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The City of Guelph
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The University
is located in the City of Guelph, a lively multicultural
community of 90,000 that blends a rich history and friendly
city life with nearby scenic countryside. Guelph is an ideal
size for short or long-term visits, with the warmth of small
town hospitality combined with the cultural life and modern
facilities of a larger urban centre. |
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Only an hour's drive west of Toronto,
and 70 km from Pearson International Airport, Guelph
and the University are very accessible from destinations
worldwide. Toronto is a major "hub" airport serviced by most
major international airlines; this allows for competitive
ticket pricing. Ground transportation services are available
to and from campus, with special rates for groups. Talk to
your conference representative for more details. |
Downtown Guelph
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Within
the city of Guelph, there are many interesting venues and
activities. Downtown Guelph is a friendly mix of
shops and unique restaurants. The Guelph Civic
Museum illustrates the story of Guelph from
pre-settlement times to present. McCrae House
museum is the birthplace of John McCrae, best know for his
World War I poem "In Flanders Field". Several different
Historical Walking Tours offered by the Guelph Arts
Council, can also be arranged.
For outdoor enthusiasts, canoe and paddle boat rentals are
available on the Speed and Eramosa rivers,
and the city maintains a well developed trail system for
joggers and walkers.
The Kortright Waterfowl Park is a
conservation area nearby with over 90 species of wild birds.
The Guelph Lake Conservation Area provides
opportunities for swimming, windsurfing, sailing, camping
and nature study. |
The River Run Centre
A new major performance and conference
facility located on the banks of the Speed River in
downtown Guelph houses an 800-seat auditorium,
a 200-seat theatre/workshop space and a
350-seat banquet/conference reception hall. Visitors
will enjoy all types of activities: arts and entertainment,
education, business, national and international conventions.
The Guelph Sports and Entertainment
Centre
The Guelph Sports and Entertainment
Centre, a brand new multi-purpose entertainment complex
across from the River Run Centre, opened its doors in September
2000. With the
ability to entertain 5,100 for an ice event or
6,500 for a concert or seminar, the centre is
an extremely versatile facility that can accommodate events from
VIP receptions to trade shows to formal dinners for 1,500
people.
The Guelph Spring Festival
The Festival, held for three weeks in May, is a cultural
gathering of classical music, recitals, concerts and films,
attracting some of the top names in the world.
The Region
The location of Guelph in proximity to other centres is well
suited to conference day excursions and sightseeing. Within 20
to 90 minutes, a variety of attractions and excursions can be
visited in the Niagara region, Toronto, Stratford, and local
Mennonite communities.
The Village of St. Jacobs
Only 40 km from Guelph
Visitors can be in the heart of the fascinating heritage and
locale of the Mennonite community of St. Jacobs.
Originally called "Jakobstettel" (little town of many Jacobs')
by the Pennsylvania Dutch settlers, this village is the home to
many artisans and their studios, among many other interesting
attractions. The Farmer's Market is a lively indoor/outdoor food
and craft market with over 400 vendors. Customized tours may be
arranged to view the Mennonite countryside, visit an Old Order
farm, a buggy factory and the oldest covered bridge in Ontario.
The Villages of Elora & Fergus
Approximately 15 minutes from Guelph
The picturesque Scottish limestone of these two
villages,illustrate the historical aspects of the region. Each
has unique festivals during July and August with Fergus hosting
the annual Highland Games attracting worldwide
visitors while the Elora Music Festival has a
growing reputation as a premier choral festival. During the year
both villages attract many tourists to their boutiques. The
Village of Elora is home to the famous Elora Gorge, an
attraction for the young and old.
Stratford
approximately 45 minutes from Guelph
Established in 1953, the Stratford Festival has
become a major world theatrical event involving three theatres.
Based primarily on productions of the works of William
Shakespeare, the festival also incorporates musicals, classic
and contemporary dramas in its repertoire. Tours may be arranged
for scholastic groups to tour the festival facilities and take
part in lectures and workshops with festival staff.
Kitchener/Waterloo/Cambridge
approximately 20-40 minutes from Guelph
The "tri-city" area has many interesting destinations for day
trips. Kitchener's SportsWorld and
Bingeman Park are two large waterpark and entertainment
complexes. African Lion Safari in Cambridge is
a drive through wildlife park with over 1500 exotic animals and
birds.
Niagara Falls
approximately 80 minutes from Guelph
This world renowned area is host to many attractions including
its most famous - Niagara Falls. Besides simply
viewing the falls, visitors can cruise to the base of the falls
on the Maid of the Mist tour boat, ascend 236 metres up the
Skylon Tower for a panoramic view, or see a
spectacular film about the falls at Niagara's Imax Theatre,
Canada's largest movie screen. Other activities can range from
enjoying the beautiful 40 km Niagara Park system, to spending an
afternoon at Marineland, a marine park with
impressive dolphin, sea lion and whale shows.
Niagara-on-the-Lake
approximately 70 minutes from Guelph
This charming 19th century town overlooking Lake Ontario at the
mouth of the Niagara River, is the home of the Shaw
Festival, an annual theatre series of plays and
musicals by
George Bernard Shaw and his contemporaries. Fort George
National Historic Park, is a fascinating site to learn
about the border conflicts between the United States and (then)
Upper Canada. The area surrounding Niagara-on-the-Lake is one of
Canada's principle wine growing regions, with many
wineries offering tours and tastings.
City of Toronto
approximately 60 minutes from Guelph
As Canada's largest city and cultural and financial centre,
Toronto has countless sights and events to enjoy. One of the
most multicultural and ethnically diverse cities in North
America, Toronto's neighbourhoods provide international eating
and shopping experiences! From a historical perspective,
Toronto's many museums and heritage sites provide examples of
the areas' British colonial past.
Cultural and scientific institutions abound, including
the Royal Ontario Museum, the Art Gallery of Ontario, McLaughlin
Planetarium, and the Ontario Science Centre.
Toronto has joined London and New York as the third largest
centre in the
world for English language dramatic productions with more than
115 professional companies mounting plays, cabaret, opera and
dance in the city.
For more lighthearted visiting, the CN Tower -
the world's tallest free-standing structure - is a popular
destination. Ontario Place is an entertainment
complex on Lake Ontario consisting
of islands and futuristic buildings.
The Toronto Skydome stadium, with its fully
retractable roof, is the home of the city's football and
baseball teams.
Around the outskirts of Toronto are also many interesting
attractions. The Metro Toronto Zoo, northeast
of Toronto, is 710 acres transformed into different outdoor
habitats and huge
freeform indoor pavilions serving as home for every specie of
animal imaginable. Paramount Canada's Wonderland,
north of Toronto, is a theme park with over 50 rides and various
live
shows.
-- All the above courtesy of the
University of Guelph Hospitality Services - Conference Services
web page,
http://www.hospitality.uoguelph.ca/conferences/pages/cityOfGuelph.htm
More about the Area:
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