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City Council Columns - March 2025
As I write this, the U.S. has just implemented 25% tariffs on Canada. You may be reading this some-weeks later, so it may not be relevant, you just don’t know with this erratic U.S. administration. Tariffs mean Americans will pay more for items, but it’s also quite likely that our economy will suffer significantly in the short term. Our region is near the top in Canada for manufacturing and selling items in the U.S. In fact, we have a number of entities that export up to 90% of their products across the border. Businesses will close as a result of these tariffs. Good Canadian people will lose their jobs, and families will suffer. I am sad, and also beyond angry, that a former friend and ally would needlessly, and so intentionally, harm us in this fashion. We will not forget.
The U.S. has shown us that we cannot rely on them, and we must respond by doing what Canadians do best... pull together, change for the better, and get to work. Our economy, both locally and abroad, cannot be so inextricably linked to a single entity any longer.
As Kitchener’s finance chair, I sit on the Mayor’s Tariff Task Force where we are responding both within and without of our corporation to diversify and adapt. I do have faith that our Provincial and Federal governments will respond in kind, increasing inter-provincial, and international trade to strengthen Canada over time.
You can help by doing your part to buy Canadian products where possible, and if you have the means, pay a little more to do so, even if there’s a cheaper alternative.
Registration for spring programming at the Stanley Park and Centreville Chicopee Community Centres opened March 11. Thanks to Cllr. Margaret Johnston’s motion that Council unanimously passed, the first 7 days of registration are for Kitchener residents only. It’s the same for Kitchener’s Summer Camps, which open for registration on March 18 for Kitchener residents. To find program information and to register, go to www.kitchener.ca/activekitchener. A huge thanks to the Stanley Park and Centreville Chicopee Community Associations for creating and running all these amazing programs and events.
I want to thank the volunteers who maintained our outdoor neighbourhood rinks. They ventured out during cold nights and early mornings to flood and look after their rink, so their neighbours could enjoy one of the finest Canadian traditions.
Nominations for Kitchener’s Senior of The Year are open ‘till March 31. If you know a senior who makes an impact in our community, nominate them at kitchener.ca/senioroftheyear.
Neighours Day is June 21. Last year there were 14 Porch Party Performances in Ward 2. If you want to offer your porch or driveway, we’ll provide a local performer to play for you and your neighbours. Go to kitchener.ca/neighboursday.
The Kitchener Rangers regular season ends March 23, then it’s playoff time. Let’s Rock the Aud and Go Rangers Go!
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.
Outstanding Citizens: Do you know of an exceptional person who is 65 or older? Someone who gets involved for the betterment of the community? Consider nominating them for the Senior of The Year award. This is an opportunity to honour an outstanding senior. Visit kitchener.ca/senioroftheyear and nominate until March 29.
Traffic Calming: This continues to be my number one concern shared by residents in Ward 4. Our Ward’s 2018 Seasonal Traffic Calming Program began with four inroad flex signs. Annually, our transportation team collects data to support program improvements, resulting in an increase of 14 additional traffic calming installations. A total of 18 locations will be installed for April. There have been many improvements around road safety, but sadly, speeding is still an issue. As the warmer weather approaches and kids are out cycling and playing, please slow down.
Earth Day 2025: As the snow melts, and garbage becomes visible, please know that our staff will not be able to clean up in parks until the ground is dry enough to support heavy equipment. Think about joining a community clean-up at the Doon Pioneer Park Community Centre (DPPCC) or plan a clean-up in your own neighbourhood in recognition of Earth Day on April 22. In the meantime, if you see large items dumped in our parks or trails, please report this to the city at 519-741-2345.
Coffee & Chat: Meeting you in person is important to me. I’ll be at the DPPCC on Saturday, March 15, from 10-11:30. I look forward to connecting with you. You can also reach me at 226-752-9541 or christine.michaud@kitchener.ca.
Hello Ward 5! Happy Holidays! It’s a great time to enjoy all that the season – and the City of Kitchener – has to offer! The weather has turned cold quickly, which means that the ice skating rinks are now open. Along with the one on Carl Zehr Square, there are 27 rinks the City maintains. The outdoor rinks are completely dependent on weather and volunteer support. Without generous help from our community volunteers, our rinks wouldn’t be possible. We are currently recruiting winter rink volunteers (ages 18+) to help prepare, flood, and maintain our outdoor rinks from December through March. If you are interested, apply online at kitchener.ca/skating.
