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I’m writing this blog post from Guelph General Hospital, sitting in the waiting room while my wife is in surgery. It’s a familiar mix of worry, hope, and gratitude. Hospitals have a way of shrinking your world down to one room, one clock, and one person you’re waiting for.
But for me, this hospital isn’t just where I find myself today. It’s the place where some of the most defining moments of my life have happened. Both of my children were born here. With our first child, there were some complications, and the team at Guelph General saved both my son and my wife. That day shaped how I will forever see this hospital. When our daughter came later, we didn’t even consider going anywhere else — the trust had already been built, and we knew this was the place we wanted to be.
So, as I sit here waiting again, those memories come back. Different circumstances, but the same feeling of leaning on a hospital that has already carried us through our most fragile moments. And this year, those personal reflections align with a bigger milestone: Guelph General is celebrating its 150th anniversary. That anniversary isn’t just a number — it’s a reminder of how many lives have been touched here, mine included.
Guelph General Hospital first opened its doors in 1875, thanks to the determination of local citizens who knew the city needed proper care. Back in 1872, community members raised more than $3,000 toward the project, and by the time the two-storey, 12-bed hospital was completed, the total cost was about $9,871.
Those early days looked very different than today. The hospital even had a farm on the grounds to help provide food for patients — fresh eggs, milk, and vegetables grown on-site.
Over the decades, wings were added, operating rooms improved, and community organizations like the Ladies’ Auxiliary and the nursing school helped shape its culture. What began as a modest 12-bed hospital has grown into a full acute-care centre serving about 200,000+ people in Guelph and Wellington County.
History can sometimes feel distant — but when you’re sitting in a waiting room, it feels alive. I think about the countless families who have sat here before me, waiting for babies to be born, surgeries to finish, diagnoses to come back.
For my family, that history has already touched us directly. When my first child was born, complications could have ended in tragedy. Instead, because of the care we received here, both my son and my wife survived. Later, when our daughter was born, there was no hesitation in choosing this hospital again. That kind of trust doesn’t come from reputation alone — it comes from lived experience.
As a real estate salesperson in Guelph, I often see families make choices about where to live based on schools, parks, and commuting routes. But more than once, I’ve heard people say, “We wanted to be close to the hospital.” I understand that completely. When you’ve seen firsthand the difference a hospital makes, proximity becomes more than a convenience — it’s peace of mind.
Hospitals and homes might seem like different worlds, but they’re both anchors in our lives. One is where life unfolds, the other where life is protected. Together, they shape what it means to belong to a community.
Some of the milestones in Guelph General’s journey:
• 1875: Original hospital opens with 12 beds.
• 1888: The Jubilee Wing expands capacity.
• 1897: The Albert Wing introduces a state-of-the-art operating room for its time.
• 20th century: Growth of volunteer support, nursing programs, and community fundraising.
• 2000s–2020s: Expansions in surgical, diagnostic, and emergency services, including the recent project to modernize and renew the Emergency Department and mental health unit.
And in 2025, the hospital marked its 150th anniversary — a reminder that this institution is both historic and forward-looking.
Waiting in a hospital has its own rhythm. Here are a few things I’ve learned:
And most importantly: lean into gratitude. It doesn’t erase the fear, but it does shift the perspective.
For my family, Guelph General is more than a hospital. It’s where my children were born. It’s where my wife and son were saved. It’s where our trust was cemented, and where today, I sit once again, waiting with that same trust.
Anniversaries like this matter because they remind us that hospitals are not just buildings — they’re lifelines, woven into the fabric of community and family.
To the staff of Guelph General: thank you for being there then, and for being here now. To my wife: I’ll be here when you come out. And to everyone reading this — whether you’re moving here with the help of a Guelph real estate agent or have called Guelph home for decades — know that this hospital is part of what makes this city a place not just to live, but to belong.
—
Brady Veitch, REALTOR®
Red Brick Real Estate Brokerage
DealWithBrady.ca