Fourth Friday: Aftrtht
2024-11-22 17:00 - 21:00 (America/Toronto) | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Fourth Friday is an opportunity to enjoy free access to the museum and a complimentary concert, designed to break down barriers to arts and culture. Free admission to the museum from 5 pm. Concert starts at 7 pm.
For the fourth Friday of November, prepare for a dynamic performance from homegrown talent AFTRTHT, whose live set will blend originals and covers, with a few live lo-fi looping tracks created in the moment, tapping into the room’s energy to guide the sound. AFTRTHT will kick things off solo with reimagined classics from legends like Amy Winehouse, Ed Sheeran, Ben E. King, and John Mayer. For the second set, AFTRTHT will be joined by talented vocalist Erin-Marie Traynor. Together, they will bring an upbeat, pop-infused experience drawing from artists like Taylor Swift, Sabrina Carpenter, Dominic Fike, and Chris Stapleton. Anticipate a heartfelt vibe, filled with joy.
About The Artist
AFTRTHT is the sonic evolution of multi-instrumentalist Daksh Joshi, finding bliss in old tools used in fresh ways. Focused on live Lo-Fi, AFTRTHT turns the raw human experience into ever-shifting soundscapes. Blurring the boundaries of Rock & Roll, R&B, Indian Classical, Bossa Nova, and Electronic Dance Music, AFTRTHT defies categorization, constantly evolving with the landscapes encountered. The mission? Transmute pain into beauty. From intimate open mics in Guelph to headlining The Drake Underground, AFTRTHT brings unfiltered emotion to the stage. “Music softens the hard hits of life.”

Museum Store Sunday
2024-12-01 10:00 - 17:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
We’re participating in Museum Store Sunday (@MuseumStoreSunday), a global initiative by museums around the world to highlight curated collections of one-of-a-kind gifts.
Our Hilltop Shop, like other Museum stores, offers distinctive products made, designed, and provided by local artisans, designers, publishers, and small businesses. The purposeful practice of shopping Museum gift shops not only provides access to locally-sourced items, it also helps to support and sustain local businesses, Museum operations, and the community as a whole.
From books to jewelry to home accessories, stationery and children’s toys and games, there is always something for everyone. Shop knowing you are making a positive contribution to our community!

Maintaining An Artistic Mindset: Making the most an art degree
2024-12-01 15:00 - 17:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Maintaining an artistic mindset, when asked time and time again to push creative limit for each new assignment, is a difficult task for students. Creativity is a skill to be honed, and entering the academic and professional creative world can be stressful. During this two-hour workshop, participants will discuss ways to balance personal and professional art, shared artistic processes, and relationships to art, while creating a collaborative art piece responding to the ideas generated during the program. Supplies will be provided.
Coinciding with the exhibition Art As We Are: Creative Community Care, this workshop aims to support emerging artists to navigate artistic careers while prioritizing self-care and avoiding burnout, through discussion and community artmaking.
Preregistration is required. Details to follow.
About The Facilitator:

Martin Puddephatt (he/him) is a third year Criticism and Curatorial student at OCAD U, focusing on art history. His artistic practice is heavily wrapped into his studies at OCAD U, and the most important lesson was not one explicitly taught in class – but what to do with the time outside of the lecture hall to hold onto his love of art

Miniature Painting Workshop: A River Runs Through It
2024-12-07 10:00 - 16:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Create medieval-styled miniature paintings with Debbie Thompson Wilson, focused on water themes based on medieval manuscript illuminations. Participants will work on images of water birds, aquatic life (real and imagined), traveling by water, and zodiac images of Pisces and Aquarius. Participants can choose which image they wish to work on, from simple to more complex, depending on their abilities. Some watercolour experience is helpful, but there will be lots of guidance on painting in a medieval manner (including how to apply real gold leaf).
Preregistration via Eventbrite is required.
Participants will require:

basic set of watercolours (cake or tubes). I recommend Winsor Newton Cotman watercolours
small water container
palette or china plate
HB and 5B or 6B pencils
kneaded eraser
a ball point pen (any colour)
a couple of fine watercolour brushes (size 0 or smaller)
ruler
sharp, clean scissors
x-acto knife with #11 blade
a micron pigma (01) or Pitt artist pen (01 – XS) (felt tipped..black or dark brown ) or any quality fine line marker as long as it is waterproof

For a fee of $10*, the instructor will provide

Coloured exemplars
Real gold leaf
A fine watercolour brush and watercolour paper
Miscellaneous supplies

*$10 fee payable on the day, cash only.

