Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026
This project is complete. Kitchener Council has approved a citizen-informed plan to guide the City’s priorities over the next four years. The 2023-2026 strategic plan was developed after extensive engagement. Thank you to everyone who took our surveys, talked to us on the street or joined our resident panel! For more information, visit kitchener.ca/OurPlan
Plan the future of Kitchener with us!
Kitchener’s strategic plan is our community’s shared vision for the future of our City. We’re working on our 2023-2026 strategic plan and want you to be part of the planning process.
What should we focus on 4 years and even 20 years from now? Have your say and share your vision with us. Your input will help us build a strategic plan that best reflects the unique needs of our community – and develop a 20-year vision for the future of our City.
The vision will guide future City priorities and decisions that will move us toward a shared long-term future. The strategic plan will identify key goals and actions the City will take over the next four years to move us closer to achieving that vision.
Engaging you in this important work ensures that we are aligning our efforts with the needs of the community. And equally important, it builds trust with residents, knowing they can count on their local government to deliver the valued programs and services that they need.
Hearing what is most important to you has never been more important than it is today. Plan with us, Kitchener needs your voice, join the conversation!
Please subscribe for email updates using the ‘Subscribe’ button.
Plan the future of Kitchener with us!
Kitchener’s strategic plan is our community’s shared vision for the future of our City. We’re working on our 2023-2026 strategic plan and want you to be part of the planning process.
What should we focus on 4 years and even 20 years from now? Have your say and share your vision with us. Your input will help us build a strategic plan that best reflects the unique needs of our community – and develop a 20-year vision for the future of our City.
The vision will guide future City priorities and decisions that will move us toward a shared long-term future. The strategic plan will identify key goals and actions the City will take over the next four years to move us closer to achieving that vision.
Engaging you in this important work ensures that we are aligning our efforts with the needs of the community. And equally important, it builds trust with residents, knowing they can count on their local government to deliver the valued programs and services that they need.
Hearing what is most important to you has never been more important than it is today. Plan with us, Kitchener needs your voice, join the conversation!
Please subscribe for email updates using the ‘Subscribe’ button.
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Sustainability
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Sustainability has to do with our ability to meet environmental, economic, and social needs now and into the future.
In the survey, we heard that residents are interested in addressing climate change and sustainability. A majority (59%) said the city should use more of its budget to address climate change.
Our Corporate Climate Action Plan is a strategy for reducing our corporate level greenhouse gas emissions while adapting to the effects of climate change on our community. Our goal was to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 8% by 2026. We have already achieved that goal, and are continuing to make progress on further reductions.
Help us understand what is important about this topic. Share your comments and heart the ones you like or agree with.
Here are some questions to consider:
Why does sustainability matter to you?
Why is sustainability important for our community?
If over the next 20 years we made major improvements in sustainability, how would Kitchener have adapted? What has changed for the better?
seandersonover 1 year agoCorporate waste reduction is important but is there more than can be done to encourage recycling & reusable containers by all citizens?
Restaurants, schools, dry cleaners and other businesses must have cleaner options.
0 comment3Street Team#over 1 year agoMore Electric scooters🛴
Let down town see people with more electric scooter. Make it affordable for everyone
0 comment3Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoCycle system
More planing into improving the cycling system around the city. This will reduce the carbon footprint of the city as more residents feel more comfortable cycling on these paths and not the busy roads.
0 comment2Street Team#over 1 year agoPeople are not taking care of city property
Over the last few years I have seen a big change in the attitude of people. I can see garbage on streets. Not everyone is bothered to pick after them. Fail to follow rules. It’s high time to educate people about our obligation and duties.
0 comment0Bethikinzover 1 year agoTo maintain the tree canopy, please provide affordable arbor services to home owners. It's a prohibitive expense for many of us.
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Public Engagement
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Resident involvement in planning for Kitchener’s future is important and is a key part of democracy.
The City of Kitchener’s community engagement policy describes our commitment to ensuring residents play a meaningful role in municipal decision-making.
In the survey, 58% said they are interested in taking part in city decision-making, but 69% said they do not believe their input makes a difference.
