Guelph, Ontario

Known as "The Royal City", Guelph is roughly 28 kilometres (17 mi) east of Kitchener-Waterloo and 100 kilometres (62 mi) west of downtown Toronto at the intersection of Highway 6 and Highway 7. It is the seat of Wellington County, but as a separated municipality, the city is not part of the county. As one entity, Guelph and Wellington County have a population of 200,425.^[2]

Residents of Guelph are called Guelphites. Guelph also has a number of sister cities, which are selected based on economic, cultural and political criteria.

Because of its low crime rates, clean environment and generally high standard of living, Guelph is consistently rated as one of the country's most livable cities: Moneysense magazine ranked Guelph fourth in the country to live in 2007 ^[3], and was also rated among Canada's ten best places to live by Chatelaine magazine^{[citation needed]}.

[edit] History

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.^{[citation needed]}

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.^[4]

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.^[5] The street plan was designed to resemble a lady's fan, many of the streets forming triangles (the segments of the fan)^{[citation needed]}. This technique had been used in other planned towns such as Buffalo, New York.^[4]

Guelph was founded on St. George’s Day, April 23rd, 1827, the feast day of the patron saint of England.^[5] 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.

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's most famous landmark is the Church of Our Lady Immaculate. Guelph has long had a "worldwide reputation for innovation^[4]".

An 1855 map of Guelph.

[edit] Geography and climate

[edit] Topography

The city is intersected by two rivers and numerous tributaries: the Speed River enters from the north end and the Eramosa River enters from the east; the two rivers meet downtown and continue southwest. There are also many creeks and rivers that create large tracts of densely-forested ravines, and provide ideal sites for parks and recreational trails. The city is also built on many drumlins.

[edit] Climate

The weather and climate of that region of Ontario is moderate in both summer and winter. However, due to its location close to other moderate or major cities (Cambridge, Kitchener-Waterloo, London, Toronto and the GTA) Guelph experiences the highest percentage of acid rain downfall in all of Ontario and the area is prone to severe weather causing high winds in summer, due its location on the Lake Breeze Front.

[edit] Economy

Manufacturing is a leading sector, accounting for 18 per cent of employment.^[6].

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. ^[7]

Guelph's major employers include the University of Guelph, Linamar Corporation, and Sleeman Breweries (recently purchased by Sapporo of Japan) among others.

[edit] Demographics

Ethnic Origin	Population	Percent
English	36,975	31.93%
Canadian	36,845	31.82%
Scottish	27,875	24.07%
Irish	24,445	21.11%
German	14,505	12.52%
Italian	11,135	9.61%

Guelph is the 5th fastest growing city in Ontario with a population growth rate of about 2% per year. Guelph's current population is estimated to be around 127,872 and is projected to have a population around 175,000-195,000 by the year 2027. Population varies throughout the year because of variations in the University of Guelph student population. ^[8]

The 2001 census indicates 117,344 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.^[4]

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, Vietnamese and Arab. Also a lot of First Nations people reside in Guelph^{[citation needed]}. 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 Islam, and Hinduism.^[1]

[edit] Education

There are two public school boards that operate inside the city. The Upper Grand District School Board 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.

[edit] 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:

Catholic:

[edit] Post-secondary institutions

University of Guelph, one of Canada's top comprehensive universities, and home to the Ontario Agricultural College and the Ontario Veterinary College. It is acclaimed for its focus on life sciences such as agriculture and food science^{[citation needed]}.
Conestoga College has a small campus in Guelph.

[edit] Public library system

Main article: Guelph Public Library

The original Carnegie library in Guelph.

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^[9], which was eventually demolished in 1964. The current main branch building was opened in 1965.^[10] The Guelph Public Library currently has four branches, with a fifth planned to open in 2008.

The Guelph Public Library also serves as the unofficial archives for the City of Guelph.

[edit] Politics

[edit] City Hall

Guelph City Hall at Night, Guelph, ON

Main article: Guelph City Council

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 2006, Karen Farbridge defeat incumbent mayor Kate Quarrie, 51% to 35% along with 8 new City councilors who replaced many of the long-time council members.

[edit] Legislative Assembly of Ontario

Main article: Guelph (provincial electoral district)

Guelph occupies a single provincial riding of the same name, and is currently represented in the Legislative Assembly of Ontario by Liz Sandals, a member of the ruling Ontario Liberal Party.

