May 22, 2010
The news that the Queen will be coming to Waterloo Region in July has been splashed across the front pages recently, which is appropriate right before this long-weekend named after her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. In particular, Queen Elizabeth II will be here after Canada Day to visit RIM, which is representative of the one of the largest economic changes that has happened in this city since her last visit in 1973. The Waterloo Region Record has also mused about a number of other new organizations and buildings Her Majesty could visit while she is here that represent the cutting edge of academic thought.
The Record, however, has certainly missed some of the significant arts and culture developments that have happened here since 1973, which is unfortunate. These are the areas that our technology community leaders recognize as being vital to the success of attracting talent, and it is also the area where average community members can best engage with their city and with each other.
Last weekend, I attended the season-ending concert of the Renaissance Singers, which featured excerpts of coronations past, including the coronation of Queen Elizabeth from 1953 and her great-great-grandmother, Queen Victoria. This is the choir my spouse, Kate, has participated in and they always do a fabulous job of telling a story with music. The story of coronations is one of power and reverence, and how we view the occasions when we revere these changes tells us a story about ourselves and how we see our place in our society.
Next month, Waterloo Region will host the Magnetic North festival, which features contemporary Canadian theatre, and our community will be inundated with engaging and challenging ideas. In July, we can enjoy the 18th UpTown Waterloo Jazz Festival, which is supported by local businesses that know our enjoyment of our city is not only good for business, but good for our sense of community. And in August, we will welcome buskers from all over to our streets for the 22nd Annual Waterloo Busker Carnival to entertain us with their amazing performances.
These are on top of the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, the Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery, the Button Factory, the Museum, and numerous other galleries and festivals that enhance our understanding of ourselves and the world around us, or simply that provide creative outlets to the diverse talents of our community.
When she is here for her visit, Queen Elizabeth II will observe a technological innovation that has been a catalyst for economic development and vitality in our city, and she may observe some of the places from where the next great academic leaps will come. But I do hope that she has the opportunity to hear about some of the new great successes in arts and culture that have and continue to draw new residents to this community and a make it great place for all of us to live.