Township of Wellesley

Welcome to the Township of Wellesley. This quiet community is rooted in its agricultural heritage. One of the largest townships in Waterloo "Region, it has great potential as an industrial location as well as an excellent place to live. With a focus on entrepreneurship, this community is well known for the fine craftsmanship of its businesses. With some of the best farmland in the country, agriculture has been, and remains, the driving force in Wellesley's economy. Current agricultural enterprises are generally livestock-based, dominated by hog, beef, and dairy operations. Companies such as A.W. Jantzi, the company behind the Wellesley Brand Apple Products, and Jones Feed are examples of prominent agriculture operations that call Wellesley Township home. The focus of the industry in Wellesley is on small, independent operations that demonstrate skillful craftsmanship such as A. Sherk Woodturning, Burns Manufacturing, and Forge and Anvil Metal Studios. While these traditional businesses continue to flourish, Wellesley Township welcomes a wide variety of industries. Jantzi & Sons is an example of this diversification. Wellesley's focus on supporting entrepreneurs makes it an attractive alternative to the already developed cities in the region.

"Wellesley Township is cloes enough to benefit from the access to Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge while still offering rural environment for the launch of start-up industries."

Susan Duke, CAO, Wellesley Township

Quick Facts

Population (2006)	9,789
Unemployment Rate (2001)	1.4%
Highways	Hwy 7, 85, 8 with access to the 401
Building Permit Fees (2005)	Industrial $0.60/sq.ft Commercial (finished) $1.15/sq.ft
Property Tax Rates (2006)	Industrial 4.95% Commercial/Office 3.78%
Development Charges (2007)	Township $0.00/sq.ft Region $4.37/sq.ft Total $4.37/sq.ft

Strategic Location

Wellesley Township's southwestern Ontario location is within a day’s drive of markets 130 million people strong. The township provides easy access to the 401, Canada’s most important transportation corridor. The Region of Waterloo International Airport offers daily service to Detroit, which provides service to international destinations. Canada’s busiest airport, Toronto’s Pearson International Airport, is approximately one hour away.

Development Opportunities

The Township of Wellesley offers several prime vacant greenfield industrial sites. Available locations include 28 acres adjacent to the Wellesley settlement and 15 acres in St. Clements. Both opportunities can be sized to meeting specific needs providing maximum flexibility. The whole of the township is equipped with fiber optics cables, making any site easily serviceable.

Wellesley's local government has shown a pioneering attitude in solving local issues. In order to accommodate their local Mennonite crafts - and business-people, the township developed a "made in Wellesley" land use policies that allows mixed agricultural, commercial, and residential land uses on a single property for residents using horse-drawn transportation. This innovative policy is now being emulated by other communities across the province.

Rich Traditions and a Vibrant Lifestyle

Once part of the vast Clergy Reserve known as "the Queen's Bush", it was 1843 before Wellesley Township was surveyed for settlement. The railways bypassed the area, so while other areas grew Wellesley remained rural. Wellesley is now home to the beautiful 60 mile cultural "Kissing Bridge" trail. This scenic route will allow visitors and residents alike to view the natural beauty of the region and observe a number of traditional Mennonite settlements. Wellesley's businesses have given back to the community in which they thrive. The Wellesley Apple Butter & Cheese Festival is a wonderful attraction, bringing the community together annually. Founded by A.W. Jantzi & Sons and the J.M. Schneider Cheese Factory, with help from the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival and the New Hamburg Quilt Auction, the festival has been running for 25 years showcasing a variety of local delicacies.

Mennonite Background

Wellesley is known for its concentration of Mennonite population and is most closely associated with Mennonite traditions. Wellesley was first settled around 1840 by the Pennsylvanian Mennonites. They sought free and cheap land in order to abstain from wars arising in the US. The villages of Wellesley offer unique shopping where local people gather and exchange news, often in Deitsch, a German dialect spoken by many settlers of Germanic background including the Mennonite settlers of Wellesley.

Success Stories

The folks at Aaron Martin Harnesses are no strangers to horses. With experience working with draft and driving horses the company possesses a first hand knowledge of the types of problems usually associated with harnesses. Originally formed in 1980 as a retail and mail-order outlet serving customers all over Canada and the United States, the company later drew on its experience with horses and began designing and manufacturing their own line of harnesses. Today, they produce a number of standard lines as well as custom harnesses for almost any type of animal. Aaron Martin harnesses can now be found in the US, England, Germany, Scotland, Switzerland and Australia. This entrepreneurial attitude mixed with hands-on sensibility is probably Wellesley's best kept secret, but it won’t be for long.

Reflecting the best of Wellesley’s farming heritage, Bio-Ag is an agricultural, manufacturing and distribution company that provides products and services that encourage sustainable agriculture. Their motto, "working with nature ~ naturally", reinforces this commitment. The company assists farmers, conventional and organic alike, to be better stewards of their environment and livestock while creating a more profitable business. A leader in it field since 1982, Bio-Ag provides organic livestock material premixes that meet the requirements of the US’s National Organic Program (NOP), the Standards Council of Canada and Verein zur Begutachtung von Prufstellen, providing the company with unrestricted access to global markets. With forward thinking ideals like this, Bio-Ag is a fine example of the success found in "going green".