Doon Heritage Village to celebrate grand reopening on Canada Day
Posted Jun 30, 2026 10:40:44 AM.
Last Updated Jun 30, 2026 02:58:50 PM.
After three years of upgrades and renovations, people can once again step back into the past at Doon Heritage Village on Canada Day.
The 1914-themed site is back open after extensive construction around the location at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum on Homer Watson Boulevard in Kitchener.
Emily Jolliffe, head of Programming and Marketing for both the museum and the village, said the park is now telling more stories from the history of the region. She said there’s a new interpretive plan that guides their work, “future-proofing” the site. The plan is titled One Village, Many Stories.
The village stays with all the local stories from the dawn of the First World War, Jolliffe said, but now there are new local stories to share from the same era, like “Vintage Black Canada,” about the Black diaspora.
According to a statement from the Region of Waterloo, after three years of upgrades in the village, overhead electrical wires have been buried underground, there are new electrical panels in all the buildings, plus fibre cable installed throughout the area, along with upgraded security and safety features.
There will still be all the costumed interpreters and farm animals as before, with new signs that will help people stroll around the site.
Accessibility within the village was upgraded through the installation of new ramps and pathways.
Regional chair, Karen Redman, said: “Doon Heritage Village is a beloved landmark in our community, and these upgrades reflect our dedication to ensuring our cultural spaces are accessible to all.”
The grand reopening on Canada Day is a free event.
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