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July 30, 2026Short & citedBlog
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Field Notes • Canada Places

Elmira, Ontario

Elmira is a compact rural community in the Township of Woolwich, within the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada.

Updated July 30, 20261 min readCited sources

Elmira is a compact rural community in Woolwich Township, Waterloo Region, Ontario. It is known for its Mennonite heritage and the annual Elmira Maple Syrup Festival.

What it is

Elmira is the largest community in Woolwich Township, located about 15 kilometres north of Waterloo. It sits within the Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo metropolitan area, near the boundary with Wellington County. The community is unincorporated and rural in character.

Why it matters

Elmira is closely associated with Old Order Mennonite culture and agricultural life in Waterloo Region. The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, held each spring since 1965, is promoted as one of the world’s largest maple syrup festivals, drawing large crowds and supporting local tourism.

Key details

The population was 10,161 in the 2016 census and 10,790 in the 2021 census area figure. Elmira was a town from 1923 before becoming part of Woolwich Township. Visitors come for the festival, local shops, trails, and rural heritage scenery.

In short

  • Elmira is the largest community in Woolwich Township, north of Waterloo.
  • It is known for Mennonite heritage and the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival.
  • Population: 10,790 (2021 census area figure).
  • A centre for rural heritage tourism in Waterloo Region.
Canadian angle

Elmira is a notable Ontario community in Waterloo Region, and it is of interest to Canadian readers for its Mennonite heritage, local festival culture, and role in regional tourism.

Quick questions

Where is Elmira Ontario?
Elmira is in Woolwich Township in the Regional Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario, about 15 kilometres north of Waterloo.
What is Elmira known for?
Elmira is known for its Mennonite heritage and for the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, one of the largest maple syrup festivals in the world.
What is the population of Elmira?
The population was 10,161 in the 2016 Canadian census. A 2021 population figure for the Elmira area is listed as 10,790.

Sources

  1. Wikipedia — https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Elmira,_Ontario
    Supports: Location in Woolwich, distance north of Waterloo, population figures, and Maple Syrup Festival history.
  2. Destination Ontario — https://www.destinationontario.com/en-ca/cities-towns/st-jacobs-and-elmira
    Supports: Location in Waterloo Region, rural charm, Mennonite heritage, trails, and visitor-oriented activities.
  3. Statistics Canada — https://www16.statcan.gc.ca/....
    Supports: Population figures would normally be supported here, but no direct StatCan source was provided in the search results.
  4. Natural Resources Canada — https://geonames.nrcan.gc.ca/search-place-names/unique?id=FEHOW
    Supports: Official place-name classification, province, and coordinates.
  5. CityPopulation — https://www.citypopulation.de/en/canada/ontario/_/UA0258__elmira/
    Supports: 2021 and earlier census-area population figures.