Graphic with trees buildings and walkway

Guelph Reformatory District

Thank you to everyone who provided feedback throughout the Ontario Reformatory HCD project.

The City of Guelph has developed a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Plan and Guidelines for the Ontario Reformatory HCD.

On May 21, 2026 the City of Guelph circulated a Notice of Passing of By-law (2026)-21192 designating the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District under the Ontario Heritage Act and also adopting the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines (dated April 2026). After the 30-day appeal period, the designation by-law went into effect June 22, 2026.

*Please note that the OR HCD designation by-law is not in full force and effect within any part of 785 York Road that remains under Provincial ownership.

Read the designation By-law and OR HCD Plan

About the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District

The Ontario Reformatory opened in 1911 and served as a correctional facility for the first half of the 20th century. From 1970 through to its decommissioning in 2001, parts of the Reformatory site were repurposed and operated as the provincially run Guelph Correctional Centre. In 2016, Infrastructure Ontario indicated its intention to sell the property at 785 York Road and completed the required environmental remediation at that time. The lands are now used by the public for passive recreation and environmental education.

The Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District (OR HCD) project has two phases; both include a mix of technical and engagement tasks.

Phase 1: Heritage Conservation District Study

The OR HCD Study assessed the historical, design, and contextual value of the study area; identified contributing and non-contributing properties and resources; reviewed the existing policy framework in the area, and defined boundaries for the cultural heritage landscape. Phase 1 also included community engagement to help the project team further understand the community’s experience of the area and to inform the proposed HCD boundaries.

Phase 2: Heritage Conservation District Plan

Based on the outcomes of Phase 1 and the Council’s approval, we have built on the recommendations of the study. The OR HCD plan provides guidelines for managing change in ways that highlight the distinctive character of the area.

How can I participate right now?

There are no more engagement opportunities now that the designation by-law has gone into effect. See the phase timeline below to see what engagement took place throughout the project.

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

Who's Listening

Stephen Robinson, Senior Heritage Planner, City of Guelph

reformatorydistrict@guelph.ca

Heidy Schopf. Lead, Consultant Team WSP

Kelly Guthrie, Community Engagement Advisor, City of Guelph

kelly.guthrie@guelph.ca

Phases

Phases overview

Phase 1: Project kick off

Project kick off

Phase 2: Phase one - open house

Phase one - open house

Phase 3: Stories

Stories

Phase 4: Map Your Comments

Map Your Comments

Phase 5: Phase 1 - open house # 2 and survey

Phase 1 - open house # 2 and survey

Phase 6: Ontario Reformatory HCD Study Phase 1 Report

Ontario Reformatory HCD Study Phase 1 Report

Phase 7: Phase 2 - Heritage Conservation District plan and guidelines

Phase 2 - Heritage Conservation District plan and guidelines

Phase 8: Draft Plan and Guidelines statutory public meeting

Draft Plan and Guidelines statutory public meeting

Phase 9: Public open house

Public open house

Phase 10: Questions and Comments

Questions and Comments

Phase 11: Feedback review

Feedback review

Phase 12: Final Draft Plan and Guidelines decision meeting

Final Draft Plan and Guidelines decision meeting

Phase 13: By-law appeal period

By-law appeal period

Phase 14: Designation by-law in effect

Designation by-law in effect

Questions and Comments

May 9, 2025 4:00 AM - June 9, 2025 4:00 AM

Review the materials from the May 8 public open house where information about the Draft Plan and Guidelines were shared.

Ask us any questions you may have about the materials or provide comments. Your question or comment will not be published until staff can review and comment. We will do our best to reply in 3-5 business days.

We have extended the question period to June 8. We will not be responding to questions during the weekend but if a question or comment comes in we will respond during the week.

Draft Plan and Guidelines

Watch the open house video

Question period is now CLOSED. Thank you for your participation!

Guelph Reformatory HCD-open house boards-May6-2025.pptx

(11.8 MB)

26 questions

Lynn Bestari1 year ago This land is not suited to housing or any other kind of development as it sits right next to Cargill and the waste processing centre. The City intends to start working on Green Development Standards which includes having enough green space for the future and to mitigate climate change. Any development will go against those standards and only cause further negative impacts on the property, the City and environment. The City needs to do as much as they can to protect this much loved site. More specifically, we need to strengthen heritage protections for this unique and special property and protect the biodiversity that resides there.

