PALMERSTON – Candidates shared strong opinions about public concerns during Perth-Wellington’s first 2025 provincial debate at the Norgan Theatre on Feb. 19.

The debate, attended by four of the seven Perth-Wellington candidates, was hosted by the Minto, Mapleton and Wellington North Chambers of Commerce.

Present were Ian Morton of the Green Party, Ashley Fox of the Liberal Party, Matthew Rae of the Progressive Conservative (PC) Party and James Montgomery of the New Blue Party.

Jason Davis of the NDP, Rob Smink of the Freedom Party and Sarah Zenuh of the Ontario Party were absent.

Questions submitted by audience members touched on issues including education, rural health care, housing affordability and agricultural concerns.

Early on, moderator Murray Calder asked candidates what their response would be to the U.S. government regarding tariffs.

“Immediately what we need to do is create a tariff task force that’s going to work across party and jurisdictional lines,” Morton told the audience.

He noted the Green Party would “aggressively diversify our trade partners” and “finally remove the interprovincial trade barriers.”

Rae, the riding’s incumbent MPP, stated the threat from south of the border is the biggest threat of this generation, and arguably since the country was created.

“Premier Ford and our party have made it very clear we support in getting rid of interprovincial trade barriers once the federal government agrees,” Rae said.

He added the PC Party, if reelected, will invest in a $200-billion plan to invest in infrastructure across Ontario.

Montgomery assured voters he would work towards finding a way to “make things better.”

As for the Liberal Party, Fox said, “We have an eight-point plan which would work in regards to supporting inter-professional trade and focusing on Canada first.”

She added, “We need to get the basics right for Ontarians.”

Candidates were asked what their party would do to protect Perth-Wellington’s agricultural land.

Rae said the PC Party will continue to empower municipalities when it comes to decisions about land use planning.

Fox said the province needs to respect farmers and respect the agricultural community, and referenced the Township of Wilmot and its current fight for farmland.

“What’s happening in Wilmot, can happen anywhere in Perth-Wellington,” she said.

Montgomery echoed ideas from other candidates but added he would like to “grow within the boundaries” and grow in a “smart way.”

“Farmers’ land should not be taken from them by force,” Montgomery added.

Morton explained the Green Party would immediately freeze urban boundaries and not allow anymore sprawl onto farmland.

“Our farmland is going to be incredibly important when the tariffs are enacted; we are going to need to be very careful with our food security,” Morton added.

Candidates were then asked how they would ensure supply management is maintained and remains viable.

“When we look at our agricultural community, it’s cheaper to send product to the states than it is within our own provinces, and that’s something that we need to prioritize,” Fox said.

Montgomery said it is “vital” to allow small family farms to operate and compete against larger manufacturers.

Agricultural technology was mentioned by both Morton and Rae, with the aim of improving yield, efficiency and profitability.

All candidates presented strong opinions about Premier Ford’s tunnel vision.

In September, Ford announced his government would explore the possibility of building a tunnel for drivers beneath Highway 401. It has now become a reelection promise.

“I wish I had $60-billion and 30 years to waste on such a frivolous project,” Morton said.

“It’s ludicrous to take Ontario taxpayer dollars that they have worked really hard to earn … to create a tunnel.”

Morton noted the health care system is crumbling, education funding has been pulled back and farmland is being lost, which are all serious issues that must take priority.

According to Rae, “The premier has been clear, he is proceeding with a feasibility study for the tunnel.”

He circled back to the “ambitious” $200-billion infrastructure plan Ford has in place, which includes the redevelopment of downtown Palmerston.

When Fox heard about Ford’s tunnel plan she “honestly thought it was satire,” she said.

“It’s just flabbergasting to me that we have serious issues across the province and we’re looking at a tunnel.”

Montgomery agreed, noting, “We can’t afford our basic necessities; people are losing houses and becoming homeless; our health care is crumbling.”

The candidates were questioned about challenges facing the education system.

Morton, a teacher, noted the system is “chronically underfunded.”

“We are dealing with $1,500 less per student in Ontario education right now than we were at the start of this government’s mandate,” Morton explained.

“That’s almost $40,000 in my class alone.”

Rae said, “I think of youth wellness hubs; one is just down the street.”

He noted although the hubs aren’t directly in education, they provide the support students need.

