You Know You're From Guelph When...

• 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!

Other well known Guelphites include Olympian Victor Davis, author Jean Little, and actress Neve Campbell. Olympian and athlete Cassie Campbell attended the University of Guelph from 1992 to 1996, and is an honorary Guelphite!

• 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

It's weird, but interesting

United Way Pop-Up Dinner

Okay, so this isn't exactly about tourism in the city, but it's about an awesome event that's happening in Guelph, so surely that counts for something, right?

Guelph has always been the kind of city that's giving. There are many groups in the city that regularly give to charities. One of the biggest groups in town is the United Way. The United Way supports almost 100 different programs across Guelph and in the surrounding area. That, in turn, means they require a lot of funding, often from donations and the numerous fundraising events that happen throughout the year. A quick Google search will show just how many events and corporate sponsors there are for the United Way. With Easter just around the corner, fundraising campaigns are starting to gear up again.

One such event is the United Way Pop-Up Dinner, happening Sunday April 3rd. As part of their final project, students at Conestoga College's Guelph campus are organizing a six-course dinner and silent auction. Local chef, Justin Dafoe will be cooking up what should be an interesting dinner. Check out his Instagram photos, and you'll see examples of what you're in for.

Several companies in the area have donated to this event, including Morton's Wholesale, who have graciously donated all the food supplies. Not familiar with Morton's? You may have seen their delivery truck around, especially in the Downtown area. They supply local restaurants and cafes, such as With the Grain, The Woolwich Arrow, and Borealis Grille & Bar.

Silent auction donations currently include a gift basket from Thyme to Cook, four VIP passes for Air U Trampoline Park, and a one hour interview session with Forever Tree Films.

To get tickets, contact Jocelyn, and she'll hook you up. Her email address is at the bottom of the poster below. Tickets for the dinner cost $90 each. While that may seem like a lot, 75% of that will be going directly to the United Way ($67.50 per ticket!). Tickets are limited, so make sure you get one. You won't want to miss out!

I'll be there!

My Story, My Tattoo

The history of tattooing is as old as civilization itself and is found in cultures around the world. The Iceman discovered in the Italian-Austrian border area of the Alps in the early 1990s has tattoos and he is around 5200 years old. Over the decades and centuries, the meaning of tattooing has changed and evolved along with society.

In the 1970's, tattooing in western society experienced a resurgence in popularity. No more are they just for military personnel and bikers. Its becoming more socially acceptable for anyone to have one or more tattoos. Chances are, you work with people who have them, they might just be hidden.

More and more, people are choosing tattoo designs that have personal meaning to them. Whether its a hand print, GPS coordinates, or a semicolon, it means something to the person having it done. Tattoos are becoming more than just drawing chosen from a sketchbook.

Wellington County Museum and Archives currently has an exhibit that tells the story of thirty people and their tattoos. The exhibit explores the art, as well as the reasons and meanings behind why these people chose what they did. Artist Mac Young from Nighthawk Tattoo, and Stigmata Body Art owner Joan Larsen are featured, as well as Stigmata artist Adam Shortreed. The exhibit runs until March 27 and is well worth the half hour drive north of Guelph. You might just see someone that you know!

Muddy Grape Endurance Run

The fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics that #Guelph is hosting in May continues. Following their highly successful Polar Plunge at the beginning of February, Guelph Police Services will be having a mud run. Cox Creek Cellars, located just north of Guelph on highway 6, will be hosting the event on Saturday May 7th.

Appropriately, the mud run is called the Muddy Grape.

The registration fee is $40 per person, regardless of if you participate in a team (4 to 6 people) or individually. You can choose whether or not you want your race timed with a chip. All participants are required to fundraise a minimum of $60 each.

The course is designed to challenge participants of all skill levels, regardless of if this is your first mud race, or your tenth.

There will be prizes for the teams and individuals who raise the most money, the fastest competitive times, and best costumes. After the race there will be live entertainment, as well as food vendors, merchandise vendors on site. Admission is free for family or friends who are coming to cheer on racers.

Be sure to get your friends and family together for what is sure to be a good time!

If you're interested in volunteering for the Muddy Grape, or any of the other fundraising efforts for the Special Olympics follow this link to find out what opportunities there are. Lots of volunteers are also needed for the event it self, at the end of May.

We Remember

Back in August I wrote about my experiences visiting Belgium this summer. I think it's important that we take time to remember the sacrifices that people have made for our country. Typically, we remember those who served our country in a military fashion. But there are also those who served at home, in some capacity or another. Many women served this country by working in the munition factories. Likewise, men who were not accepted into the military served at home, often by doing essential jobs that had been left vacant by those who had gone overseas. Important to remember these people as well.

Red poppies for remembrance

You may recall last October when gunman Michael Zehaf-Bibeau stormed Centre Block in Ottawa after shooting Nathan Cirillo. Then Sergeant-at-Arms Kevin Vickers was the one who saved the day by taking down Zehaf-Bibeau. Vickers later recalled while giving a speech that the day he was interviewed for the position of Director of Security for the House of Commons, that as he walked up to the building, he saw a father and son playing Frisbee on the front lawn. It was a sight he wanted to protect.

White poppies for peace

It is because of men and women like Vickers and Cirillo that we have the freedoms we do today. War is much different today, compared to what it was 100 years ago. Gone are the days of rat infested trenches. Modern technology has greatly changed the way war is conducted. Trying to remember and honour something that has not had a direct impact on your life can be difficult. It's hard to wrap your head around the idea of how many millions of people have died for our freedom. However, because of these people, we have the right to free speech, and assembly. And we're able to conduct yoga classes on the lawn of Parliament Hill on warm summer days.

