#regionalcouncil — Public Fediverse posts

REGIONAL COUNCIL AMENDS BY-LAW TO DEFER POSSESSION OF 100VIC

On Jan. 9, 2026,  the Region of Waterloo council amended By-Law 25-021. This deferred the possession date for the Kitchener transit hub site until Apr. 1, 2026. Metrolinx has advised the Region of Waterloo that it requires the use of 100 Victoria St. N. for its Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH). The first version of the bylaw was designed to have encampment residents off 100Vic by the end of 2025.  The region wants to use the property as a staging area for construction vehicles and equipment for the KCTH, planned to be built at the nearby intersection of King St. and Victoria St. 

The amendment was made to allow residents of 100 Victoria St. N. encampment (100Vic) to find alternative housing options.    

“The offer would include an individual housing plan with appropriate alternative accommodation, social service supports and transportation and storage for up to six months at no cost to the person,” Fiona McCrea, regional solicitor and director of legal services, said.   

An information session for current residents of the 100Vic ran on Jan. 5, 2026, along with a public information and input meeting on Jan. 7, 2026. A summary of these two sessions was included in the appendix of the addendum report.   

“There was support expressed at both sessions for the removal of the monetary penalty and the provision of written offers of alternative accommodation included in the amendments,” McCrea said.   

Across the Waterloo Region, there are 24 known encampments and approximately 50-59 residents in them. However, the 100Vic by-law and its amendment would only affect the residents and the encampment there.  The motion of including a safe-tenting by-law came up on the Jan. 9, 2026, meeting. This would outline the procedures which people are to follow when putting up tents in designated areas deemed suitable by a governing body.   

“Such a protocol exists in other communities in Ontario including Hamilton, London, St. Thomas and the Region of Peel. These are provisions set through a by-law that provides the circumstances and conditions [in] which individuals can tent in the municipality,” Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Community Services, said.  

Safe tenting by-laws come in one of two forms: one where individuals are given specific locations in which they are permitted to tent. The other outlines where people are not permitted to tent and sets provisions of distance from schools, cemeteries and childcare centers.   

For example, London’s Park and Recreation Area By-Law-PR-2 prohibits people from encroaching on municipally owned lands or erecting fences on municipally owned lands without the written consent of the City. Whereas the Region of Peel’s Encampment Policy Framework and Joint Protocols  explicitly outlines areas where encampments are prohibited. 

“Not one person that spoke last night wanted this amendment. Even though you [the council] might think it would be advantageous to those living in the encampment.” Pam Wolf, Region of Waterloo Councilor, said.  

Wolf wanted the Region of Waterloo council to explore the safe tenting protocols of other municipalities. The motion to explore the safe tenting protocol was defeated by a final vote of 8-8. 

REGIONAL COUNCIL AMENDS BY-LAW TO DEFER POSSESSION OF 100VIC

On Jan. 9, 2026,  the Region of Waterloo council amended By-Law 25-021. This deferred the possession date for the Kitchener transit hub site until Apr. 1, 2026. Metrolinx has advised the Region of Waterloo that it requires the use of 100 Victoria St. N. for its Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH). The first version of the bylaw was designed to have encampment residents off 100Vic by the end of 2025.  The region wants to use the property as a staging area for construction vehicles and equipment for the KCTH, planned to be built at the nearby intersection of King St. and Victoria St. 

The amendment was made to allow residents of 100 Victoria St. N. encampment (100Vic) to find alternative housing options.    

“The offer would include an individual housing plan with appropriate alternative accommodation, social service supports and transportation and storage for up to six months at no cost to the person,” Fiona McCrea, regional solicitor and director of legal services, said.   

An information session for current residents of the 100Vic ran on Jan. 5, 2026, along with a public information and input meeting on Jan. 7, 2026. A summary of these two sessions was included in the appendix of the addendum report.   

“There was support expressed at both sessions for the removal of the monetary penalty and the provision of written offers of alternative accommodation included in the amendments,” McCrea said.   

