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The Village of St. Jacobs, located just 3 kilometers northwest of Waterloo, is a popular tourist destination that offers unique dining, shops, and cultural attractions that demonstrate the timeless resiliency of this early Mennonite pioneer settlement.

Take our Waterloo & St. Jacobs "On-Line" Tour!
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Scroll around the map and click on the locations' artwork to visit the websites for the finest destinations in Waterloo, St. Jacobs & Area.

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Waterloo
Event Calendar

Waterloo
Photo Tour

Located in The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, in the heart of southwestern Ontario, Waterloo is within one hour driving distance from Toronto, Canada’s largest city, and less than two hours from Buffalo, New York, and three hours from Detroit, Michigan.

Waterloo is just a few minutes drive from the hub of Highways 401, 8, 7, and 86 and within a few minutes access to Highways 6 and 24; providing access to over 5.2 million people within a two hour driving radius. We are serviced by three airports within that radius - Toronto's Pearson International Airport, Hamilton's Munroe International Airport, and The Waterloo Regional Airport in nearby Breslau.

Full of spirit and enthusiasm, Waterloo is a forward-thinking, dynamic community solidly rooted in the past, leading-edge for today and committed to a strong future. Cradled in the rolling Ontario countryside, Waterloo offers everything from minutes away rural settings to upbeat mid-town lifestyles, modern suburbia and century heritage houses. Its vibrant uptown is lined with many galleries, theaters, boutiques and fine restaurants. With a blend of city and country, you won’t want to leave.

Here the beauty of the Grand River Valley engages your senses year round with abundant leisure opportunities, yet only a short driving distance away are three of Ontario's Great Lakes which provide a multitude of additional recreation opportunities for the whole family!

For assistance with tourism information, please visit the
City Of Waterloo Visitor Information website.



 

 
The City of Waterloo was first settled in 1806 by Pennsylvania
Mennonite pioneers Abraham Erb and his wife Magdalana. Between 1808 and 1816, he constructed a sawmill utilizing water power and a Gristmill to service local Mennonite settlers. While the original Mennonite settlers were primarily oriented in agriculture, subsequent immigration of German and European tradesmen, artisans and craftsmen, and industrialists, and their families established a successful manufacturing based economy that is prevalent today.

In 1850, Waterloo Township became a separate municipality and in 1973 became  The Regional Municipality of Waterloo, which encompasses the cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, as well as the Townships of Wellesley, Wilmot, Woolwich and North Dumfries. The Village of Waterloo was incorporated in 1857. Later incorporated as a Town in 1876, and finally as The City of Waterloo in 1948.

Honoring and preserving our heritage is vital to maintaining our community identity. The City of Waterloo Local Architectural Conservation Advisory Committee (L.A.C.A.C.) identifies local structures of architectural and/or historical interest, conducts research on the building's history and architecture, and makes recommendations to designate a wide cross-section of styles with varying degrees of historical significance.

Watercolour paintings of most of the designated structures have been created by local artists Doug Schafer and Laurie Steffler. The paintings are on exhibit at the Heritage Gallery at the Adult Recreation Centre (corner Allen and King Streets) and at Waterloo City Hall. Please visit the L.A.C.A.C. website for a comprehensive view of these heritage locations and their historical significance.

Designated heritage sites abound throughout the area including public heritage museums and parks such as:

• Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and Gallery, in Kitchener, is the originally restored c. 1816 homestead of one of this areas founding pioneers, Joseph Schneider.

• Waterloo Hotel, a focal point in Waterloo, has been operated as a hotel since 1835 when Henry W. Bowman first constructed the Farmer's Inn. Later known as the Bowman House, this two and a half storey building burned to the ground in 1850 but was immediately replaced with a similar structure.

• Huether Hotel is an impressive example of a commercial hotel circa 1872, with an elaborate Victorian facade. Built in 1855, it was originally established as a brewery and inn.

• Homer Watson House and Gallery – the home and studio of world-renowned Victorian era landscape artist, Homer Watson. 

• Woodside National Historic Park – the boyhood home of Canada’s longest-serving Prime Minister, William Lyon MacKenzie King.

• Doon Heritage Crossroads – a living history museum,
  re-creating a rural village and two farms, set against sixty beautiful acres of environmentally sensitive forest, marsh and farmland where costumed interpreters welcome you to the year 1914.

This represents a sampling of the heritage sites and programs in the City of Waterloo. For more information on venues and events please refer to our Event Calendar or take the City of Waterloo Photo Tour.

