Happy Tuesday, Waterloo Region!
If the weatherman's got it right, today's the peak of it, a Yellow Heat Warning with the afternoon feeling close to 43°C once you factor in the humidity. Here's hoping that's as hot as this week gets, because it's supposed to ease off from here. Take it seriously today though, plenty of us need to.
The water freeze on new homes just started lifting, and Chloe’s story closes out this SEEN campaign. Grab something cold and settle in, there's a lot happening around the Region this week.
In This Issue
The water freeze on new homes just started lifting. Here's what changes.
Six more police surveillance cameras just went live across the Region. Here's where.
A 19-storey building downtown will be part fire station, part 281 rental homes.
A local accelerator wants to launch the region's next aerospace startups. Applications close July 24.
Arthur Street construction has started in Elmira. Here’s when the road actually closes.
A 50-year Cambridge tradition won't happen this year.
Chloe's story: the quiet force behind half a dozen causes at once.
Your full week of festivals, from Ribfest to the World Cup final.
Featured Campaign: SEEN
🌟 SEEN — Chloe's Story In partnership with Midtown Yoga and Pilates
Laura's story kicked things off. Lindsay's came right after. This week, it's Chloe, the third and final feature of this campaign.
Chloe was nominated by her mom.
Chloe is the person other people call when something falls apart. A meal train needs organizing. A family needs a GoFundMe set up before the week is out. A cause someone she loves cares about needs a fundraiser, and it just gets done. She also keeps an eye on a local community Facebook page, quietly, to help keep it a safe place.
And then there's her dad.
Chloe's dad is going through cancer treatment, and for the past while, she has made his fight hers too. She researched his specific diagnosis until she understood it the way a specialist would. She found a friend in the U.S. who researches cancer and asked her to take a second look at his case. She sits in on his oncology appointments. She stays with him through treatments and hospital stays. And somewhere in all of that, she's also holding the rest of the family together while they struggle to deal with it all.
Chloe works full time, runs a side hustle, and is raising two young kids with her husband. By any measure, that alone is a full life. And still, in the middle of everything above, she makes time to take care of herself, not as an afterthought, but because she knows it's the only way she can keep showing up for everyone else.
Her mom, who nominated her, put it this way: "I am so very proud to call her not just my daughter, but my best friend."
Chloe. This community sees you.
Midtown Yoga and Pilates offered a small thank you to three people this round, one small way of saying our community is better and stronger with people like you in it. But there are more nominations sitting in our inbox, people who absolutely deserve to have their story told, gift or not. This whole campaign started because someone's mom gave everything to everyone around her, quietly, for years, and it wasn't until after she was gone that anyone put the full picture together. We don't want that to be anyone else's story.
So we want to ask you directly: do you want us to keep telling these stories? Reply to this email and let us know, or if you'd rather just tell us about someone who deserves to be seen, our inbox is always open for that too.
Local News & City Updates
Region of Waterloo
📹 Six more police surveillance cameras just went live, bringing the regional total to 10
If you drive through a handful of intersections in Cambridge and North Dumfries, you're now on camera.
The Waterloo Regional Police Service has switched on six new CCTV cameras equipped with automated licence plate recognition (ALPR), four in Cambridge and two in North Dumfries.
The Cambridge cameras are at Hespeler Road and Bishop Street North, Franklin Boulevard and Avenue Road, Ainslie Street North at Simcoe Street, and Christopher Drive at Champlain Boulevard.
The North Dumfries cameras are both on Cedar Creek Road, at Northumberland Street and at Dumfries Road.
These join four cameras already running in Waterloo since June, at King Street North and Conestogo Road, University Avenue West and King Street North, Bridgeport Road East and Regina Street North, and Erb Street East and Peppler Street.
Kitchener installations are expected to follow, though WRPS hasn't set a date. Wilmot Township has opted out of hosting any cameras.
The program is expected to eventually reach 52 cameras across 10 locations region-wide.
Each location is clearly marked with signage, and WRPS says it worked with Ontario's Information and Privacy Commissioner on a privacy impact assessment before launch. Access is restricted to authorized staff, all activity is logged, and the technology does not include facial recognition.
Footage not needed for an investigation is automatically deleted after about 30 days.
🚰 The water freeze on new homes just started lifting
For seven months, hundreds of building permits across Kitchener, Waterloo, Elmira and parts of Cambridge sat frozen while the Region worked out where the water would come from. That freeze just started to thaw.
The Region of Waterloo announced July 7 that 30 litres per second of new water capacity is ready to assign in the Mannheim Service Area, which supplies Kitchener, Waterloo, and parts of Cambridge, Woolwich and Wilmot.
10 L/s is available immediately, largely thanks to optimizing existing wells, which means using the well system more efficiently rather than adding new infrastructure. Another 20 L/s is expected this fall once the Mannheim Side Stream project comes online.
