The Guelph Blueprint poster overlays white text and a bulleted list on a blue street map of Guelph, Ontario.

Blueprint for Guelph

Practical ideas for building a smarter, more affordable, more resilient city.

Guelph doesn't need another political platform. It needs a practical blueprint. Over the past 25 years I've spent my career solving complex problems, building partnerships, securing funding, and helping organizations turn ideas into reality. Along the way, I've also been collecting ideas about how our city could work better.

These are practical ideas for making Guelph more affordable, more resilient, and better prepared for the future. This isn't a list of promises. It's a blueprint that we can revise together to get it right.

Two orange and black Sierra traffic barriers mark road construction zone with barriers and power lines.

FIX THE ROOF

Infrastructure

Cities are like houses. Ignore maintenance long enough and everything becomes more expensive.

Publish an annual Infrastructure Report Card so everyone knows what needs fixing.
Replace aging water and sewer infrastructure before it fails.
Coordinate roads, pipes, sidewalks and utilities so we only dig once.
Invest in longer-lasting materials that reduce future maintenance costs.
Build climate resilience into every major infrastructure project.

Build Homes. End Encampments

Housing & Homelessness

Housing, homelessness, mental health and addictions are often connected problems. They need connected solutions.

Fast-track projects that deliver the housing Guelph actually needs.
Build enough supportive housing to eliminate the need for encampments.
Expand social housing for seniors, families and working residents.
Connect housing with mental health and addiction supports.
Build stronger partnerships with non-profits and senior governments.

Finished house with for-rent sign next to wooden house under construction with scaffolding and workers.

Dirt path through dense forest with tall trees and lush green canopy overhead.

Build Up. Not Out.

Growth & Green Space

Growth shouldn't come at the expense of the parks, farmland and natural spaces that define Guelph.

Focus higher-density development on land already designated for growth.
In-fill with multi-unit housing in existing neighbourhoods when possible.
Protect parks, natural areas and productive land from unnecessary development.
Build complete neighbourhoods where people can walk to everyday services.
Make growth pay for the infrastructure it requires.
Plan growth around long-term water and infrastructure capacity.

Make Every Project Do Double Duty

Climate & Sustainability

The best projects solve more than one problem at the same time.

Reward developments that exceed Guelph's sustainability goals.
Design infrastructure that also protects groundwater and manages stormwater.
Expand the urban tree canopy where it provides the greatest benefit.
Revitalize and retrofit heritage buildings whenever practical.
Look for climate solutions that also save taxpayers money.
Implement proven renewable energy solutions to supplement power supply.

Aerial view of suburban town with river, buildings, parking lots, and extensive green landscape under partly cloudy sky.

Modern building under construction with blue and white facade, orange machinery, and safety barriers on urban street.

Bring People Back Downtown

Downtown Revitalization

A healthy downtown is where business, culture, housing and community all come together.

Complete the Downtown Revitalization Project on time.
Commission the new library on time. Activate it with community programming immediately.
Improve safety through better coordination between police, outreach workers and health services.
Support businesses with responsive City services.
Encourage and expand festivals, events and year-round activities that activate downtown spaces.
Make downtown a place where everyone feels welcome.

Grow the Pie

Economic Development

The best way to improve affordability is to grow the economy before raising taxes.

Revive the Guelph Innovation Network to support entrepreneurs, innovators, and small businesses.
Expand film production, tourism and conference opportunities.
Strengthen partnerships with the University of Guelph and Conestoga College to create jobs for students, pilot innovative solutions, and launch more homegrown companies.
Attract innovative and cutting-edge industries that create high-quality jobs.
Better leverage City-owned assets, like the Guelph Junction Railroad and the Guelph Holding Company, to generate new revenue for special projects.

Red brick industrial buildings with tall chimney beside green courtyard with black metal railing.

Protect What Makes Guelph, Guelph

Parks, Heritage & Community

Growth should strengthen our community, not erase the places people love.

Protect parks and natural areas.
Preserve heritage buildings whenever practical.
Expand trails and community gathering spaces.
Plant more trees where they improve neighbourhoods.
Build complete communities that bring people together.

Turn Guelph Into Canada's Living Laboratory

Innovation & Partnerships

Guelph has the talent to become the city where tomorrow's ideas are tested and verified first.

Build stronger partnerships between City Hall, businesses, researchers and community organizations to drive project pilots.
Pilot innovative solutions before investing citywide. Scale successfully pilots smartly.
Use proven AI and cutting-edge technology to improve municipal planning, services, and operations management.
Share successful innovations with other municipalities.
Become Canada's leader in community-sized innovation.

Person wearing VR headset and safety vest interacts with holographic interface displaying digital data and analytics.

Aerial view of urban area with fall foliage, river, buildings, and surrounding forests under blue sky.

Make Growth Pay for Growth

Financial Stewardship

Growth should strengthen City finances, not create larger bills for future taxpayers.

Reward developments that reduce future infrastructure costs.
Ensure new growth contributes fairly to the infrastructure it requires.
Pursue provincial and federal funding aggressively.
Look for new revenue opportunities before raising property taxes.
Make long-term financial sustainability part of every major decision.

Run Buses Where People Ride

Transit & Mobility

Reliable transit is more important than bigger transit.

Measure success by reliability and ridership.
Increase service where and when demand is highest.
Design routes around how people actually travel.
Improve transfers and schedule coordination to reduce total ride time.
Invest where transit delivers the greatest benefit.
Connect new neighbourhoods on a priority basis.

Person sitting on metal bench at bus stop with yellow stickers on glass shelter.