Happy Tuesday, Waterloo Region!
Summer is officially here, school is wrapping up for the year, and Canada just put on an absolute show at the World Cup. There is a lot of good energy in the Region this week, and we have all of it for you below.
But first, a reminder before you scroll any further: SEEN nominations close this week. If someone has been on your mind since last issue, this is your moment.
🌟 SEEN — Nominations Close This Thursday
In partnership with Midtown Yoga and Pilates
This is it. Nominations close this Thursday, June 25.
There are still people in this community who give everything and ask for nothing back. The neighbour who shows up without being asked. The friend who somehow always knows when you need help before you do. The person who has spent years quietly holding someone else together. The volunteer who has given hundreds of hours to something they believe in, and never once mentioned it.
If someone came to mind weeks ago and you put it off, this is your nudge. A nomination takes five minutes. Letting that moment pass takes nothing at all, and that's exactly the problem.
Don't let this be the year you almost did it.
Three nominees will be selected to receive a free month at Midtown Yoga + Pilates right here on June 30.
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In This Issue
SEEN nominations close this Thursday, June 25. If someone has been on your mind, today is the day.
Canada's inflation rate jumped to 3.2% in May. Here's what it means for your mortgage.
A Waterloo Region app called Elderella is changing how families manage care for aging parents.
Free transit for seniors, one day a week, starts July 1.
ION light rail is suspended Sunday morning, June 28. Replacement shuttles running.
New modular housing coming to Waterloo for older adults at risk of homelessness.
Schools out this week. Plus a massive Canada Day lineup across the Region.
Local News & City Updates
Region of Waterloo
🚍 GRT launches Older Adult Day Pass pilot program. Starting July 1, anyone 65 or older can ride GRT buses, ION, and MobilityPLUS completely free, one day a week.
Pilot runs July 1, 2026 through January 5, 2027.
Getting started takes three steps: download the GRT Pay app, verify your age, activate the day pass before boarding.
A great option for seniors managing a fixed income, especially those relying on CPP, OAS, or guaranteed income supplements.
More info at grt.ca/OlderAdult
🚊 ION light rail suspended Sunday morning, June 28. No ION service this Sunday from start of service until approximately 1:00 p.m. due to planned maintenance.
Southbound service resumes from Conestoga Station at approximately 1:00 p.m.
Northbound service resumes from Fairway Station at approximately 2:00 p.m.
ION replacement shuttle buses will run between Conestoga Station and Fairway Station, serving all stations in between.
🏠 A Better Tent City: Regional Council votes on transition plan this Wednesday. Council will decide tomorrow whether to formally take on responsibility for one of the Region's most recognized homelessness initiatives, at significant cost but with a plan to keep residents housed and services intact.
A Better Tent City (ABTC) on Ardelt Ave. in Kitchener has housed up to 50 people in 42 tiny homes since launching in 2020 as a volunteer-run transitional housing community.
The volunteer organization announced in May it can no longer continue after losing key members and facing serious health and safety challenges on site.
The Working Centre, a Kitchener-based non-profit, has agreed to take over operations starting July 20, pending council approval.
Operating the site will cost $5.76 million annually, plus a one-time capital injection of $2.5 million for cabin repairs and replacements — some units require significant work or full replacement.
The Region would also hire three new staff members to support the transition
Up to 80 people are on site at any given time including residents and visitors; the goal is to keep residents housed throughout the repair process rather than displacing them.
Taking on ABTC would increase the Region's available emergency shelter spaces by 12 per cent, from just over 400 to more than 450.
ABTC is designed as a transitional step between being unhoused and securing permanent housing, with supports focused on helping residents build housing stability skills.
Road Report.
🏗️ Can-Amera Parkway rehabilitation begins Wednesday, June 24 (Cambridge). What this means for Cambridge drivers: Expect lane reductions and possible flag persons on Can-Amera Parkway between Franklin Blvd. and Conestoga Blvd. starting tomorrow through late August.
Two lanes of through traffic maintained for the majority of the project, but expect occasional lane reductions.
Working hours: Monday to Friday, 7:00 a.m. – 7:00 p.m.
School's Out
🎓 The school year wraps up this week.
Last day of school for secondary students: Wednesday, June 24.
Last day for elementary students: Thursday, June 25, Friday June 26 is a designated PD Day, making Thursday the final day for kids.
A natural week to expect lighter traffic around schools by Friday
If you still need to lock in summer camp or program registrations for your children, this week is a good time to make that call
Housing & Real Estate
Development News
🏠 New modular supportive housing for older adults coming to Waterloo before year-end. What this means for residents: Waterloo Region's fastest-growing group entering the shelter system is older adults and a local non-profit is moving quickly to address it.
Supportive Housing of Waterloo (SHOW) is building 10 new modular units at 362 Erb St. West, Waterloo, specifically for older adults experiencing or at risk of homelessness.
Total project cost is $3.3 million; $1.5 million has been secured, including $1 million from the Region of Waterloo.
Modular construction allows homes to be built faster and at lower cost than traditional builds; SHOW expects residents to move in before end of 2026.
About 35% of older adults in the community rely solely on CPP and Old Age Security, an income of approximately $26,000 a year.
SHOW also offers 24/7 tailored support for residents, including help with addiction, mental health, and health care needs
If you want to support the project, SHOW is accepting donations at showaterloo.org CBC KW
Real Estate Snapshot: May 2026
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS / WRAR MLS. Data as of June 2, 2026. June data expected mid-July.
Region-Wide Overview
Metric | May 2026 | vs. Last Year |
|---|---|---|
Average Sold Price | $744,032 | ▼ -5.8% |
Table 1: City-by-City Snapshot (May 2026)
Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge | |
|---|---|---|---|
Avg. Sold Price | $712,587 | $807,318 | $678,916 |
Mortgage & Rate Watch
Today's CPI release: inflation jumped to 3.2% in May.
Statistics Canada released the May 2026 Consumer Price Index this morning. Headline inflation rose to 3.2% year over year, up from 2.8% in April and the fastest pace since December 2023. The driver is almost entirely gasoline, which surged 33.2% year over year as conflict in the Middle East and the closure of the Strait of Hormuz tightened global energy supply. Food inflation also picked up to 3.8%, with vegetables up 9% and fresh fruit up 5.3%.
The number that matters most for the Bank of Canada, and by extension mortgage holders, is core inflation. The trimmed-mean and median core rates both held steady at approximately 2.0%, right at the Bank's target. That distinction matters: the Bank looks through volatile energy and food prices when setting policy and focuses on underlying trend inflation.
What this means for your mortgage: the headline number is uncomfortable, but it doesn't change the rate picture meaningfully. The Bank is unlikely to cut at the July 15 announcement given the optics of 3.2% inflation, but it also has limited reason to hike while core stays at 2%. Expect another hold in July. Fixed rates may edge up slightly if bond markets react to the headline, so anyone considering locking in should watch this week's bond yields.
Next CPI release: Monday, July 20, 2026 (June data). Next Bank of Canada rate announcement: Wednesday, July 15, 2026.
Home Tip of the Week
With summer entertaining season underway, give your patio or deck a quick safety check before the next backyard get-together. Look for loose railings, popped nails, or boards that have started to warp from spring rain. A wobbly board is easy to miss until someone steps wrong. Twenty minutes with a screwdriver now can save an awkward moment (or worse) later in the season.
Sports
⚽ Canada is rolling at the World Cup
This one belongs to the whole country, but it is impossible to ignore with watch parties packed across the Region all month.
Canada opened with a 1-1 draw against Bosnia and Herzegovina, then exploded for a 6-0 win over Qatar on June 18 at BC Place in Vancouver. Canada now sits well-positioned heading into the final group stage match.
Next match: Wednesday, June 24, 3:00 p.m. ET — Canada vs. Switzerland, BC Place, Vancouver. A win or draw likely secures advancement.
Catch it for free locally at the Kitchener Market Outdoor Piazza (DTK Welcomes the World) or the Gaslight District in Cambridge.
⚽ Waterloo United: Live Local Soccer This Weekend
The World Cup has the whole Region talking about soccer. If you want to take that energy and watch top local talent compete live and in person under the lights, this weekend is your chance.