Across the Waterloo Region, there are 24 known encampments and approximately 50-59 residents in them. However, the 100Vic by-law and its amendment would only affect the residents and the encampment there.  The motion of including a safe-tenting by-law came up on the Jan. 9, 2026, meeting. This would outline the procedures which people are to follow when putting up tents in designated areas deemed suitable by a governing body.   

“Such a protocol exists in other communities in Ontario including Hamilton, London, St. Thomas and the Region of Peel. These are provisions set through a by-law that provides the circumstances and conditions [in] which individuals can tent in the municipality,” Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Community Services, said.  

Safe tenting by-laws come in one of two forms: one where individuals are given specific locations in which they are permitted to tent. The other outlines where people are not permitted to tent and sets provisions of distance from schools, cemeteries and childcare centers.   

For example, London’s Park and Recreation Area By-Law-PR-2 prohibits people from encroaching on municipally owned lands or erecting fences on municipally owned lands without the written consent of the City. Whereas the Region of Peel’s Encampment Policy Framework and Joint Protocols  explicitly outlines areas where encampments are prohibited. 

“Not one person that spoke last night wanted this amendment. Even though you [the council] might think it would be advantageous to those living in the encampment.” Pam Wolf, Region of Waterloo Councilor, said.  

Wolf wanted the Region of Waterloo council to explore the safe tenting protocols of other municipalities. The motion to explore the safe tenting protocol was defeated by a final vote of 8-8. 

REGIONAL COUNCIL AMENDS BY-LAW TO DEFER POSSESSION OF 100VIC

On Jan. 9, 2026,  the Region of Waterloo council amended By-Law 25-021. This deferred the possession date for the Kitchener transit hub site until Apr. 1, 2026. Metrolinx has advised the Region of Waterloo that it requires the use of 100 Victoria St. N. for its Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH). The first version of the bylaw was designed to have encampment residents off 100Vic by the end of 2025.  The region wants to use the property as a staging area for construction vehicles and equipment for the KCTH, planned to be built at the nearby intersection of King St. and Victoria St. 

The amendment was made to allow residents of 100 Victoria St. N. encampment (100Vic) to find alternative housing options.    

“The offer would include an individual housing plan with appropriate alternative accommodation, social service supports and transportation and storage for up to six months at no cost to the person,” Fiona McCrea, regional solicitor and director of legal services, said.   

An information session for current residents of the 100Vic ran on Jan. 5, 2026, along with a public information and input meeting on Jan. 7, 2026. A summary of these two sessions was included in the appendix of the addendum report.   

“There was support expressed at both sessions for the removal of the monetary penalty and the provision of written offers of alternative accommodation included in the amendments,” McCrea said.   

Across the Waterloo Region, there are 24 known encampments and approximately 50-59 residents in them. However, the 100Vic by-law and its amendment would only affect the residents and the encampment there.  The motion of including a safe-tenting by-law came up on the Jan. 9, 2026, meeting. This would outline the procedures which people are to follow when putting up tents in designated areas deemed suitable by a governing body.   

“Such a protocol exists in other communities in Ontario including Hamilton, London, St. Thomas and the Region of Peel. These are provisions set through a by-law that provides the circumstances and conditions [in] which individuals can tent in the municipality,” Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Community Services, said.  

Safe tenting by-laws come in one of two forms: one where individuals are given specific locations in which they are permitted to tent. The other outlines where people are not permitted to tent and sets provisions of distance from schools, cemeteries and childcare centers.   

For example, London’s Park and Recreation Area By-Law-PR-2 prohibits people from encroaching on municipally owned lands or erecting fences on municipally owned lands without the written consent of the City. Whereas the Region of Peel’s Encampment Policy Framework and Joint Protocols  explicitly outlines areas where encampments are prohibited. 

“Not one person that spoke last night wanted this amendment. Even though you [the council] might think it would be advantageous to those living in the encampment.” Pam Wolf, Region of Waterloo Councilor, said.  

