Happy Tuesday, Waterloo Region!
Hope yesterday's holiday treated you well, whether that meant a proper day off or finally tackling that one thing on your to-do list you've been putting off for weeks. And if you're looking for another excuse to get outside, downtown Kitchener turns into a vibrant, high-energy music hub when the Blues Festival kicks off Thursday, the kind of weekend a lot of us wait all year for.
Grab your coffee, settle in, and let's get into what's happening around Waterloo Region.
🌤️ This week's weather: Sunny and warm to start the week, with thunderstorm risk building Thursday through Saturday before clearing into a windy, sunny Sunday.
Tue Aug 4 | Wed Aug 5 | Thu Aug 6 | Fri Aug 7 | Sat Aug 8 | Sun Aug 9 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 26°C | 28°C | 27°C | 26°C | 28°C | 28°C |
Low | 13°C | 16°C | 17°C | 17°C | 18°C | 19°C |
In This Issue
Kitchener Market vendors have until August 19, and it's not to move back in.
Conestoga College posts a $32.8 million deficit, and a lot of us have a connection to it.
Free sports equipment lockers just went live in 30 Kitchener parks.
A local dragon boat team of breast cancer survivors is headed to France, and needs our help getting there.
The Rangers have their coach, and it's a familiar face.
Your full week of things to do, from free family fun to a night out. Feeling festive? The Blues Festival takes over downtown Kitchener, Cambridge Ribfest brings the ribs and craft beer, and a toy and collectibles show rounds out the weekend at Bingemans.
Local News & City Updates
🏚️ Kitchener Market vendors have a new deadline, but it's not the one we were hoping for
The market fire that closed the building last month just turned into a longer wait than anyone hoped.
Vendors have until Wednesday, August 19 to remove inventory and equipment from the building.
The City says recovery will be measured in months, not weeks.
The July 12 fire itself was contained to a relatively small area, but smoke, soot and other contaminants spread through the whole building, including the mechanical and ventilation systems, which is why the cleanup and restoration work is so extensive.
The fire caused an estimated $50,000 in damage.
Vendors will not be charged rent during the recovery period.
The outdoor Breezeway market continues every Saturday (see What's Happening).
No reopening date yet, but we'll be watching for one. City of Kitchener
🎓 Conestoga College posts a $32.8 million deficit
The college that spent years posting eye-popping surpluses just posted the opposite.
Conestoga reported an operating deficit of roughly $32.8 million for the year ending March 31, driven largely by a steep drop in international student tuition revenue.
Salary and other expenditures fell to $476.7 million, down from $676.9 million the year before.
The college's 2026-27 budget projects another $25.3 million deficit.
This follows a provincial audit earlier this year that led to an administrator being appointed in place of the college's board of governors.
A lot of Waterloo Region households have some connection to Conestoga, as students, staff or neighbours. Worth keeping an eye on. CambridgeToday
🏀 Free sports equipment lockers are live in Kitchener parks
Remember the free sports equipment lockers we told you about back in June? They're not just an idea anymore, they're bolted into the ground and stocked.
The City of Kitchener officially launched 30 free-to-use Equip Sport lockers across city parks on Wednesday, July 29, in partnership with Equip Sport and Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities.
Equip Sport is a Swiss company that runs self-serve equipment stations powered by a smartphone app, already operating in more than 500 locations across Europe. Kitchener now joins a growing Canadian network that includes Ottawa and cities across British Columbia.
Each locker is stocked with sport-specific gear, basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, volleyballs, or ultimate frisbees, depending on the park, no registration or deposit required.
To use one, download the free Equip Sport app (users 16 and older), pick your park and gear, and snap a photo to unlock the locker. Return it and snap a second photo when you're done.
Locations span the city, including Victoria Park, Kiwanis Park, McLennan Park, RBJ Schlegel Park, Chandler Park, and 25 others, each stocked with sport-specific gear.
The program is supported by funding through Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities, at no cost to the city or users, and Equip Sport covers replacement if anything goes missing.
Next time you're at the park empty-handed, that might not be a problem anymore. City of Kitchener / Full list of all 30 locations
🚣 A Waterloo dragon boat team is headed to France, and a familiar name is cheering them on
Twenty-four women, one shared diagnosis, and a boat built for people who refused to let it define them.
The Dragonflyers, a breast cancer survivor dragon boat team based out of the Waterloo Paddling Club, travel to Aix-les-Bains, France, from August 24 to 30 to compete in the International Breast Cancer Paddlers Commission Festival, bringing together more than 4,500 survivors from 25 countries.
Founded in 2014 by University of Waterloo student paddlers, the team has grown into a 12-year community of support, not just a race crew, for members across Kitchener-Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph and surrounding areas.
