waterloo region

Many volunteers sort produce at the food bank warehouse

Waterloo Region Food Bank to receive double the funding from the Region in 2025

December 17, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

The Region of Waterloo was expected to have the 2025 budget finalized this week. After 15 hours of discussion, the council decided to pause and meet next week to finish the finalized budget. While they didn’t finish the discussion the council did finalize parts of the budget.

Councillor Colleen James brought forth a motion to provide the Food bank of Waterloo Region annually with more funding, increasing the amount by $756,000 to a total amount of $1.5 million. Councillors debated on the funding amount and the terms of the motion for almost an hour, until reaching the conclusion to carry the motion 10 to 5

A bus drives by a bus stop, a bush shelter and a garbage can are in view

University of Waterloo students disappointed with Grand River Transit’s 2025 proposed budget

December 11, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

Proposed cuts to Grand River Transit (GRT) are creating a buzz in the Waterloo Region.

The GRT’s proposed 2025 budget showed cancellations of some bus routes, schedule changes, and removal of garbage cans at bus stops. Many students, and residents delegated at the December 3rd regional council meeting, expressing concerns over the proposed budget.

Students from the University of Waterloo expressed their concerns for the reduction in route 30, which primarily serves students. The reductions in route 30 ring road are to have buses come every 30 minutes rather than every 20 minutes. This is causing students to worry about accessibility and safety when it comes to taking public transit.

Two women stand behind a catering table, one in a blue apron and one in a black shirt. In the background is the Victoria Park clocktower.

Volunteer Waterloo Region calls out for volunteers in the midst of shortage

December 10, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

Volunteer Waterloo Region has noticed a drastic decrease in the number of volunteers in the aftermath of the 2020 Covid pandemic.

VWR acts as a job board for local organizations and other non-profits who are searching for volunteers to keep their operations going.

Volunteer Waterloo Region is pushing to promote the benefits of volunteering in the community and encouraging residents to volunteer somewhere where their skills can be utilized.

Jane Hennig, the executive director of Volunteer Waterloo Region talks about the decrease in volunteering and its effects on the community, as well as the benefits of volunteering to both the volunteer and organization they are working with.

A large blue spruce tree is lifted in the air with a crane, about to be laid on a flatbed truck. Workers in high viz gear and helmets are nearby.

Is it green to get lit? Gauging the environmental impact of the Region’s large Christmas trees

December 9, 2024 by Leah Gerber

In many communities, the Christmas season is kicked off with a city tree-lighting ceremony, where a large bedecked Christmas tree is lit up for all to see – in fact, Waterloo Region’s three cities are all held their tree lighting ceremonies on Friday.

But in today’s environmentally tough times, some may be wondering if cutting down 30-foot giants is the best choice for a city’s Christmas tree.

Radio Waterloo takes a look, and speaks with City of Waterloo Manager of Forestry, Horticulture and Cemetery Services Derek Brick about the pros and cons of cutting down a large tree every year, where it comes from, how long it will stand in the town square and what happens to it after. The resident who donated the tree is also interviewed to give their take on why they donated the tree and how they feel seeing it serve as the city’s Christmas tree for 2024.

Music Credit: “Oh Christmas Tree” Pixabay/Primalhousemusic – Creative Commons

KW Symphony members speak about their tumultuous year

November 28, 2024 by Leah Gerber

Kitchener Waterloo Symphony donors, patrons and musicians were all blindsided by the news last year that the season would not be happening and that the organization had filed for bankruptcy. But, the music is coming back to the community with a new, though modest, series of concerts.

Miriam Stewart-Kroeker, a cellist with the KW Symphony was devastated when she heard the news of the symphony’s bankruptcy last year, wondering if she would have to move her family away from KW so she could continue working. She and her fellow musicians decided to take a stand and fight for the symphony, and last month the debts were annulled.

Stewart-Kroeker and board chair Bill Poole speak about their experiences with the bankruptcy and their thoughts on how they can move forward in a new way that’s more inclusive than ever.

Photo shows the shelving of the newly renovated bar space, mirrored arches with shelves displaying bottles and decor.

Kitchener’s iconic music venue The Boathouse reopens with a new look

November 21, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

For years, Victoria Park was home to one of Kitchener’s most iconic music venues – The Boathouse.

Since 2004 the Boathouse operated as an intimate concert venue and restaurant, where locals could enjoy music by the lake six nights a week. But in 2013, the Boathouse – owned by Kevin Doyle a prominent figure in the local music scene, closed its doors. The Boathouse was reopened in 2015 under different ownership, and then again closed abruptly in 2019.

Since then, the building has sat vacant through the pandemic, and now they are gearing up for a new grand re-re opening, with a reimagined plan for the direction of the Boathouse. James Barr, current owner of the Boathouse, says the new vision for venue reflects the changes in the downtown community over the past few years.

A cardboard cutout of Taylor Swift, standing next to a sign that says FoodBank.

