KITCHENER GETS NEW ARTS LEADERS

The City of Kitchener’s arts and entertainment department has added two local arts leaders to its team to support the launch of the recently announced Kitchener LIVE destination marketing brand. Green Light Arts’ co-founder and managing director Carin Lowerison will be taking on the role of Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues and music industry veteran Will Muir will become the city’s Music Officer.  

Kitchener LIVE was first announced at Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City address on Oct. 21, 2025 at Centre in the Square. In his address, Vrbanovic said Kitchener LIVE will be a centralized platform for residents to discover events, purchase tickets, and learn how to host an event at a city-owned facility.   

The new brand is a small part of the city’s growing Arts and Entertainment Department. Led by Director of Arts and Entertainment Jeremy Dueck, the department includes three divisions: Arts and Creative Industries, Special Events and Arts and Entertainment Venues.  

Arts and Creative Industries is managed by Andrea Hallam and includes calls for public arts, the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, and the city’s film and music offices. Special Events is led by Steve Roth and includes the city’s Canada Day celebration, Way Back Festival, and the Christkindl Market. Music Officer Will Muir will work with the Special Events team to integrate local talent into events like the Roos Island Music Series.  

Lowerison will lead the third division as the Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues which oversees the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, the Victoria Park Pavilion, the City Hall Rotunda and Carl Zehr Square.   

The Arts and Entertainment Venues team is also responsible for the Kitchener LIVE platform. Dueck said the platform’s vision of “Your City. Your Stage.” is designed to help audiences and artists connect across all of the city’s venues, from Centre in the Square and The Aud to Roos Island and Carl Zehr Square. Kitchener LIVE will also include information on public art calls that are coming up and camp opportunities at THEMUSEUM and Centre in the Square.  

“How many times have you talked to people and they say they didn’t know that an event or concert was happening? We think all these events are common knowledge, but it’s not. Our community is growing so quickly that even for the people who’ve been here for a long time, they may not always know what’s happening,” Dueck said.  

For audiences, Kitchener LIVE will be the brand for its existing KW Tickets website and will include events at all city-owned venues and spaces. The new platform will also include information and tools for event hosts and producers to help book venue space.  

“There’s never been an easy entry point if you want to organize an event in one of the major event spaces. That’s what Kitchener LIVE will introduce,” he added.  

In addition to Kitchener LIVE, Dueck said the new department structure will help improve communication across the city’s owned and operated venues.   

“When the Mayor and Council created this division, one of the visions they had was, we need our venues to talk more. Now we meet monthly where we can share what’s coming up. Through those conversations, we get more insight as to what the other venues are doing,” Dueck said.  

While the new platform helps guide the public and event organizers, Dueck said the overarching goal is to present a cohesive brand to potential event hosts. The new structure can potentially help the city to attract major destination events, such as national award shows.  

“Down the road, if we’re trying to attract a major destination event, the Canadian Country Music Awards or the Junos, if we’re trying to go after an event brand, Kitchener LIVE helps us package and present our experience in the arts and entertainment scene here in Kitchener,” he said.  

WR RELEASES BUDGET FOR 2026

In November, the Region of Waterloo released its 2026 preliminary budget plan, which includes major allocations for local initiatives such as the Ending Veteran Homelessness Initiative and a tree-planting project by the Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB).  

The budget lists federal grants among its revenue sources—a sign that recent funding from Ottawa may help support key projects in the region.  

The 2026 budget draft proposes a 4.94 per cent increase in the regional tax levy, which would add around $96 per year to the average homeowner’s bill.  

Meanwhile, the City of Kitchener’s draft budget includes a 2.2 per cent property tax increase, plus utility rate hikes, bringing the total estimated impact for the average household to $117. These increases reflect rising operational costs across housing and homelessness services, transit, infrastructure maintenance and other essential programs.  

In 2025, the region spent $165.2 million on social housing and homelessness initiatives. Across 2024, total spending on affordable housing and homelessness programs reached $245 million, with roughly 23 per cent specifically dedicated to shelters and supportive housing. Without federal and provincial transfers, the Region of Waterloo warns that maintaining current service levels could require even higher taxes or cuts to critical programs.  

“Federal and municipal programs play a critical role in supporting housing and food security locally,” Ke Cao, assistant professor of Strategic Management at Wilfrid Laurier University, said. 

Cao also believes that only the governments can address the crisis we are facing.  

“I teach in business school, and I told my students that the role of government is very important because it handles the business of the whole society,” he said.  

The federal funding announced this year helps relieve some of this financial pressure. The contributions support the Ending Veteran Homelessness Initiative, addressing the gap in local housing services by providing support for veterans, along with other homelessness-response programs.   

