Civic Museum
Celebrating Guelph’s stories!
The Guelph Civic Museum showcases Guelph’s history through permanent and changing exhibits, a fun and interactive families gallery, and special events and activities. Located in the recently renovated Loretto Convent, atop the hill at Norfolk Street and beside the landmark Church of Our Lady, the museum is home to a collection of over 30,000 artifacts that bring Guelph’s past to life.2012
Guelph Civic Museum opens at 52 Norfolk Street, the former Loretto Convent.2000
The "Growing Up in Guelph Children’s Museum" opens at the Civic Museum. The popular children’s gallery attracts many more visitors and significantly increases the number of family memberships.1980
Guelph Civic Museum opens at 6 Dublin Street South, a commercial limestone building built c.1855. The building had many uses over the years but was most recently known as the Knights of Columbus Hall.1967
Canada’s Centennial Year. The Museum opens in its first home in the horse stables, now the Farmer’s Market.1960's
Members of the Guelph Historical Society begin to collect artifacts and displays are mounted in store fronts and community centres.
Canada Day: A Day of Reflection, Connection, and Community
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaWe recognize that people mark Canada Day in different ways, and we invite you to spend it at the Civic Museum in community, contemplation, and creativity. Begin your day with a Guided Meditation with Alpa Acharya at 10:00 a.m. This 45-minute session - held outdoors on our patio, weather permitting - starts with gentle stretching…
Fourth Friday: Emilyn Stam and John David Williams
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaFourth 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. Concerts will take place on the patio, weather permitting. This month, experience the enchanting sounds of Guelph-based duo Emilyn Stam and John David Williams.…
PD Day: Musical Moments
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaEnjoy community music making, explore music history, make musical instrument crafts, play in the Families Gallery, and discover classic toys and games.
Reclaiming my SHYNE: an invitation to Black women, Indigenous women and women of colour to embrace rest and cultivate more peace in their lives
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaThis 2-hour workshop centers around the maxim that rest is an act of resistance, a radical form of self-care, and a powerful tool for Black, Indigenous, and women/femmes of colour to reclaim their lives from the constant pressure to perform and produce. Inspired by the work of Black feminist thinkers like Tricia Hersey, Audre Lorde,…
Bioarcheology and Belonging: Interpreting the Baker Street Remains with Dr Megan Brickley
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaJoin us for a presentation and discussion with Dr. Megan Brickley, a leading expert in the bioarchaeology of human disease, as she shares fascinating learnings from her study of skeletal remains uncovered from beneath Guelph’s former Baker Street parking lot. Discover what these early settlers can teach us about life, hardship, and resilience in 19th-century…
Fourth Friday: Zubayeer Swani
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaJoin us for an unforgettable evening of music and storytelling as acclaimed, award-winning artist Zubayeer Swani presents Love, Longing & Devotion – A Journey Through Ghazal & Thumri. Swani will introduce the rich South Asian traditions of ghazal and thumri, deeply expressive art forms that weave together history, poetry, and melody. Ghazal, known for its…
Canceled Sacred Space: Intuitive Nature Sculptures
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaSacred spaces are deeply rooted in our lineages as interfaces of our spirits with a place, an ancestor, or the divine. They can be anywhere from a woven textile, a body of water, a bedroom wall, or a built structure where community gathers. They are as much an external space rich in meaning as they…
Mother’s Day Tea
Civic Museum 52 Norfolk Street, Guelph, Ontario, CanadaFamilies can treat their moms to teatime together with scones, sweets, a bottomless pot of McCrae Private blend tea, and live music at the Civic Museum. Seatings at 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. Preregistration via Eventbrite is required.
