Kitchener lies west of the Grand River and just north of the 401, with good highway connections along #7 and #8, as well as a major airport east of the community, and is served by VIA Rail and inter-city bus operators. Kitchener is the area’s commercial, manufacturing, financial, and distribution centre and has a population of 210,000 (2006). Kitchener has two hospitals and a local police force.
Kitchener History
In 1784, 240,000 hectares of land was set aside by the British Crown for the Six Nations Indians for their loyal service to the Crown during the American War of Independence. Between 1796 and 1798, the Six Nations Indians led by Joseph Brant, sold off 38,000 hectares of land to Colonel Richard Beasley, a United Empire Loyalist, who convinced Pennsylvania German Mennonite farmers to resettle in the area, which attracted more Germans and Europeans to settle in the area, which became known as Berlin. In 1856, the Grand Trunk Railway was extended to Berlin, leading to significant industrialization. With the First World War in 1914, anti-German sentiment grew and the town renamed itself Kitchener, for the popular British general.
Kitchener Attractions
Bingemans
425 Bingemans Centre Dr.
Kitchener ON N2B 3X7
519-744-1555 (800)667-0833 Fax519-744-1985
Located on 200 scenic acres along the historic Grand River, is this 470 campsite resort and family playground with on-site rustic log cabins for rent. For day-use, there is The Big Splash waterpark with wavepool, 6 waterslides, two 18 hole mini golf courses, go karts, bumper boats, batting cages, driving range, beach volleyball and more. There’s also a 9 hole Glen Ridge Golf, a Halloween Screampark, and a 40,000 square foot conference centre (often used for trade shows). Admission.
Chicopee Ski Club
396 Morrison Road
Kitchener, ON N2A 2Z6
(519) 894-5610
This family ski & snowboard centre (with a tube park!) is just minutes from the 401 and central to Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge and Guelph. Monday – Saturday 8:30 a.m. – 9:30 p.m., Sunday 8:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Children’s Museum, The Waterloo Regional
10 King St. W.
Kitchener ON N2G 1A3
519-749-9387 fax 519-749-8612
Located in the historic former Goudies department store building, in the heart of Kitchener, the Children’s Museum is where art and technology meet to provide 4 levels of entertaining and enriching activities for all visitors. Popular for school trips. Admission $$.
Doon Heritage Crossroads
10 Huron Road, at Homer Watson Boulevard
Kitchener, Ontario, N2P 2R7
519-748-1914 Fax (519)748-0009
This living history museum recreates life in 1914 on 60 beautiful acres of environmentally sensitive forest, marsh and farmland. Doon Heritage Crossroads includes a rural village with 20 furnished historic buildings and two farms, with costumed interpreters, period furnishings, farm animals, heritage gardens, and demonstrations of daily chores. This showcases the region’s distinctive history and culture prior to World War One. Open May to December season,
Governor’s House & Gaol
77 Queen Street North (at Weber)
Kitchener, ON
(no phone number?)
Built in 1852 by the Waterloo County Council to serve as Court House and Jail. The Gaol contained 14 single cells and six double cells. Completely redeveloped in recent years, it’s now home to two Provincial Offences Act Courtrooms. The adjacent 1878 Governor’s House has also been restored to its former splendour and is a popular tourist destination. The Governor’s House is an excellent example of a high-Victorian brick house in the Italian villa style, and reflected the Governor’s respected position in the County Town of Berlin. Open Monday – Friday, 8:30 – 4:30
Joseph Schneider Haus and Gallery
466 Queen Street South
Kitchener, ON N2G 1W7
519-742-7752 Fax: 519-742-0089
A national historic site, the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum and Gallery is a, 1816 homestead (and Kitchener’s oldest dwelling ) restored to serve as a dynamic community museum in downtown Kitchener. The heart of the complex is the fine Georgian frame farmhouse, built by one of the area’s first pioneers, Joseph Schneider, a Pennsylvania-German Mennonite. Opened as a living history museum in 1981. The Joseph Schneider Haus Museum is open Wednesday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm; Summer hours: Monday to Saturday 10 am to 5 pm, Sunday 1 pm to 5 pm. Other times by appointment. Museum closed annually from Christmas to mid-February, with offices and galleries only open Monday to Friday 9 am to 5 pm. Admission $$.
