The title of my speech today is Why Guelph?

I found myself here in mid May, for no other reason than the fact that I have always wanted for some reason to live here. I took the first apartment ad I found in the paper. And, I have been asking Why Guelph, of myself, and of other people ever since. And all the varying reasons I have accumulated are consistent in the fact that Guelph is great place to be!

Fellow Toastmasters,
The purpose of my speech today is to tell you Why Guelph for me.

1) The Arts and Music Community
How many people here have been to McClelland Art Centre?
I don’t know how many of you consider comics "art," but the proprietor of grooviest comic shop in all of Toronto was the one that told me Guelph has more comic book artists per capita than any other place he could think of.

2) The University. How many people saw the front page story on the Guelph Mercury last week where U of G was announced at the the top of Maclean’s list? My cousin got his phd from the University of Guelph, and in the course of his business he speaks to many, many horticultural professionals from around the world. I recently heard through him that University of Guelph graduates have a sincere and lifelong loyalty to their school that does not compare to students elsewhere. I myself have recently become associated with Equine Guelph, the world reknown part of the U of G, which is famous for its innovations, research and the association with the revolutionary vet techniques, in support of the health and welfare of horses, issues very close to my heart indeed. Just as a sidenote I am doing the grooming lesson you all helped me with at the Royal Agricultural Winter Fair, and I want them to support a Horseweek presentation during horse week at Creativity Greenhouse on Suffolk St. next May.

3) Happy Hillside!To mark my 36th birthday, I attended Hillside Festival for the first time ever. The event at Guelph Lake on the Grant River Conservation Area offered cheap, veggie food and a relaxed and respectful attitude, between people and towards the environment – i loved the uniquely canadian, communal and genteel vibe. Sitting there on soft Ontario Green Grass, listening to the fiddle and the banjo, I decided “I am celebrating my birthday this way every year for the rest of my life” this very festival, on this exact conservation area. Hillside felt like home to me, like an event and a place I am connected to.

The modest half day of music was first conceived by a small group of friends and born on the Hillside farm site, and then moved to the banks of the Speed River at the Riverside Park bandshell. It has more than survived, it has thrived. i agree with the board member who said it is "delightfully difficult to tell one Hillside from the other: each year has people dancing, having fun, listening to great music, playing with children and eating good food.”

Sue Richards who was the first ever paid Hillside employee wrote: Weapon of mass love comes out of the closet. "A pivitol decision based on blind faith, a passion for live music and a love of Guelph." She now maintains Blogguelph and more recently said she was drawn here because Guelph is a hive of creative genius.

A Few More Hillside Facts:
The very first program was a single sheet photocopy folding in half stating “music celebration for all ages (noon – 11pm), and in in 1987 it moved to the island and became a 3 day event
in 1989 hillside was named as one reason Guelph is on the “top ten places to live in Canada”
1990 the first map from out of town was provided
1991 was the first year for poets and hat bands (draw to see who plays together)
in 1996 acoustic guitar magazine ranked hillside as one of the top festivals in NA
in 2000 hillsde released a cd, featuring live tracks, a sort of musical snapshot
in 2002 weekend passes sold out, and in 2003 Hillside launched on-line ticket sales. last year they sold out on line so fast it caught everybody off guard.

Toastmasters, volunteers need to check in March. And tickets go on sale May 1st. Although I also heard there might be a few up for grabs this Christmas....

Is there any time left in today's presentation to play Take a Guess Which Toastmaster? I would like to read you some answers of Why Guelph:

"Well, I picked up Guelph quite randomly. I was sending applications to different universities across Canada for my graduate school. But somehow only the University of Guelph accepted me. I can't even find the place from a map of Canada that I bought from Shanghai. But when I first got here, I thought Woo, this is a place that I probably won't get tied of easily. I have been here for over 4 years now. Isn't that amazing?!"

"I choose Guelph as a lifestyle choice. In Toronto we realized if we wanted to buy a house we would have to work way too hard. I was also tired of the fast paced side of life and the constant traffic. I find people in Guelph friendlier and the community is more supportive and interested in the environment, arts and alternative health. All subjects near and dear to my heart."

"Away back at the beginning, I decided that I wanted to help charter a new Toastmasters Club. I asked District 60 for a lead and they suggested Peggy Nagle. I found that I met and worked with so many younger and interesting people here that I have belonged ever since. That means getting up at 5:15 am to drive from Georgetown AFTER getting up with five hours sleep. This is a wonderful bunch of people!"

"Why Guelph? The University. At first it was the distance between Guelph and my home. It was far enough that I didn't have to live at home, but close enough that if I want to go home I could. And the U of G isn't a huge university. My final choice was made after visiting campus and feeling the overall atmosphere--people were actually polite here."

"My answer to #1 is that I work here."

"I moved to Guelph quite by accident. My parents decided to move to a small town, thinking it would be a more beneficial place for three kids to grow up. At first, my schoolmates weren't friendly (they didn't like girls whose ambitions weren't getting married and making babies). These days, my small town has become somewhat more open-minded, and most girls who grow up there go on to college or university."

"Why Guelph? well... my mom went to university here, my two older sisters went to university here, i have family close by, so if i came here for school i wouldnt be as homesick... i wasn't, and now i live with my sister in guelph, so its even better!"