Toys and Games Drop-In
2024-12-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Let’s play! We’re pulling out oodles of puzzles, crafts, toys, and games from our vaults for kids of all ages to explore and experience.
Image ID: Guelph Museums, 1952X.00.196.10, Collection of glass marbles

Fourth Friday: Shannon Kingsbury
2024-12-27 17:00 - 21:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
This special holiday Fourth Friday features a mesmerizing performance by local artist Shannon Kingsbury. As the year comes to a close, singer-songwriter and harpist Kingsbury will guide us through an evening of reflection and renewal with her enchanting music. Shannon’s original music dives deep into internal landscapes of dream, archetype and emotion. Her performance will explore profound themes of regeneration, rebirth, and new beginnings, perfectly capturing the spirit of the season.
Welcome the approaching new year with evocative music and a heart full of inspiration and hope!
Fourth Friday is a unique opportunity to enjoy free access to the museum and a complimentary concert, breaking down barriers to arts and culture for all.
About the Artist

Shannon Kingsbury (she/her) is a singer, songwriter, harpist, music educator and mother. Her musical works include two solo albums, co-curating site specific performances for Spring Awakes! (Ignatius Old Growth Forest) with Sue Smith, composing/directing for Ondine Chorus, and co-creating The Heartbeat Project with Maya LaRose (recipients of Pay It Forward Arts Fund). Shannon delights in mentoring children, youth and adults through her teaching studio, Kingsbury Music.
Shannon grew up in a handful of small rural towns throughout Ontario and Quebec and was fortunate to be nurtured in both wild outdoor and multi-generational community spaces. These experiences fostered a great love of connection, care and beauty that would inform a lifelong commitment engaging with and facilitating the creative process. She is grateful to live and work in Guelph, Between the Lakes Purchase (Treaty 3), and is a passionate member of its vibrant arts community.

Tales From the Hill: Guelph Guild of Storytellers
2025-01-09 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-02-13 19:00 - 20:30, 2025-03-13 18:30 - 20:30, 2025-04-10 18:30 - 20:30 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Tales from the Hill is presented by the Guelph Guild of Storytellers and features a guest teller in addition to Guild tellers. The evening includes hot cider, light refreshments, and conversation. Guests are invited to register a telling or participate during the open mic storytelling.
Tales from the Hill runs on the second Wednesday or Thursday of each month from October to May.
Guests can arrive at 6:30 pm for casual socializing, call to order at 7:00 pm for storytelling, followed by time for more visit

Military Lecture: “Borderlines of the Military Masculine Identity”
2025-01-16 19:00 - 20:30 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Aly Firth offers an assessment of transgender roles and crossdressing in performances for the troops during the First World War.
The myth of a singular masculine identity during the First World War endures in the literature, where wartime heroism has been strongly associated with the brave, heteronormative, masculine soldier. However, in the horrors of trench warfare, gender expression cannot be simplified to a single stereotype, as the inherent need for morale and patriotism opened a space for men to explore more feminine gender roles that challenged this monolithic model of identity. This talk examines the role patriotism played in defying gendered expectations through drag performance. Stories of queer soldiers’ convictions and performances of ‘patriotic drag’ from the Dumbells showcase how the war blurred the lines of gender roles and sexuality in a period contextualized by a change in stoic Victorian masculinity and coloured by intense emotional experiences.
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the presentation starts at 7:00 pm, followed by a question period.
“Borderlines of the Military Masculine Identity” is presented by Aly Firth. The lecture premiered in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation is available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal. Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
Watch The Recording

About Aly Firth

Aly Firth is a master’s student at Wilfrid Laurier University who earned a bachelor’s degree in history from Wilfrid Laurier University. Their SSHRC-funded research focuses on drag performance, sexuality, morality, and diverse masculinities in the Canadian Expeditionary Forces during the First World War. Firth also has significant experience working as an archivist and presenter in museums. Along with their current project, Firth focuses more widely on queer and disability histories in twentieth-century Canada.

Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory
2025-01-18 - 2025-07-13 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
For over 100 years, the Ontario Reformatory/Guelph Correctional Centre was imbedded in lives of the people of Guelph. The exhibition shares stories from within the institution, addressing misconceptions, propaganda, and myths – some perpetuated by the institution itself and recounted in public archives.
Officially opened in 1911, the Ontario Reformatory evolved to be many things, including the Guelph Correctional Centre from 1972 until its decommission in 2003. The historical record of the property and institution is vast and only partially preserved. There are more stories to tell and many lesser-known aspects of the history to explore.
The reformatory was a place of duality: from reform intentions, which aimed to improve the lives of those who were incarcerated, to being one of Canada’s most notorious prisons. Despite the lack of humanity within the institution, some inmates and staff held hope, creativity, and a vision for life beyond the cell walls.
The history of the Ontario Reformatory/Guelph Correctional Centre is complex and uncomfortable. Guest curated by P. Brian Skerrett, “Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory” aims to share historical truths as lessons from the past that can inform our actions today and help us to shape a better tomorrow.
Learn About the “Go-By” Podcast
Read an article about the podcast here
Watch The Recording – The Reformatory: Within and Beyond the Cell Walls

Left to right (details): Soldiers in the Billiards Room at Speedwell Military Convalescent Hospital, circa 1919 (Guelph Museums 1978.6.4); Painting created in 1985 by John J. Anishinabe, a member of the Native Sons (Courtesy: Janny Nieuwland); Inmates riot in protest of the living conditions at the Ontario Reformatory, 1952 (Guelph Museums 2014.1.1); “Hope” banner created by Reformatory inmates (Courtesy: Connie Shaw); Watching brook trout in a stream at the Ontario Reformatory (stonework by inmate labour), 1925 (Archives Ontario AO # B117492)

The Reformatory: Within and Beyond the Cell Walls
2025-01-18 14:00 - 16:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Note: This event is now fully booked with no space remaining. A recording will be made available and further events connected to this exhibit are being planned. Stay tuned to our YouTube channel, Eventbrite page, and newsletter for further information.
For over 100 years, the Ontario Reformatory/Guelph Correctional Centre was embedded in the lives of the people of Guelph. The Reformatory was a place of duality: from reform intentions which aimed to improve the lives of those who were incarcerated, to being one of Canada’s most notorious prisons. Yet some inmates and staff held hope, creativity, and a vision for life beyond the cell walls.
Discover stories from within the Reformatory at the opening of Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory. Join guest curator P. Brian Skerrett in conversation with Connie Shaw (retired Chaplin, Guelph Correctional Centre) and two former Guelph inmates, Freddy Taylor and Cliff Summers. Taylor (Curve Lake First Nation) is a survivor of the Mohawk Institute, and Summers (Oneida Nation of the Thames) was a Native Inmate Liaison Officer. Both were members of the Native Sons, a group of Indigenous inmates who self-organized to advocate for and practice their cultural traditions.
Visitors are encouraged to explore the exhibition before and after the event. Register in advance
Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory is on view at the Civic Museum until April 30, 2025.
Spiritual guidance provided by Jane Burning. Refreshments by Pow Wow Café.
Watch The Recording

Image credit-Left to right (details): Soldiers in the Billiards Room at Speedwell Military Convalescent Hospital, circa 1919 (Guelph Museums 1978.6.4); Painting created in 1985 by John J. Anishinabe, a member of the Native Sons (Courtesy: Janny Nieuwland); Inmates riot in protest of the living conditions at the Ontario Reformatory, 1952 (Guelph Museums 2014.1.1); “Hope” banner created by Reformatory inmates (Courtesy: Connie Shaw); Watching brook trout in a stream at the Ontario Reformatory (stonework by inmate labour), 1925 (Archives Ontario AO # B117492)

PD Day Activation
2025-01-24 10:00 - 17:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Enjoy the warmth of the Civic Museum this PD Day. Keep toasty exploring exhibitions, playing in the Families Gallery, making crafts, and discovering classic toys and games.

