Kitchener, Ontario

The City of Kitchener, in southwestern Ontario, Canada, has a population of 190,399 (2001 census). The metropolitan area, which includes the two neighbouring cities of Waterloo and Cambridge, has 414,284 people, making it the eleventh largest in Canada by population. http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/standard/popdwell/Table-CMA-C.cfm?CMA=541&T=2&SR=1&S=1&O=A It is the seat of the Waterloo Regional Municipality, and is adjacent to the smaller cities of Cambridge to the south, and Waterloo to the north. Kitchener and Waterloo are often referred to jointly as "the twin cities" or "K-W" (Kitchener-Waterloo), although they have separate municipal governments.

Economy

Whereas Waterloo has benefitted from the presence of two universities and a number of high tech companies, Kitchener has been a more blue-collar town. The auto-parts manufacturer Budd Canada continues to employ over 1000 workers. The Huron Business Park is also the site of a number of industries, from seat manufacturers to furniture components. A number of the old industrial companies of Kitchener have fallen on harder times: the Kaufmann shoe manufacturer has closed its factory, J.M. Schneider (a meat producer) has been bought out and operations scaled back, and companies like Electrohome have ceased local production in favour of licensing or supply agreements with overseas makers. Still, occupations unique to manufacturing, processing and utilities cover as much as 15% of the local workforce http://www.coldwellbankerpbr.com/commercial/kitchenerprofile.htm.

Related Topics:
Waterloo - Electrohome

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Kitchener's downtown core, though somewhat improved in recent years, has experienced considerable urban decay, thanks largely to the decline of industrial jobs in the city and the growth of its suburbs. Things worsened when urban renewal plans in the 1960s cost the city its neo-classical city hall and did not achieve its goals of redevelopment. When an arsonist began destroying abandoned and underused buildings in Kitchener's downtown, the issue of downtown renewal and cleanup of the adjoining Victoria Park neighbourhood came to the fore in municipal elections and has been the focus of city council for the past ten years. Achievements during this period include selling off a dying mall and converting it to office space for a major insurance firm, relocating a theatre downtown, and converting vacant industrial space into residential units.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The city now boasts a new city hall, and a new farmer's market opened in 2004. Two university branch campuses in the downtown area are in the planning stages. Currently the downtown Cedar Hill neighbourhood, which has been dubbed "the ghetto", is one of the city's main issues to tend to. Other projects include an assortment of lofts, utilizing old factories. There has also been a proposal for a new 15 floor or taller library, due to the ever increasing population of the city. Various plans for 20 floor condo units have been put in place. And although Waterloo is home to many insurance companies, two universities, and high-tech industries, Kitchener is hoping to increase demand for office space by building office towers and inviting companies from around the golden triangle to move in.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~