| Activities for Children |
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| Art Gallery of Guelph |
| Art Gallery of Guelph is offering Schoolhouse Studio Sheets, a series of fun at-home art activities for kids and families inspired by works in the Art Gallery of Guelph’s permanent collection! Complementing curriculum guidelines, these activities encourage young people to apply creative processes to shape and communicate thoughts, stories and ideas. |
| Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington |
| Camp URU goes ahead, virtually! Visit Big Brothers Big Sisters of Centre Wellington for more information. |
| City of Guelph |
| City of Guelph celebrates Recreation & Parks month! With recreation facilities still closed, programming is now available online. Activities can be done at home or in the backyard and include fitness, arts and crafts, healthy recipes, brain games, and water safety tips. They are posted on this page each week. |
| County of Wellington, Children's Early Years Division |
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Full of activities and tips on truly engaging your little ones, these one-pagers are full of ideas to help parents and caregivers make the most of family time at home.
Get Outside
Memory Making
Playful Quests
Tell Me a Story
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| Free to Grow at Home |
| Free to Grow at Home: While children and youth are at home and are lacking the resources they need for physical and creative play and learning, we will continue to support them in developing their interests, enhancing their growth and development, building their self-worth, and fostering the skills they need to reach their full potential. For more information, to donate or apply please visit the Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. |
| Guelph Public Library |
| Guelph Public Library has a collection of virtual programs and activities for kids available as well as many online resources for homework help, book recommendations and personal interest. GPL is also offering curbside pickup appointments. |
| Virtual Y |
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Virtual Y: Activities for Mind, Body & Spirit for children, youth and families.
Activité physique virtuelle au Gym Y pour les enfants.
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| Wellington County Library |
| Wellington County Library is offering the TD Summer Reading Club (0-12 years). Every time you read, earn time towards a prize draw of your choice. Win LeapPad and Android tablets, LEGO kits, gift baskets, and more! Plus, ask about Take-and-Make activity bags from your local branch with curbside pickup. |
| Wellington County Museum & Archives |
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Wellington County Museum & Archives is offering a number of fun online activities inspired by the WCMA collection as well as virtual tours from each township. Check back often for more updates!
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| Activities for Youth |
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| City of Guelph |
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City of Guelph celebrates Recreation & Parks month! With recreation facilities still closed, programming is now available online. Activities can be done at home or in the backyard and include fitness, arts and crafts, healthy recipes, brain games, and water safety tips. They are posted on this page each week.
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| Free to Grow at Home |
| Free to Grow at Home: While children and youth are at home and are lacking the resources they need for physical and creative play and learning, we will continue to support them in developing their interests, enhancing their growth and development, building their self-worth, and fostering the skills they need to reach their full potential. For more information, to donate or apply please visit the Children's Foundation of Guelph and Wellington. |
| The Good Food Work Experience |
| The Good Food Work Experience: the SEED, Everdale Farm, The County of Wellington-Ontario Works, Lutherwood Employment and 2nd Chance Employment have partnered to deliver this program for youth aged 18-29. During the program, youth have the opportunity to explore different aspects of the food system and discover new passions by participating in a three-week experiential learning opportunity at the SEED and Everdale farm. Youth who participate in the Good Food Work Experience are those who face barriers to employment and/or education/training. |
| Guelph Public Library |
| Guelph Public Library provides many online resources for homework help, book recommendations and personal interest. GPL is also offering curbside pickup appointments. |
| Virtual Y |
| Virtual Y: Activities for Mind, Body & Spirit for children, youth and families. |
| Wellington County Library |
| Wellington County Library is offering a Teen Summer Reading Challenge (13-18 years). Every time you read, earn time towards a prize draw of your choice. Win LeapPad and Android tablets, LEGO kits, gift baskets, and more! Plus, ask about Take-and-Make activity bags from your local branch with curbside pickup. |
| Wellington County Museum & Archives |
| Wellington County Museum & Archives is offering a number of fun online activities inspired by the WCMA collection as well as virtual tours from each township. Check back often for more updates! |
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| Child Protection and Family Support |
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Family and Children's Services of Guelph & Wellington County
Supports for families who are struggling or in an unsafe situation.
1-800-265-8300 or 519-824-2410
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| EarlyON Child and Family Centres |
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EarlyON Child and Family Centres in Wellington County and the City of Guelph are currently closed to prevent the spread of COVID-19. EarlyON teams remain dedicated to supported children and families and have taken programming virtual! Team members are also available to provide support to families including answering questions about parenting and child development.
See below for a list of EarlyON operators and links to contacts, resources and virtual programming.
Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is partnering with EarlyON Child & Family Centre staff to provide support to families with new babies during COVID-19. For more information on this program, please see Families with New Babies.
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| Child Care |
| All Wellington County Child Care and Learning Centres are closed to the public until further notice. Please see the Wellington County website for additional information. |
| Children with Disabilities and Special Needs |
- KidsAbility continues to serve their clients with virtual therapy, support services and the resumption of face-to-face services.
- KidsAbility has compiled a list of therapy and community resources for the community.
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Developmental Services
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All services, programs and Walk-In Clinics offered by Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington continue to be available virtually. In-person meetings occur as necessary for developmental services and Access, Information and Referral (AIR).
