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About the project
The City of Guelph has conducted a heritage conservation district study for the Ontario Reformatory area of Guelph.
The Ontario Reformatory or “OR” opened in 1911 and served as an innovative correctional facility for the first half of the 20th century. From 1970 through to its decommissioning in 2001, parts of the Reformatory site were repurposed and operated as the provincially run Guelph Correctional Centre.
In 2016, Infrastructure Ontario indicated the Province of Ontario’s intention to sell the property. In preparation for the future property sale, Council approved a heritage designation by-law for 785 York Road in 2021 and also directed staff to initiate a heritage conservation district study for the Ontario Reformatory area.
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Community engagement
We encourage the community to follow this project. Please visit the engagement page to watch recordings of public open houses, review feedback from the completed engagement process, and learn about future opportunities to provide feedback.
How can I participate right now?
Council will consider the final draft of the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Plan and Guidelines at the Council Planning meeting on Tuesday, February 10, 2026. This is a decision point for Council regarding the proposed designation of the Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District and the potential approval of the OR HCD Plan.
The public release of the final draft of the Ontario Reformatory HCD Plan and Guidelines was announced at the Heritage Advisory Committee meeting on January 15, 2026.
The OR HCD Plan is now available. See OR HCD Plan part 1 and OR HCD Plan part 2. It is also available on Have Your Say.
Project phases
This project is divided into two phases. Both have included a mix of technical and engagement tasks:
Phase 1: Heritage Conservation District Study
The purpose of the Phase 1 Study was to determine if the Ontario Reformatory HCD Study area merits designation as a heritage conservation district in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act, provincial guidelines, and municipal policies.
Click the link below to see the full HCD Study area which consisted of the lands south of York Road, west of Watson Parkway South, north of Stone Road East and east of the Guelph Junction Railway tracks on the west side of the Eramosa River. The HCD Study area map also locates highlight features within the Ontario Reformatory cultural heritage landscape such as buildings, stone walls, bridges, ponds and the quarry area.
Detailed map of study area and highlight features
Through the Phase 1 Study we assessed the historical, design and contextual value of the study area; identified contributing and non-contributing properties and resources; reviewed the existing policy framework in the area; and defined boundaries for the cultural heritage landscape. Phase 1 also included community engagement to help the project team further understand the community’s experience of the area, and to inform the recommended Heritage Conservation District boundary presented in the completed Ontario Reformatory Heritage Conservation District Study Phase 1 Report.
On March 21, 2023, City Council approved the recommendations from the OR HCD Study and the proposed OR HCD boundary.
Staff were directed to Phase 2 and to prepare an HCD Plan and Guidelines for the lands within the Ontario Reformatory HCD boundary in accordance with the Ontario Heritage Act.
Phase 2: Heritage Conservation District Plan
The draft OR HCD Plan and Guidelines was released to the public on November 1, 2024, within the agenda of the City Council Planning meeting held November 13, 2024, as the statutory public meeting for the project under the provisions of the Ontario Heritage Act. This meeting did not conclude and required a continuance to complete the required steps to move forward with the final phase of engagement. The continuance meeting was held November 26, 2024, at 2 p.m.
City Council agenda – November 13, 2024
City Council minutes – November 26, 2024
A public open house to review and discuss the released draft OR HCD Plan and Guidelines was held on May 8, 2025, from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m., at the Guelph Legion (57 Watson Parkway South).
For more information
Stephen Robinson
Senior Heritage Planner
Planning Services
519-837-5616 extension 2496
[email protected]
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