Kitchener Citizen - April 2025 by Kitchener Citizen

Celebrating 29 Years of

FITZROY VANDERPOOL RECEIVES

MEDAL - Kitchener Boxing Champion Fitzroy Vanderpool (left) received the Coronation medal on April 8 from Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Mike Harris. Fitzroy is the owner and president of Vanderpool Fitness & Boxing in Waterloo. He has fitness boxing programs at his gym and in Waterloo Region schools, teaching students fitness through boxing, and inspiring them to be successful individuals. Having lived his dream of becoming a World Champion, Fitzroy also speaks at schools inspiring young people to set goals and chase their dreams. As an International Fire Safety representative, Fitzroy also speaks on fire safety and prevention. He was one of the first 10 people inducted into Kitchener’s Eastwood Collegiate’s Wall of Recognition, and in 2008, he was inducted into the Waterloo County Hall of Fame. Submitted photo

Doon South Meet and Mingle

Busy days ﬁlled with work, school, and activities can leave little room for simple things like stopping to chat with neighbours. That was the inspiration that sparked the idea for the Doon South Meet and Mingle. Mukul Verma, one of the event organizers, was speaking with a neighbour who organized the local online Facebook group and learned that most of the members had never met in person.

“We all live in different parts of the neighbourhood, and there aren’t as many opportunities to connect in person,” Verma said.

Staff from the City of Kitchener helped with the initial event, and the organizers have continued to rely on their assistance to answer questions and help with special event permits. Another of the Meet and Mingle organizers, Venkat Mahalingam said they were looking for a way to support the event series.

“As we were having this discussion, the City took note and told us about resources for groups like ours—and that’s when we ﬁrst learned about LoveMyHood. We applied and were awarded the grant for the 2023 Meet and Mingle.”

The Meet and Mingle organizers used the LoveMyHood Matching Grant to fund a rock climbing wall, a children’s train and more for their annual neighbourhood

summer gathering in Thomas Slee Park.

While the entertainment is amazing, keeping Meet and Mingle a free local event for neighbours to socialize, interact, and celebrate remains their core value.

“I think that’s the true value of this event. I can literally walk to the park to enjoy the entertainment, but piled on top of that is the opportunity to interact with neighbours,” said Mahalingam.

Organizer Lydia Goswami said there aren’t many events of this size outside of the city core. As Meet and Mingle enters its sixth year, she has noticed increased ex-

citement around the event.

“I was going around to put up posters to spread awareness about the event, and a lot of people I handed out the posters to said, ‘Oh yeah, we know about Meet and Mingle. We’ll be there!’ It’s become a big deal for people in the neighbourhood,” she said.

This story, submitted to the Kitchener Citizen, is part of the LoveMyHood storytelling series ‘Stories from our Neighbourhood’ as the City of Kitchener shares stories from neighbourhoods across the city each month. To read more stories of resident-led projects, visit www.lovemyhood.ca/stories.

Family friendly activities at the Doon South Meet and Mingle.

Linda,

Ottawa Heritage Dental

sponsible to confirm that the condo owners have smoke detectors and that they are in proper working order? I have concerns because my neigh bour told me he removed the battery out of his detector because it went off too many times.

FReal Estate Corner

Real Estate Corner

A. How many people reading this article know someone who has removed the battery from their smoke detector? Anyone who thinks they are invincible regarding house/apartment fires better think again and replace those batteries immediately.

buildings. We do not have a ladder and have no knowledge of balcony repairs. We feel that this is not our responsibility as balconies are part of the common elements. Why should we be forced into hiring someone for balcony

Avoid All Tobacco Products - using tobacco (chewing or smoking) can cause minor and major oral health problems. Minor problems include bad breath and teeth staining. Major problems include heart disease, oral cancer and other cancers.

this article know someone who has removed the battery from their smoke detector? Anyone who thinks they are invincible regarding house/apartment fires better think again and replace those batteries immediately.

inding a career that works for you isn’t always easy.

Four guest speakers shared their career journeys with students at St. Jude’s School in Kitchener on April 3, telling tales of unexpected outcomes, and those who helped them work toward, and fought against, their dreams.

The four guest speakers included:

Peter is a licensed Sales Representative with Re/Max and has specialized in the Stanley Park area for over 35 years.

• Television producer Norma Mendoza who worked on the

Wow, what a crazy ride that was!

Is the housing boom going to end?

Our local real estate market has been rising sharply since 2017, not even the first wave of a Global Pandemic could slow it down. In fact, it has made the market stronger.

but not in Kitchener Waterloo where prices have increased and the number of active listings has decreased. So what’s in store for the future with us?

The supply of new and resale homes on the market are at historic low levels which tells us that prices cannot decline until inventory increases dramatically.

Assmoke detectors. In fact in Au gust 2002, a tragic fire claimed two young lives in a Toronto condominium hi-rise. Evidence obtained from the fire investigation indicated that smoke detectors were not installed in this condo unit.

Some have said if a global pandemic can’t slow us down then nothing will, and they might be right. But this boom has to end sometime, they all do. But when is the big question.

The second wave is now upon us, will this now slow the market? The Canadian

Some have said if a global pandemic can’t slow us down then nothing will, and they might be right. But this boom has to end sometime, they all do. But when is the big question.

If I was thinking of selling in the next year or so I definitely would not push my luck and do it now. No one has a crystal ball but we only have to look at history to predict what might happen in the future. And what goes up must come down. It always has, and always will. If you would like to know how much your house has increased in value give me a call at 519-589-3554, and I’d be happy to give you an honest opinion of value.

banks are positive and say that our market will continue to be strong, but they are reporting a 3% decline over the next 12 months. Canadian Mortgage and Housing is forecasting a 21% decline over the next year.

Canadians prepare to vote in the April 28 federal election, Elections Canada is providing information on

I think the right answer is somewhere in the middle. It does seem like the boom will be ending soon, which is good news for Buyers and bad news for Sellers.

For honest advice for your unique real estate situation give me a call at 519-589-3554.

smoke detectors. In fact in August 2002, a tragic fire claimed two young lives in a Toronto condominium hi-rise. Evidence obtained from the fire investigation indicated that smoke detectors were not installed in this condo unit.

shows Dino Dan, Tiny Pretty Things, Storage Wars, Four Weddings Canada

documents and find the description and declaration pages. The description will inform you of the boundaries of the units and the common elements. The declaration will inform you who is responsible for the maintenance and repairs of the units and the common elements. Aschedule to the declaration must also identify each common element area that is exclusive use of an owner of a specified unit.

veloping a unit inspection plan and keep records particular to each individual unit.

• Cambridge Fire Platoon Chief Marie Shaefer, who has been a firefighter for over 20 years and was the first female to become a platoon chief in Cambridge

• Marks Supply Inc. CEO/ President Robin Todd who runs a successful local wholesale business

The condo corporation was found to be at fault (with the unit owner).The installation of smoke detectors is a public concern and the court found that the corporation did not show that it took reasonable steps to avoid the tragic results.Therefore, it is very clear that the responsibility for the installation and operation of smoke detectors is joint. Owners are responsible to maintain and ensure proper installation. Directors should confirm all smoke detectors are in good working order.All it takes is a

• Neil Aitchison who is a

Balconies are usually part of the common elements of a condominium, even though they are for the exclusive use

voting at Elections Canada ofﬁces, voter registration and voting away from home.

All information can be found on the Elections Canada website elections.ca.

You can vote now at any Elections Canada ofﬁce across the country until Tuesday, April 22 at 6:00 p.m.

The ofﬁces are open seven days a week. Hours of operation are:

• Monday to Friday: 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m.

• Saturday: 9:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.

• Sunday: noon to 4:00 p.m.

When people vote at an Elections Canada ofﬁces, they vote by special ballot.

Take the time to educate condo owners about fire safety. No one has to die in a house fire when a simple and inexpensive device called a smoke detector is available.These alarms give the occupants the precious minutes they need to escape a burning building. However, in order to save lives they must be in perfect working order,so please check those batteries now before it is too late.

critically acclaimed humourist, actor and presenter who has a knack for connecting with his audience.

are silent regarding balcony repairs or maintenance then the responsibility lies within the condo corporation to have these balcony repairs completed. You may also request access to the reserve fund study to review the current and future major repairs and replacements that are scheduled regarding your common elements. Good luck!

already done so, should be de veloping a unit inspection plan and keep records particular to each individual unit. Take the time to educate condo owners about fire safety. No one has to die in a house fire when a simple and inexpensive device called a smoke detector is available.These alarms give the occupants the precious minutes they need to escape a burning building. However, in order to save lives they must be in perfect working order,so please check those batteries now before it is too late.

The panel discussion was moderated by Shevaun Voisin, who has followed her own passions in her education and career.

She has worked as a teacher, property developer, professional boxing manager, producer, publisher, and registered psychotherapist.

Marilyn Lincoln is a condo owner, director and author of the Condominium Self Management Guide 2nd ed. Email marilyncondoguide@hotmail.com with questions.

Marilyn Lincoln is a condo owner, director and author of The Condominium Self Management Guide 2nd ed. Send questions to marilyn condoguide@hotmail.com

their voter information card can still do so.

You can check your voter information status on the Elections Canada website elections. ca.