Waterloo United host two Ontario Premier League matches at RIM Park this weekend:
Date | Match | Kickoff |
|---|---|---|
Fri Jun 26 | OPL2 Men: Waterloo United vs. Cambridge United | 7:30 p.m. |
Sat Jun 27 | OPL1 Women: Waterloo United vs. Scrosoppi FC | 7:30 p.m. |
RIM Park, Fields 1/2, 2001 University Ave. E., Waterloo. General admission tickets from $8.00. Waterloo United club members and recreational players wearing club gear can often get in free.
⚾ Kitchener Panthers: CBL Update
Upcoming home games at Jack Couch Park:
Date | Time | Opponent |
|---|---|---|
Mon Jun 29 | 7:05 p.m. | Welland Jackfish |
Wed Jul 1 | 2:05 p.m. | Guelph Royals — Canada Day game 🎉 |
Be one of the first 400 fans to snag a free festive Panthers Hawaiian shirt at the Canada Day game! Tickets and Schedule
This Week in Tech
🧓 Waterloo Region app aims to ease the burden on family caregivers.
One in four Canadians now provides some form of care for an aging parent or relative. Elderella, a caregiving app built right here in Waterloo Region, was designed for exactly that person.
What this means for families and caregivers:
Elderella centralizes everything in one place: medical information, medication lists, appointments, reminders, and daily tasks shareable with family members and other caregivers.
Family members can be invited to access and contribute, making it easier to divide caregiving responsibilities rather than have one person carry everything.
The app uses AI to pull caregiving information from messaging conversations (with user permission) and organize it into daily tasks and care updates.
Users can upload photos, voice notes, documents, and records from doctor appointments or phone calls, which the app then organizes automatically.
Free and paid subscription tiers are available.
The company was founded by Waterloo Region entrepreneurs Mike Kirkup and Jacqui Murphy, who built the app out of the frustration of trying to coordinate aging parent care while managing jobs and family.
Elderella has also just launched a global research study examining whether this kind of technology reduces caregiver stress and improves care coordination. The study is supported by the Centre for Aging + Brain Health Innovation (CABHI). Participants receive free access to Elderella Premium for one year while researchers evaluate its impact.
If you or someone you know is a family caregiver, the study is worth looking into: elderella.com/join.
What's Happening
⚠️ Reminder: Ticket scams are active. Buy tickets only from official sources. Never e-transfer a stranger for tickets.
Looking for events not on the big calendars? Your local Optimist Club runs community programs, fundraisers, and events year-round, with proceeds staying in the neighbourhood. Find your nearest chapter at optimist.org.
🗓️ This Week (June 23-29)
⚽ FIFA World Cup
⚽ Canada vs. Switzerland – Wednesday June 24, 3:00 p.m. ET, BC Place, Vancouver. Catch it locally for free at the Kitchener Market Outdoor Piazza or Gaslight District.
🎵 Music & Dance
🕺 Dance It Off Tuesdays - Waterloo Public Square, 75 King St. S. Tonight, June 23, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Free. Every Tuesday through summer. waterloo.ca/events.
🎵 Live at Lunch – Carl Zehr Square, Downtown Kitchener. Tuesdays and Thursdays, 12:00-1:00 p.m. Free outdoor live music all summer. downtownkitchener.ca.
🎵 Live Music at Gaslight District – 64 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge. Every Friday, 6:30-7:30 p.m. Free outdoor music. gaslightdistrict.ca.
🎵 Big Little Concert: New Orford String Quartet – Maureen Forrester Recital Hall, Wilfrid Laurier University, Waterloo. Thursday June 25, 7:00 p.m. Free, donations gratefully accepted in support of NYO Canada's young musicians. A rare chance to hear world-class chamber music at no cost. Register here
🎭 Theatre
🎭 KWLT: You're a Good Man, Charlie Brown – 9 Princess St. E., Waterloo. Final weekend: June 26 (Fri, 7:30 p.m.), June 27 (Sat, 2:00 p.m.), June 28 (Sun, 2:00 p.m.). Good grief, last chance to catch the Peanuts gang live. Tickets.
