Guelph, Ontario
Encyclopedia
Guelph is a city in Southwestern
Ontario
, Canada
. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) east of Waterloo
and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) west of downtown Toronto
at the intersection of Highway 6
and Highway 7
. It is the seat of Wellington County
, but is politically independent
of it. Because of its low crime rates, clean environment and generally high standard of living, Guelph is consistently rated as one of the country's best places to live.. in October 2011, Guelph was noted as having the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.1%.
The name Guelph comes from the Italian Guelfo and the Bavarian-Germanic Welf. It is a reference to King George IV
monarch at the time of its founding (whose family was from the House of Hanover
, a younger branch of the House of Welf) and a tongue in cheek reference to the (then) ascendant German population in neighbouring Berlin
. (Guelphs
being the name given to the Italian factions who opposed the Ghibellines: they likes Holy Roman Empire
, the Ghibellines likes Kingdom in the 12th to 16th centuries).
Before colonization, the area was considered by the surrounding indigenous
communities to be a "neutral" zone. On selected dates members from these communities would meet and trade goods by the Speed River
.
Guelph was selected as the headquarters of the Canada Company
, a British development firm, by its Canadian superintendent John Galt, a popular Scottish
novelist who designed the town to attract settlers to it and to the surrounding countryside.
Galt designed the town to resemble a European city centre, complete with squares, broad main streets and narrow side streets, resulting in a variety of block sizes and shapes which is still in place today. The street plan was designed to resemble a lady's fan, many of the streets forming triangles (the segments of the fan). This technique had been used in other planned towns such as Buffalo, New York
.
John Galt, the first superintendent of the Canada Company, established Guelph in 1827 to serve as the company's headquarters during the development of the Huron Tract. The town later came into its own as a prosperous railway and industrial centre. Guelph was founded on St. George's Day, April 23, 1827, the feast day of the patron saint
of England
. The town was named to honour Britain's royal family, the Hanoverians, who were descended from the Guelfs, the ancestral family of George IV
, the reigning British monarch; thus the nickname The Royal City. The directors of the Canada Company had actually wanted the city to be named Goderich
, but reluctantly accepted the fait accompli.
Guelph was the home of North America's first cable TV system. Ted Metcalfe created McLean Hunter Television and their first broadcast was Queen Elizabeth's Coronation in 1953.
Guelph's police force had Canada's first municipal motorcycle patrol. Chief Ted Lamb brought back an army motorcycle he used during the First World War. Motorcycles were faster and more efficient than walking.
The city is home to the University of Guelph
and Sleeman Breweries Ltd.. The Ontario Agricultural College
(OAC), the oldest part of University of Guelph, began in 1873 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto
.
Guelph is home to three National Historic Sites of Canada: the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, McCrae House
and Old City Hall.
s and buried waterways, the most famous being an underground creek flowing below the Albion Hotel, once the source of water used to brew beer.
Manufacturing is the leading sector, accounting for 24.3% of employment (2006 census). The second largest industry is Educational services, accounting for 11.3%.
26.1% (90/345) of business in the manufacturing industry are categorized as Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing businesses.
The City of Guelph's Economic Development Strategy identified life science, agri-food and biotechnology firms, environmental management and technology companies as growth industries on which to focus economic development activities.
Guelph's 3 largest employers include Linamar
(8000), the University of Guelph
(3700), and the Upper Grand District School Board
(3400).
Guelph is the fifth fastest growing city in Canada with a population growth rate of about 2% per year. Guelph's population according to the Ontario Places to Grow plan is projected to be about 144,500 by the year 2021. Population varies throughout the year because of variations in the University of Guelph student population.
The 2001 census indicates 114,943 people residing in Guelph, of whom 49.1% were male and 50.9% were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 6.2% of the resident population of Guelph, whereas 12.2% of the resident population in Guelph were of retirement age. The average age is 35.7 years of age. In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the population of Guelph grew by 10.7%. Population density of Guelph averaged 310.1 people per square kilometre.
Historically, Guelph's population has been principally British
in origin, with 92% in 1880 and 87% in 1921.
Now, some 10 percent of the resident population described themselves as visible minorities, predominantly South Asian mostly of Afghan, Indian and Pakistani origin: 2.43%, Chinese
: 2.42%, Black Canadian
/African Canadians: 1.25%, and many others including Filipino and Vietnamese. The city is mostly Christian
: 74.17%, almost evenly split among Protestants and Roman Catholics. The largest non-Christian religion is Buddhism
: 1.45%, followed by Hinduism
.
administers all of Wellington County, as well as adjacent Dufferin County, while the Wellington Catholic District School Board
administers Catholic education in Wellington County, including Guelph. The Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud offers French First language education for students with parents who had elementary and secondary education in French at École Saint-René-Goupil. The Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest, with similar entrance requirements, operates the École élémentaire L'Odyssée.There are also numerous private schools in Guelph: Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Christian School, Crestwicke Christian Academy, Guelph Community Christian School, Guelph Montessori School, Trillium Waldorf School, Wellington Hall Academy, and Wellington Montessori School, Echo Montessori. None of Guelph's schools offer the International Baccalaureate Program, compared to surrounding cities such as Kitchener and Waterloo.
Public:
Catholic:
Although a private library had existed since 1832, a public library did not exist in Guelph until 1882, when the Free Libraries Act allowed municipalities to operate libraries. After occupying premises near City Hall, it moved into an Andrew Carnegie-funded
building in 1905, which was eventually demolished in 1964. The current main branch building was opened in 1965.
