Alessia Cara and Her Kitchener Connection: A Night to Remember at Centre In The Square
Role: Content Creation For Live Concert, Concert Marketing, Social Media Marketing for Venues and Concerts, Concert Photography
Before Alessia Cara became a Grammy-winning artist with platinum hits like Here, Scars to Your Beautiful, and Stay, she was just a teenager uploading soulful acoustic covers from her bedroom in Brampton, Ontario. Her rise to international stardom was fast—but her ties to Southern Ontario have remained strong throughout her career, including a memorable stop in Kitchener that left a lasting impression on fans and the local music scene.
From the moment Alessia broke onto the scene in 2015, she was never a conventional pop star. Her debut single Here wasn’t a party anthem—it was an anti-party anthem, written for the wallflowers, the overthinkers, and anyone who’s ever felt out of place. That authenticity made her a beacon for young listeners, particularly in Canadian cities like Kitchener-Waterloo where a thriving arts scene has always embraced introspective, thoughtful voices.
On October 7, 2019, Alessia brought her The Pains of Growing tour to Centre In The Square—Kitchener’s crown jewel for live performance. It was a fitting venue for an artist who had herself grown so much in a few short years, evolving from internet sensation to world-touring headliner with poise and humility.
That night, fans packed the 2,000-seat theatre for a show that felt both intimate and anthemic. Backed by a tight live band and minimalist staging, Alessia delivered a career-spanning set filled with fan favourites and emotional ballads. Songs like Growing Pains and Not Today hit even harder live, resonating with a crowd that ranged from teens discovering their voice to longtime fans who’d followed her since the early days.
But the real highlight came between songs, when Alessia spoke about her love for playing close to home and the importance of shows like this—smaller venues, personal crowds, real connection. Kitchener, she told the audience, reminded her of her roots and why she started making music in the first place.
Alessia Cara’s show at Centre In The Square wasn’t just a tour stop—it was a homecoming of sorts, a celebration of Ontario’s creative talent and how far local voices can go when given the platform to shine. Her presence in Kitchener validated what the region already knows: that it’s not just a place to pass through, but a city where music lives and breathes.
For young artists in the crowd that night, it was proof that global success can still carry hometown heart. And for the venue itself, hosting Alessia was another reminder of its role as a launchpad, a spotlight, and a sanctuary for Canada’s most compelling voices.
