BlackBerry in Waterloo: From Research In Motion to QNX
BlackBerry’s story in Waterloo, from Research In Motion in 1984 to the phone’s fall, and what the company does in 2026 with QNX and Secure Communications.
Neighbourhoods and Local Guides
Local History
Stories behind the landmarks of Waterloo Region, from how Berlin became Kitchener to historic bridges, hotels, homesteads and the rise of Waterloo’s tech industry. Good reading if you want to know a neighbourhood’s character before you buy there.
Hilda Ranscombe and the Preston Rivulettes: Cambridge’s Hockey Legends
The Preston Rivulettes lost just two of about 350 games in the 1930s. The story of captain Hilda Ranscombe and Cambridge’s women’s hockey dynasty.
The Bridgeport Casino: The History Behind Golf’s Steak House in Kitchener
The Bridgeport Casino was a 1903 dance hall on the Grand River, reached by streetcar, not a gambling hall. Since 1975 it has been Golf’s Steak House.
The Bridgeport and Freeport Bridges: Kitchener’s Historic Grand River Crossings
The history of Kitchener’s Bridgeport Bridge (1934) and Freeport Bridge (1926) over the Grand River, and the Freeport rehabilitation planned for 2027.
The Main Street Bridge in Cambridge: History of Galt’s Grand River Crossing
The history of Cambridge’s Main Street Bridge: Galt’s flood-prone wooden crossings, the 1878 steel bridge and the 1931 concrete bowstring arch that still stands.
The Walper Hotel: The History of Kitchener’s Landmark at King and Queen
The history of the Walper Hotel at King and Queen in downtown Kitchener, from the early inn to the 1893 building, the Al Capone legend and the 2016 renovation.
The Best Historic Sites in Kitchener
Five historic sites to visit in Kitchener, from Doon Heritage Village and Schneider Haus to Woodside and Victoria Park, with 2026 hours and prices.
The Waterloo Hotel: The Story of Uptown Waterloo’s Oldest Hotel Site
The history of the Waterloo Hotel at King and Erb, from Bowman’s 1835 Farmer’s Inn to its 1890 front, 1990 heritage designation and new life as studio apartments.
The Erb-Kumpf House: The Oldest House in Waterloo
The Erb-Kumpf House at 172 King Street South, built around 1812 by Waterloo founder Abraham Erb, is the city’s oldest house. Its owners and its use today.
Sims Estate, Kitchener: The History Behind Sims Estate Drive
The story of Sims Estate in Kitchener’s Chicopee area: lawyer Harvey J. Sims, his 1928 Tudor-style home, Mackenzie King’s visits and the 23 homes there today.
The Tilts Farm: A Family Farm in Kitchener Since 1861
The story of the Tilts Farm in Kitchener’s Doon area: John Tilt’s 1861 brick farmhouse, a family farm for more than 160 years, Tilt Built Pastures and Tilts Bush.
The Waterloo County Gaol and Governor’s House in Kitchener
The history of the Waterloo County Gaol and Governor’s House in Kitchener: built in 1852 to 1853, closed in 1978, and how the buildings are used today.
How Did Kitchener Change Its Name from Berlin?
How and why Berlin, Ontario, became Kitchener in 1916: the wartime pressure, the 81-vote referendum, the 346 votes that picked the name, and what remains today.
First Mennonite Church and Cemetery: Where Kitchener Began
First Mennonite Church and Cemetery at 800 King St E: Bishop Benjamin Eby’s church, founded in 1813, and the heritage cemetery where Kitchener began.
Steckle Heritage Farm: Kitchener’s 1833 Homestead and Urban Farm
Steckle Heritage Farm on Bleams Road, Kitchener: the 1833 Steckle homestead, Dr. Jean Steckle’s legacy, and 2026 programs, camps and Open Tuesdays.
The Preston Springs Hotel in Cambridge: History, Demolition and What’s Next
The story of Cambridge’s Preston Springs Hotel, from 1888 spa resort to sanatorium to its 2020 demolition, plus the three-tower condo plan for the site.
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