The extra supply is the result of about six months of work between the Region, area municipalities, the province and industry to speed up infrastructure repairs, transfer water from Wilmot Centre, and stabilize the water system.
Regional officials say the added capacity supports housing for up to 10,500 residents and up to 5,000 jobs.
The Region says everyday conservation from residents remains an important part of keeping the groundwater-based system healthy, even with the added capacity.
Longer-term, the Region is updating its Water Supply Strategy and its well interference policy, with more resident engagement expected on both.
🚁 Great Lakes Helicopter breaks ground on a bigger home at YKF
The Cambridge-based helicopter company that trains pilots and keeps choppers flying across Ontario just broke ground on a hangar about 50 per cent bigger than the one it has now.
Great Lakes Helicopter held a groundbreaking ceremony July 7 at the Region of Waterloo International Airport for a new Rotor Services maintenance facility.
The new building adds roughly 50 per cent more floor space, plus additional office space and an overhead crane system.
The expansion supports pilot training, maintenance work, and a growing drone operation that now runs six full-time drone pilots.
Company leadership says the goal includes creating opportunities for the next generation of Canadian pilots and aviation workers.
One more sign the airport keeps finding ways to grow beyond passenger flights.
Cambridge
🎻 Cambridge Scottish Festival cancelled after 50 years
The festival was eight days from marking its 50th anniversary. Instead, it's not happening at all this year.
The Cambridge Scottish Festival, scheduled for the weekend of July 18 at Riverside Park, has been cancelled for 2026.
The festival's board cited a shortage of volunteers needed to run the event safely.
Mayor Jan Liggett said the city learned of the possible cancellation only days before it was announced and couldn't arrange emergency funding in time, since council's next meeting isn't until July 21.
Entry fees for competitors are being refunded, and the Pipers and Pipe Band Society of Ontario says the cancellation cost it one of the largest competitions on its calendar this season.
Organizers say they're aiming to return in 2027.
If you had this circled for Saturday, you'll want to make other plans.
🏗️ Road Report
🏗️ NEW: Fountain Street North closing at the Kossuth Road/Fairway Road North roundabout. Details
Starting on or about July 20, Fountain Street North will be closed at the Fountain Street/Kossuth Road/Fairway Road North roundabout for approximately 10 weeks, part of a Township of Woolwich culvert replacement project.
Access to the Region of Waterloo International Airport (YKF) will be maintained through a detour and delays should be expected.
Separately, watermain work continues on Fountain Street North near Menno Street, with two-way traffic maintained, expected to run to the end of August or early September.
🏗️ NEW: Arthur Street reconstruction began Monday, July 13 (Elmira, Woolwich).
Phase 1 of the Arthur Street upgrade, between South Street East and Church Street, began yesterday Monday July 13 and runs through the end of October.
All travel lanes remain open during this sidewalk and streetlighting phase. No cycling lanes are being added.
Once that phase wraps, Arthur Street will fully close between South Street East and Church Street for about five days for asphalt paving. No date is confirmed yet. We'll flag it the moment one is set.
Housing & Real Estate
Development News
🏠 Council approves a 19-storey building that's part fire station, part housing
Downtown Kitchener is getting a new fire station, and it's bringing 281 rental homes along with it.
City council approved the Fire Station 8 Housing Development at its last meeting before summer recess, combining a new fire station with purpose-built rental housing in one downtown building.
The 19-storey project includes roughly 281 below-market and market-rate rental units, a mix of one, two and three-bedroom homes.
The city is putting up to $22.6 million toward the project, backed by federal and provincial funding, the CMHC Housing Accelerator Fund, and development charges revenue. The city says none of it comes from property taxes.
Fire Station 8 completes Kitchener's planned eight-station model and is expected to speed up emergency response times downtown, an area seeing fast retail and residential growth.
The building will also include public gathering space and an urban plaza, with a focus on accessibility and active transportation.
Timeline: a building permit is expected in fall 2026, construction starting spring 2027, the fire station opening in 2028, and the housing portion following by 2030, subject to funding.
If you've been wondering how the city plans to add both housing and emergency services downtown at the same time, this is the answer.
Real Estate Snapshot (region-wide)
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS. Data as of July 2026 (June 2026 figures).
Region-Wide Overview (June 2026)
Metric | June 2026 | vs. Last Year |
|---|---|---|
Total Home Sales | 662 | ▼ -2.9% |
Average Sold Price | $729,650 | ▼ -6.4% |
New Listings | 1,407 | ▼ -7.6% |
Months of Supply | 4.1 | ▼ -2.4% |
Avg. Days on Market | 27 | 0.0% (unchanged) |
Sales were up 4.3% from May, even as new listings dipped 4.0% month-over-month.