We’d like to understand what this means to you and why this is important. Share your comments and heart the ones you like or agree with.
Here are some questions to consider:
Why did you decide to take part in this ideas board today? What motivates you to engage with the city? What else might help you take part in decision-making?
Why is public engagement important to our community?
Why do you think people don’t find their input makes a difference? How might we earn your trust?
If over the next 20 years we improved our public engagement practices, how would our community change for the better?
Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoLess tech based interviews
Over the next 20 years we are going to get more and more advanced in the tech world BUT we need to focus on the person to person interviews. I feel those are the most influential. It give the feeling of understanding to the residents that their voices are being heard.
0 comment0Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoTechnology engagements
Tech has grown over the last 20 years by a huge margin and today I was asked about what the city should plan for in the next 20 years. To that I ask that the city looks into planing technology based engagements year round that are easy access to the public. Maybe look at partnering with the universities and the college to create an app that is directly for the city of Kitchener and it’s residents to discuss, post, and get informed on chances to engage. A social media app for the city in short.
0 comment0Kitchener Nativeover 1 year agoBig voices get the attention
I think people of our city feel discouraged that their input doesn't matter because it is the loudest voices that seem to get all the attention at the tables. What efforts are made to quantify whose voices are being captured in these discussions and whose voices are missing? And how much weight are the big voices of getting over everyone elses as a result? A neutral third party researcher tasked with collecting input through creative active outreach methods from all subsections of society would be a start and then use that data to create options for moving forward that those same subsections of people vote on in order to develop the final strategic plan. That would ensure all people feel their voices are taken into consideration.
0 comment1Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoCurrent residents need a say
Those that are living in the city today need a say. They are the ones that know the city and know what they want changed in the city. They should be the first to contact as they should be the most important to the city. They are growing the city today and should get to have there input heard.
1 comment0Street Team#over 1 year agoPublic engagement platforms
There should be multiple ways for councillors and mayor to interact with the people to know how better or worse they are doing once in a year. It need to be advertised in medias so no one missed to participate. And the team should take the same effort when the participated in election campaigns. In this way, we get a productive govt.
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Recreation and Leisure Programs and Services
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.In the survey, residents told us that it is most important for us to offer recreation and leisure programs that support mental health and wellbeing (63%) and services for vulnerable populations (59%). Addressing homelessness and poverty was also the third most important issue facing our community today.
Also, 53% said city services and programs should be paid for by everyone through tax revenues, while 37% said those who use City programs and services should pay for them through user fees.
We’d like to understand what this means to you and why this is important. Share your comments and heart the ones you like or agree with.
Here are some questions to consider:
Why is it important to you that the city provide programs that support mental health and wellbeing? Why is it important to you that the city provide programs that support vulnerable populations? Why does this issue matter for our community?
The pandemic revealed many inequities in our community. Some Kitchener residents can’t get the support they need. We cannot afford to offer all services for free, but we also want everyone to be able to access the services they need. How might we strike a balance between the City’s financial limitations and providing services to those who are more vulnerable?
If over the next 20 years we made major improvements in the programs and services we provide, how would our community change for the better?
Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoMore Entrepreneurship Programs
The city needs more entrepreneurial programs. The city of Waterloo has a program called “Commuitech”. And the city should adopt this program as well.
0 comment0Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoRecreation and leisure services paid by everyone
I think recreation and leisure services should be paid by everyone as everyone needs them. Not all the service will be for your needs but if we spend this money on service such as mental health and physical activities for all ages you might find an activity for you. And with mental health we all suffer in someway and it is already paid for and accessible to everyone, the cities well-being will increase over the next 20 years.
1 comment0Kitchener Nativeover 1 year agoCreative ways to fund free recreation and leisure for youth
Engagement in recreation and leisure programs for youth in our city would improve mental health, reduce youth crime and encourage positive outcomes long term for youth. In order to do this the programs need to be expanded, have proper oversight to ensure quality and be free. To cover the costs, make new developers in the city pay a levy for this. These developers are getting rich by building in our city and the result of their building here is an increased population with increased needs to ensure the well-being of our growing population. So requiring them to make a significant contribution to the wellbeing of youth in our community makes sense. Big businesses could also be required to do the same - Amazon for example!
