Happy Tuesday, Waterloo Region!
I hope everyone had a great Thanksgiving and was able to spend it with family and friends.
Here's what's happening around the region.
This week's weather outlook:
Tue Oct 13 | Wed Oct 14 | Thu Oct 15 | Fri Oct 16 | Sat Oct 17 | Sun Oct 18 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 26°C | 16°C | 12°C | 12°C | 8°C | 13°C |
Low | 12°C | 6°C | 6°C | 0°C | -1°C | 2°C |
Chance of rain | 80% | 40% | 90% | 80% | 30% | 30% |
IN THIS ISSUE
What it will take to get the Kitchener Market's doors open again, and when
The Waterloo proposal that could add 6,553 bedrooms
What's in the new Region and CUPE 1883 agreement
Cambridge wants to hear what older adults think about the 50+ centres
What's happening in Waterloo Region this week and beyond: Oktoberfest in Berlin, comedy, Fun-Filled Fall Family Fiesta, Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration and more.
LOCAL NEWS & CITY UPDATES
🧺 Kitchener Market Gets a Repair Crew and a Spring Date
When a fire damaged the Kitchener Market building on July 12, the vendors moved outside and the customers moved with them, without skipping a single Saturday. Restoration has started, and the City aims to welcome vendors and customers back into the Market building in the spring of 2027.
Woodhouse Restoration Services, a Kitchener company, is on site handling the clean-up and restoration.
Vendor fees have been cut in half since Saturday, September 5, and the City expects to spend more than $240,000 on vendor supports and temporary electrical and plumbing.
Staff are also getting the market ready for winter, so Saturdays should carry on through the cold months.
Until the doors reopen, the Saturday market will continue to operate outdoors and in the breezeway. City of Kitchener
🏗️ 3,084 Homes Proposed at Northfield and Weber
A very large plan just cleared a very large hurdle in Waterloo.
Council approved amendments tied to a proposed development at 170 to 200 Northfield Dr. W. and 570 to 655 Weber St. N., put forward by Northfield Equities Inc.
The proposal includes 11 high-rise towers, the tallest at 36 storeys, with 3,084 apartments (6,553 bedrooms) in one-, two- and three-bedroom layouts.
Mixed in are five one-storey buildings for employment and commercial uses, 22,239 square metres of employment space and 342 square metres of commercial space, along with two parks.
Parking totals 2,467 vehicle spaces, mostly underground with 403 on the surface, plus 2,205 bicycle spaces.
The project isn't fully approved yet, and there's still a lot of work to do before it can move ahead. City of Waterloo | EngageWR
🤝 Region and CUPE 1883 Land a Three-Year Deal
On Saturday, September 26, the Region announced a tentative agreement with CUPE 1883. Since then, CUPE members have ratified the deal and Regional Council approved it on Friday, October 9. Here are the details:
The agreement covers full-time office, clerical and technical staff, about 850 CUPE 1883 members.
Wages go up $1.00 an hour plus 3.5 per cent as of July 1, 2026.
Another 3.0 per cent follows on July 1, 2027, and again on July 1, 2028.
The union says the raises match those won by CUPE 1656, the Region's other bargaining unit.
New language covers job security and hybrid work.
The contract adds gender-affirming care benefits, including voice therapy and surgical care that OHIP doesn't cover, which the union calls uncommon in the municipal sector.
Gender-based violence is now written into the agreement, going beyond what Employment Standards Act rules already cover.
🗳️ Advance Voting Is Open, and Kitchener Joins In Today
Advance voting is already open in some parts of the Region, Kitchener starts today, and everywhere else is open by Friday, October 16. Election Day is Monday, October 26.
Dates, locations and what to bring vary by city and township, so check yours before you go. Last week's issue has the full list, or use the links below. Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge | Woolwich | Wellesley | North Dumfries | Wilmot | wrvotes.com
🏢 Waterloo Adds Money, and More Rooms, to the McCormick Rebuild
The Albert McCormick Community Centre and the Waterloo Public Library McCormick Branch beside it are getting a bigger rebuild than first planned, thanks to a grant the City landed after the original numbers came out.
Council signed off on Phase B funding at its Monday, October 5 meeting: $775,000 from the province's Community Sports and Recreation Infrastructure Fund, matched by $775,000 from the City.
The base plan already includes a bigger Waterloo Public Library McCormick Branch with a makerspace and study areas, a new accessible entrance joining the arena, library and community room, a larger community room, a commercial kitchen and a dedicated spiritual space.
The new money adds a sensory room, better entrances and circulation, a customer service space and upgrades to the concession, flooring, paint and exterior siding.
Construction starts later this year, with completion expected in early 2028.
Council also adopted new accessibility design standards for City buildings and outdoor spaces, so barriers get dealt with on the drawing board.
🗣️ Cambridge Wants to Hear What Older Adults Think of the 50+ Centres
More than 400 people turned out for the City's Active Living Fair on October 1, and the City used the crowd to start a conversation about what comes next for its 50+ centres.
A new Older Adult Programs survey is open until Sunday, November 15. You can take it online, by phone or in person at any City 50+ centre.
It's for older adults, and the City says other residents are welcome to weigh in too.
If you'd rather talk it through, there are four focus groups:
Tuesday, October 20, 8:30 a.m. to 10:00 a.m., William E Pautler Centre
Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Ted Wake Centre
Thursday, October 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., David Durward Centre
Thursday, October 29, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Allan Reuter Centre
To sign up for a focus group, call 519-623-1340 ext. 4433 or email [email protected].
