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CKMS News -2026-10-24- Kitchener Voters Stayed Home in 2022. Is It Any Different This Time?

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CKMS News -2026-10-24- Kitchener Voters Stayed Home in 2022. Is It Any Different This Time?

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON – In Kitchener, only about one in five eligible voters cast a ballot in the 2022 municipal election. With Election Day approaching on October 26, the city is introducing new ways to encourage more residents to vote.

A total of 8,208 people voted during the advance voting period between October 8 and 20, an increase of 42 per cent compared with the previous municipal election.

Amanda Fusco, Kitchener’s director of legislated services, said voter turnout depends on several factors, including voter fatigue, campaign activity and public awareness of municipal government.

“Voter turnout is so complex,” Fusco said.

This year, the city introduced new voting options, including home voting visits, advance voting at retirement homes and long-term care facilities, drive-thru voting and “shop and vote” locations at Fairview Park Mall and Kitchener Market.

Fusco said drive-thru voting attracted just over 1,000 voters over two days, while around 1,000 people voted at Fairview Park Mall. Another 250 cast ballots at Kitchener Market.

Feedback on drive-thru voting was positive, with residents citing convenience and accessibility. However, the city has no specific voter turnout target for 2026, beyond hoping to improve on the previous election.

Fusco said municipal decisions directly affect residents’ neighbourhoods, parks, roads and libraries.

“We want everyone to make their mark,” she said.

Eligible Kitchener residents can vote on October 26 at any of the 33 voting locations within their ward. Voters must bring identification showing their name and current address.

For more details about voting in Kitchener, visit City of Kitchener website.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-10-17- Kitchener Helps Local Businesses Pursue Government Contracts Through Procurement Sessions

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CKMS News -2026-10-17- Kitchener Helps Local Businesses Pursue Government Contracts Through Procurement Sessions

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON – The City of Kitchener has brought local businesses together with federal and provincial procurement experts through a two-day “Buy Canada–Buy Ontario” initiative at Kitchener City Hall.

The sessions aimed to help businesses access an estimated $300 billion in annual government procurement opportunities amid growing international trade challenges, according to Senator Sandra Pupatello.

Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said local companies need the information and resources to compete for government contracts at all levels.

“It’s really all about making sure that businesses have the information they need to compete on business opportunities, whether they’re at the local, provincial, or national level,” Vrbanovic said.

Pupatello said businesses outside major administrative centres may overlook opportunities to supply governments with goods and services.

“If you don’t live in a capital region, you don’t tend to think of what the government buys that you can actually offer,” she said, encouraging local suppliers to explore public-sector contracts.

With tariffs creating challenges for traditional manufacturing sectors, the initiative focused on helping local businesses identify new opportunities through government procurement.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-10-10- Waterloo Region Approves 10-Year Housing Plan as Community Housing Waitlist Surpasses 11,000 Households

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CKMS News -2026-10-10- Waterloo Region Approves 10-Year Housing Plan as Community Housing Waitlist Surpasses 11,000 Households

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON – Waterloo Region has moved forward with a new 10 Year Housing and Homelessness Plan as local community housing waitlists reach historic highs.

According to regional data presented on October 6, 2026, nearly 11,300 households were on the waitlist at year end 2025, while wait times have stretched past a decade for one bedroom units and over 12 years for larger family homes.

Presenting the plan, Director of Housing Ryan Pettipiere reminded council that real lives sit behind the escalating statistics. “Every data point represents a real person,” Pettipiere said. He pointed to early progress in flattening the homelessness curve, but warned that “there are serious challenges ahead without strengthened and sustained investments in solutions.”

Commissioner of Community Services Peter Sweeney also addressed systemic root causes, noting that “we cannot have any discussion about solving chronic homelessness if we do not also address economic insecurity and poverty.”

With local taxpayers already covering 65 percent of the Region’s $68.6 million homelessness budget, staff emphasized that municipal resources alone cannot close the gap without long term operating support from provincial and federal governments.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-09-23- Saint Luke’s Place Begins Construction on New 192-Bed Long-Term Care Home in Cambridge

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CKMS News -2026-09-23- Saint Luke’s Place Begins Construction on New 192-Bed Long-Term Care Home in Cambridge

Eren Yoruk

Cambridge, ON – Saint Luke’s Place has officially broken ground on a new six-story, 192-bed long-term care home in Cambridge.

The groundbreaking ceremony was held Friday at the organization’s location on Franklin Boulevard, bringing together local officials, community leaders, project partners and residents to mark the start of construction.

“The demand for long-term care is only gonna grow,” said CEO David Bakker. “This will help more families and more residents access the care they need much closer to home.”

Bakker added that the new building will feature updated infection-control designs and expanded holistic care, addressing the growing demand for senior support across the region.

The new home is expected to expand long-term care capacity in a community facing growing demand for senior care. According to Ontario Ministry of Long-Term Care data, Saint Luke’s Place currently has 408 people on its long-term care waiting list.

Local MPP Jess Dixon underscored the importance of securing provincial backing, noting, “Our need to provide homes for people as they age is only growing.”

The redevelopment will replace the existing 114-bed facility and add 78 new beds to help ease local waitlists, with construction expected to take about four years and finish in 2030.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-09-19- Terry Fox Run Returns as Cancer Research Funding Surpasses $1 Billion

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CKMS News -2026-09-19- Terry Fox Run Returns As Cancer Research Funding Surpasses $1 Billion

Eren Yoruk

Waterloo, ON – The Terry Fox Run returns this Sunday for its 46th year, as the Terry Fox Foundation continues to support cancer research across Canada.

