In 2022, people from many different backgrounds shared their ideas about Kitchener’s long‑term future. Together, we created a shared vision: building a city for everyone where, together, we take care of the world around us – and each other.
Now, as we set our next priorities, goals, and actions, we want to learn more from you to make sure we are focusing on what matters most today.
Kitchener’s Strategic Plan
Kitchener’s strategic plan is a four‑year roadmap that helps us move toward our long‑term community vision. It shows our commitment to improving life for the people who live, work, learn, and play here.
The City’s core services are the essential, everyday things we must provide – our basic responsibilities. The strategic plan is different: it sets our four-year priorities, goals and actions that move us closer to reaching our vision. It gives us a plan for how we will grow, change, and improve in the next few years.
It also helps keep Council and staff aligned with community priorities. It guides the City’s strategies, actions, and major decisions across all departments. The plan is built to be flexible and responsive to new challenges or opportunities.
Why this matters to you
The strategic plan guides the major decisions the City will make over the next four years. It helps us stay on track toward the future our community has imagined – one shaped by the people who live here.
Getting involved means shaping a future-ready Kitchener. Community voices will help guide the long-term direction of our city and ensure the choices we make today support the community we want to become.
How you can make an impact
No matter how much time you have, there are meaningful ways to get involved. Your feedback will help:
- identify gaps, challenges, and opportunities
- refine and focus the City’s priorities
- shape the actions the City plans to take over the next four years
New opportunities to get involved will be posted here. Click the + Follow button at the top of the page to get updates about this project.
About Kitchener's Strategic Plan
The strategic plan will be written by bringing together:
- Abacus Data survey results
- resident feedback
- business' feedback
- advisory committees of council feedback
- Mayor and council insights
- City staff expertise
- future‑focused research
These inputs will be reviewed in stages so ideas can be tested, improved, and refined along the way. This process will create a clear and meaningful plan that reflects our community’s priorities.
Yes. Kitchener’s current strategic plan is the 2023–2026 Strategic Plan. It was approved by City Council and is based on the City’s long‑term community vision. The plan guides the City’s goals and actions for this council term.
The City updates its strategic plan every four years. This helps the City respond to changing community needs, new opportunities, and priorities. Every plan is designed to help move Kitchener closer to achieving its long‑term vision.
The City of Kitchener delivers a wide range of day‑to‑day services that directly affect community life. These include things like parks, recreation, roads, snow clearing, local programs, and more.
No one knows your lived experience better than you. Your feedback helps the City understand what is working, what needs improvement, and what matters most to you. This helps strengthen neighbourhoods, improve services, and support a better quality of life.
Your input is used by City staff and elected officials to inform the next four-year strategic plan. It may also be used to support other projects or improvements across the City.
We put it into action. Once the plan is approved, the City begins carrying it out. Progress is measured and shared with the community three times a year through reports to Council. This helps you see what is being accomplished.
Compass Kitchener, a Council advisory committee made up of community members, also reviews completed projects each year and presents a “report card” at a Council meeting.
Learn more about the progress of the 2023-2026 strategic plan.
