Contact the Geospatial Centre
Dana Porter Library, Room 328
University of Waterloo Library
Waterloo, Ontario N2L 3G1
Email: librarygeo@uwaterloo.ca
Below are a list of projects that have brought historical maps back to life:
University of Waterloo: Campus Green Spaces and Green Roofs
Map of campus green spaces. Explore our Green Roofs, Rooftop Gardens, and Green Spaces. Discover serene spots and sustainable urban greenery across campus.
University of Waterloo: Campus Progression Through Imagery
In 1958, the Waterloo College of Associate Faculties, not yet their own university, acquired approximately 200 acres of land on what is now the University of Waterloo's main campus. Over the next six decades, the university would go through massive development and grow to become a nationally and internationally acclaimed academic institution.
This StoryMap aims to show a progression of the university's main campus using orthoimagery, while providing a bit of history on the university's development.
University of Waterloo: Study Spots on Campus
If you're in search of a space on campus to study, this map may have just the spot for you.
Historical Air Photos
The Geospatial Centre air photo collection consists of paper images from 1930-2006. An interactive map shows the extent and years of coverage. The largest collection that covers Southern Ontario is the 1955 orthomoasic collection. Digitized images that cover the Region of Waterloo for the years 1930s-1970s are available to be ordered as well. Digital images are availalable in image and KML format. Please contact the Geospatial Centre for the order form.
Historical Maps: Past and Present
Peruse through some historical maps of the Region, Toronto and Ottawa, using the Swipe feature in ArcGIS Online.
1875 Structures of Kitchener
View a hand-drawn map of Berlin, and spot which structures still exist today.
Forgotten Homes of Kitchener
As part of the data analysis that Geospatial staff have conducted using transcribed and geocoded Vernon city directories, Geospatial Centre presents one of many themed story maps: The Forgotten Homes of Kitchener. This Story Map highlights a neighbourhood that was thriving with life - people, homes, streets and stories - but now in its place stands a parking lot. Let's resurface the past and honour the individuals who made a living and an impact in early Kitchener. For other themed maps, please visit Historical Vernon City Directories Mapped.
Kitchener Historical Vernon City Directories Mapped
Vernon City Directories from 1900-2000 have been digitized, transcribed, geocoded and mapped, resulting in an openly available searchable database, webmap, as well as multiple historical data product maps. Delve into the past and learn about the individuals who lived and worked in Berlin/Kitchener, as well as the numerous impactful manufacturers that have made what Kitchener is today.
Historical Maps of the Region of Waterloo
Several historical maps have been scanned and made available for viewing using the ArcGIS Online App Gallery.
Kitchener Historical Street Project (1853 - 1992)
This web map, created by the Geospatial Centre, shows the City of Kitchener's road network for various decades ranging from 1853 to 1992. This data was derived from digitized copies of old street maps of the city. It is intended to showcase the change in Kitchener's road network over the course of this time frame.
Downtown Kitchener Fire Insurance Plan of 1908 (revised and reprinted 1947)
As part of a much larger project to digitize building footprints from the Region of Waterloo Fire Insurance Plans, Geospatial Centre staff digitized the building parcels from the 1908 Kitchener Fire Insurance Plans (based on the zonal subdivision (1-54). Story Map is used to graphically illustrate the building shapefiles with detailed metadata. This second map is a comparison of Downtown Kitchener Building Footprints of 1917 & 1947.
A Historical Hike through the Forests of Waterloo Region: 1843 Vegetation Survey of Waterloo Region
This Story Map is the result of unpublished Masters (MES) research by Karrow, Thomas (2013), a published article by Thomas Karrow and Roger Suffling (2015) along with expertise from the staff at the University of Waterloo, Geospatial Centre.This website provides a database of known pre-settlement vegetation maps, created from early survey data. Three distinct 'metamaps' represent cartographic endeavours from different sources.