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

• Kitchener Council approves new 20-year vision and strategic plan

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  Kitchener Council has approved a citizen-informed plan to guide the City’s priorities over the next four years.

  Kitchener’s new 20-year vision and its 2023 – 2026 strategic plan were developed after extensive engagement with residents, Council, staff, and community stakeholders. Public feedback was gathered through a telephone survey of more than 1,000 residents, ‘street team’ interviews with dozens of people and online engagement with many more residents over the course of the past year. The City recruited 36 volunteers from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to form a ‘Plan WITH Us’ resident panel for the first time. Over six months, panel members learned about important issues and made meaningful contributions to the strategic plan.

  “This strategic plan is a reflection of significant feedback from citizens and is more flexible than previous plans,” said Kitchener’s chief administrative officer Dan Chapman. “We’ve adopted an adaptive approach to setting our actions, which will allow Council and staff to better respond to emerging community needs and opportunities.”

  The priorities in the approved plan are:

  • Building a connected city
  • Cultivating a green city
  • Creating an economically thriving city
  • Fostering a caring city
  • Stewarding a better city

  “This strategic plan is both a roadmap for this term of Council, and a vision for our community over the next 20 years,” said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “We’re telling the story of Kitchener from now until 2043. We want to build a city for everyone where, together, we take care of the world around us – and each other. The lessons of our past – and the promise of tomorrow – remind us that people who love their city can always change it, and our world, for the better. Together.”

  The Compass Kitchener citizen advisory committee endorsed the strategic plan and praised the involvement of residents.

  “Kitchener’s approach to this strategic plan, including forming a resident panel, is an outstanding example of a thoughtful and effective public engagement process,” said Troy Glover vice-chair of Compass Kitchener. “The diversity of resident panel members led to rich discussion and illuminated a variety of meaningful perspectives for consideration. This weaved together a complex and compelling narrative of Kitchener.

  For more information about the City’s Vision and priorities for 2023-2026, visit kitchener.ca/OurPlan.

• Report to be presented to Council Aug. 14

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  We are presenting the Resident Panel's final report alongside the draft strategic plan to Council on Monday, August 14 from 3:00 to 5:00p.m. The agenda and report are available at the calendar entry for the Finance and Corporate Services Committee (August 14).

  Links to copies of the report be found on the Committee Agenda.

  You can also watch the meeting live on the day of the meeting by going to kitchener.ca/watchnow

• Deadline extended

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  Thanks to everyone who has responded so far to the draft strategic plan. We've heard from a few residents and community partners that you'd like a couple extra days to fill out the survey. We've extended the deadline to July 16, 2023.

  Answer the survey

• The draft Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 is here!

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  After conducting an unprecedented community engagement process enlisting residents to help us shape the City’s Strategic Plan for the next few years, we have a draft copy ready to share!

  To help us form the plan, we went to great lengths to learn about your priorities for our city. After conducting a telephone survey of more than 1,000 residents and more than 100 street interviews in 2022, we recruited 36 volunteers from diverse backgrounds and lived experiences to form the Plan WITH Us Resident Panel. They learned about important issues, discussed and made meaningful contributions to the draft plan.

  Before the draft plan goes before city council in August, we’re asking you to share your feedback on the draft. Please answer our short survey by July 14, 2023.

  Answer the survey

• Resident panel makes a difference

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  36 Residents, 5 Workshops, over 25 hours each - the Resident Panel 's investment of time, lived experience, and passion for their City have resulted in a draft Strategic Plan for 2023-2026 that will move the City of Kitchener "Forward Together". By collaborating with staff throughout the development of the Strategic Plan, they have ensured that the plan delivers on the community priorities, is ambitious, and ensures that residents can see themselves participating in a shared future.

  The Resident Panel's final report will be presented to Council alongside the draft strategic plan in August. To view the meeting time, agenda and report once available, please visit the calendar entry for the Finance and Corporate Services Committee (August 14).

  You can also watch the meeting live on the day of the meeting by going to kitchener.ca/watchnow

• Resident panel feedback making an impact

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  The Plan WITH Us Resident Panel is actively participating in the development of the strategic plan for the next 4 years. In a series of workshops, the diverse group of volunteers are:

  • Learning about important issues that Kitchener residents have said are important to them
  • Reviewing the work that staff have done
  • Providing valuable feedback

  This collaborative approach is already showing showing positive results, with feedback leading to improved strategic goal areas, which have been supported by Council. Some of the things they have been talking about include:

  • Reviewing a long list of potential strategic goals in detail, including what work the City is already doing in each area
  • Reviewing what staff has recommended, and sharing feedback on what has been developed
  • Shared feedback on making the strategic plan relatable and meaningful to the community

  Panelists heard in the third workshop how their recommendations have already made a difference. Strategic goal areas were updated, based on their feedback, and shared back with them. One panelist shared "This list has us written all over it." in recognition of the changes that were made in response to the resident panel's feedback.