Some electors may be away from their home riding on election day, but they can still vote.

Before travelling, you can vote in person at your assigned advance poll from Friday, April 18 to Monday, April 21, 2025. Polls are open from 9 a.m. to 9 pm each day.

- Ward 3

Councillor Yvonne Fernandes - Ward 4

Councillor Kelly Galloway-Sealock - Ward 5

Councillor Paul Singh - Ward 6

Councillor Bil Ioannidis - Ward 7

Make sure to bring proof of identity and address with you.

Councillor Zyg Janecki - Ward 8

To know where your advance poll is located, check your voter information card or the online voter information service. If you will also be away during the advance polls, you can vote at an Elections Canada ofﬁce.

Councillor Frank Etherington - Ward 9

The ballot will not have a list of candidates to choose from. Instead, there is a blank space for you to write the name of the candidate you wish to vote for.

Councillor Sarah Marsh - Ward 10

Attending school outside of the riding you consider home?

Voter information cards have been sent to households.

Join us for the party 150 years in the making in downtown Kitchener on Canada Day featuring James Barker Band River Town Saints and more!

Only electors who are registered to vote in this election will get this card.

There is the Vote on Campus program at many universities and colleges across Canada. Check elections.ca for updates on who is participating.

Free concert • Food for purchase • Outdoor patios Licensed area • Spectacular fireworks show

The voter information card has important information including where and when they can vote, and having the voter information card makes it easier at the poll.

Any elector can vote on campus.

Saturday, July 1, 2017, 5 p.m. to 10:30 p.m. City Hall, Downtown Kitchener

Electors who have not had a chance to register or update

Head to the Kitchener Market for a family-friendly Canada Day party on Saturday, July 1 from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. www.kitchenerevents.ca

You will register and vote by special ballot, so you will need to be prepared to write in the name of the candidate you are voting for.

Electors do not need to reside in the riding of the oncampus ofﬁce to vote there.

For more information visit elections.ca.

The career panel at St. Jude’s School, from left: Television Producer Norma Mendoza, Fire Platoon Chief Marie Schaefer, CEO Robin Todd, humourist Neil Aitchison and moderator Shevaun Voisin.

Wishes for a memorable “Canada Day” on this special anniversary from Dr. Douglas Beaton & Staff

Kitchener and federal government partner to expand indoor recreation complex with multi-use gymnasium

The City of Kitchener is taking a major step forward in enhancing local recreation opportunities with the addition of a multi-use gymnasium to its upcoming indoor recreation complex in southwest Kitchener.

On March 22, the City of Kitchener learned it is receiving $2-million for this gymnasium project through the Government of Canada’s Green and Inclusive Community Buildings Fund.

The complex is located at Fischer-Hallman and Huron Roads.

The funding will support the construction of the new 33,800-square-foot gymnasium, which will increase access to a variety of sports and physical activities in Kitchener.

The gymnasium will feature four multipurpose courts with 40-foot ceilings and competition-level ﬂooring, designed to accommodate high-performance sports such as volleyball and basketball. This top-tier facility will not only serve local athletes and recreation users but also position Kitchener as a destination for provincial and national tournaments, driving economic beneﬁts by attracting visitors, and generating rev-

enue for local businesses.

“The addition of a gymnasium to the Kitchener indoor recreation complex solidiﬁes its status as a game-changer for our city, making it a true investment in our community’s wellbeing and future,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

“This expansion funding will help create a gymnasium space where residents of all ages can stay active, connect with others, and engage in programs that promote healthy living. It also positions Kitchener as a top destination for competitive sports, helping to attract major events that will energize our city and support local busi-

nesses.”

The Kitchener indoor recreation complex is being supported by signiﬁcant investments from all levels of government. The federal government has previously committed $9.7-million through the Investing in Canada Infrastructure Program. The total federal contribution to date is $11.7-million.

“We are building Kitchener together, helping to create vibrant community spaces and supporting a thriving economy,” said Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga, Tim Louis.

“This gymnasium project and the overall Kitchener Indoor

On Monday, April 28th,

Recreation Complex will be vital to one of the fastest-growing communities in the country.”

“Through important infrastructure investments like this, we’re creating more spaces for a healthy community and jobs for a healthy economy,” said Member of Parliament for Kitchener South-Hespeler, Valerie Bradford.

Kitchener’s innovative and collaborative construction model is known as Integrated Project Delivery (IPD), the Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex is expected to open in summer 2026.

Construction continues at the rec complex at RBJ Schlegel Park.

KW Income Tax Services

Ask the Expert

Insurance companies often hire outside companies to follow, photograph and videotape people who make insurance claims. They also search your social media accounts. The insurer does this to ensure that you are disabled as you have reported and to minimize fraudulent claims. That is why being honest and open with your doctors, specialists, and the insurance company is very important. For many victims, this surveillance is one of the most offensive aspects of an insurance claim. While this surveillance can be powerful, the courts have noted that this surveillance does not show pain; it does not show what one suffers away from the camera. Video surveillance is legal. Most investigative companies obey the law and do not engage in any action that could be considered trespassing or an invasion of your privacy. If at any time however, you feel in danger, you should contact the police.

TheMinistry of Health has approved the merger plans for St. Mary’s General Hospital and Grand River Hospital. On April 1, the hospitals changed their names to the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren).

Building on over 90 years of partnership, WRHN brings the strengths of both hospitals together and is home to seven regional programs and comprehensive health-care redeﬁning the health-care experience.

“We are excited to unite our strengths and expertise to better serve the communities of Waterloo-Wellington, and beyond,” said WRHN Board Co-Chair, Tim Rollins. “This merger is more than just a name change, it’s about building a stronger health care system that prioritizes patient care, innovation, and community wellbeing.”

“Thank you to all community and team members for your input throughout this process,” said Sandra Hanmer, WRHN Board Co-Chair. “Your input has been invaluable during this transition, and our teams remain committed to keeping the community engaged as we

work to ensure everyone has access to the right care in the right place at the right time.”

Donor support will help WRHN reach even greater heights. The foundations are your partners in healthcare working together to support WRHN.

Learn more at wrhn.ca

While a new hospital building is on the horizon, care will continue at the current sites. That means your continued donations and support are still greatly needed.

For inquiries, contact St. Mary’s General Hospital Foundation or Grand River Hospital Foundation.

St. Mary’s Hospital on Queens Boulevard in Kitchener.

photo

Grand River Hospital on King Street West in Kitchener.

we’ve earned the

Personalized Care: Under the leadership of our Pharmacy Manager, T. Ramzy Shaker, we offer a wide range of clinical services designed to fit your needs:

Celebrate 18 Years of Exceptional Care at Frederick Mall Pharmacy!

Over-the-counter product recommendations

Personalized medication reviews and follow-ups

Convenient walk-in prescribing for common ailments

Certified injection administration (COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, etc.)

As we celebrate our 18th Anniversary on April 10, 2025, we want to take a moment to thank YOU, our amazing community, for making us your trusted pharmacy.

Support to help you quit smoking

We’re honored to have been recognized as the 2024 Reader’s Choice Award Winner for Best Pharmacist and Best Pharmacy, and we couldn’t have done it without your support!

Blood sugar monitoring & insulin dose adjustments

We’re honored to have been recognized as the 2024 Reader's Choice Award Winner for Best Pharmacist and Best Pharmacy, and we couldn't have done it without your

INR monitoring & warfarin dose adjustments

Why Choose Frederick Mall Pharmacy?

ALL drug plans accepted

Award-Winning Service: We’ve been proudly serving our community for 18 years, and we’ve earned the title of Best Local Pharmacy year after year.

Personalized Care: Under the leadership of our Pharmacy Manager, T. Ramzy Shaker, we offer a wide range of clinical services designed to ﬁt your needs:

• Over-the-counter product recommendations

• Personalized medication reviews and follow-ups

• Convenient walk-in prescribing for common ailments

• Certiﬁed injection administration (COVID-19 vaccines, flu shots, etc.)

• Support to help you quit smoking

• Blood sugar monitoring & insulin dose adjustments

• INR monitoring & warfarin dose adjustments

• ALL drug plans accepted

• We waive $2 OFF your drug plan co-pay

• FREE prescription delivery

• And More!

Welcoming New Patients: Whether you’re looking to switch from another pharmacy or just seeking more personalized care, we’re happy to serve you. Walk-ins are always welcome! We’re Here When You Need Us: Open six days a week, we offer minimal wait times and are committed to delivering the care you deserve. Stop by today, call us at (519) 745-4700, or visit www.frederickmallpharmacy.com

Click Before You Dig

can’t wait to buy some outside lights and plenty of decorations for the balcony and the entrance door to their apartment. Does this sound like you? Wait a minute! Not so fast! Buying a condo is not like purchasing a private

issue of the Kitchener Citizen May 8, 2025

allowing a uniform appearance from the outside of the building. After all, not everyone would be delighted at the thought of a blown up Santa and his team of reindeers appearing on several balconies or the rooftop of your

could also cause property damage or interfere with main tenance/repairs. For instance, some owners may think nothing of drilling a hole into their en trance door to accommodate a wreath. Others may string doz ens of lights that burn for hours, not realizing that the hydro to power these lights may be a common expense. What about wall plugs and wiring up of the lights? All these factors are crit ical in maintaining the safety and security of the building in regards to fire. This is probably why most hi-rise condos only allow artificial Christmas trees.

