As a resident of the Township of Wellesley, you have the best of both worlds. Nestled in the northwest corner of the Region of Waterloo with a population of 11,500, Wellesley is country living at its finest, while still having access to larger urban conveniences near Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Stratford. The Township of Wellesley is home to several kilometers of the Kissing Bridge trail, the Wellesley pond and many unique rural landmarks.
Scenic roads, picturesque settlement areas and historic farming methods are what you can look forward to seeing in the Township with the amenities of Kitchener-Waterloo cities close by.
Our settlement areas offer shopping where local people gather and exchange news and upcoming events.
We have a strong focus on community involvement, which is reflected through the amount of community groups and outdoor facilities in the Township. Our outdoor spaces welcome community involvement and are host to recreational leagues, activities, and events.
We also offer top-notch residential services.
Organizations Associated with the Township of Wellesley |
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History |
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Several villages and settlement areas make up The Corporation of the Township of Wellesley, including the villages of Wellesley, Linwood, St. Clements and Hawkesville. We are located in the North West corner of Waterloo Region and once part of a large Clergy Reserve known as "The Queen's Bush", Wellesley Township waited until 1843 to be completely surveyed for settlement. The Township got off to a good start with nearly 6,000 people by 1861, and showed signs of matching other areas for growth and development. Hawkesville, competed with Berlin (present day Kitchener), and Galt (part of present day Cambridge) in becoming the county seat. The railways bypassed the area, so while other areas grew, most of the Township remained rural and the villages dropped as centers of promise. To this day, farms cover most of the township where people show hard work, and a business spirit, which upon discovery will delight both residents and visitors. One will discover cultural, historical, and tasty delights, often lost in our fast paced lifestyle. Catch the Culture on our 60 mile (96 km) Cultural Trail or risk going off the beaten track, one will find down to earth people farming in old-style ways or with the latest air conditioned farm equipment. Many also have shops in which treasures can be found.
For the most part, untouched by tourism, the villages offer homemade summer sausage, maple syrup, shoo-fly pie, apple butter, cooked cheese, butter, bacon the list goes on, tempting anyone's taste buds. Waterloo County quilts famous throughout the Region can be purchased right out of their makers' homes. Many others can be bought in shops, at auctions, at the Mennonite Relief Sale in New Hamburg, and the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival. From festivals, food, furniture, crafts and churches, our township is sure to attract everyone in some way, regardless of what season one chooses to visit. For more information on the history of the Township of Wellesley visit the Wellesley Township Heritage and Historical Society. |
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Arts, Culture and Heritage |
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Wellesley Township is a small urban/rural municipality rich in culture within the Region of Waterloo. Our charming towns and settlement areas boast a strong connection with their past. They include: Bamberg, Dorking, Hawkesville, Heidelberg, Kingwood, Linwood, Paradise Lake, St Clements, Wallenstein, and Wellesley. Each has its own story to be shared. Wellesley Township is home to many notable events and festivals that draw thousands of visitors each year. Restaurants offer exceptional local fare and businesses offer a unique retail experience. In celebration of some of the town's most well-known exports, the Wellesley Apple Butter and Cheese Festival was first held in 1975, and has been held annually on the last Saturday in September ever since. The festivities include many street market venues, coach rides, remote-controlled boat races, open heritage sites and amusements, horseshoe-pitching contests, guided farm tours, live music, meals that can be purchased on the main street, and a classic car show, all of which now attract thousands of visitors each year. On June 24, 2006, the town held its first annual Art Around the Pond gala where artisans of all kind were able to exhibit and advertise their creations and expertise. Stalls and tables are organized around the north and south sides of the Wellesley Pond while visitors can navigate the trail on the east side to access both ends. Speeches by local governors are given and live music is played on the central island. The Wellesley Fall Fair is held once every year on the second Tuesday and Wednesday of September following Labour Day. There is a parade at around noon on the Wednesday that the local public school participates in and there are also rides and activities located on the community centre grounds. Wellesley has also held the Wellesley Santa Claus Parade early in December since 2005 which includes floats created by many local businesses, churches and other organizations from around the area mainly driving down Queen's Bush Road, Nafziger Road, Maple Leaf Street, and Molesworth Street. Though only the Hawkesville Mennonite Church and the Countryside Conservative Mennonite Fellowship remain, Hawkesville has been the birthplace of several congregations. A Presbyterian congregation worshiped in town from 1868 to 1946. Their old church building was dedicated as Hawkesville Mennonite Church on January 1, 1950. A United Brethren church also existed in Hawkesville from 1865 until 1904. The gothic windows and rafters are still visible inside the shop of Hawkwoods Custom Furniture. Another group started meeting in 1931 and completed the building of a Gospel Hall next door to the village's Cemetery in 1939. This group became the Hawkesville Bible Chapel, but their Hall became overcrowded and they moved into a new building in Wallenstein in 1968 where the Wallenstein Bible Chapel remains today. The first Catholic Church built in the township was a log church built in St. Clements around 1840, in 1853, the log church was deemed too small and in 1858, a large brick church was completed. A brass band from Buffalo, New York gave a concert before the church dedication. At the time of its opening, it was said to be the largest and finest church west of Toronto. |
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Maps |
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The Township of Wellesley maintains current street maps for the entire Township and each of the settlement areas within it.
List of street mapsOther mapping resourcesWith the Region of Waterloo's GIS Locator you can view property lines and current air photos for any area within the Region of Waterloo. With the Grand River Conservation authority's mapping, you can view your property and see if it is in the floodplain, contains wetlands, or otherwise environmentally constrained. |
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New to the Township |
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Living in the Township of Wellesley, you have access to many services, facilities, schools and more. In this section you can find information for:
We hope this website will answer all your questions about living in the Township of Wellesley, but if you have unanswered questions, please feel free to contact us. |