Rediscovering Queen Victoria Park, Kitchener – Where Childhood Memories Come to Life

 There’s something beautifully nostalgic about revisiting a place from your childhood—the way the past and present blur, and for a moment, you’re both who you are now and who you once were. 

That’s exactly what happened to me when I recently spent an afternoon at Queen Victoria Park in Kitchener.

As I wandered down the familiar tree-lined paths and across the quaint footbridge, it was like stepping into a cherished memory. This was the park we used to visit whenever we went to see my grandmother. I could almost hear her voice, telling me not to run too close to the water, even as I darted toward it anyway, excited to see the ducks and swans.

Decades later, I was delighted (and honestly a little emotional) to find that the wildlife still comes right up to you—completely unafraid. 

The ducks waddled over with curiosity, the swans glide past in their usual elegance, and the squirrels, funny and bold as ever, pause just a few feet away before enjoying the peanuts. Songbirds chirp overhead, and blue jays and squirrels are old mates.

It’s not every day you find a place where animals still trust people this much. But here, in Queen Victoria Park, it’s clear they’ve been treated with kindness over the years. That level of trust is familiar in Ontario—and Canada. It says a lot about this community and the generations of visitors who’ve respected and loved this space.

The creek that flows through here is Schneider Creek and still looks the same, so whether you’re there for a quiet stroll, a moment of reflection, or just a chance to feed a few curious ducks, Queen Victoria Park doesn’t disappoint.

If you haven’t been in a while, go. Take your lunch, your kids, your camera—or just your memories. You’ll leave with a full heart. I certainly did.