Old University, Guelph

Old University sits between downtown and the University of Guelph, on streets lined with mature trees. Centennial Park is its green centre, with playing fields, tennis courts and the Centennial Arena on College Avenue West. John McCrae's limestone birthplace on Water Street is kept as a museum, with a memorial garden beside it. Silvercreek Park adds more playing fields and green space, and the Speed River runs through the neighbourhood. The campus, the Arboretum and downtown are all a short trip away.

The 2021 census counted about 3,200 homes in Old University. About a third are single detached houses and about three in ten are row houses. About one in five are in apartment buildings of five storeys or more, and about one in ten in smaller apartment buildings. About one in five homes were built in 1960 or earlier, close to half between 1961 and 1980, and about a quarter between 1981 and 2000.

Guelph Transit's 1 Edinburgh College, 2 College Edinburgh, 6 Ironwood, 8 Janefield, 15 College, 17 Woodlawn Watson, 18 Watson Woodlawn, 19 Hanlon Creek and 99 Mainline routes serve the neighbourhood, and the 50U Scottsdale runs during the university year. The University Centre bus platforms are about 1.9 km away, and Guelph Central Station about 1.8 km. College Avenue West and Edinburgh Road South are the main streets, and the Hanlon Expressway runs along the west side.

Centennial Park, at 373 College Avenue West, covers about 21.7 hectares, with a playground, soccer fields, ball diamonds, tennis courts and the Centennial Arena. Silvercreek Park, about 23.8 hectares, has soccer fields, a skate park and a community garden. W.E. Hamilton Park and Hugh C. Guthrie Park have playgrounds and ball diamonds. McCrae House, at 108 Water Street, and the John McCrae Memorial Gardens are in the neighbourhood. The Scottsdale branch of the Guelph Public Library is about 1.7 km away.

• Priory Park Public School — JK to Grade 6. The public school for Old University.
• Jean Little Public School — Grades 7 and 8. The public middle school.
• Centennial Collegiate Vocational Institute — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school, on College Avenue West.
• John McCrae Public School — JK to Grade 8. The public French immersion school.
• John F. Ross Collegiate Vocational Institute — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school for French immersion students.
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school for most of the neighbourhood.
• St. Michael Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The Catholic elementary school for the Scottsdale Drive side.
• Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School — Grades 9 to 12. The Catholic secondary school for most of the neighbourhood.
• Bishop Macdonell Catholic High School — Grades 9 to 12. The Catholic secondary school for the Scottsdale Drive side.