Other Weakerthans fans...are you out there? I can sing em...and I can play em on guitar...

Happy to Jam and sing most other things as well. From Deathcab to John Prime to David Allen Coe to Chris Cornell.

Good vibes only. I like to make high-level art for arts sake.

Hi everyone, my wife and I are moving this December to Guelph from London, as I’m starting a full time (and permanent) job here.
We thought London was an expensive rental market until getting into Guelph’s.
Anyway, we found a possible place near the Paisley St. and Norfolk St. (it’s not 2 Quebec). I’ve been warned about some sketchy neighbours, but nothing concerning the property. I just wanted to post here as I’m sure you all know about the area.
We currently live in downtown London, which is already sketchy, but how much more sketchy can Guelph be?
We find the unit great, and since prices are crazy we are seriously considering renting the place, unless there’s something really wrong with the area.
Thanks!!!

I guess even Cam can't stomach endorsing Chew.

Hi everyone!! I’m looking to start a book club in Guelph with other women!! I’m 26, love to read and love the Guelph library. They have book club kits we could even use.

Would anyone be interested in this? Getting together once a month, enjoying some company, some conversation and some wine!

Comment or shoot me a message :)

It's kind of insane that it took a full calendar year and they still aren't done putting in four pickleball courts and resurfacing... I would love to know if there's some sort of penalty when it comes to contracted projects like this going well past the deadline...

Interested in doing the 2026 Halloween Bar Crawl organized by Fright Crawl. Wondering if anyone has done an event with Fright Crawl and can give me some insight into how it was. Do alot of people show? How's the crowd? They mention 4 bars with no cover fee, do we still have to wait in long bar lines?

Hello! My daughter is looking for Habanero Lime Buldak. Anyone know of a local place that carries it?

I used to love going to see Kaelin play Saturdays at Funk night.
This Saturday we're throwing a free event. Come get your dance on!

ALBION (upstairs) - Sat. 17th - free event - doors 9pm.
https://www.facebook.com/share/1E2AYfav3o/

Earlier this month someone asked if there's truly nowhere to socialize here. This sub has been answering that question since at least 2015, so I gathered the recommendations from the "how do I meet people" threads and checked each one against the organizer's own page: whether it's still running, when and where it happens, what it costs, and whether you need to sign up first. Everything below was checked on October 13, but things change, so click through before you go.

I don't live in Guelph (I'm in London, Ontario), so if I've got something wrong, tell me and I'll fix it.

Free or nearly free, and you can just show up

Eramosa River Trail parkrun. It's a free 5k every Saturday at 9am, and you're welcome to walk it. It starts by the Covered Bridge in York Road Park, 85 York Rd. Register once on parkrun's site before your first time and bring your barcode, or you won't get a time. If you'd rather not run, you can volunteer instead (email eramosarivertrail@parkrun.com). Afterwards, the group goes for coffee at a local cafe.

Diyode Community Workshop open house. Diyode is a shared workshop with tools for woodworking, metalworking and electronics, and it holds an open house every Monday at 8pm at its new location, 700 York Rd. Everyone is welcome, whether you're experienced or new to DIY, and you can drop by for a tour. No fee is listed for the open house, and membership is optional. Someone suggested it again this month. diyode.com

Bring Your Own Project crafting night, Brothers Brewing. Bring whatever craft project you have on the go and work on it alongside other people, every Tuesday at 8pm at 15 Wyndham St N. There's no charge, no sign-up and no real rules. Their Meetup page

Stitch Together, Guelph Tool Library. A free mending drop-in: bring something that needs fixing and volunteers will show you how, and they have the sewing machines and supplies. It runs on the second Monday (6 to 8pm) and fourth Monday (noon to 2pm) of each month, so the next two are Nov 9 and Nov 23. You'll find it at 55 Wyndham St N, Unit T14, inside Old Quebec Street Shoppes, and you don't need to register. The Tool Library's Repair Cafe, which came up this month, runs roughly every two months; the last one was Oct 3 and the next date isn't posted yet. Calendar

