Flames of Change – How Galt Burned and Rose from the Ashes
Saturday, May 3, 2025
Since the first European settlers arrived at the confluence of Mill Creek and the Grand River, fire has been a constant threat to a growing community.
To mark Emergency Preparedness Week, the Fire Hall Museum – working with many community partners – highlights the major fires in the 1800s, 1900s and early 2000s that impacted the Cambridge downtown that we know today, and how we have and can all work together to prepare for and recover from emergencies.
Visit the Cambridge Public Library Old Post Office to see a photo exhibit showing some of these fires. Take a Jane's Walk guided tour along Main Street to Civic Square to see the sites of these fires and how the streetscapes have changed. The Cambridge Fire Department and other emergency services will be at Civic Square at Cambridge City Hall with equipment and displays to show how the city is prepared to deal with emergencies today.
Take in an outdoor photo exhibit showing large fires in Cambridge. Shop for pottery at the Centre for the Arts. Explore our changing communities through the worlds of history, art and science presented by museums and galleries from across Waterloo Region and Wellington County.
Learn more about Flames of Change
Flames of Change event Sparks Fire Safety in Cambridge
Flames of Change Explores How Fires Shaped Cambridge's Core
Partners
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Flames of Change Photo Exhibit
Cambridge Public Library Old Post Office, 12 Water Street South
Thursday, May 1 through Monday, May 12, 2025
Open during Library hours
Free admission
See photos of downtown Cambridge showing buildings before, during and after major fires that have happened during more than 100 years. Explore buildings that were lost, how streetscapes have changed, and what has taken these buildings’ place today.
Cambridge Public Library Old Post Office, 12 Water Street South
Thursday, May 1 through Monday, May 12, 2025
Open during Library hours
Free admission
See photos of downtown Cambridge showing buildings before, during and after major fires that have happened during more than 100 years. Explore buildings that were lost, how streetscapes have changed, and what has taken these buildings’ place today.
Flames of Change Jane's Walk
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A 30 to 45-minute guided walking tour along Main Street to Civic Square to see the sites of major fires in downtown Cambridge and how the streetscapes have changed. Two tours will be offered, with the assembly point for each at the Cambridge Public Library Old Post Office; tours will end at the Fire Hall Museum.
For more Jane's Walks taking place across Waterloo Region, check their website.
For more Jane's Walks taking place across Waterloo Region, check their website.
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Emergency Preparedness Week – Be Prepared. Know Your Risks.
Civic Square, Cambridge City Hall, Dickson Street Saturday, May 3, 2025 9:30 am to 2 pm Free admission Natural hazards may be beyond our control, but there are ways to reduce the risk and the impact of whatever emergency we might face. The City of Cambridge, the Cambridge Fire Department, and other emergency services will be at Civic Square with equipment and displays to show how the city is prepared to deal with emergencies today. Learn about fire safety in your home in the Fire Hazard House - courtesy of the Cambridge Fire Department. Get hands-on experience with a portable fire extinguisher using the virtual reality simulator courtesy of Tactik 360. Learn how you and your family should prepare for an emergency at home, in your neighbourhood, or in the wider community. To learn more about Emergency Preparedness Week 2025, check here! |
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Iroquois Hotel Fire, 1975
Flames of Change Photo Exhibit
Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre
Saturday, May 3, 2005
9:30 am to 2 pm
Free admission
See photos of some of the major fires that have impacted the streetscapes of downtown Cambridge. On exhibit in the outdoor courtyard attached to the north side of the Fire Hall Museum – access through the Fire Hall Museum and/or directly from City of Cambridge Civic Square.
This outdoor exhibit will be open on Saturdays through October 25, 2025 during the Fire Hall Museum’s regular hours.
Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre
Saturday, May 3, 2005
9:30 am to 2 pm
Free admission
See photos of some of the major fires that have impacted the streetscapes of downtown Cambridge. On exhibit in the outdoor courtyard attached to the north side of the Fire Hall Museum – access through the Fire Hall Museum and/or directly from City of Cambridge Civic Square.
This outdoor exhibit will be open on Saturdays through October 25, 2025 during the Fire Hall Museum’s regular hours.
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Get Cultural with the Waterloo Wellington Museums and Galleries
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Waterloo Region and Wellington County are home to great museums, art galleries and related educational organizations that entertain, educate, and expand visitors’ relationships with the visual arts, history, and science. Each in their own way, they explore the changing communities in which we live. Many of these organizations will be on hand today to share what they do, and the exhibits and events being held throughout 2025 - with hands-on interactive activities.
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Pottery Sale
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Firing – the process of turning clay into ceramic – takes lots of heat and sometimes fire and flame. See dozens of vendors selling their unique handmade pottery all weekend, next door to the Fire Hall Museum, at the Cambridge Centre for the Arts. Check out the FREE wheel-throwing demonstration area in the Centre’s Amphitheatre.