“That’s part of the $3.8-billion mental health initiatives we are rolling out across the province,” he added. 

Fox touched on the importance of listening to what educators have to say, and explained violence is on the rise as a result of few mental health supports, which

Montgomery agreed with those sentiments.

“I’m going to be honest and straightforward and say in all my conversations, I have not heard that … brought up,” said Montgomery regarding plans for relief for renters.

“It’s something I would like to look into.”

Morton explained the biggest issue is rent control and how “there are no controls.”

“The Above Guidelines Increases (in rent) that have been happening are ridiculous,” Morton stated.

“Putting in a moratorium on those is a priority.”

Rae noted the PC Party “led the charge” on removing HST on purpose-built rentals across Ontario and will continue to focus on cutting red tape to allow more rentals.

Fox said the Liberal Party will look to resolve the phased-in rent control, by implementing a rental emergency support for tenants who exhibit unfair and/or vulnerable rent situations.

Rural hospital closures

Near the end of the session, candidates were asked what their party would do to prevent the closure of departments and hospitals.

Montgomery stressed that emergency rooms need to stay open and said his party will support that by “adequately staffing our hospitals.”

Morton focused on the need to increase provincial funding for rural hospitals and cutting the local cost share for new hospitals in half.

Rae emphasized the work already completed in rural areas by the government, such as the expanded scope of nurse practitioners.

Fox stressed the need to focus on primary care and expanding nurse practitioner support.

The provincial election takes place on Feb. 27 with polls open from 9am to 9pm.

The Perth-Wellington local election office is the Stratford Hotel at 107 Erie St, for in-person voting until Feb. 26.

Advance voting locations open until Feb. 22 include:

• Arthur and Area Community Centre;
• Mitchell Arena and Community Centre;
• Mount Forest and District Sports Complex;
• Palmerston and District Community Centre;
• Pyramid Recreation Centre;
• St. Joseph’s Church; and
• Stratford Rotary Complex-Hall A and B.

The post Perth-Wellington candidates debate tariff response, farming issues, health care appeared first on Wellington Advertiser.

Photo by Cornelius Ejimogu/Spoke Online.

Held on Jan. 25, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Winterloo, an annual cold-weather celebration in the heart of Waterloo brought people together to embrace the winter season in full force.

Goreti Cardoso, a festival and event specialist at the City of Waterloo explained how the weather plays a significant role in attendance. For example, last year, the event was limited to the Waterloo Public Square due to the weather. But this year, Winterloo was a citywide celebration, taking over Uptown Waterloo with a variety of exciting activities for everyone!

From dog sled rides for kids, fun games, and an ice throne perfect for photos to creative ice carvings and the warmth of hot cider and chocolate, there was something for everyone.

♦Canada Geese feed from the green grasses at Victoria Park, Kitchener taken on Oct. 4, 2024.  Photo taken by Cornelius Ejimogu/Spoke Online

As urbanization accelerates, cities worldwide face the challenges of balancing urban development with the preservation of green landscapes. The city of Waterloo, Ontario known for its growth in technology and education sectors, is no exception.

In this continuous urban transformation, lifelong Waterloo resident, William McFaddin, recalled when a tree was planted every 100 feet along the streets near his home. It was during the road reconstruction when temperatures soared to 32°C daily.

“One of them that survived, I carried pails of water and dumped it on that tree to keep it living. The city never came around for watering,” McFaddin said.

♦The only surviving tree near William McFaddin’s home in Waterloo, Ontario taken on Sept. 1, 2024. Photos by Cornelius Ejimogu/Spoke Online.

Pointing at the only surviving tree now seven years old, with its sturdy trunk and modest canopy, the 67-year-old retiree imagined how the street could have looked in the next decade.

“If you picture this road with this tree that size all the way down in another 10 years, this whole walkway will be covered, and it will look nicer. But look what you get; one tree surviving in all of that,” he said.

McFaddin’s dismay highlights a fundamental truth, which is balancing urban development with green space preservation can be challenging. Yet, these challenges do not overshadow the long-term benefits that green spaces provide for well-being and quality of life.

“The presence of vegetation and trees almost acts as a filter for air that will decrease air pollution and acts as buffering effects for temperatures in the cities,” said Su-Yin Tan, a public health expert at the University of Waterloo.