Fourth Friday: Transstar
2025-01-24 17:00 - 21:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Fourth Fridays burst with a celebration of music, history, creativity and community connection. Each month, enjoy free admission to the Civic Museum from 5–9 pm, with live performances starting at 7 pm.
In January, we feature the electrifying sounds of Transstar. Known for her unique blend of original electronic pop and reimagined covers, Transstar promises an evening of music that will captivate and inspire.
Transstar has made waves not only with her music but also with her impactful local community work. She is the creator of Blackball, a nonprofit arts education program that provides free electronic music training and tools to underserved youth, empowering the next generation of creators. In partnership with the Pros and Cons project, Transstar also collaborated with incarcerated women at the Grand Valley Institution, building a recording studio within its walls and producing two remarkable albums of original music written and performed by imprisoned individuals.
Her work with incarcerated women aligns with themes explored in Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory, an exhibition concurrently running at the Civic Museum.

Guelph Historical Society - Evenings with History Lecture
2025-02-04 19:30 - 21:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Guelph Historical Society presents a public lecture by P. Brian Skerrett, guest-curator of the exhibition Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory, on view at Guelph Civic Museum until April 30.
For over 100 years, the Ontario Reformatory/Guelph Correctional Centre was embedded in the lives of the people of Guelph. The exhibition shares stories from within the institution, addressing misconceptions, propaganda, and myths – some perpetuated by the institution itself and recounted in public archives.
Brian Skerrett will expand on selected stories from the exhibition and share other stories of the Reformatory that are unique to this presentation.
Doors open at 7 pm. Guests are invited to visit the exhibition before or after the lecture, until 9 pm.
Register for this free event at Eventbrite. Reserve now, seats are limited!
All Guelph Historical Society lectures are free and open to the public. Donations are appreciated.

Dot Painting Workshop: Handmade cards with Roxana Bahrami
2025-02-08 11:00 - 13:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Feel the love at Guelph Civic Museum! Local artist Roxana Bahrami returns for a relaxing and creative Dot Painting Workshop focused on card-making. Over the course of two hours, you will learn the mesmerizing art of dot painting while creating two customized, hand-painted cards to take home.
No prior experience in drawing or painting is needed. This workshop is perfect for anyone looking to explore their creativity in a supportive and fun environment. Dot painting is not just an art form—it’s a soothing activity that nurtures focus and helps to calm the soul.
All materials and supplies will be provided, so all you need to bring is your enthusiasm.
Preregistration via Eventbrite is required.

Valentine Tea
2025-02-16 12:30 - 17:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Enjoy teatime with the ones you love with sweet treats, a bottomless pot of McCrae Private blend tea, and live music at the Civic Museum. There will be two seatings: 12:30 and 3:00 p.m.
Preregistration via Eventbrite is required.

Military Lecture: A.Y. Jackson, the Group of Seven and the Great War
2025-02-20 19:00 - 20:30 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Author Douglas Hunter explores the role of the First World War in the life and career of artist A.Y. Jackson, and its impact on the formation of Canada’s most famous art collective, the Group of Seven. The group had begun to assemble in 1914, and Jackson was the only member of the circle to volunteer for overseas service. He enlisted as a private with the 60th Battalion in Montreal in June 1915 and was wounded at the Battle of Mount Sorrel in June 1916. He suffered shell-shock, and was knocking around camps in England when he was recruited into the Canadian war memorials project as an artist by Lord Beaverbrook in August 1917. Jackson made two trips to the front, in October 1917 and March 1918, to produce sketches for canvases he completed at a studio in London, UK. His letters home illuminate the experience and trauma of war. The challenges of translating the war into oil on canvas had a major impact on his artistic methods and resulted in some of the finest paintings of his career.
Doors open at 6:30 and the presentation starts at 7:00 pm, followed by a question period.
A.Y Jackson, the Group of Seven and the Great War is presented by Douglas Hunter. The lecture premiered in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation is available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal. Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
Watch The Recording

About Douglas Hunter

Douglas Hunter is the author of more than twenty works of non-fiction. He has been a winner and finalist of Canada’s National Business Book Award and a finalist for the Governor General’s Literary Award, the Writers’ Trust Non-Fiction Prize, the Defoe Book Prize, and the Wilson Prize in Canadian History. He holds a PhD in history from York University.

Fourth Friday: Verese Vassell-Bowen
2025-02-28 17:00 - 21:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Every Fourth Friday of the month enjoy free admission to the Civic Museum from 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., and a free concert starting at 7 p.m.
During Black Heritage/Excellence/Futures Month, we partner with the Guelph Black Heritage Society to present Verese Vassell-Bowen who will deliver her signature soulful vocals in an evening of celebration.
Cash bar.