Ring in the new year with your family and friends at Kitchener’s New Year’s Night of Legends! Our New Year’s Eve celebration has something for everyone! The evening kicks off with a pre-New Year’s show featuring tributes to Pink, Madonna, Taylor Swift, Mick Jagger, and Blondie, leading up to an early family countdown for a festive start.
The excitement doesn’t stop there! Get set to ring in 2025 with Canada’s top Abba tribute band, AbbaMania! As we head toward midnight, join us for a “Dancing Queen” moment and say “Thank You for the Music” as we welcome a brand-new year with legendary style.
Then on January 5, celebrate the new year with the mayor, city council members and your neighbours at our free carnival-themed celebration under the big top of City Hall!
Plan for an afternoon full of family-friendly fun with this year’s New Year’s Levee activities: games, prizes, live music, magic, facepainting, balloon twisting and more!
Dear Ward 6 Neighbours,
I’m proud of the work that has gone into Kitchener’s 2025 draft budget, which reflects our shared priority to support a growing, vibrant community, while keeping life affordable.
This year’s proposed tax increase is 3.9%. While any increase is significant, Kitchener’s 10-year average increase of 2.47% remains below Ontario’s inflation rate of 2.64%, confirming our commitment to delivering value and maintaining affordability for residents.
The budget supports vital services and key investments in and close to our Ward 6 community. I’m particularly excited about the new and improved splash pad at Chandler-Mowat Community Center and upgrades to McLennan Park - spaces where families can gather and connect. We’re also building for the future with new facilities like the Schlegel Park Recreation Complex, a library, and a community centre in southwest Kitchener.
Sustainability and affordability remain top priorities. The budget will also fund the expansion of our tree canopy, allow for energy-efficient upgrades in city owned facilities, and support affordable housing initiatives. These projects reflect our vision of a greener, more inclusive city.
Kitchener continues to grow thoughtfully, and I’m confident this budget strikes the right balance between meeting immediate needs and investing in the long-term well-being of our community. Thank you for your trust and engagement as we work to build a better city for everyone.
Wishing you a happy holiday and prosperous and healthy New Year.
Hi Ward 7! I heard a lot of residents inquiring about the Westheights Park Natural Area restoration, so I wanted to give you an update. The City of Kitchener is developing a plan for the ecological management and restoration of the park, but also wants to listen to the residents who will be using it, so there has been significant community input recently. Based on these community workshops, the project has identified these key priorities:
Plant management priorities include removing invasive species like Phragmites, enhancing bio-diversity through native plantings, and restoring woodland areas. Wildlife management strategies focus on creating turtle nesting habitats, installing wood duck nest boxes, and protecting areas critical for species like Chimney Crayfish. Pollinator-friendly planting zones are also proposed.
Public input has emphasized the importance of maintaining the pond’s natural state, enhancing accessibility, and fostering educational opportunities. Suggestions include installing interpretive signage, organizing seasonal clean-ups, and involving residents in ecological initiatives.
Concerns about potential pond dredging highlight its ecological, financial, and regulatory chal-lenges. Instead, monitoring water quality and invasive species is recommended as a proactive approach to preserve pond health.
The City encourages community participation through cleanup efforts and responsible waste disposal to protect this cherished natural area. Public feedback continues to shape this evolving plan to ensure sustainable management and community connection to the park.
Hello Ward 8! Winter has arrived! The downtown, City Hall and Victoria Park look absolutely beautiful! It’s always a terrific time to visit our downtown, but this time of year is magical. The Tree is up and decorated in Carl Zehr Square, and the rink just opened this week! It’s lovely to watch the skaters, from kids learning to skate, to people who look like they may have been Olympians doing lovely routines. Come and enjoy our downtown, do some shopping and grab a beverage at one of our local shops.
For those that are looking to do some special shopping this month, I would encourage you to Shop Local. We have amazing local businesses who would love to have you check them out and spend your money supporting your neighbours. Belmont Village is right in our Ward and I know the shops and retailers there would love your support! Small businesses are the heartbeat of our economy.
With winter comes overnight parking restrictions to be aware of. If you want to park in a legal parking spot overnight between December 1 and March 31, you need an overnight parking exemption. Here is the link to get an overnight parking exemption: kitchener.ca/parking/overnight-parking-exemption.
