I am proud of the way our community embraces diversity. The Multicultural Festival has celebrated the cultural diversity in our community for many years.  When there is an act of intolerance in our community, we are quick to speak out. Several members of our community have been recognized with a provincial Newcomer Champion award. And […]

After the 2010 election, I was interviewed by the Guelph Mercury.  Performance measurement had been a key plank in my election platform and they wanted to know how committed I was to reporting on “the good, the bad and the ugly”.  Doing business differently in the public sector is politically risky but as they say, […]

In an earlier post, I noted the need to update the Fireworks By-law to permit fireworks on Diwali. The Operations, Transit and Emergency Services Committee will consider a revised by-law at the May 6 meeting that proposes to do just that. Members of our community who celebrate Diwali will be present to introduce us to this festival.

The International Day of Persons with Disabilities aims to promote an understanding of disability issues and mobilize support for the dignity, rights and well-being of persons with disabilities. It also seeks to increase awareness of gains to be derived from the inclusion of persons with disabilities in every aspect of life. This year the United […]

A constituent e-mailed to note that the calendar that I have used to post information about important cultural and social dates has missed that December 3 is International Day of Persons with Disabilities.  More information can be found here. “The annual observance of the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, 3 December, aims to promote an […]

December – Universal Human Rights Month – The Universal Declaration of Human Rights (UDHR) was adopted by the UN in 1948 as a response to the Nazi holocaust and to set a standard by which the human rights activities of all nations, rich and poor alike, are to be measured.  Some of the Rights are: […]

Abu Simbel Festival (Egypt) – Built by Ramses II, his temple is angled so that the inner sanctum lights up twice a year: once on the anniversary of his rise to the throne and, once on his birthday.  Crowds pack in the temple before sunrise to watch the shafts of light illuminate the statues of […]