Guelph is served by a growing library system composed of a main branch located in the downtown
core, five branches and a Bookmobile
. It holds a membership of over 85,000, the Guelph Public Library system's goals include preserving and indexing public materials relating to the history of Guelph. Although no formal program has been developed, the library acquires municipal records of archival value from the City of Guelph.
The city is a single-tier municipality governed by a mayor-council system. The structure of the municipal government is stipulated by the Ontario Municipal Act
of 2001. There are currently 12 councillors and a mayor, with 2 councillors representing each of the six wards.
The mayor and members of the city council serve four-year terms without term limits, with the next election in November 2010. Prior to the 2006 election
, the mayor and city councillors served three-year terms.
Guelph City Council
is responsible for policy and decision making, monitoring the operation and performance of the city, analyzing and approving budgets and determining spending priorities.
In 2010, Karen Farbridge
defeated former councillor David Birtwistle, 54% to 38% for the mayor position. 8 incumbent councillors were re-elected, 4 rookie councillors were elected, 2 incumbents were defeated, 2 did not seek re-election.
by Liz Sandals
, a member of the ruling Ontario Liberal Party
.
of the Parliament of Canada
by Frank Valeriote
of the Liberal Party of Canada
since 2008.
and Eramosa River.
, Guelph has been a source of musical contribution. Today, Guelph is particularly notable for its indie rock
scene, which has spawned some of Canada's more notable indie bands. Guelph is also home to the Hillside Festival, a hugely popular music festival held at nearby Guelph Lake
during the summer, as well as the Guelph Jazz Festival.
provides local transportation around the city. On June 20, 2007, Guelph Transit launched a web-based system known as Next Bus. Global positioning satellites (GPS) technology and advanced computer modelling provide riders via the Internet
, handheld device
s (including Palms, Blackberries
, and Web-capable cellular phones), or their telephones to receive accurate, real-time arrival and departure information. Intercity connections are made at the Guelph Bus Terminal
.
GO Transit
also provides service to both the University and the city's bus station via rapid transit buses.
Guelph was the first municipality in Canada to have its own federally chartered railway, the Guelph Junction Railway
. This 16-mile link to the CPR is still municipally owned.
The following is cited from the 2010 community profile:
"Guelph is also served by both the Canadian National Railway
and the Canadian Pacific Railway
.
The City's own Guelph Junction Railway provides industry with freight handling facilities and
connections to CNR and CPR. Via Rail provides inter‐city passenger rail service. Plans are
underway to bring Go Rail commuter service to Guelph."
Southwestern Ontario
Southwestern Ontario is a subregion of Southern Ontario in the Canadian province of Ontario, centred on the city of London. It extends north to south from the Bruce Peninsula on Lake Huron to the Lake Erie shoreline, and east to south-west roughly from Guelph to Windsor. The region had a population...
Ontario
Ontario
Ontario is a province of Canada, located in east-central Canada. It is Canada's most populous province and second largest in total area. It is home to the nation's most populous city, Toronto, and the nation's capital, Ottawa....
, Canada
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
. Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly 28 kilometres (17.4 mi) east of Waterloo
Waterloo, Ontario
Waterloo is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It is the smallest of the three cities in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, and is adjacent to the city of Kitchener....
and 100 kilometres (62.1 mi) west of downtown Toronto
Toronto
Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...
at the intersection of Highway 6
Highway 6 (Ontario)
King's Highway 6, also known as Highway 6, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It crosses a distance of between Port Dover on the north shore of Lake Erie and Espanola on the northern shore of Lake Huron, ending at the Trans-Canada Highway in McKerrow.- Port...
and Highway 7
Highway 7 (Ontario)
King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
. It is the seat of Wellington County
Wellington County, Ontario
Wellington County is a county located in Southwestern Ontario, Canada. The county seat is Guelph, a city which is politically independent, but Guelph's status as the seat means it houses the county's administrative offices...
, but is politically independent
Independent city
An independent city is a city that does not form part of another general-purpose local government entity. These type of cities should not be confused with city-states , which are fully sovereign cities that are not part of any other sovereign state.-Historical precursors:In the Holy Roman Empire,...
of it. Because of its low crime rates, clean environment and generally high standard of living, Guelph is consistently rated as one of the country's best places to live.. in October 2011, Guelph was noted as having the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.1%.
The name Guelph comes from the Italian Guelfo and the Bavarian-Germanic Welf. It is a reference to King George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
monarch at the time of its founding (whose family was from the House of Hanover
House of Hanover
The House of Hanover is a deposed German royal dynasty which has ruled the Duchy of Brunswick-Lüneburg , the Kingdom of Hanover, the Kingdom of Great Britain, the Kingdom of Ireland and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland...
, a younger branch of the House of Welf) and a tongue in cheek reference to the (then) ascendant German population in neighbouring Berlin
Kitchener, Ontario
The City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
. (Guelphs
Guelphs and Ghibellines
The Guelphs and Ghibellines were factions supporting the Pope and the Holy Roman Emperor, respectively, in central and northern Italy. During the 12th and 13th centuries, the split between these two parties was a particularly important aspect of the internal policy of the Italian city-states...
being the name given to the Italian factions who opposed the Ghibellines: they likes Holy Roman Empire
Holy Roman Empire
The Holy Roman Empire was a realm that existed from 962 to 1806 in Central Europe.It was ruled by the Holy Roman Emperor. Its character changed during the Middle Ages and the Early Modern period, when the power of the emperor gradually weakened in favour of the princes...