🛼 Roller Skating
🛼 Roller Skating in the Square – Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener. Monday June 29, 7:00-10:00 p.m. Free. Final night of the series. DJ PDK and guest DJs. Skate rentals available.
🐾 Family & Kids
🐾 Farmyard Follies at St. Jacobs – St. Jacobs Market Farmyard. Every Tuesday and Thursday through September 3, 10:00-11:00 a.m. Free. No registration required. stjacobsmarket.com/farmyardfollies.
🎬 Movies in the Park — Coming Up
🎬 Movies in the Park – Hilltop Picnic Area, Waterloo Park, Waterloo. Every Thursday at sundown (arrival 8:30-9:00 p.m.). Free. Upcoming titles:
June 25: Clueless (PG13) - Fashionable, funny and endlessly quotable.
July 9: Zootopia 2 (PG) — the detective duo returns for their biggest case yet.
July 16: Best in Show (PG-13) — a hilariously witty mockumentary about competitive dog shows.
Bring blankets, lawn chairs, and snacks. Donations accepted for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
🍓 Festivals
🍓 Moore Farms Strawberry Social – Moore Farms, 497 Pinehurst Rd., Ayr (North Dumfries). Saturday June 27, 10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. A berry sweet morning at the farm. Strawberry desserts, 19+ local artisans, a kids' corral with a bouncy castle, and a chance to meet Beekeeper Alyssa. Stroll out to see the Longhorn cattle and new calves before they grow up. Live music from noon to 3:00 p.m., lunch from the Longhorn Smokehouse food truck, and a strawberry-themed scavenger hunt for the kids. A great Saturday outing for families in the Ayr area. North Dumfries note. Tickets are free.
🎆 Canada Day Early Celebration at Bingemans – Bingemans Event Square, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr., Kitchener. Sunday June 28, starting at dusk. Free. Bingemans kicks off the Canada Day long weekend early with a massive outdoor celebration featuring live performances from The Almost Hip (Tragically Hip tribute) and The Nerds, lawn games, glitter tattoos, a live DJ, and what they're calling Kitchener's biggest fireworks show at dusk. Bring lawn chairs and arrive early. All ages, family-friendly. bingemans.com.
🍓 Strawberry Tea by the Grand – McDougall Cottage, Cambridge. Sunday June 28, 11:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. A high-tea experience inside the 168-year-old stone cottage. Ripe local strawberries piled high with whipped cream on fresh-baked scones, with finger sandwiches and bottomless tea. Tickets
🎺 Music in the Park: KW Kool Big Band – Eby Farm Barnshell, Waterloo Park. Sunday June 28, 7:00 p.m. Grab a lawn chair for free big-band music. Free
🎤 Hespeler's Got Talent
🎤 Hespeler's Got Talent: Grand Finale – Hespeler Legion, 26 Schofield St., Cambridge. Saturday July 18, 7:00 p.m. Tickets $15. The champion gets crowned. Tickets.
🎉 School's Out Party – Cheer Sport Sharks – Multiple locations. Friday June 26, 6:00-8:00 p.m. Free, but registration required as spaces are limited. A community celebration to kick off summer with music, games, prizes, and activities for kids and families. No cheerleading experience needed, just bring your energy.
🚗 Cruising on King – King Street, Downtown Kitchener. Friday June 26, 5:30-9:30 p.m. Free. Over half a kilometre of pre-1986 classic cars, live music, licensed bar, and food. kitchener.ca/cruising.
📅 Coming Up (June 30 – July 13)
🎶 East Coast Kitchen Party – Carl Zehr Square. Tuesday June 30, 5:00-10:00 p.m. Free. Downtown Kitchener brings the East Coast spirit inland for a night of live folk music, fresh seafood, and good old-fashioned fun. Featuring live performances from Shane Cook & the Woodchippers and Fiddlestix, a beer garden, family-friendly games, and a "learn to jig" session for anyone willing to give it a try. Fresh seafood from Caudle's Catch including lobster rolls, fish and chips, oysters, mussels, and East Coast specialties available for purchase. A fantastic way to cap off the Canada Day long weekend week. Details
Canada Day — Wednesday, July 1
Something for everyone across the Region. Here is the full picture.