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| Emergency Food Support |
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Employment Support
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| Events |
| Find a current list of events for children, youth and families being offered virtually or throughout Wellington County and in the City of Guelph. |
| Families with New Babies |
| Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health is partnering with EarlyON Child & Family Centre staff to provide support to families with new babies during COVID-19. An EarlyON Child & Family Centre staff member will call families with new babies to check-in on them and answer questions about infant care and local resources. EarlyON Child & Family Centre Registered Early Childhood Educator Programme Facilitators have specialized knowledge and expertise related to child development, parenting, play-based learning and community-based supports. Facilitators work as a member of the EarlyON Child & Family Centre team to plan, implement, and provide information, services and programmes that support parents, caregivers and children 0-6 years of age. |
| Financial Assistance |
- Emergency Assistance: You may be eligible for short term financial support if you are in a crisis or emergency situation and you don’t have enough money for things like food and housing. If you are not already receiving support from Ontario Works or the Ontario Disability Support Program, you can apply for emergency assistance online. You can also call County of Wellington Ontario Works office to apply over the phone. Please call the office at: 519.837.2670 (press’1’) or Toll Free 1.800.265.7294 or TTY 1.800.855.0511.
- Ontario Works or Ontario Disability Support Program Emergency Benefits: If you receive OW or ODSP and are facing additional costs related to the COVID-19 outbreak, you can access one-time emergency benefits. Emergency benefits for COVID-19 related expenses are the same for both programs: up to $100 for single individuals and up to $200 for families. This funding can be used to meet a broad range of needs, for example: cleaning supplies, transportation, food or clothing that you may require due to COVID-19. Please call your caseworker.
- Support for Families: Learn about funding that families can apply for if they have children who are not in school or child care because of coronavirus (COVID-19). Find out if you are eligible and how to apply.
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| Health |
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| Helplines |
- Access Information and Referral (AIR): the centralized intake and referral point for all developmental disability services for infants, children and youth in Guelph and Wellington County. Contact AIR at: Phone: (519) 824-4015/Toll-Free: 1-877-216-1116.
- HERE24/7: HERE 24/7 is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. Call HERE 24/7 at: 1-844-437-3247 or 519-821-3582, TTY: 1-877-688-5501.
- HERE4KIDS: Are you a parent in the Guelph-Wellington-Dufferin area? Looking for support with your child’s development? CMHA WW is proud to be the host agency of Here4Kids.
Parents can call Here4Kids at 1-844-4KIDS-11 (1-844-454-3711) to speak with a service coordinator about linking to services for challenges relating to their child’s speech, movement, play, behaviour, learning, and/or development.
- KIDS HELP PHONE: Need help now? You can reach a professional counsellor at Kids Help Phone 24/7 by calling 1-800-668-6868.
- Ontario 211: Navigate Ontario's network of human services quickly and easily, dial 2-1-1.
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| LGBT Youth |
- Camp Queerantine: On July 9th, OK2BME in partnership with Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum, is hosting a virtual Camp Queerantine for LGBTQ2+ youth Grade 7 to 12. The day will consist of awesome workshops, making pen pals, campy games and general awesomeness. You will receive a campy care package and lunch! See Events for registration information.
- Trans Drop-In is now being offered online (for those aged 16 and up).
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| Mental Health Services & Resources |
- Community Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington
Increasing boredom and frustration in families are very real challenges for parents right now. Young children, teenagers, and youth need different kinds of support as they experience ‘cabin fever’ in their own unique ways. Get information, strategies and tips on how to help yourself and your families through COVID-19.
- Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington
All services, programs and Walk-In Clinics offered by Family Counselling and Support Services for Guelph-Wellington continue to be available virtually.
- HERE24/7: HERE 24/7 is your front door to the addictions, mental health, and crisis services provided by 11 agencies across Waterloo Wellington. Call HERE 24/7 at: 1-844-437-3247 or 519-821-3582, TTY: 1-877-688-5501.
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| Parenting |
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The Online Prenatal and New Parent Program continues to be offered by Wellington-Dufferin-Guelph Public Health. The program is free to individuals and families who are pregnant or have a new baby and live in Wellington County, Dufferin County or the City of Guelph. The online program provides information about having a healthy pregnancy, labour and birth, medical interventions, caring for a newborn and breastfeeding.
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| Ressources pour les familles francophones |
- Franchement famille: Le Conseil scolaire Viamonde profite du long congé de la fête de la famille pour lancer une nouvelle plateforme de contenu, inspiré par les réalités, les enjeux, les passions et les intérêts des familles francophones de l’Ontario.
- Activité physique virtuelle au Gym Y pour les enfants.
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| Youth Shelter |
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Shelter for Youth (16-24)
How to access local shelter services:
Monday to Friday - 8:30am to 4:30pm call 226-962-3574
Monday to Friday - 4:30pm to 7:00am call HERE 24/7 1-844-437-3247
Weekends - call HERE 24/7 1.844.437.3247
No Phone? Go to Royal City Mission (50 Quebec St.) meals Monday to Friday at 11:00am and tell staff you need shelter.
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