Guelph/Eramosa

Guelph/Eramosa is a township located in Wellington County, in midwestern Ontario, Canada. It partly encircles the city of Guelph, surrounding it in a continuous arc from approximately northeast to south-southwest of the city. It is part of the Guelph census metropolitan area.

Guelph/Eramosa
Township (Lower-tier)
Township of Guelph/Eramosa
Rockwood Conservation Area
Location of Guelph/Eramosa within Wellington County
Guelph/Eramosa
Location of Guelph/Eramosa within Southern Ontario
Coordinates: 43°38′N 80°13′W
Country Canada
Province Ontario
CountyWellington
Established1999
Government
 • TypeTownship
 • MayorChristopher White [1]
 • Governing BodyTownship of Guelph/Eramosa Council
 • MPMike Chong (Con)
 • MPPTed Arnott (PC)
Area
 • Land291.67 km2 (112.61 sq mi)
Population
 (2016)[2]
 • Total12,854
 • Density44.1/km2 (114/sq mi)
Time zoneUTC-5 (EST)
 • Summer (DST)UTC-4 (EDT)
Postal code span
N0B
Area code(s)519 and 226
Highways Highway 7
Websitewww.get.on.ca

The township was created in 1999 by the merger of the townships of Guelph and Eramosa, as well as parts of Pilkington and Nichol Townships. The name Eramosa was derived from the native word Un-ne-mo-sah (possibly meaning "black dog", "dead dog", or simply "dog").[3] Eramosa Township was settled primarily by Scots and Irish; in 1841, its population was 935.[4]

The mayor of Guelph/Eramosa in 2018 is Christopher White (since 2010). Township councillors are Bruce Dickieson, Corey Woods, Louise Marshall and Mark Bouwmeester. County councillors are Don McKay and Doug Breen.[5]

Now a major auto parts manufacturer with 22 plants in Guelph, Linamar was started in the village of Ariss in 1964 by Hungarian refugee Frank Hasenfratz, initially in his basement.[6] The company, with a staff of five, was incorporated in 1966 as Linamar Machine Limited. Linamar's first major contract was to manufacture automotive oil pumps for Ford.[7]

Local Government

Guelph/Eramosa is governed by a mayor and four councillors, with one councillor representing each of the four municipal wards. The Mayor of Guelph/Eramosa represents the town on the Wellington County Council. As of the 2018 election, the elected council members are:[8]

Mayor: Chris White

Councillors:

  • Ward 1: Bruce Dickieson
  • Ward 2: Corey Woods
  • Ward 3: Louise Marshall
  • Ward 4: Mark Bouwmeester

Communities

Rockwood is the main community in the township. Rockwood is located on Highway 7 between Acton and the city of Guelph. The Eramosa River runs through the centre of the village and is the reason for Rockwood's existence – having been the source of power for several mills that were the economic engine that spawned the original settlement. Limestone was also extracted from what is now the nearby Rockwood Conservation Area at that time. The conservation area is used for swimming, hiking, canoeing, picnicking and camping from last Friday in April to the Sunday following Thanksgiving and it has over 65,000 visitors a year.[9] The conservation area features a small reservoir on the Eramosa River, karst formations, and caves.

In addition to Rockwood, the township also includes the smaller communities of Ariss, Brucedale, Centre Inn, Eden Mills, Eramosa, Everton, and Marden. Several former place names connected to 19th-century mills and post offices, such as Armstrong Mills,[10] Birge Mills, Mosborough, and Rockcut, continue to appear on some maps of the area.

The area was settled by the Attawandaron Nation, also known as the Neutrals in the 1600s and the territory was held by the Mississaugas of the Credit; the latter sold a large tract of land to the government in 1818 and it was first surveyed that year; the name Eramosa was then used to describe the large parcel of land.