Guelph Spoken Word. They host two nights a month. On the Page / Off the Page is on the first Tuesday (so Nov 3) at The Cornerstone, 1 Wyndham St N. From 6 to 7:30pm there's writing time with a prompt; sign-up for the open mic opens at 7, and the mic starts at 7:30. It's for writers and listeners alike, so you don't have to read, and cover is by donation ($5 suggested). The Guelph Poetry Slam is on the third Saturday (so Nov 21) at The Round Table, 32 Essex St, with doors at 7pm. Advance tickets on Eventbrite are listed at $11.98 to $17.31, and a few are sold at the door. Guelph Spoken Word was the first link in the top comment on last year's thread asking why Guelph has no clubs. guelphspokenword.org

Senior Social Meet-Up, Guelph Public Library. Conversation, games and puzzles every Thursday from 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Westminster Square Branch, 31 Farley Dr. Just drop in: there's no registration, and no fee is listed. Library events

A hobby that comes with people

Guelph Board Game Nights at The Round Table. The group meets every Wednesday from 7 to 10pm at 32 Essex St, with a core of about 10 to 15 regulars. Most games run 1 to 3 hours, and while it isn't the place for Monopoly-level games, you don't need to be a hardcore strategy gamer either: come willing to learn something new. The table is free, and you pay for your own food and drinks. Nights are listed weekly on their Luma page through at least Dec 2, and that's where you register. The organizers also replied in this 2025 thread.

The Dragon also came up in a lot of these threads, for D&D, Magic and Pokemon nights. I couldn't find a posted schedule, so ask at the store.

The Guelph Grotto (climbing). You don't need a partner for bouldering or the auto belays. It's at 199 Victoria Rd S, open weekdays 11am to 11pm, Saturdays 8am to 9pm and Sundays 9am to 9pm. An adult day pass is $24.50 and shoe rental is $7.08, both plus tax, and you buy them in person when you arrive. guelphgrotto.com

Rec leagues. Game On lets you register as an individual. This fall an individual spot cost $70 to $125 depending on the sport, and registration opened Aug 28, so watch their site for the next season. For Perpetual Motion, email dave@perpetualmotion.org and ask whether they can place you on a team. One caveat from a March thread: someone who signed up solo for basketball got a refund because the league wasn't taking solos, so ask before you pay.

Guelph Hiking Trail Club. Their calendar says guests are welcome on guided hikes. Each hike has its own page with the pace, distance and meeting spot, and that's where you register. Two are coming up. The Halloween Hike on Saturday Oct 31 is about 6.3km at 4km an hour, starting at 9am from the Ignatius Jesuit Centre, 5420 Hwy 6 (check in at 8:45am). Leave dogs at home for this one. If you have a dog, the Halloween Howl Hike on Friday Oct 30 runs 5:30 to 7pm from the Rexall plaza lot at Woolwich and Speedvale. It's under 5km at a leisurely pace, dogs must be leashed and non-reactive, costumes are welcome, and you should bring a headlamp. Neither lists a guest fee. Calendar

Rainbow Chorus of Waterloo Wellington. A non-auditioned choir for 2SLGBTQIA+ people and allies that rehearses in Guelph on Wednesdays from 7 to 9pm. The fall term is full (email info@rainbowchorus.ca to join the waitlist), but they're holding a one-off singing workshop with Melanie DeMore on Wednesday Nov 11, 7 to 9:30pm, at Harcourt Commons, 87 Dean Ave. Tickets are $45 or $25 through their events page.

Guelph Public Speakers (Toastmasters). They meet Mondays from 7 to 8:30pm, except long-weekend holiday Mondays, in Room 030 (in the basement) of the Animal Science and Nutrition Building on the U of G campus, 491 Gordon St. Guests are welcome to sit in on a meeting, and no guest fee is listed. Club page

Kohbukan Judo. Adult classes run Mondays and Wednesdays from 7:30 to 9pm at 10 Speedvale Ave E, on the 2nd floor. Your first week is free, and you can just show up. After that it's $140 a month plus HST, or an introductory rate of $675 plus HST for six months, on top of a yearly Judo Ontario registration. Someone who works there answered questions in this thread. kohbukan-judo.ca

Running groups. Pursuit Run Club runs Saturdays at 10am from Pursuit Athletic Centre, 80 Southgate Dr. It's free and open to all levels, with no membership needed, but first-timers are asked to fill in the contact form on that page. Up and Running is for women 18 and up: you can walk (Tue/Thu 10 to 11am, or Mon/Wed 6 to 7pm) or run (Mon/Wed, 10 to 11am or 6 to 7pm) along the Royal Recreation Trail downtown. The fall session runs to Dec 3 and takes registrations any time. It's $40, which they'll reduce or waive if cost is a barrier, and you can register for one free walk first. Both came up in this 2025 thread.

