From The Editors

"Miracle' flight of Guelph bird touches readers

Posted by Phil Andrews

Our recent story about a Guelph parakeet escaping its warm house, flying into the January air and remarkably making it safely back home hours later has touched many readers.

This one offered a unique perspective for our newsroom as the bird co-owner was Mercury journalist Rob O'Flanagan, who also told the tale of his parakeet's great adventure and the rollercoaster of emotions it put his family through.

Rob has received a slew of messages about the story. One even shared that the bird was also seen in the No Frills parking lot by several people before it was gathered up elsewhere and taken to the Guelph Humane Society.

When I proposed Rob produce a story about his bird reunion experience, I suggested in jest that it might be a Q & A offering. It's unfortunate the bird's English is limited to a few phrases and that Rob doesn't speak parakeet. It seems Showki might have an incredible version of this story to share.

Off-leash dog walker column riles readers

Posted by Phil Andrews

Mercury column contributor Drew Edwards agitated many readers with his most recent column.

The opinion piece touted his frequent decision to let his dog go off-leash on nearby walking trails -- where dogs are to be leashed. It also categorized the types of responses and respondents he and his free-ranging pooch encounter on their outings.

The article has spurred some letters, a request for a retraction and some punchy email to Edwards directly.

To summarize the thesis of the feedback: dog walkers should obey the local leash laws and better respect that other citizens may really want them heeded as well.

One reader pointed out that the Edwards column appeared the same day as a news story about recent attacks by unleashed dogs upon leashed ones in Guelph.

A sample of the (miffed) reader input:

"You dog-owners can’t seem to understand that there are a significant number of people who don’t like dogs or dog-owners.  Both my wife and I are in this category.  I am not interested in even touching a dog let alone owning one as you suggest in your column.  We have a cottage on a private road and one of the rules is that all dogs are required to be on a leash.  Unfortunately, we have a number of people like you who don’t follow the rules.  Our cottage is at the end of the road and a lot of the people with dogs take a walk down to the end of the road in the evening to watch the sunset and to let their dogs have a crap.  Most of the dog owners don’t bother to pick up the crap because they consider it to be the great out-doors and you are no longer required to clean up after your dogs.  There have been a few people bitten by dogs on our road over the years—most of the time by the ones “that only want to be friends” or “they will never bite anyone”.  Why don’t you start keeping your dog off of private property and obeying the rules.  I would act just like the “stick man” you mentioned in your article and if you ever meet up with me, I hope you pick up a stick and try to attack me.  You might be in for a big surprise.  You sound like a first-class jerk to me."

Mercury web traffic in 2015

Posted by Phil Andrews

I've spent some time in recent days reviewing the online attention different Mercury stories received in 2015.

Here are some quick takeaways:

• The most viewed news/overall story last year was the initial report of the shooting at the Guelph General Hospital.
• The most viewed education story was the report of a local high school principal urging students not to dress "skanky" and the debate about so-called slut-shaming that followed.
• The most viewed City Hall-related story was the first report of the municipality seeking to bar public access to an unauthorized skating rink in the south end.
• The most viewed health story was an article about the Guelph General Hospital amending its policies related to inducing pregnant women.
• The most viewed letter to the editor regarded concern about the reported possible closure of facilities such as ARC Industries.
• The most viewed sports story was about the resignation of Guelph Storm coach Scott Walker.
• The most viewed community editorial board column regarded how local paramedics are dispatched.
• The most viewed business story was about a pending expansion of the Stone Road Mall.

RE: Does 'faking it' mean something different in Guelph?

Posted by Phil Andrews

I received some great responses to a column published Saturday where I pondered what Guelphisms have come to exist in local speech.

I have been advised that "The Avenue" is widely accepted in these parts for Waterloo Avenue.

I have been reminded that "The OR" refers to the old reformatory property here.

Also, a reader chuckled at how "the Merc" is a local idiom -- referring to the Guelph Mercury. (Ironic I missed that one.)