Petrykivka: Ukrainian Folk Art Workshop with Nataliia Kuchka
2025-03-01 11:00 - 13:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Join us for an inspiring journey into the vibrant world of Ukrainian folk art with the Petrykivka Art Workshop, led by Ukrainian newcomer and self-taught artist Nataliia. This two-hour class introduces the Petrykivka painting style, a centuries-old Ukrainian decorative art known for its intricate patterns and symbolic motifs.
Participants will decorate coasters in the Petrykivka technique, guided by Nataliia’s expertise in Ukrainian ethnic design and color theory. Discover the deep cultural meanings behind symbols like the kalyna (viburnum), a traditional motif representing resilience and unity. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced artist, this workshop is an opportunity to express your creativity while exploring Ukrainian heritage.
Who Can Participate:

Kids (10+) with their parents
Adults of all skill levels

Preregister via Eventbrite
About The Artist
Nataliia, who arrived in Canada in 2022, is passionate about promoting Ukrainian culture through art. Hosting workshops as part of the Stand with Ukraine Guelph (SWUG) organization, she combines her artistic skills and cultural knowledge to create engaging and meaningful experiences.

Go-Boy! Memories of a Life Behind Bars: Screening and Q&A
2025-03-08 13:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Screen Go-Boy! Memories of a Life Behind Bars at Guelph Civic Museum, followed by a Q&A with director Rob Lindsay and P. Brian Skerrett, guest-curator of the exhibition Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory, on view now at the Civic Museum.
Reserve free tickets on Eventbrite.
For over 100 years, the Ontario Reformatory/Guelph Correctional Centre was embedded in the lives of the people of Guelph. The exhibition shares stories from within the institution, addressing misconceptions, propaganda, and myths – some perpetuated by the institution itself and recounted in public archives.
Go-Boy! (2020) is a feature documentary examining the life of Roger Caron, who was sentenced to the Ontario Reformatory in Guelph in 1954, at 16 years of age. Caron would spend 24 years of his life in local, provincial, and federal prisons across Ontario. While incarcerated, Caron wrote about his experiences. Published in 1978, his book would win the 1979 Governor General’s Award for non-fiction, one of Canada’s highest literary awards.
In Go-Boy! filmmaker Rob Lindsay examines how Caron’s book exposed the brutality and depravity of the Canadian prison system and how his words have had a lasting and timeless influence on generations to come.
​Go-Boy! Memories of a Life Behind Bars is produced by Rob Lindsay and Kristine Yanoff and distributed by Paradox Pictures Inc.
Images (left to right): Caron writing in his cell (The Telegraph, July 10, 2012); Caron receiving the Governor General’s Award in 1978 (Liaison: The monthly journal for the criminal justice, July/August 1985)

March Break Art Party
2025-03-10 10:00 - 17:00 | Guelph Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Experience creativity and community through hands-on play, friendly connections, and artistic exploration.
Inspired by the exhibition Art as We Are: Creative Community Care, each day during March Break will feature a mix of interactive experiences, including:

Museum-Wide Scavenger Hunt
Artifact ID challenge
Craft Activation
Classic Toys & Games, 10 a.m-12 p.m.
Storytelling, 10:30 a.m.
Behind-the-Scenes Tours, 3:30 p.m.

At 1 p.m. each day, join artists for a 90-minute facilitated workshop. Pre-registration is not required, but space is limited, so arrive early to secure your space:

Monday, March 10: Mixed Media with Gaia
Tuesday, March 11: Music and Movement
Wednesday, March 12: Printmaking
Thursday, March 13: Bookbinding with Mei Lien
Friday, March 14 – Mark Making with Ame

Connect, create, and celebrate the power of art in the heart of the community!