Wolf wanted the Region of Waterloo council to explore the safe tenting protocols of other municipalities. The motion to explore the safe tenting protocol was defeated by a final vote of 8-8. 

REGIONAL COUNCIL AMENDS BY-LAW TO DEFER POSSESSION OF 100VIC

On Jan. 9, 2026,  the Region of Waterloo council amended By-Law 25-021. This deferred the possession date for the Kitchener transit hub site until Apr. 1, 2026. Metrolinx has advised the Region of Waterloo that it requires the use of 100 Victoria St. N. for its Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH). The first version of the bylaw was designed to have encampment residents off 100Vic by the end of 2025.  The region wants to use the property as a staging area for construction vehicles and equipment for the KCTH, planned to be built at the nearby intersection of King St. and Victoria St. 

The amendment was made to allow residents of 100 Victoria St. N. encampment (100Vic) to find alternative housing options.    

“The offer would include an individual housing plan with appropriate alternative accommodation, social service supports and transportation and storage for up to six months at no cost to the person,” Fiona McCrea, regional solicitor and director of legal services, said.   

An information session for current residents of the 100Vic ran on Jan. 5, 2026, along with a public information and input meeting on Jan. 7, 2026. A summary of these two sessions was included in the appendix of the addendum report.   

“There was support expressed at both sessions for the removal of the monetary penalty and the provision of written offers of alternative accommodation included in the amendments,” McCrea said.   

Across the Waterloo Region, there are 24 known encampments and approximately 50-59 residents in them. However, the 100Vic by-law and its amendment would only affect the residents and the encampment there.  The motion of including a safe-tenting by-law came up on the Jan. 9, 2026, meeting. This would outline the procedures which people are to follow when putting up tents in designated areas deemed suitable by a governing body.   

“Such a protocol exists in other communities in Ontario including Hamilton, London, St. Thomas and the Region of Peel. These are provisions set through a by-law that provides the circumstances and conditions [in] which individuals can tent in the municipality,” Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Community Services, said.  

Safe tenting by-laws come in one of two forms: one where individuals are given specific locations in which they are permitted to tent. The other outlines where people are not permitted to tent and sets provisions of distance from schools, cemeteries and childcare centers.   

For example, London’s Park and Recreation Area By-Law-PR-2 prohibits people from encroaching on municipally owned lands or erecting fences on municipally owned lands without the written consent of the City. Whereas the Region of Peel’s Encampment Policy Framework and Joint Protocols  explicitly outlines areas where encampments are prohibited. 

“Not one person that spoke last night wanted this amendment. Even though you [the council] might think it would be advantageous to those living in the encampment.” Pam Wolf, Region of Waterloo Councilor, said.  

Wolf wanted the Region of Waterloo council to explore the safe tenting protocols of other municipalities. The motion to explore the safe tenting protocol was defeated by a final vote of 8-8. 

REGIONAL COUNCIL AMENDS BY-LAW TO DEFER POSSESSION OF 100VIC

On Jan. 9, 2026,  the Region of Waterloo council amended By-Law 25-021. This deferred the possession date for the Kitchener transit hub site until Apr. 1, 2026. Metrolinx has advised the Region of Waterloo that it requires the use of 100 Victoria St. N. for its Kitchener Central Transit Hub (KCTH). The first version of the bylaw was designed to have encampment residents off 100Vic by the end of 2025.  The region wants to use the property as a staging area for construction vehicles and equipment for the KCTH, planned to be built at the nearby intersection of King St. and Victoria St. 

The amendment was made to allow residents of 100 Victoria St. N. encampment (100Vic) to find alternative housing options.    

“The offer would include an individual housing plan with appropriate alternative accommodation, social service supports and transportation and storage for up to six months at no cost to the person,” Fiona McCrea, regional solicitor and director of legal services, said.   

An information session for current residents of the 100Vic ran on Jan. 5, 2026, along with a public information and input meeting on Jan. 7, 2026. A summary of these two sessions was included in the appendix of the addendum report.   

