From "Busy Berlin" to Tech Corridor: Industry Clusters Then and Now

We think of business or industry “clusters” as a modern phenomenon, with Waterloo Region’s technology cluster as a prime example. Yet, as we walk through Downtown Kitchener’s Innovation District, we follow the footsteps of the people of “Busy Berlin,” a largely German 19th century community that worked in equally successful clusters for their time.

They left a legacy of yellow-brick buildings transformed from the factories of yesterday to meet the needs of today’s tech sector. They also left us a culture of innovation and community building. We will explore those early clusters and the sometimes forgotten but often fascinating people and stories behind them.

Good to know:

• We walk rain or shine or snow!
• The walk begins at King Street West & Francis Street and ends at the Google building on Breithaupt Street, just two blocks away.