A Community Affair: Berlin's Civic History
Kitchener wasn’t always Kitchener. It grew from one of many small settlements, to Berlin, to Kitchener in 1916, to become the largest city in Waterloo Region today.
The evolution of its local government, city halls (yes, more than one!) courts, school and public institutions are best learned through intriguing local stories: the city’s Carnegie library and its first librarian; the teacher who died while marking; the wealthy landowner who made a significant land donation; a man accused of murdering his wife, and a woman accused of poisoning her husband; and Berlin’s 3 hangings!
Location: Downtown Kitchener
Duration: 75-90 minutes (60 – 75 min if requested)
Distance Covered: 1.9 km
Availability: Week days after 2:00 pm & weekends September – December
Accessibility: Great accessibility. Walk follows city sidewalks and route is adapted around construction.
Good to know:
- This walk contains historical accounts of domestic and family violence
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The walk begins in Civic Park, near Otto Street, opposite Centre in the Square. It ends very nearby, at the County Gaol
- We walk rain or shine
Want to customize your Stroll with us?
We’d be happy to work with you to create the best experience possible.