It is just about time for the start of Guelph Arts Council’s annual walking tours.
The guided tours, offered on selected Sundays between April 24 and Oct. 16, trace Guelph’s heritage through its architecture, people, and stories that contribute to the city’s character.
There are usually six walking tours, each of which explores a different area of Guelph. The five tours offered in 2011 are: Downtown Walkabout, which covers Guelph’s current downtown; The Slopes of the Speed, which explores the area of the Speed River where many of Guelph’s largest and most distinguished historic homes are located; Altar and Hearth which covers the area west of downtown and includes several historic stone churches and many historic homes representing a variety of architectural styles; Brooklyn and the College Hill which focuses on one of Guelph’s early industrial sections on the south side of the Speed River, as well as the area that developed around the Ontario Agricultural College; and Ward One Guelph, which covers the area southeast of the downtown, between the Speed and Eramosa Rivers, and features a diversity of historic architecture and the diversity of peoples who formed Guelph.
The tour, Where Guelph Began, which encircles the original Market Square area laid out by John Galt in 1827, will not be offered because of continuing construction and road closures in that area.
All tours start at 2pm from different locations. They take about two hours to complete and cost $5 per person. Tour booklets, including the new Ward One Guelph booklet are available for $5 each at the Guelph Arts Council office and several other retail locations.
For dates and other information, contact the Guelph Arts Council office at 147 Wyndham Street North, Suite 404, Guelph, or phone 519-836-3280; email coordinator.gac@sentex.net; web guelpharts.ca/guelphartscouncil.
