Photo courtesy of the City of Cambridge Archives
May 17, 1974 was a sunny day, yet the Grand River breached its banks and caused massive flooding in downtown Cambridge, Ontario. The river had a normal depth in May of about 0.61 m (or 2 feet) - during the flood its depth peaked at more than 5 metres, or 18 feet.
On May 4, 2024 the Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre and many community partners staged a 50th Anniversary commemorative event at the Museum, in Civic Square and at City Hall, and throughout downtown Cambridge.
Event Schedule - Here's What Happened on May 4, 2024
Ongoing Events - Here's What is Happening in the days, weeks and months following May 4, 2024
Friday, May 3 to Thursday, May 9
The Unseen Photos of the Great Flood of ‘74 - Photo Exhibit
Location: Idea Exchange Old Post Office, 12 Water Street South
Cost: Free
From the floor to ceiling glass walls in the Riverview Room, look out upon the Grand River and compare the River today with a selection of photo enlargements of the raging water during the 1974 flood, borrowed from public and private collections.
On exhibit from Friday, May 3 to Thursday, May 9 during library open hours - Check the Idea Exchange website for their daily hours.
The Unseen Photos of the Great Flood of ‘74 - Photo Exhibit
Location: Idea Exchange Old Post Office, 12 Water Street South
Cost: Free
From the floor to ceiling glass walls in the Riverview Room, look out upon the Grand River and compare the River today with a selection of photo enlargements of the raging water during the 1974 flood, borrowed from public and private collections.
On exhibit from Friday, May 3 to Thursday, May 9 during library open hours - Check the Idea Exchange website for their daily hours.
The Unseen Photos of the Great Flood of '74
sponsored by Water's Edge Environmental Solutions Team
sponsored by Water's Edge Environmental Solutions Team
Saturday mornings through December 28, 2024
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
The Great Flood of '74 - Exhibit
Location: Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre
Cost: Free
A rapid spring thaw or heavy rain upstream caused the waters to rise and potentially spill over the banks of the waterways. Often the rushing waters washed away bridges and flooded low-lying areas such as Preston’s Riverside Park and Galt’s downtown, leaving behind massive ice flows or other debris, while inundating homes and businesses. Many local residents remember Hurricane Hazel in 1954, and the flood of May 1974, but there have been many floods throughout the city's history.
See the Fire Hall Museum's new exhibit about floods and flooding, and water rescue in Cambridge - with a focus on the 1974 flood. And hear remembrances of local residents who lived through the Great Flood of ’74, collected during the winter of 2024. Produced by Amazing Cambridge Ontario.
9:30 am to 12:30 pm
The Great Flood of '74 - Exhibit
Location: Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre
Cost: Free
A rapid spring thaw or heavy rain upstream caused the waters to rise and potentially spill over the banks of the waterways. Often the rushing waters washed away bridges and flooded low-lying areas such as Preston’s Riverside Park and Galt’s downtown, leaving behind massive ice flows or other debris, while inundating homes and businesses. Many local residents remember Hurricane Hazel in 1954, and the flood of May 1974, but there have been many floods throughout the city's history.
See the Fire Hall Museum's new exhibit about floods and flooding, and water rescue in Cambridge - with a focus on the 1974 flood. And hear remembrances of local residents who lived through the Great Flood of ’74, collected during the winter of 2024. Produced by Amazing Cambridge Ontario.
Sunday, May 5 to Saturday, May 11, 2024
Emergency Preparedness Week 2024
Everyone has a role to play in an emergency. Emergency Preparedness Week is an opportunity for you to take action to ensure you are prepared to protect yourself, your family and your community during an emergency. This year, the theme is Be Prepared. Know Your Risks. The intent of the theme is to encourage Canadians to understand the risks in their area and learn what actions they can take to protect themselves and their families.
Emergency Preparedness Week 2024
Everyone has a role to play in an emergency. Emergency Preparedness Week is an opportunity for you to take action to ensure you are prepared to protect yourself, your family and your community during an emergency. This year, the theme is Be Prepared. Know Your Risks. The intent of the theme is to encourage Canadians to understand the risks in their area and learn what actions they can take to protect themselves and their families.