, the Ghibellines likes Kingdom in the 12th to 16th centuries).
History
Indigenous peoples of the Americas
The indigenous peoples of the Americas are the pre-Columbian inhabitants of North and South America, their descendants and other ethnic groups who are identified with those peoples. Indigenous peoples are known in Canada as Aboriginal peoples, and in the United States as Native Americans...
communities to be a "neutral" zone. On selected dates members from these communities would meet and trade goods by the Speed River
Speed River
The Speed River is a river that flows through Wellington County and the Region of Waterloo in western Ontario, Canada. It flows south from its source near Orton, through Guelph, where it is joined by the Eramosa River, then through the towns of Hespeler and Preston, finally uniting with the Grand...
.
Guelph was selected as the headquarters of the Canada Company
Canada Company
The Canada Company was a large private chartered British land development company, incorporated by an act of British parliament on July 27, 1825, to aid the colonization of Upper Canada. Canada Company assisted emigrants by providing good ships, low fares, implements and tools,and inexpensive land....
, a British development firm, by its Canadian superintendent John Galt, a popular Scottish
Scotland
Scotland is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. Occupying the northern third of the island of Great Britain, it shares a border with England to the south and is bounded by the North Sea to the east, the Atlantic Ocean to the north and west, and the North Channel and Irish Sea to the...
novelist who designed the town to attract settlers to it and to the surrounding countryside.
Galt designed the town to resemble a European city centre, complete with squares, broad main streets and narrow side streets, resulting in a variety of block sizes and shapes which is still in place today. The street plan was designed to resemble a lady's fan, many of the streets forming triangles (the segments of the fan). This technique had been used in other planned towns such as Buffalo, New York
Buffalo, New York
Buffalo is the second most populous city in the state of New York, after New York City. Located in Western New York on the eastern shores of Lake Erie and at the head of the Niagara River across from Fort Erie, Ontario, Buffalo is the seat of Erie County and the principal city of the...
.
John Galt, the first superintendent of the Canada Company, established Guelph in 1827 to serve as the company's headquarters during the development of the Huron Tract. The town later came into its own as a prosperous railway and industrial centre. Guelph was founded on St. George's Day, April 23, 1827, the feast day of the patron saint
Patron saint
A patron saint is a saint who is regarded as the intercessor and advocate in heaven of a nation, place, craft, activity, class, clan, family, or person...
of England
England
England is a country that is part of the United Kingdom. It shares land borders with Scotland to the north and Wales to the west; the Irish Sea is to the north west, the Celtic Sea to the south west, with the North Sea to the east and the English Channel to the south separating it from continental...
. The town was named to honour Britain's royal family, the Hanoverians, who were descended from the Guelfs, the ancestral family of George IV
George IV of the United Kingdom
George IV was the King of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland and also of Hanover from the death of his father, George III, on 29 January 1820 until his own death ten years later...
, the reigning British monarch; thus the nickname The Royal City. The directors of the Canada Company had actually wanted the city to be named Goderich
Goderich, Ontario
Goderich is a town in the Canadian province of Ontario and is the county seat of Huron County. The town was founded by William "Tiger" Dunlop in 1827. First laid out in 1828, the town is named after Frederick John Robinson, 1st Viscount Goderich, who was British prime minister at the time. The town...
, but reluctantly accepted the fait accompli.
Guelph was the home of North America's first cable TV system. Ted Metcalfe created McLean Hunter Television and their first broadcast was Queen Elizabeth's Coronation in 1953.
Guelph's police force had Canada's first municipal motorcycle patrol. Chief Ted Lamb brought back an army motorcycle he used during the First World War. Motorcycles were faster and more efficient than walking.
The city is home to the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
and Sleeman Breweries Ltd.. The Ontario Agricultural College
Ontario Agricultural College
The Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
(OAC), the oldest part of University of Guelph, began in 1873 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto
University of Toronto
The University of Toronto is a public research university in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, situated on the grounds that surround Queen's Park. It was founded by royal charter in 1827 as King's College, the first institution of higher learning in Upper Canada...
.
Guelph is home to three National Historic Sites of Canada: the Church of Our Lady Immaculate, McCrae House
McCrae House
McCrae House, located in Guelph, Ontario, is the birthplace of John McCrae , doctor, soldier and author of the famous First World War poem "In Flanders Fields". The house is a National Historic Site of Canada.-History:...
and Old City Hall.
Topography and water courses
Downtown Guelph is situated above the confluence of the Speed and Eramosa, which have numerous tributaries. The Speed River enters from the north and the Eramosa River from the east; the two rivers meet below downtown and continue southwest. There are also many creeks and rivers creating large tracts of densely forested ravines, and providing ideal sites for parks and recreational trails. The city is built on many drumlinDrumlin
A drumlin, from the Irish word droimnín , first recorded in 1833, is an elongated whale-shaped hill formed by glacial ice acting on underlying unconsolidated till or ground moraine.-Drumlin formation:...
s and buried waterways, the most famous being an underground creek flowing below the Albion Hotel, once the source of water used to brew beer.
Climate
The weather and climate of that region of Ontario is moderate in both summer and winter.Economy
Guelph boosts the economy from various sectors. This diversity has helped Guelph obtain the lowest unemployment rate in the country at 4.2%Manufacturing is the leading sector, accounting for 24.3% of employment (2006 census). The second largest industry is Educational services, accounting for 11.3%.
