Latest news with #RegionOfWaterloo
CBC
6 days ago
- Politics
- CBC
44 candidates apply to fill vacant Region of Waterloo council seat
There are 44 people who want to be the next Region of Waterloo councillor. A Kitchener seat on regional council is vacant following the death of Coun. Kari Williams in April. In May, regional councillors voted to fill the seat by calling for applications. The deadline to apply was Friday and as of Tuesday morning, the list on the region's website reflected the 44 candidates. A final list, along with personal statements for each candidate, will be released on Wednesday. People can be from anywhere in the region to fill the Kitchener seat. Here is the breakdown of where the candidates are from: 26 are from Kitchener. 11 are from Waterloo. Five are from Cambridge. One is from Wilmot Township. One is from Wellesley Township. A special council meeting is scheduled for Aug. 14 where each applicant will get five minutes to present to council and explain why they want the job. During that same meeting, the current members of council will vote on who will fill the seat. Once chosen, the new councillor will take the oath of office on Aug. 15 and then prepare for their first council meeting on Aug. 27. This isn't the first time this year council has had to fill a vacant seat. In March, they studied their options on how to replace former councillor Rob Deutschmann who resigned his seat to run as the candidate for the Ontario Liberal Party in the riding of Cambridge. Regional councillors voted to appoint Matt Rodrigues to the seat.
CTV News
30-07-2025
- Automotive
- CTV News
Kitchener businesses worry Victoria Street closure will drive away customers
Work has finally started along Victoria Street in Kitchener. CTV's Karis Mapp takes a closer look at the lengthy construction project. Work has begun to give a busy Kitchener street a big makeover. Drivers will benefit down the line, but right now they'll have to deal with traffic delays and detours on Victoria Street. Construction crews got to work on Wednesday on the first phase of the $12 million project. 'The work is to be completed over a series of stages,' said Eric Sanderson, a senior engineer with the Region of Waterloo. 'Primary intent is to main traffic along Fischer-Hallman Road and Westmount Road throughout each stage of the construction and scheduling.' Victoria Road is currently off limits west of Fischer-Hallman Road. Victoria Street kitchener Fischer-Hallman Road Stoke Drive closed construction Road closed sign on Victoria Street in Kitchener, between Fischer-Hallman Road and Stoke Drive, on July 28, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) 'The stretch will be closed off for the next four weeks,' Sanderson said. 'Then we'll alternate on the other side of the intersection. So, the east lanes of the intersection will be closed thereafter.' The overall goal of the two-year project, he added, is improved safety and traffic flow. 'Rehabilitation of the roadway, upgrades to active transportation facilities in the area, providing connectivity to existing network facilities, underground storm sewer and infrastructure improvements, traffic signal upgrades, new street lighting.' While the work is underway, pedestrians will be able to access the sidewalks. Drivers, on the other hand, will have to find another route around the closure. 'There is a detour for through traffic along Highland Road,' suggested Sanderson. 'Updated information will be provided on the region's website as the work proceeds.' Victoria Street kitchener Fischer-Hallman Road Stoke Drive closed construction Road closure on Victoria Street in Kitchener, between Fischer-Hallman Road and Stoke Drive, on July 28, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) Businesses along Westmount Road, like Vicmount Pharmacy, are bracing for the financial impact of construction. 'People are concerned because medicine is very important,' said pharmacy technician Ameena Hassan. 'Secondly, we have urgent care close to us, and this is where most of our business comes from.' Vicmount Pharmacy said they will be offering free prescription deliveries for their regular customers. Local businesses still remember when renovations were done on their parking lot. 'We had a lot of issues at that time,' Hassan admitted. 'It went on for about two years and we lost a significant amount of business,' said Kate Michelin, a server at Granda's Kitchen. 'We've been able to bring back all the business that were deterred from those things.' She was nervous that customers might opt for a more convenient location to avoid the road work and detour. 'Once people have trouble getting into your restaurant, they're not going to struggle with the traffic and construction. They'll just go somewhere else. It does, definitely, hurt our business,' explained Michelin. '[I'm] scared, honestly. I mean, it's my livelihood. It's how I support myself and my kid.' The region insists the temporary inconvenience will ensure a safer future for everyone. 'Both intersections ranked high in terms of collision,' Sanderson said. 'It's time to improve safety at the intersections. For not only pedestrians, [but] cyclists, motorists and access to transit.' The region said temporary streetlights will be added to help manage traffic in the area. For live updates on the Victoria Street construction, the region said residents can text the code VCTA to 57555.