0 comment0Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoRecreation in 20 years
Recreation in 20 years will look different for my family as our kids will be adults. I don’t know how the city does it right now but in 20 years it would be nice to see a more structured and accessible way to register for recreation and rep teams of sports. I am interested in Volleyball as I sit here looking at McLennan parks courts. Something to get us out of the house.
0 comment0Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoKids Programs throughout the week
We have a lot of programs for kids during the weekend but not during the week. We especially need more of these week programs in the summer when the kids are out of school.
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Urban Growth
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Urban growth, where it happens and how, is a key concern for Kitchener residents. In the survey, residents said this was the second most important local issue facing our community today.
By urban growth, we mean making improvements to existing neighbourhoods, as well as building new ones. It is estimated that by 2051 there will be about 140,000 more people living in Kitchener. Our city needs to grow to accommodate new neighbours. That will mean more homes, neighbourhoods, parks, community centres, sewers, and other infrastructure.
Help us understand what is important about this topic. Share your comments and heart the ones you like or agree with.
Here are some questions to consider:
- When it comes to urban growth, what is the most important for us to focus on and why?
- Space for new homes (examples: how tall the buildings are, where they are located throughout the City))
- Transportation (examples: traffic, bike lanes, sidewalks)
- Public services (examples: parks, community centres, water/sewer, stormwater management )
- Maintenance of roads (examples: potholes, snow removal)
- Other
- Why does urban growth matter to you? Why is this issue important for our community?
- If over the next 20 years we made major improvements to how the city grows, what would change for the better in our community?
Street Team Interviewover 1 year ago2 New Hospitals
We need new hospitals. We haven’t had one since the 1960s and if we want to keep growing the population we need more resources to support that. We need to take care of our population and the growing population at that.
1 comment1Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoTraffic
I am 8 years old and I love the traffic here it is nothing like it is in Toronto and the city should I’d plan to keep it that way.
0 comment0Street Team#over 1 year agoGrowing Kitchener🌇
I have been in this city for the last 40 years, and from these years I can read that Kitchener has changed over years. In my opinion, high rises are not my concern, how can we accommodate people? If we are growing business, infrastructures, events then who is gonna use it. People from other city.? No ! So there will be more people staying in our city. It doesn’t sounds good but that what we will see in next 10 years.- Rogers
1 comment0tgibbonsover 1 year agoKitchener needs a city square
Kitchener lacks a city square, and, although I love the city hall, it is a very small open area. With all the new buildings and people moving downtown, the old bus terminal on Charles Street may be the last chance to add open space to the core of the city. City hall should be connected to this open area by way of a vehicle free walkway from city hall down Gaukel Street.
1 comment1Street Team#over 1 year agoCrowded Kitchener
We need more parks, playground and more schools because the city is getting crowded more. The other day I went to Victoria park with my son and it took long time to find a parking spot and even the park was over crowded. I want to see a Silent Kitchener! Helen Dawit
1 comment1 - When it comes to urban growth, what is the most important for us to focus on and why?
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Delivering City Services
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.In the survey, 78% of residents said they are very or somewhat satisfied with the municipal government of the City of Kitchener.
Kitchener is part of the Region of Waterloo, which means some services are the responsibility of the City of Kitchener and others are the responsibility of the Region.
We are interested in your feedback on key areas of responsibility for the City of Kitchener. Share your comments and heart the ones you like or agree with.
Below are key services the City of Kitchener provides to residents:
- Bylaw enforcement for parking, property standards, noise
- Fire department
- Business licensing
- Economic development and business support
- Road maintenance, winter control, leaf collection
- Planning, development and building services
- Water distribution, sanitary water connection, sewage collection
- Parks and trails
- Arenas, pools, community centres and their programs
- Arts, culture and special events
Here are some questions to consider:
How might service in one or more of these areas be improved?
When you imagine Kitchener 20 years from now, how are services being delivered differently?
