The City of Guelph is reaching out to community members to take part in the Guelph Community Wellbeing Initiative (GCWI). According to their website,

“The Guelph Community Wellbeing Initiative (CWI) is a call to action. It’s part of a movement to make a better life together. 

We are starting with a simple conversation.  We want to bring together as many voices from all walks of life in Guelph to describe our future – a future where people care most about the things that matter in life – being safe, happy, healthy and feeling connected to the people and places around us.”

 

On June 28, Community Voices, a group of Guelph community members experiencing economic hardship, responded to this call to action and met to discuss wellbeing and provide input to the GCWI. They recently submitted a report based on their discussions, which is available here: Submission to the Guelph Community Wellbeing Initiative. 

Highlights from the report:

• The term “wellbeing” is unfamiliar, but further discussions helped members come up with a definition that involves personal feelings, basic needs, and the neighbourhood and environment you live in.
• Some of the things members love about Guelph include parks, recreation opportunities for children, community leaders, and diversity in neighbourhoods.
• Some of the things members don’t love about Guelph include lack of affordable housing, challenges with emergency food services, and lack of dental care for adults.