Happy Tuesday, Waterloo Region!
This summer keeps finding ways to rain on our parade, literally. Saturday's storm sent the Blues Festival crowd scrambling for shelter at City Hall. Storms aside, it's been a busy one around here. Grab a coffee, we've got a lot to catch up on.
🌤️ This week's weather Outlook:
Tue Aug 11 | Wed Aug 12 | Thu Aug 13 | Fri Aug 14 | Sat Aug 15 | Sun Aug 16 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 27°C | 26°C | 25°C | 24°C | 24°C | 23°C |
Low | 14°C | 16°C | 14°C | 13°C | 15°C | 15°C |
Chance of rain | 20% | 70% (~5mm) | 40% (<1mm) | 30% | 40% (~1mm) | 40% (<1mm) |
In This Issue
A regional councillor wants a plan for how AI data centres could impact the region.
After 40 years, a Fairway Road staple has closed for good.
Construction starts this month on a new GRT station, as ridership takes a real hit.
July's real estate numbers are in.
The Rangers' new bench is finally complete.
What's happening in Waterloo Region this week: Moparfest rolls into New Hamburg, KidsPark takes over Victoria Park, and the Far East Asian Night Market lights up Kitchener and more.
Local News & City Updates
🖥️ A Regional Councillor Wants a Plan for How AI Data Centres Could Impact the Region
We've spent much of this summer watching Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and Woolwich work through a real water capacity squeeze in the Mannheim service area. Now a regional councillor wants to know what happens to that math if AI data centres start showing up here too.
Regional Councillor Colleen James has put forward a motion asking regional staff to study how data centre development could affect local jobs, infrastructure and the environment.
The motion specifically flags electricity demand, greenhouse gas emissions, and water usage and conservation as areas needing scrutiny.
It also asks staff to report on what advocacy for a provincial framework could look like, covering environmental standards and transparency for data centre developers, and protection for municipalities and existing ratepayers from footing the bill for servicing new facilities.
If the motion passes, staff would report back to Regional Council with findings by early next year. It goes before a regional committee for discussion this morning.
The timing tracks with a broader push: Ontario Green Party leader Mike Schreiner used a press conference at Queen's Park last Thursday to call on the provincial government to pause approvals of new AI data centres until their effects on the environment, energy use, health and jobs are properly studied. He was joined by water and environmental advocacy groups.
A data centre operating in Cambridge, called Ascent TOR1, has been in the news lately after an odorous, milky substance was reported entering a stormwater pond on the site in mid-July. The company says testing points to a natural bacterial bloom caused by stagnant, overheated water rather than any chemical release. The Region says there's no impact so far to drinking water or other regional infrastructure, and the Grand River Conservation Authority was looped in as a precaution to help track potential downstream effects for Brantford's water intake.
Given how closely this region has tracked every drop of water capacity this summer, and the possibility of that pressure only growing, it's a topic worth watching. Read the motion (9.2)
🧸 After 40 Years, Kitchener's Toys "R" Us Has Closed Its Doors
If you grew up here, there's a decent chance a birthday or a holiday memory has this store somewhere in the background. That chapter closed for good this week.
The Toys "R" Us on Fairway Road shut its doors for good on Thursday, marking the end of 40 years serving local families.
The closure is part of a broader wind-down: Toys "R" Us Canada filed for creditor protection in February, and an Ontario court approved a plan in June to split the company and sell it to three different buyers, including the current owner, who hopes to keep some version of the chain running or rebranded.
Dozens of Canadian locations have already closed, including the Stone Road Mall store in Guelph.
Forty years is a long run for any store. If you've got a memory from inside those doors, you're not the only one. Read more from CityNews Kitchener
🚌 Construction Starts This Month on a New Doon Station
If you've caught a bus near Conestoga College, you already know the current setup wasn't built for how busy it's gotten. That's about to change.
Construction on GRT's new Doon Station, in Parking Lot 5 near Conestoga College off Doon Valley Drive, begins this month and is expected to wrap in 2027.
The rebuilt station will have nine bus bays, plus added layover space and new operator amenities to support more efficient service.
