Elmira (Ontario)

Elmira is a community of about 10,000 people (2016) in Woolwich Township in the Region of Waterloo, in Southwestern Ontario. It is known for its Mennonite population and its Maple Syrup Festival.

History
The land comprising Woolwich Township belonged to the Huron Nation and then to the Mohawk Nation. The first European settlers arrived in Woolwich Township in the late 18th century. The early settlers were primarily from England or Ireland until about 1830.

In 1806, the major portion of this tract was sold to Mennonites from Pennsylvania, the so-called Pennsylvania Dutch (actually Deutsch or German). A community by the name of Bristow's Corners was already in existence in 1839 when a post office was assigned there. Local merchant Samuel Weber had been visiting New York State in the early 1850s and was apparently impressed with Elmira, New York. This may have been a factor in the decision of Woolwich Township council in 1853 to rename the community Elmira. In addition to Mennonites from Pennsylvania, the majority of settlers were from Germany by the 1850s. Railways arrived in the late 1800s: the Grand Trunk and the Canadian Pacific. Furniture manufacturing and other industries began to open.

By car

 * From Guelph, take Elmira Road north. This becomes Wellington County Road 86 north of the city and later Waterloo Regional Road 86.  This becomes Church Street in Elmira.
 * From Kitchener-Waterloo, take the Conestoga Parkway north, which becomes Waterloo Regional Road 85 north of the city. Regional Road 85 takes a left turn just south of Elmira; continue straight (on Arthur Street, Regional Road 21) to reach the town centre.

By bus
Grand River Transit is the transit authority for Waterloo Region. GRT bus route 21 runs from ION Conestoga station in Waterloo through St. Jacobs to Elmira six days a week.

Get around
By car; the main street, running roughly north-south, is Arthur Street (Regional Road 21). The main east-west cross street is Church Street (Regional Road 86).

Elmira is small enough to walk between any places on foot.

The Waterloo Central Railway operates a seasonal tourist train from the St. Jacobs Market. During the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, the WCR extends train service to downtown Elmira; otherwise, service ends at Oriole Parkway East in Elmira.

Sleep
There are hotels available 10 km away in St. Jacobs and 15 km away in Waterloo.



Go next
St. Jacobs hosts one of Canada's largest year-round farmers' markets and is about 7 km south of Elmira.