Did you know, that in your immediate area, there are people working to make your neighbourhood a better place?

There are actually several established Community Neighbourhood Groups that are working together with partners to make your neighbourhood a strong and vibrant place to live, work and play. In the coming years, many more groups will be established to reach the entire geographical area of the City of Guelph.

As each neighbourhood in the city is unique and diversified in the make up of their residents, so to are their leisure and social needs. Community voices
in Guelph are strong, and the current neighbourhood groups and new groups being planned, will continue to ensure that a forum is available for those needs to be heard and addressed.

Each neighbourhood group is focused on building “healthy, vibrant communities.” They create a welcoming atmosphere for residents to share ideas and to solve problems together, while reaching common community goals through a consensus decision- making process. Each group is based on a vision of shared values and principles that are constantly evolving and reflecting the changing needs of each neighbourhood.

Established in 1990, Onward Willow became one of the first neighbourhood groups in the Royal City. Through its involvement in the Government of Ontario’s “Better Beginnings, Better Futures Project” this group, like many others, brought together residents to work together on building a better life for children, youth, and families and to improve the quality of life in their entire neighbourhood. Onward Willow offers various activities, from recreation programs to family lifestyle
support.

Onward Willow, along with community partners such as Guelph-Wellington Family and Children Services, established the “Shelldale Community Centre” in the
last couple of years. This centre offers a wide assortment of community resources, activities, programs and services for the neighbourhood and links
residents to various agencies offering additional support and services on and off the Shelldale site.

Over the last few years, several more neighbourhood groups were established in different parts of the city and each one works to provide a variety of services to that particular neighbourhood. Both the Brant Avenue and Kortright Hills Neighbourhood Groups were established in 1992 by residents who wanted to work
together to enhance the quality of life in their neighbourhood, making it a wonderful community for children and families and building a strong, caring
community spirit.

The Waverley Neighbourhood Group is made up of dedicated community members working to support children, adults and families, by providing social,
recreational, and educational programs. They also act as a resource, helping link people to other community agencies.

Parkwood Gardens Neighbourhood Group, which serves the area between Paisley Road and Wellington Road, came together in 1996 to address concerns of residents in their area. Their goals are to provide programs for youth, to raise funds for these programs, and to improve the sense of community in the Parkwood Gardens area.

In the last couple of years, the residents living in the Elizabeth Street and Victoria Road West Area came together to form the Two Rivers Neighbourhood Group.
This group, like the many already out there, is committed to making the area a healthy, safe community that provides opportunities for the social and personal development of all residents.

To help coordinate and support the efforts of Neighbourhood Groups, the City of Guelph’s Community Services Department is shifting to a “Community
Development Service Model”, and joins other agency partners as a primary sponsor in the development and support of neighbourhood groups.

Since 1997, neighbourhood groups along with various agencies, such as Family and Chidren’s Services, the Guelph Community Health Centre and Guelph Police Services and the City’s Community Services Dep’t., came together to form the “Neighbourhood Support Coalition.” This partnership works to strengthen and enhance program opportunities and to make your neighbourhood a better place for you, your family and all residents living in that particular area.

This unique partnership also works together to achieve mutual goals, share knowledge and expertise, and develop joint programs and collective action.

Strong neighbourhoods make our city attractive to potential business, industry and families. Without the support of the community, these unique neighbourhoods could not function and keep Guelph a magnificent place to live.

A teacher and consultant from Hamilton’s Mohawk College, who had never been to our city before and had a limited knowledge about us, was very impressed with how the Neighbourhood group model works here. He commented on how strong the support was from the City and community partners. He also said it is very rare to see that kind of support or structure in many cities that have adopted a community development model to make their neighbourhoods a better place for their
residents.

It is essential that we continue to support existing Neighbourhood Groups and future groups being planned in our City, through
both financial, and physical support to maintain a high quality of life in Guelph  and to keep your neighbourhoods safe, strong and proud.

I encourage new and long time residents to get involved with your local neighbourhood group. It is the best place where you can really make a difference and have an impact on how you want your neighbourhood to develop.

Information about each group is listed in the 2003 City of Guelph Spring and Summer Leisure Guide, on pages 106 to 112, which was delivered to your mailbox on March 14,. You can also contact a Community Services Dep’t. District Coordinator at 837-5625.

Help to implement positive change to your city, get involved and help make your neighbourhood an exciting, incredible and energizing place to live, work, and play!