The Waterloo Region of Ontario in Central Canada is rich in history and culture, much of it comes directly from its original European settlers - a number of Mennonite families who migrated from Pennsylvania in the early 1800s. In more recent years the cultural diversity of the Waterloo region has been shaped by immigration from all corners of the globe. This immigration is due in no small part to the prosperous, diverse economic activity of the region and the presence of two highly respected Universities.

The first pioneers of the Waterloo area are honored in a monument called Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower. Mennonite pioneers that arrived in the area around 1800 to 1803 were the original settlers, settling on the banks of the Grand River, which provided very productive land for farming. The monument was created back in 1923 on one acre near Doon, just east of the Grand River. The tower's spire is uniquely Swiss in look, giving reflection to the homeland of the Swiss Mennonites.

At Doon Heritage Crossroads you can explore Waterloo County as it was in 1914. Come back to see what businesses, homes and farms were like and how people went about their daily lives.

Joseph and Barbara Schneider were mennonite pioneers, who came to Lancaster County, Pennsylvania, in the early 1800s. Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and Gallery has been built to show what life was like in the area in the 1850s. Joseph and Barbara Schneider built this house in 1816.

The artist Homer Watson was well-respected in his local area of the Waterloo Region. He was often referred to as the "Man of Doon" because he lived and worked in Doon. Watson's studio has been preserved at the Homer Watson House and Gallery and people may take art classes or workshops there. The gallery also hosts an exhibition of contemporary art.

The 10th Prime Minister of Canada was William Lyon Mackenzie King. He was also the longest ever serving Prime Minister. He was born in what was then called Berlin, now known as Kitchener as the name was changed during WWI. The home he grew up in has been restored to its 1890's state and is located at Woodside National Historic Site.

James Livingston erected Castle Kilbride in Baden in the year 1877. Its name was derived from the place in Scotland where he was born. As you drive by, you view a most imposing structure, of Italian design and featuring a belevedere which seems to reach for the sky. But however impressive the castle may seem on the outside, it is yet more so in its interior decoration, which in itself merits a ranking among the highest international artistic achievements.