Tan said research has found that reducing green space leads to long-term increases in chronic diseases and public safety. “Like for example, heart disease, mortality rate, asthma, and even things like crime and violence.”

The city of Waterloo recognizes these long-term health risks and benefits, and continues to prioritize preserving green spaces for environmental sustainability and residents’ quality of life, said Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe.

“We just did a 30 kilometre bike ride around the west side of Waterloo. We were looking at neighbourhood parks, green spaces, what’s some of the things we know we’ll probably need to put some more amenities in the next five to 10 years,” said McCabe.

However, the challenge of balancing urban growth with green space preservation is a complex one. According to the population projections from the 2021 Census, there will be 185,000 permanent residents living in Waterloo by 2051, excluding students. This presents a pressing need for expanded housing, and public services.

“We decided probably about 15 years ago that we are not going to look to add more land to our city. Instead of continuing to sprawl, we will build in and up. So, because we’re doing that, it’s a challenge to find pieces of land where we can create green spaces, natural areas, parks, and trails,” the mayor said.

Amid the challenges, the city of Waterloo has implemented several initiatives and strategies to preserve green spaces while accommodating urban development. These initiatives aim to protect ecological integrity while ensuring the community can enjoy the benefits of urbanization.

“We’ve got all the variety of master plans in place, and so we, council get continually updated on where we’re at with meeting the goals that are set out and the strategy that’s set out in those master plans” McCabe said.

The mayor explains that the city of Waterloo uses long-term planning strategies to guide community development, focusing on sustainability and future growth. Through its official plan, which spans at least 10 years and projects up to 2050, the city allocates land for urban tree strategy while specialized plans aim to increase green spaces.

“We make amendments to it sometimes,” she said, noting that the council receives regular updates on the progress of meeting goals outlined in various master plans. Evaluations take place several times a year or annually through asset management programs, helping assess how well the city is adhering to its strategic objectives. This process ensures continuous monitoring and adjustments to achieve long-term goals in the city.

“With the build-up, like high rises and so on, that also means higher population density. So, these can all have really long-term consequences,” said Tan, while emphasizing the need for urban constructions and population to be proportional to green spaces.

Even though it’s challenging to achieve proportional green spaces, the mayor believes the city is getting it right.

“I think we are on a good path,” she reflected with a firm tone. “We have a really solid vision for the future, and we’ll continue to consult with the community to get their input as well,” she added.

As the city of Waterloo faces the challenges of sustaining its growth while preserving its natural landscape, the only surviving tree near McFaddin’s home stands as a reminder of what’s at stake. However, the success of this balance depends on continuously adhering to the city’s master plan, community involvement, and a shared commitment to both progress and preservation.

Austin Ernst-Finnie standing in the Huron Heights Secondary School basketball gym, taken on Nov 25, 2024. Photos by Anashe Mapuranga/Spoke Online

Despite playing basketball since he was 14 years-old, Austin Ernst-Finnie didn’t ever see himself becoming a basketball coach.

“In the beginning I couldn’t shoot. But it wasn’t until I realized that I was working on shooting for seven years of my life that I could probably end up coaching, because I really focus on the details of a lot of the things.” Ernst-Finnie said how he noticed a lot of players would be drawn towards him during pickup basketball games, due to his ability to coach them while on the court.

With that in mind, Ernst-Finnie took a step back from playing and started looking to coach and he’s never had more fun believing in others.

Now 25 years-old, Ernst-Finnie is three years into coaching and is currently in his first year as the head coach of Huron Heights Secondary School senior basketball team in Kitchener, Ont.

He first got the role after seeing a job posting for the position at his former high school and promptly put his name in for consideration.

In addition, Ernst-Finnie is also the coach of the KW Vipers rep basketball U12 team. He further encouraged to pursue that position by parents who said he’d be better coaching older players.

“There’s one thing that I don’t want and that’s a team that should’ve been able to play, not having the chance to play,” he said.

Ernst-Finnie looks on with co-coach Austin Rush while his players are going over set plays in practice, taken on Nov 25, 2024. Anashe Mapuranga/Spoke Online

Ernest-Finnie said his love for basketball came from the culture and swagger of the sport, along with the difficulty and hard work that comes with it. 

