Lakeshore North Neighbourhood Guide | Waterloo ON

Lakeshore North

With the St. Jacob’s Farmers market in your backyard, Lakeshore North is a truly unique family neighbourhood sitting between rural landscape and city life. The area is made up of predominantly detached homes built in the 1970’s and 80’s that range from modest bungalows to estate properties. Some condo apartment buildings and semidetached homes also sprinkle the neighbourhood.

To the north of Waterloo is an established mennonite community, so it’s not uncommon to see a horse and buggy coming down Weber Street or Benjamin Road.

The amenities and location of this community were made for family living. The St. Jacob’s Farmers Market is 5 minutes away where you’ll find seasonal produce, local artisans, handcrafted furniture, and a two-story renovated barn filled with shops and food vendors.

There are public, catholic, and french immersion schools within walking distance, as well as a nursery for preschoolers. Lutherwood heath and social services also has an office in Lakeshore North, providing families with support and counselling should they need it.

Soccer fields, baseball diamonds, the Trans Canada Trail, and Laurel Creek Conservation Area are all at your doorstep for some outdoor fun with the family. Love day trips? Keep heading north and you’ll find the village of St. Jacob’s, the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival, the Fergus Highland Games, and camping in the quaint town of Elora.

Location

As the name would suggest, Lakeshore North sits at the far North end of Waterloo, running alongside the city’s boundary between Wellington County. In one direction lies Conestoga Mall, Uptown Waterloo, and bustling heart of the city. In the other, farm fields, horse and buggies, and a nationally renowned farmers market. A truly unique location!

Amenities

Health and Wellness Services

Northfield Dental Centre
Rexall
Lutherwood health and social services
Shoppers Drug Mart
TechTown Dentistry
Northfield Racquet and Fitness Club
Fit4Less

Retail & Recreation

RBC Royal Bank
TD Bank
Dollar Tree
Pet Valu
Walmart (nearby)
St. Jacob’s Farmers Market
St. Jacob’s Outlet Mall
St. Jacob’s Country Playhouse
Homewood Suites by Hilton
Courtyard by Marriott
Holiday Inn Express & Suites
Nauman’s Pumpkin Patch (nearby)

Restaurants & Grocery Stores

Tim Hortons
Mr. Sub
Sobey’s
Costco
Freshii
Pierogi House
Pita Factory
State and Main Kitchen and Bar

Churches

As an established, family-oriented neighbourhood, there are many amenities to choose from in Lakeshore North. Whether you’re looking for a dentist, fresh produce, new furniture, a new gym, or mental health services, you’ll find it all a 5 – 10 minutes away.

Restaurants and services in the area expanded even more just a few years ago, as a new plaza was built at Weber Street and Northfield Drive that now includes several restaurants, financial advisors, shops, and Sobeys.

The St. Jacob’s Farmers Market, Outlet Mall, and Playhouse are all within a five minute drive, too. Want to spend the weekend hunting for antiques, buying fresh Ontario produce, taking in a play, admiring hand-made mennonite furniture, and enjoying a late dinner? You barely have to leave home.

Schooling / Child Care

There are several schools within walking distance for students both public, catholic, and french immersion. Catholic elementary school students will at Sir Edgar Bauer from JK all the way through to grade 8. They’ll then continue on to St. David’s Catholic Secondary School, which is near the corner of King and Weber Street in Waterloo, a short bud ride away.

Public school students are steps from Northlake Woods, an elementary school in the centre of Lakeshore North directly in Pinebrook Park. If you’re looking for french immersion programs, N A MacEachern Public School is just across Northfield Drive in Lakeshore Village.

After graduating grade 8, students will then need to bus to Waterloo Collegiate Institute aka WCI for grades 9 – 12. Lakeshore North is also home to the Lakeshore Cooperative Nursery where toddlers can attend preschool.

Transit

Source: www.walkscore.com

GRT bus lines 9, 19, and 73
Access to Highway 8 at Northfield Drive
LRT access at Conestoga Mall

Being at the North end of the city means that while you have a lovely rural setting, you’ll probably need to bus, drive, or bike if you want to get where you’re going in KW.

GRT bus route 9 Lakeshore circles the neighbourhood using the main ring road, Northlake Drive, and can take you Uptown Waterloo or to Conestoga Mall to switch to another line. The new Light Transit Rail also runs to Conestoga Mall, where you can then take it to Waterloo Park, the Kitchener City Market, or even as far as Fairview Mall.

Need to get to Elmira, Conestogo, or St. Jacobs? You’re only 10 – 15 minutes away with two nearby entrances to Highway 8 at Northfield Drive and King Street North. You can also take them South into Kitchener, Cambridge, or to get onto the 401.

Going green? Several bike lanes and trails run right through the neighbourhood, including the Trans Canada Trail.

Parks

Pinebrook Park
Lakeshore Optimist Park
Northfield Park
Albert McCormick Community Centre (nearby)
Laurel Creek Conservation Area
Trans Canada Trail

Directly in the centre of Lakeshore North is Pinebrook Park, which has baseball diamonds, soccer fields, a playground, a small wooded area with trails, tennis courts, basketball nets, and a skating rink in the winter months. You’ll also find playgrounds at Lakeshore Optimist Park, Northfield Park and on Jacob Lane.

Bordering the neighbourhood to the left lies Laurel Creek Conversation Area, one of the biggest recreational areas in the city. Your family can camp, hike, bike, fish, snowshoe, skate, or attend summer camps here, weather permitting. A portion of the Trans Canada Trail runs along the Conservation Area perimeter and follows a wooded creek through Lakeshore North.

Hockey fans and their parents will be pleased to find out that there are several rinks at the Albert McCormick Community Centre just a neighbourhood over in Lakeshore Village. They host public skating events for families, too.