If you're shy about going alone

This came up a lot, including in May from someone who'd been to a game store but didn't know how they'd meet people there. The ones above that keep your hands busy or give you a job make an easier start: walking or volunteering at parkrun, Stitch Together, the Brothers crafting night, the writing hour at On the Page, or bouldering. One more piece of advice, from a 2023 thread: build a habit that gets you out, like the same coffee shop every Sunday, and eventually you and the regulars start talking.

New to Canada and practising English

A 2024 comment in one of the newcomer threads said English conversation circles can be a good way to connect with others. Two run every week:

• Library English Conversation Circle. It's a free drop-in for adults, held Saturdays from 10 to 11am at the Main Library, 100 Norfolk St. You can register if you like, but you don't have to. Library events
• GCHC English Conversation Community. A peer-led group for people at all levels, meeting Mondays from 9:30 to 11:30am at GCHC Shelldale, 20 Shelldale Cres. Their page says it's designed for equity-deserving community members living in the City of Guelph and welcomes anyone who wants to practise. It's drop-in, but you fill in a registration form before your first time, and no fee is listed. gchc.ca

New to the area

Guelph Newcomers Club. It's open to women who moved to Guelph in the last three years, or who've had a life change like losing a partner, becoming single or retiring. Members pick from activity groups that meet around Guelph or in members' homes, such as brunch and lunch groups, walking groups, book clubs and card games. Membership is $35 a year (August to July). To join, email info@guelphnewcomersclub.ca; the club is volunteer-run and asks you to allow 7 days for a reply. It was recommended here in 2024. guelphnewcomersclub.ca

Volunteering

Volunteering came up in many of the threads. A 2023 comment listed places that want people for recurring shifts, and here's where they stand now:

• Hope House is looking for general daytime volunteers Monday to Thursday, including a cafe host who serves coffee and talks with people who come in. To apply, fill in the form on their volunteer page.
• Chalmers Community Services Centre, at 41 Macdonell St, takes volunteers 16 and up. Apply with the form on their page.
• Guelph Tool Library volunteers must be 16 or older, and new ones start with a 30-minute orientation. The last orientation was Oct 7 and the next isn't posted, so email volcoordinator@guelphtoollibrary.org. Volunteer page
• Hillside Festival. The volunteer program is closed until February. Applications reopen on Hillside Inside weekend and close once the program is full. You give about 12 hours over the festival and get a weekend pass and camping, and the fee is $35 if you're working or $25 if not. hillsidefestival.ca/volunteering

Students

• U of G has 190+ CSA clubs, and they're listed on GryphLife. csaonline.ca
• Gryphon Run Club runs about 5km from just outside the Athletics Centre during the fall and winter terms. It costs $15 a year plus a base athletics membership, which on-campus students already have. Run times are posted only on their Instagram, @gryphons.runclub. Club page

Full right now

Library book clubs came up in several of these threads, but the two evening ones (Westminster Square and East Side, 6:30 to 7:30pm) and the 2SLGBTQIA+ Book Club (7pm, Main Library) are all full and have waitlists. To ask about a spot, email bookclub@guelphpl.ca. Book clubs page

Stopped

• Guelph Meet-a-palooza, which grew out of the 2023 Guelph Meet up post linked below, and Guelph Write Now. Neither Meetup group exists any more.
• DemoCampGuelph. Its site says it "ran for over a decade".
• Kitchen Bees at Church of the Apostles ran from May 2020 to June 2023 and is now listed under former programs.
• The Making Box was recommended for improv from 2015 to 2021, but its site now advertises team workshops.
• Green Drinks Guelph. Its page on greendrinks.org now redirects to the main index.
• Planet Bean book club. Its Eventbrite page has no current dates.