I still see many homeowners who rent water heaters and the companies that do this have brainwashed many of us. Companies claim that it is a good, carefree thing to do.

I recently sold a home with a rental and ﬁgured out that the homeowner was paying for a brand new water heater every 18 months! The lifespan of a water heater averages 8 years.

This is a rip off!

On March 22, the City of Kitchener was awarded an additional $4.2 million in federal funding through the Housing Accelerator Fund initiative.

This new contribution builds

some sort of guidelines in or der to eliminate decorations that could also cause property damage or interfere with main tenance/repairs. For instance, some owners may think nothing of drilling a hole into their entrance door to accommodate a wreath. Others may string dozens of lights that burn for hours, not realizing that the hydro to power these lights may be a common expense. What about wall plugs and wiring up of the lights? All these factors are critical in maintaining the safety and security of the building in regards to fire. This is probably why most hi-rise condos only allow artificial Christmas trees. If

holiday spirit. However, don’t let the Corporation Grinch spoil your Christmas and order you to remove your decorations be-

of The

edition. Send questions to marilyncondoguide@hotmail.com

Kitchener receives additional federal housing funding as a top-performing city

on the initial $42.4-million investment from the Federal government, helping Kitchener make signiﬁcant progress in addressing the housing crisis.

Real Estate Corner

erator Fund contributions of $42.4-million have already helped Kitchener to:

· Develop the most ﬂexible planning framework in the country around major transit station areas;

· Enable four units, as-ofright zoning across the city;

· Unlock land and provide grants for not-for-proﬁt housing providers to get affordable housing built.

This is also a deterrent for a new buyer that must assume the water heater rental when they purchase your home. As homeowners we realize the beneﬁts of owning vs. renting. So why would you rent anything inside your house when you own it?

“Tackling the housing crisis and making sure we have housing options for everyone in Kitchener requires community and government partners to come together in the spirit of collaboration and innovation,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “With the help of the federal government, we are getting more housing of all types built here in Kitchener and advancing our shared priorities that are part of both Canada’s National Housing Strategy and Kitchener’s Housing for All strategy.”

The argument that the rental companies use is “if there is a problem, call us and we will come and ﬁx it”. The same holds true if you own the water heater. If something goes wrong you simply call the plumber and they ﬁx it and in the long run, it will be much cheaper.

The market during this global pandemic was not what we expected. You would think things would have slowed down, but not in Kitchener Waterloo where prices have increased and the number of active listings has decreased. So what’s in store for the future with us? Some have said if a global pandemic can’t slow us down then nothing will, and they might be right. But this boom has to end sometime, they all do. But when is the big question.

We are excited to announce that we are

Kitchener exceeded the goals for the ﬁrst year of projects proposed through its Housing Accelerator Fund programs. To maintain the momentum, the federal government awarded top-performing cities like the City of Kitchener additional funding. The city says these new dollars will be used to create programs that will be part of a Community Improvement Plan to further incentivize a range of housing types, including much needed missing middle housing.

to a new location effective Sept.19 2022.

If I was thinking of year or so I definitely would luck and do it now. No ball but we only have to predict what might happen And what goes up must always has, and always If you would like to your house has increased me a call at 519-589-3554, happy to give you an value.

“The federal government has been working with municipalities across the country to incentivize the construction of more housing through the Housing Accelerator Fund,” said Valerie Bradford, Member of Parliament for Kitchener South –Hespeler. “The City of Kitchener has played a supportive role in this signiﬁcant initiative, and our ongoing partnership will help make housing more affordable for those in greatest need in our city.”

Some have said if a global pandemic can’t slow us down then nothing will, and they might be right. But this boom has to end sometime, they all do. But when is the big question. If I was thinking of year or so I definitely would luck and do it now. No ball but we only have to predict what might happen And what goes up must always has, and always If you would like to your house has increased me a call at 519-589-3554, happy to give you an value.

JULY AREA SALES REPORT

We are excited to announce that we are moving to a new location effective Sept.19 2022.

YOUR FULL SERVICE ONE STOP AUTO SHOP! 130 Birch Ave Unit 4 • Kitchener

“To support housing needs in Kitchener and throughout Canada, our federal government introduced the Housing Accelerator Fund,” said Tim Louis, Member of Parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga. “By working directly with municipalities, we are moving faster to build more inclusive and affordable housing.”

market during this global pandemic was not what we expected. You would think things would have slowed down, but not in Kitchener Waterloo where prices have increased and the number of active listings has decreased. So what’s in store for the future with us?

Gascho Automotive Limited

In the past year, Kitchener has seen a 70% increase in building permits for triplexes, fourplexes, and backyard accessory dwelling units (ADUs). The new funding will help continue this momentum by accelerating policies and incentives for these types of housing. About the Housing Accelerator Fund

For a free in home market evaluation in your

The initial Housing Accel-

Some have said if a global pandemic can’t slow us down then nothing will, and they might be right. But this boom has to end sometime, they all do. But when is the big question.

In November 2023, the federal government announced a $42.4 million Housing Accelerator Fund allocation for the City of Kitchener. This funding will fast-track the construction of 1,216 new homes by early 2027 to help address housing affordability and the increasing demand for housing in the community.

upon by Peter and the seller.

condo townhouse.

thor

Condominium Self Management Guide, 2nd

sponsible condo detectors proper concerns bour told battery because times. A. How this article has removed their smoke who thinks regarding fires better replace diately.

From left: Kitchener-Conestoga MP Tim Louis, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, and Kitchener South-Hespeler MP Valerie Bradford with construction happening behind them in downtown Kitchener. Submitted photo

Key Decisions of Kitchener Council: April 7, 2025

Key decisions of Council is a summary of major discussion items presented at Kitchener City Council meetings provided by the City of Kitchener Communications Staff. It is circulated immediately following each meeting. Please refer to the minutes for an ofﬁcial record of the meeting.

Kitchener recognized as a Tree City of the world

Kitchener has been recognized as a Tree City of the World by the Arbor Day Foundation and United Nations Food and Agriculture Organization.

Kitchener is one of 210 cities across 24 countries recognized as a Tree City of the World, which speaks to the city’s role in the global community in maintaining a commitment to growing a thriving urban canopy that creates a healthier environment for all.

To celebrate this milestone, the City of Kitchener is giving away 210 free trees to residents to help share the beneﬁts of trees with the entire community. Interested residents can pick up a 2–3-gallon potted tree this spring to plant on their property. Each household is eligible for one free tree while supplies last, but additional trees may be offered based on demand during the sign-up period. To learn more and apply to receive a free tree as part of the giveaway, check out the sign-up form.

Council approves $300,000 funding for THEMUSEUM

Kitchener Council approved a conditional funding agreement for THEMUSEUM, allocating up to $300,000 annually for the next three ﬁscal years (from July 1, 2025, to June 30, 2028). This agreement includes ﬁnancial and operational conditions and is contingent on approval from both the THEMUSEUM Board and the City.

Support for THEMUSEUM ensures one of Kitchener’s key cultural institutions can achieve ﬁnancial sustainability, continuing to provide necessary cultural programming to our community, vibrancy to Downtown Kitchener and economic impact to the region.

Council approves public art commission for Mill Courtland Community Centre

Kitchener Council approved the commission and creation of a new public artwork titled “Swoop” by artists Agnes Niewiadomski and Michelle Purchase. This artwork will be installed at the Mill Courtland Community Centre (MCCC) as part of its expansion and renovation project.

Following an open call for submissions for artwork at MCCC, the City conducted a three-stage selection process which resulted in the jury’s recommendation of the chosen proposal. The ﬁnancial investment totals $35,000, with $25,000 from the facility’s renovation budget and $10,000 from the consolidated public art account.

The City of Kitchener’s public art program installs sitespeciﬁc artworks at newly constructed facilities such as

libraries, community centres, ﬁre stations, parking garages, and other public spaces and civic buildings. These artworks include permanent installations in a wide variety of styles and materials, chosen with a preference for artistic merit and material innovation, site responsiveness, public engagement and accessibility, durability and sustainability.

Council approves amendments to procurement bylaw

The City Council has approved amendments to the procurement by-law, aiming to align with Canadian Free Trade Agreement (CFTA) dollar thresholds to support the procurement of Canadian and local goods, services, and construction.

The key changes include:

• Increased thresholds for Invitational Competition procurement: $133,800 for goods/ services and $334,400 for construction.

• Adjustments to internal thresholds to emphasize “buy Canadian, buy local” initiatives.

• Open competitive procurement will be required for projects exceeding these new thresholds.

• Delegated authority for sole

source awards will increase from $120,000 to $250,000 for the chief procurement officer, offering greater flexibility and enabling faster procurement for items such as fleet vehicles. Council endorses development of Municipal Newcomer Strategy Council endorsed the scope and approach for a Municipal Newcomer Strategy. With 30 per cent of Kitchener’s population born outside of Canada and 71 per cent of newcomers actively employed, newcomers are already making vital contributions to our community and to our local economy. This new municipal strategy will take a targeted approach to supporting those connections and fostering more opportunities for economic prosperity, cultural inclusion and active community participation.

