City of Waterloo

"Join the City of Waterloo in our daily celebration of community. We welcome you to visit Uptown Waterloo to discover the city where traditional and modern blend - where culture, arts, recreation and entertainment mix with enterprise, higher learning and historical charm. Uptown Waterloo offers exceptional shopping experiences, a variety of dining opportunities, and many festivals throughout the year, including year round arts and cultural venues."
- Mayor Brenda Halloran

Municipal Profile

Waterloo is a community built on a pervasive culture of collaboration - through harnessed entrepreneurship - which delivers in the knowledge economy.

Recognized for its ability to reinvent itself throughout history, Waterloo has evolved from a rural farming community, to an industrial city, to a telecommunications and technology powerhouse. This shift from agrarian to connected community took place over a period of less than one hundred years, with a rapid transformation taking place in the last thirty years. Most recently, the remaking of the local economy has been led through information technology investment, which has doubled over the past four years. City of Waterloo, population (150,000) is home to major knowledge economy employers and educators, global think-tank organizations, and was recognized as the "World's Top Intelligent Community" in 2007.

Discover the city where traditional and modern blend - where culture, arts, recreation and entertainment mix with enterprise, higher learning and historical charm.

Activities

Ice rinks, swimming pools, gymnasiums, curling rinks and golf courses abound throughout the city, so residents can participate in a variety of sports and leisure activities - organized for every age and level of expertise.

Green Spaces and Trails

Over 1,600 hectares of green space within the city provide home to flora, fauna and fun. Enjoy family picnics and baseball games, or the beauty of the Grand River Watershed along the Grand River Trail - a 78km trail connecting neighbouring cities.

Crisscrossing the city is a 150km trail system connecting neighbourhoods and green spaces for recreation and alternative transportation. Paved sections accommodate motorized chairs, strollers, bicycles or rollerblades, and are integrated with an 80km on-road bike route as well as the Grand River Transit bus system.

Festivals

A diverse line-up of festivals offers an exciting blend of art and culture year-round. In the summer, you can groove to the sultry sounds of jazz under starry skies. And in the winter, celebrate the holiday season with a sleigh ride through Waterloo Park - with over 100,000 festive lights on display.

Arts

Waterloo's arts scene offers music, theatre and art for everyone. Explore the local music scene, rich in folk, jazz, opera or modern rock. Enjoy one of several local theatre or dance productions. Or appreciate the stationary beauty of art, with several galleries displaying captivating works.

Taste the World

Waterloo's multicultural nature means a wealth of great tastes like Indian, Asian Fusion, or Caribbean food, as well as traditional family dining, and pub fare is abundant in the city. And for healthy home cooking, you'll find plenty of fresh produce in local farmers' markets.

Preserving the Past, Pursuing the Future

Waterloo's character is influenced by our past. In fact, Waterloo Region is home to numerous traditional Mennonite families, and it's not uncommon to see a horse and buggy on our city streets

We take pride in preserving our local history and architecture for future generations to enjoy. Amid this appreciation for our past, Waterloo looks forward to the future. We invite you to join us and explore the possibilities '.