“I loved the fact that there were players out there like Kobe (Bryant, who passed away in 2020), who could take on a whole team and still get the W. But it’s also just the teamwork behind it,” he said. “Because even though people thought Kobe was a ball hog, other players had to do specific things for him to get his buckets off, so I really understood the teamwork and the determination from it all too.” 

His first year playing basketball Ernst-Finnie made the high school basketball team. He believed he got lucky to make the team, but said the coach told him he made it because of his determination, effort and hustle. He also said the coach saw him out-hustle a lot of the players on the court, and that would help become a better basketball player. 

The most important lesson that was instilled into Ernst-Finnie as a player was “There’s no I in team.” 

“I’ve played on some teams where the whole offence was built around one player, and I can see how the success wasn’t the greatest there. But once you decide to build the offence around your teams’ strengths, it honestly makes your team a lot better.”

Ernst-Finnie also used LeBron James as an example. He attributed the fact that even though it can look like James is taking on teams by himself, the spacing of the floor players setting screens and distracting other players allows him to do what he wants to do. 

“Because his teams fulfilled their roles and did their jobs, he was able to be the star of the show. And I just love how a team can also bring that one person from the bottom to the top and make me even better than what they think they are,” he said. 

One of Ernst-Finnie’s favourite motto’s as a coach is “no excuses”.

“Nobody gets great by making excuses, nobody gets great by skipping any type of hard work. You get great by putting in the work, you get great by sacrificing all what you want and doing what you need.” 

An important drill that Ernst-Finnie’s teaches is on the defensive end of the ball.  

“A lot of people lack defensive effort and intensity, which definitely comes from the amount of reps that you do because it’s all how your body moves and reacts,” he said. “And the more you practise reading and reacting, the better you get at it, but a lot of people don’t practise defence.” 

Ernst-Finnie also highlights conditioning, in particular running.  

“In general, a lot of people just hate running. If your stamina is down, you got to be able to just push through that. And a lot of coaches at the higher level, they run practices without basketballs, and they just make their teams run.” Ernst-Finnie also focuses on form, shooting and curl drills for layups and jump shooting. 

Ernst-Finnie instructs his players where to go for a practice drill, taken on Nov 25, 2024. Anashe Mapuranga/Spoke Online

Asked about his future coaching, Ernst-Finnie said “I hope to be a coach of a higher level. Even if I could coach for Ontario, maybe even Canada, or in the NBA. I don’t know where, but I just want to be able to coach and train and help players become better players, but also better people at the end of the day.”

FERGUS – A local man is facing charges after police seized about $85,000 in ecstasy and other property during a drug bust in Fergus this week.

Wellington County OPP officials say that “stemming from an extensive criminal investigation,” police pulled over a vehicle on the 5th Line in Guelph-Eramosa on Feb. 19 at about 4:45pm.

“The traffic stop resulted in one individual being taken into custody without incident,” police stated in a Feb. 20 press release.

“Police seized a quantity of suspected cocaine, methamphetamine and other offence-related property.”

On Feb. 20 the OPP “executed a search warrant” on Argyll Street in Fergus “and seized a quantity of suspected methylenedioxymethamphetamine (MDMA), and other offence-related property.”

Police say the estimated street value of the drugs is $85,000, with other property valued at about $4,000.

Christopher Baird, 34, of Fergus, was arrested and charged with three counts of possession of a Schedule 1 substance for the purpose of trafficking.

He is to appear in Guelph court on March 18

Anyone with information can call 1-888-310-1122.

To remain anonymous, call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477. Tip providers may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2000.

The post Local man charged, $85,000 in drugs seized in Fergus bust appeared first on Wellington Advertiser.

WELLINGTON-HALTON HILLS – Six of the seven candidates vying for a seat in Wellington-Halton Hills in the upcoming provincial election took part in a virtual debate on Feb. 18 that was hosted by the Wellington Federation of Agriculture.

The focus was on farming and what the candidates would do to protect farmland from development and ease some of the financial burdens farmers bear while trying to make a living.

In attendance were:

• Alex Hilson of the Liberal Party;
• Simone Kent of the NDP;
• Bronwynne Wilton; Green Party,
• Stephen Kitras, New Blue Party;
• Ron Patava, independent; and
• Jason Medland, Ontario Party.

PC candidate Joseph Racinsky declined to attend.