Kitchener Market
300 King Street East, Kitchener
519-741-2287
A 130-year tradition of being the area’s premium source of fresh produce, with Saturday farmers market from 7 am to 2 pm, year-round. Upstairs, the Market Shops, offer fresh, culturally diverse cuisine — everything from a superb selection of freshly-ground gourmet coffees to true Caribbean, Mexican, Croation, Indian and Italian fare. Open Tuesday thru Friday 8 am – 4 pm & Saturday 7 am – 2 pm. There’s also a Wednesday Indoor Mini-Market, open each Wednesday (Victoria Day to Thanksgiving) from 8am to 2pm
Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (“K-W Art Gallery “)
101 Queen Street North
Kitchener, ON N2H 6P7
Tel: 519.579.5860 Fax: 519.578.0740
The permanent collection has over 3,000 works focusing on Canadian contemporary and historical works of art, including works by Homer Watson, Painters Eleven and many other prominent regional artists. Monday to Saturday 10 a.m. – 5 p.m., Thursday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday 1 – 5 p.m.
Museum of Visual Science and Optometry
School of Optometry, University of Waterloo
200 Columbia Street West; on the North side of Columbia Street
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
The Museum is housed in the School of Optometry at the University of Waterloo, and preservse the history of vision science in Canada and educates visitors of all ages regarding the importance of their vision. Open Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 5:00 pm Admission free or by donation.
National Flyers Academy
P.O. Box 315, Waterloo International Airport
Breslau ON N0B 1M0
519-648-3797 Fax 519-648-3798
Description Sightseeing flights: Local, Toronto, Niagara Falls. Introductory flights, aircraft rentals and charter. Professional and recreational flight training.
Woodside National Historic Site
528 Wellington Street North
Kitchener, ON
519-571-5686
The boyhood home of William Lyon Mackenzie King, Canada’s longest-serving Prime Minister, has been restored to the Victorian style of the 1890s. The importance of this residence is best reflected in King’s own words: “They years that left the most abiding of all impressions and most in the way of family associations were those lived at Woodside.” The home was built in 1853 and was rented to many tenants over the years, including the King family. It was bought in 1940 to save it from demolition, and restored to the time of the King family residency.
Kitchener Parks
Here are the more popular Kitchener municipal parks.
Stanley Park Conservation Area
Access from Ottawa St N, or River Rd E
The Optimist Club has helped to restore the environment, plants and animals to what existed along the Grand River over 200 years ago. The ponds, which collect area runoff, are used for fish breeding for the Grand River fishery. Fish species found in the ponds include common and striped shiners, pumpkinseed, rock bass, green sunfish, brook stickleback, largemouth bass, black crappie and bluegill. Other wildlife in the park include frogs, toads, crayfish, turtles, great blue herons, raccoons and muskrats.
Homer Watson Park
Wilson Road, off Fairway Rd S
This park, along the west bank of the Grand River has 20 km of trails for all skill levels of mountain bikers and cross country skiers, including single track, double track, technical down hills.
Chicopee Conservation Area
Morrison Rd, between King St E and Fairway Rd N
Home of the Chicopee Ski Club since 1934, which is popular with new skiers, as well as summer facilities for mountain biking, beach volleyball, and tennis.
Victoria Park
Courtland Avenue, between Victoria Street S and Queen Street S
This 59 acre park is laid out in the Romantic landscape style of the late 18th century, with broad lawns, rose gardens, belts of shade trees, scenic lake vistas, fountains, and a bandshell. The restored clock tower (at the park’s Gaukel Street entrance) held a bell bought in 1876 which rang from the old fire hall and later from City Hall. For recreation, the park has a playground, a soccer/football field, 2 horseshoe pits, shuffleboard, rest rooms, meeting rooms, and a licensed banquet hall.