Guelph Guild of Storytellers
ANNOUNCEMENTS:
1. Kid-friendly "Storytelling in the Park", by Exibition Park Neighbourhood Group. Saturday afternoon, October 24, 2026.
Click here.
2. Our monthly Tales from the Hill Thursday evening, Nov. 12 - 6:30 to 8:20 at the Civic Museum.
Click here.
Tales From the Hill 2026/27 Season.
Note of appeciation from GUFF. GGS launches GUFF Forest Week. Sat., Sept 19.
Sya and Trevor:
A big thank you to the Guelph Guild of Storytellers for your delightful event at Riverside Park on Saturday. The combination of drumming, singing, encouragement of reading and storytelling, along with a real SuperHero was a winning combination.
I was very sorry I couldn't stay til the end, but all the families I observed were really enjoying the fun. It was a great turnout! I hope the Fairy Fest that followed was a successful event too.
We look forward to working with you again during National Forest Week. Capturing children into the love of and respect for trees is critical to the long term support of our Urban Canopy.
With appreciation
Sue Rietschin
GUFF Steering Commitee
www.guffguelph.ca
"The best time to plant a tree was 20 years ago. The second best time is NOW." Better still, let's care for and preserve the ones we have.
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2026 Summer a delightful season!
Guelph Enabling Garden and Guelph Guild of Storytellers are more than pleased how the summer season of storytelling events, in the idyllic setting of the Guelph Enabling Garden, unfolded. For fourteen Fridays the listening audience, including regulars, in addition to tourists and first-timers, found their spots for 10am music, followed by the hour-long storytelling.
KUDOS to host Brian , who started us off with a land acknowledgment and masterful hosting. KUDOS to John for his fun weekly notices and posters; KUDOS to Susan for her thoughtful thank notes, array of sweets and bag of goodies for tellers; KUDOS to Trevor and his sidekick, sister Kim, for setting up the sound system and welcoming-coffee, iced tea, ready to be served, even for early arrivals; KUDOS to Sya for organizng the tellers, planning four special events for children and welcoming out-of-town guest tellers to her home; KUDOS to Bruce S, gifted photographer, who regularly captured the events with his creative eye; and KUDOS to all Guild members, with special mention to Treasurer Bruce and volunteers, and of course, the gifted storytellers, who came from far and wide to charm us, and the talented local musicians who welcomed us.
All together the magic happened!
Guelph Enabling Garden and Guelph Guild of Storytellers are delighted to continue the summer season of storytelling events in the idyllic setting of the Guelph Enabling Garden located within Riverside Park.
2027 will be its 20th season. Promises in the air for bigger and better than everto highlight Guelph's Bicentennual.!
Tea 'n' Tales 2026
June 12 to Sept 11 in addition to Friday mornings, the season included Canada Day, Rotary Ribfest , GUFF, in total four Family Days.
Beginning on June 12 and continuing every Friday morning until September 11, the fifteen Tea 'n' Tales performances will feature many of the tellers from previous years, along with some new faces and their stories. These tellers come to Guelph from across Southern Ontario, from Oshawa to St Thomas, from Elora to Hamilton. One teller comes annually from Wisconsin, USA.
Each hour-long storytelling begins at 10:30 a.m. However, listeners arrive more than 30 minutes earlier to get their favourite spot, greet friends and neighbours, listen to music (10 to 10:30 a.m.), enjoy a free Planet Bean coffee or iced tea (in their own mugs), or just luxuriate in a peaceful setting. (Bring own chair, since there are only a handful of Garden chairs.)
Each event is free, although free-will contributions are welcomed. They're shared 50/50, to cover events' operating costs of both the Garden and GGS and provide an honourarium to tellers. Guelph businesses enhance the experience - - - for example: the free coffee from Planet Bean (bring your own mug), and gifts: (coupons for guest tellers from The Wooly Pub,famous jams from Rothams, Royal City Brewery beer, ...)
The Garden is a renowned inviting, colourful, welcoming community spot, wheelchair accessible.
A quality portable sound system, thanks to a grant and donations, enhances the listening experience.
Read the story in Guelph Today. GuelphToday Staff (Jun 12, 2025)
Read the story about Canada Day 2025 in Guelph Today, online, when Some 600+ came to Guelph Riveride Park to celebrate Canada Day. And what a fine event it was!!
Our beloved Robert Munsch, Patron of GGS, told us three of our all-time favouries. . . . Click here.