[edit] Parliament of Canada

Main article: Guelph (electoral district)

Guelph also occupies a federal riding of the same name, and has been represented in the House of Commons off the Parliament of Canada by Brenda Chamberlain of the Liberal Party of Canada since 1993. On March 7, 2008, Chamberlain announced her resignation from the House of Commons effective April 7.^[11] Historically, Guelph has been part of the Wellington South and Wellington electoral districts.

[edit] Culture

[edit] Historic sites

Downtown Guelph: Many downtown streets are lined with many old buildings, some of which are 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.

[edit] National Historic Sites

Church of Our Lady Immaculate

Guelph City Hall, a formal, classical civic building; built in 1856-57.
McCrae House, home of John McCrae, author of "In Flanders Fields".
Church of Our Lady Immaculate, a Roman Catholic Church, located downtown, is a local landmark.

[edit] Outdoor attractions

A footbridge in Riverside Park.

Most of the natural attractions of Guelph are located beside the two rivers which pass inside the city, Speed River and Eramosa River.

Guelph Lake
University of Guelph Arboretum
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)

[edit] Arts facilities

The Macdonald Stewart Art Centre serves the community by providing a balanced program of temporary exhibitions of contemporary and historical art, craft and design drawn from regional, national and international sources. As the major public collection in this area, the collection is presented through specialized exhibitions.

The Bookshelf Ebar Art Space showcases monthly exhibits of local and regional artists. It functions as Guelph's main alternative art space located in the downtown core.

Ed Video Media Arts Centre is one of Canada's leading artist-run centres devoted to the proliferation and appreciation of Canadian media art and film, and is the main driving force behind a growing movement of professional filmmakers within the region. Ed Video carries out an ongoing monthly programming schedule of regional and national media art.

[edit] 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 Johnson, 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 most important indie bands, including King Cobb Steelie, Royal City, The Constantines, Jim Guthrie, The Barmitzvah Brothers, Elbow Beach Surf Club, Flashlight Brown, The D'Urbervilles, House of Velvet and the kramdens. Record labels Three Gut Records, Burnt Oak Records and Social Arts Club are based in Guelph.

Canadian thrash metal act Razor are from Geulph.

Guelph is also home to the Hillside Festival, an indie music festival held at Guelph Lake during the summer, as well as the Guelph Jazz Festival.

[edit] Sports teams

The Guelph Storm at home ice in 2006.

Club	League	Sport	Venue	Established	Championships
Guelph Storm	Ontario Hockey League	Hockey	Sleeman Centre	1991	2
Guelph Royals	Intercounty Baseball League	Baseball	David E. Hastings Stadium at Exhibition Park (Guelph)	1919	8
Guelph Gryphons	Canadian Interuniversity Sport	University	W.F. Mitchell Centre and Alumni Stadium	1874	0
Guelph Regals	Ontario Lacrosse Association	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 Dominators	Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League	Hockey	Victoria Road Recreation Centre	1963	0
Guelph Bears	Ontario Varsity Football League	Football	John Ross High School and University of Guelph's Alumni Stadium	1997	0
Guelph Gargoyles	Ontario Australian Football League	Australian Football	Magaret Green Park	2001	0

[edit] Media

Main article: Media of Guelph

The city of Guelph is served by two main newspapers, two student newspapers, one alternative weekly, two local radio stations and a community channel. All other media, including newspapers and television stations, are regionally based, usually from Kitchener or Toronto.

[edit] Transportation

[edit] Bus

Main article: Guelph Transit

Guelph Transit provides local transportation around the city. On June 20, 2007 Guelph Transit launched a web-based system known as Next Bus^[12]. Global positioning satellites (GPS) technology and advanced computer modeling provide riders via the Internet, handheld devices (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.

[edit] Rail

Guelph Train Station

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.

VIA Rail provides daily passenger rail service from the railway station to London and Toronto. The Goderich-Exeter Railway and Guelph Junction Railway provide freight service.

[edit] Highways

Highway 401 to Toronto and London.
Highway 7 to Kitchener and Acton.
Highway 6 to Hamilton and Owen Sound. This highway is known as the Hanlon Parkway for most of its length inside the city.