Gunner City: Military Presence in Guelph
2025-03-20 18:30 - 20:30 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Lieutenant-Colonel Miguel Ortiz-Sosa, the commanding officer of Guelph’s 11th Field Regiment, is our guest speaker. In times of conflict, Guelph and Wellington County responded to the call of collective defense every time. Lt. Col. Ortiz-Sosa will illustrate the history of the 11th Field Regiment which is the institutional representation of the Canadian Armed Forces in the city. He will illustrate the different operations in which, through the Canadian Forces, the citizens of Guelph and Wellington County have defended their nation. He will also touch on the current operations in which our citizens are making significant contributions on behalf of Canada in the international arena.
Doors open at 6:30 and the presentation starts at 7:00 pm, followed by a question period.
The lecture premiered in-person at the Civic Museum, and online via our Facebook livestream. The recorded conversation is available on Facebook, YouTube, and our Museum Everywhere Portal. Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
Watch The Recording

About Lt. Col. Miguel Ortiz-Sosa

Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa was born in San Salvador, El Salvador in 1974, and immigrated to Canada in 1990 after having lived through the end of a military dictatorship and ten years of civil war. He joined the Canadian Armed Forces in February 1996 as a Private Recruit with the 7 Toronto Regiment RCA. In 2002, after being promoted to Master Bombardier, Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant.
In 2015, then Captain Ortiz-Sosa received a Unit Commendation in recognition of “outstanding leadership and professionalism in his many roles.” Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa served as Battery Commander of 9 and 130 Batteries in Toronto from 2012 to 2016 and again from 2018 to 2020.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa served as the Second-In-Command of the 56 Field Regiment RCA from 2016 to 2018. As Cadet Liaison Coordinator for the regiment, he was keen to work with all three batteries in Brantford, Simcoe and St Catharines, and with the affiliated Cadet Units in Brantford, Simcoe, Fort Erie and Niagara Falls.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa served as the Deputy Commanding Officer of the 32 CBG Battle School from 2018 to 2020 while working again with the 7 Toronto Regiment RCA.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa has served as Commanding Officer of the 11th Field Regiment RCA, with Batteries in Guelph and Hamilton, since 2020. He is very proud to have served and to continue to serve with all three Artillery Units in South Western Ontario.
In civilian life, Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa continues a career in public service with the Ontario government that started in 1998. He is currently employed by the Children, Youth and Social Services I&IT Cluster in the maintenance and development of computer applications used to deliver social services to Ontarians. Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa graduated from Glendon College, York University with a Combined Honours BA in Political Science and History and from Ryerson University with a Certificate of Economic Analysis.
Lieutenant-Colonel Ortiz-Sosa is the father of four children, Miguel Andres, Lauren, Chantal and Mateo. He has also been a foster parent to over 20 children through the Halton and Hamilton Children’s Aid Societies from 2006 to 2015.

Heart Felt with Lisa Byers
2025-03-22 11:00 - 13:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Join us for an enriching workshop with Lisa June Byers, a Certified Aromatherapy Health Professional and award-winning designer. Byers, of mixed Ojibwe, Scottish, and Irish ancestry, is the creative force behind LJ Turtle Aromatherapy, known for specialty aromatherapy blends and handcrafted essential oil diffuser accessories.
In this workshop, you’ll learn to needle-felt a heart-shaped aromatherapy diffuser, with all supplies provided. Byers will share insights on using your new felted heart as an effective aromatherapy diffuser.
While creating your diffuser, you’ll have the opportunity to learn about advocacy work to preserve residential school buildings as heritage sites or sites of conscience. Byers is passionate about this cause and has been actively involved in raising awareness and funds for the Woodland Cultural Centre in Brantford, Ontario, through her Mitigomin Social Enterprise, which has raised over $34K to date.
COVID mitigation statement: As the presenter has pre-existing health conditions, all attendees are asked to be mindful about ensuring everyone’s safety, and to not attend if feeling unwell. Refunds will be provided for those unable to attend due to illness.
Preregistration via Eventbrite is required.

Fourth Friday: Miranda Journey
2025-03-28 17:00 - 21:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Fourth Fridays burst with a celebration of music, history, creativity and community connection. Each month, enjoy free admission to the Civic Museum from 5–9 pm, with live performances starting at 7 pm.
For our March Fourth Friday the effervescent Miranda Journey will bring a special spark to the stage. A gifted storyteller, she incorporates unique sonic melodies and chord structures to her original music, pairing them with a rotary phone mic to create an old-timey-feel to her sound. Expect to hear tales from her own life journey traversing love, loss, grief, healing and mental health conveyed through thoughtful lyricism and uplifting melodies.
About Miranda Journey:
Based in Guelph, Journey is a multi-instrumentalist, singer, songwriter, producer, and performer. Her style blends indie rock, dream pop, and folk, creating a colorful kaleidoscope of sound. Described as “New Retro,” Journey has shared the stage with acts like Kathleen Edwards, Sarah Harmer, Julian Taylor, and Elliott Brood. Influenced by Angel Olsen and Liza Anne, her quirky performances and signature vocals leave audiences captivated and wanting more. Journey continues to explore new ways to infuse throwback sounds with experimental ones, staying authentic to her evolving sound.