“There was support expressed at both sessions for the removal of the monetary penalty and the provision of written offers of alternative accommodation included in the amendments,” McCrea said.   

Across the Waterloo Region, there are 24 known encampments and approximately 50-59 residents in them. However, the 100Vic by-law and its amendment would only affect the residents and the encampment there.  The motion of including a safe-tenting by-law came up on the Jan. 9, 2026, meeting. This would outline the procedures which people are to follow when putting up tents in designated areas deemed suitable by a governing body.   

“Such a protocol exists in other communities in Ontario including Hamilton, London, St. Thomas and the Region of Peel. These are provisions set through a by-law that provides the circumstances and conditions [in] which individuals can tent in the municipality,” Peter Sweeney, Commissioner of Community Services, said.  

Safe tenting by-laws come in one of two forms: one where individuals are given specific locations in which they are permitted to tent. The other outlines where people are not permitted to tent and sets provisions of distance from schools, cemeteries and childcare centers.   

For example, London’s Park and Recreation Area By-Law-PR-2 prohibits people from encroaching on municipally owned lands or erecting fences on municipally owned lands without the written consent of the City. Whereas the Region of Peel’s Encampment Policy Framework and Joint Protocols  explicitly outlines areas where encampments are prohibited. 

“Not one person that spoke last night wanted this amendment. Even though you [the council] might think it would be advantageous to those living in the encampment.” Pam Wolf, Region of Waterloo Councilor, said.  

Wolf wanted the Region of Waterloo council to explore the safe tenting protocols of other municipalities. The motion to explore the safe tenting protocol was defeated by a final vote of 8-8. 

GALT HOSTS NEW EMERGENCY SHELTER

The closure of the YW Kitchener-Waterloo women’s shelter at 84 Frederick St. in June 2024 left a gap in emergency shelters for women and gender-diverse folks in the Waterloo Region. However, the lack of such services had been felt in Cambridge long before its closure.

There has never been an emergency shelter dedicated solely to women and gender-diverse individuals in Cambridge. While The Bridges shelter had previously operated as a co-ed space, it transitioned to a men’s only shelter during the pandemic.

“Cambridge has never had a women’s shelter despite continued effort from YW Cambridge. It shows a real system gap that we’ve had for decades. We were relying on one shelter to provide all services to all women and non-binary people in this region,” Erin Dej, an associate professor of criminology at Wilfrid Laurier University, said.

“Women from Cambridge had to travel to Kitchener and leave their support systems, if they were able to even get into the shelter,” Marjorie Knight, a local housing advocate, said.

“Yes, women can go into the co-ed shelter, women fleeing violence can go to the crisis shelter. But women, especially those with children, right now don’t have a shelter to go to.”

That is changing this month, however, as the YW Cambridge opens a temporary women’s shelter at Grace Bible Chapel in Galt. The shelter will provide 20 beds, operating 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Through the proposed operating model, the shelter is expected to support single women and gender-diverse adults, while also supporting various other demographics through on-site support.

 “The proposed operating model prioritizes harm reduction, restorative justice and relational models for support. On-site supports include housing, primary and mental health, cultural, life skills, and service navigation,” the Regional Council report stated.

The Project Willow report, which examined women’s homelessness in the Waterloo Region, found women who are experiencing homelessness do not access local supports or services due to fear of violence, family situations involving children, or feelings of shame.

“In Cambridge, there is nowhere for a woman experiencing homelessness to go. National research bears out that women and gender-diverse individuals do not enter co-ed or male-dominated spaces,” Roz Gunn, director of communications and advocacy with YW Cambridge, said.

The YW’s Women’s Homelessness in Cambridge report outlined several trends: women’s homelessness is glossed over as a community issue, Cambridge is a service desert for women experiencing homelessness, there is a lack of a continuum of housing leaving options for women and there is a problematic reliance on services in other communities to support women.

“Historically, women’s homelessness in Cambridge has been largely unacknowledged and therefore inadequately understood and addressed,” the report stated.

To gain an understanding of the number of people experiencing homelessness locally, The Region of Waterloo engages in a Point in Time (PiT) count. However, since many women experiencing homelessness are largely hidden, it can be difficult to capture accurate data.

With that in mind, several local organizations such as the AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo & Area (ACKWAA); the Coalition of Muslim Women; and Marillac Place partnered with the YW Cambridge to intentionally address that gap in data.

“We want to help women get out of homelessness quicker and ideally prevent it from happening altogether. We’re never going to get to that point if we don’t have data that can support decisions and encourage funding from upper tiers of government,” Jennifer Gordon, manager for advocacy and research for YWCA Cambridge, said.

Kim Decker, chief executive officer of YW Cambridge, spoke to Cambridge Council on Oct. 22, 2024, about the proposed temporary women’s shelter at Grace Bible Chapel. Decker said her team has spent two years preparing for this shelter, including research and planning.

“A women’s emergency homeless shelter has been so desperately needed in Cambridge. Women deserve a safe and supportive place to go when they’re experiencing what’s often the worst and most traumatic time of their lives,” Decker said.

Adam Cooper, regional councillor for the City of Cambridge, expressed concerns about the YW shelter and that residents were not consulted. He also expects it might add to issues that he says residents are seeing at The Bridges shelter.

“We have a community that is dealing with the fallout of mismanaged shelters, and we are trying to sort that as opposed to add to it. We are going to be making things worse, despite the good goals,” Cooper said.

Decker said the model for the women’s shelter is very different from The Bridges shelter because of its capacity, the services and supports that it will offer, and the fact that it is open 24 hours a day, seven days per week, whereas The Bridges residents must leave the shelter during the day.

“I have spoken personally to the businesses in the area, and we did a 500-metre mail drop to folks, and in fact all we got back were positive comments and the community asking us how they can help establish the shelter,” Decker said.

The shelter is expected to open this month.

Waterloo Regional Council heard from many delegations on Aug. 13, 2024, in general support of an emergency shelter dedicated to women and gender-diverse individuals.

Delegate Sidney MacDonald spoke on behalf of an individual named Krissy who shared her experience of fleeing domestic violence, living on the streets for a period and then finding support from Anselma House. 

“Though we were still very much unhoused, we felt like we were a part of a community. Women and non-binary people supporting each other is a power incomparable to anything else I have ever witnessed,” MacDonald said on behalf of Krissy.

Delegate Eddy Grignon is a former client of a women’s shelter.

“I left a relationship a broken person. I walked into a doctor’s office who gave me the info for a women’s shelter. That women’s shelter saved my life. We need the infrastructure to be in place so that people like me can live,” Grignon said.

Citizens for Cambridge, a volunteer organization advocating for “the development of a better community for all,” argues that additional supportive housing in Cambridge is also needed to improve the health and well-being of its most vulnerable members.

“In Cambridge, the gap between the availability and need for supportive housing is steadily growing. Without significant investment in supportive housing, we are failing those who need help the most,” Anne Tinker, former director of the Cambridge Shelter Corporation (The Bridges), said.

Currently, Cambridge has fewer than 25 supportive housing units—an issue that Citizens for Cambridge believes is a crisis in the making. They are calling for political leaders to recognize that the cycle of homelessness and poverty will not end without more investment in supportive housing.

“We need a concerted effort from all levels of government to fund and support the expansion of supportive housing in Cambridge. The community’s health and the well-being of its most vulnerable members depend on our ability to provide comprehensive, long-term housing solutions,” Citizens for Cambridge said.

The Women’s Homelessness in Cambridge report agrees that action is required from all levels of government and sectors.

“Realizing the human rights of women, girls and gender diverse individuals experiencing homelessness, requires deep investments, cross sectoral collaboration and policy change,” the report stated.

#ACKWAA #AnneTinker #Cambridge #CambridgeCouncil #CambridgesShelterCorporation #citizensForCambridge #CitizensOrCambridge #CMW #CoalitionOfMuslimWomen #CraigBecker #CraigBeckerPhoto #EddyGrignon #EmergencyShelter #ErinDej #Galt #GraceBibleChapel #housingCrisis #JenniferGordon #MarillacPlace #MarjorieKnight #MelissaBowman #ProjectWillow #regionalCouncil #RozGunn #SidneyMacDonald #TheBridges #wilfridLaurierUniversity #WomenSHomelessnessInCambridge #WomenSShelter #YWCambridge

KITCHENER PAUSES AUTOMATED SPEED ENFORCEMENT CAMERA PROGRAM

On Oct. 28, 2024, the City of Kitchener paused the Region of Waterloo’s automated speed enforcement camera program until they could negotiate on certain aspects of the plan.

In 2021, the Region of Waterloo installed speed cameras in eight school zones.

“We started with just a few to see how it would go because we have a problem with speeding in many of the school zones,” Kari Williams, regional councillor for the City of Kitchener, said.

The speed enforcement cameras promote road safety by encouraging vehicles to travel at lower speeds at community hubs around school locations. The Region of Waterloo operates municipal speed cameras on regional and municipal roadways and installs them on behalf of some of the cities and communities in the region.

During a Kitchener council meeting on Oct 28, the councillors discussed the fines associated with the program.

“One of the issues was when we looked at this program in conjunction with the region. One of the things that we learned about was that fees will double,” Bil Ioannidis, councillor for Ward 7 in the City of Kitchener, said.

He said the Region of Waterloo and the City of Kitchener didn’t consult with Kitchener residents about this topic to help them form informed opinions. According to the Ontario Provincial Act, the newly implemented Municipal Speed Camera program must double its fines compared to current rates. Because of this, The City of Kitchener council is hesitant to continue the program.

“Because of economic times, such as we are experiencing now, we don’t feel residents get the message of the speeding when they get the fine on the normal rate with the province’s price range,” Ioannidis said.

“We feel like when they’re doubling the fines, it’s just a money grab,” he said.

Williams also said Kitchener had done a lot to physically put in infrastructure that would reduce speed in many areas.

“Cameras may not be effective in some instances,” she said. 

Although the program is currently paused, they have no intention of cancelling it.

“We want to have a project. We want to make sure we can dictate the terms of service that we feel Kitchener residents will accept,” Ioannidis said.

“If the community doesn’t like these cameras, we’re going to get a lot of pullback, and the system won’t work,” he said.

Ioannidis wants to ensure that the community will agree with the terms of the program before continuing it.

Instead of the 24/7 surveillance and the expensive fines proposed by the Region of Waterloo, the City of Kitchener wants to implement a time limit for the cameras and install them in other locations where they would have greater use, such as areas with high collision rates and places requiring more traffic and pedestrian safety.

The City of Kitchener said although they are pausing the program they still want to implement it. They just do not like the terms and conditions proposed by the region for the speed camera program.

“We also never signed any agreements with the region or anything that involves revenue sharing,” Ioannidis said.

“I don’t believe in having a system like this. I believe in a system where the pay revenue is neutral,” Ioannidis said. “I prefer not to have a system where it makes money.”

Williams said the region focused on doubling the fines because of their focus on administrative penalties and the fines people will receive for speeding in the area.

“But we don’t have any control over that. That is the province that tells you what the fines are and what the schedule is,” she said.

Ioannidis said the City of Kitchener will continue to work with the region until they can make acceptable decisions about the program.

“The City is in favour of speed cameras, but some technical aspects get in the way,” Williams said.

The City of Kitchener is planning to look into their speed enforcement camera system. They also seek a third-party operator to help them with the camera system.

#BilIoannidis #KariWilliams #MunicipalSpeedCameraProgram #RegionOfWaterloo #regionalCouncil #SangjunHan #SangjunHanPhoto #waterlooRegion