26.1% (90/345) of business in the manufacturing industry are categorized as Fabricated Metal Product Manufacturing businesses.
The City of Guelph's Economic Development Strategy identified life science, agri-food and biotechnology firms, environmental management and technology companies as growth industries on which to focus economic development activities.
Guelph's 3 largest employers include Linamar
Linamar
Based in Guelph, Ontario, Linamar Corporation is Canada's second largest automobile parts manufacturer after Magna International. Linamar manufactures and supplies automotive and industrial markets across the globe with numerous manufacturing centres across North America, Europe, and Asia.The...
(8000), the University of Guelph
University of Guelph
The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
(3700), and the Upper Grand District School Board
Upper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board is a school board in Ontario, Canada. It spans an area of 4211 km² and covers the regions of Dufferin County, Wellington County and the City of Guelph, in the region to the west and north of Toronto....
(3400).
Demographics
| Census | Population |
|---|---|
| 1841 | 1,240 |
| 1851 | 1,860 |
| 1871 | 6,878 |
| 1881 | 9,890 |
| 1891 | 10,537 |
| 1901 | 11,496 |
| 1911 | 15,175 |
| 1921 | 18,128 |
| 1931 | 21,075 |
| 1941 | 23,074 |
| 1951 | 27,386 |
| 1961 | 39,838 |
| 1971 | 60,087 |
| 1981 | 71,207 |
| 1991 | 87,976 |
| 2001 | 106,170 |
| 2006 | 114,943 |
Guelph is the fifth fastest growing city in Canada with a population growth rate of about 2% per year. Guelph's population according to the Ontario Places to Grow plan is projected to be about 144,500 by the year 2021. Population varies throughout the year because of variations in the University of Guelph student population.
The 2001 census indicates 114,943 people residing in Guelph, of whom 49.1% were male and 50.9% were female. Children under five accounted for approximately 6.2% of the resident population of Guelph, whereas 12.2% of the resident population in Guelph were of retirement age. The average age is 35.7 years of age. In the five years between 1996 and 2001, the population of Guelph grew by 10.7%. Population density of Guelph averaged 310.1 people per square kilometre.
| Ethnic Origin | Population | Percent |
|---|---|---|
| English English people The English are a nation and ethnic group native to England, who speak English. The English identity is of early mediaeval origin, when they were known in Old English as the Anglecynn. England is now a country of the United Kingdom, and the majority of English people in England are British Citizens... |
36,975 | 31.93% |
| Canadian Canada Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean... |
36,845 | 31.82% |
| Scottish Scottish people The Scottish people , or Scots, are a nation and ethnic group native to Scotland. Historically they emerged from an amalgamation of the Picts and Gaels, incorporating neighbouring Britons to the south as well as invading Germanic peoples such as the Anglo-Saxons and the Norse.In modern use,... |
27,875 | 24.07% |
| Irish Irish people The Irish people are an ethnic group who originate in Ireland, an island in northwestern Europe. Ireland has been populated for around 9,000 years , with the Irish people's earliest ancestors recorded having legends of being descended from groups such as the Nemedians, Fomorians, Fir Bolg, Tuatha... |
24,445 | 21.11% |
| German | 14,505 | 12.52% |
| Italian Italian people The Italian people are an ethnic group that share a common Italian culture, ancestry and speak the Italian language as a mother tongue. Within Italy, Italians are defined by citizenship, regardless of ancestry or country of residence , and are distinguished from people... |
11,135 | 9.61% |
Historically, Guelph's population has been principally British
British people
The British are citizens of the United Kingdom, of the Isle of Man, any of the Channel Islands, or of any of the British overseas territories, and their descendants...
in origin, with 92% in 1880 and 87% in 1921.
Now, some 10 percent of the resident population described themselves as visible minorities, predominantly South Asian mostly of Afghan, Indian and Pakistani origin: 2.43%, Chinese
Han Chinese
Han Chinese are an ethnic group native to China and are the largest single ethnic group in the world.Han Chinese constitute about 92% of the population of the People's Republic of China , 98% of the population of the Republic of China , 78% of the population of Singapore, and about 20% of the...
: 2.42%, Black Canadian
Black Canadian
'Black Canadians is a designation used for people of Black African descent, who are citizens or permanent residents of Canada. The term specifically refers to Canadians with Sub-Saharan African ancestry. The majority of Black Canadians are of Caribbean origin...
/African Canadians: 1.25%, and many others including Filipino and Vietnamese. The city is mostly Christian
Christian
A Christian is a person who adheres to Christianity, an Abrahamic, monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth as recorded in the Canonical gospels and the letters of the New Testament...
: 74.17%, almost evenly split among Protestants and Roman Catholics. The largest non-Christian religion is Buddhism
Buddhism
Buddhism is a religion and philosophy encompassing a variety of traditions, beliefs and practices, largely based on teachings attributed to Siddhartha Gautama, commonly known as the Buddha . The Buddha lived and taught in the northeastern Indian subcontinent some time between the 6th and 4th...
: 1.45%, followed by Hinduism
Hinduism
Hinduism is the predominant and indigenous religious tradition of the Indian Subcontinent. Hinduism is known to its followers as , amongst many other expressions...
.
