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Guelph, OntarioGuelph (2003 population 115,872, metropolitan population 138,975) is a city located in southwestern Ontario, Canada, roughly 100 kilometres west of downtown Toronto along Ontario provincial highway 401. One of the first planned communities in Canada, Guelph was founded on St. George’s Day, April 23, 1827. It was selected as the headquarters of the Canada Company, a British development firm, by its Canadian Superintendent John Galt. Galt, who was also a novelist, designed the town to resemble a European city centre and chose the name "Guelph" after the German ancestral family of George IV, the reigning monarch, thus the nickname The Royal City. It was not until the Grand Trunk Railway connected the town to Toronto in 1856, and several buildings were erected in the late 19th century, that Galt's grandiose plan for Guelph was fully realized. It became a city in 1879. The city is home to the University of Guelph and Sleeman Breweries Ltd.. Guelph is also notable for its indie rock scene, which has spawned some of Canada's most important indie bands, including King Cobb Steelie, Royal City, and The Constantines. Famous current and former Guelphites (as Guelph residents are known) include poet John McCrae, children's author Robert Munsch, economist John Kenneth Galbraith, and actress Neve Campbell. Sports Teams Miscellaneous Facts Mondex: Guelph was the first North American test site of the Mondex electronic cash system in 1997. Parking meters, buses, bank machines, and payphones were converted to accept the cards which stored 'money' on a microchip. Many local merchants also installed card readers, but ultimately public reception to the program was poor and the trial ended without further expansion. Wet/Dry: Guelph has one of the most advanced municipal waste management systems in the world. In order to maximize recycling and diversion of waste from landfills, household wastes are divided into three streams: wet, dry, and clear. The wet stream, which must be placed at the curb side in translucent green bags, is composed of compostable materials. The dry stream, which must be placed in translucent blue bags, handles recyclable materials. The clear stream, which uses transparent bags, is for non-compostable and non-recyclable items. The city estimates compliance with the program at 98%. The system prevents more than 50% of household waste from landfill disposal. See also External links
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