Fergus

Fergus Ontario Street Andrew Street E - Downtown Fergus is a town of about 21,000 people (2023) in Wellington County, about 25 kilometers north of Guelph.

Fergus Halal Travel Guide

Fergus sits on the Grand River. It is near many natural settings such as the Elora Gorge and Conservation Area, and Belwood Lake. Fergus is a mostly residential community filled with streets lined with trees, many stone buildings, modern schools, and attractive parklands. It is laid out on a rectangular grid, with the Grand River flowing through the downtown legacy centre, its limestone riverbanks surrounding it.

History

Fergus Ontario Post Office 1 - The Fergus post office}} The first non-Indigenous People settlers to this area were freed slaves who formed what was known as the Pierpoint Settlement, named after their leader, Richard Pierpoint, a United Empire Loyalist who had been taken from Bondou in what is now Senegal. Along with a half dozen other men who had also fought with the British during the American Revolutionary War, Pierpoint was granted land in Garafraxa Township somewhere around what is now Scotland Street in Fergus. Another settlement was founded nearby in 1833 and was first called Little Falls because of the scenic (water) falls, now between the Public Library and the Fergus Market. The primary developers were Adam Fergusson and James Webster who had bought 28 km² (7000 acres) of land. After 1938, Scottish settlers purchased the land in what was previously Pierpoint Settlement. Because Fergusson, Webster and some other Scottish emigrants owned the land, only Scots could purchase village lots. However, in order to accommodate Irish settlers, Webster founded the town of Arthur (just north of Fergus) in 1840. By 1846 the settlement had 21 businesses. The population was 184 mostly of Scots. The community had a church and a post office and several tradesmen. James Wilson arrived in 1855 and opened an oatmeal mill and then a flour mill and then a saw mill and then a woolen mill and a factory, Monkland Mills, that supplied oatmeal for export. They and other Scots living in the settlement established a booming economy using the waterfalls on the Grand River to power local industry. They built solid stone houses, factories and other buildings which still characterize Fergus. Many of the buildings from the 1800s are still in use today. In addition to Scots and the other settlers in this area were Irish or freed slaves from the U.S. In 1858 and the settlement, with a population of 1,000, was incorporated as a village called Fergus in honour one of its founders, Adam Fergusson.

Travel to Fergus

By car: From Guelph, Highway 6 north to Fergus; from Highway 6 north, Wellington Road 7 to Elora; alternatively, Wellington Road 18 Fergus-Elora.
By taxi: $45-55 from Fergus (July 2023).

Get Around

What to See

Wellington cnty Museum Archives jun2009 tac - Wellington County Museum and Archives in Aboyne

Wellington County Museum & Archives | 536 Wellington Road 18 between Fergus and Elora ☎ +1 519-846-0916 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 9:30AM Monday - 4:30PM, Saturday Sunday 1-5PM By donation 12 galleries that tell the history of Wellington County, including a large textile collection. The museum building used to be the oldest House of Industry in Canada and is a National Historic Site.
Fergus Grand Theatre 244 Street Andrew Street West ☎ +1 519-787-1981 Hosts a wide variety of artistic, cultural, corporate, and charitable events.

Top Travel Tips

Scottish Festival and Highland Games | Held in August and the Highland Games features Scottish-themed competitions such as the caber toss.
Belwood Lake Conservation Area 8282 Wellington Road 18 ☎ +1 519-843-2979 Preschool (5 and under) free, child (6-14) $3, adult (15-64) $7, seniors (65+) and people with disabilities $5.50 A 12-kilometre-long reservoir created by the construction of Shand Dam in 1942. It offers excellent boating, fishing and water-skiing. A spring-fed quarry with a sandy beach for swimming. Open year round, with full service from May 1 to October 15. Open from dawn to dusk.
The Bicycle Tailor 170 Saint Andrew Street E. ☎ +1 226-383-2453 Opening Hours: Tuesday to Friday 10AM Monday - 6PM, Saturday 10AM Monday - 6PM Bicycle rental $50/day, $30/half-day (3 hours) Bicycle rentals, sales, service.

Shopping in Fergus

Halal Restaurants

Bentley House Fine Teas & Tea Room | 240 Street Andrew Street West ☎ +1 226-383-2455 Opening from Monday to Saturday 11AM Monday - 5PM Daily lunches $9.25, afternoon tea $28, high tea $24 Over 200 varieties of tea, scones, cakes. Reservations are required for afternoon and high tea.

My Kitchen by Gancena - 216 Street Andrew Street West ☎ +1 519-835-4644 Opening Hours: W-Sa noon-3PM, West Thursday 5PM Monday - 9PM, Friday Saturday 5PM Monday - 11PM Fine dining with international influences.
Underground Kitchen 152 Street Andrew Street W, Unit 1, Menzies Lane ☎ +1 226-383-7684 Opening Hours: Monday to Friday 11AM Monday - 7PM Caribbean rotis, patties, jerk Chicken.
Brewhouse on the Grand 170 Street David Street South ☎ +1 519-843-8871 Opening Hours: Su–M 11:30AM–11PM, Tu–Sa 11:30AM–11AM Local pub on the banks of the Grand River. Eighteen soft drinks on tap. Traditional pub fare. Daily specials. Great wings. Bed and breakfast available.
The Goofie Newfie 105 Queen Street West ☎ +1 519-843-4483 Opening Hours: Daily from 11:30AM Newfoundland-inspired pub with live entertainment every Friday and Saturday. 12 tap selections, frozen cocktails, martinis, burgers, wraps, Newfoundland specialties.

Muslim Friendly Hotels

Best Western Plus Fergus Hotel 830 Street David Street North ☎ +1 519-843-2100 +1-800-780-7234 From $165 100% smoke-free hotel, free hot breakfast, spa connected to hotel, gym, guest laundry, free Wi-Fi, air-conditioning, 4 rooms for the physically challenged.
Maplecrest Farm 6827 2nd Line ☎ +1 519-787-1849 $65-90 Century-old stone house in the rolling hills of the Wellington Countyside on a 100-acre farm. 2 acres of gardens including a unique walled garden in the foundation of the old barn. Great room with a wood burning fireplace, vaulted ceilings, countryside views and television.
Riverwood 6885 5th Line ☎ +1 519-843-9982 - Single $125, double $135 Air-conditioned country manor home on 12 acres of woods and surrounded by beautiful perennial gardens. All rooms have en suite baths and are on the main floor. Guests have a separate wing of the house.

News & References

Travel Next

The village of Elora is just west of Fergus.