WFA president Barclay Nap acted as moderator, asking questions prepared by the membership that focused on their top concerns: attracting young people to farming and succession planning, protecting farmland from urban sprawl, and offering some form of tax relief for farmers.

Patava said he’s involved in an initiative that would provide locally-grown, organic food to schools for student nutrition programs.

That program should be expanded province-wide, he said, providing new revenue for farmers and food for students.

Kitras said farmers should be allowed to operate secondary businesses on their farms, like making cheese or wine to supplement their incomes.

He added the province should have more abattoirs for small-scale producers.

“Regulations should not strangle their ability to make a profit,” Kitras said. “Farmers should be able to diversify.”

Wilton said the Green Party is the only party with a fully costed platform that would include local food hubs and a food infrastructure fund to address supply chain issues.

She said it’s important to invest in agriculture technology, “to be innovators of the future.”

Kent said the pandemic really showed shortcomings in the supply chain and the NDP would work to improve that.

She said the party would protect farmland from development and remove tolls from Highway 407 for trucks to reduce the need to pave over farmland.

Medland said the food inspection system needs to be more “robust” with shorter turnaround times for lab tests.

He also thought removing inter-provincial trade barriers would improve stability for farmers.

Hilson said programs like right to repair, risk management and succession planning, along with a fund to help with capital projects, would help farmers.

Kitras said there needs to be a new banking system for farmers so they can purchase million-dollar properties to get into the market.

“Medium-sized properties are disappearing,” he said. “They are being gobbled up by municipalities or foreign ownership.”

Wilton said the average age of farmers these days is about 56, “so we need to think about generational succession. And ways to bring young farmers on board.”

Kent said the NDP will increase funding for research and post-secondary education, which will help young people hoping to become farmers.

“We will also work with municipalities so farms can stay farms,” she said.

Medland said land is expensive, but it’s “organized crime and money laundering through real estate” that’s to blame.

Hilson said the Liberals have a succession planning framework and a capital support plan to help with the high cost of land and equipment.

The Liberals would also open 40,000 spots for co-op students “to get them working again,” many in farming, he added.

Patava said young farmers need to form cooperatives to get their foot in the door.

“Start small and scale up through the cooperative model,” he said.

Wilton said the Green Party would establish the Ontario Foodbelt, similar to the Greenbelt, to protect agricultural land from development.

It would also develop a housing strategy to prevent urban sprawl.

Kent said smart land use planning will protect prime farmland. Allowing for more density, legalizing four-plexes, and adding affordable homes will also decrease the need to sprawl into farmland.

“The main thing is zoning,” said Medland.

He said too many developers are buying agricultural land and just sitting on it.

“They are not used for farming,” he said.

Hilson agreed good land use planning is the answer. He also said the Ontario Land Tribunal – the agency that can overrule municipal planning decisions – needs an overhaul.

Medland acknowledged he doesn’t really know agriculture but has friends who wanted to sell their dairy farm to a developer to fund their retirement, but the land wasn’t zoned for development.

“You’re taking away their freedom to make decisions on their own,” he said.

Kitras said the Canadian economy runs on land development, making protecting farmland very complicated.

“We need a policy for Ontario so it is entrenched,” he said. “No expropriation, and we need the freedom to do what we want with our farms.”

Medland said these kinds of decisions – what other operation would be allowed, as well as farming – are really context-dependent.

He said he is in favour of giving tax breaks to farmers who attempt to diversify, at least in the first few years.

Hilson said agri-tourism is one form of on-farm diversification and he’s for it. As well, the Liberals have a plan to cut taxes for small businesses.

“Rather than cutting taxes, you need to create markets,” Patava countered, and he harkened back to the school food program he had already mentioned.

Wilton said the Green Party would prioritize Ontario food procurement and eliminate property taxes for farmers with diversified uses.

Kitras said the New Blue Party would lower the HST to three per cent “and eventually get rid of it,” he said.

Kent said the government needs to support farmers and their diversified uses of their land, but zoning decisions must be left to municipalities.

Hilson was sympathetic to municipalities and the services that have been downloaded without supportive funding.

He said the federal and provincial governments should be responsible for water, wastewater and bridges and culverts as they are so costly, especially for smaller municipalities without a strong tax base.

Patava said more money should be transferred to municipalities from the province to deal with expensive infrastructure repairs, although decisions on projects should remain local.

“The funding is out of whack,” he said.

