VILLAGE NEWS
St. Jacobs Butterfly Trail
August 19, 2025
It’s National Flight of the Monarch Day — a powerful reminder that pollinators like butterflies are not just beautiful, they’re essential. Habitat loss and declining native plant populations have put their survival at risk. Pollinators like bees, butterflies, and other insects are responsible for pollinating approximately 75% of global food crops, including fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds.
That’s why The Butterfly Trail in St. Jacobs was created:
To celebrate pollinators.
To restore native habitat.
And to inspire action, one step at a time.
Along the St. Jacobs Butterfly Trail, you’ll discover native pollinator gardens blooming with butterfly- and bee-friendly wildflowers and plants, steel butterfly sculptures adorned with community-donated marbles honouring the village’s artistic heritage, and four main garden stops (soon to be five) along King Street, plus container gardens throughout to guide your walk and support pollinators.
Today, we honour the monarch — and commit to a more pollinator-friendly future.
Start with a walk. Start with a wildflower. Start with the Butterfly Trail.
This project was made possible thanks to funding from My Main Street and the Government of Canada through FedDev Ontario.
With heartfelt thanks to our sponsors:
Weber’s Fabricating, St. Jacobs Country Gardens, Creative Landscaping, and the Township of Woolwich and the Region of Waterloo.
And deep appreciation to our project partners who helped bring it to life:
St. Jacobs Landscaping, Elmira Landscaping, Artefacts Salvage and Design, and Northside Trophies.
A special thank you to DJ Hanna, our Village Resident David Suzuki Butterfly Herder, for her expertise and exceptional project management in bringing this vision to life.
For more information, visit our Butterfly Trail webpage.
Historic St. Jacobs Horse & Buggy Mural
August 15, 2025
Bringing the Horse & Buggy Mural Back to Life: Honouring Legacy, Art, and Community in St. Jacobs
If you've strolled through the Village of St. Jacobs lately, you may have noticed something special taking shape on the side of the St. Jacobs Emporium: the beloved Horse & Buggy Mural is coming back to life.
Originally painted in the 1990s by local artist Kae Drawehn, this iconic mural has long captured the heart of St. Jacobs. It tells a playful and nostalgic story of rural life—one where a teacher, finishing her day at the one-room schoolhouse, rides off in her horse and buggy, passing four mischievous boys who have skipped class to go fishing. Nestled beside them is Kae's beloved dog “Jubie”, immortalized in paint. The scene is surrounded by native flora and fauna, offering a window into the simple beauty of our countryside.
Thanks to generous funding from RTO4 as well as The Motz Family Endowment, the Keith and Winifred Shantz Fund for the Arts, and The Hilde English Memorial Fund, all held at Waterloo Region Community Foundation, the mural is being lovingly restored for a new generation to enjoy.
Two Generations of Artists, One Shared Vision
Leading the restoration is talented local artist Keisha Thomas @ktpaintscolour, known for her vivid use of colour and passion for botanical art and community storytelling. With a deep respect for the original work, Keisha is refreshing the mural while preserving its essence—honouring the spirit of Kae’s vision while giving it new life and vibrancy.
What makes this project even more special is the continued involvement of Kae Drawehn herself, now in her 80s. Though no longer able to work on the wall directly, Kae is still very much part of the creative process. From her home, she is painting new wooden cutouts of the horse, flora, fauna, and yes—Jubie. Thanks to expert help from the team at Artefacts Salvage and Design, these pieces are being carefully crafted and will be affixed directly to the mural, adding a dynamic new dimension to the original scene. It’s a beautiful and accessible way to honour Kae’s legacy and keep her creative spirit alive in the village she’s long contributed to.
A Quiet Tribute with a Lasting Message
This mural isn’t just a piece of art—it’s also a respectful and meaningful way for visitors to engage with Mennonite heritage. The scene captures a slice of local life without intrusion, offering a visual story that celebrates the community’s values, history, and culture. In this way, it becomes a gentle invitation for tourists to learn about the area’s roots while honouring the quiet, private way of life that the Mennonite community holds dear.
As the restoration continues, we invite locals and visitors alike to pause and appreciate the care, collaboration, and creativity behind this project. It’s more than a fresh coat of paint—it’s a story of continuity, inclusion, and love for the place we call home.
Stay tuned as the mural comes fully into bloom—there’s more beauty still to come.
A Gift of Faith for the Village of St. Jacobs
The Village of St. Jacobs has been gifted an extraordinary work of art by world-renowned local sculptor Timothy Schmalz, whose bronze masterpieces can be found in sacred and historical sites around the globe—including in Rome and at the Vatican. His work often carries profound spiritual meaning, and now, one of his pieces has been entrusted to our own community.
The sculpture, titled Faith, is located at the Queensway Community Space beside the St. Jacobs Library at Queensway Street and Spring Street.
Depicting a symbolic, draped figure, Faith embodies the strength and resilience of the human spirit. With one hand outstretched, the figure gently holds a seed—an image paired with a living symbol just in front of her: a newly planted maple tree. Each year, as the tree grows taller and stronger, it will mirror the message of the statue—that hope and faith, even when they begin as something small, can grow into something enduring, steadfast, and beautiful with time.
This thoughtful installation brings both art and reflection into the heart of our village. It is not only a striking sculpture but also a space for gathering, contemplation, and inspiration.
The Village of St. Jacobs BIA is deeply honoured to accept this generous gift and proud to share it with residents and visitors alike. Faith now stands as a lasting reminder of the power of growth, hope, and community.
Faith
Sculpture by Artist
Timothy Schmalz
September 19, 2024