Elmira is a community of about 10,000 people (2016) in Woolwich Township in the Region of Waterloo, in Southwestern Ontario, Canada, known for its Mennonite population.
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.
- Elmira Theatre Company, 76 Howard Ave, +1 519-669-3230. Community theatre. 3 shows, including 1 dinner theatre a year.
Elmira Theatre Company, 76 Howard Ave, +1 519-669-3230. Community theatre. 3 shows, including 1 dinner theatre a year.
- The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival,, held annually in late March or early April, attracts 60,000 visitors and is world's largest one-day maple syrup festival. The festival features sugar bush tours; a half-mile long outdoor mall with vendors of local speciality food and crafts; a craft show; the Mayor's Maple Syrup contest; and pancakes and golden maple syrup.
- Elmira Golf Club, 40 Eldale Road, +1 519-669-1652. 18-hole golf course, practice facilities, shop stocked with the latest golf products, the Grill on the Green with home cooking.
The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival,, held annually in late March or early April, attracts 60,000 visitors and is world's largest one-day maple syrup festival. The festival features sugar bush tours; a half-mile long outdoor mall with vendors of local speciality food and crafts; a craft show; the Mayor's Maple Syrup contest; and pancakes and golden maple syrup.
Elmira Golf Club, 40 Eldale Road, +1 519-669-1652. 18-hole golf course, practice facilities, shop stocked with the latest golf products, the Grill on the Green with home cooking.
- Kitchen Kuttings Inc., 2 Arthur St S, +1 519-669-8225. Tu-Th 9AM-6PM (and M in Dec), F 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. A specialty food store with an assortment of homemade jams, pickles, preserves, Canadian and imported fresh-cut cheeses, homemade summer sausage, old fashioned fudge, brittle and a range of specialty local food.
Kitchen Kuttings Inc., 2 Arthur St S, +1 519-669-8225. Tu-Th 9AM-6PM (and M in Dec), F 9AM-8PM, Sa 9AM-5PM. A specialty food store with an assortment of homemade jams, pickles, preserves, Canadian and imported fresh-cut cheeses, homemade summer sausage, old fashioned fudge, brittle and a range of specialty local food.
- At the Crossroads Restaurant, 384 Arthur St. S., +1 519-669-8117. Great buffets for breakfast or lunch on the weekend. A selection of food made by Amish people, it's mostly from scratch with local ingredients. Weekday buffet (May-Sep) $10, Sa breakfast buffet $13, Su brunch buffet $23, Tu-Sa luncheon buffet $18, Tu-Su dinner buffet $26.
- Elmira's Sip 'n Bite, 39 Arthur St S, +1 519-669-8991. All-day breakfasts, and other diner food.
- The Grill on the Green, 40 Eldale Road, +1 519-669-1651. Freshly made wraps, burgers, sandwiches, fresh cut fries, daily homemade soup.
At the Crossroads Restaurant, 384 Arthur St. S., +1 519-669-8117. Great buffets for breakfast or lunch on the weekend. A selection of food made by Amish people, it's mostly from scratch with local ingredients. Weekday buffet (May-Sep) $10, Sa breakfast buffet $13, Su brunch buffet $23, Tu-Sa luncheon buffet $18, Tu-Su dinner buffet $26.
Elmira's Sip 'n Bite, 39 Arthur St S, +1 519-669-8991. All-day breakfasts, and other diner food.
The Grill on the Green, 40 Eldale Road, +1 519-669-1651. Freshly made wraps, burgers, sandwiches, fresh cut fries, daily homemade soup.
- The Central Tavern, 30 Arthur St S, +1 519-669-9028. F Sa noon-2AM, M-Th 4PM-midnight. Sports bar with pool tables serving pizza, wings, nachos, etc.
The Central Tavern, 30 Arthur St S, +1 519-669-9028. F Sa noon-2AM, M-Th 4PM-midnight. Sports bar with pool tables serving pizza, wings, nachos, etc.
St. Jacobs hosts one of Canada's largest year-round farmers' markets and is about 7 km south of Elmira.