Cultural heritage
Find out how we conserve buildings, landscapes and other features from our past. Take an online walking tour through the historic Mary Allen or MacGregor Albert neighbourhoods.
Municipal heritage register
Properties with cultural heritage value are included on the Municipal Heritage Register.
Download the heritage register (PDF)
Heritage properties
Designated properties are valued by the community for their architectural, historic and contextual significance. The city has 41 individually designated properties that can typically be identified by a plaque near the front door.
Download a zip file of all heritage property profiles to learn more about each of the designated properties.
McGregor-Albert Conservation Heritage District
The city has one heritage district, containing over 100 properties, in the McGregor-Albert area. View a map of the area. The McGregor-Albert Conservation Heritage District Plan (PDF) outlines policies and guidelines to manage change in the neighbourhood.
Heritage walking tours
Two walking tours are available to view heritage properties in Waterloo's oldest neighbourhoods. Follow along on your mobile phone as you walk Waterloo history.
- view the Mary Allen neighbourhood walking tour to learn about the unique homes and original residents
- view the MacGregor Albert Heritage District walking tour that highlights the built neighbourhood and cultural heritage of the district spanning from the mid 1800s to the mid 1900s
Cultural heritage landscapes
A Cultural Heritage Landscape (CHL) is an area of significance that has been modified by human activities and is valued by a community. It involves groupings of heritage resources, such as buildings or natural features, that tell a story about where we come from and who we are.
The city studied CHLs in Waterloo from 2018 to 2019, resulting in an inventory of 27 significant landscapes. Visit our studies page to download the full inventory and learn more.
Heritage property alterations
Visit our heritage alterations page for information on altering designated heritage properties.
Municipal Heritage Committee
Waterloo's Municipal Heritage Committee advises council on matters involving conservation and preservation of both public and private cultural heritage resources within the city.