Waterloo's Economic Development is rooted in its strong industrial heritage and is constantly evolving to compete in the changing global marketplace. Diversification in the financial, technology and service industries has produced a stable economic environment that boasts one the highest job growth rates and one of the lowest unemployment rates among cities in Ontario. The City is proud to have established itself with one of the highest concentrations of advanced and high technology industries in the nation.

One of the communities that comprises Canada's Technology Triangle, Waterloo has emerged as a choice destination for many of the new technology industries that have made their home in this area, as well as being home to many entrepreneurial businesses conceived and created by many successful graduates of our two world-renowned universities, the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University, as well as Conestoga College of Applied Arts and Technology, one of Canada's best community colleges.

Ranked as one of the best education systems in Canada, Waterloo has been very successful providing a well-educated and skilled workforce for local businesses to draw from in this area. Six additional major Canadian Universities and four Colleges are located within a one hour drive of Waterloo.

With over 4 million people residing within a one hour radius, and the infrastructure to readily access those markets, Waterloo is experiencing the fifth fastest growth rate among Census Metropolitan areas in Canada. Our location, abundance of resources, skilled workforce, and access to information, education and technology are the forces that drive our competitive advantage in today’s new economy and offers a competitive edge for investment and growth-oriented opportunities.

Our retail and service industry are both vibrant and comprehensive. Serving the needs of residents and visitors, this vital sector generated over 1.6 billion dollars in 1999 and is expected to surpass 2.0 billion dollars by the year 2004.

For more information on the economy and business enterprise in the City of Waterloo please visit the Economic Development department at The City of Waterloo.

Waterloo is a community rich in culture. From its early Mennonite Pioneer heritage to the multicultural mosaic of today, our fine citizens enjoy a broad variety of cultural amenities and events that celebrate their ethnic origins.

The cities of Kitchener and Waterloo proudly present our most famous annual celebration, K-W Oktoberfest, North America’s largest Bavarian-style Festival. Attracting upwards of 600,000 visitors from across the continent for 9 days of cultural events and celebrations; this traditional homage to the harvest also features Canada’s only Thanksgiving Day parade as one of the highlights. It truly is fun for the whole family.

In celebration of our cultural diversity, Waterloo has benefited tremendously from the commitment to offering abundant opportunities for our citizens and visitors to enjoy and engage in The Arts. Offering an attractive variety of events and attractions all year around, with plenty of free outdoor festivals, Waterloo serves up a continuous menu of concerts in the park, jazz performances and both cultural and ethnic celebrations.

Annual events such as the internationally acclaimed Waterloo Busker Carnival, the spectacular Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival, the dazzling Wonders of Winter, and the dramatic Royal Medieval Fayre keep area residents and visitors coming back year after year.

There are many other arts, culture, and entertainment venues throughout the area. From open-air performances in Waterloo Park and live performances at Waterloo Stage Theatre or concerts and special events at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex to the numerous markets, movie theatres and nightclubs; Waterloo is a city that entertains the spirit and the mind.

The Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival, held annually in June at Victoria Park in downtown Kitchener, features the fabulous food, crafts, music, dance and entertainment from the many diverse cultures that have made their home here.

For the most current information on cultural events please visit the City Of Waterloo Visitor Information website.

Waterloo also offers access to a full range of community clubs, service groups and organizations numbering over 1,100. Supporting cultural and lifestyle programs throughout the area, these volunteer and non-profit organizations make a substantial contribution to the quality of life and cultural development in our community.

This represents a sampling of annual events and celebrations held in The City of Waterloo. For more information on cultural events please refer to our Event Calendar or take the City of Waterloo Photo Tour.

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Throughout history we have celebrated life through social interaction and our ability to express ideas and values in the form of art, music, dance, drama and literature.

The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery features a year-round program of exhibitions, lectures, workshops, tours and demonstrations, and offers educational opportunities for professional, schools and members of community at large. The exhibitions and the Gallery's other activities have attracted visitors to Waterloo from all over the world.

Patrons and sponsors support a vibrant arts community. Offering every conceivable form of entertainment, our foremost venue for this pursuit is the world-class concert hall and performance theatre found at,
The Centre In The Square in downtown Kitchener. Acoustically, it is recognized as one of the finest concert halls in the country and is home to the Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony Orchestra.

Complimenting this cultural center is the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery where touring exhibits of every conceivable artistic medium captures the imagination of our community. With four other galleries and museums to visit in the city, this is a logical place to start your tour.

This represents a sampling of arts and entertainment in the City of Waterloo. For more information on venues and events please refer to our Event Calendar or take the City of Waterloo Photo Tour.