Kitras said more money needs to be allocated to rural municipalities for infrastructure projects.

Wilton agreed there needs to be stable funding rather than one-off grants so municipalities have the money to repair bridges.

She said climate change effects, such as flooding events, need to be factored into these repairs.

Kent, too, said the province needs to open the purse strings and spend more money on infrastructure in rural municipalities.

Medland said infrastructure should be managed by the province and the funding should come from the federal government.

“They should stop throwing money away and deal with the problems as home,” he said.

“New Blue is against solar and wind power, and we don’t believe in subsidizing it,” Kitras said. “Small nuclear reactors create reliable energy.”

Wilton said the Green Party supports green energy and locating the projects on farm property.

“We want to remove the red tape for farmers and energy providers,” she said, citing things like how placing solar panels on barns can benefit the farmer and the electrical grid.

Kent said yes to the question, “but it cannot impact the agricultural land.”

Medland said he’s not a fan of renewable energy.

“Nuclear and fossil fuels are what we’re stuck with,” he said.

Hilson said he’s in favour of renewable energy and understands the need for more energy as Ontario grows.

He said there are innovative ways to mesh energy storage with farming, but it will need consultation with neighbouring farmers.

Patava suggested geo-thermal energy as another option.

Kent said the NDP doesn’t have a policy on this but is open to creating “an innovative solution.”

Medland said property tax relief would be good, “but you will have to reduce expenditures somewhere else to do it. Those are hard trade-offs.”

Hilson said tax classes need to be investigated to find solutions.

Patava said it would be better to tax developers who are sitting on land.

“Tax unused land,” he said.

Kitras said farmers get less for their tax dollars than their urban cousins and he is not in favour of raising them.

Wilton said the full “value chain” needs to be valued and tax incentives offered when warranted.

Nap closed the debate by encouraging people to cast their vote in the upcoming election on Feb. 27.

“We are mostly a rural riding,” he said. “You have a voice. This is the time to use it.”

The post Wellington-Halton Hills candidates square off in first debate appeared first on Wellington Advertiser.

GUELPH – Thanks to the collaborative efforts of multiple organizations and levels of government, 28 people who might otherwise be homeless will soon have a place to call home.

Though residents will not start moving in until the end of the month, representatives from Wellington County, Guelph, the federal government and various social service organizations gathered on Feb. 19 to celebrate the official opening of the 65 Delhi St. Transitional Housing Facility.

Everyone who spoke at the event emphasized the collaboration involved in bringing the vision for the facility to life.

“Today’s grand opening marks a significant achievement in our collective efforts in addressing homelessness,” said county councillor David Anderson, vice-chair of the joint social services and land ambulance committee, and master of ceremonies for the grand opening event.

The facility, in a renovated historic building the county acquired in 2021, is meant to provide a type of intermediate housing between emergency shelter and permanent housing.

It will be operated by Thresholds Homes and Supports – a not-for-profit offering a range of mental health and addiction services and programs, supportive housing and more – and will provide 24/7 wrap-around support services.

• Social services committee approves designs for transitional housing in Guelph
• County proposes purchase of Guelph building for transitional shelter housing
• County approves $7.6-million capital budget for transitional housing project

“With the opening of 65 Delhi, the county and the city continue the very important work of homelessness prevention,” city councillor and chair of the joint social services committee Linda Busuttil said in her opening remarks.

“Very soon 28 members of our community will have a place to call home and receive the critical supports they need to secure and maintain stable long-term housing.”

Busuttil went on to express gratitude to everyone who worked to make the project possible.

“I believe that it is through our hope, commitment and collective efforts that we will move closer to a future where everyone in Wellington County and Guelph will have a place to call home,” she said.

County Warden Chris White said he is proud of the leadership role the county and city took on in making the facility a reality.

But he also acknowledged other levels of government, saying the county, city and provincial and federal governments have together spent more than $10.6 million on the project.

“Together, we are showing what’s possible when all levels of government and community organizations work hand-in-hand to support individuals experiencing homelessness,” White said.

Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie offered a “massive thank you for the collaboration that went into this effort,” but he also expressed some frustration at the length of time it took to complete the project.

“We should have been doing this a year ago. But we didn’t, because of NIMBY,” said Guthrie.

