Age: 19

Occupation: Conestoga Student & Food Delivery Courier

Jordan is a first-year international student at Conestoga College from Nigeria. He is studying Pre-Health Sciences as a pathway to the school’s Practical Nursing program. Jordan also works 20 hours a week delivering food by bike on top of a full course load and study labs. He rides his bike or takes transit to get around.

Jordan lives near campus in a rental unit he shares with three roommates he met at school. He is lonely and is working on making more friends, but it’s hard with his busy schedule. He spends what little free time he has exploring nature, working on his bike, and looking for ways to connect with other people in the community. He’d love to find a local pick-up soccer game close to home.

Jordan thinks a lot about his upcoming tuition payments and the cost of living—rent, food, and transit fare all add up quickly. He hopes to stay in Kitchener and work in healthcare after graduation, but affordability is a serious concern.

Age: 78

Occupation: Retired Librarian

Ruth is a retired librarian living on a fixed income in a two-storey single-family home in Country Hills. She has lived alone since her husband passed away 4 years ago.

Ruth volunteers twice a week at a community-led literacy group for newcomers at the local Community Centre. She enjoys visiting local shops and cafés and prefers to walk when she can, but a recent fall and the impacts of extreme weather (snow, ice, heat, rain) have made her wary of walking longer distances.

In addition to her physical challenges, Ruth’s vision is also getting worse, making daily tasks around the house more difficult. Ruth is deeply concerned about aging in place (staying in her home as she grows older), particularly as her accessibility and mobility needs change.

Ruth owns a car, but driving is becoming less of an option as her vision worsens. She values her independence and community connections but worries about how long she’ll be able to stay in her home and remain active in her community.

Age 24

Occupation: Software Developer

Emily is a Software Developer at a local tech startup who works from home. She was born and raised in Kitchener, went to away for university, but came back home after getting her degree.

Family is a big part of her life – her parents still live in her childhood home in Stanely Park, and she has dinner with them at least twice a week. She is also a caregiver for her mother, who is managing a serious illness, which makes being close-by even more important. Emily lives alone in a 1-bedroom laneway house in Breithaupt-Mt Hope with her Pug, Nano, and in her free time, she enjoys running and hiking on local trails.

She’s an aspiring foodie and loves eating at different restaurants and checking out markets in different parts of the city. She thinks a lot about work-life balance and wishes she didn’t have to work so much just to afford her rent. She is a strong public transit advocate and loves using the ION to get around, still relies on her parents’ car to help her mother with errands and medical appointments.

Age: 34

Occupation: High School Teacher

Josh is a local high school teacher who plays bass in a garage band and loves the Edmonton Oilers. He lives with his wife Priya and their twin 2-year-olds Jaxson and Chase.

With both of their extended families living back in Alberta, they have no local family support, making childcare a big priority. They spend a lot of time at local parks and playgrounds with the twins but also love Kitchener’s local music scene. They try to catch at least one live music show a month – when they can find a babysitter.

They currently rent a townhouse on the edge of downtown. Josh and Priya think a lot about housing and worry about having enough space as their boys get older. They want to live somewhere that is safe, has access to good schools, and offers family-friendly amenities – but still offers the access to the things they love about being downtown.

Josh and Priya drive separate cars to work because they commute in opposite directions. Having two vehicles gives them flexibility: one of them can pick up the boys from daycare or grab diapers from Costco, even if the other is working late.

Age: 50

Occupation: Nutritionist at a Community Health Clinic

Fatima works full-time as a nutritionist at a community health clinic and spends her free time listening to true- crime podcasts and working on a collection of short stories based on her experiences at the clinic. She has a physical disability that affects her mobility and uses a power wheelchair to get around. She lives in an apartment in Kingsdale with her partner Jane and their two cats, Cinnamon and Saffron.

Fatima relies on transit or MobilityPLUS to get around, depending on her destination. Planning her travel takes extra coordination, but she’s used to it and has gotten to know the drivers and other riders on her regular routes. Her schedule is busy, and convenience is important to her—so access to shops and other daily needs nearby is a must-have.

Fatima thinks a lot about accessibility, independence, and the importance of feeling safe and supported in her community. She’s a strong advocate for inclusive design and believes cities work best when they’re built for everyone.

Age 44

Occupation: Skilled Trades

Devon is a skilled tradesman working on job sites across Kitchener and the surrounding region. In his spare time, he loves tinkering with vintage electronics

and painting miniatures for his weekly Dungeon’s and Dragon’s game night.

A single dad, Devon lives in a stacked townhouse in Williamsburg with his 15-year-old daughter, Sophie, and their guinea pig, Elric. Sophie plays soccer and volunteers at a local dog rescue. Devon makes personal sacrifices to afford Sophie’s tournaments and soccer camps, often prioritizing her needs over his own.

Devon thinks a lot about the rising cost of living, and the lack of affordable housing options for working class families. Since his job doesn’t always fit a traditional 9-5 schedule, he also needs access to shops and services outside standard business hours.

Devon drives to job sites because transit doesn’t easily accommodate his changing work locations, tools, and materials. He’d love to drive less, but in his industry, having a car is unavoidable. Sophie walks to school and takes transit to get around town. She often relies on teammates’ parents for rides to soccer practices and games.