1. YOUR COMMUNITY30
Waterloo Region Offers
Everything for The Family
ARTICLE BY LISA OLSEN
With its close proximity
to Highway 401, and the
development of rapid transit, it is
easy for people who live within
the Waterloo Region to go just
about anywhere. However, with
two well-respected universities
and a college, a strong sense
of community and top-of-the-
line neighbourhood associations,
programs and grassroots
initiatives, there is no need:
Waterloo Region offers everything
you need to take care of your
family’s body, mind and spirit.
LOCAL FOOD
Not only is the region packed
with stylish, unique eateries
catering to every taste and
craving, but we pride ourselves
on eating well and supporting our
local economy, and food is no
exception. It is easy to purchase
local food directly from the farmer
at the largest farmers market in
Canada, St. Jacobs Farmers’
Market, after taking the historic
train from Waterloo to get there.
Moreover, it is just as easy to
buy from the bustling Kitchener
Market, the Cambridge Market,
and the Thursday night uptown
Waterloo Market, the Wellesley
Market, and the Elmira Market,
too. Not to mention that there are
a few community centres, such
as the Mill-Courtland Community
Centre, which host mini-markets
throughout the summer. If you
happen to miss any of the
summer booths, you can find
locally-grown produce certain
to satisfy the 100-mile-diet
enthusiast at Bailey’s Local Foods,
Seven Shores Urban Market &
Café, and more. Also, Foodlink
Waterloo Region helps you
shop, dine and experience local
food with their online directory.
( w w w . f o o d l i n k . c a )
For the true-hearted foodie,
there are many food trucks
offering gourmet meals crafted
from locally sourced food. You
will find food trucks all over
Kitchener and Waterloo because
the municipalities recently
updated their bylaws and fees
to allow these mobile kitchens
to serve the must-have meals
more frequently, and in more
places. Waterloo Region Record
hosts an amazing Food & Drink
Show in the Spring, an adults
only consumer show for all
your culinary wants and needs.
PHOTO BY: MICHAEL HUACK
DELICIOUS SALMON AND RICE MEAL AT THE SYMPO-
SIUM IN WATERLOO.
Photo by: Michael Huack
THE VERY POPULAR ST. JACOBS FARMERS MARKET.
WHY WATERLOO REGION?
Home to more than half a million people located in the heart of Southwestern Ontario, Wa-
terloo Region is one of Canada’s fastest growing communities and a renowned tech mecca.
1,000 tech companies employ 30,000+ people.
4 world-class educational institutions.
150+ research institutes and international think tanks.
SOURCE: COMMUNITECH
PHOTO BY: CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
CASUAL STROLL IN UP-
TOWN WATERLOO.

2. 31YOUR COMMUNITY
FESTIVALS: walk the streets of
downtown Kitchener or uptown
Waterloo on any weekend of the
summer and you will suddenly
find yourself surrounded
by booths, live music and
candyfloss. Summer is festival
season: from live music to family
events, there is always something
going on at the Waterloo Public
Square, and for the past 40
years, Kitchener has played
host to the Kitchener-Waterloo
Multicultural Festival, a weekend
dedicated to celebrating our
diversity through food and culture.
For the music lover, there is
the Kitchener Blues Festival, the
Waterloo Jazz Festival, and the Mill
Race Folk Festival in Cambridge.
Also, for the contemporary/indie
music fan, there is the Grand
Porch and the Hohner Avenue
Porch Parties, grassroots festivals
in Kitchener and Waterloo
where residential porches are
transformed into stages while the
neighbourhoods burst into song.
Waterloo is also home to the
Buskers Carnival, a tradition
marking the end of summer for
many, and Kitchener hosts the
Tri-Pride Festival, the Nonviolence
Festival, the Greek Food Festival,
as well as Kitchener’s Ribfest
and Craft Beer Show. Also,
Oktoberfest is an annual nine
day festival in the Kitchener
Waterloo area. It is the second
largest Oktoberfest in the world.
THEATRE & CULTURE
When it comes to an elegant date
night out, there’s no shortage of
places to go. Centre In The Square
offers world-renowned acts such
as Jann Arden and Ziggy Marley.
There are plenty of shows for
the kids, too, including Mickey’s
Music Festival. For shows, such
as Les Miserables, Peter Pan
and Footloose The Musical
look to Drayton Entertainment
and its three local live theatres.
Located in downtown Kitchener,
the Conrad Centre for the
Performing Arts is home to the
Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony.
Here, you are able to listen to live,
symphonic versions of Simon and
Garfunkel, Singin’ in the Rain, and
A Midsummer Night’s Dream,
in addition to kinderconcerts.
Finally, the Kitchener Memorial
Auditorium Complex, also
known as The Aud, offers many
international touring acts: Pearl
Jam, Bob Dylan and Elton John
are just some of the legendary acts
that have appeared on its stage.
If visual arts is your thing, there
are plenty of museums for every
taste, including, the Kitchener-
Waterloo Art Gallery, the
Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery,
THEMUSEUM, The Registry
Theatre and more. And, just 30
minutes down the highway is
The Stratford Festival, Canada’s
largest Shakespeare Theatre
Company on the picturesque
Avon River. Also, for the history
buff, you can experience
Waterloo Region’s pioneer
heritage at the Joseph Schneider
Haus and Doon Heritage Village
living museums.
PHOTO BY: CITY OF CAMBRIDGE
FANTASTIC PERFORMANCE DONE BY SAYWE-
CANFLY AT ROCK THE MILL. THE MUSIC FES-
TIVAL IS AN ANNUAL FUNDRAISER AND FREE
SUMMER CONCERT PUT ON BY THE ALL YOUTH
VOLUNTEER COMMITTEE IN THE CITY OF CAM-
BRIDGE. NEW AUDIENCE MEMBERS ARE ALWAYS
WELCOME TO COME OUT.
PHOTO BY: CITY OF KITCHENER
KITCHENER LOVES CANADA DAY! PICTURED IS
DOWNTOWN KITCHENER CANADA DAY FIRE-
WORKS CELEBRATION. HEADLINED BY HOLLE-
RADO, FEFE DOBSON AND TREBLE CHARGER.
MUSIC BEGINS AT 4P.M. WITH A BEER GARDEN
AND VARIOUS VENDORS. COME OUT AND VISIT
ON CANADA DAY!

