Waterloo

Waterloo is a town of about 5,700 residents in the MRC de La Haute-Yamaska, in the Estrie administrative region and the Eastern Townships tourist region. On the shores of Lake Waterloo, close to Highway 10, it is a little under an hour from Sherbrooke and about 1 hour 20 minutes from Montreal. It appeals to people who want a lake, bike paths and all the services of a small town.

Living in Waterloo

Founded in 1793 by Loyalists, Waterloo grew with the railway, and its former rail lines are now bike paths. Families have everything in town: École de l’Orée-des-Cantons, an elementary school with two buildings, Waterloo Elementary School in English, and École secondaire Wilfrid-Léger. Waterloo has its own CLSC (local community health centre), and the nearest emergency department is at the Granby hospital, about 20 minutes away.

Outdoors and nature in Waterloo

Lake Waterloo (1.3 km²) sits at the heart of town. At Parc du Lac Waterloo, you can rent kayaks, paddleboards and pedal boats in summer, and children enjoy the splash pad (swimming is not permitted there). Waterloo is also where three bike paths meet: the Estriade, 21 paved kilometres to Granby, the Montagnarde, towards Eastman and Magog, and the Campagnarde. The Réserve naturelle de Waterloo, on chemin de l’Horizon, offers nearly 4 km of trails, and Parc national de la Yamaska is about 15 minutes away.

Culture and local flavours

Waterloo’s Anglo-Saxon heritage can be explored on a self-guided tour of 42 buildings. On rue de la Cour, St. Luke’s Church, built from 1867 to 1870, is a classified heritage building, and the former Universalist church, from 1870, has housed the Maison de la culture de Waterloo since 1989. In a caboose on rue Beaulac, a small railway museum tells the story of the rail era. For food and drink, Robin, on rue Foster, brews natural, barrel-aged beers, and the Waterloo beer festival livens up Place du Centenaire in September.

Real estate in Waterloo

Waterloo’s housing mixes 19th-century mansions near downtown, single-family homes in residential neighbourhoods, properties on the lake or with a water view, and newer projects: semi-detached homes, townhouses and condos. Families appreciate the schools in town; outdoor lovers, the bike paths at the end of the street; and people working in Granby, Bromont or Montreal, Highway 10 close by. A property’s value depends mostly on its proximity to the lake, downtown and the bike paths.

Frequently asked questions about Waterloo

How far is Waterloo from Montreal and Sherbrooke?

Waterloo is about 95 km from Montreal, roughly 1 hour 20 minutes via Highway 10, and about 66 km from Sherbrooke, a little under an hour by car.

What is there to do in Waterloo?

In Waterloo, you can paddle on the lake, ride the Estriade, Montagnarde or Campagnarde bike paths, hike in the nature reserve and follow the heritage tour.

Are there schools and a CLSC in Waterloo?

Yes: French and English elementary schools, École secondaire Wilfrid-Léger and a CLSC. The nearest emergency department is at the Granby hospital.

What types of properties are there in Waterloo?

In Waterloo, you will find heritage homes, single-family homes, properties near the lake, semi-detached homes, townhouses and condos.

Drawn to Waterloo’s lake and bike paths, or thinking of selling your property? Browse our properties for sale, request a free home estimate or talk with a broker at BEAU, the real estate team.

Photo: Maxime Laterreur, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons