Victoria Park Lakeside Panorama, Kitchener ON Canada

A June walk through Victoria Park, featuring scenic views and lakeside reflections. Described as a natural jewel in downtown Kitchener, the park was constructed in 1894 on 11 hectares (28 acres) of land adjacent to Schneider Creek, purchased by the Town of Berlin (renamed after the late British Field Marshal Herbert Kitchener, 1st Earl Kitchener, in September 1916) from Samuel B. Schneider, a descendant of early Pennsylvania-German settler Joseph Schneider, whose 1820 homestead stands nearby as Schneider Haus National Historic Site. The park’s lake was excavated in two years for the park’s opening on August 27, 1896. The 1896 Roos Island Band Stand was replaced by a square structure in early 1950. That one was subsequently replaced in 1985 with a near-replica of the original 1896 octagonal design. It was restored again in 2022, and is accompanied by a stone marker stating (in part): "In 2022, Kitchener Rotary celebrated 100 years of service in the City of Kitchener. To recognize the continued commitment of Kitchener Rotary to the community, a donation wa s provided to assist in rebuilding the Victoria Park Band Stand." The original wooden Pavilion opened on August 15, 1902. It was destroyed by an unknown arsonist on March 24, 1916. Mayor L. O. Breithaupt opened its brick replacement on August 7, 1924. The 1929 two storey boathouse was damaged in an electrical fire on February 4, 1967; it was restyled and renovated. A plaque mounted near its entrance states: "In commemoration of the historic Boathouse in Victoria Park, Kitchener, Ontario, this plaque pays tribute to its remarkable journey through time. Originally constructed as a five-bay wooden building, the boathouse underwent a transformative evolution in 1929 when it was replaced by a magnificent two-storey brick structure. Serving as a hub for recreational activities, the Boathouse provided storage for rowboats on racks and offered rentals for those seeking leisurely rides on the serene waters of Victoria Park Lake. During winter months, the storage areas were ingeniously repurposed as skate changing rooms, fostering a sense of community and camaraderie. However, a devastating fire in 1967 ravaged the upper storey, leading to a redesign that introduced a stylish 1960s-inspired roof. throughout the 20th century, the Boathouse has continued to serve as versatile venue, accommodating boat rentals, skating, and concession stands. Its rich history witnessed various transformations, for a tea house to a pub, and most recently, a vibrant bar featuring live music. this plaque stands as a testament to the Boathouse's enduring legacy and its integral role in the cultural fabric of Kitchener, Ontario." The Friedensfest 1871 Denkmal (Peace Festival 1871 Memorial), surmounted by a 1.3 metre high bust of German Kaiser Wilhelm I, was unveiled on August 13, 1897 to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the original May 2, 1871 Berlin (Ontario) festival celebrating the German victory in the 1871 Franco-Prussian War and the end of major 19th century European hostilities. The bust was vandalized and tossed into the lake on August 23, 1914. Retrieved three weeks later and stored for safe-keeping at the Concordia Club, it was stolen by a military-civilian mob on February 15, 1915 and disappeared, allegedly melted down. To quell local wartime divisions, the Parks Board ordered its base destroyed and removed on March 1st, 1916. With the city’s approval, the German-Canadian Business and Professional Association rebuilt the Peace Memorial’s granite base, sans bust but with an explanatory plaque on the park’s centenary in 1996. The bronze statue of Queen Victoria was unveiled by Governor-General Earl Grey on May 29, 1911. The cannon at its base (the park's oldest object) was borrowed from Kingston Militia Stores in 1895. The pedestal bears two inscriptions. The first says, “Victoria, Queen, Empress, / A Model Wife and Mother. / Beloved, Admired, Revered, / She Shall Live In The / Hearts of Her People.” The second says, “Erected by / the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire, / Princess of Wales Chapter, / Berlin 1909.” The Victoria statue was vandalized with red paint on July 1, 2021, and again (with the addition of the slogan “Every Child Matters”) on August 14, 2021, in outrage about Canada’s colonial history in the 2021 discoveries of unmarked indigenous children’s graves at former Indian Residential Schools. In response to demands to remove the controversial namesake statue, city council posted a sign at the statue, stating: "This statue of Queen Victoria was installed in 1911. Since that time, much has been learned about the history of colonialism in Canada. The cultural harm and erasure inflicted on First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples is a direct result of this colonialism. The City of Kitchener acknowledges that the presence of this statue in Victoria Park may contribute to that ongoing harm. We are curr e ntly working with municipal partners and local Indigenous, racialized and marginalized communities to move towards reconciliation and a more equitable city. This includes making decisions about our statues, place names and more. For more information, please visit Kitchener.ca/Reconciliation" Renewal and replication have largely preserved the park’s Victorian period charm; controversy has marked its two public statues. Throughout, the park’s administration continues to adapt Victoria Park to Kitchener’s evolving cultural landscape. For more information about the park, refer to "Victoria Park: 100 Years of a Park and Its People" by rych mills & the Victoria Park 100th birthday Historical Committee (1996, Kitchener, Ontario)

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