Guelph – future ready, here and now
June 5, 2026
Known as the “Royal City” for its historic connection to the British royal family, Guelph has been transitioning for years, from a small university town into one of the province’s fastest growing and well-balanced economies.
And that means growth, employment and opportunity.
Boasting a healthy local economy, with growing agriculture, education, healthcare and manufacturing sectors, Guelph continues to attract newcomers – yes, students attending the well-known University of Guelph – but also a skilled labour force and homebuyers looking for lifestyle and better affordability than in the Greater Toronto Area.
One company with deep roots in the Guelph community is Reid’s Heritage Homes, active in the area for more than 48 years.
“Our ownership has always believed that every new-home buyer, whether a first-time buyer or empty nester, should receive the same high quality and customer service,” says President Ron McMillan, adding that the company’s model homes in Guelph, as well as in Fergus and Cambridge, reflect this legacy, with two-bedroom urban townhomes at attainable prices for all buyers and “custom home” quality inside and out.
Moreover, recent policy changes (see pages 10 and 11) to aid new-home sales are expected to produce something of a boon this spring.
“Our average, sale price of an urban townhome in Guelph is approximately $580,000,” says McMillan. “If you remove all HST and reduce development charges by 50 per cent, we can reduce that price down to $515,000. That $65,000 reduction in price can make all the difference in a new-home buyer being able to afford the mortgage and down payment for a new townhome in Guelph. It also allows new-home builders to compete with resale homes where there is no HST or development charge tax.”
Another local homebuilder, Granite Homes, points out that Guelph has a lot to offer to residents, from a strong job market, particularly with institutions such as the University of Guelph, to a variety of recreational options in its numerous parks and trails. Guelph’s sense of community and relatively affordable housing compared to larger Ontario cities make it an attractive place to settle down. It is also well-connected by major highways and public transit, enhancing its accessibility.
FROM PAST TO PRESENT
Innovation has always been part of Guelph’s history: The wire coat hanger was invented here in the 1920s; it’s where five-pin bowling was invented; a University of Guelph research team created the Yukon Gold potato; and the city was home to North America’s first cable TV system. Perhaps the most memorable, Colonel John McCrae, author of the poem “In Flanders Fields,” was born and raised in Guelph.
Respectfully, though, while celebrating the past is important, today, Guelph is all about progress.
Indeed, local city-building and community development is guided by the Guelph. Future Ready Strategic Plan. Approved in 2019, the plan guided city council’s priorities and staff’s work towards making Guelph an inclusive, connected, prosperous city “where we look after each other and our environment.”
The city now looks ahead to the next stage with Future Guelph Strategic Plan for 2024-27, designed to build on the successes of the previous strategic plan.
Key to the city’s growth is an emphasis on advanced manufacturing, among the largest employers, as well as educational services, agri-food and biotechnology.
The renown University of Guelph, in fact, is one of Canada’s top comprehensive universities. The veterinary medicine program ranks first in Canada, third in North America and in the top 10 worldwide. U of G is ranked No. 6 in Canada in Maclean’s University Rankings in 2026 in the Comprehensive category, is tops in research dollars and maintains a top-10 position in student services, faculty and reputation. The school’s Ontario Agricultural College is ranked number one in Canada and 14th in the world for Agriculture and Forestry, according to the 2026 QS World University Rankings.
Guelph benefits from a strong location, situated just north of Hwy. 401, affording easy access to Toronto in the east and London to the west. It also connects to Hwy. 7 for travel to Kitchener-Waterloo and Acton, and Hwy. 6 for access to Hamilton to the south.
HOUSING MARKET
Like most housing markets in Ontario and elsewhere in Canada, Guelph has experienced some spotty results recently – but things are looking up. And the municipality, among the most productive in the province on this front, is doing its part.
On March 26, the City of Guelph received another round of federal funding to continue its work to boost housing supply and affordability, thanks to the more than 22,000 housing units already unlocked.
“Finding a secure, affordable place to live remains a challenge for many families in Guelph,” says Guelph Mayor Cam Guthrie. “Thank you to the federal government for your continued investment in the City’s work to deliver on the programs, policies and grants that make it possible for more housing to get built in Guelph.”
In January 2024, the federal government announced $21.4 million – dispersed over four years – for the City of Guelph through its Housing Accelerator Fund. This funding has helped the City create opportunities for more housing in Guelph through policy updates, infrastructure work, and grants.