Education
There are two public school boards that operate inside the city. The Upper Grand District School BoardUpper Grand District School Board
The Upper Grand District School Board is a school board in Ontario, Canada. It spans an area of 4211 km² and covers the regions of Dufferin County, Wellington County and the City of Guelph, in the region to the west and north of Toronto....
administers all of Wellington County, as well as adjacent Dufferin County, while the Wellington Catholic District School Board
Wellington Catholic District School Board
The Wellington Catholic District School Board is a school board in Ontario, Canada, serving the students of the City of Guelph and Wellington County...
administers Catholic education in Wellington County, including Guelph. The Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud offers French First language education for students with parents who had elementary and secondary education in French at École Saint-René-Goupil. The Conseil scolaire de district du Centre-Sud-Ouest, with similar entrance requirements, operates the École élémentaire L'Odyssée.There are also numerous private schools in Guelph: Cornerstone Canadian Reformed Christian School, Crestwicke Christian Academy, Guelph Community Christian School, Guelph Montessori School, Trillium Waldorf School, Wellington Hall Academy, and Wellington Montessori School, Echo Montessori. None of Guelph's schools offer the International Baccalaureate Program, compared to surrounding cities such as Kitchener and Waterloo.
Secondary schools
Due to the presence of two different school boards, Guelph has numerous elementary and secondary schools. The secondary schools are as follows:Public:
- Centennial C.V.I.Centennial Collegiate Vocational InstituteCentennial C.V.I. is a secondary high school located in Ward Five of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Centennial offers many programs at their facilities, including: Science, Math, English, French, Latin, and Japanese. The school colours are gold and purple....
- College Heights C.V.I.College Heights Collegiate Vocational InstituteCollege Heights Secondary School is a public high school located in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It is part of the Upper Grand District School Board.-History:...
- Guelph C.V.I.Guelph Collegiate Vocational InstituteThe Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute is a public high school located in the city of Guelph, Ontario, Canada...
- John F. Ross C.V.I.John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational InstituteJohn F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute is a Grades 9-12 public secondary school in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Upper Grand District School Board.-History:...
Catholic:
- Our Lady of Lourdes C.H.S.Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High SchoolOur Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School is a Grades 9–12 catholic secondary school in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and is part of the Wellington Catholic District School Board.-History:...
- Saint James C.H.S.Saint James Catholic High SchoolSt. James Catholic High School is a Grade 9 to 12 Catholic secondary school located in Guelph, Ontario and is part of the Wellington Catholic District School Board.- History :...
- Bishop Macdonell C.H.S.Bishop Macdonell Catholic High SchoolBishop Macdonell Catholic High School is a Catholic high school located in the south end of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It is one of the three high schools in the Wellington Catholic District School Board, all of which are located within the city limits of Guelph.- History :Originally, this school was...
Post-secondary institutions
- University of GuelphUniversity of GuelphThe University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College...
, one of Canada's top comprehensive universities, and home to the Ontario Agricultural CollegeOntario Agricultural CollegeThe Ontario Agricultural College originated at the agricultural laboratories of the Toronto Normal School, and was officially founded in 1874 as an associate agricultural college of the University of Toronto...
and the Ontario Veterinary CollegeOntario Veterinary CollegeThe Ontario Veterinary College is the oldest and one of the most well known veterinary school in Canada and North America. It is located on the campus of the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario...
. - Conestoga CollegeConestoga CollegeThe Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning is a public college based in Kitchener, Ontario in Canada.-History:The College was founded in 1967 as the Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology, one of many such institutions established in that time by the Ontario...
has a small campus in Guelph.
Public library system
Carnegie library
A Carnegie library is a library built with money donated by Scottish-American businessman and philanthropist Andrew Carnegie. 2,509 Carnegie libraries were built between 1883 and 1929, including some belonging to public and university library systems...
building in 1905, which was eventually demolished in 1964. The current main branch building was opened in 1965.
Guelph is served by a growing library system composed of a main branch located in the downtown
Downtown Guelph
Downtown Guelph is the heart of the city of Guelph, Ontario. It is bordered by Wellington St. E. to the south, Woolwich St. to the East, Dublin St. to the west and Norwich St. to the North. Downtown Guelph is known for its distinctive limestone architecture and heritage buildings.-History:John...
core, five branches and a Bookmobile
Bookmobile
A bookmobile or mobile library is a large vehicle designed for use as a library. It is designed to hold books on shelves so that when the vehicle is parked the books can be accessed by readers. It usually has enough space for people to sit and read books inside. Mobile libraries are often used to...
. It holds a membership of over 85,000, the Guelph Public Library system's goals include preserving and indexing public materials relating to the history of Guelph. Although no formal program has been developed, the library acquires municipal records of archival value from the City of Guelph.
Municipal
Ontario Municipal Act
Ontario's Municipal Act, 2001 is the main statute governing the creation, administration and government of municipalities in the Canadian province of Ontario. After being adopted in its current form in 2001, it came into force on 1 January 2003, replacing the Municipal Act, 1990...
of 2001. There are currently 12 councillors and a mayor, with 2 councillors representing each of the six wards.
The mayor and members of the city council serve four-year terms without term limits, with the next election in November 2010. Prior to the 2006 election
Guelph municipal election, 2006
The 2006 Guelph municipal election was held on November 13, 2006, in Guelph, Ontario, Canada, to elect the Mayor of Guelph, Guelph City Council and the Guelph members of the Upper Grand District School Board and Wellington Catholic District School Board...
, the mayor and city councillors served three-year terms.
Guelph City Council
Guelph City Council
Guelph City Council is the governing body for the city of Guelph, Ontario.The council consists of the Mayor of Guelph and 12 ward councillors. Each ward elects 2 members to represent them. The council operates in the Guelph City Hall....
is responsible for policy and decision making, monitoring the operation and performance of the city, analyzing and approving budgets and determining spending priorities.