What the numbers tell us: June was the slowest June on record region-wide, just nine sales short of June 2024's total, but activity did tick up from May. Fewer new listings are keeping supply tight even as sales soften, and days on market held steady year-over-year, so well-priced homes are still moving at a normal pace. If you're house hunting, that combination, a slow year-over-year month with a stable supply, tends to favour buyers who are ready to move rather than one that's tilted sharply either way.
City-by-city breakdown (June 2026):
Metric | Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|
Total Home Sales | 281 (▼12.2%) | 132 | 174 (▲15.2%) |
Average Sold Price | $670,127 (▼10.6%) | $764,945 (▼3.5%) | $710,519 (▼6.8%) |
New Listings | 681 (▼3.8%) | not confirmed | 318 (▼12.6%) |
Months of Supply | 4.4 (▲2.3%) | not confirmed | 3.6 (▼2.7%) |
Avg. Days on Market | 26 (0.0%) | not confirmed | 28 (▲7.7%) |
All comparisons are year-over-year.
Mortgage & Rate Watch
Rate | |
|---|---|
BoC overnight rate | 2.25% (held since June 10) |
Prime rate | 4.45% |
The Bank of Canada makes its next call tomorrow, Wednesday, July 15, alongside a fresh Monetary Policy Report. Markets are overwhelmingly pricing in another hold. We'll have the actual result for you next issue.
🌿Home Tip of the Week
Keeping your lawn healthy. Raise your mower blade to 3 inches this month. Taller grass grows deeper roots, which shades the soil, cuts down on evaporation, and crowds out weeds before they get a foothold. If you're watering, do it before 8 a.m. Watering at night invites fungus, and watering in the afternoon heat just evaporates before it reaches the roots.
Sports
⚽ FIFA World Cup Final is Sunday, July 19 Full bracket and schedule at fifa.com. See What's Happening for local watch party details.
⚾ Kitchener Panthers: CBL Update
Date | Day | Time | Matchup | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Jul 16 | Thursday | 7:05 p.m. | vs. Hamilton Cardinals | Jack Couch Park (home) |
Jul 17 | Friday | 7:30 p.m. | at Toronto Maple Leafs | Dominico Field at Christie Pits |
Jul 19 | Sunday | 2:00 p.m. | at Brantford Red Sox | Arnold Anderson Stadium |
Jul 23 | Thursday | 7:05 p.m. | vs. Toronto Maple Leafs | Jack Couch Park (home) |
This Week in Tech
🚀 Applications close July 24 for the region's aerospace startup accelerator
If you know a founder building anything related to flight, drones, or space, the clock's ticking on this one.
The Accelerator Centre in Waterloo is accepting applications until July 24 for the next cohort of its Aerospace Accelerator program, run in partnership with the Region of Waterloo and Skywise, an Airbus company.
Ten startups will be selected for six months of programming, including one-on-one mentorship, access to test technology at the Region of Waterloo International Airport, and up to $600,000 in in-kind perks and discounts from partners like AWS, Google for Startups, and HubSpot.
The program is aimed at early-stage companies with a working prototype or near-market-ready product in areas like advanced air mobility, space systems, sustainable aviation, or air traffic management.
Applicants need to be based in or have a strong connection to Waterloo Region, and be incorporated in Canada or planning to be within 30 days of the program starting. The Accelerator Centre doesn't take equity in exchange for participating.
This is the third cohort of a program that's already helped launch a handful of local aerospace startups.
What's Happening
⚠️ Reminder: Ticket scams are active. Buy tickets only from official sources. Never e-transfer a stranger for tickets.
Your local Optimist Club runs community events, programs, and fundraisers year-round, with proceeds staying in the neighbourhood. Find your nearest chapter at optimist.org.
This Week (July 14–20)
Standing weekly happenings
🕺 Dance It Off Tuesdays – Waterloo Public Square, 75 King St. S. Today, July 14, 7:00–10:00 p.m. Free. Every Tuesday through summer. Details
💦 Family Splash Jam – Carl Zehr Square, Downtown Kitchener. Today, July 14 and again July 21, 4:00–7:00 p.m. Free. A family-focused afternoon with the splash pad, rotating entertainers like balloon artists and glitter tattoos, live children's musicians, and plenty of bubbles. Details
🎵 Live at Lunch – Carl Zehr Square, Downtown Kitchener. Thursday July 16, noon–1:00 p.m. Free outdoor live music all summer. Details
🎵 Live Music at Gaslight District – 64 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge. Every Friday through summer, 6:00–8:00 p.m. Free. This Friday: July 17. Details
🎵 Music in the Park Ayr – Centennial Park, Downtown Ayr (North Dumfries). Wednesday July 15, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Free. Bring a lawn chair or blanket. This week’s performer is Scott & Samantha. The series runs every Wednesday through September 2. Details
Events
🚂 Heritage Hopper: Chocolate Milkshake Train – Waterloo Central Railway, Farmers' Market Station. Today, Tuesday, July 14. Ticketed. Tuesday is also a BOGO day. A themed family ride with a sweet treat included. A second themed departure, the Trivia Train, runs Thursday, July 16. waterloocentralrailway.com.
