On Friday, I had a bit of spare time and decided to tour this somewhat largely undiscovered place. It was quite an interesting experience to say the least. It’s sad that I’ve been at UW for three years now, and I’ve not really had a change to really enjoy the many places beyond the usual shopping, restaurant and alcohol consumption establishments in the Region.

The farthest south I’ve gone in the Region was Cambridge Centre, which, by the way, is a very interesting mall with an recreational ice rink.

So off I went and boarded the GRT bus and grabbed a camera and played the role of a half-intrigued tourist. One great thing about the GRT is that you are permitted to alight the bus, run some errands, and board without paying an extra fare— as long as you don’t go past the one-hour time limit. Having that in mind, of course I made an ambitious agenda, grabbed my bus schedules and headed for my way. Here was the master plan:

• Charles Street Transportation Centre
• Kitchener City Hall & Region of Waterloo Office
• Victoria Park
• Fairview Park Mall
• Galt and the School of Architecture

Here we go.

BUS RIDE:
I was waiting for the bus and snapped a picture of Shima’s old WRCI Hammar building. Here was what’s left of it as they’ve decided to finally renovate the building. And about time too. I can just see where Shima and Ghrace’s room was. Lots of interesting memories were created there, including our dreaded Tree Ecology project.

Anyways, I patiently waited boarded the GRT 7 Bus bound for downtown. As we head down King Street, I quickly realized how packed the bus was. I would say the state of passenger density was comparable to a Steeles Express bus during rush hour. (Steeles buses are slightly larger, however.) I am also suprised at the diversity of people taking the bus, it was a spectrum of ethnicities and ranging from teenage students to cane-using seniors. Again, similar to the Steeles Express bus.

I think over the years, I have received the perception that:
(a) No one really takes the shitty GRT.
(b) KW (excluding UW/WLU campus limits) remains a settlement for primarily of European Canadians.

I guess KW is more urban than I imagined. Despite being optimistic about the changes in KW in the next decades (Rememeber this entry?).

TRANSPORTATION CENTRE:
I arrive at the Kitchener Transportation Centre, which by the way has
been changed to the Charles Street Transportation Centre to avoid confusion, since there’s a new one at the Highland Hills Power Centre. Anyways, I had to get my old $2.00-fare tickets in exchange for the new $2.25-fare tickets. I know, it only took me 1.5 years to do it.

REGION OF WATERLOO / KITCHENER CITY HALL
After that, I did my LRT Video business with the folks at the Region and the City of Kitchener. Yaddy yadda. Skip that. After coming out of the Kitchener City Hall, I must commend them for the great use of urban space there. Yes, this too is to my suprise. I hardly see this neck of the woods in the daytime, so it’s a little jarring for me. People enjoying the sprinking water. People huddled around having a coffee. People just overall enjoying the sunshine.

There are quite a lot of people lounging and using the small space. I know, it is somewhat of a replica of Nathan Phillips Square with the similar skating rink / water fountain exhibit. Both structures have got even a similar dome shape in the centre. Maybe because it’s newer, I like Kitchener City Hall more. Toronto City Hall just looks like a dated slab arc of cement.

VICTORIA PARK
Off to Victoria Park. Victoria Park is definitely quite an attractive area. You should see the homes surrouding that area. Quite marvelous. It gives off a luxious cottage vibe. I know if I had more architectural knowledge, maybe that would’ve helped to better communicate what I mean.

Anyways, you might recognize this monumental clock facing Gaukel Street. Well, it used to be on the top of the beautiful old Kitchener City Hall before it was demolished for Urban Renewal (See picture below). Sigh. Now, the site is occupied the bland Market Square, which evidently was the home of Eatons (and later Sears) at one point. I really picture this area being a retail hub. It’s quite interesting. I’ve noticed that the KW Record offices have moved out of their dingy place in the suburbs across from Fairview Park, and moved back into the the central core at King and Scott. Good for them.

FAIRVIEW PARK
Then, off to Fairview for some long awaited shopping. What’s a tourist adventure without shopping? In good timing too, because my ass wallet was starting to get itchy. And no Gold Bond will help relieve it. Maybe I’m just way too accustomed to my parent’s tours and other fobby roadtrips, where there is always a pitstop somewhere where we can splurge our cash on outlet bargain paraphernalia.

