guelph:

We’ve all had enough of sky high hydro bills, and with spring renovation fever setting in, it’s a good idea to check out the free Home Energy Renovation workshop on Saturday, May 30 from 10.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. 

This event is sponsored by Transition Guelph, a chapter of the worldwide movement for sustainable communities, and the Green Committee of St. James Anglican Church.

It takes place at St. James Church, 86 Glasgow Street North, at the corner of Glasgow and Paisley. Admission is free.

This workshop will discuss ways to save energy and, as we move into the summer months, ways to ensure a house is well-ventilated so the cool air stays in.

The workshop features:

• Home energy expert Matt Vermeulen on the ecoENERGY Retrofit–Homes program at 1:00 p.m. Vermeulen, a Certified Energy Advisor with the Elora Environment Centre, has already conducted energy assessments in over 500 homes across southwestern Ontario. Staff from the Elora Environment Centre will be available throughout the day to answer specific questions.
• David Rekker will speak about energy efficiency for churches and other public spaces. Rekker is a LEED project manager for Enermodal, a consulting firm exclusively committed to improving the energy and resource efficiency of buildings and communities.
• Mark Bailey of Guelph Solar, a local grassroots initiative to promote the local use of solar photovoltaic systems, will discuss the work the group is doing in the region.
• Tour one of Guelph’s green homes to get the scoop on what new energy technologies look like and how they work.
• Informational dsiaplays from green energy-related businesses and groups.

For updates on the day’s program, please check the Transition Guelph Website ( www.transitionguelph.org )

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Eden Mills Conversation Cafe, What Makes A Community? – May 7

Eden Mills Carbon Neutral Project is having a “Conservation” Cafe on May 7 to discuss “What makes the kind of community we want to live in?”

Sounds like it will be a very interesting evening.

Makes me think about last week’s discussion at City Hall regarding the MTO’s proposed “improvements” to the Hanlon Expressway…

If there’s one thing that ticks me off it’s being “green” about the easy things but taking a pass on things that are more challenging.

Pity City Council couldn’t have gone to it before they voted.

Anyway, I’m sure a lot of folk from Transition Guelph will attend so there’s still hope that our city will get its green credentials back.

The event takes place at 7.00 p.m. on May 7 in Eden Mills Community Hall. The event is moderated by Jean Robertson.

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Transition Guelph – April 15

I received this reminder from Chris and Sally about the next Transition Guelph meeting.

Welcome one and all to our next public meeting, being held on Wednesday, April 15 at 7 p.m. PLEASE NOTE the change of location this time only: We will convene at the Guelph Community Health Centre, 176 Wyndham St. North, lower level, Meeting Room A. The GCHC is located at the north end of Wyndham, just before it turns into Eramosa, on the same side as the Baker St. parking lot. Entrances are on the Wyndham St. side and at the back of the building.

The meeting will start with a theme of food security. Kate Vsetula of Buy Local Buy Fresh will give a presentation, followed by a Q & A and open discussion. Also, we will hear about local group and green business happenings, and projects being planned for this spring by the Built Environment & Retrofit, Trees and Awareness-Raising working groups (and perhaps others as well), with news of opportunities for members to participate. If time permits, we’ll also be showing a very inspiring short video on urban homesteading

Hope to see you there!

Chris & Sally

www.transitionguelph.org

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Celebrate Earth Hour With Transition Guelph – March 28

Transition Guelph will be celebrating Earth Hour 2009 with a candlelight potluck at the Guelph Youth Music Centre on March 28 between 7.30 and 10.00 p.m.  Participants are encouraged to bring a friend or neighbour, a light dish (hors d’ouvres, snacks, dessert, finger food), musical instruments, voices as well as safety candles,  flashlights and lanterns.

Good food, good company and live unplugged music is promised. Entertainment will be in an “open stage” format. Word has it that one or two popular local performers may show up, too.

Suggested donation: $5 (pay what you can)

For more information, visit: www.transitionguelph.org/earthhour .

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Royal City Rag – March 25

Royal City Rag on March 25 focused on environmental issues including Backyard Bounty, activites for Earth Hour 2009 (March 28) and why Guelph’s urban forest needs greater protection.

