Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

Donkey at Play, a photo by J.S. Hollands on Flickr.

Today I'd like to take a moment to celebrate the 150th Anniversary of the Ontario Veterinary College in Guelph. Animals have long played an important role in our civilizations, both in agriculture and as beloved pets. Our relationship with animals is as diverse as it is inspiring.

The OVC is the oldest veterinary college in North America. It actually began in Toronto in 1862 but relocated to Guelph in 1922, becoming the founding college of the University of Guelph in 1964. Today we are very proud to acknowledge that our Veterinary College is a world class institution that has saved thousands upon thousands of animal lives through excellent care, research, and international collaboration. I hope everyone will take the time to appreciate their accomplishments now and in the coming weeks as they reach this phenomenal mark in their history.

Tonight Macdonald Stewart Art Centre celebrates the OVC through a spectacular exhibition of works from our collections that feature animals in art. Please join us for the Opening Reception at 7pm.

I hope anyone who has every owned and loved a pet will raise a toast to OVC in 2012.

~ Aidan M.D. Ware

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

Cat's Eye, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

DSC_0656, a photo by scratchedcornea on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

A Beauty, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

the world through the eye of a horse, a photo by crevicehead on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

Llama, a photo by Elisha Jesudason on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

Sheep Look Up, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

Barnyard Adventure - Ready for Close-up, a photo by JohnnyBallgame on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: It is the Nature of the Beast

Rock Beast, a photo by peterkelly on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Abandoned

Abandoned House #1, a photo by cool-baby on Flickr.

Good Morning,

Today's series of photographs are those 'abandoned' but not forgotten places that dot around our city. Often they are seen just out of the corner of your eye as you pass by. A fleeting glimpse of a different time, now but all a shell, an apparition of its old self. Each one a story to tell in the history of Guelph.

Keep up the curiosity.

Bunny Safari

Blog Guelph: Abandoned

Abandoned House 4, a photo by cool-baby on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Abandoned

Abandoned House 2, a photo by cool-baby on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Abandoned

Abandoned house 3, a photo by cool-baby on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: (Day 7) Putting it in perspective. From the Cutten Fields.

(Day 7) Putting it in perspective. From the Cutten Fields., originally uploaded by Aidan M.D. Ware.

Aidan Ware continues to offer a stunning array of downtown Guelph images with her photo essay project: Guelph, 100 Days in the Mirror.

Did you know that Guelph had a building height bylaw designed to protect the site lines for The Church of Our Lady?

According to the Church Wikipedia page, "The City of Guelph's zoning by-laws establish "protected view areas" that are designed to ensure clear sight lines to the Church of Our Lady from various vantage points in the downtown core. Any communication towers or other buildings built in the downtown area must not obscure the view of the church. Also, no new buildings in Guelph are allowed to be taller than the Church."

"Accordingly, views of the Church from different aspects, in different seasons, times of day and lights, against different skies, form indelible impressions in the minds of residents and visitors."

How sad that such an inspired bylaw has run its course. Our lovely BIG sky cityscape is about to grow UP - 18 STORIES UP.

Why is progress so ugly?

Sue Richards

Blog Guelph: (Day 5) On the Speed Looking Slight Northwest

(Day 5) On the Speed Looking Slight Northwest, originally uploaded by Aidan M.D. Ware.

Blog Guelph: (Day 14) Heritage building, coffee house, and antique shop - a trilogy. Corner of Carden and Wyndham.

(Day 14) Heritage building, coffee house, and antique shop - a trilogy. Corner of Carden and Wyndham., originally uploaded by Aidan M.D. Ware.

Blog Guelph: (Day 6) Light, sky and Old Quebec Street Mall.

(Day 6) Light, sky and Old Quebec Street Mall., originally uploaded by Aidan M.D. Ware.

Blog Guelph: (Day 16) Looking for the bridges from here to there.

(Day 16) Looking for the bridges from here to there., originally uploaded by Aidan M.D. Ware.

Blog Guelph: (Day 10) Sunrise over the Speed. The Speed River was the focal point of John Galt's city plan. He designed Guelph to resemble a European city.

(Day 10) Sunrise over the Speed. The Speed River was the focal point of John Galt's city plan. He designed Guelph to resemble a European city., originally uploaded by Aidan M.D. Ware.

Blog Guelph: May Flowers

Blossoms, a photo by Alan Norsworthy on Flickr.

Happy Monday Blog Guelph!

Hope all you Mom's out there had a wonderful Mother's Day!

Mine was a lovely day spent with my boys. The boys gave me a season pass for the GRCA, so we headed up to the Elora Gorge and spent the afternoon exploring.

Today, I thought I'd share some of the gorgeous flowers that have been spotted all around. It seems that even though we missed out on most of the April showers, the May flowers are faithful.

Hope everyone has a great Monday! See you next week!

Krista

Blog Guelph: May Flowers

Red Tulip from Top, a photo by Violet Brown on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: May Flowers

Greeting the Sun, a photo by Craft_zilla on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: May Flowers

Forget-me-nots, a photo by felixtrio on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Mother Earth

Sky with Trees , originally uploaded by John Q6.

Here's your one shot wonder for today, gentlefolk.

On Sunday, remember that Mother Earth is also your Mother.

And what a beauty she is....

I'll be the opposite of Downtown Lynn this weekend, keeping that in mind.

-DTL

Blog Guelph: Saying Goodbye

Not the moon, a photo by felixtrio on Flickr.

Don't take me to the tower
It was I who was
The hourglass
And the sands of time like
Shattering glass went past me
Like a tunnel to the sea

And I who went to sleep as two
Woke up as one now only you remain
You'll close your eyes and travel back
To the time when the light went fading fast
And the words you'll never, never forget, oh no
As you slipped away

And I who went to sleep in tears
Woke up in tears, for all of the years
And I who never, never said goodbye
As I slipped away

Goodbye baby
I hope your heart's not broken
Don't forget me
Yes I was outspoken
You were with me all the time
I'll be with you one day

~ Stevie Nicks, Fleetwood Mac

Saying goodbye has to be the hardest thing to do. And do we ever really say goodbye?

There have been a few goodbyes lately touching on my world.  And I’ve struggled with thinking about the idea of having to let go - to say goodbye. It’s never been my character to forget those or those things that I’ve cared about, or to give up on important beliefs or people, or to walk away from what and who I’ve invested in.

Someone I know lost their dog, their best friend recently. There is nothing I can say to make that goodbye easier.

And Guelph. Guelph has lost a very big part of its history this week. There is nothing more I feel I can do to make that goodbye easier either.

But I’m a hopeful person. When we lose loved ones, I believe they stay with us. Or when we have to walk away from situations, I believe we leave some of ourselves behind.

I have to believe this. To keep going. To stay strong.

So, yes, sometimes we have to say goodbye.

But never let that goodbye be an end.

Make it a new beginning.

~ Aidan M.D. Ware

Blog Guelph: Saying Goodbye

Sunset, a photo by felixtrio on Flickr.

Blog Guelph: Saying Goodbye

Macdonell Street, a photo by felixtrio on Flickr.