GUELPH POLITICAST #28 - Sian Matwey, Community Organizer

The City of Guelph is full of wonderful, talented and inspired people that constantly strive to make the Royal City a better place, and Sian Matwey is one of them. In this episode of the Guelph Politicast, I talk to Sian Matwey about her efforts as a community organizer, working to develop projects like Murals of Hope, and the annual "Tie One On" campaign. 

For the last couple of years, Matwey and a group of volunteers have been tying scarves, hats and gloves to trees downtown so that if people needed one, they were there, and that came in very handy during the snowy, windy weather last week. All year 'round, Matwey co-ordinates Murals of Hope, a project to let young artists turn bland, boring walls into works of art. She's also become an advocate for transit use, encouraging city councillors and the mayor to take the bus more (and she's enjoyed some success on the issue). 

In our conversation, Matwey talked about all these endeavours, and the challenges and rewards they offer to herself and those participating. Of course much of that, like all local activism, is dependent on awareness, and in a twist of fate, Matwey and I met to record this podcast on the same day that the Guelph Mercury announced its closure. We also talk about how the loss of the daily local newspaper will affect her work specifically, and the work of community organizers in Guelph generally. 

Submitted for your approval is this week's edition of the Guelph Politicast.

The theme music for Guelph Politicast is provided by Crazy Pills and their song "Break It Down" courtesy of Free Music Archive.

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Remember that the Politicast Podbean channel is also the host for podcast versions of Open Sources Guelph. The previous Thursday's episode of Open Sources will be posted on Mondays.

Stay tuned for future editions of the Guelph Politicast.