Downtown Guelph facts for kids

Downtown Guelph at night

Downtown Guelph is the main part of Guelph, Ontario, Canada. It's where many businesses and shops are located. The downtown area is known for its special buildings made of limestone. Many old, important buildings in Guelph are found here.

History of Downtown Guelph

A statue of John Galt, who founded Guelph

John Galt, who started Guelph, helped design the town with his surveyor. He planned many public "squares" of different shapes. This unique street design was one of the first of its kind in Ontario. A story says that John Galt put his hand on a tree stump. He then said the new town's streets would spread out like his fingers. It's true that Guelph's main streets do look like this. But no one knows if the story came before the plan or after.

The Guelph Armoury building

Many downtown streets have buildings from the Victorian era. These buildings are now more than 100 years old. Lots of Guelph's historic buildings are in or near the downtown area. The old City Hall on Carden St. was built in 1856 and 1857. It is a very important historic site in Canada. This building shows the style of architecture from the mid-1800s. Other important buildings nearby include the Winter Fair Building and the Guelph Armoury.

The Old Quebec Street Mall was once a regular street in the mid-1800s. It was covered and made into an indoor shopping mall in 1984.

Downtown Guelph Today

Inside the Quebec Street Mall

Downtown Guelph is a small, central area. It's easy to get to by car, bus, walking, or bike. It has the most shops, restaurants, and banks in Guelph. You can also find entertainment, doctors, and lawyers here.

Inside the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate

In recent years, the downtown area has become more lively. New shops have opened, and the area is cleaner. For fun, you can visit the River Run Centre or watch a movie at the Bookshelf Cafe. The Sleeman Centre is home to the Guelph Storm hockey team. There are also many local music acts playing every week. Important historical places include the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, Guelph City Hall, The Armoury, and the Guelph train station.

Future Plans for Downtown

A plan to redevelop the downtown area has been discussed since 2007. It was finalized in 2018 as the Baker District project. The plan is to change the Baker St. parking lot and nearby properties. They will become a new area with homes and businesses. This project will cost a lot of money. When it's finished, there will be a new library and more shops. There will also be offices and an underground parking lot. Construction was expected to start around 2023.

Notable Places in Downtown Guelph

There are many interesting places in Downtown Guelph, both old and new:

• Sleeman Centre
• Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate, a National Historic Site
• Guelph City Hall, a National Historic Site
• The Armoury, a National Historic Site
• Guelph Central Station
• Old Quebec Street Mall
• Wellington County Courthouse
• River Run Centre
• St. Georges Square
• Royal City Park
• Guelph Farmers' Market
• Guelph Public Library
• Covered footbridge

Architecture in Downtown Guelph

Downtown Guelph has many beautiful buildings. They show off the area's unique look. Builders used local limestone, which was easy to carve. This stone gives the buildings a warm color and a special look. Many old stone buildings are still in great condition today.

After World War II, some old buildings were torn down. They were replaced with newer, modern ones. But citizens worked hard to save Guelph's historic buildings. They have protected many from being lost.

Education in Downtown Guelph

There is one public school in the downtown area. It is called Central Public School and is on Dublin Street.

Guelph Public Library

In 1882, a law was passed that let towns create libraries using local taxes. The City of Guelph was the first in Ontario to do this. The Guelph Library found a home at the corner of Norfolk and Paisley. Guelph was also one of the first towns to get money from Andrew Carnegie, a rich businessman, to help build its library.

The Guelph Public Library system is growing. It has a main library downtown and five other branches. It also has a Bookmobile that travels around. The library helps keep records and materials about Guelph's history. It also offers programs like a book club.

Transportation in Downtown Guelph

The Guelph Train Station

Downtown Guelph is home to Guelph Central Station. Here, you can catch local Guelph Transit buses. You can also find Via Rail and GO Transit train services. Downtown is also easy to reach by bike. There are bike paths that connect people from all parts of the city to the center.

Images for kids

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  Church of Our Lady, Guelph, Ontario, from rivers confluence

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  This covered footbridge near the city centre is one of only two in Ontario

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  This statue entitled "The Family" sits atop a fountain in the central square of Downtown Guelph

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  Intersection of Wyndham and Macdonell streets in Downtown Guelph. The Petrie Building built in 1882 is visible (with red "Restaurant" sign).

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  View of the Church of Our Lady from Macdonell St.

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  View of Macdonell St. in Downtown Guelph

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  Guelph City Hall

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  Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate