Guelph (2003 population 115,872, metropolitan population 138,975) is a city located in southwestern Ontario, Canada, roughly 100 kilometres west of downtown Toronto along Ontario provincial highway 401.

One of the first planned communities in Canada, Guelph was founded on St. George’s Day, April 23, 1827. It was selected as the headquarters of the Canada Company, a British development firm, by its Canadian Superintendent John Galt. Galt, who was also a novelist, designed the town to resemble a European city centre and chose the name "Guelph" after the German ancestral family of George IV, the reigning monarch, thus the nickname The Royal City.

It was not until the Grand Trunk Railway connected the town to Toronto in 1856, and several buildings were erected in the late 19th century, that Galt's grandiose plan for Guelph was fully realized. It became a city in 1879.

The city is home to the University of Guelph and Sleeman Breweries Ltd..

Guelph is also notable for its indie rock scene, which has spawned some of Canada's most important indie bands, including King Cobb Steelie, Royal City, and The Constantines. Famous current and former Guelphites (as Guelph residents are known) include poet John McCrae, children's author Robert Munsch, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, and actress Neve Campbell.

Sports Teams

• Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League. They play at the Guelph Sports and Entertainment Centre.
• Guelph Royals of the Intercounty Baseball League.
• Guelph Gryphons of the University of Guelph. They play in the Canadian Inter-Collegiate Sports Leagues.

Government

Wards

Guelph is divided up into six wards or sections. The areas east of and including most of downtown and the area east of the University of Guelph are considered Ward 1. The areas Northeast of downtown are considered Ward 2, Ward 3 is in the central and some of the north ends, and Ward 4 is in the Northeast end of the city as well as the west end. Ward 5 is the area south of downtown and north of Stone Road. This ward includes the University and Stone Road Mall. Finally, Ward 6 is better known as the "South End" of Guelph. This ward is south of Stone Road and, in recent years, has seen rapid residential development.

City Hall

In Guelph, City Hall is run by a mayor which has a council made up of 2 councillors representing each of the six wards. During elections, the people of Guelph elect the 2 councillors from their ward and also elect the mayor. City elections generally take place every 4 years with the next election slated for some time in 2007. The current mayor of Guelph is Kate Quarrie.

Population Growth

Guelph is the 5th fastest growing mid-size city in Canada with a population growth rate of about 2%. Guelph's current population is estimated to be around 117,000 (census figures have the population close to 116,000) and is projected to have a population around 153,000 by the year 2027. [1]

Miscellaneous Facts

Mondex: Guelph was the first North American test site of the Mondex electronic cash system in 1997. Parking meters, buses, bank machines, and payphones were converted to accept the cards which stored 'money' on a microchip. Many local merchants also installed card readers, but ultimately public reception to the program was poor and the trial ended without further expansion.

Wet/Dry: Guelph has one of the most advanced municipal waste management systems in the world. In order to maximize recycling and diversion of waste from landfills, household wastes are divided into three streams: wet, dry, and clear. The wet stream, which must be placed at the curb side in translucent green bags, is composed of compostable materials. The dry stream, which must be placed in translucent blue bags, handles recyclable materials. The clear stream, which uses transparent bags, is for non-compostable and non-recyclable items. The city estimates compliance with the program at 98%. The system prevents more than 50% of household waste from landfill disposal.

See also

• Guardians of Order

External links

• City of Guelph website
• Maps of Guelph streets, attractions, trails, bus routes, truck routes, waste collection, and wards
• Unofficial Guelph website
• Wellington County