🎨 Sea Glass Class – Abe Erb, Waterloo. Tuesday July 14. $40, all materials supplied. A hands-on sea glass art class. Register at [email protected]. Second session: Tuesday July 21 at The Falls Road Irish Pub.
🎵 Kitchener Takes the Stage – Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, 36 King Street West, Kitchener. Thursday July 16, doors 6:00 p.m., show 7:00 p.m. Ticketed. A live music showcase under the Kitchener LIVE banner spotlighting emerging and locally rooted artists: Living Room For Small, I, The Mountain, and Matt Weidinger and Friends.
🍴 Kitchener Ribfest & Craft Beer Show – Victoria Park, Kitchener. Friday July 17 through Sunday July 19. Free entry. Ribs, craft beer, live music, and a kids zone. Friday evening's forecast is currently showing a 70% chance of thunderstorms; worth a rain-plan note for anyone heading down opening night. Details
🎷 Sun Life Uptown Waterloo Jazz Festival – Waterloo City Centre, across from Willis Way, Waterloo. July 17–19. Free. 34th annual. Headliners: Four80East (Friday July 17), Alexis Baro and his Latin jazz ensemble (Saturday July 18), Adrean Farrugia (Sunday July 19). Same Friday evening storm risk as above. Details
🎻 Cambridge Symphony Orchestra: Cambridge Summer Live – City Hall, Civic Square, Cambridge. Wednesday July 15, 6:30–7:30 p.m. Free. Bring your own seat for the Cambridge Symphony Orchestra kicking off the summer concert series. Details
🎪 Summer in the Park Market – Forbes Park, 16 Kribs St., Cambridge. Saturday July 18, 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. Free. Over 40 vendors, Siggi's food truck, face painting, a Spider-Man appearance, swag bags, and spin-to-win prizes. Fireside Haven Studio will have a table there too, running a kids' glow party giveaway, find them on Facebook under Fireside Haven Studio if you want the details.
🎪 AfroVibes The Festival – Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener. Saturday July 18, 2:00–9:00 p.m. A celebration of African and diaspora culture with live DJs and performances across Afrobeats, Amapiano, Dancehall, and Hip-Hop, a global vendor marketplace, and a dedicated kids and family zone. Part of a full AfroVibes Week leading up to the main festival day. Details
🚒 Conestoga College Fire Fighter Car Wash Fundraiser – 403 The Boardwalk, Waterloo (Parking Lot 1, in front of Medic 1 building). Sunday July 19, 10:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m. Benefits Food4Kids Waterloo Region. A car wash fundraiser by Conestoga College's pre-service fire fighting students.
🎵 Rum Runners - Paul Mitchell (Traditional Jazz/Swing Band) – Forbes Park, Hespeler, Cambridge. Sunday July 19, 7:00–8:00 p.m. Free. Presented by Cambridge Summer Live. Bring a lawn chair. Note: Concerts in the Park events may be delayed or cancelled due to weather, and Sunday's forecast is currently showing a risk of thunderstorms. Details
🏊 Free Sponsored Family Swim – Waterloo Swimplex, 101 Father David Bauer Dr., Waterloo. Sunday July 19, 1:45–3:45 p.m. Free. Sponsored by Kuppers + Greene Orthodontists. Registration opens 72 hours before the swim.
⚽ FIFA World Cup Final – Sunday, July 19. Watch parties expected at Gaslight District and Downtown Kitchener. Currently showing a risk of thunderstorms that afternoon and evening; worth a heads-up for anyone planning to watch outdoors.
Coming Up This Month
🎸 Wayback Festival – Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener. Friday, July 24 and Saturday, July 25. Free. Two days of classic rock and tribute performances. Note: Loverboy has cancelled its Saturday set due to a health issue within the touring party; the rest of the lineup continues as planned.
🎪 King Street Unplugged – King Street from Young to College, downtown Kitchener. Sunday, July 26 to Friday, July 31. Free. A week of pedestrian-only programming with markets, music, games and entertainment.
Just outside the Region: 🎵 Elora Festival – various venues in Elora. Running through Sunday, July 26. A mix of free and ticketed classical and contemporary performances.
🎤 Hespeler's Got Talent Winner Showcase – Ernie’s Cookhouse, 7 Queen St W, Cambridge. Saturday August 8, 7:00-10:00 p.m. 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!