The strategy will reﬂect the real needs, experiences, and aspirations of newcomers. To help guide this work, the City is creating a working group of newcomers, newcomer-serving organizations, and City staff from a variety of different divisions.

This strategy supports the City’s 2023-2026 strategic priority to foster a caring city together

& R A N T S raves

YOU DON’T KNOW JACK

Let ter to the editor

Dear Carrie Debrone,

Take-Our-Kids-To-Vote Day

BY JACK NAHRGANG

Heading heading heading h g

waters it must navigate.

The April 28th federal election is almost upon us and while I would never inﬂuence your vote for “the who,” I’d like to suggest a strategy for “the how.” More on that to come.

I was pleased to get your Kitchener Citizen (east edition) and found it quite informative and I thank you for it

I just read your short article regarding the natural gas rates going down for residential customers

You write that Kitchener Utilities have a 2,100 cubic meter average use annually for its residential customers I still have an imperial gas meter, which shows the consumption in cubic feet I have never been able to read that meter and as for that matter, even the meter readers seem to have a problem with it as well Why else would the city issue a bill in the amount of $452?

Most of us have lived through elections deemed by political pundits as momentous, but no vote has been so relevant to Canada’s sovereignty. The maverick behaviour of a madcap president and his misguided minions has shattered conventions while simultaneously revealing American arrogance. This is not a new phenomenon.

My January bill had been $222 16 February, $295 79, there I already sat up and took notice, but then excused it by, the winter being especially harsh However, when I received my March bill, I knew that something was very wrong I called the Utility Office and was asked to take a piece of paper and a pen and read the meter myself To this request I replied that I did not know how to read the imperial meter and aside from that, it wasn't my job The lady I talked to was very nice and agreed to send somebody out to do

In 1781, when British forces surrendered to the American rebels, General George Washington (soon to be the new nation’s ﬁrst president) refused the tradition of allowing defeated forces to play a favourite song of the victorious armies. Instead, Washington insisted that the British regimental band play the tune, “The World Turned Upside Down.” That tale has regaled American schoolchildren for the past 244 years and yet has no basis in fact. It appears the USA has always had little regard for truth and honour.

Let ter to the editor

Today, an American president has truly turned the world upside down by dismantling democratic guardrails, instituting illconceived ﬁnancial policies, and embracing foes at the expense of friends -- all executed with the stroke of an outsized Sharpie signature.

another reading and also promised to call me back It was the very next day that I received her call telling m nt owing was now $200 10, a mere difference of $251 w often the meter had been misread in the past

My neighbours on either side have metric meter y asked if I could get one that I would be able to rea at consisted of a flat NO

Politicians of varying political stripes have offered glimpses of the journey, touting heady platforms: energy corridors, prefabricated housing, northern military bases, demolishing or fortifying the CBC. Campaign promises are generally short on speciﬁcs, but for this election, most are steeped in unity. Individual voters must choose a leader who can balance nation-building goals while dealing with a narcissistic American leader who shoulders no blame.

The city had pre-authorized withdrawal privileges for 2004/005 which they bungled up so badly that I revoked that privilege I did ask that office to please send me a paper trail for my records which I never received nor did I get an answer to my request and, of course, one can forget about an apology I realize that it is up to your discretion to publish or not to publish my letter However if you decide to print it I would like to warn my fellow "Kitchenerites" to be extra "vigilant" every time that Utility Bill arrives

Respectfully, Ingrid E Merkel

Which brings me back to “the how” of casting your vote. The residents of Kitchener have four days of advanced polling: Friday April 18th to Monday April 21st. I’d like you to consider voting on either the Saturday or the Sunday and taking companions with you when you do cast your crucial vote: your children or your grandchildren.

Tasks of home and work can easily distract us from voting in a weekday election. But attending a weekend advanced poll, accompanied by your children or your grandchildren presents you with a teachable moment. People that you love need to witness the moment that you express love of country through the privilege and necessity of voting.

Just what makes Kitchener so good at Ar ts development?

As a relatively new arrival in Kitchener I've been exploring the photographic arts opportunities here and first impressions are very encouraging It's just not just in the tech side of quality that the community should be judged A thriving Arts community usually does well This can not always be measured in the financial spectrum as the living standard expectations of artists are remarkably low

Donald Trump’s biting lies have particularly stung us: the 51st state, a subsidized country, a 200 billion dollar trade deﬁcit, no military to speak of, and so on. Yet these comments have also galvanized our citizenry and have us contemplating new horizons; On April 28th, our electorate will determine the next captain of our ship of state, even if we are unsure of what choppy

LETTERS TO THE EDITOR

We don't want that two bedroom house within convenient driving distance to the golf course or mall Speaking as one of those underfunded independent art producers i'll tell you I've lived in some very bad conditions just to be close to my working environment An example being when living in my various illegal Toronto warehouse studios many years before they were condoized

very impressed by the Arts office at City Hall and with how they provided me with information about what was going on here Those people in turn have offered their own advice and contacts, so again two thumbs up for the level of support they give each other

Because this election comes down to one issue – the actual existence of Canada. We can say, “Elbows Up!” and buy all the Canadian products we can ﬁnd, but our families need to have conversations about what sacriﬁces they are willing to make, and vote for, if we want to preserve a vibrant and viable Canada for future generations.

Differing views on Canada’s national broadcaster

I am voting to save the CBC

Dear Editor,

There are basically two reasons for artists to be in an area A slightly compact arts community with low rents and the availability of galleries or venues to showcase the art produced I have noticed that there is a vibrant theatre network here that none the less is going through hard times The music scene is really good with a solid choice of local talent that is well publicized by a few local free publications Radio generally follows the standard corprock but the University of Waterloo has an outstanding community station

With a federal election fast approaching, I am writing to draw your readers’ attention to an imminent threat to Canada’s cultural sovereignty – one whose urgency grows by the day, as President Donald Trump continues his unprovoked economic attacks on our country.

The huge pool of university students to draw from for a vocal audience with some disposable cash helps in keeping the cities vibrant and enthusiastic The number of professional artists is still small enough so that they know one another

Following decades of underfunding and institutional neglect from governments of all political stripes, the CBC now ﬁnds itself in the crosshairs of Pierre Poilievre’s Conservatives, who are promising to defund it altogether.

We are quickly seeing astounding growth in the digital imaging industry Fortunately, as a photographer who has been working in digital for years it helps me integrate my own work into video, 3D, web, advertising, etc So I think, personally, the opportunities in Kitchener are better than Toronto An example being the cable TV (Rogers) that works very hard to involve the regions schools and artisians in locally produced programming

We cannot stand by and let this happen. Canadians rely on the CBC for information, news, and entertainment that speaks to their daily realities and reafﬁrms their shared values. Defunding our national public broadcaster would inﬂict immeasurable harm on our communities, on our Canadian identity, and on our

Let's not forget that Kitchener/Waterloo was voted the most intelligent city and speaking as a newcomer it is very evident that the level of professionalism is visibly high here People waste little time and the welcome i've received in presenting my own portfolio to various galleries and companies has been warm and enthusiastic A very nice event held in town is the quarterly parties at the KW regional art gallery Mellow people who enjoy art meet each other with cool jazz and some ambient dub from the djs

I am voting to defund the CBC

Dear Editor,

Yes, there are already many photographers doing the normal photographic needs of the region, but the opportunity to work with emerging image companies like web designers, animation houses, software producers, locally based video firms, electronic images for broadcasters etc is growing as the manufacturing base has declined The live entertainment industries, local graphic designers and most especially the emerging gallery system bodes well for business opportunities, even in this downturn

democratic health as a country.

Kitchener is projected to be growing by a conservative estimate of 100,000 people over the next 20 years and plans call for a big investment in conversions of existing warehouse buildings into studio style live work space Technically the manufacturing base has down- turned and left a lot of empty buildings

If out of those numbers there are 10 percent artists in all media that actually work at their art all of us are going to need some of this space to build up our community Artists, being artists though, do not like to be told how to do things The local government is working hard to reach that level where they can integrate the needs of the artistic community seamlessly into their development plans

Thankfully, the CBC doesn’t belong to the politicians. It belongs to us, the Canadian public – and it’s time we put our foot down. At this critical moment in history, Canadians from all walks of life are closing ranks around our storied institutions. And we expect our elected ofﬁcials to do the same. We won’t stand for vague promises, and we certainly won’t tolerate any more threats to our shared way of life – foreign or domestic.

That’s why I am standing with Friends of Canadian Media and its hundreds of thousands of supporters this election. When we head to the polls, we’ll be voting to save the CBC. If the federal party leaders want to secure our vote, they have to stand up and support our national public broadcaster.

Many studies have shown time and again how efficient an Arts based community can be A planning group called The Prosperity Council specifically calls for a huge investment for artists and art based businesses to encourage them to choose Kitchener as a place to work This is the first time I have found a directed approach to our niche, but very valuable segment of society If even fifty percent of the plans get done it is still an attractive place to build a career

Our image production is now all pixels and with the recent announcement of a new 5 million dollar Federal grant to establish a massive digital media centre in the downtown core, it offers unexcelled opportunities to work with some of the leading edge image systems in the world In fact there are plans to make Kitchener a regional communications hub and that leads into the possibility of thousands of new uses for my photos

our communities.

