The City of Guelph and the Guelph 200 Community Working Group are inviting residents to take part in a year of special programming as the community officially begins the countdown to its 200th anniversary in 2027.
The celebrations launched on April 23, 2026, which marked the city’s 199th anniversary. The founding of Guelph dates back to April 23, 1827, when the town was established by Scottish novelist John Galt and the Canada Company on land acquired from the Mississaugas of the Credit First Nation.
To mark the start of the lead-up to the bicentennial, a kick-off event was held at the Sleeman Centre. The event featured the unveiling of the Guelph 200 brand, performances by local spoken word poet Beth Anne Ellipsis and visual artist Alexa Colette, and a workshop designed to help residents brainstorm and plan activities for the upcoming milestone.
Planning for the year of celebrations is being guided by the volunteer-led Guelph 200 Community Working Group, which is currently chaired by Dhruv Shah. To support community-led initiatives, a grant program has been established with $75,000 available for 2026, and an additional $75,000 earmarked for 2027, pending budget approval. Non-profit and charitable organizations can apply for up to $8,000 in funding, while individuals and unincorporated groups can apply for up to $2,000.
Looking ahead, the city has highlighted two major events for 2027. A Bicentennial Weekend is planned for April 23 to 25, 2027, which will feature reconciliation events, ceremonies, educational programming, and Doors Open Guelph. This will be followed by a Homecoming Festival from July 30 to August 2, 2027, including food, music, sports, and block parties.
Mayor Cam Guthrie, who is serving his final year in office after announcing he will not seek re-election in March 2026, is participating in the festivities as the city recognizes its history and looks toward its future.
