From Niagara-on-the-Lake we drove about 130km to Waterloo, a university town west of Toronto. This was why we were in Canada at all, to attend the "premiere" Canadian National Clogging Convention which was held at the Inn of Waterloo. Being their first ever, this convention was expected to be very well attended, and it was. There were said to be about 1000 attendees, including lots from the USA as well as good contingents from Australia (29 of us), Germany and the Czech Republic.
Why we were in Waterloo - some of the thousand strong attendees at the premiere Canadian National Clogging convention.
The Convention was a roaring success, and went like clockwork, run by a Canadian dance teacher, Judy Waymouth, who seems to enjoy heroic status. The large numbers really stretched the resources of the Inn, but in the end, everything went smoothly and to time. Congratulations to the organisers! The event scored coverage on the local CTV News, but all cloggers were amazed to hear the anchor refer to "wooden shoes", reinforcing what seems to be a global misunderstanding of the activity. Cloggers don't wear wooden clogs and never did (according to the gurus), they use steel double-taps on dance shoes, although possibly wooden taps in the past. According to Jeff Driggs, "the word clog comes from the Gaelic, and means 'time'. Clogging is a dance that is done in time with the music - to the downbeat usually with the heel keeping rhythm." The local TV station did not do its research! More of our Clogging Convention photographs here.
Aussie cloggers at the Canadian National Convention
This very talented local family at the farmers' market also appeared at the Convention meet and greet party.
Waterloo itself is a pleasant and modern city, the 10th largest in Canada with a population of about half a million. After granting the first nation Iroquois rights to the region in 1784 after the tribe assisted the British in the American war of independence, much of it then got sold to a New Yorker who then, broke, had to sell it to new settlers, mostly Mennonites escaping the USA after the war. By 1816, Waterloo township was incorporated (named after the obvious), and German immigrants moved in, followed by others.
Waterloo's new ION light rail passes our hotel.
Waterloo Park is the "jewel" of the city and features delightful bush tracks like this one.
The Mennonite township of St Jacobs.
Harvest and floral displays are everywhere in this region.
Grey skies, but the ducks enjoy the Canestoga River as it runs through St Jacobs.
Mennonites still comprise a significant community around Waterloo, mostly in the township of St. Jacobs. Mennonites, a particular Christian sect, seem to renounce modern ways in their practice of non-violence and tolerance. They wear characteristic conservative clothes and can be seen travelling around St. Jacobs (at some speed) in black, enclosed, horse-drawn carriages. We met some Mennanites in a tiny store near Ontario's only surviving covered bridge at West Montrose, and found them to be friendly and welcoming, and very happy to sell some of their delicious bakery produce!
Mennonite family driving through St Jacobs.
Local crafts, many rather irreverent, were available in this very rustic store in St Jacobs.
Very friendly Mennonite staff ran this corner store in West Montrose.
Very old fashioned and crowded appearance inside the Lost Acre Variety store.
At West Montrose, the last surviving covered bridge in Ontario, 1881.
Also in St. Jacobs is Canada's largest year-round farmers' market, on twice a week, absolutely packed at the time of our visit, with lots of tempting things (including fast food) on offer. From here we heard, and then saw but only at a distance, the historic and restored Waterloo Central Railway, apparently run by volunteers.
The Farmers Market at St Jacaobs is the largest in Canada.
A fine market building, but we discovered that it's brand new, the previous one burnt down in 2013.
Produce vendor in the St Jacobs farmers market.
Proudly proclaiming Canadian produce!
Always keen for a selfie.
It wouldn't be a proper farmers market without some livestock to pat.
Corn fields, silos and the classic red barns.
The historic Waterloo Central Railway has a steam engine, but we only saw it at a distance.
This railway apparently had its track rights restricted by Waterloo's brand new light-rail line (opened only in June this year) which seems to be supplementing an already excellent city public transport system. The light-rail has a station in Waterloo Park, claimed to be a "jewel" of the city, and certainly a large and nice green space with pleasant walking tracks through undeveloped bush, as well as large green spaces.
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