Plan Your Visit
Ignatius Jesuit Centre is a place to walk, reflect, learn, and spend time on the land. Whether you are coming for a quiet walk on the trails, a program, volunteer work, or your first visit to the Farm Workshop, we are glad you are here.
Our 600 acres of fields, forests, wetlands, and trails are open to the public year-round. This land is actively cared for through conservation, farming, and community stewardship, and we invite visitors to share in that care.
Getting Here
Ignatius Jesuit Centre is located just north of Guelph at:
Ignatius Jesuit Centre
5420 Highway 6 North
Guelph, ON N1H 6J2
We are best accessed by car. Transit options are limited, and most visitors arrive by vehicle or bicycle.
Exploring the Trails
Our trail system winds through forests, fields, and along waterways, offering many ways to explore the land.
- Trails are open year-round, dawn to dusk
- Dogs are welcome on leash
- Please stay on marked trails to protect sensitive habitats
Some areas of the land are actively farmed or under ecological restoration. These spaces may not always be open for public access.
Renting St. Brigid’s Villa
St. Brigid’s Villa is IJC’s community gathering space and is available to rent for meetings, workshops, retreats, and small group gatherings. Nestled on the land with easy access to trails and outdoor spaces, the Villa offers a simple, welcoming setting for groups seeking a place to meet with intention and care. Whether you’re hosting a planning session, a circle, or a community event, the Villa is designed to support connection, reflection, and shared purpose.
Parking
There are several designated parking areas across the property, including:
- Loyola House
- The Farm Workshop
- Along the roadside between the Farm Workshop and Loyola House
Please park only in marked areas and do not block farm lanes, gates, or service roads.
Respecting the Land
This is a shared and working landscape. We ask all visitors to help care for it:
- Stay on trails and respect fenced or signed areas
- Do not disturb wildlife, plants, or restoration sites
- All dogs must be on leashes
- No cycling is allowed on the trails
- Leave what you find
- Pack out what you bring in
- Please do not harvest from the Community Gardens or farm fields
- Follow all posted signs and seasonal notices
Ignatius Jesuit Centre is privately owned land that is generously opened to the public. This openness is a gift, and it depends on mutual respect. When you walk the trails or spend time here, you are a guest on land that is actively farmed, stewarded, and cared for by a community.
We welcome you to be here, and we ask that you move through this place with the same care you would in someone’s home. Staying on trails, respecting posted areas, following guidelines, and treating the land and those who work it with consideration helps ensure that this space can remain open and welcoming for everyone.
The Community Gardens and farm fields are stewarded by gardeners and farmers. While you are welcome to walk nearby, the produce growing there is not for public picking and we request that you stay on marked trails and do not trespass into gardens or fields.
Buildings and Hours
- Loyola House: The main building is open during regular office hours from 8:30am to 4:00pm for visitors, inquiries, and scheduled programs. Hours may vary seasonally.
- Farm Workshop: The Farm Workshop is seasonally from 8:30am to 3:30pm for garden registration, supplies, and farm-related inquiries.
For the most up-to-date building hours, please contact us before arriving.
Accessibility
The land includes uneven terrain, gravel paths, and natural surfaces. Some trails and buildings are more accessible than others. If you have specific accessibility needs, we encourage you to contact us in advance so we can help plan your visit.
A Shared Place
Ignatius Jesuit Centre is not a park in the usual sense. It is a place of work, prayer, learning, and stewardship. Your presence here is part of a shared relationship with the land and the community that cares for it.
We invite you to walk gently, notice deeply, and enjoy the gift of this place.