Thank you to everyone who shared their stories, photos or videos about The Aud this spring! The video commemorating The Aud’s 70th anniversary featuring your content is now available on this page and on YouTube. Come back and visit this page any time to see the video and read through everyone’s memories.

  • Memories with dad

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    Two memories to share.

    1) As a kid, my dad and I would go to the Ranger games most Friday nights. The deal was to meet my uncles and my cousins at the south end under the big old KW Record clock.


    2) One time my dad was able to get his bosses seasons tickets for the game. They were on the rails, two seats from the visitors penalty box. This was mid 1960's, no glass.

    talk about making sure you were paying attention.


    - Stephen Gaudet

  • Garfield Bender

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    In the early 50’s, the auditorium brand new, Garfield Bender gathered singers from Waterloo County schools. He was the music consultant for the public school board. I was in Grade 6 or 7 at Courtland Avenue Public School. The chosen singers walked to the auditorium, filled with hundreds of children to sing a variety of songs. The music was recorded and we got the 78 recording of this momentous event. I was so proud to be part of this in such an amazing building. I think my brother still has the record. - Patricia Poser

  • Leafs and wings

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    Exhibition game September 1961 or ‘62, between Leafs and Wings.

    Humid outside and in resulting in the ice constantly fogging over and stopping play.

    My friend (now brother-in-law) and I were sitting at the blue line on the board seats, just where the screen (not glass) ended.

    During a stoppage Gordie Howe was nearby and we summoned the courage to ask for an autograph in our Programs.

    He came over and called a bunch of other players from both teams for an autograph session during the stoppage which lasted 10-15 minutes.

    People in the rail seats were handing their Programs to us and 2 ushers to get autographed. It was crazy.

    My friend and I thought we were in the presence of “gods”. What a memory. - Bill Pegg

  • A family at work

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    I worked at the Aud for over 50 years. It all started with my mother Angela Kempel starting in concessions. Then my father Jerome Kempel started as an usher and became Head Usher. I started as a hustler selling in the stands and then stock boy.I then started to usher and when my dad passed away Max Rausch offered me the Head Usher position. Later years when Brian Schell left I then started looking after the Doorpersons and Parking attendants. Also my three sisters Judy Murray Donna Bussey And Sandra (Sam} Kube in concessions plus my brother Ricky Kempel usher. Then my wife Pat started in popcorn for awhile. My daughter Lori Heer in concession and after became usherette and then Event Coordinator. My son Shawn was an stockboy. Finally my granddaughter Dayna Heer worked in concessions for 4 years westside popcorn girl. - Jerry Kempel

  • Memorial Cup from an employees eyes

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    Memorial Cup Memories - The 2008 Memorial Cup was a true milestone in my Auditorium career. We worked on this event for over a year and it truly was a fantastic week-long event for the Aud. Highlights of the week for me were dusting all the window sills the night before the opening with Kim Kugler, receiving a bouquet of flowers from a family out west who I helped with a ticketing problem, arriving every day early and leaving every day late, finding tickets for VIP's for the Championship game and helping to fix the broken Memorial Cup behind the scenes! A fantastic event and lots of great memories. - Tami Mitchell

  • 52 years behind the penalty box

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    52 years of memories from the penalty box. From the old dial clock to the high tech one now. Meeting and chatting to future stars and coaching staff. Banter in the referees room and also the media room. Extra curricular activities in the box and related linguistic learnings. NHL exhibition games, Memorial Cups, World Women's, Flying Fathers and more. Non hockey events like Ice Capades, rock concerts, Up with People, Liberace, etc etc. So so many memories. And the cornerstone displays my birth year too. - Tom Galloway

  • Greatest bands

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    Some of the greatest bands/musical acts in the history of popular music have performed at the Aud, many of which I have attended over the years - Led Zeppelin, Johnny Cash, The Carpenters, James Last, The Byrds, The Supremes, to name just a few. - Ken Mayer

  • Kitchener Wine & Food

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    As the Promoter of the Kitchener Wine & Food on behalf of our team Isabelle, Jeff and myself would like to say the team at the Aud is the best. Our shows runs without a hitch because of their assistance. We look forward to coming back soon! - Kelly Marshall

  • A pony dream

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    In the late sixties, early 70's...one Kitchener Ranger game per season - a pony night was held. During intermission, out came a pony and one lucky fan took the pony home. My grandfather would take my 2 cousins, my brother and I to the game...and every year we went - I so hoped to win the pony. - Donna Diebel

  • The game day giggles

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    This video was at a Rangers game back in March 2002! My cousin and I often attended the game with our grandparents who were season ticket holders. I have so many fond memories of giggling, drinking way to many slush puppies, and cheering on the team! - Halie Gilmore