Police arrest third person in connection to shooting in downtown Kitchener
Waterloo regional police have charged a third man in connection to a shooting late last month in downtown Kitchener. A warrant was issued for the man and he surrendered to police on Tuesday.

#crime #arrest #downtownKitchener
https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/kitchener-waterloo/police-arrest-third-person-shooting-downtown-kitchener-9.7105045?cmp=rss

QUEEN STREET COMMONS SET TO RE-OPEN

The Working Centre’s Queen Street Commons Café in downtown Kitchener is set to reopen this spring after a six-year hiatus. The cafe closed its doors in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and has remained shuttered as the non-profit organization focused on changing priorities for the communities it serves.  

In 2024, The Working Centre began planning for the reopening, including upgrades and a layout change. Cassandra Polyzou, community tools and enterprise hub lead at The Working Centre, said that, as with any renovation, there were unexpected challenges that pushed the reopening into 2026. 

“Anyone who is working on renovating a small business knows that we all face challenges. Everyone is trying to do their best. But it has meant that the process has been slow,” she said. 

Queen Street Commons opened in 2006 as a third space for the community, regardless of income. Polyzou said the goal is to be that third space again and bring the community together. 

“The space is going to look different…We’ll be able to do things like film screenings and concerts in the space,” she said. “It’s refreshed, but it certainly still is going to feel like the Queen Street Commons that we’ve all known and loved.” 

There is no set opening date yet, but Polyzou said the cafe has two concerts scheduled in March to welcome people back to the space. 

 The Queen Street Commons is hosting The Boo Radley Project on Mar. 6, 2026 and I, the Mountain on Mar. 7, 2026. The cafe is hoping these big launch events show people the new space and what can be done with it. 

Downtown Kitchener has changed in the six years since Queen Street Commons closed. Conestoga College’s two downtown campuses opened and closed, multiple new condominium and apartment buildings have opened, and many major employers have opted to continue with remote work instead of renewing their office leases.  

There has also been a significant increase in the people experiencing homelessness across Waterloo Region, including the 100 Victoria St. encampment across from The Working Centre’s recently opened Making Home space at 97 Victoria St. Polyzou said the changes are a motivator to bring back the spirit of “radical hospitality” that Queen Street Commons was known for. 

“Queen Street Commons was always a place for everyone. Things have changed, and the need is very much there. We hear it from people all the time who say they miss this kind of space that is really a bridge across communities that brings diverse people to sit at tables beside each other and share food and coffee,” she said. 

When it opens, the cafe will continue to offer affordable and vegetarian menu items, including coffee, baked goods, and soups. Polyzou added that volunteering opportunities will also return to the cafe. 

“We know that people have missed that opportunity. It’s such a gift. Or maybe they’ll just come for a bowl of veggie chilli and a cup of coffee, and that’s great,” she said. 

Love it or hate it, this Kitchener parking garage now has a heritage designation
The Duke Street parking garage in downtown Kitchener with the green coloured spiral exit has received heritage designation. Michelle Drake, the senior heritage planner with the City of Kitchener, explains why this building is so special.

#heritage #designation #parking #Kitchener #downtownKitchener
https://www.cbc.ca/player/play/9.7045269?cmp=rss