Although it became a legal statutory holiday in 1894, Guelph did not hold a Labour Day Parade until September 1902.

In winter, children hit the hills with sleighs and toboggans. While those with money joined the Snowshoe and Toboggan Club, others made do with the local hills .they careened wildly down streets and on the sidewalks. Favoured streets included Eramosa, Dublin and Cork.

Construction sites were one of the most dangerous places to work in late 18th and early 20th century Guelph, Ontario. Ditch digging and working on Scaffolds could be and were fatal. Legislation did not cover scaffolding until 1911. In Guelph, a Scaffold Inspector was not appointed until 1913. This resulted only after the many complaints of the Guelph Trades and Labour Council and several deaths during 1912 and 1913.