Waterloo, named after the 1815 Battle of Waterloo, today has about 106,000 residents. Waterloo lies west of the Grand River and just north of the 401, with good highway connections along #7 and #8, as well as a major airport east of the community, and is served by VIA Rail and inter-city bus operators.
Waterloo is a major centre for manufacturing, the insurance industry, and is part of Canada’s “technology triangle”. The community has 1,100 acres of parks and trails, as well as internationally recognized recreational, arts and cultural facilities.
Waterloo History
Originally a marshy low-lying cedar swamp, the area was first settled in 1806 by Abraham Erb and his wife Magdalena, who arrived by oxen-driven wagon to of Upper Canada. By 1808 he built a sawmill, using the water power from Beaver (now Laurel) Creek, and in 1816 he added a grist mill further serving the needs of nearby settlers. Waterloo continued to grow and by 1860 had 8 industries and was a notable retail centre, and in 1876 was incorporated as a town.
Important Links
Waterloo Attractions
Brubacher House
c/o University of Waterloo, North Campus
North Campus Road off Columbia Street
Waterloo, ON N2L 3G6
(519) 886-3855
The 1850 Brubacher house is typical of Pennsylvania German architecture and set on the side of a gentle hill. Magdalena and John E. Brubacher raised fourteen children, who farmed the land until 1965 when the property was purchased as part of the University of Waterloo and preserved in recognition that all the university’s land was once farmland. One hour tours are also available by appointment, for up to 40-50. Open May 1 – October 31, Wednesday – Saturday: 2 – 5 pm. Admission by donation
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery
25 Caroline Street North,
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, N2L 2Y5
519-746-1882 Fax519-746-6396
The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery hosts critically acclaimed exhibitions, lectures, conferences, classes, workshops, tours, and has a specialized library, archive, and research centre. It has an ever-expanding collection of historical and contemporary Canadian ceramic, glass and enamel art. It also offering a vast array of classes and workshops, and tours. Open Tuesday to Saturday: 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday: 1 to 5 pm Closed Monday. Admission $$
Castle Kilbride National Historic Site
60 Snyder’s Rd. W.
Baden ON N3A 1A1
519-634-8444 1-800-469-5576 Fax 519-634-5035
The 1877 home of James Livingston, Canada’s “Flax Mill King”. Restored Italianate design home boasts nationally recognized Trompe l’oeil (“fools the eye”) wall and ceiling murals throughout.
Earth Sciences Museum
Faculty of Science
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519-888-4567 Fax 519-746-2543
The museum features a Parasaurolophus dinosaur and a “paleo pit” dinosaur dig, a Great Lakes Fountain water feature, a simulated mine, and 8.5 metre tall gneiss monolith (weighing 2 tonnes) from Parry Sound. The Museum is open weekdays 8.30 a.m. to 4.30 p.m. and at other times by special request for group tours, Brownies, Cubs, Beavers, adults, children and etc. Admission by donation
Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games
University of Waterloo
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, Canada N2L 3G1
519 888 4567 x84424
Since 1971, the Museum has been dedicated to researching, collecting, preserving, and exhibiting games and game-related objects. The Museum website features photographs, other graphics, and other information to provide a “virtual visit” to the Museum.
University of Waterloo, The
200 University Avenue West
Waterloo, Ontario, N2L 3G1
519-888-4567
University of Waterloo is home to the Earth Sciences Museum, the Peter Russell Rock Garden, the Optometry Museum of Visual Science, the Elliott Avedon Museum and Archive of Games and the Brubacher House Museum.
Victoria Park
Courtland Avenue between Victoria Street S & Queen Street S
Designed and laid out in the Romantic landscape style of the late 18th century, the 59 acre park features broad lawns, rose gardens, belts of shade trees, scenic vistas of the lake, fountains, and a bandshell in a naturalistic setting. Great for a walk and a peaceful afternoon. There’s also a playground, rest rooms, a soccer/football field, 2 horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, meeting rooms, and a fully licensed banquet hall with stages. The restored clock tower (at the park’s Gaukel Street entrance) held a bell bought in 1876 which range from the old firehall and later the City Hall.
Waterloo Parks
Here are the more popular Waterloo municipal parks:
Laurel Creek Conservation Area
625 Westmount Rd., RR 3
Waterloo, ON N2J 2Z4
519-884-6620
Just northwest of the U
University of Waterloo, Laurel Creek Conservation Area has facilities for swimming, windsurfing, hiking and bird-watching, including a beach and three picnic shelters (which can be pre-booked).
Waterloo/Centennial Park
100 Westmount Road North
Waterloo, ON N2J 4A8
519-725-0511 Fax: 519-725-9542
This park is home to Waterloo’s first school house, the original farm house, a replica structure of Abraham Erb’s Grist Mill, the Eby Farm and award-winning Victorian Gardens. Recreational features include the Lions Lagoon interactive water attraction, Silver Lak, two 300 x 200 Soccer/Rugby pitches, four Ball diamonds and a Cricket Pitch.
Kiwanis Centennial Park
Along the Grand River, Bridgeport
130 acres of parkland, with new 1000 trees, BBQ pits, picnic tables & a shelter, horseshoe pits and swings and a parking lot.
RIM Park
University Ave, south of Northfield Drive E
500 acres in Waterloo’s Northeast corner with a multi-use recreation complex and other outdoor sports facilities as well as a nature sanctuary, trails, canoe landing and heritage area.