🎆 Kitchener — DTK Canada Day Carl Zehr Square and King Street between Water and Frederick, Downtown Kitchener. Noon – 11:00 p.m. Free. The biggest Canada Day event in the Region, back and bigger than ever. Details
Canada Play Kids' Zone (noon – 7:00 p.m.): Rides, games, food, and family entertainment at St. Louis - Kitchener Main Campus, 80 Young St. (across from City Hall)
Entertainment schedule: Sydney Jones (2 p.m.), Christian Miles (3 p.m.), Cheap Shirt (4 p.m.), DJ Twenty Five Roses (4:40 p.m.), These Eyes: Music of the Guess Who (6 p.m.), Steve Strongman (7:30 p.m.), Glass Tiger (9 p.m.)
Pyrotechnic light show: 10:40 p.m. Programming is subject to change.
🍁 Doon Heritage Village — Canada Day Grand Reopening Homer Watson Blvd., Kitchener. 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Free (donations welcome). Costumed interpreters, farm animals, heritage games, music, and food to mark the official reopening of the Village for the season. Details
🎆 Cambridge — Canada Day at Riverside Park 49 King St. W., Cambridge. Free, all day. Details
Annual Fishing Derby (7:45 a.m. registration, 8–10 a.m.): Open to kids 16 and under, located by the river behind the main event grounds
Parade (11 a.m.): Begins at King St. and Bishop St., travels along King St. to Eagle St.
Riverside Park Activities: Noon – 9:30 p.m. Main stage schedule to be updated.
Fireworks: 9:45 p.m. or dusk. Bring a lawn chair.
🍁 Waterloo — July 1 Community Picnic Waterloo Park, Hilltop Picnic Area. 4:00 – 10:00 p.m. Free, weather dependent. Details
Live music on the main stage all afternoon
Food trucks: BeaverTails, Berlin 95, Café du Monde Crêperie, Fo Cheezy, Hissing Goose Coffee, Heavenly Dreams Ice Cream, Kono Pizza, Pablas Street Food of India, Philly and Wings, The Lord of the Tacos
Giant lawn games on the lower soccer field, free caricature drawings (4–9 p.m.), art market (4–9 p.m.), and a community fair featuring local non-profits
LED Drone Show at 10:00 p.m. by North Star Drone Shows
⚠️ No parking at the event. Westmount Road entrance closed to vehicles. Take GRT, bike, walk, or use nearby parking lots.
🌾 Wilmot — Canada Day at Norm Hill Park 251 Jacob St., New Hamburg. Free admission and parking. Details
Indigenous sunrise ceremony (7 a.m.)
Opening ceremonies (1 p.m.), vendors market (1–6 p.m.), Kid Zone and Youth Zone (1–8 p.m.), live local music (1:15–8 p.m.), food vendors (1:30–10 p.m.)
Pre-fireworks activities (6:30–9:30 p.m.)
Fireworks at dusk Marking Canada Day respectfully: the Township notes that Canada Day is also an opportunity to learn about Indigenous culture and understand Canada's Indigenous roots.
🎆 North Dumfries — Canada Day at Cowan Park Cowan Park, Ayr. Activities 6:00–9:30 p.m., food trucks 6:00–10:00 p.m. Details
Inflatables, backyard games, henna artist, face painting
Rumble & Friends children's entertainer (6:30–7:15 p.m.)
Dana K & the Remedy headlining (7:30–9:45 p.m., two sets)
Food trucks: BerryBir & Beans, Hitched Coffee, Fo' Cheezy, Berlin 95 Diner
Fireworks at approximately 9:45 p.m.
🍁 Woolwich — Canada Day at Woolwich Memorial Centre 24 Snyder Ave S., Elmira. Free.
Free sponsored swim (10:30 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.)
Entertainment and activities (noon – 3:00 p.m.) Woolwich encourages residents to use Canada Day as an opportunity to thoughtfully learn about Indigenous culture and Canada's history. Details
Thanks for reading Community Loop – Waterloo Region. Have something happening in your neighbourhood that should be in next week's issue? We'd love to hear about it. See you next Tuesday!