Community programs at the museum

The City of Waterloo Museum is a vibrant heritage portal where you can discover and celebrate stories unique to Waterloo.

Book a tour, invite us to present to your group, or explore a virtual story.

On this page

Book a museum tour

We offer tours for service clubs, church groups and community programs at the City of Waterloo Museum. Visit our What's on and What's next pages to learn about current and upcoming exhibits.

In-person guided tour of our current exhibit:

duration: 1 hour
fee: $5 per person
capacity: 20 people
details: we can tailor the tour to your group’s interests

Book a museum tour

Book a presentation

Invite museum staff to share Waterloo’s history with your group, in person or virtually. Presentations include images, historical objects and stories from our collection.

duration: approximately 1 hour
fee: $60 per presentation, or $150 for 3 presentations within 6 months

Book a presentation

Presentation topics

A Look at Christmas Past in Waterloo

Get in the holiday mood with this festive presentation about Christmas traditions. We will explore where some of our favorite holiday activities come from and how they have changed over the years. In addition, the presentation will look at some of Waterloo’s favourite winter traditions.

Image shows a building with Christmas Lights

At Home in Waterloo

In Waterloo, people have lived in all sorts of places: log homes, two-storey, Victory, sleek mid-century modern houses, low-rise apartments all making way to the new high-rise condominium trend. At Home in Waterloo takes us on a tour of our neighbourhoods and the architectural styles that are found our city.

Image shows a house located at 5 Erb Kumpf

Game on! Sporting in Waterloo

Since Waterloo’s humble beginnings as a village in 1857, sports and recreation have been an integral part of the community’s fabric. Join us to explore the highlights and achievements of Waterloovians in Sports! Summer and winter version of this topic are available.

Image shows a post card made up of black and white photos

History Junction: The Manufacturing Past of Uptown Waterloo

Uptown Waterloo is the heart of Waterloo, but what has this meant through out the decades? You can book this presentation for a trip through time around Uptown Waterloo to find out how our needs from the city centre have changed over time.

Image shows a mill in a black and white photo

If You Don’t Work, You Won’t Eat! Early Food Preservation in Waterloo

Bring your appetite for learning as we look at the history of food. This presentation doesn’t come with an instant pot experience, but reminisces about the hours of preparation needed for fermenting, drying, canning and smoking. Find out what life was like before the fast-food industry and instant meals made minute meals possible.

Image is a black and white photo of a butcher during Christmas time

Meet the Mayors: Magistrates, Mavericks and Rebels

Explore the early beginnings of Waterloo as a village. Find out who some of the movers and shakers were that helped lay the foundation for the City we know and love today.

Image shows every mayor of Waterloo in a shape of a W

Lest We Forget

Join the City of Waterloo Museum to explore local stories of those who served. Find out how our community contributed globally, nationally and locally in difficult times both overseas and on the home front.

Image shows WWI Troops At Waterloo Train Station

Prohibition in Canada: What Happened in Waterloo?

We have all heard about prohibition, but what was it really like for folks living here in Waterloo? Join us for a national and local look at what a ‘dry’ society was like. This presentation will quench your thirst with some fun local stories.

School Days in Waterloo

No pencils, books or teachers dirty looks here as we learn about the history of education in Waterloo. Meet some of the people whose legacies impacted our community today and find out about education, now and then.

Image shows the First School House In Waterloo Park

Tales from the Barrel Warehouse: The Story of the Seagram Empire

The Seagram Empire is truly a homegrown success story. Book this presentation to find out how an average flour mill turned into a world-renowned whisky distillery. We will explore stories of the men who made this brand a household name and put Waterloo on the global map.

Image shows the Seagrams Plant Pre 1905 (black and white)

They're at the Post

Did you know that the famous Joseph Seagram, known for his whisky empire, also made a lasting impact on the world of horse racing? His influence transformed the sport in Canada, leaving behind a legacy that still resonates today. Explore how Seagram revolutionized the industry, meet the legendary horses and jockeys, and hear the stories of local folks who kept his stables thriving. Discover the fascinating connection between whisky and the thrill of the track!

Image is an illustrated version of a person riding a horse

The Sublime Mr. Seagram: Waterloo’s Innovator

The man, the myth and the legend, Joseph E. Seagram. Take a deep dive into the Seagram story and find out more about Joseph and his family. Who was he really? What was their life really like? And what was his legacy? Book this presentation to get these questions answered.