Maria Grupp Kitchener

With the projected growth of the regions artists in all mediums I have found there are many dynamic, specifically targeted plans, by the municipal government in particular, to foster a (relatively) large community investment in development towards artist integration I was

Following decades of overfunding from governments of all political stripes, the CBC needs to go. Taxpayers are fed up with your biased reporting and we want to defund it altogether. We cannot afford to support you and your outrageous bonuses anymore. Canadians can’t rely on the CBC for information, news, and entertainment and you don’t share our values. Supporting this national public broadcaster inﬂicts immeasurable harm on

There is a very good internet system here and if you would like more info just go to the net and most community plans are available The next three years will establish this region of one of the "Silicon Valley" inspired examples of a thriving gateway of new ideas and I feel very fortunate to be able to establish myself here with so many other creative artists

The CBC belongs to the politicians and taxpayers should not support it. It’s time we put our foot down. At this critical moment in history, Canadians from all walks of life are no longer watching you nor should we support you. We expect our elected ofﬁcials to defund you. We won’t stand for your vague promises to do better and we certainly won’t tolerate any more of your bias to our shared way of life – foreign or domestic.

That’s why I am supporting the Conservatives to defund the CBC this election. When we head to the polls, I’ll be voting to defund the CBC. You are no longer relevant.

Bobbi Tylor Kitchener

Measles: Growth in cases and potential public exposure

Region of Waterloo Public Health is reporting a total of 14 conﬁrmed cases of measles in Waterloo Region and an additional public exposure.

Public Health is working to identify people who may have been exposed. Based on the information available, the public may have been exposed on Saturday, March 29, 2025, at the following place and time:

Grand River Hospital –Emergency Department, 835 King Street West, Kitchener from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. (now known as WRHN @ Midtown as of April 1, 2025)

“We continue to see cases primarily in unimmunized individuals,” said Dr. Rabia Bana, Associate Medical Ofﬁcer of Health, Region of Waterloo Public Health. “Given the highly contagious nature of measles, we expect this number to continue to rise.”

To provide timely access to the latest information, Region of Waterloo Public Health will continue to update potential public exposures on the website and the Public Health social media channels, as needed. Public Health Ontario also maintains a listing of potential public exposures across Ontario and a weekly update of case numbers across Ontario which is updated ev-

ery Thursday.

Anyone who may have been exposed at the locations indicated should follow the steps below.

Contact your local public health unit immediately if you fall into one of the following categories:

• Immunocompromised people

• Pregnant people

• Anyone (child or adult) born in or after 1970 who is unvaccinated or has only received one dose of measles vaccine.

Public Health will help determine your eligibility for post-exposure measures. Waterloo Region residents should call 519-575-4400.

Check your vaccination record. The measles vaccine is typically noted as “MMR”, “MMRV” or “M” on records.

People who have been exposed to measles should conﬁrm if they meet the following requirements for immunity:

People born before 1970 likely had measles in the past and are generally considered immune.

People born in or after 1970 are considered fully protected from a known exposure to measles if they have had two doses of measles vaccine.

Most children receive two doses of measles vaccine by age seven based on the cur-

rent routine vaccine schedule in Ontario.

Some people born in or after 1970 may have only received one dose of measles vaccine as part of their routine vaccine schedule.

Check with your health care provider if you are unsure about your vaccination status.

Watch for symptoms of measles. These can appear up to 21 days after exposure but usually occur within 7-12 days. Symptoms include fever, cough, runny nose, white spots in the mouth, and red watery eyes that may be sensitive to light. A few days after symptoms begin, a red rash usually develops that starts on the face and spreads down the body.

Use the measles exposure self-assessment tool on Public Health’s website, www. regionofwaterloo.ca/measles. If you think you have measles symptoms, call your health care provider before you go for in-person care. This allows health care staff to take the necessary precautions to protect others visiting the ofﬁce, clinic or hospital.

For additional information about measles, including signs and symptoms, how it spreads and how it can be prevented, visit www.regionofwaterloo. ca/measles.

Over 1,500 students suspended for not being vaccinated

On April 2, 1,624 elementary students with out-of-date vaccination records were suspended by Region of Waterloo Public Health under the Immunization of School Pupils Act.

“With the increase in measles cases and exposures, it is even more important that students are up to date with their immunizations to keep our community safe and healthy,” said Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Medical Ofﬁcer of Health, Region of Waterloo in a press release from the Region of Waterloo. “Vaccination is the best way to ensure your family is protected against serious illness.”

If your child is suspended:

• You must book a vaccine appointment with your health care provider or Public Health.

• Public Health vaccine clinics are by appointment only.

Appointments are limited and can be booked online at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines. No walk-ins will be accepted.

• If you have a future vaccine appointment booked, notify Public Health of the appointment through the online form available at regionofwaterloo.ca/vaccines.

• Report any vaccine your child has received from their health care provider to Public Health, through the online form at regionofwaterloo.ca/ vaccines.

• If you have any questions, need support booking an appointment or cannot ﬁnd an online appointment, call 519575-4400.

• Call volume is expected to be high, and you may have to wait.

Routine vaccinations provide protection against mea-

sles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, polio, meningitis, pertussis (whooping cough), and varicella (chickenpox).

The Immunization of School Pupils Act (ISPA) requires all elementary and secondary school students to have proof of these vaccinations or a valid exemption on ﬁle with Public Health.

At the end of February 2025, Public Health issued 8,981 suspension orders to elementary school students if their vaccine record was not brought up-to-date before April 2, 2025.

Visit Region of Waterloo Public Health to learn more about school and childcare vaccinations

Call Region of Waterloo Public Health at 519-5754400. Interpreters are available in over 150 languages.

City of Kitchener honours 178 local athletes and coaches

The City of Kitchener recognized and celebrated the accomplishments of 178 amateur athletes and coaches, who were joined by family, friends and members of Kitchener City Council, on March 18 at Bingemans Conference Centre in Kitchener.

The annual Kitchener Athletic Awards recognize the achievements of local amateur athletes who have competed and placed ﬁrst in a Canadian provincial or national championship/game or received gold, silver, or bronze in an international championship/game sanctioned by a recognized Canadian sport governing body.

This year’s athletic awards honoured individual athletes, teams, and their coaches that competed in various sports including ball hockey, baseball, cycling, football, gymnastics, karate, lacrosse, lawn bowling, powerlifting, skating, softball,

and taekwondo.

“These local athletes and coaches have showcased the strength of their dedication to sport while representing Kitchener at provincial, national, and international competitions,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic.

“We are incredibly proud of their individual and collective achievements and wish them all success as they continue to

pursue excellence in their respective sports.”

“The City of Kitchener has proudly supported local athletics for over 50 years,” said Ward 8 Councillor and Chair of the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee, Margaret Johnston.

“The Athletic Awards honour the dedication, training, and

commitment of our exceptional local athletes and coaches.”

Canadian Olympian Anabelle Langlois shared a message of determination and inspiration as the evening’s guest speaker.

Langlois knows what it takes to complete, having achieved eight National medals, eight International medals, six World Championships, and two Win-

ter Olympic Games.

She is renowned for an impressive career as an athlete, coach and mentor in the sport of ﬁgure skating. After retiring in 2010, she has served as Technical Director for the KW Skating Club since 2012 where she supports athletes and coaches in reaching their fullest potential.

FIRST VISIT TO WATERLOO REGION - Prime Minister Mark Carney made his ﬁrst visit to Waterloo Region on March 29, making a campaign stop at Bingemans in Kitchener. Conservative leader Pierre Poilievre has said he will hold a rally in Woolwich on April 10. The federal election will be held April 28.

Photo by Helen Hall

Guest speaker was Olympian Anabelle Langlois. KWSC Photo

Music & Lyrics by George Gershwin and Ira Gershwin Book by Ken Ludwig

Co-Conception by Ken Ludwig and Mike Ockrent Inspired by material by Guy Bolton and John McGowan

Grand Horizons

For many people, the thought of dying brings up feelings of fear and uncertainty, which may prevent them from ﬁnding peace as they face the end of life.

Nearly one in ﬁve older Canadians may not experience peace with dying, according to a recent data analysis of the Canadian Longitudinal Study on Aging at McMaster University. The analysis, published earlier this year in PLOS ONE, a peer reviewed journal, highlights the importance of end-of-life care and suggests that advance care planning may help people feel more at peace before they die.

The need for effective advance care planning and end-oflife care is clear. As people go through their end-of-life journey, their health and symptoms will change, and it is the responsibility of their healthcare team, family, friends, and care partners to ensure their end-oflife wishes are understood and honoured.

Heather Keller, Schlegel Research Chair in Nutrition and Aging, and her colleagues Dr. Allan Garland and Dr. George Heckman share important and helpful advice about advance care planning to empower you to make informed healthcare decisions and ensure your voice is heard and respected.

CELEBRATING SENIORS

Advance Care Planning can bring peace to people who are dying

What is Advance Care Planning?

Advance care planning is about documenting your wishes and instructions for your present and future health should you be unable to speak for yourself. It ensures your values, preferences, and wishes are respected while providing clarity for your family members, friends, care partners, and healthcare providers.

