About the project

We are doing a heritage conservation district study for Ward West in Guelph. Ward West has been known at various times as "the Ward", East Ward, St. Patrick's Ward and Ward One.

In 2020 The City completed a Cultural Heritage Action Plan which identified Ward West as a "high priority" cultural heritage landscape based on the anticipated growth as a part of the Downtown Urban Growth Centre and recommended a study of the area to be carried out. The Action Plan also identified three additional areas of the Ward as "medium priority" cultural heritage landscapes. In 2021, Council approved the recommendations of the plan and in 2023 voted to speed up the timing of a cultural heritage study for the Ward West area.

The provincial government’s More Homes Built Faster Act, 2022, significantly changed the structure of municipal heritage registers, stating that all properties currently listed on the Municipal Register of Cultural Heritage Properties would be removed by January 1, 2025. This would result in about 1,700 properties in Guelph losing protections. The recent provincial Homeowner Protection Act, 2024 extended the date to January 1, 2027.

Heritage Conservation District studies are a tool the City can use to conserve cultural heritage resources. The historical core of the Ward, located to the west, has the greatest proportion of properties included on the Heritage Register in the neighbourhood, with 117 properties being listed. As a result, this area of the Ward has ben prioritized for study as a Heritage Conservation District.

To protect key cultural heritage resources within Ward West, the City is completing this study to determine the suitability for a heritage conservation district for the neighbourhood. This comprehensive study, includes community consultation, to direct future cultural heritage conservation efforts.

How to participate

In person

We held our first public open house Thursday June 27, 2024 from 4:30 PM - 6:30 PM at the Italian Canadian Club of Guelph, 135 Ferguson St, Guelph.

Check back to this page for future opportunities.

On-line

Our online tools are now closed in anticipation of the next phase of this project. Check back here for further opportunities in the coming months. You can still review the open house boards and presentation if you haven't yet checked them out.

Let us know if you require any accommodations or have any questions by reaching out to Jack Mallon at jack.mallon@guelph.ca