Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour

The Mount Hope Cemetery walking tour reveals a community of neighbours, business owners, politicians, rebels and ordinary people whose stories left their mark on Kitchener. 

leaning statue against a green tree backdrop in Mount Hope Cemetery, Kitchener

Kitchener’s history, dating back just over 150 years, is revealed by the names and stories found in the cemetery. This Mount Hope Cemetery walking tour includes stories from the time when Kitchener was called Berlin – including the fascinating story of the name change. The stones and memorials are the gateway to the stories of local famous families, freedom seekers and a forgotten World War 1 soldier.

Through the community of people in this cemetery, we explore the story of Berlin celebrating “Power to the People” in 1910, and the names that made this ‘tiny Berlin’ known as an industrial powerhouse, famous for German quality products such as leather, buttons, tires, footwear, and furniture.

Led by: Wayne Miedema

Accessibility: Route follows paved, even cemetery paths. Uneven ground when walking off path between memorial stones. Quite accessible for scooters & wheelchairs.

Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour Details

Of course, we have the obligatory Liability Waiver and Release form that must be signed by each person in advance of joining the walk.  Why a waiver for a walking tour, you ask? Couldn’t get insurance without it. Stroll pays insurance… you sign the waiver. 

A sense of curiosity, a few questions and a willingness to learn something you didn’t know before.

Of course, dress for the weather; bring a hat, water bottle, umbrella, solid walking shoes (no flip flops!) and anything else you need to be comfortable on the walk. 

We walk rain or shine or snow! 

However, we do heed storm watches and warnings and would never put you in danger. Stroll may cancel and reschedule a walk due to an issued weather advisory. 

We don’t make scheduled bathroom breaks along the walking route. Please attend to personal needs before or after the walking tour. 

Twice a year Stroll hosts a series of public walking tours in the spring and fall. Make sure you are on the Stroll newsletter list so you know when they are available! 

Absolutely! The walking tour guides have chosen routes with the best possible accessibility in order to accommodate as many people as possible. However, construction happens and we do our best to re-route safely.

If you have any questions about the accessibility of a specific walk, please contact us in advance of booking. 

We’ll say it again… Always arrive 10-15 minutes ahead of time! If you arrive exactly at departure time, you’re already late! If you arrive really late, your walking tour will likely be shorter than you planned for. 

Public Tours: We start on time so you might miss the introduction. If you’re really late, you might miss the tour if we’ve already moved on. 

We know you’re a curious bunch so we’ve been preparing blog posts with additional resources from many of the walking tours. Happy reading!

I've lived in Waterloo Region for 30 years, so hearing the history of many of the people who started the industries that shaped Berlin/Kitchener and seeing the threads that tied them together was fascinating. That's, Wayne, for an evening that still has me thinking.
Sharon S.

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