Local non-profits harnessing the “Taylor Swift Effect” to raise unprecedented sums for charity

November 1, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

As Taylor Swifts Era’s Tour Toronto quickly approaches, the “Taylor Swift Effect” is trickling down to the Waterloo region. Companies across Canada have been using tickets as a marketing tool, but so have local non-profits, and with astonishing results. Kitchener’s Humane Society usually raises a few thousand dollars with their annual 50/50 draws. After they threw in a pair of tickets to the concert this year, that ballooned to more than $360,000. That sum “effectively allows us to take care of most of our spays and neuters for the entire year, without even having to worry about it,” says the Society’s director of marketing Adam Stephens. The Food Bank is also taking advantage of the Era’s Tour phenomenon, by hosting a “Swifties Against Hunger” event.

Filming set up of two men sitting in a rustic style table seating area. With a filming camera and a boom mic.

Local filmmaker documents haunting local stories

October 24, 2024 by Cora Kuehl

This interview features local filmmaker Daniel McLeod who has a unique topic for his documentary style videos. His work can be seen on streaming services such as Tubi and Amazon. McLeod’s work can also be found on his YouTube channel ‘Shapes of Night‘ where he interviews locals who have had first hand paranormal experiences.

McLeod shares his background in filmmaking, and shares his own paranormal experience. Mcleod also shares a spooky experience he had while interviewing someone about their Big Foot experience. McLeod is currently on the hunt for locals who have experienced a paranormal or supernatural encounter and want to share their story.

A tractor drives on a sidewalk to protest government decisions. On the front of the tractor is a sign that reads 'No Farms No Food. Prime Farmland in nonrenewable'.

Farmers bring over 40 tractors into downtown Kitchener to protest Wilmot Township land expropriation

September 6, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

Over 40 farm tractors trundled into downtown Kitchener on August 28 in a show of protest against a land assembly in Wilmot Township.

A land assembly is when a purchaser acquires multiple adjacent properties, usually for a large development. The Region of Waterloo is buying up land in Wilmot Township, Waterloo County, to attract industry, and the demonstration showed that there is opposition to the plan.

The Region of Waterloo says that gathering land through market purchase or expropriation will allow them to secure generational investment that will result in thousands of well-paying jobs. Farmers argue the land assembly threatens their land, livelihood and way of life. The farmers and their supporters are concerned what they say is the Region and the province’s lack of transparency and intimidation attempts.

Organized by ‘Fight for Farmland,’ the protest featured attracted over 200 people, many on tractors.

After the protest, Regional Council discussed the topic in a closed to the public session. CKMS News attended the protest and the council meeting.

A group of politicians stand around a microphone and lecturn and in front of a construction site to make an announcment regarding increasing funding for more and improved affordable housing

Federal government announces $25 million for affordable housing builds, repairs in Waterloo Region

August 2, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

The federal government has announced over $96 million in contributions and loans aimed at affordable housing across South Central Ontario, including Waterloo Region.

Locally, the funding amounts to $25 million which will help create 336 new affordable homes and repair more than 7,300 homes in the region.

The announcement was made at an affordable housing construction site in Kitchener on Thursday. The event was attended by political representatives, including Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Regional Coun. Colleen James, and the Minister of Families, Children and Social Development of Canada Jenna Sudds, who made the announcement on behalf of Sean Fraser, Minister of Housing, Infrastructure and Communities.

Key local projects that will receive this funding, include the revitalization project at 82 Wilson Ave., St. Mark’s Place in Kitchener and the Beaver Creek Housing Cooperative in Waterloo.

The federal government has also introduced a “frequent builder” status to streamline funding applications for experienced builders.

CKMS has more on the story.

A number of small white test tubes are filled with liquid by machine controlled pipettes.

Time’s up for the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative in Waterloo Region

July 31, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

As of July 31st, the Ontario government will discontinue the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative. Unlike situations in Peterborough and Ottawa, funding for the program has not materialized from the Region of Waterloo, which is instead seeking federal support to keep the regional surveillance programs operational.

Wastewater surveillance data has fueled numerous research projects and imparted information that health authorities could rely on to accurately predict and prepare for illness outbreaks.

The cancellation has had its critics, including Professor Trevor Charles, director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research.

Professor Charles discusses the potential for negative impact on public health preparedness and the loss of a world-leading research community in Ontario. The Ottawa Science Policy Network highlights that 95 researchers will be affected, potentially leading to a brain drain.

Despite government assurances of continued efforts, the Public Health Agency of Canada has not disclosed any plans to take over the initiative.

A red car spews fire out of the cars' exhaust pipe.

Waterloo Region gets to the heart of residents’ noise complaints — using a smartphone app

June 24, 2024 by M.P. Holmes

Waterloo Region residents have been vindicated by a simple phone app after a complicated computer noise model failed to recognize real-life noise.

Staff used a phone app to assess the noise and determined that vehicles with modified mufflers are to blame.

At a Waterloo Region Council meeting in early June, Kitchener residents living near Highland Road West, raised concerns about noise following the expansion of Highland Road. At that time, Council requested information and staff presented their findings at the Regional Council meeting on June 19.

Doug Spooner, the Acting Commissioner of Transportation Services for the Region, reported back to Council, explaining he went to the impacted neighbourhood and tested the noise with an app on his phone.

Spooner discovered excessive noise caused by disruptive peak noises generated by vehicles with modified mufflers or exhausts and recommended regulatory measures.