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City Council Columns - January 2026
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Happy New Year, Ward 1! As regular readers know, my primary focus is on the city’s finances and making sure Kitchener delivers strong value and efficient services. I’m proud of our record this term, but the numbers speak for themselves.
Over the past four years (2022–2025), Ontario inflation totaled 15.6%.
Kitchener’s cumulative tax increase matched that exactly at 15.6%, meaning our growth has kept pace with inflation, no higher.
Meanwhile, Cambridge rose 20.5% (partly offset by a one-time fund that will need to be repaid), Waterloo climbed even higher at 26.6%, and the Region of Waterloo surged 33.6%.
Remember, Kitchener represents only about 30% of your total property tax bill while the Region accounts for roughly 59%, so their larger increase has a greater impact. For the average Kitchener home, our share rose about $45 per year (or $181 over four years) while the Region added about $184 per year (or $735 over four years). If your home is valued higher or lower, these numbers would scale proportionally. You can check this using our online tax calculator at kitchener.ca/property-tax-calculator
Importantly, while others trimmed services, Kitchener hasn’t cut any.
In fact, we’ve added new programs and maintained quality across the board. We continue to offer one of the best service-value ratios in the province and the lowest property taxation per-capita.
As always, I welcome your questions or feedback, please don’t hesitate to reach out using the contact information above.



I hope your 2026 is off to a great start. May your coming year be happy, healthy, and prosperous.
Now is a good time to apply for summer jobs in the City of Kitchener. We have full and part-time openings for summer camps, youth programs, inclusion support, lifeguarding, customer service, parks, and events. There are new opportunities for youth with interests or experience in arts, drama, science, skateboarding, and other talents. There’s a Hiring Expo on Saturday, January 17 at the Forest Heights Community Centre, so you can learn more and apply for job opportunities. You can browse them online by searching for Youth Summer Jobs at kitchener.ca.
I’d like to thank the volunteers who take care of our outdoor neighbourhood rinks. They do an amazing job keeping them in great shape for us to enjoy. Bring your family and friends downtown to skate on the big rink In Carl Zehr Square in front of City Hall. The City Hall rink is open daily from 9am-10pm for you to enjoy and there’s a room for you to put your skates on. After, grab a hot chocolate or a bite to eat at one of our downtown businesses.
Thanks to Josslin Insurance for sponsoring free skating at our arenas. For dates and arenas, visit www.kitchener.ca/skating.
The Kitchener Rangers and KW Titans are both having exciting seasons. Take in a game and cheer them on.
If you need help with an issue, contact me directly or use our 24-hour contact centre, 519-741-2345 or info@kitchener.ca. Follow me on X and Instagram @DaveSchniderKW or friend me on Facebook. Visit daveschnider.com for lots of Ward 2 and city info.



Happy New Year, Ward 4!
This year, a very important safety change has been made in your home. The new carbon monoxide (CO) safety rules require all Ontario homeowners (including those with rental units) to install additional CO alarms on every level of the home and outside all sleeping areas.
Kitchener Fire Chief Bob Gilmore urges everyone to ensure their homes are safe for all occupants, as “carbon monoxide is an invisible, odorless, and deadly gas. Keeping your family safe means ensuring you have a working carbon monoxide alarm properly installed in your home. New requirements for carbon monoxide alarms took effect on January 1, 2026. If your home is equipped with fuel burning appliances (furnaces, water heaters, stoves, fireplaces) or an attached garage, you are required to install a carbon monoxide alarm on every storey (floor), including the basement of your home.” Visit https://www.ontario.ca/page/carbon-monoxide-safety
You can find CO detectors at various local retailers. Check their online inventory or visit locations in Kitchener, such as Canadian Tire or Home Hardware stores. Prices can range from $20 to $100.
I want to thank the Doon South Holiday Toy Drive organizer, Mukul Verma, all the volunteers, and drop off areas including, Pioneer Park and Huron Community Centres, Groh and JW Gerth Public Schools, Doon Village Pharmacy, and Total Aire Care, and everyone in the community who donated toys this year ― it was a huge success again!
Join me for coffee and conversation - whatever is on your mind - at the Doon Pioneer Park Community Center on January 24, 10–11:30am.



