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
BALES & BOOTS
BLUEGRASS BASH
April 17, 2026
Bales & Boots Bluegrass Bash: Lucas Last Shares the Story Behind St. Jacobs’ First Bluegrass Event
The St. Jacobs Village BIA is thrilled to spotlight the heartfelt story behind our highly successful first Bales & Boots Bluegrass Bash, as told by the event’s driving force, Lucas Last.
In his recent article for the Bluegrass Music Association of Canada, Lucas shares how his move from Los Angeles to Waterloo, combined with a deep love for St. Jacobs’ rustic charm and the bluegrass music of his Virginia roots, sparked the idea for this unique event. The release of his progressive bluegrass project Sourwood’s new record Deadline became the perfect catalyst, leading to an initial modest street performance in 2024 and eventually to the full village-wide celebration we enjoyed this past September.
Lucas beautifully captures the collaborative spirit that made the day so special. Working closely with the BIA, local businesses like CHANGE Lifestyle and Apparel, the Waterloo Wellington Bluegrass Music Association, and an outstanding lineup of Ontario talent, the event transformed King Street into a vibrant, toe-tapping celebration of music and community.
From the creative use of hay bales to manage sound on the main stage to acoustic porch pop-ups that encouraged visitors to explore our shops and restaurants, every detail reflected a genuine commitment to supporting local businesses and showcasing the incredible musical talent right here in our region.
We couldn’t agree more with Lucas when he says you can’t wait for a scene to appear — you have to help make it appear. His vision, energy, and dedication turned a great idea into a memorable day for hundreds of visitors, many of whom were experiencing St. Jacobs for the first time.
A heartfelt thank you to Lucas Last for bringing this concept to us and for working so hard to make the inaugural Bales & Boots Bluegrass Bash a resounding success. Thanks to the Township of Woolwich Municipal Tourism Funding, we’re already looking forward to welcoming everyone back in September 2026 as we continue to grow this wonderful new tradition together.
Read the Article as featured in Bluegrass Canada Magazine Issue 20-1 January 2026:
