In Waterloo Region, the future is now. As one of the fastest-growing high tech sectors in the country, Waterloo Region leads the world in innovation and inspiration.

According to Canada’s Technology Triangle, Waterloo Region’s population growth for the year’s 1996 to 2001 was twice the national average. More than 44-hundred new residential units were built in 2004 alone. And the Region’s employment rate was the third best in Ontario. (Source: CTT: Prosperity Waterloo Community & Statistical Profile)

With growth comes opportunity. More jobs and investment means a better quality of life for everyone.

Now, the city of Cambridge is poised to profit even more from this high tech revolution.

The city’s new Civic Administration Building will push the city into the 21st Century. Combing innovative architecture and cutting-edge environmental features, the new headquarters will put Cambridge on the map as a progressive and forward-thinking community.

“This is going to become a signature property,” says John Tennant, CEO of Canada’s Technology Triangle, Waterloo Region’s economic development organization.

“It’s going to portray a city that has a claim towards excellence in design.”

Previously, the city’s administrative headquarters had been squeezed into a smaller, leased building. Now the city with have a home to call its own.

“The fiscal reality is, we were losing taxpayers dollars on a building that didn’t belong to us. Three-quarters of a million dollars,” says Ward 4 Councillor Ben Tucci.

“We’re not going to be leasing any more.”

A lack of self-confidence as a community reflects itself in a self-conscious business environment. Now, with the new civic headquarters, Cambridge no longer needs to be self-conscious.

“From the municipality’s perspective, not having its own home left people to suspect what the future held,” says Greg Durocher, President of the Cambridge Chamber of Commerce.

Durocher says now, that lingering doubt about the future will be erased.

The Chamber’s Board and Government Policy Committee have reviewed the new building’s financing, design and site plan aspects. The Chamber believes the new headquarters will provide added value to downtown redevelopment.

The new administrative building and civic square will not only enhance the downtown area. They will boost the city’s economy by attracting more highly skilled and talented people to the community. Lifestyle issues are important to attracting top level talent to the city. By positioning itself as an environmentally friendly and progressive city, Cambridge is now the perfect place for an executive and his or her family to call home.

“In today’s world, people are attracted by lifestyle issues,” says Tennant.

“People are attracted by the history of downtown areas and heritage, creating an ambiance for cultural tradition.”

That cultural tradition, with a rich history in Galt, Hespeler and Preston, will also draw tourists to the city. They will come to enjoy parades, concerts and other cultural events in the downtown area. They will visit heritage buildings and breathe new life into our historic past.

Tourists will also eat at local restaurants, shop in local stores and visit the farmers’ market, injecting badly needed dollars into our economy. It’s possible that downtown Cambridge could become a leading tourist destination in the years to come.

“The downtown is going to be another Niagara-on-the-Lake,” predicts Tucci.

Let’s hope so. Certainly, Cambridge is positioning itself for a bright and interesting future.