Happy New Year, Kitchener!
As we step into a new year, I want to wish you and your loved ones a very happy and prosperous New Year. My hope and prayer is that 2026 brings good cheer, laughter, joy, peace, and prosperity into your homes. May it be a year of renewed strength, meaningful connections, and opportunities to thrive as individuals, families, and as a community. And of course, I’m also praying for something very close to many Kitchener hearts, a Memorial Cup win for our Kitchener Rangers!
As we begin the year, I’m excited to share the launch of the new City of Kitchener website, designed to make accessing city services easier and more convenient. The City has partnered with municiPal AI, a Kitchener-based, women-led technology startup, to introduce an AI-powered tool that helps residents quickly find answers to their questions. Whether you’re looking for information on city programs, events, housing, bylaws, or permits, you can now type your question and receive a clear, conversational response directly from the website.
This innovation reflects our commitment to improving customer service and making City Hall more accessible to everyone: residents, students, businesses, and developers alike.
As we move forward together, I also encourage you to consider volunteering. There are many opportunities to give back, support local initiatives, and strengthen our community. You can explore volunteer options and resources through the City’s website.
Here’s to a bright, successful, and hopeful year ahead for Kitchener.



Dear Neighbours,
As we begin 2026, I know that affordability remains the top concern for families across Kitchener. It is my responsibility as your Councillor to ensure the city respects your hard work by doing my part to manage our resources with absolute discipline. I am proud to share that Council has finalized a budget for 2026 that holds the property tax increase to just 2.2%. This is below Ontario’s 2.4% average rate of inflation and stands as the lowest property tax increase in the entire Waterloo Region, representing an impact of approximately $29 for the average household for the entire year. For full budget info visit www.kitchener.ca/budget.
This result came from making difficult, fiscally responsible choices, without compromising on the services you have indicated are important to you. We achieved this rate by implementing a pause on hiring new staff, finding efficiencies within our existing teams, and ensuring that operating costs for major projects, like the new net-zero Cowan Recreation Centre, are balanced without placing an undue burden on the tax base. By avoiding costly last-minute spending amendments, we have delivered a budget that maintains the essential services we rely on while prioritizing your financial well-being.
I wish you and your family a prosperous New Year. Please join me at my next drop-in resident meeting at the Country Hills Community Centre on Wednesday, January 21 from 7-8pm. I look forward to meeting you and hearing about your ideas, concerns, and questions.



Happy New Year Ward 7! I hope you had good holidays, and was able to rest and get ready for 2026. With the new year, the City of Kitchener is taking an exciting step forward in modernizing how we serve our residents. This month, we officially launched our new Municipal AI customer‑service platform, a tool designed to make it easier, faster, and more convenient for people to get the information and support they need.
Municipal AI will help residents access answers to common questions, submit service requests, and navigate city programs at any time of day. Whether someone wants to check snow‑clearing schedules, report a pothole, or learn about recreation programs, the system provides quick, reliable guidance.
We’ve also built this system with strong safeguards to protect privacy and ensure responsible use. Transparency, accountability, and accessibility remain at the core of our approach. As we roll out new features, we’ll continue listening to residents and adapting the technology to meet community needs.
Kitchener has always been a city that embraces innovation. By adopting Municipal AI, we’re reinforcing that spirit and investing in tools that help us serve you better. I’m looking forward to seeing how this technology supports a more connected, efficient, and welcoming city experience for everyone.



Hello Ward 8 and Happy New Year! Winter has certainly arrived! We have been dealt a wallop of snow, rain, freezing rain - thanks to all of you who are keeping their sidewalks cleared, it has certainly been a lot to deal with and your efforts are appreciated!
If you can't beat 'em then join 'em and since Winter is here to stay, let's enjoy the outdoors! A great way to do that is by going skating! We have lots of free outdoor rinks in our Ward to enjoy: - Belmont Park, 285 Belmont Avenue West - Lakeside Park, Lakeside Drive and Gatewood Road
- Victoria Hills Community Centre, 11 Chopin Drive and Westmount Road - Westmount Public School, 329 Glasgow Street
Our outdoor winter rinks are completely dependent on weather and volunteer support. Without help from our community volunteers, our rinks wouldn't be possible.
The City of Kitchener is currently recruiting winter rink volunteers and coordinators (ages 18+) to help prepare, flood, and maintain our outdoor rinks from December through March.
Positions available are limited, dependent upon volunteer turnover and new rink progress. For more information contact winterrinks@kitchener.ca or call 519-575-6104. If you are interested in a particular neighbourhood rink, you can also reach out to me at margaret.johnston@kitchener.ca.
The rink volunteers that I know are all fantastic, and this is a great opportunity to meet some new neighbours and friends! A huge thank you to all who volunteer!
A quick reminder as well, if you have a storm drain in front of your property, if you could try and keep it clear would be greatly appreciated! Thanks!



