Hespeler Village, Cambridge

Hespeler Village is the historic heart of Hespeler, where Jacob Hespeler built his mills on the Speed River after arriving in 1845. Queen Street's brick storefronts and the small village square give the core a relaxed, walkable feel, with coffee and conversation spilling onto the sidewalks in summer. The former Hespeler Post Office, built in 1928, is now the Fashion History Museum. Forbes Park, a short walk from Queen Street, has tennis courts and the W.G. Johnson outdoor pool. On a quiet evening you can hear the Speed River running past the old mill sites.

The 2021 census counted about 650 homes in Hespeler Village. Just over half are in apartment buildings under five storeys, and single detached houses make up about three in ten. Duplexes make up about one in eleven. Nearly six in ten homes were built in 1960 or earlier, and about one in five between 1961 and 1980.

Grand River Transit's 51 Hespeler route and the 203 Maple Grove route serve the village. The Pinebush stop on the 302 ION Bus, which runs to Fairway ION station in Kitchener, is about 2.8 km away. Stage 2 ION, which the Region has approved and is now designing, plans a Pinebush station about 3.0 km away. Queen Street, Guelph Avenue and Tannery Street are the main streets, and Highway 401 is reached by Hespeler Road (exit 282) or Townline Road (exit 286).

Forbes Park, at 16 Kribs Street, covers about 2 hectares, with a playground, three tennis courts, outdoor fitness equipment and the W.G. Johnson outdoor pool at 31 Kribs Street. W.S. McVittie Park, at 55 Shamrock Street, has a playground, and Little Riverside Park and the Queen Street natural corridor add green space. Hespeler Village Square and the Queen Street East urban square are small gathering places. The Fashion History Museum is at 74 Queen Street East, and the Hespeler branch of the Cambridge Public Library is at 5 Tannery Street East. The Hespeler Village Neighbourhood Association serves the area.

• Centennial Public School — JK to Grade 6. The public school for the western streets, including Shamrock Street and Tannery Street West.
• Hillcrest Public School — JK to Grade 6. The public school for the eastern streets, including Queen Street East and Forbes Street.
• Hespeler Public School — Grades 7 and 8. The middle school for the Centennial Public School streets.
• Woodland Park Public School — Grades 7 and 8. The middle school for the Hillcrest Public School streets.
• Jacob Hespeler Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The public secondary school.
• Our Lady of Fatima Catholic School — JK to Grade 8. The nearest Catholic elementary school, about 1.1 km away, with French immersion from Grade 1.
• St. Benedict Catholic Secondary School — Grades 9 to 12. The nearest Catholic secondary school, about 4.2 km away.