Back from summer vacation, it’s time to talk heritage with the Heritage Advisory Committee. On this agenda, there is a new proposed designation, a major project inside a new heritage conservation district looking for approval, and a proposal for a partial demolition/partial preservation. In other news, if you were hoping that Queen’s Park might take some pity on our poor heritage planners in this last quarter of 2026, you will be disappointed. Here’s the preview!
NOTE #1: If you would like to delegate to one of the items at the meeting, or to access an alternative meeting format, get in touch with the clerk’s office, by email at advisorycommittees [at] guelph.ca or by calling (519) 822-1260 ext. 5603. Deadline is August 31 at 10 am.
NOTE #2: This meeting will take place in-person at City Hall and virtually on Cisco Webex. You can find the link on the agenda page for this meeting on the City’s website.
37 Liverpool Street: Draft Council Designation Report – This house was built around 1870–1872 as a parsonage for the Wesleyan Methodist Church, which is now Norfolk Street United Church. Architecturally speaking, the two-storey buff-brick house retains many original features from the Victorian era, including its limestone foundation and detailing, original window openings, but in terms of historic significance, one of the ministers who stayed at the home when it was a parsonage was Reverend Edwin A. Pearson, father of Canadian Prime Minister Lester B. Pearson. The house meets meets four of the nine prescribed criteria for determining cultural heritage value or interest, according to Ontario Regulation 9/06, and has the property owner’s endorsement for designation.
55 Baker Street including 152 and 160 Wyndham Street North: Heritage Permit Application HP26-0002 – Earlier this year, council approved the plan for the residential portion of the Baker District, two mixed-use towers – 17 and 19 storeys – containing approximately 401 residential units, plus ground-floor commercial space. Why does this concern the Heritage Advisory Committee? Because any new construction on the properties still has to be designed in a way that respects and complements the surrounding Downtown Heritage Conservative District, which was also approved in January. Staff have determined that the heritage permit application is consistent with the HCD’s policies and guidelines and represents good heritage-conservation practice.
665 Woolwich Street: Draft Council Designation Report – This two-storey red-brick Edwardian-era house and detached timber-frame barn have been on Guelph’s Municipal Register of Cultural Heritage Properties since 2009. They’ve also been vacant for a while, and an attempt to demolish the property last year was thwarted when the property owner tried to shirk a Property Standards order to fix it. A new owner though wants to make some adaptive re-use of the house, but the old barn, they say, has to go for some extra parking. Heritage staff are fine not designating the barn since it appears to contain reused structural timbers, but the house will be protected meeting two of the nine criteria.
Ministry of Citizenship and Multiculturalism letter to Guelph City Council – A letter dated last month from Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturism Graham McGregor says in no uncertain terms that the provincial government will not be delaying the provision in Bill 23 that will remove all properties listed on municipal heritage registries, but not designated. The letter is submitted for information to the committee.
Advisory Committee Recruitment – Another piece of information for the members of the committee, some of who, presumably, would like to return for another tour on the Heritage Advisory Committee. The City of Guelph is currently in the process of collecting applications for this committee and the other Advisory Committees of Council and the deadline to apply is Friday October 2.
Guelph Politico 