The City of Kitchener clears snow and ice from roads and sidewalks, but you are responsible for clearing snow and ice from sidewalks around your property.
Property owners must clear the sidewalks within 24 hours of a snowfall. If you need help with snow removal, you can contact The Working Centre or Community Support Connections, and they will match you with a dependable worker.
Thanks Ward 8 and Happy Holidays!
In March of 2024, Council passed an Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) Bylaw to take affect in January 2025. A staff report to the Planning Committee on December 2 recommended postponing the start date to January 2026.
IZ is one of the few tools available to lower-tiered governments to address the affordable housing crisis. It requires a percentage of floor space ranging from 1-5% in all new developments to be affordable. In fact, staff predict that under IZ, at most, 10 affordable units across all developments might be built in a year. But 10 affordable units is better than zero! What do developers get out of helping solve the affordable housing crisis when, after all, they are in the business to make money?
The city has done several things to subsidize the building of affordable units. It waives development charges on affordable units, it waives parkland dedication fees, parking requirements have been reduced to zero (this is one of the most expensive parts of all new buildings) and it has up-zoned all areas around the Major Transit Station Areas where IZ can be applied. The Provincial and Federal governments have provided additional development discounts for purpose-built rentals.
This postponement came days after the point-in-time count of homeless people in the Region was released. There are over 2,370 homeless people, with over 9,000 households on the affordable housing waiting list. This was written prior to it coming to Council, but I wanted to thank all those who provided written submissions or delegated at the meeting. Your contributions are very important.
Happy Holidays Ward 10 neighbours! It’s the season for skiing, skating, sledding, all sorts of winter fun! But with snow, it’s also time to think about snow removal and winter readiness. Property owners must clear the sidewalks around their property of both snow and ice within 24 hours of a snowfall. These sidewalks must be maintained to bare pavement on an ongoing basis. This includes clearing snow and ice on the sidewalk that prevents safe pedestrian access to the road, often found at corner lots. If you need help with snow shoveling, there are two agencies that offer paid snow removal to seniors or anyone who cannot clear their sidewalks:
• Community Support Connec-tions, 519-772-8787
• The Working Centre, 519-743-1151
You can also contact your local high school to see if there are students who need volunteer hours and can help you through the winter.
Also, winter overnight parking changes come into effect. You cannot park overnight on city streets between December 1 and March 31, even when there is no snow. When there is snowfall of 8 cm or more happening or in the forecast in the weather forecast, we will declare a snow event. When we declare a snow event, you cannot park on city streets at all.
The City will clear snow and ice from roads and sidewalks around city-owned facilities, walkways and parks. It takes between 16 and 24 hours to plow all routes after the snow has stopped falling. We assign each snow plow a specific route of the city and priority for plowing. You can check where your street is on the priority list on kitchener.ca/snow.
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic's column will return in December.
Greetings Ward 3,
Spring is around the corner, but it doesn’t mean that winter is over. Just a reminder that to ensure accessibility, safety and just overall--being a good neighbour--please shovel your sidewalk and salt when needed.
When the snow finally melts, we all see how much litter is in our parks and on our trails. Clean up begins when the ground is dry enough to support the weight of trucks and heavy equipment. I’m hopeful that a community clean-up can be planned. Please keep your eyes open for more information.
I’m happy to tell you that due to continued advocacy from residents and council, the Right-hand turn lane at Franklin and Weber will be reinstalled in the next few months. I want to thank staff from our Transportation Department for hearing the many resident concerns about this intersection.
Just a reminder that The Senior of The Year Award offers Ontario residents the opportunity to honour one outstanding citizen over 65 who has enriched their community’s social, cultural, or civic life. Nominate until March 31 at kitchener.ca/senioroftheyear.
Growing Together East is coming together. I’ll be sitting down shortly with staff to discuss this important plan for future growth in Ward 3. For more info, please visit www.kitchener.ca/growingtogether or go to engagewr.ca/kitchener.
Lastly, just a quick reminder that my next Meet and Greet drop-in is March 26 at the Kingsdale Community Centre from 6:30-8:30pm. This is a great atmosphere to bring forward your concerns, suggestions, and questions. In between these meetings, I’m always available for a conversation or meeting.