One small area was named Eden Mills in 1846 by Adam Argo who had built a mill there. Over the years, the hamlet had a grist mill, an oatmeal mill and several saw mills powered by the Eramosa River. Other businesses also thrived and there was a stop for the Toronto Suburban railway (later becoming the Edgewood Camp) which ran from Toronto to Guelph. As recently as 1950, two churches and a school (SS#11) operated in the hamlet. The population of the hamlet in early 2019 was 350.[11]

Great Northern Railway founder James J. Hill was born in Rockwood in 1838.

Demographics
Guelph/Eramosa
Historical populations
YearPop.±%
1996 10,176—    
2001 11,174+9.8%
2006 12,066+8.0%
2011 12,380+2.6%
2016 12,854+3.8%
[12][13][2]
Canada census – Guelph/Eramosa community profile
2016 2011
Population: 12,854 (+3.8% from 2011) 12,380 (+2.6% from 2006)
Land area: 291.67 km2 (112.61 sq mi) 291.71 km2 (112.63 sq mi)
Population density: 44.1/km2 (114/sq mi) 42.4/km2 (110/sq mi)
Median age: 45.3 (M: 45.0, F: 45.6)
Total private dwellings: 4,604 4,334
Median household income: $110,165
References: 2016[14] 2011[15] earlier[16]

Population data prior to amalgamation (1999):

  • Population in 1996: 10,176
    • Eramosa (township): 6,317
    • Guelph (township): 3,282
  • Population in 1991:
    • Eramosa (township): 5,949
    • Guelph (township): 3,274

Media

Guelph/Eramosa is covered by local newspapers and television through the following services:

  • The Wellington Advertiser
  • TVCogeco
  • The Acton New Tanner

Education

Guelph/Eramosa township contains three public elementary schools administered by the Upper Grand District School Board. These are:

  • Eramosa Public School
  • Rockwood Centennial Public School
  • Harris Mill Public School (French Immersion)

The Wellington Catholic District School Board opened its first school in the Township in September 2016:

  • Sacred Heart Catholic School[17]

There is also one private school located in Guelph/Eramosa:

  • Elora Road Christian School

See also

References
  1. "Township of Guelph/Eramosa Final Summary of Election Results" (PDF). Township of Guelph/Eramosa. Retrieved 2018-11-28.
  2. "Census Profile, 2016 Census: Guelph/Eramosa, Township". Statistics Canada. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  3. Quaile, Deborah (2007). Eramosa Anecdotes. Rockwood: Wordbird Press. ISBN 978-0-9733911-3-8.
  4. Smith, Wm. H. (1846). Smith's Canadian Gazetteer - Statistical and General Information Respecting all parts of The Upper Province, or Canada West. Toronto: H. & W. Rowsell. p. 55.
  5. "Mayor and Council". Township of Guelph/Eramosa. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  6. "Linamar Corporation's Frank Hasenfratz named Canadian Manufacturing Hall of Fame Inductee" (PDF). Linamar Corporation. June 26, 2007. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  7. "Linamar Corporation". encyclopedia.com. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  8. "Township of Guelph/Eramosa Final Summary of Election Results" (PDF). get.on.ca/. Oct 22, 2018. Retrieved November 28, 2018.
  9. "Rockwood Conservation Area". Grand River Conservation Authority. Retrieved July 22, 2019.
  10. Ireland, Carolyn (25 June 2009). "Danby's digs: Old mill home was an artist's landscape". The Globe and Mail. Retrieved 9 July 2020.
  11. "Eden Mills set to celebrate its history". Guelph Today. 27 January 2019. Retrieved 22 February 2019.
  12. Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census
  13. "Guelph/Eramosa community profile". 2011 Census data. Statistics Canada. Retrieved 2012-02-11.
  14. "2016 Community Profiles". 2016 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 21, 2017. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  15. "2011 Community Profiles". 2011 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. July 5, 2013. Retrieved 2019-07-22.
  16. "2001 Community Profiles". 2001 Canadian Census. Statistics Canada. February 17, 2012.
  17. "Sacred Heart Rockwood". Retrieved July 22, 2019.
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