If nothing fits: things people here have said someone should start

• A regular hangout spot for people in their 40s (2023). Over in the 20s/30s thread, someone wrote "There's interest if you want to organize something".
• A book club. In 2024, a woman in her late 20s who was looking for one said she was open to starting one herself.
• A BL manga and manhwa meetup (May).
• D&D. Someone in March said they'd tried setting up D&D groups on Facebook without much interest, and that they wouldn't know how to walk into a board game cafe and ask strangers to play.

When someone here offers to organize something, people answer. Plenty of people replied to the 2023 Guelph Meet up post with their age and a yes, and this June someone started a free running group.

What did I miss? If you run something that belongs here, or one of these has changed, comment and I'll update the post.

I also run Culdesac, a free site that lists what's on in Guelph by date.

Nothing looking for anything super fancy. Just someplace that allows easy conversation. Good drinks and food a plus but not a requirement. Not looking for coffee spots. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Thanks.

Long ladder, nerves of steel and probably a hammer or brute force needed to secure this bit of facia back down and give the vent a quick clean. DM me please if you can do this small job before the snow comes.

The "how do I meet people in Guelph" question comes up here a lot, so I tried making a plain list for this week: things you can walk into on your own, free or under $10, with the details written out. I checked each one on the organizer's own page before posting. Most of the library listings don't mention a price, so for those I've only noted whether you need to sign up. Plans change, so check the link before you head out.

Saturday, Oct 17

• Eramosa River Trail parkrun, 9am. A free 5k you're welcome to walk, starting by the Covered Bridge in York Road Park (85 York Rd), about ten minutes on foot from Guelph Central Station. Register once on parkrun before your first time and bring your barcode, or you won't get a time. If you'd rather not run, you can volunteer. Afterwards, in their words: "Every week we grab a post parkrun coffee at a local cafe - please come and join us!" parkrun.ca/eramosarivertrail

• Pursuit Run Club, 10am at Pursuit Athletic Centre, 80 Southgate Dr. They say it's for everyone "from seasoned athletes to those lacing up for the very first time." It's free with no membership, though first-timers are asked to fill in the email contact form on their page before coming. jointhepursuit.com

• English Conversation Circle, 10 to 11am at the Main Library, 100 Norfolk St. It's a free weekly drop-in for adults who want to practise speaking English. You can register if you like, but drop-ins are welcome. GPL listing

• Philosophy Unplugged, 10:30am to 12:30pm. This session covers lecture 3 of Vervaeke's Awakening From the Meaning Crisis (it's on YouTube), though the organizer says the discussions range widely and don't depend on the lecture. The group meets by the Starbucks in the University Centre at U of G (50 Stone Rd E), and parking on campus is free on weekends. The listing shows no fee, and you RSVP on Meetup. Meetup

• The Last Chapter: A Farewell to Main, 2 to 4:30pm at the Main Library, 100 Norfolk St. The library moves to the new Central Library in early 2027, and this is the send-off for the 1965 building. There are refreshments at 2 and speeches at 2:30, then they open the time capsule from the main entrance at 3 and start tours at 3:30. You don't need to register. GPL listing

Monday, Oct 19

• Guelph Hiking Trail Club: Ignatius Old Growth Forest, 9:30am check-in. It's about 5 km in 1¼ hours, fairly flat but with rocks and roots underfoot. Their calendar says "Guests are welcome on our guided hikes." Park along Victoria Rd N about 1 km north of Woodlawn Rd E, by the crosswalk lights at the entrance to the Guelph Lake trails. Bring ID and water, wear hiking footwear, and leave the dog at home. Register on the event page. No guest fee is listed. Hike page and club calendar

Tuesday, Oct 20

• Royal City Boomers drum circle, 1 to 2pm at the Main Library, 100 Norfolk St. It's open to all levels and the drums are provided, or you can bring your own djembe. You don't need to register. GPL listing

• Nature Guelph talk: Adventures in Biotic Resistance, 7:30 to 9pm at Water Street Church, 287 Water St. David Fields speaks on invasive species and buckthorn management, drawing on field trials along the Eramosa and Speed Rivers. Their page says you "don't need to be a Nature Guelph member" and that at these meetings "members socialize over coffee and cookies." It's free, with a suggested $5 donation for non-members, and the only registration their page mentions is for Zoom talks. Event and meetings page

