An open house being held Saturday at the Public Works barns on 50 Municipal Street will give the general public a close-up view the big machines the department uses, while also celebrating the staff who use them.
The Public Works open house is an annual event that will cap off this year’s Public Works Week, a North America-wide celebration of the frontline workers who keep cities safe, clean and moving.
About 20 big machines will be on hand for the event on May 25, including snowplows, graders, front end loaders, transit buses and the city’s large forestry truck.
“They can get right up close to the vehicles and in the vehicles, if they want,” said Glen Ingles, Public Works supervisor with the City of Guelph.
Two large machines were parked in front of Guelph City Hall this week as a lead up to the event.
The event is a rare opportunity for people to get up close and personal with the big machines and is popular with kids, said Ingles.
“Parents can bring their kids — of course, anyone is welcome to come out and see the equipment we use and there will be lots of staff to ask questions to,” he said.
The event lets the public know more about what the department does, while celebrating the men and women working in public works in Guelph.
Ingles said the frontline staff take a lot of pride in their work and love to talk about it.
“It’s an opportunity for the frontline staff to directly interact with the general public and answer questions directly about that work that they do,” he said.
The event runs from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. and is free, just bring a non-perishable food item to donate to the Guelph Food Bank.
Also on Saturday will be open house events at the city’s Water Services at 29 Waterworks Place. Activities for children, demonstrations and popcorn will be on site.
A special shuttle bus will leave each location every 20 minutes, making a stop at the city's bus wash facility, which save 1,300 litres of water a day by using rain water.