I wrote this article for "Guelph Sustainable Solutions" (www.guelphsustainablesolutions.com), published June 5th, 2013.
What Sustains Guelph for me?
What sustains Guelph for me is the fact that
my children know their hometown as a walkable place and a vibrant collection of
people that do things together. Their home town is so much more to them than a
scattering of houses, schools and stores, and it seems so important for children
to feel this way about their home.
On summer Saturdays we walk together downtown
to the City Hall splash pad (where they always meet countless friends), before
sharing cookies (for the kids) and coffees (for the parents) at a downtown cafe
over newly purchased books from an owner-run bookstore. On a Friday winter
evening we build ice-block sculptures in the downtown square during Fourth
Fridays. We walk along river paths in the spring and watch the nesting geese. Their
school trips travel to concerts at the River Run Centre, and to dairy farms
that are only a short bus ride away. They see community volunteers working
together to make great things happen – from Hillside Festival events, to Guelph
Humane Society education programs, to the Christmas tree pickup that supports
the Guelph Children’s’ Foundation.
I often think that Guelph is Canada’s largest
village – it certainly feels that way when you look at our community through
the eyes of a child. Even though we attract world-class arts, cultural and
sports events, the community is still small enough for a six-year old to
recognize the Mayor as “the lady with curly hair who is always smiling” - because
they have met on numerous occasions about town. Global industries thrive alongside
a growing culture of cross-sector entrepreneurs who know that creative
collaboration is the clearest path to success (and the most enjoyable one). We can
watch Hollywood movies at lavish theatres, or locally filmed documentaries at a
repertory cinema. OHL, or pond hockey? Tiger-Cats, or touch football?
Avant-garde jazz on Wyndham Street, or country music at the Ranch? A bustling
mall or a busy Farmer’s Market?
Guelph is a magnificent place to raise a
family because so much of the community operates as a family – doing its best
to be caring, nurturing, thriving, educational and fun. Like any family, you
get out of it what you put into it – but if your family embraces this community
enthusiastically, there is so much to be gained.
Rob McLean – Owner, Sociable Communications & Marketing, / Vice-Chair, Guelph Chamber of Commerce.
