While You Were Sleeping…
After the year it’s been in Guelph, it would
make sense that the Royal City would get one last lick in before the books were closed on 2009. Our
fair city made national news last week when one of the runners in the Olympic
torch relay fell while carrying the torch downtown during an apparent clash
between torch security, police and anti-Olympic protesters. There was a
galvanizing effect as a result of this issue as many junk-piled on the protesters
for either precipitating the clash or out-and-out tripping the torch bearer,
28-year-old Courtney Hanson from Milton. Arrested for assault was 19-year-old
from Kitchener, and before I go into the division of perspectives, can we at least
take a moment to find the oddity in a Milton woman being
tripped by a protester from Kitchener during the Guelph leg of the relay. Anyone?
Okay, so I think we can all agree that what
happened to Ms. Hanson was horrible. No matter how you feel about the legality
or morality of the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver, ruining a once in a
lifetime experience for someone, not to mention the thousands of people that
came out to share it with you at the crack of dawn,is the epitome of a dick
move. But having said all that, the exact details of the altercation are still
a little fuzzy as of the writing of this column. Some say it was a direct
provocation by the protestors to the torch’s security and RCMP escort, others
say that it was a crowding issue as tempers on all sides flared. Unfortunately,
nothing less than the Zapruder film equivalent of this incident will prove
anything one way or the other, and such evidence has yet to surface. Just
consider the whole thing proof that the wackiest stuff always happens when
you’re taking time off from your column.
Newsmakers of ’09 Named
The Guelph Mercury named their male and
female newsmakers of 2009 last week, and on the one hand the choices can almost
be taken as a case of David versus Goliath. The female newsmaker was Mayor
Karen Farbridge who was cited for a busy year that included the protest over
the Hanlon Creek Business Park, legal battles over waste processing and city hall, and a year end
budget crunch. “If I’m newsmaker of the year it’s
because of my role as mayor and spokesperson for council,” Farbridge said. “I
think (the honour) reflects a lot more on our CAO, council and senior staff who
support the spokesperson’s role.”
For male newsmaker of the year, the prize
went to Matt Soltys, one of the organizers of the
opposition against the HCBP. Soltys was also recognized for his work with local
groups like Groundworks and the Apple Seed Collective. “My hope lies in more
people recognizing the need for that,” Soltys said. “I think a lot of people
know very well the futility of always playing by the rules that are set out for
us.”
Countdown to Indecision 2010
Yes friends, 2010 is an election year, and
in October Guelphites will be asked to go to the polls and elect the next Guelph
city council and mayor. Nominations officially opened on Monday January 4,
but there’s already been speculation as to who amongst the current slate of
councillors will run again. Before the holidays, the Guelph Mercury talked to several
councillors and the Mayor about their re-election plans and their answer, for
the most part, was a definite maybe. Ward 1 Councillor Kathleen Farrelly said
that she’ll most like run so long as her health holds up, while Ward 6
Councillor Karl Wettstein says that he’s leaning towards running, but won’t
firm up his plans until March. Karen Farbridge said that she’s “obviously
giving (another run) serious consideration,” but has not yet dedicated herself
either way. If you’re interested in seeking local office, the list of
appointments and rules and guidelines for the nomination process are available
on the city website at http://guelph.ca/cityhall.cfm?itemid=78368&smocid=1594
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