Outbreak: #COVID-19
Facility: Heritage House - St Jacobs (formerly Derbecker's Heritage House)
Facility Type: LTC Home
Unit/Floor/Area: Facility Wide
Location: #StJacobs #Ontario
Date: 2025-10-03

Public Health Unit: Region of Waterloo, Public Health
Facility Tracking Hash: #RWPH0041
PHU Tracking Hash: #OnObRWPH

Click or follow tracking hashtags to see data for individual facilities or a specific public health unit.

I made a new friend today. His name is Fischer.

#Dogs #DogsofMastodon #StJacobs #WaterlooRegion

50 YEARS OF THE ST. JACOB’S MARKET

For over 50 years, the St. Jacobs Market has been a community staple in the Waterloo region.  

What started as a livestock exchange in 1975 eventually amalgamated into the St. Jacobs Market.   

Joanna Loebach, general manager of St. Jacobs Market District, said the market grew from family members of those participating in the livestock exchange swapping or selling their produce.   

“It sort of evolved to become known to people in the area that on sale days, that was a good time to come and actually buy produce from some of the wives or the children of the farmers,” Loebach said.  

“From that origin, they set up concrete bunkers…that was the first evolution to actually formalize this into something that the public could attend,” she said.  

Seven years later, the first building was built on the market property to accommodate for year-round sales. As more farmers and vendors joined, the attraction to the market grew amongst the community. In the early 90s, the market became a tourist attraction for those looking for authentic maple syrup to be sold there.  

From there, the Village of St. Jacobs began to grow along with the additions of the outlet and antique mall in the surrounding areas of the market.  

Loebach said now, more than ever, the farm-to-table movement has become increasingly more popular.   

“There was a big movement to being more aware about what you were putting into your body and the practices that were behind growing your produce,” Loebach said.  

“I think that’s something that has made the farmers market experience just so much more desirable. You get to know who you’re buying from, you’re way more guaranteed about freshness than you are at a grocery store and you’re also getting insider information about how to best serve it or how to store it,” Loebach said.  

While the spirit of the market has remained the same, the market has also evolved to mirror the change in demographics and evolution of needs and buying habits.   

“There’s always something new here,” Loebach said.   

“It keeps it fresh, but it also keeps us being able to adapt to the changing demographics within KW and what the local population is looking for…the market is able to keep pace with that so that it never feels antiquated,” she said.   

To celebrate 50 years, the market is reflecting on their legacy vendors—some of which have been a staple at the market since the beginning—as well as some of the newer, more entrepreneurial vendors.  

Robert Foreman, owner of 100 Mile Produce, has been a vendor at the St. Jacobs Market for 25 years. Prior to that, he used to come to the market as a child to help at his father’s stall.  

For Foreman, a big piece of what makes the market so special for vendors and patrons is that connections made between the food, the farmer and the buyer.  

“Depending on which vendors you choose to shop with, you can look the person in the eye and find out exactly where that came from, when it was picked, what the variety name is—the entire history of whatever you’re purchasing,” Foreman said.   

As a life-long vendor of the market, Foreman has seen the waves of change that have shaped the evolution of the market, specifically, with regards to changing demographics.   

“I can remember years ago, a lot of Eastern European people has moved here in the early 2000’s…and they were asking us to grow certain things,” Foreman said.   

“Just because we don’t eat them or we didn’t grow them doesn’t mean we can’t do that, right? And we’ve seen that with each wave of immigration that’s come through,” he said.  

As the market continues to evolve and grow, Loebach said this next era continues to acknowledge and celebrate its roots, while finding ways to develop and meet ever-changing needs.  

“I am loving how we’re continuing to build on the successes of the farmers market but continuing to make this a spot that will continue to resonate with people over time,” she said.

#100MileProduce #easternEuropean #farmToTable #groceryStore #JoannaLoebach #KatWex #localFood #localHistory #robertForeman #SafinaJennah #StJacobS #waterlooRegion

WEND YOUR WAY TO THE WISE OLD OAK

All trees are special; however, there is one local tree that captures the imagination more than most. The majestic Wise Old Oak is a Waterloo Region treasure. Thanks to the skill and creativity of carpente, Dustin Quill, it reveals itself to those who are open to adventure. 

Waterloo Region has excellent year-round hiking, walking, and biking trails. The Health Valley Trail, formerly known as the Conestogo River Trail, is free to access and connects the Village of St. Jacobs with University Ave. E. in Waterloo. Complete with calming river views, cows and horses grazing in farmers’ fields, and the Wise Old Oak, not to mention delicious food and drink to begin or end your walk in St. Jacobs, it is an excellent way to enjoy the outdoors. 

In total, the trail is a 10-kilometre round trip, but a shorter trip can begin at the University Ave. entrance. From there, it’s only 1.5 kilometers to reach the Wise Old Oak. The main trail, starting from St. Jacobs, is stroller friendly. The smaller trail is also accessible, but it is bumpier, and it may be easier to use a baby carrier. 

Traditionally, St. Jacobs was a destination for quilt makers, retirees, historians and those in search of delicious Mennonite baking. Founded by Pennsylvania Dutch settlers in the 1830s, many signs of the original village remain: the Jacob C. Snider Mill (1852), the blacksmith shop (1880), the former Dominion Hotel (1852), and the antique market, to name a few.  

The first Home Hardware store was opened in 1948 and remains a staple of the main street realtors to this day. Other useful and historic shops to visit include Hamel Brooms, one of Canada’s last corn broom makers. 

Over the past several years, the village vibe has shifted to attracting boutique shoppers, street art fans and craft beer enthusiasts. Local icons include Stone Crock Bakery & Market, EcoCafe & Village Roasters, Block Three Brewing, Those Pizza Guys and The Shed by LenJo Bakes. 

Plenty of free parking is available in the parking lot off Albert St. at the St. Jacobs trail head, or on the side of the road on University Ave.  

Cyclists will find bike parking in St. Jacobs, a designated Ontario by Bike business area, as well as a full bike repair kit at the trailhead. 

The Marble Art Quilt, an interactive art exhibit, greets visitors at the St. Jacobs entrance. 

Make sure that your bladder is empty prior to departing as there are no washrooms along the trail. There are also no garbage cans. Practice good trail etiquette and leave no trace—that is, please take your garbage with you and keep the route clean and clear. Dogs must always remain on leash. 

The trail is part of the world’s longest multi-use year-round trail: the Trans Canada Trail. This coast-to-coast-to-coast recreational route welcomes people to bike, walk, snowshoe, ski, snowmobile, paddle, and even horseback their way across Canada. Each section of the urban and rural trail is managed locally. 

Two more trails crisscross and run in tandem with the Health Valley Trail. The 121-kilometre walking and biking Avon Trail stretches from St. Mary’s to Conestogo, and the 2.5-kilometre Millrace Trail dates to the 1850s and was once known as ‘Lovers’ Lane.’ Named for the millrace that provided power to the St. Jacobs gristmill, it guides users to the St. Jacobs Railway Viaduct that was originally built in 1890 for the Grand Trunk Railway. 

Let the fresh air, the calming effect of water, and the magic of the forest treat you to a local adventure. All you must do is dress for the weather and take it one step at a time. 

#avonTrail #BlockThreeBrewing #conestogo #crockBakeryAndMarket #ecocafe #localTravel #loversLane #millraceTrail #riverTrail #stJacobs #theMarbleArtQuilt #theShed #thosePizzaGuys #villageRoasters #wiseOldOak