You've had to explain to someone how to pronounce 'Guelph'
The spelling and pronunciation of Guelph don't correlate. If they did, we would still be spelling Guelph as 'Gwelf'. English is not the most concise language and likes to throw in extra and silent letters for fun to mess with us. At some point over time, the spelling of the name changed, but the pronunciation stayed the same. Trying to explain to someone how to pronounce 'Guelph' can sometimes be a challenge, though often an entertaining one.
You've used Church of our Lady as a point of reference for getting around town or giving directions
Admit it, we've all done it. There are still bi-laws on the books that say that no buildings can be higher than the church. Whether or not that will still be the case in the future as more condo buildings are built in the downtown area, remains to be seen. Still, it is nice to know that our skyline is unique and that our most iconic building can be seen from most parts of town.
Peek-a-boo!
If you don't know everyone in town, you know someone who does
Even though the population of the city is almost 130,000, Guelph still has that small town feel to it. My best friend's grandfather was the youngest of ten children, and because of that we're always running into people she knows when we go out. If your family has been in Guelph for a few generations, the chances are pretty good that you're going to know a lot of people. The Six Degrees of Guelph is a real thing, just ask someone who's been here for a while!
Whether or not you can connect to Kevin Bacon is another thing all together
You're curious what the Begging Bear is dressed up as when you walk or drive by
The Begging Bear has become such an iconic part of Guelph, that we're always curious how he'll be dressed up. When the students are around, almost every day it's something different, so it comes as a surprise to us when he's not dressed up! During the summer months, he spends a bit more time aux natural, but that doesn't mean we're not curious what look he'll be sporting next!
He's quite the fashionista
The sight of heavy farm equipment on the road doesn't phase you
You don't have to drive very far out of Guelph to find farm land. Because of that, it's not uncommon to occasionally find the farm equipment driving around on city roads. While we usually see it more in the winter to help with snow removal, it's not uncommon to see the occasional tractor on our roads. Getting around them on roads with a solid yellow line, mind you, can be a challenge!
You know we were the largest community in the country without a Walmart for a very long time
For a very long time, Guelph had no Walmart. Soon, we'll have two. The battle to get a Walmart into the city lasted ten years and cost millions of dollars. It was a very polarizing issue. People who were pro-Walmart, were tired of driving over to Cambridge. Those who were anti-Walmart argued environmental concerns, and that Walmart would destroy local businesses. Eventually the big box store won out, and while there was some protest on opening day, we haven't heard much since.
You can name several famous or well-known Guelphites
Guelph has other famous people besides John McCrae. One of the city's best known Guelphites is an American who didn't move here until 1975! Robert Munsch, author of childhood favourites including The Paper Bag Princess, and Love You Forever, initially moved here to work at the university, but eventually left to focus on his writing full time. He is the recipient of the Order of Canada, and has a star on Canada's Walk of Fame. Not bad for someone who almost became a Jesuit priest!
You might have put your arm in a cow's stomach at College Royal
The University of Guelph's College Royal, is the largest university open house in North America. Started back in 1925, College Royal is a 12 day long event that is 100% student run. There are a lot of events happening over that 12 day period, but it is also an opportunity to take a look behind the scenes at the OVC. It's a rare opportunity to take a look at some of the animals that the university works with, including the cannulated cows. The cows aren't always available to the public to see and if they are, be sure to take the opportunity to check it out. If you're brave enough, put your arm inside one. Be careful though! It's a bit smelly! Mike Rowe demonstrates how it's done
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