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A collage of four photographs, from left to right: A red brick house behind a small shop with a striped overhang; a group of six people posing in front of Valeriote's Groceteria; a row of single-storey houses along a diverging rail line; a group of people sitting in low chairs in a circle in front of a store with a large opening.

Ward Heritage Conservation District Plan

The Ward is a unique Guelph neighbourhood with a rich mix of history, culture, and community spaces that many people love and value.

We are developing a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) plan for the western part of Ward to help protect the buildings, spaces, and landscape features that matter most to the community, while supporting the neighbourhood’s continued growth and evolution.

How can I participate right now?

There is a Public Meeting for the Draft Ward Heritage Conservation District Plan on July 14, 2026.

If you would like to register to speak to City Council and/or submit written comments about the Draft Ward HCD Plan, please do so no later than 10 a.m. on Friday, July 10, 2026. You can find instructions on how to delegate on Guelph.ca.

Review the Draft HCD Plan below.

Have a look at the community quilt photos to see the drawings and pictures created by your neighbours about what they love most about the Ward at the Open House.

Where we are in the process

Since 2024, the City of Guelph has been working on a Heritage Conservation District (HCD) Study and Plan in the western part of the Ward. In Spring of 2025, City staff presented the first phase of the Ward West Heritage Conservation District project to City Council. This first phase, the Study, involved detailed research and community engagement to understand the objectives, heritage values and heritage attributes that the community feels are important for a potential Heritage Conservation District in this area of the Ward.

This engagement period helped identify the unique character and heritage value of the area and helped recommend a boundary for a potential Heritage Conservation District. Council approved the Study and the boundary, confirmed the District be named “The Ward Heritage Conservation District”, and directed staff to move forward with preparing the HCD Plan, which we are now working on.

The HCD Boundary 

The Ward Heritage Conservation District is located in the western part of the Ward and is generally bounded by the Speed and Eramosa Rivers to the west and south, and Morris Street to the east. The northern boundary follows Ferguson Street to Huron Street northwards including the 100 Steps and the railroad tracks. The HCD boundary is outlined on this map: 

A map of the Ward HCD Boundary showing street names, property parcels, and the Speed and Eramosa Rivers.

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

Phases

Phases overview
Phase 1: HCD study phase background information
HCD study phase background information
Phase 2: HCD study survey and engagement
HCD study survey and engagement
Phase 3: HCD study available for review
HCD study available for review
Phase 4: Ward West Heritage Conservation Study to Council
Ward West Heritage Conservation Study to Council
Phase 5: Ward HCD Plan Survey
Ward HCD Plan Survey
Phase 6: Ward HCD Plan Open House & Survey
Ward HCD Plan Open House & Survey
Phase 7: HCD Plan process and schedule
HCD Plan process and schedule

HCD Plan process and schedule

April 24, 2026 4:00 AM - October 1, 2026 4:00 AM

Council has approved the Ward HCD study as of June 10, 2025, and we have been moving ahead with the Ward Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines since July of 2025.

The plan phase consists of 6 parts.

  1. Development of policies and guidelines.
  2. Public notification and meeting to consider the plan and designation bylaw.
  3. Council decision to proceed with designation.
  4. Notice of passing of the bylaw.
  5. Appeal period.
  6. District designation with the bylaw in effect. Plan and guidelines adopted.


The Ward HCD Plan survey and the Open House & Survey are parts of Step 1: the development of policies and guidelines.

Ward HCD Draft Plan.pdf
(48.1 MB)

Events

Past events

  • Ward West Open House #1

    Event date: June 28th, 2024 from 12:30 AM to 1:00 AM.

    Read more

  • Ward West Open House #2

    Event date: February 20th, 2025 from 9:30 PM to 11:30 PM.

    Location

    Italian Canadian Club Of Guelph

    Read more
  • A graphic of a calendar with a star on one of the dates

    Ward HCD Plan Open House #3

    Event date: March 30th, 2026 from 8:00 PM to 11:00 PM.

    Read more