[edit] Twin Cities

Loria, Italy

[edit] People

Notable people associated with Guelph:

Carla Collins - actress, comedian
Tom King - novelist and broadcaster, English professor at University of Guelph
Neve Campbell - actress, best known for her roles in the "Scream" trilogies, and TV show "Party of Five"
A. J. Casson - member of the Group of Seven artists, lived in Guelph from ages 9 to 14.
Elinor Glyn - Edwardian writer of erotic novels; silent film screenwriter.
James Gordon - Singer and songwriter.
Jean Little - novelist.
John Kenneth Galbraith - economist, alumnus of the Ontario Agricultural College.
John McCrae - First World War poet.
Robert Munsch - children's author
Sue Richards - artist
Seth - cartoonist
Jane Siberry - singer-songwriter, studied at University of Guelph
Luke Kirby - actor, alumnus of Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institute
Lou Fontinato - NHL player
Edeet Ravel - author
Thomas F. Ryan the inventor of five-pin bowling, grew up in Guelph.
Kirk Maltby a current NHL player playing for the Detroit Red Wings
Krys Barch a current NHL player playing for the Dallas Stars
Gavin Smith - professional poker player
Steven Truscott - Victim of a miscarriage of justice.
Ken Danby - Painter

[edit] References

^ ^a ^b ^c 2001 Community Profiles. Statistics Canada. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
^ Community Profile for Wellington. Statistics Canada. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ "Canada's Best Places to Live", Canadian Business Online. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ ^a ^b ^c ^d Stelter, G.A. "Guelph". The Canadian Encyclopedia. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ ^a ^b History of Guelph. City of Guelph. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ "Canada Votes 2006", CBC.ca, 2006. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
^ The Focus on Sectors. City of Guelph. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
^ Craig Manley, Manager of Policy Planning. Fact Sheet:Population Growth. City of Guelph. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
^ Guelph Public Library archival photographs collection. Guelph Public Library. Retrieved on 2008-03-18.
^ Our History. Guelph Public Library. Retrieved on 2008-03-17.
^ "Guelph MP announces resignation", Guelph Mercury, 2008-03-07.
^ http://www.guelph.ca/living.cfm?subCatID=1736&smocid=2312

[edit] See also

Monarchy in Ontario

[edit] External links

Fergus, Elora

v • d • e

Kitchener, Waterloo, Breslau

Rockwood, Halton Hills, Milton

Guelph

Cambridge, Puslinch Township, Hamilton

v • d • e Guelph, Ontario

Government	City Council · Federal electoral district · Grand River Conservation Authority · Police Service · Provincial electoral district · Public Library · Transit · Wellington County

Places	City Hall · Downtown · McCrae House · Memorial Gardens · Church of Our Lady Immaculate · Sleeman Centre · Stone Road Mall · University of Guelph

Transportation	Bus Terminal · Goderich-Exeter Railway · Guelph Junction Railway · Railway station

Nature	Arboretum · Arkell Spring Grounds · Eramosa River · Speed River

v • d • e Subdivisions of Ontario

Regions	Eastern Ontario · Central Ontario · Golden Horseshoe · Greater Toronto Area · Southwestern Ontario · Northern Ontario · Northeastern Ontario · Northwestern Ontario · Southern Ontario

Counties	Bruce · Dufferin · Elgin · Essex · Frontenac · Grey · Haliburton · Hastings · Huron · Lambton · Lanark · Leeds and Grenville · Lennox and Addington · Middlesex · Northumberland · Perth · Peterborough · Prescott and Russell · Renfrew · Simcoe · Stormont, Dundas and Glengarry · Wellington

Districts	Algoma · Cochrane · Kenora · Manitoulin · Nipissing · Parry Sound · Rainy River · Sudbury · Thunder Bay · Timiskaming

Regional municipalities	Durham · Halton · Muskoka · Niagara · Oxford · Peel · Waterloo · York

Single-tier municipalities	Brant · Brantford · Chatham-Kent · Greater Sudbury · Haldimand · Hamilton · Kawartha Lakes · Norfolk · Ottawa · Prince Edward · Toronto

Separated municipalities	Barrie · Belleville · Brantford · Brockville · Gananoque · Guelph · Kingston · London · Orillia · Pembroke · Peterborough · Prescott · Quinte West · Smiths Falls · St. Marys · St. Thomas · Stratford · Windsor

See also	Ontario communities · Ontario municipalities