We started the show with some interviews recorded at the  launch of  Backyard Bounty, Guelph’s urban farming initiative, at the Evergreen Centre on March 22. Interviewees included Guelph singer-songwriter and community activist James Gordon, Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph and Shannon Lee Stirling from Backyard Bounty.

Transition Guelph will be having a candlelight potluck at the Guelph Youth Music Centre on March 28 between 7.30 and 10.00 p.m. to celebrate Earth Hour 2009. Bring a friend or neighbour, a light dish (hors d’ouvres, snacks, dessert, finger food), and a candle in a safe holder,  flashlight or lantern, and enjoy good food, good company and live unplugged music! For more information, visit: www.transitionguelph.org/earthhour .

Ric Jordan, Manager of the Arboretum, University of Guelph

Later in the show we played an interview recorded at the University of Guelph Arboretum with manager Ric Jordan and Guelph Urban Forest Friends‘ Norah Chaloner and Judy Martin.

Trees in Guelph need far greater protection than afforded by the current city bylaw. Guelph has far less than the ideal 40% tree canopy cover recommended for cities. A strategic plan for Guelph’s urban forest has been in the works at city hall for over a decade now yet progress has been slow to say the least. In the meantime more and more trees are lost from our urban landscape. For more on this important issue, visit the Guelph Urban Forest Friends website at www.guffguelph.ca.

Music:
James Gordon, Scam Of The Century from Just West Of Something Big (CFRU Compilation)
James Gordon, Another Silver Maple Comes Down from Nine Green Bottles

Listen to the show:

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Royal City Rag – March 18

Shannon Lee Stirling joined us in the studio on March 18 to discuss the Guelph launch of the innovative urban farming initiative Backyard Bounty. Backyard Bounty aims to provide healthy locally-grown produce from city yards. The launch of the program takes place at The Evergreen Centre, Woolwich Street, Guelph on March 22 from 1.30 – 4.30 p.m. Feature presentations include Liz Nowatschin from restaurant Artisanale, Ali English from Farm Start and music by James Gordon. A number of community organisations, including Wellington Waterwatchers and Transition Guelph, will have informational booths.

Later in the show we had an excellent interview with members of the new Guelph group “Land Is More Important Than Sprawl” (LIMITS) about the proposed Hanlon Creek Business Park. LIMITS  has real concerns that the City of Guelph is moving ahead with this huge business development without due diligence bearing in mind that we are in a deep recession, and both peak oil and climate change are starting to seriously impact the way we live. The group also believe that the full environmental impact of this development has not been fully examined or explained to the public.

The area in question is of important ecological value as it contains an old growth forest with trees of over 200 years old and and an important groundwater recharge area for the local area. As there is no shortage of brownfield land around the city available for industrial development, they believe that disused industrial land should be used first.

With these concerns in mind the Guelph Civic League is hosting a public meeting with community leaders to discuss the Hanlon Creek Business Park (HCBP) on Thursday March 26 from 7.00 – 9.00 p.m.  in Meeting Room 1 at Norfolk Street United Church , corner of Norfolk and Cork St., Downtown Guelph.

Music:
Neko Case, This Tornado Loves You from Middle Cyclone
Mike Mucci, Eramosa from Under The Tulip Trees
Chris Brown, Oblivion from Oblivion

Listen to the show:

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Worth Repeating: James Howard Kunstler at Amazing Possibilities 2006

Following on from the great show with Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph, no discussion of transition or sustainability can be complete without mention of formidable social commentator James Howard Kunstler.

James is a renowned author and speaker who has written a great deal about the peak oil crisis and the serious impact it will have on our society and way of life. 

His best known works are The Geography of Nowhere and The Long Emergency. Both are an essential read for anyone concerned about our current predicament.

You should also try and catch James in Gregory Greene’s documentaries, The End Of Suburbia and Escape From Suburbia. Again, they are essential viewing  to understand how we got in this mess and what we need to do to get out of it.

James Howard Kunstler said that he wrote The Geography of Nowhere, “Because I believe a lot of people share my feelings about the tragic landscape of highway strips, parking lots, housing tracts, mega-malls, junked cities, and ravaged countryside that makes up the everyday environment where most Americans live and work.”

His most recent non-fiction work, The Long Emergency, published by the Atlantic Monthly Press in 2005, focused on the challenges posed by the coming permanent global oil crisis, climate change, and other “converging catastrophes of the 21st Century.”