In 2010, Karen Farbridge
Karen Farbridge
Karen J. Farbridge is a mayor and a former city councillor of the city of Guelph, Ontario.Karen was first elected to Guelph City Council in 1994, representing Ward 1. In 2000 she became Guelph's first woman Mayor...
defeated former councillor David Birtwistle, 54% to 38% for the mayor position. 8 incumbent councillors were re-elected, 4 rookie councillors were elected, 2 incumbents were defeated, 2 did not seek re-election.
Provincial
Guelph occupies a single provincial riding of the same name, and is currently represented in the Legislative Assembly of OntarioLegislative Assembly of Ontario
The Legislative Assembly of Ontario , is the legislature of the Canadian province of Ontario, and is the second largest provincial legislature of Canada...
by Liz Sandals
Liz Sandals
Liz Sandals is a politician in Ontario, Canada. She is a member of the Legislative Assembly of Ontario, representing the riding of Guelph for the Ontario Liberal Party.-Background:...
, a member of the ruling Ontario Liberal Party
Ontario Liberal Party
The Ontario Liberal Party is a provincial political party in the province of Ontario, Canada. It has formed the Government of Ontario since the provincial election of 2003. The party is ideologically aligned with the Liberal Party of Canada but the two parties are organizationally independent and...
.
Federal
Guelph also occupies a federal riding of the same name, and has been represented in the House of CommonsCanadian House of Commons
The House of Commons of Canada is a component of the Parliament of Canada, along with the Sovereign and the Senate. The House of Commons is a democratically elected body, consisting of 308 members known as Members of Parliament...
of the Parliament of Canada
Parliament of Canada
The Parliament of Canada is the federal legislative branch of Canada, seated at Parliament Hill in the national capital, Ottawa. Formally, the body consists of the Canadian monarch—represented by her governor general—the Senate, and the House of Commons, each element having its own officers and...
by Frank Valeriote
Frank Valeriote
Frank Valeriote is a Canadian politician. He is the Liberal Member of Parliament for the riding of Guelph.-Background:...
of the Liberal Party of Canada
Liberal Party of Canada
The Liberal Party of Canada , colloquially known as the Grits, is the oldest federally registered party in Canada. In the conventional political spectrum, the party sits between the centre and the centre-left. Historically the Liberal Party has positioned itself to the left of the Conservative...
since 2008.
Culture
Historic sites
- Downtown GuelphDowntown GuelphDowntown Guelph is the heart of the city of Guelph, Ontario. It is bordered by Wellington St. E. to the south, Woolwich St. to the East, Dublin St. to the west and Norwich St. to the North. Downtown Guelph is known for its distinctive limestone architecture and heritage buildings.-History:John...
: Many downtown streets are lined with Victorian eraVictorian architectureThe term Victorian architecture refers collectively to several architectural styles employed predominantly during the middle and late 19th century. The period that it indicates may slightly overlap the actual reign, 20 June 1837 – 22 January 1901, of Queen Victoria. This represents the British and...
buildings, which are now well over a century old. - Guelph Civic Museum, a museum located near Downtown Guelph. At Guelph Civic Museum one can find pictures, films and other antique materials related to the historic development of the City of Guelph at a 1850- three-story Guelph limestone building.
National Historic Sites
- Old City Hall, a formal, classical civic building; built in 1856-57.
- McCrae HouseMcCrae HouseMcCrae House, located in Guelph, Ontario, is the birthplace of John McCrae , doctor, soldier and author of the famous First World War poem "In Flanders Fields". The house is a National Historic Site of Canada.-History:...
, home of John McCraeJohn McCraeLieutenant Colonel John Alexander McCrae was a Canadian poet, physician, author, artist and soldier during World War I and a surgeon during the Second Battle of Ypres...
, author of "In Flanders FieldsIn Flanders Fields"In Flanders Fields" is one of the most notable poems written during World War I, created in the form of a French rondeau. It has been called "the most popular poem" produced during that period...
". - Church of Our Lady Immaculate, a Roman Catholic church designed by Joseph ConnollyJoseph Connolly (architect)Joseph Connolly was an Irish Canadian architect, born in Limerick, Ireland. He trained as an architect under J.J. McCarthy in his native Ireland before coming to North America. Connolly specialized in Gothic Revival design...
, located downtown, is a local landmark.
Outdoor attractions
Most of the natural attractions of Guelph are located beside the two rivers which pass inside the city, Speed RiverSpeed River
The Speed River is a river that flows through Wellington County and the Region of Waterloo in western Ontario, Canada. It flows south from its source near Orton, through Guelph, where it is joined by the Eramosa River, then through the towns of Hespeler and Preston, finally uniting with the Grand...
and Eramosa River.
- Guelph LakeGuelph LakeGuelph Lake is a man-made reservoir on the Speed River, in the Township of Guelph/Eramosa. It is located upriver and slightly northeast of the city of Guelph, Ontario. The reservoir was created in 1974, with the construction of the Guelph Lake dam...
- University of Guelph ArboretumUniversity of Guelph ArboretumThe Guelph Arboretum is modeled after the Arnold Arboretum of Harvard University which was founded in 1872. The Arnold Arboretum is privately endowed as a department of Harvard just as the Guelph Arboretum is a department of the University of Guelph...