Injured dog photo use spurs feedback

Posted by Phil Andrews

A Guelph reader shared a concern about the manner that a photo of an injured dog was used online on the GuelphMercury.com Friday.

The image appeared with a story about dog attacks in the Whitelaw Road area and it was briefly the lead photo on the website.

Here is the feedback:

I am writing concerning the article found on the online version of the Mercury at: http://www.guelphmercury.com/news-story/6224231-off-leash-dog-attacks-noted-in-guelph-s-whitelaw-road-area/

I question whether the story needed to be accompanied by graphic photos of a dog covered in blood from what was described as a vicious attack.

If this is the case, I strongly feel that they should not have been displayed on the paper's main page, but should have been enclosed in the article body after a warning that the article contained upsetting and violent images.

***

The photo was also published by the Mercury on its Twitter and Facebook accounts.

The commentator declined an invitation for his feedback to form the basis of a letter to the editor for the newspaper's print edition.

James Franco's Guelph work has TV dates

Posted by Phil Andrews

So, if you're interested in seeing the James Franco mini-series shot in Guelph last year, it comes to the small screen next month.

Day one -- in Canada -- is Feb. 17

Guelph fans in the crowd

Posted by Phil Andrews

Guelph travel operator Destiny Tours has carved out a reputation for providing compelling annual packages connected to watching action at the World Junior Hockey Championships.

This year, Destiny shipped 526 fans to the event, in Finland. Among them were nine Guelph residents. Included in this post is a Destiny-supplied shot of the group taken Tuesday at the Hartwall Arena, in Helsinki, just before the event's Bronze Medal game.

 

 

New AD at U of G?

Posted by Phil Andrews

We're hearing that a new athletic director for the University of Guelph has been selected.

The U of G's most recent AD Tom Kendall retired late last year.

If it's true, perhaps the university is waiting until it's back in full operation, next week, to make the announcement.

There has been plenty of local speculation about who might fill the post -- including suggestions that ex-Gryphons coach and player and current Winnipeg Blue Bombers GM Kyle Walters might be targeted for it. Walters said he had no interest in leaving his current post when asked for comment about the rumour last fall.

Awaiting holiday-season mail

Posted by Phil Andrews

Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne had a 48,000-card distribution of her most recent Christmas card.

The image on the front of it is posted at the top of this post. Inside the card there were reportedly seasonal greetings in 31 different languages -- though I'm unsure if 'Merry Christmas' was among them.

I'm unsure because I wasn't among the 48,000 recipients nor was any member of the Mercury newsroom. I'm not greatly troubled over that development. It's just that I had been on the Christmas card list under the Dalton McGuinty premiership and I'm mildly puzzled over how or why I seemingly made the do-not-send/naughty list.

For what it's worth, if Liz Sandals sent 2015 Christmas cards this way, none have yet been received in our newsroom either. She/her office has previously had us on a X-mas card recipient list.

None was received from Lloyd Longfield yet too.

For the record, though I'm not wounded over not receiving the cards of these politicians -- if they were sent out --I can report warmly receiving holiday cards from Green Party boss Mike Schreiner, Wellington Halton-Hills MP Michael Chong and Wellington Halton-Hills MPP Ted Arnott.

 

 

A Guelph business with (fewer) Volvo parts

Posted by Phil Andrews

Local police services often report crimes at businesses in the area without identifying the business.

I get that there is a sensitivity to victimizing the business regarding negative attention that reporting such an incident might bring. I guess there may also be an interest in trying to safeguard the business from repeat incidents of this sort.

At times, however, it seems the effort to withhold the business identity is lost if one considers the context of the case and what has been made public by police.

On Tuesday, for example, the police reported an incident related to a break-in and theft at a Gordon Street business that saw at least 20 Volvo wheels pinched.

Perhaps that could be any one of many businesses. But me thinks it's most likely the Gordon Street business that's somewhat famous locally and outside the community for having a trove of Volvo parts available.