The feedback feeds into the City's 2026 to 2031 Older Adult Strategy.
If you or someone you love uses a 50+ centre, this is your chance to say what's working. Survey and details at cambridge.ca/OASfeedback. City of Cambridge | EngageWR
ROAD REPORT
NEW - Columbia St. W., Waterloo. Closed between Erbsville Rd. and Salzburg Dr. for resurfacing, Tuesday, October 13 to Friday, October 16.
NEW - Light Dr. at McGill Cres., Cambridge. Closed to all traffic in both directions for site construction, Monday, October 12 to Friday, October 16.
GOOD TO KNOW
🌱 Free Compost for Waterloo Region Residents
Residents of Waterloo Region can pick up compost at no cost, while supplies last.
Pick-up sites: 925 Erb St. W. (Gate 2), Waterloo, and 201 Savage Dr., Cambridge.
Hours: Monday to Saturday, 7:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Limit: five bushels. Bring your own shovel and containers.
🎃 Cambridge Pumpkin Passes: $5 for 10 Swims or Skates
A $5 booklet holds 10 Pumpkin Passes for a child or youth to use at City of Cambridge recreation facilities. Each pass is good for one free skate or swim.
Booklets are sold at the W.G. Johnson Centre, the John Dolson Centre and the Cambridge Centre for the Arts until Saturday, October 31, or while supplies last.
Limit of 50 passes per family.
🎓 Community Spotlight: Explore the 1960s Starting Today
Third Age Learning Kitchener-Waterloo launches Eras of Turmoil: 1960s and Now this afternoon: eight Tuesday talks on Vietnam, Quebec separatism, women's equality, civil rights, rock and roll, and more with some of the top researchers, academics and thinkers in the country. The series runs October 13 to December 1, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. at RIM Park, 2001 University Ave. E., Waterloo. Tickets are $60 for the series or $10 per lecture. Details | Tickets
SPORTS
🏒 Kitchener Rangers
Even reigning Memorial Cup champions have rough stretches. The Rangers dropped three in a row last week, and they're 4-5-1-0 on the season with one overtime loss.
Wednesday, October 7: lost 5-2 to Flint.
Friday, October 9: lost 3-2 in overtime to Sault Ste. Marie.
Saturday, October 10: lost 4-2 to Saginaw.
Date | Opponent | Where | Puck drop |
|---|---|---|---|
Tue, Oct 13 | vs London Knights | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud) | 7:00 p.m. |
Fri, Oct 16 | vs Niagara IceDogs | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud) | 7:00 p.m. |
Sun, Oct 18 | at Oshawa Generals | Tribute Communities Centre, Oshawa | 6:05 p.m. |
What's Happening
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. N., St. Jacobs. Thursdays 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m., Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m. Link
🧺 Kitchener Market - 300 King St. E., Kitchener. Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. The indoor market is closed for fire repairs, so the outdoor Saturday market is where vendors are trading. Link
🧺 Cambridge Farmers' Market - 40 Dickson St., Cambridge. Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Link
This Week (Oct 13 - Oct 19)
🎪 K-W Oktoberfest - Venues across the region. Through Saturday, October 17. This is the final week. Events aren't held every day, so check the event calendar for specific dates and times. Some events and venues are sold out, so if you want to go, get your tickets now. Oktoberfest
🍴 Cambridge Oktoberfest Lunch - Civic Square, 50 Dickson St., Cambridge. Wednesday, October 14, 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Free sausage and sauerkraut while supplies last, with Bavarian music and a keg tapping. The Cambridge Food Bank will be on site for donations. cambridge.ca
🎪 Oktoberfest in Berlin - Woodside National Historic Site, 528 Wellington St. N., Kitchener. Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free outdoors, and wheelchair accessible. Step back to when Kitchener was still called Berlin, with Victorian-era lawn games on the grounds. Food and drinks are for sale from the Heaton Up the Grill food truck and Four Fathers Brewing Company. Going inside the historic home costs regular admission. Parks Canada | Oktoberfest events page
🎭 Debra DiGiovanni - Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, 36 King St. W., Kitchener. Wednesday, October 14, doors 6:00 p.m., show 7:00 p.m. Tickets from $43.60, 19+. The Toronto-born comic, now based in Los Angeles, won the 2025 Juno for Comedy Album of the Year for Honourable Intentions. Presented by DFRNT Nights. Tickets
🎵 Gord Bamford - Maxwell's, 35 University Ave. E., Waterloo. Wednesday, October 14, doors 7:00 p.m. General admission is $56.50 plus fees. Tickets
🎭 Guided Gallery Tours - Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. Thursday, October 15, 6:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Free, but you need to register. An Artist Guide walks you through the fall exhibitions: Boring Earth: spontaneous gift, Rosalie Favell: Belonging (1982-2024) and Patricia Deadman: Along the Grand. Donations welcome. Details and registration
🎵 Bruce Cockburn in Concert - Raffi Armenian Theatre, Centre In The Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. Thursday, October 15, 8:00 p.m. Tickets start at $58.75. Presented by Live Nation. Tickets
🏃 WWE Presents NXT Live - Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), 400 East Ave, Kitchener. Thursday, October 15, 7:30 p.m. