Sustaining Guelph

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.