Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour

Episode 216: Housing Security in Guelph

On average, a Guelph home costs around $700K, and the rent for a two-bedroom unit is about $2,300.  These prices are well above the provincial definition of affordable (i.e. less than 30% of before-tax income).

Today, we welcome three voices from across the housing spectrum to address housing-related issues such as rent controls, the challenges involved in addressing the housing shortage, and the duty of developers to build affordable homes.

David Halls, a local realtor and philanthropist, shares his perspective on the home ownership market.

Gail Hoekstra is a housing and poverty advocate and executive director of Stepping Stone.  She outlines the roles of Transitional and Supportive Housing in Guelph.

Daria Allan-Ebron is the executive director of Family & Children’s Services of Guelph and Wellington County and the CEO of Kindle Communities Incorporated.  She explains how Family & Children's Services has stepped in to help those on the margins of society.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

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Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is always hot and the guests are very cool.

Episode 215: Municipal Update & Tax Time

This week on Breezy Breakfast our first guest is Guelph's Chief Administrative Officer, Tara Baker.  She outlines future directions for the City and shares her experiences after six months on the job.

It's tax season, and our guests Linda and Carol from the Willow West Village Community Co-op describe their work helping people file income tax returns.

Fun fact:  In 2023, volunteers helped over 900 people access over 3 million dollars in refunds.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Sign up here to receive our newsletters.

Breezy Breakfast:  we won't do your taxes, but you'll never have a taxing time.

Episode 214: Capturing Nature

This week, photographer Simon Bell takes us to Madagascar, where he was enchanted by the local flora, fauna, and community.

His work with Philosopher and Scientist Carl Sagan, with NASA on space photography, and his many journeys - to Madagascar, Costa Rica, and the Far East - demonstrate that Simon is a true Renaissance Man.

As the photographs and videos are not visible to our radio and podcast audience, please shut your eyes to imagine a Chameleon with a tongue longer than its body, the moons of Saturn, and waterfalls not too far from where you live.  Imagine the joy that Simon brings to school children as he advises them to “focus on nature”.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9 AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Sign up here to receive our newsletters.

Breezy Breakfast:  where this week, we learned: “look out, look up - it’s not just under your feet; it’s all around you.”

 

Episode 213: Update on Guelph's New Central Library

For decades, Guelph has been talking about building a new Main branch of the Guelph Public Library (GPL).

Today, we're checking out the information on the New Central Library, slated to open in the autumn of 2026.

Chapter One of this quintessentially Guelph saga begins with CEO Dan Atkins sharing the history of the New Central Library Project:  how we finally got here, the advocacy and public engagement campaigns, the determination of an appropriate size, and so on.  Fun fact:  both the Old Post Office AND the old Eaton's department store were contenders!  

We learn about various GPL Partnerships and Outreach Programs from Meg Forestell-Page, Manager of Public Service.  What do Partnerships look like?  With a bigger space, what sorts of new programming might be available?

As Developmental Officer, Kirsten Bester oversees grant applications and fundraising efforts.  How much fundraising is required for our new Central Library?

Our guests field questions about history, culture, archives, smudging, fundraising, programming, the continued importance of physical books in an increasingly digital age, and much more.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Sign up here to receive our newsletters.

Breezy Breakfast:  where there is so much food for thought we could fill a library!

Episode 212: Food Security, Tariffs, Survival

Food insecurity represents an uncomfortable reality for a growing number of residents in the City of Guelph.

Rising food prices lead to inevitable changes:  less fresh food and more processed food available, and fewer foodstuffs consumed overall.
This week, we hear from three local groups supporting food security in the Royal City.

Our guests are:

Barb McPhee from the North End Harvest Market,

Dr. Janet Wood of the Chalmers Centre,

Greg Kennedy outlines the value of the Ignatius Centre:  food for the body and soul.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Sign up here to receive our newsletters.

Breezy Breakfast:  healthy dialogues over healthy breakfasts.

