Our community is fortunate to have so much going for us – and something for everyone to enjoy, which makes it difficult to sum up our best traits in one short list.
From our perspective, and from what we’ve been told by across-section of our community, here are the top 10 reasons why our residents have chosen to build their lives in Kitchener:
1
From our spirited history and heritage that has formed the foundation of our community, to our vibrant arts and culture scene, our countless natural spaces to enjoy active, outdoor living, and high-quality programs and services we provide – Kitchener’s quality of life is second to none.
2
Kitchener is at the centre of it all when it comes to arts and cultural amenities in Waterloo Region. From theatre, art, image and storytelling, to music and cultural events, including festivals showcasing a wide diversity of traditions and heritage – our choices satisfy every palette.
3
Each person has their own story. Our city tells a story, too; a tale of diversity. We are constantly working toward our collective vision of being a community that acknowledges and embraces ethnic, cultural and social differences.
4
Whether you’re a busy professional, a parent with a young family or a retiree, Kitchener has a neighbourhood to suit your taste, style and way of life. Find the home of your dreams, whether it’s a rambling century home on a tree-lined street or a luxury condo or loft in the heart of downtown. If it’s renting you prefer, Kitchener has what you’re looking for. Lofts, highrises, duplexes, an entire floor of a Victorian House – the options are all here.
5
Kitchener residents enjoy more programs and resources than residents in any other city in Waterloo region, including 14 community centres, four indoor pools, three outdoor pools, two municipally-owned golf courses, nine ice pads, a premier sports and entertainment complex – The Aud, and recreational programming for everyone from babies to older adults. The city also has 304 parks, 115 playgrounds, more than 200 kilometres of community trails and thousands of acres of groomed and natural green spaces. The nearby Grand River, a Canadian heritage river, is ideal for canoeing, fishing and kayaking.
6
Many local sports organizations offer affordable, instructional and competitive programs from local to international calibre. From basketball to water polo, track and field to swimming, golf and hockey to downhill skiing, there are activities to suit every sports enthusiast’s needs..
7
Kitchener offers a range of public, Catholic and private elementary and secondary schools. Excellent facilities – many modern and contemporary and others in quaint historic buildings amid shaded schoolyards – provide the backdrop against which dynamic teaching strategies come alive. The city is also minutes from the main campuses of two outstanding universities – the University of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University – both of which have downtown Kitchener campuses. Kitchener is also home to the widely respected Conestoga College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning, consistently ranked the number one college in the province by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities.
8
Two city hospitals – Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s Hospital – provide state-of-the-art medical care to city residents. A major cancer treatment centre – the Grand River Regional Cancer Centre – and an enhanced cardiac care centre are also part of their facilities. The University of Waterloo’s Downtown Health Sciences Campus also includes the Centre for Family Medicine and an integrated primary care clinic, where new doctors train and where a family health team includes physicians, nurse practitioners and other health professionals..
9
Part of Canada’s Technology Triangle, Kitchener boasts an exciting mix of traditional and new economy businesses. Diverse industry clusters, including a downtown education and knowledge creation cluster, industrial parks, ongoing downtown revitalization, and rapidly growing high tech enterprises and start-ups provide a wealth of opportunity for the discerning real estate buyer and those seeking employment.
10
What makes Kitchener truly remarkable is our ability to provide big-city amenities, while sustaining that small-town, welcoming feel that residents – and visitors – recognize and appreciate. We are a community where neighbours watch out for one another – whether they live in the suburbs or in a new, contemporary loft downtown. People smile and say hello – on their way to the latest performance art show at a trendy local studio. We hold the door for one another, as we carry our Mediterranean-inspired wraps and our mocha lattes back to the office. Kitchener is the perfect balance of friendliness and dynamism.