- Riverside Park, located beside the Speed River at north of Guelph
- York Road Park
- Hanlon Creek Park (Preservation Park)
- Royal City Park and Wellington Street nature sites
- Exhibition Park (the oldest park in Guelph)
Arts facilities
- The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre
- The Bookshelf Ebar Art Space
- Ed Video Media Arts CentreEd Video Media Arts CentreEd Video Media Arts Centre is an artist-run centre with a focus on video art, but also serving all forms of media art. The organization Ed Video Incorporated was officially formed in 1976 in Guelph, Ontario, Canada and has since gained non-profit and then charitable status.Ed Video is a hub for...
- River Run CentreRiver Run CentreThe River Run Centre in Guelph, ON is a performing arts centre in Guelph, Ontario.Construction of the facility began in 1995 and cost $15 million. It officially opened on October 4, 1997.The facility has three halls:*The Main Hall, which can seat 785...
- Guelph Youth Music Centre
Music
Music has always played a large part in the lives of people living in Guelph. From a Bell Organ factory to the opera singer Edward JohnsonEdward Johnson (tenor)
Edward Patrick Johnson CBE was a Canadian operatic tenor who was billed outside North America as Edoardo Di Giovanni, and became director of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City.- Early life :...
, Guelph has been a source of musical contribution. Today, Guelph is particularly notable for its indie rock
Indie rock
Indie rock is a genre of alternative rock that originated in the United Kingdom and the United States in the 1980s. Indie rock is extremely diverse, with sub-genres that include lo-fi, post-rock, math rock, indie pop, dream pop, noise rock, space rock, sadcore, riot grrrl and emo, among others...
scene, which has spawned some of Canada's more notable indie bands. Guelph is also home to the Hillside Festival, a hugely popular music festival held at nearby Guelph Lake
Guelph Lake
Guelph Lake is a man-made reservoir on the Speed River, in the Township of Guelph/Eramosa. It is located upriver and slightly northeast of the city of Guelph, Ontario. The reservoir was created in 1974, with the construction of the Guelph Lake dam...
during the summer, as well as the Guelph Jazz Festival.
Sports teams
| Club | League | Sport | Venue | Established | Championships |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Guelph Storm Guelph Storm The Guelph Storm is a major junior ice hockey team based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. They have played in the OHL since the 1991–92 season. The team plays home games at the Sleeman Centre.-History:... |
Ontario Hockey League Ontario Hockey League The Ontario Hockey League is one of the three Major Junior ice hockey leagues which constitute the Canadian Hockey League. The league is for players aged 15-20.The OHL also operates under the Ontario Hockey Federation of Hockey Canada.... |
Hockey | Sleeman Centre | 1991 |
2 |
| Guelph Royals Guelph Royals (baseball) The Guelph Royals are a semi-professional baseball team based in the downtown area of Guelph, Ontario, and are a member of the Southern Ontario-based Intercounty Baseball League... |
Intercounty Baseball League Intercounty Baseball League The Intercounty Baseball League is a semi-professional baseball organization located in the Canadian province of Ontario. The league was formed in 1919.... |
Baseball | David E. Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park (Guelph) | 1919 | 8 |
| Guelph Gryphons Guelph Gryphons The Guelph Gryphons are the athletic teams that represent the University of Guelph in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The university's varsity teams compete in the Ontario University Athletics conference of the Canadian Interuniversity Sport and, where applicable, in the west division.-Varsity... |
Canadian Interuniversity Sport Canadian Interuniversity Sport Canadian Interuniversity Sport is the national governing body of university sport in Canada, comprising the majority of degree granting universities in the country. Its equivalent body for organized sports at colleges in Canada is The Canadian Colleges Athletic Association... |
University | W.F. Mitchell Centre and Alumni Stadium | 1874 | 0 |
| Guelph Regals Guelph Regals The Guelph Regals are Junior "B" box lacrosse team from Guelph, Ontario, Canada. The Regals play in the OLA Junior B Lacrosse League.-History:... |
Ontario Lacrosse Association OLA Junior B Lacrosse League The Ontario Junior B Lacrosse League is a box lacrosse league sanctioned by the Ontario Lacrosse Association in Ontario, Canada.-History:The Junior "B" level of the Ontario Lacrosse Association has been around since at least 1964... |
Lacrosse | Victoria Road Recreation Centre | 1992 | 1 |
| Guelph Rangers | Kitchener District Soccer League | Soccer | Centennial Park and Guelph Lake Sports Fields | circa 1985 | 3 |
| Guelph Underdogs SC | Conestoga College Indoor Soccer League | Soccer | Conestoga College Recreational Centre | 2004 | 0 |
| Guelph Hurricanes | Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League The Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League is a Canadian junior ice hockey league based in Southern Ontario, Canada. The league is sanctioned by the Ontario Hockey Association, Ontario Hockey Federation, and Hockey Canada... |
Hockey | Sleeman Centre | 1963 | 0 |
| Guelph Bears | Ontario Varsity Football League | Football | John Ross High School and University of Guelph University of Guelph The University of Guelph, also known as U of G, is a comprehensive public research university in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It was established in 1964 after the amalgamation of Ontario Agricultural College, the Macdonald Institute, and the Ontario Veterinary College... 's Alumni Stadium |
1997 | 0 |
| Guelph Gargoyles Guelph Gargoyles The Gargoyles are an amateur Australian rules football club based in Guelph, Ontario, Canada.They are the only Aussie Rules club to represent the Guelph area... |
Ontario Australian Football League Ontario Australian Football League The Ontario Australian Football League is the largest Australian Football league in North America. It is currently composed of teams from the Greater Toronto Area, Southwestern Ontario and the National Capital Region, who play off for the Conacher Cup , presently awarded to the winner of the annual... |
Australian Football | Magaret Green Park | 2001 | 0 |
| Speed River Track and Field Club | Athletics Canada Athletics Canada Athletics Canada or AC is the national governing body of athletics in Canada, which includes track and field, cross-country running and road running. Its purpose is the pursuit of leadership, development and competition that ensures world-level performance in athletics... |
Athletics | St. James Catholic High School | 1997 | 10 |
| Derby League Soccer Club | Soccer | Soccer | Guelph Lakes Sports Fields | 2010 | 0 |
Bus
Guelph TransitGuelph Transit
The Guelph Transit Commission is a small public transportation agency that operates transit bus services in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Established in 1929 after the closure of the Guelph Radial Railway Company streetcar lines, Guelph Transit has grown to comprise over 70 buses serving 28 transit...