Our Story
The Guelph Guild of Storytellers (GGS) was founded in 1984 by a small group of Guelph authors and tellers, including Robert Munsch, Beve Matson and Ann Estill.. Now, decades later, it continues to champion storytelling with the same spirit of love for the spoken word and desire to share stories to entertain, engage; to inspire wonder and curiosity; to spark imagination; and to inform.
From the beginning, the search was for adult audiences to share and nurture the ancient art and to encourage tellers of all levels. Members regularly get together to plan programs, organize an events-calendar, build and polish stories, often around a theme.
Currently, a core group of nine tellers stand on the shoulders of these originators and proudly continue the tradition oral storytelling events.
In addition, we offer tutoring evenings.
Annual membership is $10. (for email inquiries.)
Individual GGS members respond to requests for telling in senior homes, schools, churches, Scouts / Guides, birthday parties, community events, etc.
Guelph is recognized for its vibrant, rich arts identity and diversity. GGS is proud to make a contribution to that rich tapestry.
Currently, GGS continues its two main series during the year, fall/winter/spring in a museum (Guelph Civic Museum). summers in an outdoor setting (Enabling Garden),
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Tales From the Hill: (Click here to read more.)
Over the years GGS hosted tellings in various venues including The Boat House, Guelph Public Libraries, The Book Shelf - each with a legacy of fond memories.
GGS is delighted that the Guelph Civic Museum has become a permanent home for the free monthly evening storytelling from October to May, every second Thursday from 7:00 to 8:30 pm. The room opens at 6:30 for casual socializing and hot cider/goodies.
It's a privilege to be a part of the rich array of programs and services that the Civic Museum provides.
Open mic is a regular feature at these monthly events. It's a warm, welcoming community of tellers and listeners, ideal for new tellers to test their wings. Guests are invited to register their story in advance. In addition, we end the evening with a social time around a table with light refreshments - cider, cheese/crackers, and sweets.
GGS appreciates the collaborations, including the advantage of piggybacking on the Enabling Garden and Museum's social media presence and their generous sponsorship that allows these storytelling events to be offered free of charge. (freewill donations gratefully accepted.)
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SUMMER: Tea "n" Tales continues its decade+ partnership with the Enabling Garden, a weekly Friday morning summer telling on the banks of the Speed River. (See Events for details.)
Friday mornings 10:30 to 11:30.
Guelph Guild of Storytellers (GGS) and the Enabling Garden proudly collaborate to plan and present Tea 'n Tales, a free summer-long Friday morning storytelling series of performances, held in the idyllic setting of the Enabling Garden in Riverside Park. Over the 18 years, the event has grown in popularity, with audiences that exceeded 1000 with Robert Munsch on August 19, 2023.
We have an excellent outdoor sound system, (thanks to free-will donations and a grant) so that even listeners in a stopped car had their windows down and listened.
Click here for details and the exciting roster of 2025 tellers.
Press Release at posted on Guelph Today.
GGS links with local groups that also offer events, workshops, concerts, and directories of individual tellers. Some of these groups are: Storytellers Canada-Conteurs du Canada, Burlington Storytellers’ Guild, Storytelling Toronto.
About GGS
GGS is a team of storytellers committed to championing all forms of the oral tradition of storytelling as part of Guelph's rich culture. through events, promotion, advocacy, and education.
GGS appreciates the partnerships with the Enabling Garden and the Guelph Civic Museum. This allows our storytelling events to be offered free of charge and to piggyback on their social media. (freewill donations gratefully accepted to cover operating costs.)
GGS links with local groups that also offer events, workshops, concerts, and directories of individual tellers. Some of these groups are: Storytellers Canada-Conteurs du Canada, Burlington Storytellers’ Guild, Storytelling Toronto
Browse our website to learn more about who we are, our philosophy and to meet the talented individuals involved in both organizing the Guelph Guild of Storytellers and telling stories.
Events
We'd love to welcome you to our next event!
Currently, GGS continues its three main series during the year:
"Tales From the Hill" - fall/winter/spring in the Guelph Civic Museum.
- second Thursday evening of each month at 7 pm for a featured teller, GGS tellers, and an open mic.
"Tea 'n' Tales"- summers in the idyllic outdoor setting of the Guelph Enabling Garden.
- Friday mornings from 10:30 to 11:30, with pre-concert music, starting at 10, casual socializing, and free coffee/iced tea.
"Under the Magic Ash", four family-friendly Saturday morning events: interactive fun storytelling
For detail visit our Events page.
Join Us
We would love to have you as a part of our Guild family. We are always looking for individuals to join us in any capacity. For more information click here or email us at guelphstory@gmail.com.
There is a membership fee of $10.00. Members get name tags, are invited to add ideas to our events, and volunteer in operating tasks and events.