He was referencing an Ontario Land Tribunal challenge by neighbourhood residents that he said delayed the project for almost a year before it was eventually dismissed in 2022.

The NIMBY (not in my backyard) attitude “means that 28 people that could have been housed for a year weren’t,” he said.

His remarks were acknowledged by Guelph MP Lloyd Longfield, who spoke about the federal government’s efforts to develop a national housing strategy and to fund affordable housing.

County councillor David Anderson, left, listens as Warden Chris White speaks during the opening of the 65 Delhi St. Transitional Housing Facility on Feb. 19. Photo by Jessica Lovell

“Projects like this take a lot of money and a lot of effort,” Longfield said, earning some applause from the crowd when he noted the federal government spent $4.5 million on the project.

“We face headwinds in a lot of ways,” Longfield said.

But he noted that once the community sees how positive the project is, they will understand “this isn’t a project that puts neighbourhoods at risk; it actually strengthens neighbourhoods.”

Architect Paul Sapounzi of VG Architects got slightly choked up as he spoke about the project.

“This project is very near to my heart because of certain family members I have who have experienced vulnerability,” he said.

He called Canada a country that values compassion and inclusivity.

“As Canadians, we know that the strength of our communities is measured not just by the buildings we construct, but by the lives we improve and the opportunities we create for those in need,” said Sapounzi.

“That’s why projects like this transitional housing initiative matter.”

More than just a lack of housing, homelessness is a complex challenge, intertwined with mental health, economic barriers and social inequality, he said.

“The solution is not just shelter, but a place where people can rebuild their lives with dignity and support,” Sapounzi added.

He expressed gratitude to the city and the county for their leadership on the project, and he acknowledged future residents of the building, saying “this place is for you.

“More than just walls and roof, this is a space where you can find stability, rebuild and take the next steps toward a brighter future,” he said.

Thresholds will be partnering with Crow Shield Lodge, KW Urban Native Wigwam Project, Stonehenge Therapeutic and Guelph Community Health Centre to provide support to at-risk individuals in Guelph and Wellington county, Thresholds CEO Eric Philip stated in a news release.

This bedroom on the third floor of the 65 Delhi St. building is typical of the accommodations in the transitional housing facility. Photo by Jessica Lovell

During the grand-opening event, Philip highlighted the role of partner organizations, the city and county in tackling increasingly complex challenges related to homelessness.

“We all need to work together to build a system of care to take on these challenges,” he said.

He said the goal is a future where facilities like 65 Delhi don’t need to exist anymore and the people who have left the program are no longer identified by a condition or a habit.

“The people we support have so much to offer,” Philip said. “And we need to recognize that this part of their stories is not their whole story.”

Following the formal remarks and ribbon cutting for the facility, people in attendance had the opportunity to tour the building.

The facility includes single rooms – equipped with a bed, desk, lamp, mini fridge and closet – common kitchen facilities and lounges, assessment rooms, and more.

It will provide individualized support services such as counselling, job training and placement, community activities, increased access to health supports and help with life skills.

“The support services provided here will be tailored to meet the unique needs of each resident,” said county director of housing services Dave Purdy.

He told the Advertiser the individuals who will live at 65 Delhi have not yet been identified.

The target date to begin filling beds is the end of February or early March, and the process will be a “phased-in approach,” he said.

“What that phase-in will look like is still to be determined.”

Individuals will be referred to the facility through the county’s coordinated entry system, which will work to identify individuals that will benefit from transitional supportive housing, Purdy said.

People will stay at 65 Delhi for as long as two or three years, with the goal of transitioning successfully to more permanent housing, he added.

“The sooner we get them in, the sooner we can move them forward,” he said.

The county is the designated service system manager for all social services in both Guelph and Wellington County.

For more information on the 65 Delhi Street Transitional Housing Facility, visit wellington.ca/65Delhi.

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GUELPH – With just over a month to go before the new Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) Hub is supposed to be up and running in Guelph, the Guelph Community Health Centre (GCHC) still has not received confirmation that its plan will be supported financially.

“There is still quite a bit of uncertainty, especially with the election being called,” said GCHC chief executive officer Melissa Kwiatkowski.

Last summer, the province announced that nine safe-injection sites in Ontario, including the one in downtown Guelph, would be forced to close due to their proximity to schools or child care centres. 

