Elmira Travel Guide

Welcome to Elmira, ON!

Located just north of Kitchener-Waterloo, Elmira is the biggest of the communities in the Woolwich Township, which also encompasses the village of St. Jacobs. Elmira's first settler, Edward Bristow, had much to do with the town's development. In 1834 he acquired 53 acres (21 ha) of land here at 50 cents per acre and other settlers of English and Irish origin soon followed suit. Edward responded to the growing population by establishing the township's first store, tavern and potashery. In the 1850s, early German settlers brought Mennonite traditions to the area and, to this day, Elmira retains a distinct Pennsylvania-Dutch personality. Visitors will likely see Old Order Mennonites driving horse-drawn buggies along local roads and simple churches dotted throughout the countryside.

Surrounded by farmland, Elmira offers a bounty of fresh, local produce, much of it available for sale at farm gates, roadside stalls and markets, and there are plenty of peaceful trails and parks to stroll. While a town of rural traditions, Elmira boasts a bustling centre full of shops and restaurants. Here, visitors will also find the Elmira Theatre, and in spring a crowd of 60,000 people flock to downtown streets for the annual Maple Syrup Festival. A great way to explore the surrounding area and Mennonite way of life is by joining a countryside tour organized through the Township of Woolwich Visitor Information Centre.

Hotels & Motels