Cadence students, current and former, rally to save alternative education program for at-risk youth
One of the more inspiring stories I had a chance to cover this year was the students who rallied to try and save the alternative education program Cadence, which was run out of HOPE House. Their effort was not successful, but I think something special happened when they all came together to work toward a common goal.
Cadence teacher Rob Conroy mans the barbecue at a fundraiser for the Cadence alternative education program. The fundraiser was organized by current and former students of the program for at-risk youth. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphTodayCanada Day tradition is a favourite for many (12 photos)
Working as a reporter, there has been a number of times I have been lucky enough to cover citizenship ceremonies. This year I covered one that was held during Rotaryfest and it happened to fall on Canada Day. If you were born in this country I highly recommend attending one of these ceremonies at least once to see the excitement and pride these new Canadians have for the freedoms many of us take for granted.
In the story I tried to also concentrate on some of the poeple who work behind the scenes to make this a successful event year after year.
New Canadians cheer after being told they have completed all required steps to gain citizenship during a ceremony held July 1 at Riverside Park. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphToday
Guelph Junction Railway: A Royal City success story (11 photos)
Spending a day covering the comings and going of the Guelph Junction Railway was a memorable assignment for me this year. I found it particularly interesting that there is an opportunity for the line to one day possibly carry a passenger service.
The GJR is one of only two municipally-owned railways in Ontario and city staff says it runs profitible year after year.
A OSR worker switches track on the Guelph Junction Railway in the Ward. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphTodayDo kids still fix up old cars before their 16th birthday? This Guelph teen did (6 photos)
This year I met Andrew, who was fixing up a Ford Mustang that was built 15 years before he was born. It seemed like the kind of project most kids these days aren’t interested in doing anymore and I found it interesting to see how much pride he took in his handiwork.
16-year-old Andrew Barker and his newly-restored 1990 Ford Mustang. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphTodayIt's official, U of G sets a world record
I don’t think I have ever had the opportunity to witness a Guinness World Record attempt first hand until this year. Witnessing the successful ‘world’s largest elephant toothpaste’ was a whole lot of fun.
Orbax raises his hand in triumph after a possible record-setting attempt by the University of Guelph Physics and Astronomy Club to create the world's largest elephant toothpaste. Kenneth Armstrong/GuelphToday