OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
32You hit the nail on the head Adam.One key observation; and this is critical. The City already committed to having the Royal City Mission operate and run the full time daytime centre until April.That carries the burden through the winter months, when it is most needed.Come April, everything was supposed to move over to 23 Gordon.Logic dictates that the City should continue to honour it's commitment to Royal City Mission to run over the winter months.Did that happen? No!The City and Council chose to scrap the entire plan.A total lack of vision, leadership and planning.To the Mayor and City Council - honour your commitment.
3- Alec Purves
Ford vows to remove Crown Royal from LCBO to protest plant closure
24Lots of things we consume aren’t manufactured in Canada. Is Doug going to ban all of them? All for show. The effort is better spent on how to increase manufacturing in Ontario.
8- markie mark
‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter
27Its astounding that Guelph Council can find the millions of dollars needed to clear bike lanes in the winter, in the name of safety, yet when it comes to people possibly dying from lack of shelter and resources, they withhold funding. Shame on the Councilors who voted against this.
5- SMJD
Ford vows to remove Crown Royal from LCBO to protest plant closure
18Doug is the worst “conservative” Premier in Ontario's history.
8- Lester Green
Ford vows to remove Crown Royal from LCBO to protest plant closure
14CR is made (distilled and aged) in Canada and has been for a very long time. Doug is trying to kill long term Canadian companies. Classic dog whistle politics, no better than PP and Danni.
12- D'Arcy
‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter
24The Mayor and City Council had already agreed that the Royal City Mission would be operating a fulltime day centre from Jan to April.To scrap the entire plan because 23 Gordon will not be ready in April is both irresponsible and reactionary.Folks it is very simple; - the Mayor and City Council have two options - 1) Honour their commitment to fund the Royal City Mission to run the centre fulltime from Jan- April. That is roughly $280,5000.2) They have 3 months to decide whether Royal City Mission continues afterwards at $850K annually; or they continue to doubledown and insist on reinventing the wheel and duplicating social welfare services.That is it. Very simple choices.One thing I will add. The Mayor and City Council need to visit the Royal City Mission and apologise in person to the RCM leadership and volunteers. The strategies and political maneuvering to discredit and handcuff the people and work at Royal City Mission was shameful and embarrassing to watch.
2- Alec Purves
OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
18i strongly suspect that the city is being influenced by the downtown guelph business association here. and it’s so misguided as now our downtown will have more visibly homeless people spending their time outside.
5- J3551C4
‘We’re in an emergency state’: Guelph rallies for immediate daytime shelter
20Cam Guthrie and council talking in January about how to prepare for the winter again.
3- DR64
OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
8Simple. Move the RCM away from downtown.
14- Splurfy
OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
18I couldn't agree more with you, Adam. How short-sighted that some people don't want a drop-in so close to St. George's Square. Now, instead of hanging out at Royal City Mission, Guelph's homeless will be hanging out in the Library, in the Quebec Street Mall, and all around the fountain in the square. Instead of trained and diligent staff from the Mission being out on the street all day keeping things peaceful and tidy, there will be no one. In short, without the Mission being open, Downtown Guelph will be even less welcoming than usual! Didn't anybody at City Hall think about that? I guess they were too busy thinking about how they could waste more tax dollars on redundant speed limit signs, and bicycle traffic lights, and ......
3- RWM
Guelph’s planned daytime shelter scrapped due to construction delays
20When the RFP went out, Royal City Mission (RCM) met all the criteria but one; it was on St. George's Square. It had just spent approximately $100,000 putting in the showers, the laundry, and the handicapped washroom. It had years of experience, dedicated staff members, and an extensive array of willing volunteers (of which I am one). Stepping Stone (with the best of intentions) actually had almost none of the criteria except the preferred location away from St. George's Square. They had admirable plans, but did not have the goods in place. City Hall ignored the reality and experience of RCM, and awarded the RFP based on promises to Stepping Stone. This botch job is just another example of how politicians value empty promises more than proven performance.
- RWM
Ford vows to remove Crown Royal from LCBO to protest plant closure
14Booze and cars. Cars and booze. Plus giving our money to his wealthy sponsors. What a poor excuse for a human being.
5- Grandad
An eclectic new tattoo studio opens in Guelph
7Thank God we got another tattoo parlour. Now we just need another Italian restaurant, and some more cannabis stores.
12- Curtis Maranda
OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
16It is clear that the Mayor has NO commitment to take care of homeless people. Even went so far as to cut funding to Royal City Mission. When Stepping stone withdrew from honoring their part of the contract the city could have directed the funding to RCM and they would run their program. But No. Get those homeless people out of the city Centre. Time for a different Mayor.Time for a different city council. Lets not forget this at the next election.
3- Klaus B
Guelph’s planned daytime shelter scrapped due to construction delays
17Not surprised at all. Disappointed; but have been speaking about this for awhile.Royal City Mission is already doing the work, and had everything in place; from showers, personal storage bins, full kitchen, hot meals, support from other community agencies, etc.. The majority are volunteers that believe in the cause, and are all local community residents.To duplicate exactly the same thing; from showers, to full kitchen, etc. was unnecessary. The City was calling the shots and insisted on reinventing the wheel. Add also that everyone is paid staff at the new location, and was going to become an increasing money pit.Royal City Mission was already doing the work for decades; and will continue to do so. Just not with extended hours.
1- Alec Purves
An eclectic new tattoo studio opens in Guelph
13Any small business is a good thing, just because it is not your jam don't be a hater.
4- ramos96
Guelph’s planned daytime shelter scrapped due to construction delays
16This situation is incredibly unfortunate for the people who are impacted by this. I find it especially frustrating that my Ward 2 councillors have been unwilling to have a discussion or provide clarification when I email them and ask about the several changes or shortcomings stemming from their decisions towards daytime shelter support. I’ve been waiting for a response for over a month now.
1- Tay Caton
OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
6This town doesn't care about the homeless just about how they can use up all taxpayers money on stupid and frivolous things. I think someone has to look into where all the money is going. If you eat out and ride bikes or read books ,the city has no use for you. This town has really changed and not for the better.
11- Mary Riddell
OPINION: The daytime shelter debacle was always going to end like this
15The City tried to shut down the informal organization called The Bench from serving meals pop-up style at the corner of Woolwitch and Wyndham by posting a 'No Stopping' sign (possibly illegally, since there does not appear to be a bylaw that allows the sign to be posted) where the volunteers stopped to drop off the food, but to absolutely no avail. The Downtown Bench continues to operate at his location, distributing a meal to those in need. The catch is, absolutely NO City money goes into this operation, so the City can not play 'cut off the funding' or 'switch the shells around and guess where the money is' games with this organization.
2- Daryl Eves
Developer eyes 79-unit subdivision on Grange Road
7How much of this will be “affordable”? And not the government definition of affordable, ie 80% of market value. Rather it should be something that where payments would not exceed 30% of combined income so people could afford shelter AND food.
9- Arthur K