Purple poppies for the animals who served

 Many of the things we take for granted in this day and age we have because brave people stepped up, and did what they felt was right. It is only right, on our end, that we remember and honour their service to our country.

Thanksgiving 2015

I don't know about you, but I feel as though Thanksgiving snuck up on us this year. I spent so much of my time and energy earlier this year being preoccupied with what ended up being the vacation of a lifetime, that the rest of the year sailed by without me noticing. I blinked and it was the beginning of October.

Thanksgiving is something I've always felt a little strange about. I suppose I never really understood it. Yes, it's about giving thanks, as the name implies, but giving thanks for what? As a child, all it really meant to me was getting together with extended family that you may or may not like and having a HUGE meal that no one could usually finish. Then you'd be stuck eating turkey leftovers for a week or more.

Once I started working, Thanksgiving lost what little bit of meaning it had. I always had to work that weekend. I didn't mind, however. Time-and-a-half on an eight to ten hour day can bring in some good spending money.

These days Thanksgiving is pretty low key. My parents and I go over to my best friend's parent's place for dinner, so there's only eight of us in total. This year, Thanksgiving has a bit of meaning to us. It sounds cliché, but I'm thankful for the life I've been given and allowed to lead. If you'd asked me 15 years ago where I thought I'd be when I hit 30, my answer certainly wouldn't have been to be where I am now. I thought I'd have a university degree, a spouse, a career, and a house. After all, isn't that how life is supposed to go? That's what Hollywood tells us, at least. I have none of those things. My life has taken a totally different trajectory than I'd expected. I've been places and seen things I never thought I would. And honestly, I wouldn't change that for the world.

So, in no particular order, these are the things I'm grateful for this Thanksgiving:

I am grateful for the support my parents have given me over the years, especially when they let me move back in with them a few years ago. Our relationship isn't always the greatest, but we try our best.

I'm grateful for my friends, both close to home and far away. I had the opportunity to reconnect with some of my friends in Europe this summer, and we had a lot of fun in Brussels and Amsterdam.

Me at the Atomium in Brussels

I also met a group of awesome people while in Mongolia this summer. I couldn't have asked for a better group of people to share the experiences we had with, including my 30th birthday. The trip gave me new perspectives on life and myself.

The 30th birthday cake I was surprised with in Mongolia!

My dog. She rarely ceases to bring a smile to my face with her antics and wiggly tail. Yes, she is obstinate and often won't listen. But how can I stay mad at that cute face??

She loves the fish pond!

My two jobs. Both jobs I hold continue to challenge me and make me expand my mind. They have very different skill sets, so there is always something new to encounter. Sure, it makes for a long work week, but I wouldn't have it any other way.

Advances in medical science. Okay, this one may seem a bit strange. Two people who are very dear to me are each struggling through some medical issues that, while difficult, they will pull through. This would not be possible without all the advances that science has made (and is still making) in detecting and treating illness.

So, dear readers, no matter where you are, or what you're doing this weekend, take a few minutes to call (or text, if you can't call) the people in your lives that you care about. They'll appreciate it.

Black Gold in Guelph

How most of us feel in the morning

Most of us need it to start our day, and a lot of us require it to keep us from hitting a wall part way through our workday. It's something a lot of us can't live without.

It's coffee.

Guelph is home to well over forty coffee shops, only about half of which belong to chains such as Starbucks and Tim Hortons. According to Tim Hortons' website there are only twenty Tims in the city. Surprising, considering there seems to be one on every corner. Starbucks has six locations in the city, Coffee Time has four, and Second Cup has three.

The downtown area is home to a number of coffee shops. With the Grain, The Red Brick Cafe, and Capistrano are the cornerstones of downtown coffee culture. Between the three, they've been around for more than forty years. They're well established fixtures in the city with a strong clientele. The Red Brick is especially popular with students.

Compare that with recent newcomers Balzac's and The Common, both of which opened up earlier this year. I felt several years ago that Guelph had hit its saturation point with coffee shops when Magnolia opened its doors. Did we really need another coffee shop? I thought so again a few years ago when Ox opened its doors. Although Ox was primarily a restaurant, they did have the cafe section in the front window. Both businesses have since closed, their owners choosing to pursue other business ventures. While I never made it to Magnolia, I was sad to hear of Ox closing. The baristas made excellent mochas.

With the addition of Balzac's and The Common, the coffee culture continues to grow in Guelph. Both business are popular among downtown residents and those who work in the core. This, of course, means that I was completely wrong about having reached the saturation point of coffee shops in Guelph. And I am totally okay with that.

ISpy Guelph 2015

I Spy, with my little eye…

It’s back! After taking a break for a few years, our I Spy challenge has returned.

I Spy is a fun twist on a scavenger hunt. It’s a good way to get out into the community, and explore parts of the city that you might not be familiar with. The contest is open to people of all ages, and is a fun activity for families, even those with small children. Though Mom or Dad might have to fill in the answers!


This year, in honour of John McCrae’s poem In Flanders Fields turning 100, our theme is a City to Remember. The questions focus on John McCrae the person, and facts that you may not know about him.


Participation is free. Question cards will be available at all branches of the Guelph Public Library and in our Info Centre at 1 Carden. The question card is also available online for you to print out. Once all the questions have been answered, bring the card down to our Info Centre, where one of our friendly staff will check it over and give you a prize. Cards cannot be submitted online.

If you’re stuck, check out our website (www.guelph.ca/ispy ) for some hints that will help point you in the right direction. If you’re still stuck after that, feel free to give us a call here at the Info Centre, and we’ll be able to help you out.

The contest will run from June 1 to August 28 2015, so make sure to get your card to us before we close on the final day!

Be sure to follow us on Facebook (www.facebook.com/ispyguelph) as well for updates.

Get out there Guelph and get those thinking caps on!