James was in Guelph for the Guelph Civic League Amazing Possibilities conference in May 2006. His presentation has to be one of the best I have ever heard.

If ever there was the time when  we need to heed the words of James Howard Kunstler it is now.

We are already very late in starting to deal with these issues… we will not do future generations any favours to wait any longer.

Listen to the presentation:

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Worth Repeating: Mike Nickerson – Living On Earth As If We Want To Stay

Mike Nickerson’s name came up during last week’s great show with Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph.

Mike coordinates the Sustainability Project as well as an initiative to establish a Genuine Progress Index for Canada. He has written several books including “Life, Money and Illusion: Living on Earth as If We Want to Stay” focusing on how climate change, gas prices and the current economic crisis all relate to Earth’s limits and how this awareness offers opportunities to plan for a fulfilling, just and sustainable future. Its definitely worth a read.

I had the opportunity to interview Mike around the time of the launch of Life, Money and Illusion.  It’s well worth repeating. Enjoy!

Listen to the interview:

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Royal City Rag – February 18

An environmental activism based show this week.

We started off with a wonderful interview with musician and environmental activist Sarah Harmer recorded at the Environmental Science Symposium where she gave the keynote address. Sarah is an inspirational speaker. Its well worth a listen.

If you want to check out her recent music, inspired by her environmental awakening, take a listen to “I’m a Mountain”. You’ll not be disappointed.

Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph joined us in the second half to talk about The Guelph Transition City Initiative. 

Transition Guelph are a group of concerned and active Guelph residents who have come together with the shared vision of turning our city into one of Canada’s first official “Transition Towns”, according to the model described in “The Transition Handbook” by Rob Hopkins.

Their aim is to encourage other residents to become involved, offer their own ideas and insights, and pitch in to help create a sustainable future for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children.

They hope to complement existing City of Guelph endeavours like the Community Energy Plan by encouraging Guelphites from all sectors to respond to the challenges and opportunities of reducing our carbon footprint.

Given the urgency of the issues, we cannot afford to wait for national and international action. The initiative is founded in the belief that a common commitment fuelled by Guelph’s wide range of creativity, actions already underway, and strong sense of community can overcome the challenges and build a future that is even more connected, more vibrant, more economically healthy and more in touch with our environment than today.

For more information on Transition Guelph:
Sally Ludwig, (519) 731-3169, sludwig@golden.net
Chris Mills, (519) 731-3169, cmills@golden.net
http://www.transitionguelph.org

Music:
Sarah Harmer, Escarpment Blues (Live) from At The Barricades Volume 1
James Gordon, How? (Demo Mix, Digital Download)

Listen to the show:

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Coming Up on Royal City Rag – February 18

Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph will be joining us on Royal City Rag on February 18.

The Guelph Transition City Initiative is a group of concerned and active Guelph residents who have come together with the shared vision of turning our city into one of Canada’s first official “Transition Towns”, according to the model described in Rob Hopkins excellent book “The Transition Handbook.”

Their aim is to encourage other residents to become involved, offer their own ideas and insights, and pitch in to help create a sustainable future for ourselves, our children, and our children’s children.

As a taster, here is a short interview I recorded with Sally at the Environmental Science Symposium in January this year.

Listen to the interview:

To learn more about Transition Guelph, join us on Royal City Rag, Wednesday 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm, Guelph’s Campus-Community Radio Station. Listen live or after the fact via the website.

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Worth Repeating: Take Peak Oil Seriously – It’ll Be Here Much Sooner Than You Think

This article is definitely worth repeating.

I’m sure Sally Ludwig from Transition Guelph will have a lot to say about the Peak Oil issue when she joins us on Royal City Rag, Wednesday February 18, 6-7 p.m. on CFRU 93.3fm. Listen live or after the fact via the website.

Take Peak Oil seriously – it’ll be here much sooner than you think
Cathal Kelly
Toronto Star, February 15

While panic is not the prescription, experts are warning that the time to begin taking Peak Oil seriously is past.

“It’s not about believing. It’s about facts,” said Gord Miller, Ontario’s environmental commissioner. Miller has been warning about Peak Oil for years. He thinks we hit peak around early 2007.

“If we’re not there, we’re awful close,” said Dave Hughes, a geoscientist who once ran Canada’s national coal inventory.