Street Team#over 1 year agoParks better than Toronto parks🛝🚵🏼
I moved from Toronto city and I find the parks here are clean and safe for kids I am a usual visitor here in Max Becker commons and MCLenan park and I never had any bad experience. There srevmore parks in every community and have a good play structure and play area.
0 comment0Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoBylaw enforcement
We need more bylaw enforcement in apartment buildings/complexs. I live in a smoke free complex but there are always people smoking within. It affects my health and I don’t want my kids around the chemicals they produce. There needs to be harsh fines as we are trapped inside well they can easily just go outside and smoke. They also need to be more away from buildings and a designated smoking area. Bylaw needs to survey more regularly.
0 comment0Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoSwimming Pools free of Charge
I would like to see swimming pools be free of charge for the youth in the city. It’s keeps them off of the streets and gives them more areas to hang out for free with friends and away from screens. Ages 12 to 17 should be free of charge within the City of Kitchener.
0 comment0Street Team#over 1 year agoRoad maintenance is poor in few parts of the city
I am a resident at Holborn Drive. When it comes to road maintenance, they come and fill some black stuffs and does patch works. After few weeks it just comes off and makes the road condition more worse😒
1 comment1Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoAnother Hospital
I think I heard the city was planing for another hospital in the coming years so that is good. But with the city growing fast we need to plan for new hospitals earlier. They should be built when we need them and not starting to build them when the others are full.
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Housing Affordability
about 1 year agoCLOSED: This ideas has concluded.Housing affordability is a very important concern for Kitchener residents. In the survey, 33% of Kitchener residents said housing affordability is the single most important local issue facing our community today.
In 2020, the City launched Housing for All, a comprehensive strategy to realize the right to housing and help make housing affordable using the tools and resources available to a local municipality.
We’d like to understand what “housing affordability” means to you and why you feel this issue is important. Share your comments and heart the ones you like or agree with.
Here are some questions to consider:
When you hear “housing affordability” what comes to mind? How would you define housing affordability?
How does the issue of housing affordability affect you? Why is this issue important to you? Why does this issue matter for our community?
If we made major improvements in housing affordability over the next 20 years, what would change for our community?
Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoProperty tax
The property tax is going up with the prices of homes and making housing even more less affordable. It isn’t reflecting the market price like it should be.
0 comment0Kitchener Nativeover 1 year agoMore subsidized housing needed
Everyone should be able to afford somewhere to live. Having years long waitlists for subsidized housing is not acceptable. More units need to be built immediately along side of social supports so that we break the cycle of poverty.
0 comment1Street Team Interviewover 1 year agoControl the market in some way
Controlling the market can be good and/or bad but I think there needs to be action to make housing more affordable.
0 comment0Street team (H)over 1 year agoCity Services
I believe the city is doing well in terms of services. I appreciate how they have a variety of programs in their community centres, but the majority of these programs are sports or dance. I'd like to see more senior writing and reading programs .
0 comment0Street Team#over 1 year agoLiving wages
Adopting living wages to get rid of housing affordability seems to be a good thing like in other cities.
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Lifecycle
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Open for contributions
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageWhat’s most important to our community right now? And what should we work to achieve over the next 20 years? Share your ideas and vision for Kitchener’s future.
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Under review
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageContributions to this project are now closed for review. We will report back on key outcomes.
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Resident panel
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageThe panel is underway. Panel members are collaborating to learn about issues, review your feedback, and recommend goals and actions for the strategic plan.
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Under review
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageThe resident panel has closed and we are reviewing their contributions. We will report back on the result and share the draft strategic plan and 20-year vision.
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Open for Feedback
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageShare your feedback on the draft strategic plan and 20-year vision.
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Under review
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageWe are creating the final version of the strategic plan to recommend to City council.
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Report to Council
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 has finished this stageWe are bringing our final report to Council for approval.
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Vision and strategic plan approved
Plan with us! Kitchener's Strategic Plan 2023-2026 is currently at this stageCity Council has approved the strategic plan and 20-year vision. The final outcomes of our engagement are documented here.
Who's Listening
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Phone 519-741-2200 x 7059 Email Angie.Fritz-Walters@kitchener.ca