Susan Rietschin9 months ago It does not seem to me that the City has clearly identified that this is a plan developed solely under protest if the province takes full control for the development of this area. The citizens of Guelph have made it very clear that they want the buildings and landscapes preserved and a park declared following the criteria defined by Yorklands Green Hub and the Urban Park Group. The inclusion of housing is a declaration of failure on this initiative. We do know any housing inside a park degrades the park and the natural habitat. Why is there not a statement that this is only done under protest? We will never have such a large, culturally significant piece of land again in the city limits. The City should be fighting tooth and nail to maintain it as green space for recreation, water recharge area, natural habitat, floodwater accommodation and indigenous reconciliation.

Madeleine Carere1 year ago Ive grown up in Guelph, and am now raising my own child here. Ive seen so much development in my 30 yrs and truly we need more green space with the amount of humans and development to maintain something somewhat close to a balance. My child attends Guelph Outdoor School, and I am an instructor there since I was a teenager. I can't stress enough that humans NEED green space. When you look at Wildlife Management, the term "carrying capacity" is used and followed- this means the landscapes ability to hold wildlife, especially mammals/birds. The landscape needs to be healthy enough to have a healthy carrying capacity for wildlife to be healthy. This makes sense. Healthy environment = healthy creatures. Humans are no different in this concept. Yet, humans do not really pay much attention to this concept of carrying capacity for our OWN species. We need urban parks, green spaces, so we may have our own type of carrying capacity for the greater good of all. Keeping the Old Reformatory as an Urban Park is one way we can be of service to ourselves and the greater good of all now, and for the next 7 generations AFTER US! Thank you,Madeleine Carere

Lynn Roodbol1 year ago The City of Guelph is in the process of developing Green Development Standards (GDS) which is an excellent idea. However, it seems hypocritical to me that Guelph would be promoting GDS at the same time as they're planning to take park land from the Old Reformatory (OR) and use that Heritage land for residential development.The OR is a unique piece of natural space which can never be reclaimed once it is carved up for development; this will result in a huge loss to the City of Guelph and surrounding area. Please consider the option to support the use of the Heritage land at the OR for a National Urban Park as this would allow the public to use it in perpetuity to promote better physical and mental health. If people are in better health there are many benefits such as less of a demand for hospital facilities. Guelph could have a reputation of really caring about the health of the residents rather than just providing lip service to this issue.

stan kozak1 year ago The Urban National Park initiative has a lot of citizen interest in this community. That interest is not reflected in the proposal to expand the adaptive use designation to include residential. In fact one has to take it as a move to undermine the urban national park project.There is no need to rush to add residential to the adaptive use since there is already so much serviced land available in the city.In deciding to move on this or not, council will show its true support of the urban national park initiative.The urban national park initiative is one that can move the city from being a good place to live to being a great place to live. Nothing else in the works has this possibility.

Norah Chaloner1 year ago There are significant changes in this new draft for the OR-HCD plan that will over-ride the detailed Official Plan and Secondary Plan that had hundreds of citizens take part and has been approved to guide our city forward. Adding “adaptive reuse” for housing on this landmark heritage property is totally inappropriate. It has significant wetlands, ponds, streams and river plus meadows that support biodiversity for multitudes of birds, insects, animals and plants. Our birds and pollinators numbers are falling. This green corridor is part of the migration path that happens every spring and fall from southern countries to our northern forests. There are many empty properties in Guelph owned by developers being held for their retirement income but should be used now for housing that will not displace wetlands and habitat on our green corridors and public parkland. They are on main corridors with good public transit and underground infrastructure already in place. Is this a time for expropriating along the Victoria Rd, the Hanlon and Stone Rd for the public good? Or will the developers step up now and do the right thing on their current stock?This site meets all the requirements for a national urban park. Yorklands Green Hub have been teaching environmental and cultural history on the OR lands for 14 years. This site is inside the city limits. The third requirement for a national urban park is that it must have Indigenous significance that will help further the Truth and Reconciliation commitments of our country. The Native Sons program was created on site and part of the healing and reform that took place here. The Urban Park Guelph has a wonderful display called “the Darkess and the Light” at the Guelph Museum this month about the history at the OR lands… This significant site is a gem and the most significant part of our cultural and natural history. Build elsewhere. This site must be a Parks Canada national urban park.