At Fairview was where I unexpectedly met up with Leo, where we shopped, but unfortunately, not ‘til we dropped. I did get a few things, but it was disappointing overall. That mall needs a serious makeover. The outside facade is right now dingy, and just gives off a ghetto-vibe. The mall, which was constructed in 1966 still really looks like it was built in the 60s. Haha. Even our Markville back in the Mark’s Ham has seen an extensive renovation in the past years— and it was built in 1980s!

GALT & THE SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE:
Leo and I then ventured to one of Cambridge’s magnificent downtowns: Galt. But before one arrives there, one must drive through the wonderous Hespeler Road. This road is indeed the epitomy of uncontrolled sprawling development. A 7-lane route, surrrounded by an assortment of fast food joints, discount retailers, dollar stores, and strip clubs. Also, you’ve got the highest concentration of big box at the Highway exit; you name it, they have it. Walmart, Home Depot, Sam’s Club, Rona, and those smaller big box parasites: Old Navy, Business Depot, Future Shop, Michaels, the list goes on.

It just depresses me every time I’m there. It reminds me some routes spilling off the Interstate in Western New York. Just scary. I must not forget the bumper-to-bumper traffic for miles. Just awful.

After some bit traffic frustration, the signs of rapid sprawl begins to fade. Then all of a sudden, I recognize from a distance that tall church beside the Architecture site that I regularly see in the School of Architecture photos.

We were here. Wow, Galt is breathtaking. Just for a second, I questioned whether I was actually in Canada. It was so different from the places I’m used to seeing here. Man, I really encourage people to really get down there and take a look at this place.

Leo and I head across the bridge across the Grand River and to the Architecture building. As I continue to look around I begin to develop a great feeling of resentment. Those lucky Architecture bastards.

Across the street from tbe building, I noticed that there was a cookie cutter senior citizens’ home that looks identical to the one next to the Edward R. Good Funeral Home on King Street, Waterloo. WTF? I was shocked. lol. Though I guess Yee Hong is doing the same cookie cutter technique too.

Back to the Architecture building. I understand that the shotty Waterloo campus is definitely not an inspiring place to for architectural productivity, but this place? Fuck. It was just enviously amazing.

We head inside. Resentment builds. We visit the Architecture library and get reacquainted with the books that once sat in the UMD Library in ES1. It definitely brings a tear to my eye the environment in which they work. The breathtaking exterior view from the clear windows. The impressive computer and design facilities. The interiors look astonishing.

Why am I not an architect again?

We ventured more upstairs into the studio space and spy on what they were working on. We didn’t expect to see much, as it was the end of April and the term should start to wrap up.

We were wrong. There was quite a lot of people finishing off some projects. I then bumped into a long-time acquantance back in first-year. I forget her name, but she’s a close friend with my former floormate Greg. We caught up with each other. I told her how envious I was of this great facility she gets to work with. To my surprise, she told me that she’s really not happy here.

Her expression really shows. Very long face. Looks a bit exhasted. Teary eyes.

I suppose I might have caught her at a wrong time. She then told me something that I’d never forget, “It’s like were a bunch of whores that they decided to move down here, and even further alienate us from the others.”

I was awestruck.

I know the School has always been indepenedent from other departments, but it must be awful to have that segregation augmented with the obstacles of geography. Leo and I left and walked around along the street. Several things I notice:
(1) Why is the setback on Melville Street so short? I think I’m being generous when I say there’s about a metre between the street and the new spinoff stores across from the School. I swear, someone is going to open one of those doors and an incoming pedestrian is going to break his/her nose.
(2) There definitely needs further economic development strategies in this area. Other than some pesky skater kids, the streets were practically barren.
(3) Galt has so much potential to be a great downtown. It’s elegent. It’s beautiful. It’s breathtaking.

This pretty much concludes my trip across this great Region. I hope you all made it this far in the entry. I’d definitely like to hear what you have to say about your tourist-y experiences in the area, especially the topic of Galt and the School of Architecture.