On March 25, 2026, the Waterloo Regional Council in Ontario approved a grant to build new homes, updated its safety strategy, and moved to protect the local water supply. These decisions are meant to create more housing and support services while managing the region’s aging infrastructure.
The council approved a $115,000 grant for a former tool-and-die shop at 161 Ottawa Street South in Kitchener, which will be turned into a 20-unit residential building. Through a redevelopment grant program, the region helps pay for cleanup costs when old industrial properties are turned into new housing.
The updated Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan for 2026-2030 was also adopted to focus on stopping hate, preventing domestic violence, and improving mental health. This plan was created after talking with more than 90 local groups, including grassroots organizations and Indigenous leaders.
To protect the water supply, the Region of Waterloo is asking the province to stop giving out new private water-taking permits in the Mannheim area. This request follows a report from late 2025 that showed groundwater in Kitchener and Waterloo is being used faster than it can be naturally refilled.
Finally, the council approved a $20.7 million project to build a new sewage pumping station in Kitchener to replace the aging Spring Valley station. Construction is set to begin in the spring of 2026 and is expected to take about two years to complete.
