What Mississauga is known for

Situated in Southwestern Ontario, the Guelph Destination is bounded by Lake Huron to the north and west; Lake Ontario to the east; and Lake Erie to the south. Guelph, the namesake of the destination, is the seat of Wellington County; however, the city itself is politically independent. As of 2022, it was recorded that roughly 150,392 residents constitute the total population of Guelph, and the city is currently growing at a rate of 1.71%. With regard to the racial demographic of Guelph residents, white individuals account for approximately 84.3% with the remaining percentage comprising those of Asian, German, Irish, Scottish, Italian, and Latin-American descent.[1]

Prominent cities that can be found in the Guelph Destination include Mississauga, Brampton, Kitchener, Hamilton, St. Catharines, and the namesake, Guelph. Directly outside the southeastern perimeters of the destination is a popular touristic city called Niagara Falls, occupying land on the border between Canada and the United States. In partnership with Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake (NOTL) is a town that features many wineries and festivals. NOTL is part of the Ontario Wine Country as the town contains about 40 wineries and 25 vineyards. A fair amount of guided tours for these wineries, distilleries, and breweries are offered throughout the town.[5]

A city in the southeastern corner of the Guelph Destination called Mississauga is notable for its substantial number of art galleries, shopping districts, and sports venues. The main sports venue of the city is the Paramount Fine Foods Centre, previously known as the Hershey Centre. Mississauga served as the home arena for some of its minor league teams such as the Raptors 905 (NBA G League) and the Mississauga Steelheads (Ontario Hockey League). Furthermore, outdoor recreation is favored among several visitors to the city as nearly 481 parks and woodland areas can be found in Mississauga. Concerning the city’s shopping districts, one of the largest shopping malls in Canada, Square One Shopping Center, is established in Mississauga’s City Centre. Approximately 24 million visitors are drawn to this mall annually.[6] Canada’s busiest air terminal, Toronto International Airport, is additionally found in Mississauga. The city is considered a residential suburb of Toronto as well as a significant industrial center. Aircraft, motor vehicles, chemicals and pharmaceuticals, rubber and steel products, and construction materials are a few manufacturers that aid the city’s economy.[7]

Geography

Cloud cover is fairly common throughout the year in Guelph. Temperatures generally range between 12 and 78 degrees Fahrenheit over the course of the year. The warm season lasts from May to September with an average daily high of 68 degrees Fahrenheit. July is typically the warmest month of the year as temperatures reach about 78 degrees Fahrenheit on average. Contrastingly, temperatures drop to around 37 degrees Fahrenheit during the cold season from December to March. The coldest month of the year is January with an average high of 27 degrees and a low of 14 degrees Fahrenheit. For those who plan on engaging in warm-weather activities, it is recommended that they come between late June and early September as temperatures are relatively moderate throughout these months.[4]

The majority of the destination’s northwestern portion is fairly forested with farmlands, vegetation, and rural areas, while the southeastern portion is much more urban in comparison. Guelph is positioned above the confluence of the Speed River, which enters from the north, and the Eramosa River, entering from the east. Both the Speed River and the Eramosa River have several tributaries. Numerous other smaller rivers and creeks in Guelph cause the formation of densely forested ravines.[8] Guelph resides in Wellington County which is home to an abundance of wildlife, namely eastern cottontail rabbits, ducks and geese, deer, grey squirrels, skunks, raccoons, coyotes, and a range of bird species. During the spring and summer seasons, sightings of ducks and geese are relatively common. It has also been reported that sparrows, doves, and warblers inhabit Wellington County.[9]

History

The name Guelph was given to the city by John Galt, a Scottish novelist who chose the name in honor of one of the British royal family names. The royal genesis of the name was additionally the root of Guelph’s nickname, “The Royal City.” Initially planning to utilize the town for the headquarters of a British development firm known as “Canada Company,” John Galt designed the town with the intent to attract settlers to the area and the encompassing countryside. Further plans for the town entailed several streets extending from a focal point at the Speed River as well as constructing the town to resemble that of a European city center. It wasn’t until 1856 that the Grand Trunk Railroad reached from Guelph to Toronto, and even still, the town did not develop any larger than “village size.”[2] Years later, the population of Guelph surpassed 10,000 in 1879 which allowed for the town to officially become a city. Around this same year, Mayor George Howard was the first to refer to Guelph as “The Royal City” during a speech he gave at the time of the new city’s inaugural.[3]

Guelph is home to a number of historic buildings, many of which are on the National Historic Sites of Canada register, including McCrae House, Old City Hall, and the Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate. Another historic building that presently stands is the University of Guelph which was established in 1964. A plan for the redevelopment of Downtown Guelph was presented and discussed by the city council in 2007. These plans were finalized as the 2018 Baker District redevelopment project. The primary plans for this redevelopment process involve transitioning the Baker St. parking lot and properties located at the front of Wyndham street’s north end into a “mixed-use development.” Furthermore, with the addition of both residential and commercial buildings, it is anticipated that Downtown Guelph will contain a new library, commercial, institution, and office building.[8]