PD Day: Celebrate Spring
2025-04-04 10:00 - 17:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Leap into Spring and take inspiration from the blooming flowers! Make your own forever-bouquet with pipe-cleaners, felt, and other textiles. Enjoy toys and games. Explore the entire museum, and take quick 15-minute Behind-the-Scenes tours of collections vaults

Pysanka Egg Decorating Workshop
2025-04-06 11:00 - 13:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Ukrainian artist Nataliia Kuchka teaches the rich traditions and symbolism behind the ancient art form of pysanka as participants learn the intricate wax-resist technique to create beautifully decorated eggs. This hands-on workshop offers beginners and experienced artists a unique opportunity to explore Ukrainian culture and craftsmanship in a welcoming setting.
All materials provided. Spaces are limited; register via Eventbrite
About The Artist
Nataliia Kuchka, who arrived in Canada in 2022, is passionate about promoting Ukrainian culture through art. Hosting workshops as part of the Stand with Ukraine Guelph (SWUG) organization, she combines her artistic skills and cultural knowledge to create engaging and meaningful experiences.

Explore the Reformatory Grounds Walking Tour with P. Brian Skerrett
2025-04-12 13:00 - 15:00 | Guelph Reformatory, 785 York Rd, Guelph, Ontario, N1L1P4, Canada
Join a guided tour of the Ontario Reformatory grounds, led by P. Brian Skerrett, guest-curator of the exhibition Darkness and Light: Inside the Ontario Reformatory, on view now at Guelph Civic Museum.
For over 100 years, the Ontario Reformatory/Guelph Correctional Centre was embedded in the lives of the people of Guelph. Explore the site during this walking tour, starting at Willowbank Hall, constructed in 1915 as the Engineers Residence, and continuing through the Beaux-Arts landscape envisioned by Architect John Lyle. Discover watercourses and ponds built by prison labour. Walk past field stone walls to multi-level terraces behind the 1923 Superintendents’ House. The tour will pause briefly at the main entrance of the Administration Building, walk around to the guard tower and then proceed to the Chapel, the last inmate-built building on the property, before returning to Willowbank.
The walk will take approximately 60 minutes at a moderate pace. Much, but not all the route is paved and on an incline. Please wear comfortable shoes. There are no washroom facilities on site.
This event requires preregistration on Eventbrite and is SOLD OUT. You can join the waitlist via the Eventbrite page.

Military Lecture: Ways We Remember War: The Second Battle of Ypres and Canada's Memory
2025-04-24 18:30 - 21:00 | Civic Museum, 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, N1H 4H8, Canada
Dr. Geoff Bird presents his new film, Ways We Remember War: The Battle of Second Ypres and Canada’s Memory, exploring how art, memorials and pilgrimage shape our understanding of Canada’s first battle of the First World War. Lt. Col. John McCrae is represented in the film, along with artwork from the Canada War Museum, the Brooding Soldier in Belgium, and the landscape of war in Flanders.
Doors open at 6:30 pm and the 70-minute film starts at 7:00 pm, followed by a question period. Cash bar.
The lecture will take place IN-PERSON ONLY at the Civic Museum. Space is limited so pre-registration via Eventbrite is required. Guelph Museums’ Military Lecture series is presented in partnership with the Laurier Centre for the Study of Canada.
About Dr. Bird

Dr. Geoffrey Bird is a Professor in the School of Communication and Culture at Royal Roads University, Victoria, British Columbia, Canada. He is also the Project Lead of the War Heritage Research Initiative that has involved the production of over 30 short documentaries and various commemorative projects. His research also includes poverty alleviation, sustainability, strategic planning and education design.
Dr. Bird has over 30 years of experience in education in tourism, sustainability, and heritage. He has held various positions with the provincial and federal governments, as an entrepreneur and as a consultant, as a naval officer, and as a heritage interpreter at the Canadian National Memorial at Vimy Ridge, France. He has lived and worked in a number of countries in Southeast Asia, Europe and across Canada. His primary research interest involves film-making involving war heritage