Peak Oil doesn’t mean we have run out of the stuff. It means that we have crested the top of a bell curve of supply. Then it’s a roller-coaster ride down. Depending on who you ask, that ride will either be slow and uncomfortable or teeth-rattling and destructive.

“Depletion is taking somewhere between 5 and 6 per cent of (existing) world oil production per year,” said Hughes. “The reason that oil price is where it is today is that the economy has reduced demand.”

No one has found a major new oil field since the 1960s. It’s getting harder and more expensive to bring up the oil we know is there. All these signs point toward the peak.

What happens now?

The first stage is price volatility, a little like the $100-per-barrel drop we’ve seen in less than a year.

The current low price “will increase demand to a certain extent, which will then increase price,” Hughes said. “There will be a few cycles of that. That is, until depletion kicks in for good.”

Hughes guesses a barrel of oil could cost $200 (U.S.) within the next two to four years. It sits at $41 today. Andrew Nikiforuk, author of Tar Sands, imagines it could go as high as $300 in that time.

“The second stage is supply shortages,” Hughes said. “We could see a replay of the (oil crisis of the) early ’70s.”

Canada might initially be insulated from supply shocks, owing to our huge deposits in the Alberta oil sands. Of course, most of that oil is pumped into the U.S. Since Ontario, Quebec and the Maritimes get most of their oil from overseas, we are vulnerable.

And then?

“It will be a slow deterioration in our quality of life, in the reliability of transportation, in the availability of certain foods as well as price spikes for food,” Nikiforuk said.

“It will cause pandemonium in both the public and private spheres.”

So what should we do?

“Save your capital. Reduce your consumption. A lot. Make yourself accessible to mass transit,” Hughes said. “And forget about buying things at Wal-Mart that were shipped here from halfway around the world.”

“You prepare by walking more, operating one vehicle. You prepare by buying more food locally and talking to your friends about getting engaged in the political process,” said Nikiforuk. “Oil has made us fat and lazy. … It was a 150-year addiction to an energy source we didn’t appreciate or use particularly wisely. It distorted our economy. Now it’s going. And we can’t go back to business as usual.”

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Transition Guelph – February 12

The next Transition Guelph meeting is this coming Thursday, February 12 at 7 p.m. at 10 Carden St.

Janet Laird, the City of Guelph’s Director of Environmental Services, has agreed to attend the meeting and give a brief presentation on the Guelph Community Energy Plan. We will also be reporting on the first meeting of the Transition Guelph Steering Committee and our plan for moving forward, as well as our meeting with the Education group, the Transition Guelph Youth initiative, and on the proposal presented to us by our U of G student group.

 Hope to see you there!

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The Guelph Chapter of the Council of Canadians Needs You!

Following up on Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians, latest visit to Guelph on January 14 2009, to discuss water rights, the Guelph Chapter of Council of Canadians is looking to find new members and get current members to renew their membership.

The Guelph Chapter is regarded as one of the most active and successful in the country.

Because of the increasing concerns regarding the climate, the economy, and the environment, the group wants to step up their efforts to influence public policy. They  also want to lead a local effort in making necessary lifestyle changes that are consistent with a sustainable environment.

The Guelph group would like all members to renew their membership through the local chapter, hopefully at the Maude Barlow presentation on January 14 2009, as this allows the local chapter to benefit directly.

If members renew or join the CoC through the head office, they ask that you indicate that you are in the Guelph area, which will have the same effect.

The cost of a regular membership is $45, but for seniors and students it is still $6.

Following up on Maude Barlow’s visit to Guelph on Janaury 14, the Guelph Chaper is working on several interesting topics including:

• Tar Sands = Environmental Crisis There has been great interest in this topic both at our previous event and in the news since then.  And of course, the news gets no better. Maude Barlow spoke of the environmental degradation she witnessed when she visited the Tar Sands site recently.
• The Geography of Hope: Chris Turner Chris spoke at an Eden Mills Carbon Neutral dinner and he was a huge hit.  He gives practical and positive steps that can be taken now to move toward a sustainable environment. And yes, he gives us hope!
• Steven Moore: Queen’s University This dynamic lecturer is teaching a new program on the environment and he will outline what he is doing and why he is able to present such a program in the business school at Queen’s.
• Transition Guelph The transition from an oil-based economy to a green economy and all the related issues is the primary focus of this group. How we can build community resilience to withstand climate stress ahead.
• Nuclear Energy and its Perils James Harding was going to speak at an earlier meeting of the CoC but he was hampered by an injury. They are trying one more time to get him to visit our city.
• Wellington Water Watchers It could be that the activities in the water arena and the WWW’s response to them could make for an interesting and valuable update for our group.  Although they have been working closely together, there are many members who don’t know what the group has been doing over the past year and where it plans to go.

