Five Great Reasons to Live in Kitchener-Waterloo, Waterloo Region — Kathy Long & Luanne Hancey

What is living in Kitchener-Waterloo (K/W) like?

And how do you choose between Kitchener and Waterloo? These two cities offer the excitement of a big city but with the charm of two small-town feel communities. Kitchener and Waterloo have a combined population of more than 800,000 that conveniently blend side by side using the same thoroughfare roads, highways, and municipal structure.

However, Kitchener-Waterloo (KW) also has many distinctly unique characteristics and complementary attributes for those considering placing roots in one of these cities.

Location

Kitchener/Waterloo is an hour west of Toronto and easily accessible to it, as well as within the municipal city limits. With a state-of-the-art transit system and an International airport that has revolutionized the aviation world in recent years with continued growth, this is an excellent location for students, families and adults of all ages. With an explosive array of job opportunities, especially in the tech sector, this city is great for the driven professional, with elements of the Silicon Valley comparatively. You will find headliners such as Google headquarters, Shopify and Vidyard expanding in this area, making it a remarkable spot for ambitious graduates.

Culture and Fun

Kitchener offers a full-capacity stadium and multiple sportsplex facilities to host its own OHL hockey team (Kitchener Rangers) and baseball team (Kitchener Panthers), concerts and events, along with an intimate but impressive live performance arts complex that is used year-round for symphony, entertainers and theatre. Bingeman’s amusement and entertainment event park is your ticket to fun and adventure. With infamous and uniquely different farmer’s markets in St. Jacobs, Waterloo and Kitchener, your food and artisan cravings reflecting the community are evident. Shopping, breweries and incredible restaurants make social life and nightlife very appealing. Countless festivals and events bring the region to life. There is rarely a weekend when an annual festival, cultural event or attraction is not part of the community feel, and then, of course, the German Oktoberfest draws people from all over the world.

Education

Kitchener-Waterloo is proud to have two universities (University of Waterloo and Wilfred Laurier University) and one of the largest colleges in Ontario (Conestoga College). With more than 50,000 post-secondary students in the region, the vibrancy of a young population that often chooses to stay here after graduation really does bring the cities to life. As well, private and public school systems, along with many reliable licensed child care options, make it a great place to raise a family and launch young adult learners.

Nature’s Beauty

With the Grand River running through the city, there are huge trails and parks for residents. Victoria Park is sweetly protected in downtown Kitchener, while Waterloo Park surrounds the heart of Waterloo. Chicopee ski hill has its own year-round Chicopee ski hill! Skate parks, dog parks, and outdoor courts are throughout the city.

Affordability

With all the career opportunities and expanding tech and business sectors, many people compare their vocation chances to Toronto when thinking about where to move. One huge selling feature of the cities of Kitchener-Waterloo is the significant affordability, suggested 20% cheaper in comparison to Toronto and the GTA.

Still have questions about the dynamic cities of Kitchener and Waterloo? Reach out, and let’s chat about it!

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