Episode 211: Ontario's Oversalted Streets

March comes in like a lion at Breezy Breakfast.

Ontario uses over 2 million tonnes of salt every winter.  This excessive amount of salt has many deleterious effects on rivers, wetlands, infrastructure, and groundwater aquifers.

Dani Lindamood and Karen Rathwell - members of the Ontario Salt Pollution Coalition - explain the harmful effects of over-salting and the need for provincial legislation to reduce the amount of salt used during Ontario winters.

Among other topics, we discuss the astronomical insurance premiums paid by independent snow and ice removal contractors, public safety issues, and the long-term effects of salt on watersheds.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Sign up here to receive our newsletters.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Breezy Breakfast:  where our guests are always worth their salt.

 

Episode 210: History of the Ontario Reformatory

The Ontario Reformatory was built on 1,000 acres of farmland along the Eramosa River and was a self-sufficient prison farm.

Heritage advocate P. Brian Skerrett describes the compelling and complex history of the Ontario Reformatory.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Sign up here to receive our newsletters.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Breezy Breakfast:  where you can start your day with some hot coffee and local history.

 

Episode 209: Provincial Election, Local Community

Today it was standing room only at Breezy Breakfast!

It's election time in Ontario - the first winter election since 1886!  Well, except for in 1980, when the election was held on March 19th...

What do voters in Guelph need to know about this election? We recently heard from MPP and Green Party Leader Mike Schreiner, but this week we hear from Adam Donaldson, local political gadfly, who ponders on what this election means for Canada, Ontario, and Guelph.

Zooming in to the local level, we meet local business owner Matthew Forbes.

"La Poche" is a bar, barbershop, and co-working space.  It got flooded with water before being flooded with support through a GoFundMe page.  Matt expresses his views on community engagement and what makes Guelph so great.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3 FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Sign up here to receive our newsletters.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Breezy Breakfast:  where the coffee is as hot as the conversations, and voting is on the menu.

Episode 208: Bill 212 and Bike Lanes

In November 2024, Bill 212 - Reducing Gridlock, Saving You Time Act - was passed in Ontario.

In essence, this bill prioritizes vehicular traffic and the building of highways over all other considerations.  Highway 413 will be fast-tracked, municipalities will need to ask permission to replace vehicular lanes with bike lanes, and three existing bike lanes in Toronto will go back to cars.

 

Will this bill reduce gridlock?

What are the costs of implementing this bill?

 

Guests:

Mike Marcolongo of Environmental Defence

Alison Stewart of Cycle Toronto

Mike Darmon of GCAT (Guelph Coalition for Active Transport)

 

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Sign up here to receive our newsletters.
Join us in person 8 AM on Thursdays at DeBar (105 Wyndham St. N.)

Breezy Breakfast:  Where a warm breeze of public engagement keeps the coffee and passions hot.

Episode 207: Accessibility in the Arts

We covered accessibility in recreation a few weeks ago, but what about in the arts?

This week we highlight two organizations committed to arts accessibility in Guelph.

Michelle Peek from Art not Shame explains the importance of accessible spaces for all.  Everything from air quality to bariatric toilets helps to ensure that talented people of different abilities can create in a welcoming space.

Ashley Ferraro Kizis from Kidunified shares her passion to provide a space for all children.  Inclusivity involves accommodations for kids with autism, quadriplegia, and everything in between.

Several audience members share their experiences and perspectives on accessibility.

The Breezy Breakfast Radio Hour is broadcast Mondays at 9AM on CFRU 93.3FM.
Major props to the talent at CFRU for making us sound great.
Listen to our podcast on Spotify and Podbean.
Find us on Facebook at Breezy Breakfast.
@Breezy Bullhorn marks the spot on X.
Sign up here to receive our newsletters.

Breezy Breakfast:  Live every Thursday at 8 am at DEBAR, 105 Wyndham St. N. Guelph.

Where Guelph gets hot news with a hot breakfast.