From the Traditional Farming to Luxurious Spas – Touring the Mennonite Region of Southern Ontario

The Mennonite region in southern Ontario around the Village of St. Jacob’s is a captivating traditional, rustic area yet with the amenities of the modern age. For those who enjoy history and the traditional pre-modern way of life, St. Jacob’s is the place to visit. The Village, a 1 1/2 hours drive from Toronto, represents the living remnants of a European Christian sect that was persecuted in Europe then found a home in Canada with the freedom to practice its traditions.

Today we would be touring the area of this unique community to discover the attributes that draw the visitor to this Mennonite region. My familiarity with the Mennonites was that of a group of people who lived the life of tradition, hard-working, and with no amenities of the modern age. A good hardy people who basically kept to themselves.

The first stop on our tour was the St. Jacob’s Farmers and Flea Market in the heart of the Mennonite countryside located about 8 kms (5 mi) from St. Jacob’s Village. It is Canada’s largest year-round farmer’s market, and is a symbol of Mennonite life in Ontario. It is also the heart of activity for the approximately 4,000 Old Order Mennonites who still practice their traditional lifestyle that revolves around farming. The Market is the venue where many of their farm products and crafts are displayed and sold.

The original 2,230 sq m (24,000 sq ft) building built in 1936 that attracted annually some one million visitors burned down on Labour Day of 2013 but reopened as a spacious and bright 3,159 sq m (34,000 sq ft) structure in June 2015 which will undoubtedly attract even more.

This image of a rural quiet traditional people faded away somewhat as we entered the market through automated sliding-doors combined with a sudden gust of cold air from a central air conditioning system. I thought it’s finally happened – the Mennonite community has entered the modern world of comfort, for them and for us. But then it got even more confusing. The first stop we made was at a booth selling the foods of Egypt. I had to double-check my coordinates to make sure that I was in the Mennonite Market. Following the aroma of donar kababs, better known as shawarma, and falafel we next ended up at a booth surprised to find a pleasant Mennonite young lady taking customers’ orders. This, plus pizza in the market, and Moroccan mahajeb, was an interesting take on the new Mennonite world of the 21st century. The effect of Prime Minister Pierre Elliot Trudeau’s multi-cultural policy was alive before us. The ethnic foods of Canada were becoming united under the auspices of the Mennonites.

But Mennonite culture predominates. The sausages and meats, the variety of cheeses, the preserves of jams and jellies (even low-sugar!), pickles, syrups, pierogis, noodles, the freshly fried doughnuts and fritters with maple syrup, home-made chips and breads all remind us of the non-eraseable identity of the Mennonites, preserving their heritage and traditions for the world to see at St. Jacob’s Farmers’ Market.

The apple fritters took us by storm. Fresh, hot and crispy, we thought this was the ultimate of Mennonite foods, that is, until we sampled the renowned Mennonite sausage, sliced thick, it becomes Mennonite ‘steak’. Even the pierogis, a food that I’ve never really relished, tasted good in their Mennonite version. If only time had given us the chance to sample the maple syrup and preserves.

Leaving the Market, we climbed aboard a tourist train, a train that connects to the heart of the Village of St. Jacob’s carrying visitors and Market shoppers alike to and from the Market. Volunteers operate this steam and diesel-hauled train. A vintage adventure in transport, the train starts at St. Jacob’s Farmers’ Market and ends at the Village of St. Jacob’s after crossing the Conestogo River.

We walked a short distance from the train stop and reached the Village-centre. The Village itself is steeped in history and known for its original arts and crafts, quite evident from its studios and galleries where one can meet the artisans themselves. In addition, it offers great shopping from boutique clothing and jewellery, to gourmet foods, and handmade goods and now prides itself as site for fine-dining featuring regional cuisine.

Our objective was to spend some time in the multi-media interpretive ‘Mennonite Story’ centre on King Street, an informative place for those interested in the history, religion, and culture of the Mennonites in Ontario and beyond. Displays, artifacts, photos, and slide presentations are promoted as being detailed and extensive. So well-organized is this place that audio is available in a half dozen languages. But alas, our time was limited and we were unable to visit as we had an appointment for lunch in nearby Waterloo.

After lunch we drove to the 100-year old Langdon Hall, once a mansion of the wealthy and now a vacation destination, located in Cambridge. Although renovated into the luxurious Country House Hotel and Spa, it still maintains the upper-class grandeur that once was. Set in a tranquil estate within woodland and magnificent gardens, Langdon Hall’s promise is to provide an “escape into a world of gracious hospitality, elegant amenities and exemplary service”. A magical retreat for relaxation and for refreshing the soul, it allows the guest to reflect on the serenity and beauty of nature, redefining what life is all about in the country. We were given a walk-through its vegetable garden that provides enough products in the summer and fall for its daily food service and during the winter and spring, meals are prepared from products purchased from local farms. From the gardens we ended our visit by being invited to a cooking demonstration by the Hall’s Executive Chef Jason Bangerter. It was a Citrus Herb Marinated Tuna with Garden Garnishes that caught the crowd by storm. Just as beautiful as it looked was its taste, a magnificent way to end our tour of the Mennonite countryside, its foods and its crafts.

Continuing our journey, we stopped for awhile at the Fashion Museum in Cambridge celebrating dress design of the 19th to the 20th centuries. A strange combination of fashion from the elegant lace of French 19th century lace dress and footwear to the wild square-shouldered dress of David Bowie and the elegant crisp suits of Eva Peron. With this aura of elegance, we ended our tour of the traditional to the modern. I have to admit, I did not see one horse or buggy other than those parked at the market for those for tourists to try. The Mennonites have truly left their mark in the Waterloo region.

For Further Information, Contact:
St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market: P.O. Box 443, 878 Weber St. North, Waterloo ON N2J 4A9; Tel: 519-747-1830; E-mail: markets@stjacobs.com

Langdon Hall Country House Hotel and Spa: 1 Langdon Drive, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R8; Tel: 519-740-2100; E-mail: reservations@langdonhall.ca ; Website: www.langdonhall.ca

Waterloo Regional Tourism: Suite 201, 260 King Street West Kitchener, ON N2G 1B6; Tel: 519-585-7517 ext. 250; Fax: 519-585-7893: E-mail: mschneider@wrtmc.org; Website: www.explorewaterlooregion.com