Nestled in the heart of the Grand River Valley, a Canadian Heritage River, our community is a place where life is enhanced by the natural beauty and leisure activities that abound in the immediate vicinity. Residents and visitors enjoy camping, hiking, bird watching, horseback riding, canoeing, cycling and cross-country skiing along more than 30 miles of our extensive trail system, conservation areas and parks throughout the watershed. 

Managed by The Grand River Conservation Authority (G.R.C.A.), the first watershed and river management organization in Canada, and the third oldest in the world, the G.R.C.A. received world-wide recognition when it was recently awarded the coveted and world-renowned Thiess Riverprize Award for its achievements in Watershed Management.

Waterloo prides itself on being able to enjoy an excellent quality of life, which is manifested in hundreds of ways, large and small. The City benefits from an extensive infrastructure of social service organizations, which strengthen the community at many levels.

Recreational opportunities and facilities are second to none, participation rates in minor sport programs are very high, and the level of volunteerism in the community is exceptional. Waterloo takes tremendous pride in following a community development model that nurtures and encourages opportunities for personal, professional and volunteer achievement.

Over the years, Waterloo has built a strong reputation as one of the country’s leading “sporting” communities in any field. Offering one of the best community sport programs in Canada, residents and visitors also share access to some of the best sport facilities in Ontario. Among them is RIM Park and Grey Silo Golf Course, Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex, Waterloo Park, Bechtel Park, and numerous Community Centres and Arenas. The University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University athletics programs provide access to many competitive events such as Varsity football at Seagram Stadium in Waterloo Park.

In addition to the many facilities provided by the City of Waterloo, the area residents and visitors also enjoy the nearby and newly renovated, state of the art facilities at The Aud, home to the Kitchener Rangers of the O.H.L. and many other sporting and cultural events. The Region’s largest water park and activity center, as well as camping, family recreation and events at Bingemans resort offer family fun for everyone. If it's skiing and snowboarding that lifts your spirit, you can take in a few runs at nearby Chicopee Ski Resort! 

Whether recreational, instructional or competitive in nature, the development of sport disciplines in the community is a priority that has yielded much success on the local, national and international level. From skiing, skating, and snowboarding in winter to canoeing, cycling and camping in summer – Waterloo is a destination that beckons the leisure and sport enthusiast in you!

This represents a sampling of sports and leisure activities and venues available in the City of Waterloo. For more information on venues and events please refer to our Event Calendar or take the
City of Waterloo Photo Tour.
 
 

With three regional shopping malls strategically located throughout the area, and a multitude of unique shops, boutiques, factory outlets and markets, Waterloo's retail sector is poised to meet the needs and desire of the most avid shopper. Among the notable shopping experiences are:

• Uptown Waterloo offers a unique blend of shops, services, theatres, galleries and dining experiences that satisfy every whim and fancy.

• In the heart of Uptown Waterloo, The Shops at Waterloo Town Square provide an array of shops and services for your shopping pleasure.

• Conestoga Mall is a regional sized shopping centre offering over 100 stores and services, plus the new Galaxy Cinemas movieplex.

• The quaint Village of St. Jacobs is within a 3 km reach northwest of Waterloo and offers unique shopping, dining, entertainment and that famous down home Waterloo County hospitality.

• If you're looking for bargains, the St. Jacobs Factory Outlet Mall is just the spot where you will find them with many brand name outlets from fashion & footwear to candles, china & children's toys. 

• The St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market, located at the northwestern tip of Waterloo, is famous for its selection of fresh meats, produce and crafts from our local farmers and crafters.

• Nestled between Waterloo's two famous universities are the University Shops Plaza and Campus Court where you'll find and array of shops, cafes, restaurants, sports bars and pubs featuring outdoor patios and multicultural cuisine to tempt every palette.

 
Domino's Pizza

The “Dining Experience” in Waterloo is robust with a delectable cuisine from all points on the globe. Our diverse, multicultural community offers a tremendous variety in fine dining, restaurants, pubs and cafes that tempt every imaginable palette. We invite you to sit back, relax, and let us pamper you with our excellent service and deliciously exquisite fare.

Whether you are dining out, or you prefer to order in, the variety of choices is amazing. For business and special events catering, the menus available are as diverse as they are delightful.

We invite you to explore a sampling of the many restaurants worth visiting in our community. Whether you are seeking an intimate dining experience, a family outing or celebration, or a corporate meeting or company function - these dining establishments  are pleased to offer you their hospitality and a memorable dining experience.

To begin exploring the possibilities, simply "click" on the logo links in this section to visit some of our participating restaurants' websites.