CTV News
23-07-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Federal housing advocate asks Waterloo Region to rethink its eviction plan for 100 Victoria
Homeless encampment at 100 Victoria Street in Kitchener, Ont. on May 2, 2025. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News) The Federal Housing Advocate is calling the Region of Waterloo out over its plan to evict people living at the 100 Victoria Street encampment by the end of November. The open letter, from Marie-Josée Houle, said municipalities like Waterloo Region 'have obligations to respect, protect and fulfill human rights, and to adopt a human rights-based approach to encampments.' It suggested further engagement with those living in encampments and help with housing. Victoria Street Encampment Kitchener May 29, 2025 Tents and temporary structures were seen at the Victoria Street encampment in Kitchener, Ont. on May 29, 2025. (Dave Pettitt/CTV News) The Federal Housing Advocate is an independent, nonpartisan watchdog tasked with addressing inadequate housing and homelessness in Canada. It is an unelected position that does not carry legislative or legal authority. People have been living on the vacant property, located at the corner of Victoria Street and Weber Street in Kitchener, since early 2022. A previous eviction attempt by the region was blocked by the courts. The judge said it was a breach of the charter rights, unless the region could provide an adequate housing alternative. The property is owned by the Region of Waterloo and is needed for the construction of a new transit terminal at the corner of Victoria Street and King Street. Transit design A transit hub design for Kitchener-Waterloo (Source: Region of Waterloo) In a statement, the Region of Waterloo called their engagement with the residents both supportive and accommodating. 'Region staff and partners continue to support residents at the encampment,' it read. 'This includes regular supports provided by outreach staff, connections with Ontario Works caseworkers, providing regular cleaning and maintenance of the site, hiring pest control, portable washrooms, lighting, and other health and safety interventions.' Homeless encampment at 100 Victoria Street in Kitchener Homeless encampment at 100 Victoria Street in Kitchener, Ont. on May 2, 2025. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News) The region also said they are actively working to find encampment residents adequate housing options. 'Between April 16 and July 2, 2025, the region supported 13 people off the site. who were residing there prior to April 16, 2025, with an approach consistent with the region's Plan to End Chronic Homelessness.' The bylaw upholding the November eviction remains in place, but the Region of Waterloo is seeking further direction from the Superior Court of Justice. A hearing has been set for Nov. 19 to Nov. 21. More to come.
CTV News
10-07-2025
- General
- CTV News
Waterloo Region testing new pedestrian safety measures at roundabouts
The roundabout at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road in Kitchener is pictured on Tuesday, Nov. 17, 2015. (Brian Dunseith / CTV Kitchener) Pedestrians will soon see new safety enhancements at select roundabouts in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo. The Region of Waterloo said the pilot program aims to protect people crossing through the busy traffic circles, whether they are on foot or on a bicycle. New button-activated flashing lights will added to the roundabout at Franklin Boulevard and Bishop Street in Cambridge, while raised crosswalks will be installed at Homer Watson Boulevard and Block Line Road in Kitchener. In Waterloo, button-activated flashing lights and raised crosswalks will be placed at the Erb Street West and Ira Needles Boulevard roundabout. The region said the three locations were chosen based on pedestrian volumes, collision history, presence of multiple lanes and geographic distribution. 'These enhancements are designed to safeguard our most vulnerable road users while aligning with our climate and growth goals,' Colleen James, regional councillor and chair of the Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee, in a media release. 'We look forward to receiving feedback from the community on these initiatives, as it will be crucial in guiding future decisions about roundabout construction and retrofits.' Once construction is complete, a survey will be available through EngageWR. That feedback will then be presented to regional council in 2026. Construction of the new safety features is expected to begin later this month. More to come.
CTV News
27-06-2025
- Politics
- CTV News
Waterloo Regional Councillors to fill vacant seat through application process
Councillors with the Region of Waterloo have made the decision to fill a vacant Kitchener seat through an application process, opening next week.