Riders can expect canopy-style shelters with on-demand heaters, passenger information display screens, updated wayfinding, on-site bike parking, and a multi-use trail connection to Doon Valley Drive.
Regional Council approved the final design back in January 2024.
Once finished, Doon Station will serve as a key transfer point between Kitchener and Cambridge routes.
The construction start comes as GRT's mid-year report shows ridership at 10.3 million so far this year, down 9.6 percent from 11.4 million over the same stretch in 2025, a drop the report attributes mainly to a shrinking local student population following federal changes to immigration policy and international study permit caps announced in late 2025. High downtown office vacancy rates are adding further pressure. GRT is forecasting a similar year-end decline, down to roughly 20.2 million riders from 22.1 million last year, with student numbers expected to stabilize by 2027.
Whether or not ridership rebounds, this is one of the region's bigger transit builds this year, worth watching if you commute through Doon. More from GRT
🏗️ Road Report
NEW: Belmont Ave W, Spadina Rd W to Perth Rd (Kitchener). Closes Tuesday, August 18 for approximately four weeks, reopening around Friday, September 11. Part of the Queen's Blvd road reconstruction project. No through access on Belmont; access to WRHN Queens hospital (formerly St. Mary's General Hospital) maintained from Westmount Rd.
NEW: Courtland Ave E, Benton St to Peter St (Kitchener). Closed Tuesday, August 11, 8am to Friday, August 14, 4pm. Closed to through traffic, open to businesses and residences, pedestrian traffic maintained around the work zone.
King St E, Stirling Ave N to Ottawa St N (Kitchener). Closed since Tuesday, August 4 for roughly 12 months of reconstruction. Local access maintained depending on staging. Detour via Ottawa, Charles and Stirling.
Housing & Real Estate
Real Estate Snapshot — Waterloo Region, July 2026
Indicator | July 2026 | Year-over-year |
|---|---|---|
Home sales | 582 | Down 10.0% |
Average price | $706,240 | Down 3.8% |
New listings | 1,167 | Down 14.3% |
Months of supply | 3.9 | Down 4.9% |
Days on market | 33 | Up 3.1% |
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, as of August 5, 2026.
What the numbers tell us: July was a quiet month. Sales slowed both from June and from a year ago, and fewer new listings came onto the market too, even though buyers still had more homes to choose from than is typical for this time of year. Prices eased slightly across the board, with Kitchener seeing the steepest year-over-year sales drop of the three cities.
By city:
City | Sales (YoY) | Avg. price (YoY) | New listings (YoY) | Months supply (YoY) | Days on market (YoY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Kitchener | 244 (down 15.9%) | $677,423 (down 3.7%) | 510 (down 17.9%) | 3.9 (down 4.9%) | 31 (up 3.3%) |
Waterloo | 130 (down 6.5%) | $737,043 (down 2.3%) | 258 (down 16.2%) | 4.4 (down 10.2%) | 39 (up 2.6%) |
Cambridge | 142 (down 9.6%) | $670,068 (down 7.8%) | 294 (down 6.1%) | 3.6 (up 2.9%) | 32 (up 6.7%) |
🛠️ Home Tip of the Week
A clogged dryer vent makes your machine work harder than it needs to, and can be a fire risk too. This could be a good weekend to give yours a quick clean.
Unplug the dryer (or shut off the gas) and pull it away from the wall.
Pop off the lint screen and use a thin vacuum attachment or a flexible brush to get down into the slot.
Disconnect the hose from the back of the dryer and vacuum out both ends.
Step outside and make sure the exterior vent flap opens freely and isn't blocked.
If your clothes need more than one cycle to dry, or the top of the machine feels hot to the touch, that's your sign it's overdue.
Sports
⚾ Kitchener Panthers
Upcoming schedule:
Date | Opponent | Location |
|---|---|---|
Thursday, Aug 13, 7:05pm | vs. Toronto Maple Leafs | Jack Couch Park |
Saturday, Aug 15, 6:05pm | at Welland Jackfish | Welland Stadium |
Sunday, Aug 16, 2:05pm | vs. Barrie Baycats | Jack Couch Park |
🏒 Kitchener Rangers Round Out New Coaching Staff
With Jeff Kyrzakos already installed as head coach, the Rangers have spent the past two weeks filling in the rest of his bench and front office for 2026-27.
