Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie turned a thrift-store surprise into a public chuckle after uncovering a dartboard with an image resembling his own face during a trip to Goodwill.
Mayor shares the find on social media
In a video posted to Facebook, the mayor sat in his car and described the discovery. He recounted visiting the store because he enjoys thrift shopping and, after browsing, found the novelty dartboard in the games aisle. Holding the wrapped item up to his face, he laughed and noted the board was priced at $10.
“This is hilarious. I just came out of Goodwill because I love going to thrift stores... It was 10 bucks... Someone made a dartboard with my face on it! I think this is me, right?”
Guthrie used the post to reflect on elements of life in office. He listed several unusual incidents he has encountered as mayor, including receiving a bag of dead flies in the mail, being the subject of graffiti and seeing numerous memes made about him. He said the dartboard was the most surprising souvenir yet and summed up his approach with two principles: take the issues seriously, but don’t take yourself too seriously.
Local reaction and public response
More than 130 people responded to the Facebook post. Many commenters applauded the mayor’s humour and the lighthearted way he handled the situation. Some rustled a laugh at the fact the dartboard had been donated to Goodwill after being created, while others reflected on the pressures of public life and the value of levity.
- Mayor found the dartboard while shopping at Goodwill.
- The item was wrapped in plastic and accompanied by two sets of darts; it had a $10 price tag.
- The Facebook post drew over 130 responses with many supportive, amused comments.
One social-media user pointed out the irony of the item being both manufactured and later donated to charity, noting that someone evidently decided they no longer wanted it and chose to pass it on. Another commenter thanked Guthrie for his public service and said a good sense of humour is indispensable in political office.
Context: public office and personal resilience
The episode offers a small window into the day-to-day realities of being an elected official in a mid-sized Ontario city. While municipal leaders routinely face criticism and public scrutiny, Guthrie’s reaction provides an example of a local politician adopting a jocular posture in response to attention that could otherwise be confrontational.
In his caption, Guthrie contrasted the occasional personal pranks and attacks with his professional responsibilities. He reiterated that elected officials must balance taking civic issues seriously while maintaining perspective about themselves.
| Item | Detail |
|---|---|
| Location | Goodwill (thrift store) |
| Price | $10 |
| Public reaction | More than 130 responses on Facebook |
The mayor also spoke briefly with CTV News about the find, saying he was relieved the dartboard had not been used. Beyond that remark, the episode remained a light moment that attracted local attention rather than controversy.
For many residents, the story is less about the novelty item itself and more about how local politicians navigate personal attention in the glare of public life. In Guelph, a city that bridges urban and rural perspectives across its neighbourhoods and surrounding townships, small, everyday moments like this can cut through partisan debates and remind voters of the people behind the office.
Whether the dartboard remains on display in an office, ends up donated back to charity or simply becomes a story told at council gatherings, the mayor’s takeaway was clear: keep focus on municipal priorities, but preserve a sense of humour along the way.
