New Guelph Lake Nature Centre

Construction of the new Guelph Lake Nature Centre (GLNC) at the Guelph Lake Conservation Area is complete! The new Centre officially opened its doors on September 4, 2025.

The new GLNC is located within the Guelph Lake Conservation Area. Along with being a purpose-built place for youth to learn, the GLNC will offer the entire community a new environmental hub for active living and nature programs. 

A Community Open House will take place on October 25, 2025. Event details coming soon. 

Thank you to all donors and supporters who have made this project a reality! Read about the ongoing fundraising campaign below.

Along with the GLNC building, the site also includes nature trails, pollinator gardens and dedicated parking.

The new GLNC was designed by +VG Architects, who have been instrumental in keeping project costs to a minimum. The tender for the project was awarded to Dakon Construction at the March 2024, meeting of the Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) Board of Directors. 

Campaign Highlights

The Grand River Conservation Foundation (GRCF) began fundraising for a new GLNC in the fall of 2010 as part of the ‘Your River, Your Life’ campaign plan.

"Guelph Lake is such a huge part of our community and our family. It's exciting to see so many community leaders step up and help support the Grand River Conservation Foundation in building this new facility." - Susan Frasson, Honorary Campaign Chair Family

The GRCF raised $1.9 million in support of the GLNC project. We are so thankful for the supporters and volunteers who made this project a reality, 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.

How to Support the New GLNC

The Grand River Conservation Foundation continues to raise funds to support the Guelph Lake Nature Centre as well as the GRCA’s Outdoor Environmental Education Program.

The GRCF is a Canadian registered charity, so your gift is tax-deductible. To make your online donation now, please visit CanadaHelps.

If you would like more information or have questions about making a donation, please contact the Foundation.