Nick Spaling, a Rangers alum who helped lead the team to the 2008 OHL Championship and a Memorial Cup final appearance, returns as Assistant Coach, leading the forward group and running the power play. Spaling played seven NHL seasons with Nashville, Pittsburgh, Toronto and San Jose, and comes to Kitchener after coaching the Cambridge RedHawks to a Sutherland Cup championship.
Jake Paterson, another Rangers alum who played for Kitchener in 2014-15, joins as Goalie Coach and Video Coach. A former Detroit Red Wings draft pick, Paterson spent the past two seasons coaching goaltenders in the GOHL with the Elmira Sugar Kings and Listowel Cyclones.
Brad Flynn has been promoted to Associate Coach, a title last held by Kyrzakos himself. Flynn continues to run the defence and penalty kill, an area where the Rangers have never finished worse than fourth in the OHL under his watch, finishing second last season at 81.1 percent.
In the front office, Michael Zsolt moves up to Associate General Manager after five seasons as Assistant GM, and Brandon Merli takes on an expanded role as Director of Sports Science and Player Development.
A new head coach usually means a new staff around him, and this is what that's looked like for the Rangers heading into the season.
Registrations & Tryouts:
Cambridge fall and winter recreation registration opens in two waves. Cambridge residents get first crack starting Wednesday, Aug 19, 7am for fall aquatic programs and 8:30am for everything else. Everyone else, including neighbouring municipalities, can register starting Wednesday, Aug 26, same times.
Waterloo's fall program registration is staggered too: Active Living programs open Tuesday, Aug 18 for residents and Friday, Aug 21 for non-residents. Aquatics and leadership programs open Tuesday, Sept 8 for residents and Friday, Sept 11 for non-residents. CARL's fall/winter adult sport leagues are open for registration now.
🏓 Registration is open for Downtown Paddle Palooza, the city's annual pickleball tournament and fundraiser, Tuesday, August 25, at Carl Zehr Square and King Street. Tournament divisions include Men's and Ladies' Doubles (50+ and 18+), Mixed Doubles, and a new Adult/Youth Doubles category, six teams per division, $50 per team. Only one team member needs to register. Proceeds support the city's Every Kid Counts program. Full details
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. Find your nearest chapter at optimist.org.
Please Note: Events are subject to change, postponement, or cancellation due to weather or other unforeseen circumstances. Check the event's own page before heading out.
Standing Farmers' Markets
🧺 St. Jacobs Farmers' Market – 878 Weber St., St. Jacobs. Fresh produce, meats, baked goods, crafts and a flea market from around 300 vendors. Recurring Thursdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. and Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., year-round, plus Tuesdays, 8 a.m. to 3 p.m., now through September 1. Free to browse, bring cash for some vendors.
👨👩👧 Farmyard Follies – St. Jacobs Farmers' Market, 878 Weber St., St. Jacobs. Free kids' programming with storytelling and themed crafts. Recurring Tuesday and Thursday mornings, 10 to 11 a.m., through the summer. Free. This week's storytime: Snow White, Tuesday, August 11, and craft: Simple Shape Animals, Thursday, August 13. Details
🧺 Kitchener Market Breezeway outdoor market – 300 King St. E, Kitchener. Local farmers, makers and vendors in the outdoor Breezeway while the main building remains closed for fire recovery. Recurring Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Free to browse.
🧺 Cambridge Farmers' Market – 40 Dickson St., Cambridge. Meats, baked goods, produce and crafts from local vendors. Recurring Saturdays, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m., year-round. Free to browse.
