{"id":48,"date":"2026-02-23T13:03:49","date_gmt":"2026-02-23T13:03:49","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/ounra.org\/?page_id=48"},"modified":"2026-02-26T04:55:30","modified_gmt":"2026-02-26T04:55:30","slug":"what-we-do","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/ounra.org\/?page_id=48","title":{"rendered":"What We Do"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<style>\n.wwd-intro { font-size: 1.1rem; color: #333; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 2.5rem; max-width: 720px; }\n.wwd-intro strong { color: #2d5229; }\n\n.wwd-lead {\n  background: #2d5229; color: #fff; border-radius: 14px;\n  padding: 28px 32px; margin-bottom: 3rem;\n  font-size: 1.15rem; line-height: 1.8; font-family: Arial, sans-serif;\n}\n.wwd-lead strong { color: #a8d5a2; }\n\n.wwd-grid { display: grid; grid-template-columns: 1fr 1fr; gap: 20px; margin-bottom: 3rem; }\n@media(max-width: 640px) { .wwd-grid { grid-template-columns: 1fr; } }\n\n.wwd-card {\n  background: #fff; border: 1px solid #dde8d8; border-top: 4px solid #2d5229;\n  border-radius: 12px; padding: 24px 22px;\n  box-shadow: 0 2px 8px rgba(0,0,0,.06);\n}\n.wwd-card .card-icon { font-size: 2rem; margin-bottom: 12px; }\n.wwd-card h3 { color: #2d5229; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.05rem; margin-bottom: 10px; }\n.wwd-card p { font-size: .925rem; color: #555; line-height: 1.7; margin: 0; }\n\n.wwd-section { margin-bottom: 2.5rem; }\n.wwd-section h2 { color: #2d5229; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.3rem; border-bottom: 3px solid #e8f5e4; padding-bottom: 8px; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; }\n.wwd-section p { font-size: .975rem; color: #444; line-height: 1.8; margin-bottom: 1rem; }\n\n.wwd-action-list { list-style: none; padding: 0; margin: 0 0 1.5rem; }\n.wwd-action-list li {\n  padding: 12px 16px 12px 44px; position: relative;\n  border-bottom: 1px solid #f0f0f0; font-size: .95rem; color: #333; line-height: 1.6;\n}\n.wwd-action-list li:last-child { border-bottom: none; }\n.wwd-action-list li::before {\n  content: '\u2192'; position: absolute; left: 16px;\n  color: #2d5229; font-weight: 700; font-size: 1rem;\n}\n\n.wwd-cta {\n  background: #f0f8ee; border: 1px solid #c5e0c0; border-radius: 12px;\n  padding: 24px 28px; text-align: center; margin-top: 2rem;\n}\n.wwd-cta h3 { color: #2d5229; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; margin-bottom: .5rem; }\n.wwd-cta p { color: #555; font-size: .95rem; margin-bottom: 1.25rem; }\n.wwd-cta a {\n  display: inline-block; background: #2d5229; color: #fff;\n  font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: 700; padding: 12px 28px;\n  border-radius: 8px; text-decoration: none; font-size: 1rem;\n}\n.wwd-cta a:hover { background: #1e3a1b; }\n<\/style>\n\n<p class=\"wwd-intro\">OUNRA is not a passive organization. We show up, speak up and act on behalf of the residents of the Old University Neighbourhood. From city hall to community meetings, <strong>we are your voice in matters that shape where you live.<\/strong><\/p>\n\n<div class=\"wwd-lead\">\n  OUNRA provides <strong>frameworks for dealing with change<\/strong> \u2014 advocating for development that respects the neighbourhood&#8217;s heritage character, keeping residents informed on issues that affect their homes and streets, and building relationships with city officials that give our community a seat at the table.\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- ACTION AREAS -->\n<div class=\"wwd-grid\">\n\n  <div class=\"wwd-card\">\n    <div class=\"card-icon\">&#x1f3db;&#xfe0f;<\/div>\n    <h3>Planning &#038; Development Advocacy<\/h3>\n    <p>We monitor development applications and severance requests that could affect the neighbourhood&#8217;s scale, character and heritage. We participate in City of Guelph planning processes and present resident perspectives where it counts.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"wwd-card\">\n    <div class=\"card-icon\">&#x1f91d;<\/div>\n    <h3>City &#038; Councillor Relations<\/h3>\n    <p>We maintain active relationships with our Ward 5 city councillors and city staff. Every general meeting includes a Councillors&#8217; Corner where elected officials report directly to residents and answer questions from the floor.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"wwd-card\">\n    <div class=\"card-icon\">&#x1f4e3;<\/div>\n    <h3>Resident Communication<\/h3>\n    <p>We keep residents informed through our twice-yearly newsletter, general meetings and this website. When issues arise that affect the neighbourhood we mobilize quickly to ensure residents have the information they need.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"wwd-card\">\n    <div class=\"card-icon\">&#x1f333;<\/div>\n    <h3>Heritage &#038; Environment<\/h3>\n    <p>We advocate for the protection of the neighbourhood&#8217;s heritage character, tree canopy and green spaces. We have engaged directly with Hydro One, the City and other agencies on environmental matters affecting our streets and corridors.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"wwd-card\">\n    <div class=\"card-icon\">&#x1f5f3;&#xfe0f;<\/div>\n    <h3>Democratic Engagement<\/h3>\n    <p>We host municipal election candidate forums giving residents direct access to those seeking to represent them at City Hall. We have a long tradition of bringing Mayoral and Ward 5 candidates to our community.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n  <div class=\"wwd-card\">\n    <div class=\"card-icon\">&#x1f3d8;&#xfe0f;<\/div>\n    <h3>Community Building<\/h3>\n    <p>We bring residents together through engaging general meetings, guest speakers and community events. OUNRA is a place where neighbours meet, connect and work together on the issues that matter most to them.<\/p>\n  <\/div>\n\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- SPECIFIC ACTIONS -->\n<div class=\"wwd-section\">\n  <h2>Where We Have Taken Action<\/h2>\n  <p>Over more than four decades OUNRA has engaged on a wide range of issues affecting the neighbourhood:<\/p>\n  <ul class=\"wwd-action-list\">\n    <li>Participating in City of Guelph Committee of Adjustment hearings on development and severance applications<\/li>\n    <li>Engaging with the Town and Gown Committee on issues related to the University of Guelph and student housing<\/li>\n    <li>Advocating on city policy regarding severances and demolitions in established neighbourhoods<\/li>\n    <li>Organizing community responses to Hydro One&#8217;s vegetation clearing along the Cedar\/Water\/Hanlon transmission corridor<\/li>\n    <li>Engaging with city planners on Guelph&#8217;s Official Plan and growth strategy<\/li>\n    <li>Hosting provincial and federal elected officials to discuss housing, zoning and neighbourhood intensification<\/li>\n    <li>Participating in municipal election cycles through candidate forums and voter engagement<\/li>\n    <li>Advocating for the protection of the neighbourhood&#8217;s Heritage Conservation District designation<\/li>\n  <\/ul>\n<\/div>\n\n<!-- GET INVOLVED CTA -->\n<div class=\"wwd-cta\">\n  <h3>Get Involved<\/h3>\n  <p>OUNRA is only as strong as its engaged residents. Attend a meeting, join the executive, or simply stay informed \u2014 every resident&#8217;s voice matters.<\/p>\n  <a href=\"?page_id=41\">Contact Us to Get Involved<\/a>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>OUNRA is not a passive organization. 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