Author: janeswalkwr

When: Sunday May 3rd, 2 – 3:30 pm

Meeting Point: Veterans Green, Beech Street at Hazel Street

Walk Leaders: Michael Druker, Phil Marfisi

Waterloo’s Northdale neighbourhood is undergoing a rare transformation from a mid-century suburb to an urban, pedestrian-oriented mixed-use district. We will share what led to the master planned upzoning and how well it is working. As we walk through the neighbourhood, we’ll note features of different urban planning eras and novel aspects of city building not found elsewhere in the region, and discuss lessons for urban intensification.

The walk will end near a bubble tea shop for anyone who wants to continue the conversation.

When: Saturday May 2nd, 2 – 3 pm

Meeting Point: Corner of Lucan Avenue and Roger Street 

Walk Leader: Susan Marchiori

This walk is for families and other interested in discussing how playgrounds contribute to community building.

When: Saturday May 2nd, 12:00 – 1:00 pm

Meeting Point: Corner of College & Duke, behind Kitchener City Hall

Walk Leader: Sam Nabi

How is small-scale infill development changing our housing options in Kitchener’s older urban neighbourhoods? From backyard tiny homes to small apartments, we’ll take a tour of the new builds that are mixed in with century homes.

We’ll discuss the various ways that we think about neighbourhood character, what compatible architecture looks like, and what choices we make about how the city should grow.

When: Friday May 1st, 7:00 – 8:15pm

Where: Riverside Park Memorial Gates, 49 King Street West, Cambridge

Walk Leader: Kevin Swayze

More than a century ago, passenger trains ran down King Street in old Preston, as part of the first electric railway in what’s now Waterloo Region.

It’s not hard to find hints of Preston’s deep railway history – and perhaps its future – on a stroll along the Speed River or Eagle and King streets.

Join journalist Kevin Swayze as he shares how Preston was a busy railway hub in Waterloo County 125 years ago, for both people and freight. Trains connected Preston to Galt, Hespeler, and Kitchener.

And he’ll talk about the future of passenger trains planned for Preston, while walking part of the route proposed for light rail transit between Cambridge and Kitchener.

When: Sunday May 3rd, 11 -11:30 am

Where: Entrance of Ferguson Cottage, 37 Grand Ave, Cambridge 

Walk Leader: Liz Stacey

Galt Horticultural Society (GHS) which operates out of the historic Ferguson Cottage came into being in the 1850’s. The current version was established in 1891 with 186 members. The property was purchased in 1836 by William Ferguson, a blacksmith and farmer at the time. The property remained under the Ferguson name for the next 80 years. The cottage is all that is left of the once Ferguson Farm and is credited as one of the earliest surviving Scottish stone cottages in the City of Cambridge.

This walk can be combined with the Cambridge Sculpture Garden Tour from 10:30am – 11:00am which is right next door.