Experience life in Kitchener and Waterloo, Ontario through the eyes of 57 residents (including 36 students from the Waterloo Centennial School). Last October, they captured the people, places and happenings of their hometown for the latest installment of WNED-TV’s OUR TOWN series.

The volunteer filmmakers videotaped specific topics of interest or unique town assets, including parks, historic sites and community celebrations. Their video footage was edited and compiled into the television program, OUR TOWN: Kitchener/Waterloo. The volunteers also were interviewed about the topics they covered, and their commentary serves as the narration behind the program.

The resulting “video scrapbook” premieres on WNED-TV during an on-air membership campaign Monday, March 3 at 8 pm. (OUR TOWN: Niagara On the Lake follows at 9:30 pm.) A DVD of the program, including bonus material produced by the Centennial School students, will be offered.

Altogether, the program showcases a region known as much for its high-tech innovation as for preserving and honoring its cultural heritage. Segments highlight one of the largest Oktoberfest events in the world; historic King Street; the influence of the area’s large Mennonite population; and Waterloo’s designation as the 2007 “Intelligent Community of the Year.”

Underwriting assistance for the Kitchener/Waterloo production was provided by Coldwell Banker/Peter Benninger Realty. The Waterloo Community Arts Centre and the City of Waterloo provided production support and the Waterloo Chronicle and 98.5 FM CKWR offered promotional support.

Since 2003, WNED has produced nine other OUR TOWN programs, featuring Niagara-on-the-Lake, Welland, Oakville and Markham in Ontario, Canada, and Jamestown, East Aurora, Kenmore/Tona-wanda, Lockport, and Ellicottville in Western New York. The series adopts the concept of “a day in the life” picture books, using video instead of photographs.

For more information, visit wned.org.

WNED-TV is a station of the Western New York Public Broadcasting Association (WNYPBA), whose mission is to provide high quality programming and services that enlighten, inspire, entertain and educate.  WNYPBA also includes ThinkBright Lifelong Learning, WNED-AM 970 The Information Station and Classical 94.5/WNED.

OUR TOWN: Kitchener/Waterloo
Topics: Children’s Museum ● The Grand River ● Multicultural Community ● Rockway Garden ● Heritage Buildings ● Oktoberfest ● Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade ● CKWR Radio ● St. Andrew’s Church ● Building Heasley Playground ● Seniors ● Uptown Waterloo ● Entertainment Venues ● Victoria Park ● Universities ● Indy Music Venues ● St. Jacobs Farmers Market ● Doon Village ● Salsa Dancing ● Intelligent Community

Volunteers: Stephen Andrews ● Philip Bast ● Clive Bilewitz ● Caroline de Gruchy ● Sher DiCiccio ● Shirley Fowely ● Mike Hayes ● Celia Jones ● James Leiper ● Benton Leong ● Steve Lindt ● Tom McBride & Kevin Watt (with Centennial School Students) ● Roger Montgomery ● Tim Osland ● Jan Purvis ● Mallory Richard ● Terence Scully ● Chuck Snider ● Looey Tremblay ● Mark Whaley

Centennial Students: Cameron Adams ● Allison Bender ● Alexa Burgoyne ● Ellen Case ● Carling Coyles ● Samantha Farnham ● Alex Gatea ● Kaitlyn Jacklin ● Laura Kim ● Nina Kornilovsky ● Alex Lee ● Kerri Lee ● Melissa Lee ● Socrates Li ● Jerry Liu ● David Lu ● Aaron Mallett ● Paige McDonnell ● Samantha Murray ● Kristina Parker ● Daniel Penner ● Janelle Quinn ● Adrienne Rinne ● Kira Scheffelmeier ● Philip Sedore ● Roshni Sharma ● Kaiwen Song ● Sarah Strban ● Herie Sun ● Kayleigh Swanson ● Janelle Tam ● Emma Thacker ● Jessica Tjong ● Victoria Waind ● Connor Weir ● Tony Zhang

Bonus Topics on DVD (produced by Centennial School Students): Waterloo Park ● Butterfly Conservatory ● RIM (Research in Motion) Park ● Whole Lot-A-Gelata ● Laurel Creek