City Commercial Core in Kitchener in Waterloo Region, Ontario — Central Canada (North America)

William Lyon Mackenzie King, 1874-1950

William Lyon Mackenzie King, Marker image. Click for full size.

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 31, 2024

1. William Lyon Mackenzie King, Marker

Inscription.
Canada's tenth prime minister was born in Berlin (Kitchener) on December 17, 1874. A grandson of William Lyon Mackenzie, he joined the Canadian civil service in 1900 as a specialist in labour relations. Elected to the federal parliament as Liberal member for Waterloo North in 1908, he served as minister of labour, 1909-11, under Sir Wilfrid Laurier. In 1919 he became leader of the Liberal party and prime minister in 1921. Thereafter King continued to lead the government until 1948 except for a brief interval in 1926 and the term of 1930-35. His tenure of over twenty-one years was longer than that of any other prime minister in the Commonwealth.

Erected by Ontario Archaeological and Historic Sites Board.

Topics and series. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Government & Politics. In addition, it is included in the Canada, Ontario Heritage Trust series list. A significant historical date for this entry is December 17, 1874.

Location. 43° 27.19′ N, 80° 29.18′ W. Marker is in Kitchener, Ontario, in Waterloo Region. It is in City Commercial Core. It is at the intersection of Queen Street North and Ahrens Street East,

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on the right when traveling north on Queen Street North. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 80 Queen St N, Kitchener ON N2H 2H1, Canada. Touch for directions.

Regionally, this marker is in the Huron-Perth-Waterloo-Wellington Area

and in Southwestern Ontario.

It is also in Central Canada.

Globally, it is in North America,

the Western Hemisphere,

the Western World,

and the Anglosphere.

Historically, it finds itself in what was once a British colony,

the Viceroyalty of New France,

the Haudenosaunee (Iroquois) Confederacy,

and Rupert’s Land.

Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: World Trade Center (about 120 meters away, measured in a direct line); Waterloo County (about 150 meters away); Waterloo County Registry Office (about 150 meters away); Kitchener Cenotaph (approx. 0.3 kilometers away); St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Parish (approx. 0.4 kilometers away); Friedensfest 1871 Denkmal (approx. one kilometer away); Centennial of Victoria Park (1896-1996) (approx. one kilometer away); Joseph Schneider Haus (approx. 1.1

Photographed by Tim Boyd, March 31, 2024

2. William Lyon Mackenzie King Marker

kilometers away). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Kitchener.

Also see . . . Dictionary of Canadian Biography - King, William Lyon Mackenzie.

William Lyon Mackenzie King had a long political career. He was leader of the Liberal Party for 29 eventful years through the buoyant expansion of the 1920s, the depression of the 1930s, the shock of World War II, and then the post-war reconstruction, and for 21 of these years he was Canada’s prime minister. His decisions during this time contributed significantly to the shaping of Canada and to its development as an influential middle power in world affairs.

(Submitted on April 3, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario.)

William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1919 image. Click for full size.

3. William Lyon Mackenzie King in 1919

Source: Library and Archives Canada (Public domain)

Credits. This page was last revised on March 1, 2025. It was originally submitted on April 3, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. This page has been viewed 306 times since then and 54 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on April 3, 2024, by Tim Boyd of Hamilton, Ontario. • Andrew Ruppenstein was the editor who published this page.