This funding helps sustain shelters, outreach teams, and supportive housing while reducing strain on municipal budgets. Additional funds support long-term initiatives such as environmental and infrastructure projects, including the WRDSB’s tree-planting program, which contributes to urban canopy growth and climate resilience.  

According to the preliminary budget, the region plans to increase their spending in 2026 by $11.7 million for housing services and $2.7 million for homelessness-related programs. These increases reflect rising costs for housing and homelessness services, transit, infrastructure and other essential programs. Municipal leaders also welcomed federal contributions, noting that without them, residents would face significantly higher tax burdens and essential services could be reduced.  

“We’re happy to see the $6 billion over 10 years through the Direct Delivery Stream to support regionally significant projects,” Dorothy McCabe, mayor of Waterloo, said.  

In a 2024 public statement, McCabe warned that Waterloo is under structural financial pressure and stressed the need for stable, predictable funding instead of one-time grants to support long-term municipal priorities.   

Advocates, including the Federation of Canadian Municipalities, repeatedly called on Ottawa to expand multi-year funding streams to help municipalities meet growing demands without overburdening residents.  

Federal support combined with municipal budgeting decisions will determine whether services keep pace with community needs or whether tax increases and service pressures continue to rise.   

Although the latest funding provides relief to the Waterloo region community, regional leaders explained that ongoing collaboration between federal, provincial and municipal governments will be essential to sustain programs, stabilize communities and advance long-term priorities such as housing affordability and environmental resilience.  

The Waterloo Region’s annual budget process began on Oct. 22, and regional council plans to review the final 2026 budget on Dec. 16. For more information regarding the preliminary 2026 budgets, visit the Region of Waterloo’s Budget and Financial Statements page. 

#2026 #Budget2026 #canadianMunicipalities #CityOfKitchener #directDeliveryStream #DorothyMcCabe #endingVeteranHomelessness #EndingVeteranHomelessnessInitiative #FederationOfCanadianMunicipalities #KeCao #localPolitics #municipality #preliminaryBudget #RegionOfWaterloo #SangjunHan #strategicManagement #waterloo #WaterlooRegionDistrictSchoolBoard #wilfridLaurierUniversity #WRDSB

EBIKES AND SCOOTERS CONTINUE SEEING SUCCESS IN WR

In the spring of 2023, Neuron Mobility launched a transportation program utilizing orange e-scooters and e-bikes in the Waterloo Region. Residents were given access to these shared modes of environmentally friendly electric vehicles. The program has found success within the region—it offers a quick alternative to driving cars around Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.   

Statistics from the spring, summer and fall of 2023 demonstrate positive results, including a total of 46,000 riders; 190,000 trips; 360,000 kilometers ridden; $8.2 million poured into the Waterloo Region economy and 12 tonnes of carbon dioxide emissions saved, which is the equivalent of 192 mature trees.   

The Waterloo Region is in the process of building a sustainable transportation network. These e-scooters and e-bikes are an affordable transportation option that makes sense for all types of inner-city travel, leisure rides and short trips transporting a person from their home to their workplace or school. Riders can use e-scooters or e-bikes to get from their homes to an ION or bus stop. Travelers can access an e-bike or e-scooter at a particular point in the region and then ride it and drop it off at a completely different part of town.   

Colleen James, regional councillor for the City of Kitchener, said the idea of introducing Neuron e-scooters and e-bikes into the region made sense for many reasons, including the reduction of community-wide greenhouse gas emissions by 2030. This reduction is a climate goal set by the Region of Waterloo. Using low-carbon transportation is a strategy to reach this goal by 2030.   

“The benefit to this program is that it was not going to cost us anything, so there is no cost to taxpayers. This is literally a partnership (between the Region and Neuron Mobility) to promote more active transportation,” James said.   

James went on to say that this program allows for more options for travel within our region.   

“The Region of Waterloo is Canada’s only multi-jurisdiction shared micromobility program…The success of the program can be attributed to a number of factors including the fantastic work of our municipal partners and the enthusiasm for the service from our riders across the Region,” Isaac Ransom, head of corporate affairs for Neuron Mobility, Canada said.   

Neuron Mobility also has e-scooters and e-bikes in 17 cities across Canada, including Ottawa, Brampton, Vaughan, Calgary, Edmonton, Red Deer, Saskatoon and Regina. Since the launch of these programs in 2021, riders of Neuron e-scooters and e-bikes have travelled over nine million kilometres.   

To rent and ride an e-scooter or an e-bike, simply download the Neuron Mobility app and follow the instructions. A person must be at least 16 years old to rent the equipment.   

The cost is approximately $2,000 per year for active use. From an environmental point of view, this is a reasonable cost compared to the cost of running a car for a year.    

