Guelph/Eramosa, Ontario

Guelph/Eramosa
—  Township  —
Rockwood Conservation Area
Location of Guelph/Eramosa within Wellington County
Coordinates: 43°38′N 80°13′W / 43.633°N 80.217°W / 43.633; -80.217Coordinates: 43°38′N 80°13′W / 43.633°N 80.217°W / 43.633; -80.217
Country	Canada
Province	Ontario
County	Wellington
Established	1999
Government
– Type	Township
– Mayor	Christopher White
– Governing Body	Township of Guelph/Eramosa Council
– MP	Mike Chong (Con)
– MPP	Ted Arnott (PC)
Area[1]
– Land	291.73 km2 (112.6 sq mi)
Population (2006)[1]
– Total	12,066
– Density	41.4/km2 (107.2/sq mi)
Time zone	EST (UTC-5)
– Summer (DST)	EDT (UTC-4)
Postal code span	N0B
Area code(s)	519 and 226
Website	www.get.on.ca

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.

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").^[2]

The current mayor of Guelph/Eramosa is Christopher White. Township Councillors are Doug Breen, John Scott, David Wolk, and Corey Woods. County Councillors are Don McKay and Gordon Tosh.^[3]

Nearby is the Rockwood Conservation Area, a park with lakes, karst formations and caves.

Communities

Rockwood is the main community in the township. A rapidly-growing community, it is located on Highway 7 between Acton and the city of Guelph. The Eramosa River runs through the centre of town 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 650,000 visitors a year.^[4]

The township also includes the smaller communities of Ariss, Armstrong Mills, Birge Mills, Blue Springs, Brucedale, Centre Inn, Eden Mills, Eramosa, Everton, Marden, Colbertville, Mosborough, Oakvale, Redwood Hills, and Rockcut.

Demographics

According to the Canada 2006 Census:^[1]

• Population: 12,066
• % Change (2001–2006): 8.0
• Private dwellings occupied by usual residents: 4069 (total dwellings: 4161)
• Area (km²): 291.73
• Density (persons per km²): 41.1

Population trend:^[5]

• Population in 2006: 12,066
• Population in 2001: 11,174
• Population in 1996: 10,176
  • Eramosa (township): 6317
  • Guelph (township): 3282
• Population in 1991:
  • Eramosa (township): 5949
  • Guelph (township): 3274

Media

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

• The Wellington Advertiser
• TVCogeco
• The Acton New Tanner
• The Halton Compass

Education

Guelph/Eramosa township contains two public elementary schools, both of which are administered by the Upper Grand District School Board. These are:

• Eramosa Public School
• Rockwood Centennial Public School

References

1. ^ ^{a b c} "Guelph/Eramosa community profile". 2006 Census data. Statistics Canada. http://www12.statcan.gc.ca/census-recensement/2006/dp-pd/prof/92-591/details/page.cfm?Lang=E&Geo1=CSD&Code1=3523009&Geo2=PR&Code2=35&Data=Count&SearchText=Guelph/Eramosa&SearchType=Begins&SearchPR=01&B1=All&Custom=. Retrieved 2011-01-27. 
2. ^ Quaile, Deborah (2007). Eramosa Anecdotes. Rockwood: Wordbird Press. ISBN ISBN 978-0-9733911-3-8. 
3. ^ Guelph/Eramosa, Ontario official website
4. ^ Rockwood Conservation Area official website
5. ^ Statistics Canada: 1996, 2001, 2006 census

External links

• Township of Guelph-Eramosa Website
• Wellington Guelph Community Portal