One morning, I awoke with a great sense of excitement and energy. The reason was obvious – visions of a day trip out of the city, taking all the scenic backroads, were dancing through my head. I planned to walk through the Historic Village of Sparta, take in some great local shopping opportunities, and enjoy…
Tag: kitchener
Dodging the Winter Blues with Weekend Fun
Activities and inspirations for the dark, wintery days of January!
A New Apartment for 2015
I am pleased to announce, readers, that this past weekend I moved into a new apartment. I can see my old apartment from the backyard; I haven’t moved far. The differences are just as plentiful as the similarities in this new place. I am now in the basement of a home, rather than being on…
Christkindl Market: Holiday Times Ahead!
The holiday season is approaching – or, more appropriately, already here! As soon as the Christkindl Market appears at Kitchener City Hall, I know that I have to start thinking about the gifts and trappings of Christmas and New Year’s celebrations. My family members have, for the most part, resided in Kitchener-Waterloo for their entire…
The Grand Valley Trail – Paris, Ontario
The title of this post is somewhat misleading because the Grand Valley Trail (GVT) – which was initially conceptualized in January 1972 at a public meeting in Kitchener, Ontario – stretches an impressive 275 kilometers from Port Maitland to Alton. The main trail generally follows the Grand River watershed and is divided into four sections:…
An Addendum to “Hiking and Cycling Problems in Kitchener, Ontario”
Back in the very early days of this blog, I wrote an article outlining my concerns with the hiking and cycling infrastructure in Kitchener-Waterloo (read the full post here). My perspective did generate some negative feedback from my readership; the gist of my concerns being the unsafe conditions caused by multiple roadways dividing up the…
The Little Cat that Could – Cye (Proudly from Kitchener, Ontario)
After the widespread popularity of internet cats like Grumpy Cat® and Lil Bub, you might think that the world has had its fill of soft and adorably-cute felines. Thankfully, the world has not grown tired of unique kitties; Cye, a tiny Munchkin cat living in Kitchener, ON, has recently gained the notable distinction of being…
Youth Mobility and the Love – Career Balance
This week marks the first in which Will, my partner in crime and hiking, is working full time with Dillon Consulting Limited out of their Oakville, Ontario office. His job title, Field Biologist, thrills us both with its weight and heft. I am fascinated by his descriptions of the work culture and his experiences with…
In the Land of Long Fingernails by Charles Wilkins
Wilkins, Charles. (2008). In the Land of Long Fingernails. Greystone Books: Toronto. I loved this book for its familiarity to my sense of place – the setting of Toronto, Ontario, is very close to my hometown of Kitchener, Ontario. It’s not often that I have the chance to read a novel by a local author….
A Wintery Welcome to 2014
Happy New Year to all, and I hope that you survived the holiday break with no major upsets. Here in Ontario we lived through an intense ice storm that left hundreds of thousands without power in and around Christmas Day. City crews, hydro workers, and other hard-working citizens have been labouring around the clock to…
Dryden Tract and Sudden Tract – North Dumfries, Ontario
Two of my favorite hiking spots within a 30 minute drive of my apartment on Courtland Avenue in Kitchener are the Dryden Tract and Sudden Tract. These parcels of land are located in North Dumfries and are a little tricky to find if you’re new to the area. I provide full coordinates and Google Map…
Huron Natural Area – Kitchener, Ontario
On the south side of Kitchener, Ontario, there is a 107-hectare natural area fondly referred to by locals as the Huron Natural Area. With ample volunteer, financial, and community support, this slice of nature within the city has thrived as a cultural, environmental, and educational hotspot. While hiking through this area, I was most cognizant…
Maria Legault 