Ward West Heritage Conservation District Study
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
Myths, Legends and Stories
The history of downtown Guelph extends from time immemorial to present day. The study area is bordered by the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, which are historically and culturally significant to Indigenous peoples of this region, and form a geographical boundary for the Ward West. This neighbourhood, located adjacent to the downtown core, was first surveyed for John A. Macdonald in 1855 and is characterized by late nineteenth- and early twentieth century industrial buildings surrounded by working class residences.
As part of this project, we want to gain a stronger understanding of the stories associated with the "The Ward" - the good, the bad or the myth. If you have a connection to this area, we invite you to share it here. Anonymous responses are welcome, and if you would like to share your story privately, please contact a member of the project team to share your story. These stories are integral to the historical significance of the neighbourhood, and will form a significant part of our HCD Study.
- There are no stories to display. Why don't you share one?
Who's Listening
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JM
Email jack.mallon@guelph.ca -
Email kmartens@asiheritage.ca
