Kitchener
INTRO
Previously called the city of Berlin, Kitchener is a moderate-size town in Canada that is known for its German style traditions that have been preserved over the years as well as for its beautiful parklands. The city's cultural and historical heritage is still living among its modernised society and brings this special feeling of contemporary romanticism.
City Profile
City: Kitchener
Country: Canada
Area: 136.89 km2
Population: 451,235
Districts: 8
Mayor: Carl Zehr
Language: American English
LOCATION
Located in the south-western part of the Ontario Province in Canada, Kitchener is the biggest city within the Grand River watershed. The city is in the Waterloo Region and is considered to be one of the most vibrant and dynamic economies in North America. Located at almost equal distance from three Canadian lakes, Lake Ontario, Lake Erie and Lake Huron, Kitchener is less than an hour from Toronto and a couple of hours from Detroit and Buffalo in the United States.
TIME TO VISIT
Kitchener has a relatively moderate climate as compared to the rest of the country. Four distinctive seasons can be detected here, each of which offers specific entertainment for both tourists and locals. From skiing in wintertime to relaxing strolls in the city parks during the summertime. Probably the best time to visit Kitchener if you are not particularly fond of snow and winter sports is during the summer and early autumn when temperatures are neither too warm, nor too cold. Besides that, October is marked with the biggest Bavarian Festival in Canada- Oktoberfest. The event is organised in correspondence to the original German festival and is usually held on Friday right before the Canadian Thanksgiving Day.
POPULATION
The population of Kitchener has increased with about 8% for the last seven years and the city residents now are more than 400 000 for the whole metropolitan area. The majority of the people are Canadians but almost half of the total population is German. Other ethnic groups that can be encountered here include English, Irish, Scottish, French and Polish. Around 10% of Kitchener's citizens are members of visible minority groups, particularly Asian, Chinese and Arab. The official language used here is English but as a large number of the population is German, it is not uncommon for the visitors to hear some German speech. French is also spoken by many, especially those of French origin.
DISTRICTS
Apart from the downtown part of the city, there are eight official wards in Kitchener.
- Downtown Kitchener is the heart of the city that serves as a geographical centre of the whole urban layout. It is the concentration point of the city's economy and industrial life. Here is where the famous annual Oktoberfest takes place.
- Victoria Park Neighbourhood is a residential area with beautiful homes that are close to the city's largest Victoria Park. Here is also Kitchener's famous clock tower.
- Cedar Hill Neighbourhood is where the initial settlement of the city took place.
- Civic Centre Park Neighbourhood is the home of Kitchener's world class concert hall and Kitchener's K-W Art Gallery.
- Mt. Hope Huron Park Neighbourhood includes many open space districts such as Breithaupt Park and the oldest cemetery in the city, Mount Hope Cemetery
SIGHTS & ATTRACTIONS
Even though it is known for its beautiful parks and recreational areas, the city of Kitchener is not just that. Several other places can be visited during your stay there.
- Woodside National Historic Site is the previous home of the 10th Canadian Prime Minister, William Lyon Mackenzie King. The house has been restored so as to reflect on the lifestyle during the minister's time. It has huge surrounding parkland area that is suitable for relaxation. The house was built in Victorian style from the 1890s and is one of the main tourist spots in Kitchener. http://www.pc.gc.ca/lhn-nhs/on/woodside/index_e.asp
- Kitchener Market has ever since its initiation been a gathering place for tourists and local people who are proud of it as a centre of the commercial community of the city. The market features the New Kitchener farmer's market vendor and the Market Shop. The place is both a shopping district where one can enjoy satisfaction of all the senses and a hot meeting spot where people gather to chat during their free time. www.germanvillage.org
- Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and Gallery is among the oldest houses in the city that was built in 1816 and belonged to Joseph Schneider, one of the first settlers in Kitchener. Today, the house is perfectly preserved and has been transformed into both a museum and an art gallery with many artifacts and a resource library.
- The Children's Museum is among the best places that you can bring your children to. The museum specialises in various interactive exhibitions that teach the kids all about technology and art. The place is inspiring and challenging for the younger members of our society and makes them explore the limits of their minds and thought through games and different plays. http://www.thechildrensmuseum.ca/web/
- Victoria Park is the oldest and most important park in the city that is located in short proximity from the main downtown area. Many of the local celebrations and festivals are held here. The park offers many alleys for outdoor strolls and several open fields for picnic and various activities. This is the place where one can escape from the industrialised and commercialised streets of the city. Among the highlights of the park are the famous city Clock Tower and a bronze statue of Queen Victoria.
AIRPORT
It is possible to fly to Kitchener through its international airport that is located close to the main city area.
- Waterloo International Airport is located just 10 minutes drive from downtown. The airport is connected to the city via regular public buses. Another faster option to reach your accommodation is to hire a taxi or rent a car. More info at: http://www.waterlooairport.ca/en/
LOCAL TRANSPORTATION
Public transportation in Kitchener is run by the Grand River Transit company that has made it efficient and fast. Several options are available:
- Buses are convenient and run on fixed routes throughout the whole cities. The price of the ticket is $2.50 while the day or weekend family pass is $5.
- iXpress is a newly introduced express bus that operates from Cambridge through Kitchener to Waterloo. Fares don't differ than those for the buses.
- Cars can be rented at the airport. There are many different car rental agencies at the ground terminal.
- Taxis in Kitchener are metred and can be found almost everywhere in the city and at the airport.
HISTORY
The history of Kitchener is tightly connected to the German Monnonites in Pennsylvania, who were searching for a place where they can worship their God without being a subject of any religious persecution. During the end of 1700s the land of today Kitchener belonged to Colonel Richard Beasley, who had purchased it from the Six Nations in 1796. Eventually, the colonel sold all of his lands to the Germans and because of their settlement here, the region carried the name Berlin for a long time. In 1800s, because of the people's tolerance towards religious and cultural idiosyncrasies, Berlin attracted many immigrants both from Europe and other parts of North America that were mostly of German origin. In 1912 Berlin became officially a city and was frequently referred to as the German capital of Canada. As the First World War burst at the beginning of the 1900s, internal pressure was forced upon the city residents and they had to confront their diversification and change the name of the city to Kitchener, after a British colonel. After the great depression, Kitchener reestablished its position as a rapidly developing metropolis with stable status in the province of Ontario.
CITY LINKS
- The Record: A Daily Newspaper in English: www.therecord.com
- Kitchener Travel Guide: http://www.kitchener.ca/
- Interesting Places in Kitchener: http://www.kitchener.ca/visiting_kitchener/historic.html
UNIVERSITY LINKS
- Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute, the oldest institute in Kitchener : http://kci.wrdsb.on.ca/
- Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute: http://chci.wrdsb.on.ca/
- Grand River Collegiate Institute: http://grci.wrdsb.on.ca/
- Eastwood Collegiate Institute: http://eci.wrdsb.on.ca