Kitchener is a city located in southwestern Ontario , Canada, which has a population of 214,000. This metropolitan area includes the two neighboring cities of Waterloo and Cambridge . Kitchener and Waterloo are often referred to jointly as the twin cities or "K-W" although they have separate municipal governments. Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge are jointly known as "the tri-cities".
The City of Kitchener in Ontario covers an area of 136.86 square kilometers. In 1784, during the American War of Independence, the land of the City of Kitchener which was part of a large area of more than 2400 square kilometers, set aside by the British Crown as a grant to the Six Nations Indians for their faithfulness to the Crown. In 2004, the city of Kitchener in Ontario celebrated its 150th anniversary.
From the very beginning Kitchener in Waterloo has been more of a blue-collar town, with the auto-parts manufacturers. Here you can also find the site of a number of industries, from seat manufacturers to furniture components. Kitchener's city center, improved somewhat in recent years. It has experienced considerable urban decline, as a result the city experience the decline of industrial jobs in the city and the growth of its suburbs.
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The city now features a new city hall, and a new farmer's market opened in 2004. Kitchener is now hoping to increase demand for office space by building office towers and inviting companies.
The Doon which was formally a separate village now has become a part of Kitchener. Doon is home to the primary campus of Conestoga College, which was one of the foremost non-university educational institutions in the region.
Kitchener's name is also popular for its cultural activities. Kitchener includes the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, The Centre in the Square, and Theatre & Company. The city's cultural highlights include
- CAFKA (The Contemporary Art Forum Kitchener and Area) ,
- The Open Ears Festival,
- Multicultural Festival,
- Brews & Barbeques, all of which are free to the public.
The city of Kitchener is home to the largest Oktoberfest celebration. Kitchener's Oktoberfest celebration is an annual nine-day occasion. It is based on the original German Oktoberfest, which held every October.
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