Looking to transit’s future

A recent prediction by CIBC economists, Jeff Rubin and Benjamin Tal (June 26) predict gas prices in the U.S. will go to $7 a gallon - our prices will follow with them.  They predict gasoline spending will exceed groceries, declining car sale and 10 million vehicles off the road by 2012.  Households under $25,000 will be [...]

Recycling Continues!

I have to be honest. I continue to be flabbergasted by people writing to suggest that all our blue bags are going to landfill.  Someone is doing a great job at spreading misinformation (or is that disinformation) to people.
So don’t take my word for it.  Come out and see our recycling facility with your own eyes.  Come and [...]

Guelph accepts Woodstock’s challenge

Dear Mayor Harding,  
It is with great enthusiasm that I throw the City of Guelph’s hat into the ring and accept your 2008 Blackout Day Challenge.   
Guelph is up for the challenge! We are very excited to be taking part in the challenge again and hope to achieve even greater energy savings this year.  
August 14, 2008 is [...]

Black Out Day Challenge from Woodstock

Woodstock and Blackout Day challenges Ontarians to “have fun with the lights out” on Aug. 14th!
 
WOODSTOCK, Ont. (July 17, 2008) The city of Woodstock, in partnership with the Blackout Day group, is once again challenging Ontarians to “have fun with the lights out” on August 14th.
Why August 14th? It’s the 5th anniversary of the widespread [...]

20 Minute Transit Service starts July 7th

This was a big issue in our community last fall when we had to fall back to a 40 minute service during peak times to ensure people would be making their connections.  We heard from many people that this was not acceptable.
Council approved additional funding in the 2008 budget and staff have purchased the buses [...]

Tree Registry launched by Rotary

For their 100th anniversary in 2020, the Rotary Club of Guelph has set a goal for a 40% tree canopy in Guelph.
In addition to the new Rotary Forest that is being planted at Guelph Lake in partnership with the Grand River Conservation Authority, they have launched a new Tree Registry.  If you are planting trees, [...]

Becoming a Bicycle Friendly Community

There have been way too many bicycle accidents so far this year in Guelph.
There is a good editorial on this in a recent issue of the Ontarion at:
 http://www.theontarion.ca/viewsection.php?list_sec=Editorial
Council has recently approved a Bicycle-Friendly Guelph Project developed by our Transportation Demand Management Coordinator, Jennifer McDowell.
This is an excerpt from the report that went to Council that outlines [...]

Yet again drive thrus

One of the goals for this blog is to open up dialogue on issues that the City of Guelph is grappling with and to vet different points of view in a fair, honest and open manner. 
Intuitively, it makes sense that drive thrus contribute to green house gas emissions.  When I was presented with a different perspective, [...]

More on drive thrus

If there was a blueprint for living sustainably, our lives would be easy and we would be on a clear path.  But the path is not clear and the issues complicated.  What can sometimes seem to be a no brainer may not achieve the goals we are seeking - regardless of how intuitively right it seems.  We [...]

Green Power at F.M. Woods Pumping Station

We launched another small step in the implementation of Guelph’s Community Energy Plan today.
We have joined several other municipalities in the Province, including Mississauga and York Region, to demonstrate leadership in the fight against climate change by purchasing some green power.
We are purchasing green power to run the F.M. Woods Pumping Station. The power is [...]