It's a diverse ward that stretches from Downtown Guelph to the city's eastern border, and it's a ward that has an equally diverse slate of candidates in the upcoming election.
Eight people are running for council in Ward 1, the most candidates in any of the city's six wards. All eight attended a town hall meeting hosted by St. Andrew's Presbyterian Church Wednesday night.
The diversity of the ward is reflected in those candidates, who run the gamut from 60-something veteran councillor Bob Bell to a 19-year-old self-described "celestial body of chaotic gay energy" Jax Thornton.
Bell and Dan Gibson are the incumbents.
"This is my fifth time running for council and there are more quality candidates than there's ever been before," Bell said, "both in Ward 1 and across the city."
But despite that diversity, the candidates are hearing common themes at the door: speeding in residential neighbourhoods, the lack of amenities in the east end, the need to feel safe and housing affordability are concerns of Ward 1 residents no matter which part they live in.
Host Rev. John Borthwick posed a handful of questions to the eight candidates but there were no questions from the floor, as Borthwick said "we want to hear from you."
One of the questions was if elected, what is one thing you would take pride in achieving.
Thornton, who is focusing largely on an environmental platform, said that protecting groundwater from those profiting off it, then joked that they would like to make the Hillside Festival a municipal holiday.
Gernon said that developing the dormant Loblaws site in the east end would be a priority, so that residents there "don't have to drive everywhere."
Gibson said developing the IMICO site on Beverley Street and seeing the upcoming changes to the York Road corridor, in terms of additional retail, are high on his list.
Jamie Killingsworth looks forward to seeing the new main library built as his.
Barbara Mann spoke of the the right way to develop the city that would "encompass everything."
"No one's against intensification, they're against bad intensification. We need to slow down and focus on effective development," Mann said.
Bell also said that freeing up York Road for more retail development was his choice.
Charlene Downey said that addressing the housing crisis that the city has.
"There's no doubt about it, we need something now," Downey said, listing tiny houses and more accessory apartments as two of the possibilities the city should look at.
"We need to be proactive and solve our problems now," Downey said.
Heffernan said it was more of an "attitude thing" at city hall that he would like to see changed.
"Not 'how do I stop you,' but 'how do I get you where you want to be.'"
Borthwick had asked the candidates to talk about themselves and try to avoid talking about other candidates.
For the most part that request was adhered to, with the exception of one remark by Gernon.
Gernon said that Ward 1 has only had one councillor who was strong and active at council in the last four years, an apparent dig at Bell.
Earlier, Mann described herself as a "planning geek" and stressed the need to find ways of making the city's active transportation corridors and walkable neighbourhoods work.
Killingsworth spoke of understanding the various types of residents in the ward, and that a common sense approach was needed.
Killingsworth made two promises: to listen to constituents and, if elected, to only run for two terms.
"I believe you have to park your ideologies at the door," Killingsworth said of being on council.
Bell said that he has shown he is not a "tax and spend city councillor" and one who is an independent thinker.
Gibson listed several issues he has been at the forefront on during the recent term of council, including the York Road issue, IMICO redevelopment and the driveway bylaw file.
Gernon said the issues of Ward 1 are not currently being addressed at council and wants to change that.
Thornton spoke of the need to address issues that have long-term effect on the environment and that any council decision needs to consider that.
Mann said she will champion a "sustainable Guelph" where people bring their ideas and goals to council, not the other way around.
Downey said she feels winds of change and that the city is at a crossroads and wants to be part of that change.
Said Heffernan in closing, "I just want to be part of a culture change where inmates are not running the asylum."
