Three photos of the GCF staff with text GCF Visits the NonProfits Next Door in blue

Hello Neighbour!

On Tuesday our team enjoyed our annual summer staff community afternoon, where we get out into the city and experience some of what Downtown Guelph has to offer. These visits are a great opportunity to learn more about the work being done in our community are always so inspirational as we learn about the work the work that our local non-profits are doing.

The GCF staff at lunch; seven people smiling and sitting around a wooden table in a cozy restaurant with brick walls and large windows.

We started with a delicious staff lunch at Miijidaa Café. We then returned to the Old Quebec Street Shoppes, where the Guelph Community Foundation (GCF) office is located, to spend time with two of our non-profit neighbours: the Guelph Tool Library and the Guelph Arts Council.

Located just down the hall from our office, these community focused organizations have been supported through GCF funding over the years and we were excited to visit in person all together. It was a great opportunity to learn more about the scope of their work and the impact they are having in our community beyond the specific areas we’ve helped support.

Guelph Tool Library

We were given a personal tour of the Guelph Tool Library (GTL) and got to learn all about their programs and circular economy initiatives which support the community. Executive Director John Dennis shared about how the library works, what it has to offer and how through their partnerships with local organizations they are able to find great sucess through their collaborative work across Guelph.

We were also able to see parts of their current ReBoot program in person, including piles of donated shoes being cleaned and prepared for distribution where they are needed. The ReBoot program received funding through a GCF 2025 Community Grant, and it was rewarding to see how it’s been even more successful than expected.

Group of people listening to a man explaining tools in a well-organized hardware store aisle.

The Guelph Tool Library is a member-based lending library with many hundreds of tools available for rental. The inventory includes tools for home repair, carpentry, automotive work, arts and crafts, gardening, and more. GTL also offers workshops and programs focused on repair, upcycling, gardening, and food preparation and preservation, helping community members build skills, save money, and reduce waste.

A group of five diverse adults attentively listening looking to the left inside a bright, colorful area with words on the windows.
A group of people attentively listening to a man explaining shoe designs in a workshop filled with footwear and storage units.
The bike repair area with multiple bicycles, tires, and wheels displayed on racks, with the staff walking by in the library
A group of five diverse adults attentively listening looking to the left inside a bright, colorful area with words on the windows.
A group of people attentively listening to a man explaining shoe designs in a workshop filled with footwear and storage units.
The bike repair area with multiple bicycles, tires, and wheels displayed on racks, with the staff walking by in the library

Guelph Arts Council

A man wearing a cap explains artwork on a gallery wall to a diverse group of five attentive people standing in a bright gallery room with large windows.

We then visited the Guelph Arts Council (GAC), where Executive Director Preetam Sengupta shared about the organization and its 50-year history in Guelph. GAC is a registered charity and cultural hub for artists, arts groups, and audiences. Through its programs, partnerships, and advocacy work, GAC helps build and support a thriving creative community in Guelph.

Inside the gallery, we had a great time connecting with the always wonderful staff and enjoying the current fibre art exhibition. We especially appreciated the texture and detail in the artworks, which is definitely best experienced in person. It was a wonderful opportunity to learn more about the organization and the important role it continues to play in Guelph’s cultural life.

GAC is a fundholder at GCF and has also received GCF funding over the years, which has helped strengthen opportunities for artists and arts engagement in our city. We were especially excited to learn more about the upcoming GRETAs that’ll happen next year.

Two people attentively reading a small text display on a white wall inside a bright room with large windows.
Three women observe textured fiber art pieces displayed on a white gallery wall in a bright room with large windows.
Three people engage in conversation in an art gallery with textured abstract wall hangings displayed behind them.
Two people attentively reading a small text display on a white wall inside a bright room with large windows.
Three women observe textured fiber art pieces displayed on a white gallery wall in a bright room with large windows.
Three people engage in conversation in an art gallery with textured abstract wall hangings displayed behind them.

It’s always a pleasure to see these organizations and their work firsthand. While the Guelph Tool Library and Guelph Arts Council are our neighbours in Old Quebec Street Shoppes, visiting with them gave us an appreciation for the important work happening just down the hall. We feel fortunate to support organizations like these through our grant programs and are proud to be part of a community filled with creativity, collaboration, and community spirit.

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