Guelph, ON
Known as ‘The Royal City’, Guelph is a city in southwestern Ontario that is located along the banks of the Speed River. The city is known for its stunning limestone architecture, numerous festivals and vibrant culture. It is rated as one of the best cities to live in Canada, as crime is very low, employment is high and standard of living is great. Manufacturing is the main industry in Guelph, followed by educational services. This is because the top notch University of Guelph is located in the city.
Guelph is also a clean, green city, with many parks, trails and golf courses. There is also the Guelph Lake and the University of Guelph Arboretum. As well, many Guelphites opt to get around by bicycle or on foot, although there is a network of buses that run through the city, many of which pass through Downtown Guelph. This is the heart and soul of the city and where any Guelph resident will say has the largest concentration of shops, restaurants and bars. It is also the main business centre of the city, which means it is not the cheapest area to live in, albeit it is the trendiest.
As a result of it being so highly ranked as far as places to live in Canada, Guelph is the country’s fifth fastest growing city. The average age is around 37, meaning it is a popular city for young families. There are four school boards that run in Guelph, one of which offers French First language education. There are also a large number of private schools in the city. After school, you can take the kids to Stone Road Mall, the Guelph Lake Conservation Area or to one of the city’s fabulous parks.
All-in-all, Guelph is a fantastic place to live. It is not a large city, but has all of the facilities and amenities that any larger city would have. Plus, there is so much to see, like its historic limestone architecture, the Guelph Civic Museum and the Gothic Revival Church of Our Lady Immaculate. There are also other interesting places to visit in the city, all of which are sure to be listed in any Guelph city guide, like Old City Hall, McCrae House and the Art Gallery of Guelph. Let’s not forget about festivals like the Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival, Guelph and District Multicultural Festival, and the Guelph Jazz Festival, as well as the three-day Hillside Festival.