Guelph residents have a chance to shape how the city names its streets, parks, and public buildings. The City of Guelph launched a public survey on May 27, 2026, asking for input on a new naming process that will cover a wide range of city assets.
The Have Your Say survey is open until June 28, 2026. It is the first phase of a longer engagement that will run through the rest of the year. The City aims to present a final naming policy to Council in 2027. Residents can share what names matter to them and suggest how the community should be involved in naming choices.
The effort fills a gap left when the former Municipal Property and Building Commemorative Naming Committee was retired in a restructuring of advisory committees in November 2023. That committee had handled naming decisions under an older policy. Now the City is building a new approach from scratch with community help.
As part of the project, the Guelph Lab – a partnership between the City and the University of Guelph since 2014 – will create a detailed list of every named public asset in the city and the origin of each name. This inventory will guide future decisions and help the City understand what stories are already reflected in local spaces.
The new process will apply to parks, streets, buildings, trails, squares, structures, and public rooms. The City has also stated that reconciliation with Indigenous communities is a core goal. Engagement with treaty partners and Indigenous residents will be part of the work, with the aim of honouring Indigenous relationships, cultures, and languages through naming.
Residents can find the survey on the City’s website. Tiffany Hanna, Park Planner in Parks and Trail Development, is the project contact and can be reached at 519-822-1260 extension 3371.