James, with many others, sees a bright future with the continuous utilization of e-bikes and e-scooters within the Waterloo Region. 

#brampton #calgary #cambridge #cityOfKitchener #co2 #colleenJames #eBikes #eScooters #edmonton #environmental #environmentallyFriendlyVehicles #escooters #ev #friendlyVehicles #kitchener #lizGaiger #neuron #neuronMobility #ottawa #redDeer #regina #region #sangjunHan #saskatoon #vaughan

KITCHENER INTRODUCES RENOVICTION BY-LAW

On June 23, 2025, Kitchener city council directed their staff to draft a renoviction by-law. Association of Community Organizations for Reform Now (ACORN) delegates pushed the council to end bad faith evictions, or renovictions. These are due to a landlord’s desire or need to renovate, thus leading to residents moving out of apartments they can afford.   

Similar bylaws were introduced in London and Hamilton this year to protect residents after being served a N13 eviction notice, given when a landlord intends to renovate or demolish a rental property, or convert it to a non-residential use.   

“The Region of Waterloo’s Building Better Futures Plan supports the creation and preservation of affordable housing, and we work collaboratively with all levels of government to advance affordable housing in our community,” Scott Cressman, Senior Communications Advisor for the Region of Waterloo, said.  

The London by-law came into effect in March 2025. It requires landlords to apply for a license within one week of serving a tenant with a N13 eviction notice.  

The bylaw forces landlords to submit a report that is certified by an engineer or architect proving the renovations need the unit to be temporarily vacant. The City of Kitchener council is considering a similar format.   

In January 2024, Hamilton became the first city in Ontario to adopt a renoviction by-law. Setting the precedent for the Kitchener bylaw, it will require a landlord to apply for city renovation license within seven days of issuing a N13 eviction notice. The license fee will be $715 per unit, and $125 to renew per annum.  

“In Ontario, tenant displacement and eviction protection policies fall within the jurisdiction of the province or local area municipalities. This includes rental replacement by-laws related to the renovation, conversion and demolition of rental housing,” Cressman said.   

Bill 97, The Helping Homebuyers, Protecting Tenants Act, Subsection 50 [3] was re-anacted so that landlords are to give notices of a termination of tenancy when they require the possession of a rental unit to do repairs or renovations. This, however, has left many tenants in the Waterloo Region still vulnerable to renoviction.   

“This was a provincial law that happened, made it so basically any new builds or renovated builds had no cap on rent that could be charged. And then certain amoral landlords saw that as an opportunity to falsify renovations or minor improvements or whatnot, to get tenants out,” Linda Vos, a leader for the 250 Frederick ACORN tenant union, said.   

Vos became involved with ACORN in November of 2023 when one of her neighbours at 250 Frederick St. reached out to ACORN with concerns about their new landlord. ACORN helped them thoroughly when news of the landlord’s history of renoviction spread. Willing tenants of the building were signed up for mailing lists pertinent to their situation, and planned marches to City Hall immediately.   

“We are hoping that Kitchener and Waterloo both come back with in their drafts that have these strong renoviction protections for tenants, ACORN has been fighting for specific features in the renovation by laws for years now,” Vos said.   

#ACORN #Bill97 #CityOfKitchener #Hamilton #HelpingHomebuyers #HelpingHomeownersProtectingTenantsAct #housingCrisis #kitchenerCityCouncil #LindonVos #London #ProtectingTenantsAct #Renoviction #SangjunHan #scottCressman #seniorCommunicationsAdvisorForTheRegionOfWaterloo #waterlooRegion

Kitchener Celebrate Erick Traplin Day

The City of Kitchener is recognizing 35 years of music and memories the first Erick Traplin Day on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The free event at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener celebrates the contributions of one of Waterloo Region’s favourite children’s entertainers, featuring live performances, special guests and games.  

Having a day named after him was not something Traplin ever expected when he began his musical career 35 years ago. Originally from Owen Sound, Traplin and his family moved to Kitchener in 1961. Traplin grew up in a musical family and played guitar and sang from an early age.  

After graduating from school, Traplin worked as a sewing machine mechanic at the La-Z-Boy factory in Waterloo. He said while it was a good job, he knew his life had more purpose.  

“I worked in construction and factory work for many years, but then I finally took a Tony Robbins course and realized what I really wanted to do was be an entertainer. It was a very deep epiphany. That’s what I wanted to do, and, by golly, within three months, I was doing it,” he said. 

While a career as a musician was the goal, Traplin said he had not planned on becoming a children’s and family entertainer. 

“I was gonna do the pub set. I joined the musician’s union, and when they called me, they said, ‘We got you a Christmas show for kids.’ You don’t get anywhere by saying no. So, I said yes and did the show, and I loved it,” Traplin said. 

