The City of Guelph and University of Guelph will co-host this year’s Town and Gown symposium called “Trending to the Future: Open Communities.”

The three-day annual event, open to Town and Gown Association of Ontario members, will take place May 9 to 11 in Guelph. Members will attend workshops and the association’s annual general meeting, and hear from five keynote speakers, including U of G’s Sam Laban.

Laban, facilitator of the Guelph Lab within the Community Engaged Scholarship Institute on campus, will speak on insights from the Guelph Lab. A partnership between the City of Guelph and the University, the lab brings an innovative approach to solving complex problems in civic governance.

Delegates will discuss various topics including the following:

• housing challenges;
• the role of university, industry and government in economic development;
• a loaner bicycle program; and
• Safe Semester, a program launched by U of G and the city to keep students and the community safe during the school year.

Media are welcome to attend the events and discussions, which will take place at City Hall and the University of Guelph.