Carolyn Ross1 year ago

Alex Smith1 year ago Guelph Innovation District Guidance for Preparation of Block Plans (2019) states, A consultation plan, guided by the City’s Community Engagement Framework, will be submitted as part of the Block Plan Terms of Reference. The consultation plan will outline who, how and when the proponent will consult with adjacent landowners (within 120 m), the public and stakeholders on the Block Plan. The consultation plan will also outline how input will be recorded and used in the development of the Block Plan. The Block Plan shall also meet consultation requirements of the Municipal Class EA process where appropriate. The detailed requirements for the Consultation Plan are set out in Section 4.8 of the Guide.Can I view the Consultation Plans for the 4 Block Plans? It would be truely ironic if they are not available to interested parties.

Jay Wilson1 year ago

Alex Smith1 year ago

Morgan Dandie1 year ago The idea of adaptive reuse is wonderful, but how can a conversation about housing, and especially affordable housing, be had when the majority of the area is a known floodplain? Given the 100 year floodplain mapping done by GRCA is available, why is this not being overlaid on the OR lands when the HCD is being discussed?There is weak and missing language throughout this plan and I look forward to seeing the next iteration of the draft contain less permissive and more expansive language. Introduction of residential to this known floodplain area concerns me greatly.

Paul Kraehling1 year ago As the study proposal now contemplates changes to the land use of the GID secondary plan, can the buried Clythe Creek stream channel in Character Area E be daylit as recommended in a 2014 study commissioned by the Yorklands Green Hub? https://yorklandsgreenhub.ca/wp-content/uploads/2018/02/UofG-and-Trout-Unlimited-Report_Nov-2014.pdfThis NHS area and stream health enhancement is in line with the City's existing OP policies, i.e., Section 4.13. A NHS enhancement 'restoration area' would need to be added to Schedule 4.

James Smith1 year ago

Norah Menzies1 year ago We come to Guelph from Eden Mills to walk at the wonderful green space that was the former Ontario Reformatory.It is easily accessible for my spouse who uses a walker. There are very few other trails that are flat , wide and accessible yet surrounded by mature trees, water, and nature .Because we are in Guelph we then go buy groceries, eat at a Guelph restaurant etc.This lovely and accessible Green Space brings us to Guelph to patronize its businesses. Please keep it as dedicated parkland.Thank you.Norah Menzies and Ed Langevin

P. Brian Skerrett1 year ago

1 year ago Guelph desperately needs more green space. An urban park on the reformatory lands makes perfect sense. Envision a park with creative natural features easily built upon from the existing rolling terrain with creeks and ponds, trails, forest and more. It is not a suitable area for a new hospital or for housing - areas for building more housing have already been identified, and a hospital should be readily accessible (near downtown).

michelle wan1 year ago

Lin Grist1 year ago

Paul Smith1 year ago I was surprised when I saw in the presentation at the open house that staff are now proposing housing for the property. Where did this idea come from as I've been following along through the study and plan process and never saw this before? Did the property owner suggest this to you? Why would you want to convert a former jail into housing units? . . . for the homeless?This is an iconic property that should be treasured as a special place in the community - use it for educational and new employment activities within a national park setting with its natural and historical elements protected and treasured!

Michelle Bowman1 year ago Adaptive use area A directly interferes with the heritage views identified and fragments the corridor along Hadati Creek needed to maintain biodiversity in the area. Similarly, adaptive use area B, particularly directly adjacent to the core area and ponds, is incompatible with maintaining the heritage of the core and buffer needed to maintain biodiversity. Both adaptive use areas contradict the recommendations of the consultants and Guelph’s official plan.

michelle wan1 year ago

Claudia CE1 year ago For the seven years that I have been living here, it seems like we are always fighting to keep this pristine space just as it is. It's an ecological as well as an environmental place that WE want to keep for next generations, people fill out petitions, attend open houses, yet here we are again, do what your constituents have asked for YEARS and defend this place. We need sn urban park. "consulting" about it.Please, do what I'd right

P. Brian Skerrett1 year ago From Phase One -Project Kick Off:"A Part V designation recognizes the collective heritage value of an area, and offers additional tools to guide change, including but not limited to design and planning guidelines for infill and adaptive reuse."From the Innovation District Secondary Plan:"...the eastern portion of the GID is predominantly designated as Adaptive Re-use."Also from the Secondary Plan11.2.6.3.1 Adaptive Re-use (GID)"This designation permits a mix of uses including institutional, educational, commercial, office, light industrial and open space and park".This definition does not include residential as a permitted use.

