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Historical image of St. George's Square

Downtown Heritage Conservation District

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback throughout the project.

About the project

In 2021, Council approved the recommendations of the Cultural Heritage Action Plan which included: For Old Downtown, undertake a comprehensive strategy, including community consultation, to direct future cultural heritage conservation efforts and planned change.

The provincial government’s More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, significantly changed the structure of municipal heritage registers. As a result, all properties currently listed on the Municipal Register of Cultural Heritage Properties must be removed by January 1, 2025 (revised deadline January 1, 2027). About 1,700 properties will lose protections. 120 of these properties located in downtown Guelph.

Historical planning map of Guelph titled Plan of the Town of Guelf, Upper Canada, founded by the Canada Company 1827

Please note: This project began in an older version of our website. Some of the tools and information may appear different than originally designed.

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175 participants

Who's Listening

Imogen Goldie

Imogen Goldie, Project Manager, Heritage

imogen.goldie@guelph.ca

Rebecca Sciarra, Project Manager, ASI

rsciarra@asiheritage.ca

Phases

Phases overview
Downtown Guelph Heritage focus group recruitment
Character mapping
Downtown heritage conservation survey
Community character map
Heritage feature prioritization
Potential HCD plan - Objectives values and attributes
Levels of support for an HCD in Downtown
Heritage Conservation District Forum
Downtown Heritage Conservation District Plan survey
Open house for HCD Plan
Downtown HCD Plan and Guidelines development
Draft Downtown HCD plan and guidelines review
Downtown HCD Statutory Public Meeting
Council Planning Meeting
Designation by-law in effect

Designation by-law in effect

January 29, 2026 - February 28, 2026

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback throughout the project.

At the Council Planning meeting on January 20, 2026, Council unanimously supported the designation of the Downtown Guelph Heritage Conservation District

On January 29th a Notice of Passing was sent to Guelph Today for announcement and to the Ontario Heritage Trust and residents/property owners within the heritage conservation district.

After a 30-day appeal period, the designation bylaw went into effect February 28, 2026.

Upcoming and ongoing events

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    Past events

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