Guelph, Ontario

Guelph (pronounced gwělf) (2004 population 125,872, metropolitan population 155,635) is a city located in southwestern Ontario, Canada, roughly 100 kilometres west of downtown Toronto along Ontario provincial highway 401. It is the seat of Wellington County.

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2004 - Ontario - Canada - Toronto - Ontario provincial highway 401 - Wellington County

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One of the first planned communities in Canada, Guelph was founded on St. George’s Day, April 23, 1827. It was selected as the headquarters of the Canada Company, a British development firm, by its Canadian Superintendent John Galt. Galt, who was also a novelist, designed the town to resemble a European city centre and chose the name "Guelph" after the House of Guelph, the ancestral family of George IV, the reigning monarch, thus the nickname The Royal City.

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Planned communities - St. George - April 23 - 1827 - Canada Company - John Galt - Novelist - House of Guelph - George IV

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It was not until the Grand Trunk Railway connected the town to Toronto in 1856, and several buildings were erected in the late 19th century, that Galt's grandiose plan for Guelph was fully realized. It became a city in 1879.

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Grand Trunk Railway - Toronto - 1856 - 19th century - 1879

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The city is home to the University of Guelph and Sleeman Breweries Ltd..

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University of Guelph - Sleeman Breweries Ltd.

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Guelph is also notable for its indie rock scene, which has spawned some of Canada's most important indie bands, including King Cobb Steelie, Royal City, and The Constantines. Famous current and former Guelphites (as Guelph residents are known) include poet John McCrae, children's author Robert Munsch, novelist Jean Little, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, cartoonists Seth and Jay Stephens, and actress Neve Campbell.

Related Topics:
Indie rock - King Cobb Steelie - Royal City - The Constantines - John McCrae - Robert Munsch - Jean Little - John Kenneth Galbraith - Jay Stephens - Neve Campbell

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