With a career spanning over 35 years, Traplin said he sees familiar faces in the crowd. 

“I see more moms and dads getting up and dancing with their kids now because I played for them when they were kids,” he said.  

One of those kids who has grown into an adult fan is Merrin Manser, an event coordinator with the City of Kitchener.  

“My mom used to bring me to events like KidsPark and out to the Blue Moon. I’d sit there and eat my chicken fingers and wait for him to pay ‘Bubbles.’ Erick even played at one of my birthday parties,” Manser said. 

The opportunity to help plan out the day is something Manser is excited about taking on. 

“Erick is the first person that comes up every single time we start talking about family entertainment. He is a staple of the community, and this is a chance to celebrate the legacy of everything he’s done over the last 36 years,” she said. 

Manser planned the event with Traplin’s wife, Ruth, as a surprise for the musician. 

“I was overwhelmed. I’ve been playing for almost 36 years in the community and didn’t expect it,” Traplin said. 

In addition to planning the event with Ruth Traplin, Manser noted that the event also received assistance from other municipalities in the Waterloo Region. The partners include City of Cambridge, City of Waterloo, Kitchener Blues Festival, Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, Sherwood Systems and the Township of Wilmot. 

“This is one of the first events where we’re coming together with all these groups that have worked with Erick over the years. From a planning perspective, it’s been great to work together with all our partners to make this day possible,” Manser said. 

Erick Traplin Day may be a celebration of music, but, for Traplin, the magic is in the lives that his music has changed. 

“I always take joy in watching the kids. I say I’ve got the best seat in the house because I get to see the kids’ faces, and I see them jumping up and down and having a good time. It’s joyful,” Traplin said. 

#AlexKinsella #CarlZehrSquare #Christmas #CityOfCambridge #CityOfKitchener #erickTraplin #erickTraplinDay #factory #MerrinManser #multiculturalCentre #music #musician #owenSound #ruthTraplin #spanning #tonyRobbins #waterlooRegion

Festival of Neighbourhoods Summit, Noon on Sunday 24 November 2024 at Kitchener City Hall

What: Festival of Neighbourhoods Summit
When: Noon to 3:00pm on Sunday 24 November 2024
Where: Kitchener City Hall Rotunda
Location: 100 King Street West, Kitchener Map
Online: https://festivalofneighbourhoods.ca
Contact/RSVP: Heather Majaury [email protected]
Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2024-community-summit-connect-the-dots-tickets-1067786049819 (Free!)

Trends in rapid neighbourhood change across Kitchener. Greater vulnerability of residents in underserved areas. The rise of homelessness. Intensification and infills with the high pace of developments. All of this has called for a thoughtful response from our Festival and we have been learning a lot. We are taking careful consideration about our role in our civic future. Now it’s time to hear from you.

Agenda

Noon to 1:00pm

• Registration
• Meet & Greet
• Light Refreshments

1:00pm to 3:00pm

• Welcome
• Opening Remarks
• Presentations
• Interactive Roundtable Discussions

#CityOfKitchener #FestivalOfNeighbourhoods #HeatherMajaury #Kitchener #SocialDevelopmentCentreWaterlooRegion #WaterlooRegion

KITCHENER MOVES TOWARD MORE NOT-FOR-PROFIT AND CO-OPERATIVE HOUSING  

https://communityedition.ca/kithcener-moves-toward-more-not-for-profit-and-co-operative-housing/

#affordableHousing #CityOfKitchener #CoOperativeHousing #Column #CooperativeHousingDevelopmentProgram #elephant #housing #kitchener #kitchenerCityCouncil #kw #KWHabilitation #MelissaBowman #notForProfit #ThresholdHomes #waterlooRegion

THEMUSEUM SEEKS ADDITIONAL FINANCIAL AID FROM CITY OF KITCHENER, SET FOR REMODEL

https://communityedition.ca/themuseum-seeks-additional-financial-aid-from-city-of-kitchener-set-for-remodel/

#CityOfKitchener #council #DavidMarskell #keyCulturalInstitution #KitchenerWaterlooArtGallery #KitchenerWaterlooSymphony #kwSymphony #LocalArt #localArtists #MelissaBowman #SaajanKar #THEMUSEUM #waterlooRegion

So 1) I'm late to the discourse as this meeting happened last week
2) as a new member of SDCWR Board of Directors, I'm not without bias

But this is not how you treat a partner #CityofKitchener, it's an abuse of power https://www.youtube.com/live/T0F866-p_fE?feature=share&t=5206

This should have been a chance to highlight the innovate work of the Lived Expertise group and then rubberstamp the funding (which was already approved). Instead Council (with the support of senior city leadership) used this as opportunity to bully.