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[RangersFan]

A picture of 101 Frederick st, downtown Kitchener

[Urban_Enthusiast86]

Here are some pictures I took on Saturday, March 6th, from Northview Heights Park in Cambridge.

Looking towards downtown Galt...with its two visible apartment buildings, lol.



Black Forest Condominiums on Hespeler Road, the tallest building in Cambridge.



Looking towards Kitchener-Waterloo.

In the background, in the middle, you can see Chicopee Ski Hill. Immediately to the left, you can see downtown Kitchener and even vaguely see the outline of Sunlife Financial. At the very left, you can see the Kitchener water tower and the apartment buildings by Fairview Park Mall.

In the midground of the photo and slightly to the right, you can see the Dunbar Road Mosque. Behind that, you can sort of make out the Toyota Plant.



A better view of Kitchener, and in the mid-ground, various buildings in Preston.



Auburn Towers, behind the Cambridge Centre.

[Duke-of-Waterloo]

Rabbit urbanism at Waterloo Park

[Spokes]

Needs more street/pedestrian interaction

[RangersFan]

Some more Downtown Kitchener shots

[Spokes]

There's times that I feel like the war memorial (in the first picture in the above post) gets neglected a bit. It's a great memorial but it's often overlooked.

[mpd618]

There's times that I feel like the war memorial (in the first picture in the above post) gets neglected a bit. It's a great memorial but it's often overlooked.

People don't really care about memorials unless they are of true personal significance or are just really grand. What they do care about is effective public space in an effective location. Viewed in this light, this space is pretty drab.

[Spokes]

Ya the memorial issue is becoming less important with every new generation. We had this discussion a number of times when I was in school. I think they're important, but that's the historian in me. I think they can be more though. So that being said, why not update it so it's not only a memorial but a bit of a public space too. There's not one single bench there. I dont know what the "rules" are when it comes to memorials though.

[RangersFan]

While we are on the topic, I think memorial's are important, I remember seeing a few in Ottawa that were truly amazing. Anyways I have always liked this firefighter's memorial on Queen St.

[mpd618]

I think memorials can add substance to public space, but the setting needs to be decent public space in the first place.

[Spokes]

While we are on the topic, I think memorial's are important, I remember seeing a few in Ottawa that were truly amazing. Anyways I have always liked this firefighter's memorial on Queen St.

Ya there are some amazing memorials in Ottawa. The war memorial there is fantastic, and literally a centrepiece. I like the firefighter's memorial as well, and to be honest with you I had no idea about it until this past January. (it was built when I lived in Ottawa)

[Spokes]

I think memorials can add substance to public space, but the setting needs to be decent public space in the first place.

Do I sense that you do not think this is a decent public space to begin with?

[panamaniac]

People don't really care about memorials unless they are of true personal significance or are just really grand. What they do care about is effective public space in an effective location. Viewed in this light, this space is pretty drab.

The Cenotaph has deep, direct meaning for many (fewer each year ...) but it surely has "true personal significance" for all of us. It was a shame it was moved from its former location and its current placement is "drab" to say the least. I for one wish some way could be found to place in back into the middle of Frederick St to give it back its historic prominence. Better still would be to find an area downtown to (re)create a formal ciivc square with the Cenotaph as its centrepiece. As a memorial, I find it quite "grand" and it deserves a much better setting.

[Spokes]

The Cenotaph has deep, direct meaning for many (fewer each year ...) but it surely has "true personal significance" for all of us. It was a shame it was moved from its former location and its current placement is "drab" to say the least. I for one wish some way could be found to place in back into the middle of Frederick St to give it back its historic prominence. Better still would be to find an area downtown to (re)create a formal ciivc square with the Cenotaph as its centrepiece. As a memorial, I find it quite "grand" and it deserves a much better setting.

Where did it used to be?

I think its a decent location but it could be fixed up to give it more profile, make the corner better.

As for your statement "but it surely has "true personal significance" for all of us", Im not sure I agree completely with you. In short, you're right, but the long answer is that while it may be a bit true, it is becoming more and more less true. More and more generations are becoming less connected with memorials, particularly for WWI and WWII. Many historians are now engaged in the discussion about if poppies will in the future be almost meaningless. The majority of youth do not have a connection, and do not see it important to wear a poppy or remember, which is the key to these memorials. So I'm not sure. I do know the memorials are important, not only here, but world wide. We should do something to improve this memorial, Im not sure if it means moving it, or improving the space it's currently in though.

[panamaniac]

The Cenotaph dates back to the late '20s and was originally set in the middle of Frederick street, just up from King near the old firehall. After the second War, it was relocated to the centre of the square that was in front of the old city hall, facing King St (now Market Square). In terms of connections that people feel, you may be correct and it is not something I can do much about. Unfortunately, to lose the connection is (I believe) to lose contact with a national identity that was forged in war, with sacrifice that has allowed us to move on to new and happier pursuits and, sadly, to forget why that is even possible.

In any event, the Kitchener Cenotaph takes its inspiration from the one on The Mall in London - when you go, you'll see the resemblance. I always liked the thought that Kichener has something that's akin to what one finds in the "big leagues"!

It's tedious to carry around such dusty old information, I know, but what can you do?

[Spokes]

Thanks for the background info!

I completely agree with you about losing connection with the memories of the past. Thats the reason (one of them at least) that its really important to keep it, and have it be prominent.

I think the area around it should be fixed up a bit.

[UrbanWaterloo]

RE: Memorial Discussion
Kitchener City Hall 1960
http://www.kitchenerhs.ca/AboutUs2.html

[panamaniac]

I had forgotten how beautiful the square was in summer. That shot also shows the old Kitchener Hotel and, at the top at the corner of Benton and King, the old Post Office (another sad loss - although it was exciting when the tower collapsed into the street when they were demolishing it!)

[UrbanWaterloo]

Saint Patrick's Day - March 17, 2010

Heuther


McMullan's




Chainsaw










Philthy McNasty's