P. Brian Skerrett - Urban Park Guelph - Reclaiming the Reformatory Grounds

Support Growing Guelph on Patreon!

If you enjoy Growing Guelph and want to help support local storytelling, I’ve launched a Patreon!

For as little as a buck a month, you’ll get early, ad-free episodes, the chance to submit questions for guests, and help shape future topics.

It’s totally optional, but it helps keep this project going — and growing.

👉 Check it out at patreon.com/growingguelph

In this episode, I talk with longtime local advocate P. Brian Skerrett about the vision for a new national urban park on the historic Guelph Reformatory lands. We explore Brian’s deep connection to the site, his work with Heritage Guelph, and the heritage designation under the Ontario Heritage Act that is shaping the future of this space.

We dive into the rich and complex legacy of the reformatory itself, the early roots of judicial reform in Canada, and why preserving this land matters—not just historically, but socially and ecologically. Brian shares his recent work with Guelph Museums, a public exhibit and walking tour, and the collaborative design efforts by Gareth Lind of Lind Design in support of the movement.

Our conversation touches on the evolving relationship with local government, the role of organizations like the Yorklands Green Hub and the Guelph Hiking Trail Club, and the possibility of linking Guelph’s river and green spaces into one connected ecological corridor. We also discuss Indigenous history at the site, the legacy of the “Native Sons,” and broader themes of incarceration and reconciliation in Canada.

As Guelph approaches its bicentennial in 2027, this project offers a chance to reflect on how land, history, and community can come together. We close with a look at how listeners can help support and shape the future of this vital green space.

Links

Urban Park Guelph initiative: urbanparkguelph.com

Brian’s recent walking tour with Guelph Museums: Explore the Reformatory Grounds

Want to help shape future episodes or support the show?

👉 Join the community on Patreon

Thanks for listening to Growing Guelph — where we celebrate the people shaping a stronger, more connected city.

Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.