Kitchener Ontario Parks

In the last post I gave you a brief overview of the city of Kitchener Ontario, a beautiful city in south western Ontario that is part of the tri-city called Cambridge-Kitchener-Waterloo. Kitchener Ontario is a great place to raise a family because due to safe communities, culture and attractions. It is the home to the largest Oktoberfest outside of Germany.

Kitchener Ontario has three major parks, Victoria Park, Kiwanis Park & McLennan Park, which when combined with other smaller parklands make a total over 2,000 acres. New and growing families use these park spaces daily, and they are a great source of pride for the growing Kitchener community.

Victoria Park Kitchener

Just steps away from City Hall, this picturesque park is the jewel of Kitchener, offering 59 acres of tranquility. You can sit back and enjoy a quiet read on a nearby bench, have a family in picnic one of the open spaces or take a self-guided tour. There are also Soccer Fields, horseshoe pits and creative play area and playground and generally an excellent place for all types of outdoor sports.







Kiwanis Park Kitchener

For those who seeking to cool off during the hot summer months, why not head down to Kiwanis Park for a dip in the man-made lake, it is a perfect place to let the children run and play. It is a favorite place for Kitchener residents and visitors alike, and a great place for a fun afternoon in the sun.





McLennan Park Kitchener

McLennan Park is a currently undeveloped 97 acre parcel of land that served as the Region of Waterloo landfill. Many studies have been put in action to gauge the best use for this important parcel of land. Currently, construction is under way to commence a multi-use recreational facility which includes a Bike Park which includes a free-ride course and a dirt jump park. There is also a Free Leash, fully fenced 2 acre area for dogs. It is one of the most exciting parks in the area and one of Kitchener's best kept secrets.


I hope you enjoyed learning about the parks in Kitchener Ontario. Stay tuned for more posts, as I bring you more valuable information on Kitchener Ontario.

Kitchener Waterloo Oktoberfest

Officially inaugurated in 1969, the Kitchener - Waterloo Oktoberfest was a much smaller event than the one we see today. Kick started with a starting budget of only $200, no one could guess that the that tiny investment would result in the huge event we see today. Recently celebrating its 40th anniversary, the world's largest Bavarian Festival outside Germany is a delight to the senses. Every year, the Oktoberfest raises over 1 million dollar through the festival and not-for-profit organizations that is a great economic boost to the area.

Every year from October 9 - 17 local and international celebrities kick off the event with music and dance. Canadian music legends Tom Cochrane and Red Rider joining Burton Cummings & Band inaugurated this year's events.

Their are so many things happening at Kitchener's Oktoberfest including Live entertainment, treasure hunts, Miss Oktoberfest Gala Ball and Oktoberfest Idol just to name a few. And yes, let's not forget the tapping of the first keg of beer, there's plenty for everyone.

Oktoberfest is just one of many reasons to visit Kitchener and a great way to get acquainted with the community. While visiting Kitchener, why not visit the sister cities of Waterloo and Cambridge too.

Kitchener Ontario

Kitchener: A Brief Overview


Kitchener is a small city with a population of just over 200,000 in the heart of South Western Ontario. Kitchener is part of Ontario's tri-city of Kitchener-Waterloo & Cambridge, due in part to the close proximity of the 3 cities. The City of Kitchener has an area of 136 square kilometers.



Kitchener is an approximate 45 minute drive west from Toronto and is fed by highway 401, which is one of North America's busiest. Kitchener has always had the distinction of being a blue collar community due to the factories in the area. Recently, the housing construction boom that has hit this region has transformed Kitchener into what is termed as a 'bedroom community', meaning that most people who live here, work elsewhere.



Kitchener: A Brief History

The land that Kitchener sits on today was sold to United Empire Loyalist, Colonel Richard Beasley by Six Nations Indians. Years later, Colonel Beasley sold this land to a group of Pennsylvania German Mennonite farmers, hence setting in place the foundations for German migrant workers to that area. In 1854, as a gift to the large German population in the area, the land that is today Kitchener was named Berlin. The name, Berlin, remained until 1916, when on onset of the First World War, when anti-German sentiment saw the name Berlin changed to Kitchener.

Berlin was renamed Kitchener in honor of British field Marshal Lord Kitchener. Lord Kitchener's ship was sunk when it hit a mine laid by a German U-Boat just west of Orkney Islands in Scotland, his body never recovered. It's apparent that the renaming of Berlin to Kitchener was an intentional slight on the German population, who were looked upon with suspicion during both World Wars by surrounding and predominantly English institutions.





Kitchener Today

The German community in Kitchener is still very large, and are fully accepted and integrated into the region. The large German community has left its imprint on the city of Kitchener, creating the largest Oktoberfest festival outside of Germany, which draws in thousands of tourists and revenue into the local economy.

As well as being the home to Oktoberfest, Kitchener is expanding very quickly. Both in part to the housing construction boom that hit most of this region of Ontario as well as a growing financial district and the nearby University of Waterloo. Today, Kitchener is a highly coveted location for young families to settle down. People have been attracted to Kitchener's small town feel, reasonable housing prices and colorful history.

I hope you enjoyed this brief overview of the Kitchener. In later posts, I will tell you more about Kitchener and the surrounding areas, thanks for stopping by.

Kitchener Ontario Privacy Policy

Kitchener Ontario Privacy Policy

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Kitchener Ontario

Kitchener Ontario
Welcome to Kitchener Ontario. This site provides information for people interested in learning about Kitchener and South Western Ontario. You will learn about the city's history, people and great destinations.