About Kitchener-Waterloo
The Kitchener-Waterloo area is part of the Haldimand Tract and is the traditional territory of the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe, and Neutral peoples. The Haldimand Tract was established in 1784 when the Haudenosaunee were displaced from their land after supporting the British in the American Revolution. The Haldimand Tract extends 10 km on each side of the Grand River, running from the source of the river to its mouth.
Today, the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Neutral peoples reside on 46,500 acres, 5% of the original 950,000 acres of the Haldimand Tract. The land of the Haldimand Tract was expropriated by the Crown and is unceded – meaning that the Haudenosaunee never legally signed away their lands to the Crown or Canada.
In the early 19th century, Mennonite agricultural families from Pennsylvania moved north to take up some of the land in the Haldimand Tract, establishing what would become the towns of Kitchener (originally called Berlin) and Waterloo. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, a combination of rail transport, mills and factories made Kitchener-Waterloo into an industrial centre.
Kitchener was named Berlin from its founding in 1833 until 1916, when a referendum was held to change the name in response to Canada and Britain’s entry into the First World War. There are many Prussian/German settler influences in the region, many now tied to the agricultural Mennonite community surrounding the city.
The founding of the University of Waterloo in 1957 and Wilfrid Laurier University in 1973 (formerly Waterloo Lutheran University, founded 1911) made the region into a site for research, especially in the engineering and tech fields.
The importance of the Grand River to the Waterloo region continues, not only as a historical landmark but also a focal point for stewardship and conservation. The Grand River Conservation Authority, established in 1934, works to manage water resources and protect the regional environment.
As we gather at Wilfrid Laurier University, we acknowledge the enduring presence and rights of the Indigenous peoples who first called this land home.
Food and Recommendations
Local Eateries and Services near WLU Campus / Uptown Waterloo:
Breakfast items, Groceries
Corner Kitchen, 183 Weber Street. Breakfast place, open 7am-2pm daily.
Neighbours Market (Hickory and King Streets)
Starbucks (King St. and University Ave.)
Waterloo Central Supermarket (140 University Ave. West)
India Food & Grocery (275 Larch St – at Hickory St.)
University Shops Plaza, 170 University Ave; a quick drive, bit longer walk from Regina St., but has quite a few restaurants and eateries, a small grocery store, and a pharmacy.
Places to eat near 260 Regina St (WLU Apartment-Style Residence)
Bao Sandwich Bar (Balsam St., north of the Lazaridis Business School Building) (I know this place is good since I’ve eaten there – not sure if it’s open for dinner)
Kim’s Kitchen (258 King St. North Unit #2)
Shawarma – The Chef Signature Halal Food (255 King St. N. Unit #10)
Royal Paan (Indian vegetarian) – at Regina St. and University Ave.
Morty’s Pub
Subway (King St. and University Ave).
On Campus:
Veritas Café (operated by the Laurier Graduate Students’ Association) – open June 19-20, 8am-2pm; closed June 21-22. A good place to grab coffee or a snack; vegan and gluten-free options available. There is also a Mini-market beside Veritas that sells some grocery / food items (limited hours in summertime).
Tuck shop beside the Hawk Shop (just off the concourse linking DAWB to the Arts Building)
Byte 75 Coffee and Social (in Lazaridis Hall, just across University Ave. from the Paul Martin Centre) – Open Thursday 8am-6pm, Friday 8am-2pm, closed Saturday/Sunday
Banking / ATMs:
RBC on Campus (in the Arts Building, just off the Concourse)
CIBC ATM at King St. and University Ave.
Scotiabank ATM in the 7-11 at King St. and University Ave.
TD Bank and ATM at Weber St. N. and University Ave.
RBC branch near King St. and University Ave.
Pharmacy:
Some pharmacy items are available in the Tuck Shop near the Concourse
University Pharmacy, 240 King St. North (at University Ave.) Mon-Fri 9-6, Sat. 10-2
Stationery items etc.:
The Hawk Shop (just off the Concourse)
There are numerous eateries in Uptown Waterloo, a short (10 minutes or so) walk from campus.
A few options include:
Odd Burger (75 King St S, Waterloo, ON N2J 1P2); fully vegan, fast-food style
Copper Branch (80 King St. South, #106); fully vegan healthy fast-food style
The Jane Bond, 5 Princess St. West – lots of vegetarian / vegan options, open late
Poppy’s Bagel and Bakery, 35 King St. North
Champa Kitchen (Thai, Laotian, Vietnamese), 21 King St. North
Abe Erb, 15 King St. South
Beertown; 75 King St. South, Unit 37. Open daily 11:30am-1am
The Huether Hotel, 59 King St. North (includes Barleyworks and Café 1842)
Pür and Simple, 2 King St. North
The Ce Food Experience, 100 Regina St S, Waterloo; a bakery/cafe with a range of gluten-free and vegan options. Open weekdays from 8am-5pm and Saturdays 8am-4:15pm.
Seven Shores Cafe, 10 Regina St. N Unit 4; good gluten-free options, excellent brunch, open til 5.
Downtown Kitchener (Accessible by Bus and ION [Light Rail])
Cafe Pyrus, 305 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1B7; mostly vegan cafe
Don Julio Tacos & Tequila Bar, 147 King St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 1A7,excellent restaurant with vegan and GF options: make reservations
The Grand Trunk Saloon, 30 Ontario St S, Kitchener, ON N2G 1X2, very good cocktail bar with a well-curated, upscale Southern US-inspired menu.
Galleries, Things to See & Do
Waterloo Park is a large green space for walking and relaxing near campus (about a 5-10 min. walk from the DAWB building, just up Albert St. and to the right).
The Robert Langen Gallery, located in the Laurier Library (go in through the main doors and the gallery is to your left) is having a special exhibit to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of Wilfrid Laurier University Press. Laurier Press has been a great supporter of ALECC and the Environmental Humanities in Canada and beyond.
The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery is a short walk from campus at 25 Caroline St. North (open Tues-Fri 11-6, Sat. 10-5, Sun, 1-5): https://www.theclayandglass.ca/
Waterloo Central Railway offers historic train rides in the area (the Heritage Hopper trip runs Thursdays and Saturdays). Details and bookings at: https://waterloocentralrailway.com/
St Jacob’s Market (field trip Saturday) – a large farmers’ market in the Mennonite town of St Jacobs, both inside several large buildings and open-air in the summer. Open Thursdays and Saturdays until 3pm
Waterloo Region has a variety of trails and parks open to the public: check them out on the Region’s website here https://explorewaterloo.ca/waterloo-region-trails/
Pop-up music in downtown Kitchener on Friday evening at 7pm: https://calendar.downtownkitchener.ca/default/Month?StartDate=06/01/2024
The K-W Multicultural Festival will run Saturday and Sunday, details here: https://calendar.downtownkitchener.ca/default/Month?StartDate=06/01/2024
City Event Calendar: https://calendar.downtownkitchener.ca/default/Month?StartDate=06/01/2024