Centennial CVI

This is Centennial CVI (CVI = collegiate vocational institute = High School).

This is the school our high schooler will attend. They have very high math and science scores. Many of the students from this school attend Waterloo University.

Technological Triangle

Photo: University of Waterloo

Guelph is next to the technological triangle.

There are lots of job opportunities for students who are good at math and interested in engineering.

The Blackberry was developed by Research in Motion which is located in Waterloo, the next town over from Guelph.

University of Waterloo is one of the top universities in Canada. It is an excellent choice for students who excel in math related subjects. There is a lot of research done here. Waterloo has the world's first and largest faculty of mathematics.

Bill Gates names Waterloo a top source of Microsoft’s student and grad hires

Dr. Stephen Hawking recently arrived at University of Waterloo, from Cambridge University, to conduct private research at the Perimeter Institute for Theoretical Physics.

Eldest boy is very interested in this university.

Cuppa Tea

Brenda Tremblay, owner of the Boathouse, pours a cup of tea. This is a traditional English tea. Photo courtesy Dave Carter, Guelph Mercury.

In the 1940s, it was a popular spot for dances. Then it was used to house boats alongside the Speed River, giving the structure the same name it bears today.

Owner, Brenda Tremblay, sips some orange pekoe, brewed with loose tea leaves from an Elora blender, from a cup made of delicate white china with flowery details. We also serve Light, Pekoe, and McCrae House private blend.

"”I like tea rooms. There were already too many coffee shops," she says.

Though Gordon Street traffic may notice the ice cream more than anything else, the Boathouse's specialty is English high tea.

Traditionally, the afternoon refreshment is taken at what most Canadians would consider dinnertime, but on the edge of where the city rivers meet, it's anytime until 4 p.m. Cream and jam for scones -- like many people with British or Irish heritages, Tremblay pronounces it "scons" -- sweets, finger sandwiches, and a choice of 20 varieties of freshly brewed tea. It's properly brewed tea; there are no store-bought bags at the Boathouse.

"My background is Irish," Tremblay says. "We always had a pot of tea on the table."

Despite the old-world tradition, high tea is not just for old ladies, Tremblay says. In recent years, she has noticed a definite shift in the room's demographic. Tea has become a fashionable drink, mostly among university students, it seems.

Tremblays says she's not sure exactly why tea's hip. It may be the health benefits: "Lots of antioxidants." And the amount of caffeine is lower than coffee. "It's amazing how many people do like tea," she says.

The Boat House

The Boat House is only open in the summer. They have storytelling nights every other Wednesday.

This is where we rent our canoes.

It is a beautiful tea room.

We are definitely stopping for high tea next time we are in Guelph.

Photo courtesy Waymarking.

Still canoeing on the Speed River

We rent our canoes from The Boat House on Gordon Street. The Boat House serves English High Tea and ice cream.

Canoeing on the Speed River

Two rivers flow through Guelph. The Speed River and the Eramosa River. Here we are canoeing on the Speed River.

Guelph City Hall

Limestone Building in downtown Guelph

Downtown Guelph is known for its distinctive limestone and architecture. Many downtown streets are lined with Victorian era buildings, which are now well over a century old. Photo courtesy Blog Guelph.

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Heffernan Footbridge over Speed River

This bridge connects my grandmother's neighborhood with downtown. St. George's Anglican Church is on the other side. Every Sunday morning we would hear the carillon bells.

This is a photo of the fountain at St. George's Square.

The street lights have crowns on them for Royal city.

Guelph's European Ambience

The roads in Guelph are laid out like a British town. Note the limestone buildings on the right.

This is a photo of Douglas Street leading from downtown Guelph (St George's Square) to St. George's Anglican Church. St. George's has a beautiful 36 bell carillon.

Guelph was founded on St. George's day, April 23rd 1827, the feast day of the patron saint of England. The town was named to honour the Royal family, and is nicknamed the "Royal" city.

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Guelph University

Guelph is a university town. The prestigious University of Guelph is famous for its veterinary college.

Map showing Guelph, Toronto and Buffalo

On this map you can also see Windsor, (botton left corner) which is next to Detroit, MI. We just follow HWY 401 (Ontario's major highway), from Guelph to Windsor, cross the Ambassador Bridge into Detroit Michigan, and switch to I75 south to Ohio and Florida.

Map of Ontario showing Guelph

Guelph is the small red dot in south western Ontario.

You're moving to where?

We are moving to Guelph, Ontario, Canada.

Guelph (pronounced "Gwelf") is a city of approx. 128,000 people, located 1 hour west of Toronto.

It has an extremely low crime rate. Obviously this is Canada so, no guns.

Guelph is a 90 minute drive from Buffalo NY. 3 hour drive to Windsor/Detroit. It's a 7 hour drive from Guelph to Franklin Ohio (through Windsor Detroit). A little bit longer to Largo, Florida. (Add 17 hours).