This Week (Aug 11–17)
🎵 Cambridge Summer Live! – Juneyt Yetkiner (Flamenco/Nuevo-Flamenco guitarist) – City Hall Atrium, Cambridge. Wednesday, Aug 12, 11am–1pm. Free. Details
🎪 Cambridge Summer Live! – Jesse gARTh Circus Arts – Mill Race Park Amphitheatre, Cambridge. Wednesday, Aug 12, 6:30pm. Free. Details
🏓 Racquet in the Square – Civic Square, City Hall, 50 Dickson St., Cambridge. Thursday, August 13, 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Free. Try squash, pickleball, badminton, ping pong and tennis with local clubs including Squash Ontario and Grand River Rapids, plus demos and live play all day. Details
👨👩👧 KidsPark – Victoria Park, Kitchener. Sunday, August 16, 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Free. A day of music, entertainment, and themed activity zones for kids of all ages. Details
🏊 Free Sponsored Family Swim – Waterloo Swimplex, 101 Father David Bauer Dr., Waterloo. Sunday, August 16, 1:45 to 3:45 p.m. Free. The third of three swims sponsored by Kuppers + Greene Orthodontics this summer. Details
🎵 Cambridge Summer Live! – George Kauntz (in the style of Simon and Garfunkel) – Central Park Gazebo, Preston. Sunday, Aug 16, 7pm. Free. Details
🚗 Moparfest – Showgrounds, 251 Jacob St, New Hamburg (Wilmot). Saturday, August 15 and Sunday, August 16, 8 a.m. to 4 p.m., rain or shine. Canada's largest all-Mopar car show, with food trucks, a flea market, live music, and kids' activities. $20 per person per day, kids 15 and under free. Details
🎵 Sunset Sessions – Vogelsang Green, Downtown Kitchener. Friday, August 14, 7 to 9:30 p.m. Free. Two surprise artists from different genres, part of a summer-long series from the Downtown Kitchener BIA. Bring a lawn chair or blanket, music starts around 7:30. Moves to the Kitchener Market Breezeway if it rains. Details
🛍️ Art Market – Waterloo Public Square. Friday, August 14, 5 to 9 p.m., live music from 7 to 9 p.m. (Maria Gabriella, then Next Winter). Free and family-friendly. Browse handmade goods and local art from more than 20 vendors. Best to bring cash, some vendors are cash-only. Details
🎪 Far East Asian Night Market – King St. E, Cedar St. to Frederick St., Downtown Kitchener. Sunday, August 16, 3 to 11 p.m. Free. Now in its third year, more than 50 food and retail vendors, live entertainment, and cultural performances celebrating Asian culture, drawing over 15,000 visitors. Details
🎬 Movies in the Park: Hoppers (PG) – Hilltop Picnic Area, Waterloo Park, Waterloo. Thursday, August 13, after sunset, arrive by 9:00 p.m. Free, all ages. Details
Coming Up This Month
🎵 Paul Stouffer – City Hall Atrium, Cambridge. Wednesday, Aug 19, 11am–1pm. Free.
🎬 Movie Night: Shrek – Forbes Park, Cambridge. Wednesday, Aug 19, 7:30pm.
🎪 Caribana Ignite – Carl Zehr Square and King St. (Water to Frederick), Kitchener. Friday, August 21, 6 to 10 p.m. (family-friendly glow party) and Saturday, August 22, noon to 6 p.m. (street parade, food trucks, vendors, kids' zone on Gaukel Street).
🎆 Last Blast of Summer (rescheduled fireworks) – Cowan Park, 2958 Greenfield Rd., Ayr. Saturday, August 22, 8:00 p.m. Free. North Dumfries' Canada Day fireworks, postponed by the July 1 storm, return as an evening to celebrate the season with neighbours, friends and family before summer slips away, with music, backyard games, and ice cream and cool treats. Fireworks finale around 9:30 p.m.
🏓 Downtown Paddle Palooza – Carl Zehr Square and King St. (College to Young), Kitchener. Tuesday, August 25, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Free for drop-in play and spectating, tournament entry $50/team (see Sports for registration details). Beer garden, live music, food trucks, and learn-to-play sessions for beginners.
🎉 Sun Life Waterloo Busker Carnival – Uptown Waterloo. Thursday, August 27 to Sunday, August 30. Free. Four days, 56 performances, a Touch-a-Truck, an artisan market, and a grand finale to say so long to summer.
🚂 Waterloo Railway Exposition – Waterloo Central Railway. Saturday, August 29 and Sunday, August 30. Cost varies, check the Waterloo Central Railway page.
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!