From vision to reality – new centre and learning grounds open at Guelph Lake Conservation Area

The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) and the Grand River Conservation Foundation (GRCF) celebrated the opening of the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre (GLNC) on September 4, 2025, at a special event. Attendees included members of the GRCA Board, the GRCF Board, representatives of the Wellington Catholic District School Board, local politicians, and some of the project’s major supporters, as well as GRCA staff.

The new Guelph Lake Nature Centre is located within the Guelph Lake Conservation Area and will serve not only as a learning space for students, but will also provide new opportunities to develop programs for visitors and the community.

“In 2013, we approved its new location here, within the Guelph Lake Conservation Area,” said GRCA Chair John Challinor II. “That decision opened the door to an incredible opportunity to build a state-of-the-art facility for outdoor education, while also creating a vibrant community asset within this beautiful conservation area.”

The centre replaces the existing nature centre that has operated in a repurposed house since 1982. The new facility is surrounded by learning grounds that include nature trails, forest play areas, pollinator gardens, an Indigenous tea garden and water features.

During his remarks, GRCA Chair John Challinor II highlighted the significance of the project. “This space is more than a building. It is a place designed to connect people with nature through hands-on learning and meaningful experiences in the outdoors.” Challinor continued, “It is a place that embodies our shared commitment to environmental stewardship.”

Challinor also acknowledged the Wellington Catholic District School Board for its support. “For decades, this partnership has been at the heart of our Outdoor Environmental Education Program. Because of it, thousands upon thousands of students have stepped into nature, discovered the wonders of the natural world, and grown into lifelong stewards of the environment,” he said.

Several organizations and individuals were honored at the event in appreciation of their contributions to the project including:

• the Rotary Club of Guelph and the Rotary Club of Guelph Charitable Foundation for their generous support as part of their Centennial Project;
• Bob Desautels, the Desautels family, and The Neighbourhood Group for their vision and remarkable generosity and support through their River fundraiser dinners;
• Susan Frasson, the Frasson family, and the W.C. Wood Foundation - the Frasson family served as the Honorary Chair Family of the fundraising campaign for the project for more than a decade;
• Don Drone, former educator and Director of Education for the Wellington Catholic District School Board - a donation was made anonymously in tribute to his decades of dedication to outdoor environmental education and the Guelph Lake Nature Centre; and
• the late Marilyn Murray, who was a driving force behind the Grand River Conservation Foundation and the fundraising campaign for the new nature centre.

The Grand River Conservation Foundation raised $1.9 million in support of the new GLNC project. GRCF Chair Ted Smith shared a note of gratitude during his address, “On behalf of the Foundation, I extend our deepest thanks not only to these remarkable individuals and organizations, but also to the many local businesses, service clubs, and community members who stepped forward with gifts large and small. Together, you have built something extraordinary.” 

All donors will be recognized at the outdoor classroom kiosk, and another event is being planned for October 25, 2025, for all donors and members of the community to enjoy this new space. More details will be shared as plans are finalized, including details on nature discovery programs designed to help people learn about the environment and connect to nature.

The GRCF continues to raise funds to support the centre and its programs. For more information about the new GLNC and learning grounds, and how you can support the project, please visit the GRCA website.

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Media Contacts:

Lisa Stocco, GRCA Director of Strategic Communications and Environmental Education
Phone 519-621-2763 x2316  |  Email lstocco@grandriver.ca

Serena Catania, GRCA Supervisor of Communications and Marketing
Phone (519) 621-2763 x2240  |  Email scatania@grandriver.ca