Community Investment

The Culture and Recreation department provides inclusive, safe and enjoyable recreational and cultural programming and opportunities for all community members. We manage, operate and program the City’s community facilities and spaces such as community centres and arenas, museum, performing arts centre and civic squares, as well as public art development. In addition, this department supports grant allocations, subsidy programs and community investment programs.

The department strives to meet and exceed the needs of the community through active engagement of residents and stakeholders, strategic partnerships, community outreach, volunteerism and events.

Under the Strategic Plan priority of Working Together for our Future, this team strives to attract and develop highly skilled professionals who work collaboratively internally and externally to deliver quality programs and services.

The work we do in this department also advances the Powering our Future priority by actively providing a diverse range of enriching cultural and heritage and recreational opportunities. These programs and services support economic growth while enriching the lives and health of our community.

We will continue to support the Sustaining our Future priority by delivering diverse programs and services that better the health and wellness of the community.

We are Building our Future when we invest in community and social services supporting overall community well-being. By providing opportunities for fair and equitable participation and belonging we foster civic connectivity and community vitality.

$1,089,287 or 17.3% net increase in budget due to:

• $34,400 increase in community benefits agreements and grants to incorporate cost of living index in accordance with the community benefit contracts.
• $360,000 to reflect the multi-year Community Investment Strategy grant program approved by Council in 2019, offset by transfer from reserve.
• Proposed one-time $350,000 for the extension of the Community Investment Strategy Emergency Grant to respond to effects of Covid-19 offset by transfer from the Tax Operating Contingency Reserve.
• $152,000 approved for Welcoming Streets ($91,000) and Addiction Court Support Program ($61,200) one-time funded from the Tax Rate Operating Contingency Reserve.
• $170,000 increase funding to the Guelph Neighbourhood Support Coalition one-time funded from the Tax Operating Contingency Reserve.
• Approved one-time $350,000 for the extension of the Community Investment Strategy Emergency Grant to respond to effects of Covid-19 offset by transfer from the Tax Operating Contingency Reserve.

$2,283,074 net budget increase mainly due to:

• Inflationary adjustment for community benefits agreement.