What’s in a name? Looking back at Berlin-to-Kitchener switch

Tom Reitz, curator and manager of the Waterloo Region Museum, stands in front of a display showing some of the names considered as part of the Berlin to Kitchener name change of 1916.

When the citizens of Berlin, Ontario decided to change their city’s name at the height of the First World War, it wasn’t an easy process.

First, in May 1916, the city voted to get rid of the Berlin moniker – without specifying what would replace it.

Civic leaders put together a committee that came up with dozens of options, which were then whittled down into a shortlist.

Viewed with 21st-century eyes, some of those original suggestions may seem downright odd. Who could imagine a city called Factoria, or Khaki, or Uranus, or Homeland?

Even the shortlisted names drew ridicule from far and wide, to the point that the group was tasked with coming up with a second, different set of possibilities.

There were also talks about amalgamating Berlin with its neighbour Waterloo, although those quickly proved fruitless.

Eventually, five names emerged for the final ballot – Adanac, Benton, Brock, Corona and Keowana.

Kitchener was added to the list later, after the death at sea of Lord Horatio Herbert Kitchener, one of the leaders of the British military.

Voting day was set for June 28, 1916. When it rolled around, thousands of Berlin’s 5,000 eligible voters stayed home. Others wrote in to keep the name Berlin, or merge with Waterloo.

In the end, 346 votes were enough for Kitchener to carry the day and become the city’s new name – beating Brock by “a slim margin,” according to Waterloo Region Museum manager Tom Reitz.

A quick survey of people in downtown Kitchener Tuesday afternoon revealed a community still split over which name it likes best for its city.

“I think that I like Benton – simple, to the point, and it’s already taken from a street that’s in the city,” said one woman.

One man said he’d prefer Waterloo or Wellington, but ultimately came down on the side of Kitchener as best choice of those available.

“Keowana just sounds nice, but I think it’s a poor choice for a name of a city,” he said.

Another man, who said he arrived in Canada in 2007, expressed preference for Kitchener – saying it wouldn’t feel right for the city to have any other name.

One woman liked the “unique” sound of Keowana, while another opted for Brock.

“Is it bad to say Corona? It’s a beer. There’s positive connotation there,” said another woman.

Even the city’s mayor weighed in, saying that he thought voters made a good decision a century ago.

“Adanac – Canada spelled backwards – had a pretty good ring to it, but I’m pretty proud to be mayor of Kitchener,” said Berry Vrbanovic.

The Waterloo Region Museum is featuring the referendum as part of its City on Edge exhibit looking at life in the city in 1916, and also hosting a mock vote with the original, 1916 choices.

As of Tuesday afternoon, Benton was in the lead.

With reporting by Marc Venema