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A walk through Guelph's past

Guelph Arts Council's Historical Walking Tours series starts Sunday
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Old Guelph City Hall is a likely stop on the first of the Guelph Arts Council's Historical Walking Tours. It happens on Sunday. Rob O'Flanagan/GuelphToday

Take a walk through Guelph’s past on Sunday, as the Guelph Arts Council strolls into its annual series of Historical Walking Tours.

The first in the six-part series, Where Guelph Began, starts at 2 p.m. Sunday from 25 Waterloo Ave., at the corner of Dublin Street. There is a $5 cash fee. Advance registration is not necessary.  

A tour guide will take you through some of the landmark sites that are significant to the early days of the community, GAC executive director Patti Broughton said in an interview.

The walk doubles as a commemoration of Guelph’s 190th birthday. The heritage aspect of Where Guelph Began ties in nicely with Doors Open Guelph, which also happens this weekend, Broughton added. The walking tour is about two hours in length.

The Historical Walking Tours series happens from April through to October, with a break in July. Depending on the weather and other factors, as many as 20 people turn out to take part. Some of the Sunday tours are conducted three or four times on the day of. They happen rain or shine. 

“April is a great time to get things started in Guelph,” Broughton said, adding there are many intriguing and beautiful things to see on the walks. And they are highly instructional.  

The tours are lead by volunteers who are heritage enthusiasts, and provide an opportunity for visitors and residents to learn about Guelph’s history, architecture and natural settings.

Tour-specific booklets containing historical information and architectural drawings are produced, and available for purchase as keepsakes of the tours, or for self-guided walks. They are $5.

For tour dates, descriptions and departure locations, check here. The Historical Walking Tours series is sponsored by Sleeman Breweries.   


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Rob O'Flanagan

About the Author: Rob O'Flanagan

Rob O’Flanagan has been a newspaper reporter, photojournalist and columnist for over twenty years. He has won numerous Ontario Newspaper Awards and a National Newspaper Award.
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