We understand these conversations can be difﬁcult, but with the right information and support, advance care planning can help you ﬁnd peace at the end of your life. Below are some tips to consider when making informed health-care decisions. Choose a substitute decision-maker

Win two free tickets that can be used at any coming Drayton Entertainment 2025 season performance!

Simply email citizenwest@hotmail.com to be entered in the draw

Winners will be notified by the newspaper following each month’s giveaway and winners will be announce d in the Kitchener Citizen following each draw.

A substitute decision maker is a person or persons who will inform the care team about your wishes if you are unable to do so yourself. The substitute decision-maker must understand and represent your wishes for medical care and be able to provide consent for treatments. Speak to your healthcare team and ask questions

Understanding your medical situation, choices, and what to expect is crucial in helping you determine your preferences. Here are a few questions you may want to ask your healthcare provider:

What are my current health conditions and concerns?

What speciﬁc medical problems can I anticipate with these conditions?

What types of treatments and/ or procedures are available?

What will happen if I decide

not to have the treatment and/or procedure?

For more information about how to choose a substitute decision maker and questions to ask your healthcare team, read the What is Advance Care Planning Factsheet.

sponsible condo detectors proper concerns bour battery because times.

battery because times. A.

their who thinks regarding fires replace diately.

replace

Winners will be notified by the newspaper following each month’s giveaway and winners will be announce d in the Kitchener Citizen following each draw.

Winning tickets may be used for any performance at the following Drayton Entertainment venues during the 2025 season:

Hamilton Family Theatre - Cambridge

St. Jacobs Country Playhouse

St. Jacobs Schoolhouse Theatre

So what’s

So what’s in store for the future with us?

Winning tickets may be used for any performance at the following Drayton Entertainment venues during the 20 Hamilton Family Theatre - Cambridge

St. Jacobs Country Playhouse

King’s Wharf Theatre

Drayton Festival Theatre

Huron Country Playhouse

Huron Country Playhouse - South

Huron Stage

*Tickets must be booked in advance. Performance dates and times are subject to availability.

To see what exciting shows Drayton Entertainment has in store for you this season call 1-885-DRAYTON (372-9866) or visit www.draytonentertainment.com

has in store for you this season call 1-885-DRAYTON (372-9866) or visit www.draytonentertainment.com

Some have said if a global pandemic can’t slow us down then nothing will, and they might be right. But this boom has to end sometime, they all do. But when is the big question.

Photography by Don Drews

If I was thinking of year or so I definitely luck and do it now. No ball but we only have predict what might happen And what goes up must always has, and always If you would like to your house has increased me a call at 519-589-3554, happy to give you an value.

definitely luck and do it now. No ball but we only have predict what might happen And what goes up must always has, and always If you would like to your house has increased me a call at 519-589-3554, happy to give you an value.

not even the first wave of a Global Pandemic could slow it down. In fact, it has made the market stronger. The supply of new and resale homes on the market are at historic low levels which tells us that prices cannot decline until inventory increases dramatically. The second wave is now upon us, will this now slow the market? The Canadian banks are positive and will continue to be reporting a 3% decline months. Canadian Mortgage forecasting a 21% decline I think the right answer the middle. It does seem be ending soon, which Buyers and bad news For honest advice estate situation give me

Early spring walk on the Clarica Pathway (Walter Bean Grand River Trail) approaching the Zehr Weir, Kitchener.

Don Drews is a retired school teacher who likes to take local photo walks. His photography can be found on social media on YouTube and Flickr, most of which includes

Don Drews’ Views

A. Ho this article has removed their who regarding fires

diately.

Peter Schneider,

You may have noticed our

of trafﬁc calming measures popping up.

It’s so nice feeling Spring in the air.

You’ll see our city crews in action as they begin to perform all our spring operation activities, like ﬁxing

I want to congratulate the tenants at 267 Traynor Ave. on ﬁghting back against an unfair and unjust “Renoviction”. There is power in numbers and determination, and

Earth Day is April 22. Consider connecting with neighbours to organize a spring clean-up. It’s never too early to plan ways to care for our environment and community. At this

Dear Ward 5 Residents, I hope you are enjoying the change of weather and the beauty of the spring season! With warmer days ahead, there are some excit-

Notes from City Hall

These include the yellow, ﬂexible, middle-of-the-road signs that remind drivers to slow down in the area. In a few places we use similar signs but with additional “road narrowing” stakes on either side which are a bit more aggressive in getting automobiles to slow as they squeeze through. Finally, on some streets, you’ll see what I like to call the “reminder-radar” that shows you how fast you’re going. Oftentimes our speeding is entirely unintentional and these

potholes created during our harsh winter. Permanent repairs will start once our local hot mix asphalt plants begin operations in a few weeks. We had signiﬁcant landscape damage this winter, and these repairs start when temperatures support seed germination. To report potholes or turf damage call our Contact Centre at 519.741.2345.

Street sweeping operations have started and our seasonal trafﬁc calming measures will be installed this month. Crews have already begun our spring litter blitz, and we

the residents demonstrated this. I’m very happy for them all. These last few weeks have been unprecedented and unpredictable times in our lives. The tariffs being levied against Canada are not just a mere slap in the face. It’s a threat to our Sovereignty, wellbeing and livelihoods. I’m happy that our council passed a motion to look at our procurement processes, and other ways to address, protect and react to tariffs, to help minimize their impact.

I would like to encourage you

time of year, the city has more staff allocated to clean up litter. Garbage bins that were relocated to accessible locations for winter collection will be returned to their summer locations later this month or by early May. Check out the www.kitchener. ca/garbagecanmap, a live tool that can be used when out in the community to locate the nearest garbage can to you. Year round collection is provided to about 500 locations across the city.

Tree Planting and Maintenance Planting is scheduled to start late

ing updates and events happening in our community.

Earth Day Clean-Up – April 26. Join us at Williamsburg and Huron Community Centres on Saturday, April 26, from 10 AM – 12 PM to help keep our neighbourhoods clean. This is a great way to give back and connect with your neighbours!

Calling Local Musicians! Neighbourhood Day is coming up in June, and we’re looking for local talent to perform. If you or someone you know is interested, reach out to my

implementations remind us to drive safely. We have a limited number of these measures, to ensure effectiveness, but the locations that are chosen are always based on trafﬁc data. You may notice the two rubber tubes laid across roadways in the warmer months. This is how we collect the anonymous data detailing not only road speeds, but trafﬁc volume as well. You might recall, with my support, Kitchener opted out of the punitive photoradar options on our streets. That

love it when neighbours do community clean-ups. Earth Day is April 22 and doing a clean-up is a great way to celebrate. To register go to lovemyhood.ca and search community clean ups―We provide all the supplies and pick up your bagged garbage!

On March 24 all of City Council stood with Mayor Vrbanovic as Kitchener launched our Support Local Campaign. We’re amending our procurement bylaw to “Buy Canadian” and “Buy Local” and we’ll deepen our partnership with the

all, if you haven’t done so already, to buy Canadian and local. I know selection, season and price can make this a challenge, but we must protect our country. Grocery stores are making it easier to distinguish between Canadian and American products, and there is produce available from Ontario and Canadian greenhouses―you get what I’m saying.

It’s also a great opportunity to stay in Canada for your summer vacations. Consider travel up Hwy 11 to Gravenhurst, or the 401 to Ot-

April. Beginning in 2023, the street tree program continues to run yearround, focusing on raising and pruning the trees in our city neighbourhoods. Find out when your street will be pruned at www.kitchener.ca/ UrbanForestMap/ Trails in Ward 4 Spring marks the time when city crews begin trail repairs. If you notice a location in need of attention, please let our Corporate Contact Centre know, and they’ll generate a service request: 519-741-2345.

Easter Egg Hunt The Doon Pio-

office. Spaces and Places Report – April 14. The final draft of the Places report, part of Kitchener’s Parks Master Plan, will be presented to the Community and Infrastructure Services Committee on Monday, April 14. This plan is shaped by community input and will influence the quality of our parks for years to come. Kitchener Indoor Recreation Complex (KIRC) Update - Things are starting to come together. Construction is moving ahead! The

implementation offered no ﬂexibility on timing or speeds, and had an automatic doubling of any ﬁnes. It’s a topic I’m happy to revisit once the program focuses more on positively shaping behaviour, than punishment. For questions on this, or anything else City related, please do not hesitate to contact me any time using the above contact information. And please remember, check the labels and do your best to BUY CANADIAN!

BIAs, Chamber of Commerce and Kitchener Market to identify new measures to support our local businesses.

The Kitchener Rangers and KW Titans are in the playoffs. Let’s get out to the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium and cheer our local teams on. If I can assist you, contact me directly or use our 24-hour Contact Centre, 519-741-2345 or info@kitchener.ca. Follow me on Instagram and X, @DaveSchniderKW or friend me on Facebook. Visit daveschnider. com for lots of Ward 2 and city info.

tawa or Kingston; the options are endless. My household has made the decision to not cross the border over the next 4 years and instead see Canada.

I also suggest a call to your local MP or MPP to advocate for a stay in Canada travel tax rebate. This initiative would help offset some of the costs of travel this summer.

Please don’t hesitate to reach out at any time if there are concerns, suggestions or comments to Jason. deneault@kitchener.ca.