At the same time, the government said the sites would be given the chance to submit a proposal to transition into a HART Hub offering addiction treatment services rather than the harm-reduction model of the current Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site.

Early this year, the GCHC received word its application to transition to a HART Hub site had been successful, but as of Feb. 12, Kwiatkowski said the organization had still not received confirmation of funding it requires to move forward with its plan.

“Without confirmation of funding, a lot of the things we need to do to be ready to implement, we can’t do those things,” Kwiatkowski said, noting that includes things like hiring new staff.

The province has mandated the CTS site close down on March 31, and has set a goal of having HART Hubs operational by April 1.

While the Guelph hub is expected to operate out of the GCHC at 176 Wyndham St. N., where the CTS site is currently located, it will not be a replacement for that site.

Services the CTS site currently offers include distribution of harm-reduction supplies like clean needles and naloxone; supervised injection services with medical oversight and monitoring; medical assessments; foot and wound care, hepatitis C, HIV and STI screening and care; support and referrals to addiction treatment, primary care, mental health supports and other community resources.

• New buildings, renovations not part of HART Hub plan
• Guelph supervised consumption site to close by end of March
• Guelph addiction treatment hub approved by province

The HART Hub transition plan includes maintaining “all of the wrap-around care teams that we have in Guelph,” Kwiatkowski said. “Many of these are existing teams.”

The key service changes will be the loss of the supervised drug consumption services, and the addition of withdrawal management beds, she said.

But lack of information about funding means uncertainty about when those beds might open up and where they will be located.

“Ideally, we’d like to have things co-located at our downtown site,” Kwiatkowski said.

But the Wyndham Street site doesn’t currently have treatment beds of any description, and it’s not clear whether there will be funding provided to create the necessary setup.

“We need to assess the feasibility and see if capital funding will be available at some point,” said Kwiatkowski.

In the interim, she said the organization has come up with a plan that would see addictions and mental health supports provided to people through a “scattered sites” approach, and has identified about 150 existing housing units across the city and the county that could be part of this approach.

“It’s teams that would go to multiple sites to support people,” Kwiatkowski said. “It’s not 24/7, but it is intensive support for mental health and addictions.”

She said the HART Hub plan also includes the expansion of the current “safe bed” program, a four-bed part-time program operated by Stonehenge Therapeutic Community that provides short-term crisis stays for people dealing with substance-use or mental-health issues.

“We’re looking to expand that program … into eight full-time beds,” Kwiatkowski said.

Those beds would ideally be located downtown at the GCHC, but there is “an alternate location” for the first year, she said.

While the organization awaits news about funding for its HART Hub plan, it is already working with local partners, such as the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy, on mitigating the risks associated with the CTS closure.

“We know these sites have a proven track record of preventing overdoses,” Kwiatkowski said.

The closure could mean more public substance use, more needles discarded in public spaces, and more overdoses or drug poisonings, so the organizations have created online resources to let people know what to expect and where to find alternative support.

They are also offering training to business owners and people who live and work in the downtown on things like what to do if they find needles or what to do if they encounter someone who has overdosed.

“We’re trying to equip the community,” said Kwiatkowski.

The CTS section of the GCHC website (guelphchc.ca/cts) has been updated to include some information about the HART Hub transition, and links to additional resources.

Important to note is that the “Stay Sharp” program, which offers needle exchange services, will stay open; although, it’s unclear where it will be located.

“A needle exchange cannot be part of the HART Hub,” states a fact sheet on the website. “However, the HART Hub staff will be able to refer to harm reduction services, including Stay Sharp.”

Because the program has different funding than CTS, it will be maintained after the closure, it states. People are advised to go to guelphchc.ca/stay-sharp for program updates.

“We are working on creating easy referral pathways to Stay Sharp from the HART Hub,” the site states.

The harm reduction resources link also includes information about drug testing offered through the Wellington Guelph Drug Strategy group and a link to the National Overdose Response Service, which has a website and app people can use for “full service virtual safe consumption.”

Kwiatkowski said the goal is to maintain resources and referral pathways for clients.

While there are elements of the approval of the HART Hubs across the province that are good news, the hubs don’t provide all that is needed, Kwiatkowski said.

“They’ll provide different support to fewer people,” she said.

For many the services that CTS sites provide are an entry point into the continuum of care, she said.

“Now the doorway we have into the continuum is going to close,” she said.

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