provides local transportation around the city. On June 20, 2007, Guelph Transit launched a web-based system known as Next Bus. Global positioning satellites (GPS) technology and advanced computer modelling provide riders via the Internet
Internet
The Internet is a global system of interconnected computer networks that use the standard Internet protocol suite to serve billions of users worldwide...
, handheld device
Handheld device
A mobile device is a small, hand-held computing device, typically having a display screen with touch input and/or a miniature keyboard and less than . Early pocket sized ones were joined in the late 2000s by larger but otherwise similar tablet computers...
s (including Palms, Blackberries
Blackberry
The blackberry is an edible fruit produced by any of several species in the Rubus genus of the Rosaceae family. The fruit is not a true berry; botanically it is termed an aggregate fruit, composed of small drupelets. The plants typically have biennial canes and perennial roots. Blackberries and...
, and Web-capable cellular phones), or their telephones to receive accurate, real-time arrival and departure information. Intercity connections are made at the Guelph Bus Terminal
Guelph Bus Terminal
The Guelph Bus Terminal, formerly located at 141 MacDonell Street, is temporarily located at 17 Wyndham St South in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It currently is the main intercity bus station for the community, while the downtown hub for local Guelph Transit bus services is at the nearby St...
.
GO Transit
GO Transit
GO Transit is an inter-regional public transit system in Southern Ontario, Canada. It primarily serves the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area conurbation, with operations extending to several communities beyond the GTHA proper in the Greater Golden Horseshoe...
also provides service to both the University and the city's bus station via rapid transit buses.
Rail
Guelph Junction Railway
The Guelph Junction Railway is the first railway in the Commonwealth of Nations to be owned by a municipality, the city of Guelph, Ontario. The only other is Greater Winnipeg Water District Railway.-History:...
. This 16-mile link to the CPR is still municipally owned.
The following is cited from the 2010 community profile:
"Guelph is also served by both the Canadian National Railway
Canadian National Railway
The Canadian National Railway Company is a Canadian Class I railway headquartered in Montreal, Quebec. CN's slogan is "North America's Railroad"....
and the Canadian Pacific Railway
Canadian Pacific Railway
The Canadian Pacific Railway , formerly also known as CP Rail between 1968 and 1996, is a historic Canadian Class I railway founded in 1881 and now operated by Canadian Pacific Railway Limited, which began operations as legal owner in a corporate restructuring in 2001...
.
The City's own Guelph Junction Railway provides industry with freight handling facilities and
connections to CNR and CPR. Via Rail provides inter‐city passenger rail service. Plans are
underway to bring Go Rail commuter service to Guelph."
Highways
- Highway 401Highway 401 (Ontario)King's Highway 401, also known by its official name as the Macdonald–Cartier Freeway and colloquially as the four-oh-one, is a 400-Series Highway in the Canadian province of Ontario stretching from Windsor to the Quebec border...
to Toronto and London. - Highway 7Highway 7 (Ontario)King's Highway 7, commonly referred to as Highway 7 and historically as the Northern Highway, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario...
to Kitchener and ActonActon, OntarioActon is a community located in the Town of Halton Hills, in Halton Region, Ontario, Canada.Acton is located on Highway 7 and the former Highway 25. Acton is served by GO Transit bus service on the Georgetown line corridor.-History:Acton was first named Danville when Settler Wheeler Green opened...
. - Highway 6Highway 6 (Ontario)King's Highway 6, also known as Highway 6, is a provincially maintained highway in the Canadian province of Ontario. It crosses a distance of between Port Dover on the north shore of Lake Erie and Espanola on the northern shore of Lake Huron, ending at the Trans-Canada Highway in McKerrow.- Port...
to Hamilton and Owen Sound. This highway is known as the Hanlon ParkwayHanlon ParkwayThe Hanlon Parkway is a high-capacity at-grade suburban expressway in the city of Guelph, Ontario, Canada, which connects it with Highway 401. It runs in a general north-south direction in the city's west end. It is signed as Highway 6 for its whole length; from Wellington Street to Woodlawn Road,...
for most of its length inside the city. The MTO has plans to extend the Hanlon to Kitchener, OntarioKitchener, OntarioThe City of Kitchener is a city in Southern Ontario, Canada. It was the Town of Berlin from 1854 until 1912 and the City of Berlin from 1912 until 1916. The city had a population of 204,668 in the Canada 2006 Census...
, as well they plan to upgrade the status to a controlled access Freeway