Protecting environmental and cultural heritage in Guelph

The City of Guelph has been awarded the Ontario Public Works Association (OPWA) Public Works Project of the Year award for two key projects: repair, remediation, and stabilization of the Goldie Mill Park, and the development of a 1.8-hectare state-of-the-art snow storage facility. GHD is proud to have worked on both projects.

The OPWA awards promote excellence in the management and administration of public works projects by recognizing the collaborative alliance between the managing agency, the consultant/architect/engineer, and the contractor.

The Goldie Mills Ruins award was won in the Historic Restoration/Preservation category for projects with a value between CAD $2 and $10 million. While the snow management facility was recognized as project of the year in the environmental category with a value between CAD $2 and $10 million.

Goldie Mill Ruins

The City of Guelph retained GHD and our subconsultants to complete the stabilization of the Goldie Mill Ruins project in order to preserve one of the most historic former manufacturing locations in Guelph. The park and the ruins structures are used by the public in a variety of ways, including as a green space, a downtown trail, and for private events. The City placed a priority on respecting the heritage, architectural, archaeological, and environmental features of the park. The scope of work for our team included conditions assessments and the design, oversight, and contract administration for the stabilization, remediation, and repair construction activities. 

Snow Disposal Facility

Proper management of the snow that is removed from the roadways and parking areas is crucial to protecting the environment. To reduce contamination risks, City of Guelph hired GHD to build a new state-of-the-art snow storage facility. The site is located in a highly vulnerable aquifer area and the storage of snow is identified as a drinking water threat. The re-development of the site included an 18,000 square meter (or 1.8 hectare) asphalt pad, asphalt-paved access roads, lighting, and an engineered stormwater management control and treatment system that has increased the value of the land from an economic and alternative use perspective.

Following construction, the site was regenerated through the planting of over 1,000 native trees and shrubs, use of salt tolerated plantings throughout vegetated swales, seeding disturbed soils with pollinator friendly vegetation, installation of vernal pools, and placement of successional habitat cover.

Through the completion of both projects the City of Guelph now has facilities to benefit the community in many different ways. The Goldie Mill park and the ruins structures are used by the public as a green space, a downtown trail, and for private events. While the snow disposal facility has a potential to support municipal fleet vehicle driver training, emergency services driver training, hosting municipal/community events, temporary storage of excess soils, and waste transfer facility.

We are pleased to have been involved in these two award winning projects and to continue to build on our relationship with the City of Guelph who is recognized for its environmental stewardship and leadership by its residents, regulators, and other municipalities.

Shannon Richardson – Project Director (GHD)