Image shows a black and white portrait of the Mayor of Waterloo JE Seagram

Trails, Rails and Trucks: A Brief History of Transportation

We all have places to go and people to meet, but it wasn’t always that easy! So jump on board and buckle up as we look at the history of carriages, cabooses and cars in Waterloo. Join us for a journey from horse drawn and electric street cars to modern light rails and the ION.

Image shows the King Street Track Removal 1947 in black and white

Waterloo Park: Over 100 Years of Memories

Join us for a journey through Waterloo Park as we explore its various sights and sounds throughout time. This jewel in the heart of the city has many great stories that we will explore together.

Waterloo Park image in black and white by the water

Welcome to the City of Waterloo Museum

Start by getting to know about us, the City of Waterloo Museum, and what we provide to the community. This will include a peek at some of our favourite artifacts. Then we will shift focus to a general exploration of Waterloo history highlighting some of the big business, names and popular locations around town.

Wish you were Here: Picture Postcards of Waterloo

Let’s explore 20 stories of Waterloo through 20 postcards. Postcards were the text messages of their day, so find out what their images and messages say about a time, place and generation.

Waterloo from Above: 200 Years of Change

Join us to explore Waterloo’s transformation over the past 200 years. From its humble beginnings as a 12-square-kilometer village in 1876 to a thriving city of 64 square kilometers today, we’ll journey through time with historic maps, aerial images, and photographs that showcase the evolution of our landscape. Discover how farmland became vibrant neighbourhoods and manufacturing hubs transformed into global innovation centers.

Image shows an illustration of Waterloo from above in the year of 1891

Suggest a New Topic

If you have a topic in mind, we might be able to create a custom presentation for your group. Let’s discuss!

Book a Mount Hope Cemetery tour

Join museum staff for a walking tour of Waterloo’s oldest community cemetery, established in 1867. Learn about the people and events that shaped the city.

duration: approximately 1 hour
fee: $5 per person
capacity: 30 people
details: terrain may be uneven, wear travel-friendly shoes

Book a Mount Hope Cemetery tour

Themed walks include:

Dealers in Death

From coroners and undertakers to distillers and cigar-makers, these individuals – either directly or indirectly – dealt in death throughout the history of Waterloo. Join museum staff at the cemetery to learn more about these historical dealers in death.

J.E. Seagram and Company

Most people have heard of Joseph E. Seagram and his distillery business, however, there is so much more to a successful business than just the leader. This tour explores the stories of those who worked behind the scenes building the company and family’s success.

Mayors, Movers, and Shakers

Waterloo’s Mount Hope Cemetery consists of nine acres of landscaped grounds and is the resting place for many people whose lives helped shape this city and community. This walking tour highlights the gravesites of some early notable residents: Mayors, Movers and Shakers.

Mishap and Murder

Ever wonder what accidental death or a murder scandal looked like in the early days of Waterloo? Over the years we have uncovered some fascinating tales… not for the faint of heart.

More than Wives and Daughters

Women have traditionally been left out of history. This tour aims to shed some light on the women we know to be distinctive in our local history. These women are, as the title of the tour suggests, much more than the wives and daughters of Waterloo’s movers and shakers of this city. We can only imagine what amazing things these women might have done had they had the same opportunities as their fathers and brothers.

School Spirit

The little log schoolhouse in Waterloo Park is the oldest standing school house in Ontario. Throughout the tour we will learn more about the students who attended this school, teachers who taught the classes and the trustees who worked behind the scenes.

The Ultimate Sacrifice, War Stories from Mount Hope Cemetery

Looking for a great way to commemorate Remembrance Day or honour those who fought in the World Wars? This tour through the cemetery will shed some light on stories of local heroes, heroines and brave souls who defended our country in times of need.

Explore a virtual tour

Can’t visit in person? Explore our free pre-recorded virtual tour.

Waterloo's Rainbow History: 50 years of glow

Join us on the University of Waterloo campus as we pay tribute to the origins of the Glow Centre in celebration of its 50th anniversary.

Museum assistant Julia Barclay is joined by Jim Parrott, curator of the Grand River Rainbow Historical Project and former Executive Director of SPECTRUM, Waterloo Region’s Rainbow Community Space, to share the Glow Centre’s history on campus. From its origins in 1970 as Waterloo Universities’ Gay Liberation Movement (WUGLM), through today in its incarnation as the Glow Centre, this tour will share the history of the longest-lived student-led 2SLGBTQ+ group on a Canadian university campus.