As we welcome the New Year, I want to extend my warmest wishes to you and your loved ones. The new year will surely bring challenges for us all, but also opportunities to tackle them anew.
Some of the things I look forward to in 2026 include the renoviction bylaw report from staff; the completion of pending affordable housing projects around the region; and steps forward in addressing the climate emergency action items. Please send me your ideas and priorities.
My monthly Ward 9 newsletter titled ‘Debbie on the Trail’ provides events, updates, and analyses of city dealings. Please subscribe! https://bit.ly/3NMlDTe
I am grateful for the dedication, resilience, and kindness that residents show every day. It is an honour to serve you, and I look forward to working with you in the year ahead to support our neighbourhoods, listen to your ideas, and make our city an even better place to live. I encourage you to attend public meetings, delegate at council and committee meetings and speak up for the things you consider important. Your comments and feedback are important to me.
I want to thank all who have volunteered your time at public events, through neighbourhood associations or in your neighbourhood over the past year―your contributions are noticed! Consider a “Love My Hood” grant to bring your ideas alive.
Stay safe this winter. We’ve already seen freezing rain, ice, flooding, power outages, and plenty of snow. Some outdoor winter activities to consider are skating, cross country skiing, snowshoeing, and walking. They make winter go faster.
May the New Year bring you good things.



As winter settles in, I want to wish everyone in Kitchener moments of warmth, connection, and joy, especially after shoveling snow! Whether you’re skating at a neighbourhood rink, spending time with loved ones, or enjoying a quiet walk, I hope this season brings comfort and cheer.
Looking ahead to 2026, here’s a quick update on key council matters, local projects, and regional developments, with a focus on Ward 10.
Water supply is top of mind. The Region of Waterloo has confirmed a capacity constraint in the Mannheim Service Area, which serves Kitchener, Waterloo, and nearby communities. This comes after a change in how available water is calculated, ensuring the system remains reliable and sustainable for years to come. For more details on this issue, visit the Region of Waterloo’s website: www.regionofwaterloo.ca
A heartfelt thank you to the volunteers who make our outdoor rinks possible and care for them all winter long.
For more detailed updates, project news, and community information, visit www.stephaniestretch.ca. Thank you for staying engaged and informed in our city.​





Happy New Year, Kitchener!
On January 1st, Kitchener residents, together with family and friends, join Canadians and people around the world in celebrating the start of the New Year, 2026!
As we reflect on the year that was, this past year had more than its fair share of challenges for
Kitchener, for Ontario and for Canada. But we also saw something more powerful - a renewed
sense of Canadian resilience and pride being ignited amongst us in ways we have not seen in a long time. From our Support Local initiative, to caring for those who needed a helping hand,
Kitchener once again demonstrated that we are a caring and generous community and that we are at our best when we are building a caring Kitchener, together!
In the year ahead, may we all commit to being kinder, respectful and more compassionate to each other, and may we strive to build a community and country where everyone feels a sense of belonging and a collective responsibility to help us all be the best that we can be.
​
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic on behalf of Kitchener Council



Hello Ward 3 and greetings to a new year!
I hope everyone had a safe and happy holiday break. With so much snow hitting our sidewalks, it's a time to remind ourselves to be good neighbours and clear the snow within 24 hrs of the snowfall, please.
Thank you to those who came out to the Mayor and Council New Years Levee. It was great seeing the community come together for fellowship and fun.
In late December, City Council passed the tax levy for 2026. We strive to balance the services our community relies on with fair and reasonable taxes. The budget includes both operating costs for everyday services and capital investments that support long-term growth and infrastructure. Thanks to staff, council and the Chair of our Finance Committee, the Kitchener increase is 2.2%. This affordable increase included investing in much needed and resident requested park improvements. Just a reminder that the city's portion of your taxes only represents 30% of the overall increase. Find details on the 2026 budget at www.kitchener.ca/budget.
I know it’s still a few months away, but decisions on seasonal traffic calming locations will be made soon. I’m continuing to track and remember the locations you share with me for consideration. If you have areas where you think slower traffic is needed, please let me know so I can pass them along to our transportation team for consideration.
My next drop-in Meet and Greet at the Kingsdale Community Centre will be on March 25 from 6:30-830pm. I hope to see you there and look forward to meeting with you to hear your concerns, ideas, and questions.