Act One: Where The King’s Highway Breaks
I’ve travelled through the Tri-City area many times on my frequent journeys to work and to relatives on the outskirts of Toronto. Despite my travels in the area, I’ve never really taken the opportunity to look at these three cities. After two summers of working within Waterloo County, I’ve finally seen the majority of Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and the surrounding areas.
And they certainly differ…
Kitchener is the biggest and most tightly packed, possibly because it is the oldest of the three. Kitchener, at one time, was called Berlin due to the population being mostly Germanic. During World War I, the name was changed to highlight their loyalty to the British Empire. They still celebrate Oktoberfest - in fact, you can see them setting up the frame of the Oktoberfest “tent” from the Board office.
The town is nice, but not nearly as nice as Waterloo. Kitchener is the oldest, and has a lot of history within it. It’s center has a historical feel, while the outer rims has virtual “love handles” of new suburban development and “mall cities”. The newest “mall city” I’ve seen is visible from Hwy. 7&8, just as you pass the Fischer-Hallman exit.
Because of this blend of old and new, the town is a mish-mash of archaic and prestine. At times, you could make the transition from one part of Kitchener to another and believe it is a completely seperate town. It has happened to me before. It’s a tad disorienting, since any new portion is, in my eyes, taken as a portion of Waterloo.
Waterloo is interesting, considering it is the home of many big businesses and the University of Waterloo. Kitchener and Waterloo, due to their massive expansion, have begun to mesh together. In fact, Kitchener and Waterloo own different portions of the same “city” block, despite their completely seperate municipal governments.
Waterloo is smaller, and appears to have lesser suburban regions cropping up like mad. It does, however, feature a lot of the newer schools in the area, including Sir John A. MacDonald Secondary School and Abraham Erb Public School (which should open in the fall). Huron Heights is also opening up, but I think it might be in Kitchener.
Waterloo is nice. In all honesty, Waterloo appears to have a bit more glitz and glamour to it, in a small way. It is the modern love child of Kitchener and Toronto, who was too nervous to move out so stayed nestled close to its mother’s bosom (assuming Kitchener was the woman in that relationship, but have you seen the CN Tower…Toronto is packing).
Cambridge is comparable to the slums. As I’ve gone from place to place in Cambridge, I’ve noticed that a lot of the buildings are in disrepair, or are completely derelict. It is seperated from K-W by a large collection of industrial parks and mall complexes (the Fairview Park Mall City is between K-W and Cambridge).
I don’t like Cambridge. It is strange. The roads are akward. The buildings are in shambles. There are sirens and gunshots…and death. It is the Los Angelos of Waterloo County, minus the gang wars…
I think…
Act Two: Good News and Bad News
I’ve got a job at Zellers. I’ll be one of their red shirts, in charge of home entertainment. Pretty freakin’ sweet.
The bad news is, Andreas got his bike stolen while we were at William’s last night. Nathan, Fraser and I took our vehicles and searched all over. Unfortunately, we didn’t find the thief. I drove Dreas to the police station and he filed a report. They told him to check in on Saturday’s when they have their recovered bicycle screening.
I thought I saw the guy who stole Dreas’ bike, and I trailed him for a bit (as the police man suggested) but he bolted. I’d only followed him down one street (prior to that, I’d been anticipating his moves) and then he abandoned his friend and biked down a walkway (where cars can’t follow).
The guy fit the description Jenn gave of the suspicious gentleman by the bicycles earlier that night.
With any luck, Andreas will get his bike back, relatively unscathed.