3. YOUR COMMUNITY32
NATURAL AREAS
While cranes stand tall within
the city cores, there are plenty
of trails, parks and natural areas
that wind their way through the
region too, perfect for walking the
dog, hiking or cycling. Nestled
into the suburbs of Waterloo
is Laurel Creek Conservation
Area, an oasis within the city.
The protected green space
offers activities such as hiking,
swimming and canoeing, as well
as overnight camping. The Iron
Horse Trail provides a scenic and
historic route linking the cities of
Waterloo and Kitchener along a
former railway corridor. Kitchener,
Waterloo and Cambridge not only
have numerous parks woven into
the structure of each city, but each
city has an oversized multi-use
park, too: Waterloo is home to
Waterloo Park, Kitchener is home
to Victoria Park, and Cambridge
to Mill Race Park. Each location
hosts numerous festivals and
events, including movies under
the stars in Waterloo: seated
in front of Canada’s largest
outdoor screen, residents
bring a blanket and chairs to
this family-friendly, free event.
PHOTO BY: HANNAH BOWES
GROUP OF FRIENDS ENJOY A ROLLER BLADING JOURNEY ON THE IRON HORSE TRAIL.
DID YOU KNOW?
Travel is made easy in Waterloo Region! Walk, run or fly with many op-
tions around the city and beyond.
6 international airports within driving distance including the Waterloo Re-
gional Airport
Commuter trains and national passenger rail: GO and VIA
Greyhound, Grand River Transit (Waterloo Region) are intercity busses that
will get you where you want to go for a low cost – the Ion rapid transit is
the Region’s light rail transit currently under construction
Environmentally conscious projects include CarShare, Community Access
Bikeshare
SOURCE: COMMUNITECH
Waterloo Region is
home to over 60 arts,
cultural, and heritage
festivals, galleries and
museums.

4. 33YOUR COMMUNITY
KID’S STUFF
Located in Kitchener, Bingemans
will widen a smile on any
child’s face: with a waterpark
complete with waterslides, a
wave pool and an oversized
toddler splash pad, the resort
also offers an indoor playground,
rock climbing and a Playdium
arcade for the winter months.
In addition to skiing, Chicopee
Ski and Summer Resort, located
in the heart of the region offers
tubing, mountain biking and
beach volleyball. For more low-
key quality family time, libraries
and Ontario Early Years Centres
in each of the Tri-cities offer free
programs for kids to sing, make
crafts and read in a fun, learning
environment. The cities also
run many programs and events
through community centres, such
as Lego building workshops,
dance groups and youth drop-
ins. And it is not uncommon
for Erik Traplin, the area’s best
known children’s singer, to
appear at one of these events.
ACTIVE LIVING
For the active family, the region
offers numerous sports centres,
such as Activa Sportsplex, RIM
Park, and numerous YMCAs. For
those who prefer to watch more
than participate, each winter, The
Kitchener Rangers OHL Hock-
ey Club fill the Kitchener Me-
morial Auditorium Complex with
energy, excitement and cheers.
FLY FROM
HOME.
Have more time for
the things that matter.
The Airport is owned and operated by the Regional
Municipality of Waterloo, Ontario (Canada).
Photo by: City of Kitchener
PLENTY OF AVAILABLE ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG CHILDREN SUCH AS A FUN MURAL TO EXPRESS
EVERYONE’S MORE CREATIVE SIDE. PLEASE BRING YOUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY BY TO JOIN IN ON
THE FUN.