It was an ambitious project. Back in 2007, the CBC polled Canadians to pick the country’s seven wonders. The public broadcaster received about 25,000 nominations from coast to coast.
In the end, more than one million votes were cast. The judges — singer Ra McGuire, former Ontario ombudswoman Roberta Jamieson and author/columnist Roy MacGregor — whittled it down to 52 nominees before selecting the winners. The wonders were based on votes and certain criteria — Canadian-ness, a spectacular physical site, amazing human creation or ability to inspire, and they were spread across the nation.
Talk about a difficult task. The final seven included: Niagara Falls, Old Quebec City, Halifax’s Pier 21, the Rockies, Prairie skies, the canoe and igloo. It got me thinking, what are Waterloo Region’s seven wonders? Sure, the waterfall at Waterloo’s Erb Grist Mill is nothing compared to the roaring power of Niagara Falls.
And downtown Kitchener isn’t exactly Old Quebec City. Still, there are places, events and natural spaces that stick out here. And, like Canada’s wonders, picking just seven isn’t easy.
But I’ll give it a go. Note: people did not qualify. We’re a region of rivers but none is mightier than the Grand.
From Cambridge to Kitchener to Waterloo it is always there, whether you’re canoeing, fishing, hiking or simply driving over it. It is the biggest river in southern Ontario and some of our conservation areas and parks hug its banks as it flows from its sou.