Opening Friday, May 17, 2024 to the end of December 2024
Currents of Change: Inspiring Action along the Grand River - Exhibit
Location: McDougall Cottage, 89 Grand Avenue South
Cost: Free
See McDougall Cottage's new exhibit - Currents of Change: Inspiring Action along the Grand River.
Stretching from Dundalk to Lake Erie, the Grand River watershed is home to around one million people, 90 species of fish, and 250 species of birds. It is also a main source of drinking water for these populations. Through a blend of history, ecology, and Indigenous and settler narratives, this captivating exhibit at McDougall Cottage examines the profound and dynamic connection between the Grand River, Cambridge’s heritage, and our collective future.
Come discover the shared responsibility for the River’s preservation and learn what can be done to help protect this vital resource for future generations.
Check the McDougall Cottage Historic Site website for their regular hours.
Currents of Change: Inspiring Action along the Grand River - Exhibit
Location: McDougall Cottage, 89 Grand Avenue South
Cost: Free
See McDougall Cottage's new exhibit - Currents of Change: Inspiring Action along the Grand River.
Stretching from Dundalk to Lake Erie, the Grand River watershed is home to around one million people, 90 species of fish, and 250 species of birds. It is also a main source of drinking water for these populations. Through a blend of history, ecology, and Indigenous and settler narratives, this captivating exhibit at McDougall Cottage examines the profound and dynamic connection between the Grand River, Cambridge’s heritage, and our collective future.
Come discover the shared responsibility for the River’s preservation and learn what can be done to help protect this vital resource for future generations.
Check the McDougall Cottage Historic Site website for their regular hours.
Thank You!
Many individuals and organizations helped to commemorate the Great Flood of ’74 – with displays, exhibits, walking tours and so much more!
Thank you to everyone who participated in and attended the event.
Many individuals and organizations helped to commemorate the Great Flood of ’74 – with displays, exhibits, walking tours and so much more!
Thank you to everyone who participated in and attended the event.
Community Members Who Shared
Memories and Photographs Sandy Barrie Deborah Brethauer Joan M. Brown Shaun Coleman Doug Dakin Ken DePodesta Don Drews Mary Esther Everett Ron Foreman Greg Gowing Michelle Hogan Joe Mandel Alistair McIlwraith Charlie Scozzari Bill Shortreed Lorraine Shuttleworth and Family Tom Smith Randy Spencer Joe Tudisco Randy Walker Speakers
Ken DePodesta Dan Schmalz Frank Smith Tom Smith Jane’s Walk Tour Guides
Christian Aagaard Philip Klassen-Rempel Scott Roberts Rebecca Smithers Ingrid Talpak Hayden Ward Media
Cambridge Times Cambridge Today CBC Kitchener-Waterloo CityNews 570 Emily Rowsell Content Creator + Photographer Waterloo Region Record Organizing Committee on behalf of the Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre
Rob Brisson Ray Martin Tom Reitz Ingrid Talpak |
Sponsors
City of Cambridge Community Grants Program Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre Water’s Edge Environmental Solutions Team Event Participants
Amazing Cambridge Ontario Cambridge Sculpture Garden City of Cambridge
Fire Hall Museum & Education Centre Grand River Conservation Authority Idea Exchange Old Post Office Jane’s Walk Waterloo Region Kiki McDonald Bridal Krajewski Gallery & Picture Framing McDougall Cottage Historic Site Thirteen Food & Beverage Region of Waterloo Paramedic Services University of Waterloo Library Special Collections & Archive Waterloo Regional Police Service And all the volunteers and staff from these organizations who supported the event! Downtown Businesses
F.J. Brown & Son Colour Dress Boutique Dental Art Clinic Encore Threads & Treasures House of Bamboo Cambridge Jolie Bras & Lingerie Kiki McDonald Bridal Krajewski Gallery and Framing Painted Out PAVA Consignment for Home and Garden Terry Polyak Reids Chocolate 13 Food and Beverage Witty & Co |