Over the past two years, they've raised more than $15,000 through community events like garage sales, bingo nights, silent auctions and Mother's Day teas.
Laura, the very first person featured in our SEEN series, is connected to the team and has advocated for it as part of her own journey through breast cancer treatment. New here and not sure what SEEN is? Learn more here, or go straight to Laura's story from June 30.
Getting the team's core group of 24 paddlers and their coach to France comes with a price tag nearing $100,000, covering registration, accommodations, flights and equipment shipping. They've launched a GoFundMe to help close the gap. If you've got a few dollars to spare, this is a team worth cheering all the way to France. CTV Kitchener / GoFundMe
✈️ WestJet strike ends after tentative agreement
If you were watching your flight status all weekend, you can breathe a little easier.
WestJet and CUPE, representing WestJet cabin crew, reached a tentative agreement early Monday, August 3, ending the strike and withdrawing both the strike and lockout notices.
The dispute centred on pay for ground work, boarding, deplaning, handling delays and safety checks, which CUPE argued wasn't being fairly compensated under the airline's current system.
Ahead of the deal, WestJet had proposed a 13 percent pay increase starting in October, followed by 2.5 percent annual increases through 2029, plus a new duty pay premium worth roughly another 12 percent, aimed at addressing the unpaid work dispute.
Cabin crew have 30 days to vote on ratifying the agreement.
Some flights were already resuming by Monday afternoon, though there's still no word on when the full schedule returns to normal. A flexible change and cancel policy covers travel from July 30 to August 6 in the meantime.
Earlier in the disruption, a Waterloo family flying through the Region of Waterloo International Airport had to spend $2,500 out of pocket to get home after their flight was cancelled.
The work stoppage is over for now, but the deal isn't final until crews vote on it, and full recovery may take a few more days. Give yourself extra time at the airport this week either way. WestJet / CBC Kitchener-Waterloo
🏗️ Road Report
King St E, Stirling Ave N to Ottawa St N (Kitchener). Closed starting Tuesday, August 4 for roughly 12 months of reconstruction. Local access maintained depending on project staging. Detour via Ottawa, Charles and Stirling.
Candlewood Cres, Briarcliffe Cres to McCarron Cres (Waterloo). Closed Saturday, August 8 for the Candlewood BSHA Block Party. No through traffic. Rain date Saturday, August 22.
Regina St N, Hickory St E to University Ave E (Waterloo). Closed Wednesday, August 5 to Friday, August 7 for tower crane removal. No through traffic; pedestrians directed around the work area.
Housing & Real Estate
Real Estate Snapshot
July figures are expected in time for next week's issue.
Average Sold Price by Property Type (June 2026)
Property Type | Region-Wide | Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge |
|---|---|---|---|---|
Single Family Detached | $834,730 (▼7.4%) | $778,988 (▼12.4%) | $920,455 (▼3.7%) | $773,257 (▼7.0%) |
Townhouse | $567,854 (▼9.2%) | $558,421 (▼6.9%) | $588,294 (▼12.6%) | $566,762 (▼7.9%) |
Condo | $396,327 (▼8.8%) | $340,788 (▼11.6%) | $425,449 (▼10.8%) | $503,890 (▼0.6%) |
Semi-Detached | $591,692 (▼8.8%) | $599,105 (▼4.7%) | $584,800 (▼13.6%) | $553,731 (▼15.0%) |
All Property Types (avg) | $729,650 | $670,127 | $764,945 | $710,519 |
All comparisons are year-over-year, vs. June 2025.
What the numbers tell us: prices are still down across the board from a year ago, and that's true in every city and every property type. Condos in Cambridge are the one exception, holding almost flat. If you're buying, this remains a market with some room to negotiate. If you're selling, pricing realistically against these comparables still matters more than holding out for last year's numbers.
Mortgage & Rate Watch
Rate | Value |
|---|---|
Bank of Canada overnight rate | 2.25% (held July 15, sixth consecutive hold) |
Prime rate | 4.45% |
No change since last issue. Next rate announcement Wednesday, September 2, alongside the Bank's next full Monetary Policy Report Wednesday, October 28.
🛠️ Home Tip of the Week
Raise your lawn mower setting a couple of notches higher than your normal one this week. Between the sun we've had and the rain moving in later this week, lawns are under more stress than usual, especially if your yard doesn't have much shade from mature trees, common in a lot of the newer subdivisions around here.
Keeps roots cooler: taller grass shades the soil and protects roots from direct sun.
Handles the rain better: cutting too short after a wet spell shocks the grass, taller blades hold moisture without drying out fast in the heat.
Blocks weeds naturally: a thick grass canopy crowds out crabgrass, which loves exactly this rain-then-sun combo to take root.