• Bring Your Own Project crafting night, 8 to 10pm at Brothers Brewing, 15 Wyndham St N. Bring whatever you're working on. There's no charge and no sign-up, and pints drop to $6 at 8pm. Meetup

• Drop-in soccer (18+), 8 to 10pm at the Guelph Sports Dome, 375 College Ave W. Bring a light and a dark shirt, leave the outdoor cleats at home, and expect to take your turn in goal like everyone else. It costs $7.77 + tax, and you pre-register online, in person at a City rec centre, or by phone at 519-837-5699, starting 23 hours before. Booking opens Monday at 9pm, and there are 24 spots. City booking page

Wednesday, Oct 21

• Guelph Board Game Nights, 7 to 10pm at The Round Table Board Game Café, 32 Essex St. The games are a step past Monopoly and most run 1 to 3 hours, but you don't need to be a hardcore strategy gamer. Their page says to "come willing to learn something new and have fun, and you'll fit right in." About 10 to 15 regulars come every week, so a quiet RSVP list doesn't mean an empty table. The table is free and you pay for your own food and drinks. Register on Luma, and if you'd like to say hi before you go, their Discord is linked on the Luma page. Luma

Thursday, Oct 22

• Senior Social Meet-Up, 10:30am to 12:30pm at the Westminster Square Branch library, 31 Farley Dr. It's conversation, games and puzzles with people from the neighbourhood, and you can just drop in without registering. GPL listing

• Drop-in pickleball (18+), 8:15 to 9:45pm at the West End Community Centre, 21 Imperial Rd S. Paddles and balls are provided, and it's $4.77 + tax. As with soccer, you pre-register online, in person at a City rec centre, or by phone at 519-837-5699, starting 23 hours before. Booking opens Wednesday at 9:15pm, and there are 24 spots. City booking page

What did I miss? I couldn't find anything free on Sunday, so if you know of something, add it below. And if you run or go to something people can join on their own, put it in the comments with the day, time and a link, and I'll add it once I've checked the page.

Most of these came from Culdesac, a free site I run that lists what's on in Guelph. The rest of the week is on there too.

Hey everybody, I'm in my twenties and have been in the art industry for many years but have been wanting to get into tattooing and I think I'm finally in a place where I could manage an apprenticeship, I've spent a long time building my portfolio as well as practicing on face skin already. Without being completely discouraging, does anyone have any tips on securing an apprenticeship? Should I expect to have to go a bit outside of guelph? Any advice is greatly appreciated!

Anybody know about this change? What is this new place? Walked by when it was not open. It's the one shared with the Self Ramen Bar.

Hi. Anyone know if there’s a reliable shop that installs these now that Powerline has closed its doors? 🙏

​

Someone has been going around stealing signs for Leanne Caron in my area. I found several dumped on Eastview. I talked to one candidate in my area and he said he saw a man take a sign for Musrafa Zuberi off a lawn and stuff it in his truck. Now my Caron sign was stolen off my own lawn.

Let's not beat around the bush, this is not a coincidence. There are some people invested in this race who are willing to lie, cheat, and steal to ensure Ken Yee Chew's conservative slate pulls ahead. And that means manufacturing the appearance of popularity for Ken.

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Jessie Gutie and now Brendan Clark have gained access to my apartment buildings to canvas.

I don't think its appropriate to be following someone in past security doors past 5pm to put up fliers (thats jesse in specific).

You should have left fliers in the lobby after asking permission from staff.

Might be a nothingburger for many, but gosh darn it does irk me.

What are the top 3 things you wish the city of Guelph did better? Keep in mind the municipality has limits to what we provide. The time before an election is the best time to ask the candidates you are about to elect where they stand on the things most important to you. Present your top 3 and say which ward you are a part of, let's see which candidates align with your needs the best 😊

I always try to see how many of these questionnaires the candidates fill out. If you can’t even manage to answer major news outlets, that tells me a lot about if you’re ready for the job.

https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/guelph/article/guelph-municipal-election-meet-the-mayoral-candidates/