Have a great Easter Weekend.

neer Park Community Association is holding an Easter Egg Hunt at the community centre on Saturday, April 19 at 10am. Bring your own basket to collect the goodies! For more info go to dppca.ca.

Coffee & Chat Meeting you in person is important to me. I’ll be at the Doon Pioneer Park Community Center on Saturday, April 26 from 10-11:30am. I look forward to connecting with you.

You can reach me at 226-7529541 or christine.michaud@kitchener.ca.

aquatics centre steel is complete, work on the ﬁeldhouse has begun, and the north parking lot is on track to reopen by April 15. We are also planning for the facility’s operations, including sponsorships and programming. Exciting times ahead!

Happy Easter & Passover To those celebrating, I wish you and your families a joyful and meaningful holiday.

As always, feel free to reach out with any questions or concerns.

Kitchener launches Support Local campaign

In response to current economic challenges, the City of Kitchener is stepping up to support local businesses and ensure the long-term prosperity of our community with the launch of a new initiative, the ‘Support Local’ campaign. The campaign, a collaborative effort between the City and local business organizations, aims to bolster the Kitchener economy and ensure that Kitchener remains a vibrant and strong community.

“We know that our local businesses are the heart of Kitchener,” said Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor of Kitchener. “By doubling down on our support local efforts, we are investing in our community’s future and prosperity. As a City, we are committed to this approach.”

On February 10th, the Mayor brought forward a motion to Kitchener Council, which was unanimously approved, to activate a City of Kitchener response that would minimize the impacts of tariffs and implement actions in support of our local economy.

As part of the City’s response, the City of Kitchener Tariff and Trade Task Force was initiated and quickly mobilized. This group is focused on assessing the full scope of these economic impacts and identifying measures to support the local economy.

To that end, Kitchener’s Tariff and Trade Task Force present eda series of actions at a special meeting of City Council on Monday, March 17th. These actions include:

1. Amending Kitchener’s procurement bylaw to support Buy Canadian, Buy Local.

2. Initiating conversations with distributors and contractors on Canadian Alternatives for supply.

3. Prioritizing Canada First supply purchases for smaller dollar items.

4. Strategic outreach with trade exposed companies and developing new resources on Import Substitution for local businesses.

5. Launching of a ‘Support Local’ campaign, in partnership with local BIAs, chamber of commerce and the Kitchener Market.

“The City of Kitchener has a strong foundation in place through its procurement policies, already purchasing 98 percent of goods and services from Ontariobased businesses,” said Councillor Scott Davey, Chair of Finance and Corporate Services Commit-

Hi Ward 1, Happy Spring! I hope you’re well, all things considered.

seasonal campaign

Dear Neighbours,

I’m excited to share that Kitchener has received an additional $4.2 million from the federal Housing Accelerator Fund —a recognition of our

Hi Ward 7! It’s been a bit of a slow start to Spring with some snow, freezing rain and cold temperatures, but soon enough we will have forgotten the chilly days

Hey Ward 8! Hope you are enjoying the sun! It’s lovely to see it again. Unfortunately with the spring thaw, we see the results of garbage that was not disposed of properly in the winter.

I was very pleased to learn that the Landlord and Tenant Board (LTB) ruling was in favour of the tenants at 267 Traynor Ave. The residents who were being threatened with renovic-

Hi Ward 10! There are two development applications in our ward that I would like to draw your attention to:

Notes from City Hall

success in advancing innovative, inclusive housing solutions. With this continued support, we’re accelerating policies and incentives that make it easier and faster to provide more housing.

This builds on the $42.4 million received in 2023, bringing even more momentum to our work to expand housing options across the city. These new funds will also support a Community Improvement Plan that encourages a broader mix of housing, also known as “the missing middle.”

and will be enjoying spring ﬂowers and sunny days.

Just a reminder that Earth Day is April 22. Please head to earthday.org to learn more about this important day and the different ways you can help make a difference in our community and the world. If you would like to organize your own community clean-up of a local park, public space, or trail you can register your event to get free supplies from your local community Center. Please visit www.

It’s disappointing to see, but good to know that community groups step up to the plate to organize community cleanups. Below is a list of the ones I know of happening in and around our Ward:

Forest Heights Community Centre

Cleanup: Saturday, April 12th – 9am –meet at main entrance, garbage bags and gloves supplied Paulander Princesses hosting Easter Fun Day on April 19 from 1-3 pm up at the Gazebo. Please come join us for a fun ﬁlled afternoon of games and refreshments with us.

tion put their whole lives into ﬁghting back against the landlord.

The process took over two years, during which time residents were in fear of becoming homeless. They feared being evicted from their affordable and rent controlled homes and forced into a rental market of uncertainty where rents are out of reach for many of us. The LTB ruled that the owner had abandoned the case which meant the tenants could remain housed.

Most cases do not end this way, hence the need for a renoviction

924 King St W – Planner Evan Wittman, evan.wittman@kitchener.ca

20 Victoria Marie Court – Planner Andrew Pinnell, andrew.pinnell@kitchener.ca

You can reach out to both the planners and myself with your notes. We welcome comments in the form of emails, phone conversations, and even 1 on 1 meetings with members of the public. Note that no decisions have been made

In the past year, Kitchener has:

· Created Canada’s most ﬂexible planning rules around major transit station areas;

· Enabled the creation of more low-rise starter units city-wide through adding as-of-right zoning ﬂexibilities; and

· Provided land and funding for non-proﬁt housing providers.

These bold actions have already led to a 70% increase in permits for multi-unit and backyard homes.

As Chair of the Planning and Strategic Services Committee, I’m

lovemyhood.ca for more information.

Speaking of spring clean-ups, as you head out into your own yard or garden to start some spring cleaning, you’ll be pleased to know that the Region’s yard waste program began the week of March 31. For more information and schedules please visit www.regionofwaterloo. ca and search “yard waste”

I wanted to share a welcome reminder that the winter parking bylaw ended on March 31, meaning

Lakeside Park Cleanup and Potluck Lunch – Saturday April 26 – cleanup 10:30, potluck at 11:30 – meet in the parking lot by Lakeside Dr. Gzowski Park Clean up - Saturday April 26. Meet outside the community center to clean up the Park, kids earn tickets to redeem for snacks at Spring Fest. Gloves and bags provided. You too can help! While you are out and about on your spring walks, please bring a bag with you and collect garbage along the way. Thanks for your help and thanks for modelling positive behaviour.

bylaw to give greater protection to residents in rent-controlled units. According to a recent Record article, when tenants are evicted for the purpose of renovations, they have the legal right to return once the renovations are completed, at the same rent they were paying prior to the eviction. Many tenants are unaware of their rights. I look forward to June 2 when staff bring a report about renovictions forward for Council to consider.

April 22 is Earth Day. Neighbourhoods across the city have orga-

regarding these applications, but I am requesting community feedback. If you go to www.kitchener. ca/planningapplications you will ﬁnd an abundance of information regarding these development applications.

Learn more about the project, share your thoughts and understand your appeal rights, visit www.kitchener.ca/planningapplications.

You are invited to reach me di-

proud of the leadership Kitchener has taken in its continued efforts to address the housing crisis. This is about more than numbers - it’s about creating real options for families, seniors, and new Kitchener residents.

Thank you for your ongoing support as we build a city where everyone has a place to call home.

Connect with me at paul.singh@ kitchener.ca, or pop in to chat 7-8pm on April 16 at the Country Hills Community Centre.

parking on driveway aprons is no longer required as residents can once again park overnight on the street, up until November 30. For more information visit www.kitchener.ca keyword search “parking bylaw”.

April is a busy month for the Easter bunny! Happy Easter to those who celebrate. And Happy Passover for those celebrating.

I would also like to promote shopping local and supporting our Ward 8 businesses. Our amazing Belmont Village retailers would love to have you visit them! So many great stores and restaurants there and it’s the perfect venue for a spring walk, shop and refreshment stop! Modern Paw recently opened in the Village and it is a terriﬁc place to shop for food, treats, pet accessories and is a grooming salon, check it out!

nized community clean-up events. Check out their social media posts for dates and locations or host your own! Register at lovemyhood. ca/cleanup to get free gloves and bags. According to Earthday.org, this year’s theme is ‘our power, our planet.’ It “invites everyone around the globe to unite behind renewable energy, and to triple the global generation of clean electricity by 2030.” Together we can make a difference.

rectly. You can visit my website www.stephanie.stretch.ca and sign up for my newsletter if you are looking for more updates from Council and the community. I also strongly encourage you to contact The City any time for questions and/or reporting issues. Over-thephone service can be accessed 24/7 by dialing 519-741-2345.

tee. “While we are protected by best practices in procurement, we are assessing contracts and closely monitoring supply chain impacts to pursue further buyCanadian opportunities,” added Davey.

The City acknowledges that broader interpretation and policy changes related to procurement will require an all-of-government effort, as all municipalities must adhere to regulations set by other orders of the government.

The City of Kitchener will stand together, supporting Kitchener’s businesses, families, and communities as it responds to the U.S. Tariffs with resilience and strength and by supporting one another.

Child Witness Centre raises enough funds to elminate its waitlist

n August of 2022, for the ﬁrst time in their 40-year history Child Witness Centre (CWC) began a waitlist for kids and their families.