One more thing: make sure your blade is actually sharp. A dull blade tears wet, fast-growing grass instead of cutting it cleanly, and those ragged tips are an easy target for disease.
Good to Know
🌿 Giant hogweed is spreading along the Grand River
It looks a bit like an oversized version of Queen Anne's lace. Treat it like it's dangerous, because it is.
Giant hogweed sap can cause severe burns and blistering on skin exposed to sunlight, and can cause blindness if it gets in your eyes.
Local invasive species expert John Kemp says the plant is spreading rapidly along the Grand River watershed.
It can grow up to four metres tall, with purple-blotched stems and white, umbrella-shaped flower clusters.
If you spot it on Grand River Conservation Authority land, report it online rather than trying to remove it yourself.
Township residents can reach the Region's Area Weed Inspectors at 519-575-4400.
Worth knowing before your next walk along the river. CBC Kitchener-Waterloo
Sports
🏒 Rangers name a familiar face as head coach
The Rangers didn't have to look far for their next bench boss.
Jeff Kyrzakos was named the team's 26th head coach on Wednesday, July 29.
He replaces Jussi Ahokas, who left to coach the Colorado Avalanche's AHL affiliate, the Colorado Eagles.
Kyrzakos spent the past three seasons as the Rangers' associate coach and assistant general manager, and seven seasons before that with the Mississauga Steelheads, where he was behind the bench for the club's Central Division and Eastern Conference titles in 2016-17.
He was part of the coaching staff behind the team's fifth OHL Championship and third Memorial Cup win this past season.
A Mississauga, Ontario native, Kyrzakos played university hockey at Western Michigan and major junior with the Owen Sound Attack before a seven-season pro playing career, then began coaching with the Arizona Sundogs in 2013.
One era ends, but the guy who helped build it is still behind the bench. CBC Kitchener-Waterloo / Kitchener Rangers
⚾ Panthers drop eighth straight
Upcoming schedule:
Date | Time | Matchup | Venue |
|---|---|---|---|
Tuesday, August 4 | 7:35 p.m. | at Chatham-Kent Barnstormers | Fergie Jenkins Field |
Thursday, August 6 | 7:05 p.m. | vs. Guelph Royals | Jack Couch Park (home) |
Saturday, August 8 | 4:08 p.m. | at Barrie Baycats | Athletic Kulture Stadium |
Sunday, August 9 | 2:05 p.m. | vs. Barrie Baycats | Jack Couch Park (home) |
Thursday, August 13 | 7:05 p.m. | vs. Toronto Maple Leafs | Jack Couch Park (home) |
Registrations & Tryouts
🏓 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.
This Week
🎵 TD Kitchener Blues Festival – Clock Tower in Victoria Park and City Hall on King Street, Kitchener. Thursday, August 6 to Sunday, August 9. Free (Thursday's fundraiser concert is ticketed). Over 35 bands across four stages, one of Canada's largest blues festivals. Details
🃏 Trinket's Toy & Collectibles Show – Bingemans Kingpin Bowlounge & Boston Pizza, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr., Kitchener. Sunday, August 9, 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. $5 admission, kids 10 and under free with a paid adult. Cash-only event. Vintage and modern toys, games, sports and non-sports cards, comics and collectibles from local vendors. Details
🎬 Cambridge Summer Live Events: Movie Night, A Bug's Life – City Hall Civic Square, Cambridge. Wednesday, August 5, 8:00 p.m. Free. Bring a blanket and settle in. Details
🎷 Cambridge Summer Live Events: Don McDougall – Top Pocket – Forbes Park, Cambridge. Sunday, August 9, 7:00 p.m. Free. Jazz fusion to close out the weekend. Details
🎬 Movies in the Park: Grease (PG) – Hilltop Picnic Area, Waterloo Park, Waterloo. Thursday, August 6, after sunset, arrive by 9:00 p.m. Free, all ages. Details
🍴 Cambridge Ribfest & Craft Beer Show – Riverside Park, 49 King St. W., Cambridge. Friday, August 7 to Sunday, August 9. Free admission, donations to Rotary Cambridge Sunrise accepted at the gate. Barbecued ribs and chicken, Ontario craft beer, ciders and cocktails, live entertainment, and a Kids Fun Zone. Details
🎤 Hespeler's Got Talent Winner Showcase – Ernie's Cookhouse, 7 Queen St. W., Cambridge. Saturday, August 8, 7:00 to 10:00 p.m.
🧺 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. 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 craft: plasticine veggies, Thursday, August 6. 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.
Coming Up This Month
🎪 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.
👨👩👧 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, drawing over 15,000 people most years.
🏊 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.
🏓 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.
🏓 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
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!