In 2026, the City will use the funding to:
• Streamline new housing in Downtown Guelph: Through a land-use planning tool called a Community Planning Permit System, the City is looking to combine minor variances, zoning bylaw amendments and site plan applications into a single, more efficient approval process. This will streamline new housing in growing areas of Guelph, such as the downtown area.
• Provide more grants for affordable housing: Residents can continue to apply for grants through the Affordable Housing Community Improvement Plan. These grants are available to anyone looking to build affordable housing – from in-law suites to apartments or vacant-units-turned-affordable-housing.
• Build affordable housing on City-owned land: The City is planning to build 12 new rental units on City-owned land on Normandy Drive and Eastview Road. These units will be run by an affordable housing provider.
• Explore more units in existing neighbourhoods: The City is exploring policies that could allow five or more housing units on corner residential lots that are next to arterial or collector roads.
And in December 2025, the Ontario government awarded Guelph with $3.69 million through the second round of the Building Faster Fund, which provides funding to municipalities that achieve at least 80 per cent of their provincially designated housing targets. Guelph broke ground on 1,279 new homes in 2024, achieving more than 85 per cent of its 2024 housing target. This funding will help Guelph build more homes and community infrastructure and supports the province’s plan to protect Ontario by investing in infrastructure to support economic and employment growth.
When it comes to employment, Guelph is faring better than the provincial average; the unemployment rate was 6.5 per cent as of March 2026, up 0.2 per cent from the previous month, but well ahead of the 7.6-per-cent rate for Ontario.
NEW HOME DEVELOPMENT
Reid’s Heritage Homes is among the more active builders in the area at the moment, offering urban townhomes at Argyle Village from the $500,000s; urban towns from the $500,000s at Modal at Main in nearby Cambridge; and, coming soon in Guelph, Phase 2 of The Block on Clair, a collection of urban stacked and rear lane garage townhomes, from the $500,000s.
Charleston Homes, meanwhile, is now selling townhomes at Harmony Court in nearby Rockwood; and Audrey Meadows country estate homes in nearby Aberfoyle.
Terra View Custom Homes has Hart Village in South Guelph, comprising semis and singles, and a second phase of Net Zero Ready single detached homes. The company also has move-in ready homes throughout its communities.
Granite Homes is now selling stacked townhomes and flats at Northside in Guelph, as well as singles and townhomes at South River in Elora, about 22 kms away. It also has move-in ready offers of a number of home types in both developments.
And Fusion Homes offers urban towns at Alister at Solterra in South Guelph, as well as limited condo suites at Anthem, the fourth phase of The Metalworks development in downtown Guelph.
SPORTS AND ENTERTAINMENT
When it comes to fun and entertainment in Guelph, in addition to plentiful trails and access to nature, Guelph also excels in the festivals department. The renown annual Hillside Summer Festival and Hillside Inside are three-day, multi-stage events hosting musicians, spoken word artists and other workshops, on Guelph Lake Island. This year’s event, held July 17 to 19, features accomplished Canadian musicians Cowboy Junkies, and comedian Mae Martin, who recently hosted the 2026 Juno Awards.
In the heart of the historic downtown area, Sleeman Centre serves as Guelph’s premiere venue for sports and entertainment. The 5,000-seat facility hosts sporting and family events, trade shows, conferences, large-scale concerts and public ceremonial events, and notably is home to the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League.
The city also has Guelph Little Theatre, Guelph Concert Theatre and River Run Centre.
+ Location, location, location
Located in Southwestern Ontario; population 143,740; 95 km from Toronto; 22 km east of Kitchener-Waterloo
Key landmarks
- Basilica of Our Lady Immaculate
- Gow’s Bridge
- Riverside Park
- The Sleeman Centre
- University of Guelph
- University of Guelph Arboretum
- Wellington Brewery
Select housing developments
Alister at Solterra
Urban townhomes in South Guelph
By Fusion Homes
Anthem at The Metalworks
Limited condo suites in downtown Guelph
By Fusion Homes
Argyle Village
Urban townhomes in Guelph
By Reid’s Heritage Homes
Audrey Meadows
Country estate homes in Aberfoyle
By Charleston Homes
Harmony Court
Townhomes in Rockwood
Hart Village
Semis and singles in South Guelph
By Terra View Custom Homes
Modal at Main
Urban townhomes in Cambridge
By Reid’s Heritage Homes
Northside
Stacked townhomes and flats in Guelph
By Granite Homes
South River
Singles and townhomes at in Elora
By Granite Homes
The Block on Clair
Urban stacked and rear lane garage townhomes in Guelph
By Reid’s Heritage Homes