KITCHENER (Ontario)

EXCITING KITCHENER

The city of Kitchener is located in the southern part of Ontario. Kitchener holds the seat of the Waterloo Regional Municipality. It has an area of 136 square kilometers and a population of more than 219,000 in 2011.

The city aims to provide a myriad of activities that will fit all types of travelers. It is teeming with places to work, eat, shop, learn, explore and enjoy. Kitchener is the hub for entertainment, culture and arts in the Waterloo Region.

HOW IT BEGAN

The history of Kitchener dates back to 1784 during the American Revolution. The land was given by the British people to the “Six Nations” as a gift of allegiance. The "Six Nations" people then sold a large portion of the land to a Loyalist named Colonel Richard Beasley. After that, the Mennonites bought Beasley’s land and the first buildings were built a few years after.

In the year 1833, the area was named “Berlin” and was elevated to the status “village”. In 1912, it was eventually designated as a city. Because of the First World War in 1914, an internal conflict arose, which became the reason for the city’s cultural distinctiveness. After much controversy and debate, the city’s name was changed to Kitchener in 1916. The name was coined after Herbert Kitchener, a Secretary of State for War who died that same year.

YOU MIGHT WANT TO CHECK OUT...

╣Victoria Park. If you want to know more about Kitchener, visit the Victoria Park that is considered as the most important and oldest park in the city. Located at the center of Kitchener, this is where most events are held. In the middle of the park is a cast-bronze statue of Queen Victoria.

╣Rockway Gardens. Here you will see several rock grottoes, waterfalls, ponds and fountains. If you are into historic sites, visit the Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower. If you are into performing arts and shows, visit the Center in the Square, Theater & Company and Registry Theater.

╣Children’s Museum. This is an ideal place to visit if you are traveling with your family especially if you have children. As the name suggests, it will interest your kids and you will learn many things from it.

╣historical sites throughout the city. Other historical sites include the Woodside National Park, Doon Heritage Crossroads, Public Utilities Building and the Joseph Schneider Home.

╣Bavarian Festival. This is held every year during the month of October and considered as the largest in the world aside from those held in Munich, Germany. Whether you are in Kitchener for vacation, work or business trip, you can always take your time to enjoy.

╣Waterloo Festival for Animated Cinema, which is held during the month of November. If you are a film enthusiast, you would want to go to this event. It is recognized as the one and only festival in the world that features animated films.

╣shows and special events in the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium. There is something on whatever time of the year you are visiting the city.

╣Walter Beam Trail. This hiking trail is for outdoor enthusiasts. It runs along the Grand River, Waterloo and a small area of Cambridge. It is a great way to get a better view of the city.

╣Open Ears Festival of Music & Sound. This is a week-long music festival if you prefer to chill around and not do any heavy activities. It is is held at Downtown Kitchener and features musical performances, which range from orchestra to other experimental musical shows.

╣the city's various malls, if you want to spend your time shopping. One of them is the Fairview Park Mall is considered as the largest shopping center in the city, but it is a 10 to 20-minute drive from downtown Kitchener. Here you will find several boutiques and branded stores selling bags, shoes clothes, accessories and basically everything you may want to buy.

╣the Kitchener Market. This is a place where you can buy food, and is only a 10-minute walk from the City Hall. Residents of the city usually visit during Wednesdays and Saturday mornings.

╣Belmont Village. This is an area in Kitchener that has a number of flower shops, niche stores and antique stores. Tourists often frequent this place in the hopes of finding things that cannot be found just anywhere.

╣the Catacombs. This is where you can find a lot of memorabilia such as t-shirts, sweatshirts and baby clothes, both plain and printed with unique designs, most of them related to the Kitchener.

╣ABC Military Surplus, if you are into used but valuable stuff. The store is where you can buy used army gear such as boots, camouflage pants and other military supplies that you may find rather cheap.

╣the city's many restaurants. There are many of the best places to dine in the city are located at downtown Kitchener. Some of these amazing restaurants include the Three Kretans, Rum Runner Pub, Taste of the Philly Cheesesteak, Matter of Taste, Terrace Café, Verses fine Dining, Botanica, Ye’s Sushi, Peter Martin’s 20 King, Classicos Meditteranean Bistro, Korean BBQ Restaurant, Boa Nova, Cameron Chinese Seafood Restaurant, City Café Bakery, Ellison’s Bistro, Pho Dau Bo, City Café Bakery and A-M Africa Restaurant.

TOURISTS SHOULD KNOW

Kitchener experiences a humid continental climate. Winter is usually from mid-December to mid-March, while summer is from mid-May until the end of September. If you are traveling by air, you may fly to the Waterloo Regional International Airport, which has a daily flight to and from Calgary, Ottawa and Montreal. There are flights to and from Punta Cana and Dominican Republic as well, but they are available only once a week.

If you are traveling to Kitchener by car, you need to pass through Highway 401, which runs along the city’s south border. It is three hours east of Detroit and one hour east of London. If you are traveling from Toronto, take the exit 278A on Highway 8, take Highway 7 and then take the King Street Exit heading to downtown Kitchener.