Join us for a walk and conversation with AGG Director Shauna McCabe and researcher and past chair of Heritage Guelph, Brian Skerrett, as they discuss the layered histories at play in Guelph, with a focus on the site of the stone quarry on the grounds of the Guelph Correctional Centre (Ontario Reformatory). This dialogue will delve into the connections between geologies and geographies as well as between natural and built environments.

Worked by those incarcerated at the Reformatory, not only does the stone quarry expose layers of rock that reveal the earth’s stratigraphy and fossil records, in this case a prehistoric reef, the quarries became part of the cultural landscape as materials extracted were used to build local architecture, influencing the aesthetic and structural characteristics of the region.

This tour is presented in conjunction with the AGG’s recent exhibition Yours in Native Spirit: Richard Bedwash, curated by Shauna McCabe and Colinda Clyne, as the Anishinaabe artist served a term there in the 1970s, part of the intricate narrative that connects his work, his life, and the city of Guelph.

Note that to access this site, participants must walk over uneven ground for approximately 15 minutes and there are no washroom facilities on the site. In the case of extreme weather, this walk will be rescheduled and any changes will be communicated by email to those registered.

Partners
Presented by the Art Gallery of Guelph as part of AGG’s Walking as Remapping program with the support of the University of Guelph’s Wellness@Work program, in partnership with the Department of Geography and School of English and Theatre Studies.