The Foundation surpassed $1 billion raised for cancer research in February. This year, about four million Canadians are expected to take part in runs across 600 communities, including Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge.

Terry Fox’s niece Jessie Alder says her uncle’s story and message continue to resonate with Canadians and people around the world. She also points to the progress being made through the Marathon of Hope Cancer Centers Network, which aims to expand access to precision medicine across Canada.

Terry Fox Foundation COO Martha McClew says the organization funds research through a rigorous peer-review process, with only a small percentage of submitted projects receiving funding. She also highlights the Foundation’s cancer research biobank, which contains cancer cells from 16,000 Canadians and is helping researchers share data and better understand how patients respond to treatments.

Alder and McClew also reflect on what Terry Fox’s legacy could look like if a cure for cancer is eventually found, and why the Terry Fox Run remains important as both a fundraiser and a community event.

The Terry Fox Run takes place Sunday, September 20 at 9 a.m. For more information, visit run.terryfox.ca.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-09-11- Cambridge Fire Department Aims to Raise Fire Safety Awareness with Open House

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CKMS News -2026-09-11- Cambridge Fire Department Aims to Raise Fire Safety Awareness with Open House

Eren Yoruk

Cambridge, ON – The Cambridge Fire Department is preparing to welcome residents to its annual Open House on September 12 at Fire Station 1 on Bishop Street.

The event will give residents a chance to meet firefighters, tour the station, explore emergency equipment and learn about fire and life safety. This year’s event will also feature a live side-by-side burn demonstration showing the impact of residential fire sprinkler systems.

In an interview with CKMS News, Chief Fire Prevention Officer Eric Yates discussed the importance of working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, home escape plans and safe battery charging. He also highlighted lithium-ion batteries as one of the department’s growing fire safety concerns.

The interview also covers recent fire loss trends in Cambridge, wildfire preparedness and what residents can do to reduce fire risks at home and outdoors.

You can find more information about the event on the Facebook event page.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-08-13- AI Boom Raises Questions as Waterloo Region Studies Data Centre Impacts

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CKMS News -2026-08-13- AI Boom Raises Questions as Waterloo Region Studies Data Centre Impacts

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON — Waterloo Region Council has unanimously passed a motion to study the potential impacts of future data centre development in the Region, following concerns raised by residents about water use, electricity demand and infrastructure.

Regional Councillor Colleen James brought the motion during Tuesday’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee meeting. It directs Regional staff to examine the economic, environmental, infrastructure and fiscal implications of data centres, as well as community safeguards and best practices in other jurisdictions.

The council approved the motion with two amendments, including additional consideration of source water protection and impacts on traditional lands. Regional staff will report their findings back to Council by the first quarter of 2027.

The discussion comes as the rapid growth of artificial intelligence drives demand for larger and more energy-intensive data centres across Canada and beyond.

Waterloo Region already hosts data centres, including Ascent’s facility in Cambridge. James says the motion is not intended to approve or reject any specific project, but to help the Region understand how future facilities could affect its infrastructure and environment.

Residents who spoke at the meeting raised particular concerns about water consumption and the Region’s reliance on groundwater.

James says the goal is to gather information now so future councils can make informed decisions about data centre development.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-07-28- Kitchener ‘Unplugs’ King Street with First Week-long Pedestrian Event

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CKMS News -2026-07-28- Kitchener ‘Unplugs’ King Street with First Week-long Pedestrian Event

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON — For the first time, King Street in downtown Kitchener has been transformed into a week-long pedestrian-only space as the City launches King Street Unplugged, a pilot project aimed at creating a more people-focused downtown.

Running from July 26 to 31, the event closes a section of King Street between College and Young Streets to vehicle traffic, replacing it with live entertainment, games, workshops, markets and family-friendly activities. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic says the initiative builds on previous car-free events but marks the city’s first attempt at a week-long pedestrian experience.

Manager of Downtown Development and Innovation Aura Hertzog says the project responds to community feedback seeking more welcoming public spaces where residents can connect while supporting local businesses. If successful, the pilot could become an annual event.

The city will evaluate the initiative by gathering feedback from businesses and visitors, monitoring attendance and measuring community engagement throughout the week.

Local businesses are already seeing positive signs. Mandy Kowitz, owner of Square Peg, says she noticed increased foot traffic on the first day and expects more customers throughout the week.

Visitors also welcomed the idea. Resident Mila Purcell says closing King Street for a full week creates a more enjoyable downtown experience and hopes the event returns next year.

For more information about King Street Unplugged, visit downtownkitchener.ca.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-07-24- Tuning into Transit: The Story Behind Cambridge’s Fife-Playing Bus Driver

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CKMS News -2026-07-24- Tuning into Transit: The Story Behind Cambridge’s Fife-Playing Bus Driver

Eren Yoruk

Cambridge, ON – A Cambridge bus driver is bringing a piece of history to local transit terminals through his passion for music. Tracy MacDonnell, a Grand River Transit (GRT) operator, uses his route breaks to step off the bus and play the fife, an 18th-century military instrument similar to a flute, for waiting passengers.

MacDonnell has been playing the fife for 36 years, after first learning the instrument while working at Toronto’s Historic Fort York. What started as a job requirement became a lifelong passion for traditional fife and folk music.

Over the past two decades as a GRT driver in Cambridge, MacDonnell has continued using music as a way to manage the stress of the job and connect with the public. Passengers have often responded positively, with some applauding his performances and sharing their appreciation.

In this CKMS News interview, MacDonnell discusses the history of the fife, how he became a bus driver, and why sharing a brief moment of happiness through music remains meaningful to him.