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Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Draft Plan and Guidelines Open House
Event date: May 8th, 2025 from 8:30 PM to 10:30 PM.
Royal Canadian Legion Branch 234
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Guelph Reformatory District

About the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District

Phase 1: Heritage Conservation District Study

Phase 2: Heritage Conservation District Plan

How can I participate right now?

Who's Listening

Phases

Questions and Comments

26 questions

Why does the OR HCD include the option of housing when it's not mentioned in the Official Plan or the GID?

Under Protest only

Advocating for Urban Park Guelph:

Guelph Reformatory residential development is not appropriate.

reformatory district

Developers currently hold thousands of acres of land zoned for residential use in Guelph. Why take public parkland?

No mention here of working with the Yorklands Green Hub. Can you work with community partners more and developers less?

Where can I find consultation plans for Block Plans 1, 2, 3 &4?

The HCD is not zoned residential and doesn't adding Res planning negate the very intent of HCD?

Is the Block Plan for Block 4 "in progress"?

Why is there no mention of the floodplain when having stakeholder meeting and talk about housing comes up?

Daylight Clythe Creek Stream in Character Area E

The Draft Plan and Guidelines are full of permissive language that provide no real protection for this valuable resource

I’ finding both the process & the proposals difficult to follow.

Why has dedicated parkland not been included as one of the re-uses at the Former Ontario Reformatory ?

Do the policies of a Conservation Plan take precendence over aspects of the Citys own Official Plan such as zoning?

Why does the use/re-use proposal not include dedicated parkland?

Where does developing the OR as a National Urban Park stand? Is it being ignored or actively considered?

Is the City supporting the creation of an urban park, and if not, why not?

Are you serious? You want to make this another housing development site like all the others in town?

Why is residential included in adaptive use areas when it is clearly incompatible with identified heritage attributes?

Guelph is way under target for green space. Why is the OR as a national urban park not being considered?

Why is this still debating?

Why is Residential being accomodated, when the Zoning doesn't include Residential?

Filters

Upcoming and ongoing events

Past events

Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Draft Plan and Guidelines Open House

Guelph Reformatory District

About the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District

Phase 1: Heritage Conservation District Study

Phase 2: Heritage Conservation District Plan

How can I participate right now?

Who's Listening

Phases

Questions and Comments

26 questions

Why does the OR HCD include the option of housing when it's not mentioned in the Official Plan or the GID?

Under Protest only

Advocating for Urban Park Guelph:

Guelph Reformatory residential development is not appropriate.

reformatory district

Developers currently hold thousands of acres of land zoned for residential use in Guelph. Why take public parkland?

No mention here of working with the Yorklands Green Hub. Can you work with community partners more and developers less?

Where can I find consultation plans for Block Plans 1, 2, 3 &4?

The HCD is not zoned residential and doesn't adding Res planning negate the very intent of HCD?

Is the Block Plan for Block 4 "in progress"?

Why is there no mention of the floodplain when having stakeholder meeting and talk about housing comes up?

Daylight Clythe Creek Stream in Character Area E

The Draft Plan and Guidelines are full of permissive language that provide no real protection for this valuable resource

I’ finding both the process &amp; the proposals difficult to follow.

Why has dedicated parkland not been included as one of the re-uses at the Former Ontario Reformatory ?

Do the policies of a Conservation Plan take precendence over aspects of the Citys own Official Plan such as zoning?

Why does the use/re-use proposal not include dedicated parkland?

Where does developing the OR as a National Urban Park stand? Is it being ignored or actively considered?

Is the City supporting the creation of an urban park, and if not, why not?

Are you serious? You want to make this another housing development site like all the others in town?

Why is residential included in adaptive use areas when it is clearly incompatible with identified heritage attributes?

Guelph is way under target for green space. Why is the OR as a national urban park not being considered?

Why is this still debating?

Why is Residential being accomodated, when the Zoning doesn't include Residential?

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Upcoming and ongoing events

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Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Draft Plan and Guidelines Open House

I’ finding both the process & the proposals difficult to follow.