The galvanizing #MeToo movement grew the volume of sexual abuse victims coming forward to far beyond the agency’s capacity. Compounding that, the impact of COVID on fundraising caused the agency to downsize through attrition. During the pandemic, the timeframe for the

judicial process almost doubled, which increased the cost for service for each child and the number of years that they were clients.

A waitlist is devastating, because it has immediate and longterm impact on the wellbeing and life-trajectory of young survivors who don’t receive support when it’s needed most. In response, CWC launched a major campaign in November of 2023 called “Child Victims Can’t

Wait” with the mission of eliminating the waitlist. The goal is to raise $2.5-million over ﬁve years to meet the high demand for their services. And the community has stepped up and come together to increase support through this waitlist crisis.

Community Church Listing

ChurchCommunityListing

St James’-Rosemount United 171 Sherwood Ave., Kitchener (519) 742-1002

Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m.

Lunch served following service on the third Sunday of every month. Nursery, Sunday School, Youth Group, Wed. Night Bible study

St. George’s of Forest Hill - Anglican 321 Fischer-Hallman Road, Kitchener (519) 744-4751 www.stgeorgesofforesthill.com

Sunday Service 8:15 a.m. (Book of Common Prayer)

Kitchener Gospel Temple-Pentecostal

Sunday Service 10:00 a.m. (Children’s - Youth Ministries) Wednesday Service 10:00 a.m. All Welcome

9 Conway Dr. (at River Rd), Kitchener (519) 894-5999

Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m.

Mid-week activities for all ages. www.kitchenergospel.com

St Paul’s Lutheran Church (Bridgeport) 101-544 Bridgeport Rd E., Kitchener ON N2K 1N7 Phone: 519-743-4464

Kitchener East Presbyterian

10 Zeller Drive, Kitchener (519) 748-9786

Reverend: Mark S. Richardson

Pastor Mario Hryniewicz

Sunday Service: 10:30 a.m. Nursery and Sunday School provided Sonshine Corner, Thursdays from 9 - 11 a.m.

Email: https://stpaulsbridgeport.weebly.com/ Worship Service: 10:00 am All are Welcome!

Holy Cross Evangelical Lutheran

322 East Avenue (at Stirling), Kitchener (519) 742-5812 www.holycrosskitchener.org

Sunday Service: (Sept. - June) 8:30 and 11 a.m., (July-Aug.) 9:30 a.m 9:45 a.m. - Sunday School, Youth & Adult Bible Classes Choirs - Stephen Ministry - Youth Group - Beginnings (0 -3 years)

Hope Lutheran

30 Shaftsbury Drive, Kitchener ON N2A 1N6 (519) 893-5290 www.hopelc.ca

Worship Service Times 10:00 am Worship Service 11:15 am Adult Bible Study Nursery open at this time

30 Shaftsbury Drive, Kitchener (519) 893-5290 Worship Service : 10:00 a.m. Nursery closed at this time ww w.hopelc.ca

Breslau Evangelical Missionary Church

102 Woolwich St., Breslau (519) 648-2712

Sunday Worship Service: 10 a.m.

Children’s Ministry - Youth Ministry - Small Groups

All are welcome! Visit us at ww w.bemc.ca

Stanley Park Community Church

9 Dreger Ave., (at Ottawa St.) Kitchener (519) 893-8186 www.stanleyparkchurch.ca

Pastor: Brad Bauer

Sunday Service and Kid’s Church: 10 a.m. ALL WELCOME!

Nexus Church

Meets in The Conrad Center - 36 King St W. Kitchener Sunday Service 10:30 a.m.

www.nexuschurch.ca

All are welcome!

CWC Executive Director Robin Heald explained, “There are so many who have been champions for our cause that have helped us bounce back as an organization. Former and faithful donors and supporters came to the table and helped make it happen. Local MPs and MPPs supported our grant writing by adding their voices to our request. We simply could not have done it alone and we’re so grateful for every moment and dollar that people invested in us.”

Much credit for overcoming the waitlist goes to the hard work and dedication of CWC’s frontline staff to push through this time of adversity.

One such person is Laura Cook, Caseworker, who was recognized at the Pancake Lunch for her recent 25th work anniversary. She has helped hundreds

of children, youth, and families during her tenure.

The waitlist may come back if CWC doesn’t reach its campaign goal or if they have an inﬂux of cases – among other possible hurdles. For example, children and their caregivers are more likely to report abuse just before or after a school holiday.

Each school holiday sees a corresponding surge in referrals to CWC’s programs. The waitlist may be seen again as CWC strives to grow the skills and

revenue to manage these waves, the community’s rapid population growth, and emerging crime trends.

Ongoing diligence and fundraising are needed to build a strong and stable service with continuous availability to manage intake.

For those who care to invest time or funds to support CWC with their “Child Victims Can’t Wait” campaign, email robin. heald@childwitness.com or visit childwitness.com.

COMMMUNITY CALENDAR

SCHNEIDER MALE CHORUS IN CONCERT - Come join us for an unforgettable evening of beautiful harmonies and powerful melodies at St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, 54 Queen Street North, Kitchener on Monday, March 31st at 7PM. You can be entertained AND help the efforts to rehabilitate the less fortunate in our community. Free admission with monetary donations accepted for the House of Friendship’s “Adopt a Room” initiative.

CFUW K-W 58TH ANNUAL USED BOOK SALE - First United Church, 16 William St. W., Waterloo. Book Donation drop off: Wed. April 23 9 am - 9 pm, Thurs. April 24, 9 am - 6 pm Book Sale: Friday April 25 9 am - 9 pm, Saturday April 26, 9 am - 1 pm

GEM AND MINERAL SHOW - The KW Gem and Mineral Club invites everyone to our annual Gem and Mineral Show. Find gemstones, rocks, minerals, displays, fossils, beads and hand-crafted jewelry. Adults only $2 and children under 12 are free. Activities for children; May 10, 2025: 10 am to 4 pm at the Kitchener Auditorium, 400 East Avenue, Kitchener. Parking available. www.kwgmc.com WALK FOR ALZHEIMER’S - The Alzheimer Society Waterloo Wellington is excited to announce the return of the annual IG Wealth Management Walk for Alzheimer’s, happening on Saturday, May 24, 2025. This family-friendly event will be held at four locations across the region – Kitchener, Guelph, Mount Forest, and a new location in Cam-

bridge. For more information or to register, visit Alzheimerww.ca. GARDEN OF RESILIENCE - The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) is excited to announce the launch of the 50/50 Garden of Resilience, a groundbreaking community garden project to address two pressing social challenges: food security and ecological sustainability. Nestled within the KWAG Sculpture Garden in the Olde Berlin Neighborhood, the Garden of Resilience will be providing an opportunity for community members to grow their own organic vegetables, fruits, herbs, and ﬂowers, while fostering intergenerational and intercultural learning through community collaboration and mutual aid. Contact garden@ kwag.on.ca for further information.

Robin Heald, Executive Director for Child Witness Centre (CWC), made the big announcement at their 2025 Pancake Lunch that they’ve wiped out the waitlist. Angie Hill of Bounce FM (on left) was the event emcee.

Team members from CWC at the Pancake Lunch, which raised over $58,000 to support local young victims. Laura Cook, kneeling directly behind Monet the facility dog, recently celebrated 25 years at the agency Submitted Photos

WHAT WE’RE READING

Hell of a Ride: Chasing Home and Survival on a Bicycle Voyage Across Canada by Martin Bauman

Review by Stephanie Donkers, Graphic Designer, Kitchener Public Library

Waterloo native Martin Bauman’s “Hell of a Ride” is one hell of a read. It takes the reader on a bicycle trek across Canada in search of adventure, looking for life’s meaning and raising money for mental health initiatives.

This is not only a high intensity bicycle ride across our nation, it is a journey of ruminating thought, meandering like the road ahead. Leading with his own personal experiences, Bauman touches on his Mennonite upbringing in the Waterloo area, the suicide of his cousin, his father’s own depression that is rarely spoken of, and his own trouble dealing with trauma.

This talented local writer begins the ride, and consequential memoir, on the rain-soaked streets of Victoria. It follows his journey through the mountainous climbs, the lonely isolation of the prairies and through the blasted-out rock of the Canadian shield. North of Sault Saint Marie is nothing but rocks and rivers and trees, and then it’s on to Ottawa and Quebec City and eventually landing in the quaint and friendly Eastern provinces.

Staying true to the mission of the trek, the novel

is ripe with extensive research on how trauma is stored in the brain. It looks at the underlying causes of depression, suicide statistics and why some people have more resilience than others. It explores the idea that the way to deal with PTSD is not in mending the broken places but in making yourself anew.

Peppered with the stories of the people he meets along the way, the kindness of strangers lies at the heart of this story. The author meets Dave early on. Dave helps ﬁnd places where Martin can spend the night, including the lobby of a White River curling rink where he is met and let in by a town councillor. Many other stays are arranged through Warm Showers hosts, a network of people who house cyclists on their travels.

“Isolation can feel like safety, but it’s not. Perhaps there is more to belonging than we tend to give our attention to,” Bauman writes.

In the end, it seems that the key to happiness is connection. We are all social beings after all. Copies of “Hell of A Ride” are available to borrow from Kitchener Public Library.