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Maude Barlow Asks You To Unbottle It! – January 14

The Unbottle It! Tour: Water as a Human Right

Maude Barlow, National Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and United Nations Advisor on Water, will be back in Guelph at Norfolk United Church on Wednesday January 14 2009 to talk about water as a right and not a commodity and why we should dump bottled water. She will be accompanied by Sid Ryan, President of CUPE Ontario.

The goal of this visit is to build on local successes at banning bottled water from schools and municipalities, promote new bans, work toward a provincial ban, and help link bottled water to the commoditization of water in people’s minds.

According to the National Office of the Council of Canadians:

 “there are numerous reasons to hate bottled water, including environmental and health concerns, but we’re going on tour to focus on the importance of public water and seeing water as part of the commons, not a commodity. And of course we’ll talk about the need for strong provincial and federal policies to protect water and ensure access to clean water for all Canadians.”

Beginning at 5:30 p.m., there will be a Water Information Fair featuring representatives from CoC-Guelph, CUPE, Wellington Water Watchers, OPIRG Speed River Project, Transition Guelph, Kairos, TapIn, OXFAM and others. There will also be hot chili (vegetarian or con carne), buns, and coffee or tea.

The evening presentations will start at 6.45 p.m.

The Unbottle It! Tour: Water as a Human Right
Who: Maude Barlow and Sid Ryan
When: Wednesday January 14 at 6.45 p.m. (Water Information Fair at 5.30 p.m.)
Admission: FREE
Presented by The Council of Canadians and CUPE Ontario

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Royal City Rag, December 3 2008 – Municipal Beat

Brian Holstein was back in the studio for his monthly visit to chat about goings-on around town. As this was his last regular show, Brian was in a nostalgic mood, reminiscing about his five years on CFRU. His rant was one of the best ever.

We started the show with a new song by James Gordon, How? that asks the question, How will we deal with the climate change issue locally?

As a new community campaign, Transition Guelph is just starting, the timing of this song could not be better. A perfect theme song for the campaign. I look forward to a version of the song featuring many an all-star line-up of Guelph musicians.

Later in the show, Bill Hulet, former Communications Chair for the Green Party of Canada joined us to chat about the proposed Liberal–NDP coalition. Its definitely worth a listen, especially for all those who don’t understand why a coalition is a perfectly reasonable and democratic alternative to yet another election if the current Conservative minority government is unable to guide us through these challenging economic times.

Music:
James Gordon – How (digital)
The Weavers – So Long Its Been Good to Know You from The Weavers Reunion At Carnegie Hall 1963

The audio for this show is no longer available on the website.  If however you wish to hear it again, please contact us at info@royalcityrag.ca. Thank You.

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Transition Guelph Information Meeting – December 1

Building Local Resilience to Climate Change and Peak Oil

Transition Guelph, a citizen initiative to build local resilience to peakoil and climate change, will be the topic of an informational meeting and discussion planned for December 1 at 7 p.m. at 10 Carden Street.

We hope you will join us; all are welcome and we hope to hear from many who are already working for positive environmental and social change in our city. 

Transition Guelph is modelled on the Transition Town experience introduced in Britain and inspiring change in communities around the world. 

Transition Guelph’s aim is to complement existing endeavours like the Community Energy Plan by encouraging Guelphites from all sectors to respond to the challenges and opportunities of reducing ourcarbon footprint.

Given the urgency of the issues, we cannot afford to wait for national and international action.The initiative is founded in the belief that a common commitment fuelled by Guelph’s wide range of creativity, actions already underway, and strong sense of community can overcome the challenges and build a future that iseven more connected, more vibrant, more economically healthy and more in touch with our environment than today.

For more information:
Sally Ludwig, (519) 731-3169, sludwig@golden.net
Chris Mills, (519) 731-3169, cmills@golden.net

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