Doors Open Guelph is back with this year with new sites open for exploration.
Among those sites is the Gurdwara currently under construction on 410 Clair Rd. W.
This free event — put together annually by the Guelph Arts Council — aims to present opportunities for community members to explore and engage with history in unique ways on April 25 from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m by touring various sites across the city.
Doors Open Guelph attracts an average of 6,000 people to its sites each year, 25 per cent to 40 per cent of whom are visitors.
The event will kick off with a large celebration to commemorate Guelph’s 193rd birthday at and around the Civic Museum from 5 p.m on April 24 to 1 a.m on April 25.
Historians and artists are encouraged to submit proposals for activations that explore Guelph’s history and identity through themes of reconciliation, diversity, landscape, culture, innovation, and environment. Submissions are due March 8.
This year’s event will also offer outdoor opportunities to visitors so they can connect with Guelph’s culture and heritage. The activities are in partnership with Trails Open, City of Guelph, and Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation.
The site listing this year is as follows:
Gryphon Football Pavilion
15 Lang Way, University of Guelph
Home to the Gryphon Football team, the pavilion is a modern building designed for the players’ training, education and leisure. It features original art, intriguing graphics, outstanding training facilities and a unique locker room, all sporting the red and black team colours. Large viewing areas open on to the redesigned field.
The President’s House, University of Guelph
100 College Avenue East
Built in 1882 by local stonemasons on the current site of Creelman Hall, the house was the President’s residence, 1828 - 1984. In 1912, the house was jacked up and moved across College Avenue to make way for Creelman. Now used for entertaining, it contains an outstanding collection of furniture and Canadian art.
Campus Co-op Commons
1 Hales Crescent (Borden St. Entrance)
Campus Co-op Commons fights climate change with a passive solar design, rainwater collection, and a "living roof". Attention to detail and thermal bridging makes it an example of how to build it right. The Co-op and eMERGE Guelph partner to make this a quick course on energy and water conservation.
Hammond Radio Museum
595 Southgate Drive
Established in 1982 by Fred Hammond, one of the founding members of Guelph’s Hammond Manufacturing, the Radio Museum houses an extensive collection of rare and historically significant pieces. The 2000+ items exhibited illustrate the development of radio throughout the past 100 years. Included are crystal radios, early tabletop and broadcast, early wireless, military and amateur radio equipment.
Gurdwara – Guelph Sikh Society
410 Clair Road West
The temple is an impressive example of modern architecture built to inspire its worshippers with soaring curved staircases, large skylights, marble walls, open spaces, and colourful banners. The building also features a school, a hall for events, meeting spaces, and a kitchen. Tours will explain the Sikh religion and practices in the context of the new building.
Sleeman Breweries
551 Clair Road West
John H. Sleeman founded his brewery in Guelph in 1834 and began a dynasty whose descendants were a storied part of Guelph’s history. Today’s modern brewery building showcases not only the beer brewing process and its sustainable practices, but it also tells the history of the Sleeman family through the memorabilia displayed in the Hospitality Room.
The Junction
5-7-9 Edinburgh Road
A mixed-use development on a site important to Guelph’s railway history. The former CN Rail warehouse is now a stunning showroom for Granite Homes. The new building echoes its style and houses innovative co-working offices, Home Group Realty and the Abe Erb Brewing Company. All buildings feature unique railway décor and art to reflect the site’s heritage.
Hope House and Lakeside Downtown
75 Norfolk Street
The Wesleyan Methodist Church, Guelph’s oldest stone church, was built in 1855 and extensively renovated in 1876. After Church union in 1925, Norfolk Street United Church worshipped in the building until its sale to Lakeside Church in 2012. Hope House offers a food market, clothing bureau and a café to help those in need in the downtown core.
The Bell-Kennedy House
193 Woolwich Street
Built in 1901, this stately Edwardian house reflects its first owner, Edith Bell Kennedy. The elegant interior features an etched glass fleur de lis on its front door, an original oak staircase, ornate plaster ceilings and a painted-glass window featuring Othello and Desdemona. Beautifully restored by Bill Mactaggart, the house is now the offices of Richardson GMP Ltd.
Bisson Dentistry
199 Woolwich Street
This John Hall designed house built in 1874 of red brick with white quoins has an elaborate outer door with beautiful glass, a miniature hallway and an impressive inner door. The ornate curved staircase leads to the recently renovated upper level. The dental practice rooms on the main floor feature original crown mouldings, ceiling medallions, and fireplaces.
Doors Open Guided Outdoor Experiences
The Rectory and Catholic Hill
28 Norfolk Street
The restoration of the Rectory, built in 1852, surprised the community with its rendered stone exterior instead of the expected limestone walls. It now contains residences for the priests and a new office. Visitors will experience a guided walk around the Rectory and the rest of Catholic Hill to hear the stories of Guelph’s most prominent landscape and buildings.
Doors Open 2020 will include other walking and cycling tours, presented in partnership with Trails Open, Guelph Coalition for Active Transportation, and City of Guelph. Details will be announced, and posted at guelpharts.ca.