  Council supported these five areas to explore further for the City’s strategic plan 2023-2026, which were informed by extensive public engagement including the collaboration of the new Plan WITH Us resident panel and City staff:

  • Belonging and participation
  • Housing, land use and mobility
  • Environment and climate action
  • Economic prosperity and opportunity
  • Good government

  The Plan WITH Us resident panel will continue to provide feedback on the actions proposed to address these strategic goal areas. Stay tuned for updates as our collaborative planning process!

• Strategic Plan 2023-2026 sees unprecedented resident participation

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  The City of Kitchener’s progress toward forming the Strategic Plan for 2023 – 2026 has entered its next major stage of community participation.

  After a telephone survey of more than 1,000 residents earlier this year, the city conducted broader and deeper listening to identify 10 things residents want us to keep in mind while drafting the plan.

  In addition, last week the City hosted the first in a series of meetings with an all-new, 40-person Plan WITH Us Kitchener Resident Panel. The diverse panelists were selected randomly based on demographic attributes requested from all applicants in order to closely mirror the actual demographics of the community.

  “It has been amazing to see the amount of input Kitchener residents are providing to help form the plan that will guide this term of council and establishing a vision for the next 20 years,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. “This participation is essential as we work together to determine our priorities for living and growing as a vibrant, prosperous community where everyone belongs.”

  During the next five months, the resident panel will work with city staff and the Compass Kitchener Citizen Advisory Committee to create a draft strategic plan.

  Next spring, after the resident panel has completed its work, we will share the draft plan widely with Kitchener residents. The draft plan will go to council for discussion, refinement, and final approval is expected in June 2023.

• Engagement Results

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  During the 2023 – 2026 strategic planning process, the city is engaging the community like never before.

  In addition to the Environics telephone survey of 1,006 residents, we did broader and deeper listening with residents. Some of the activities we used were:

  • Built a dedicated Engage page – 3800 visits and counting

  • Drew 541 ideas board contributions

  • Deployed a team to conduct more than 100 on-the-street interviews

  • Received 35 artistic contributions to the 20-year vision

  • Conducted four neighbourhood focus groups where 617 ideas were shared

  
  

  Residents told us more about their priorities, and we heard them. The top 10 things they would like to see Kitchener take action on are:

  • Add more trees and green spaces

  • Ensure diverse housing options for all

  • Be proactive in support of a healthy community

  • Prioritize equity, diversity and inclusion

  • Create opportunities that promote belonging

  • Engage more residents and stakeholders

  • Take action on climate change and sustainability

  • Invest in technology and business

  • Continue infrastructure upgrades

  • More active and public transportation

  
  

  We are currently meeting with our Resident Panel, Compass Kitchener and City staff to create a draft strategic plan. When it is completed, we will share it with residents for their feedback. Subscribe to this page to ensure you get updates, and to learn how to provide your feedback!

  
  

  

• Plan WITH us Kitchener Resident Panel

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  We are seeking 40 community members who will bring a diverse mix of voices, perspectives, and lived experience to the Plan WITH Us Kitchener Resident Panel.

  For the first time, the City is inviting a diverse group of residents to become more deeply involved in making recommendations on the commitments and investments the City should take over the next 4 years.

  Volunteers will work with senior-level staff, other volunteers, and a consulting team to:

  • Learn about the diverse and complex community issues, topics, and considerations impacting the City of Kitchener.
  • Discuss information received from experts, community members, and presenters.
  • Identify issues, themes, and options, and work through their implications.
  • Share the group’s perspectives and advice with senior-level staff and Council by drafting a report and developing recommendations for the 2023-2026 strategic plan.

  Learn more about this opportunity by reading the Role Description, and complete the Application and plan WITH us for Kitchener's future!

  We are accepting applications until October 16, 2022.

• Community Conversations Happening Now!

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  Last night at the Williamsburg Community Centre, residents bonded over their shared interest in shaping Kitchener's future. So much so, that some of them wanted to take a group photo! Thanks to everyone who attended for sharing your hopes and dreams for our City as we work toward a shared vision for Kitchener, and develop the goals and actions that will get us there. There are 3 more opportunities for you to join us:

  Tonight (Sept. 8) at Victoria Hills Community Centre 6:30-8:30pm

  Monday Sept. 12 at Centreville Chicopee Community Centre 6:30-8:30pm

  Tuesday Sept. 13 at Bridgeport Community Centre 6:30-8:30pm

  Register if you can, but walk-ins are welcome.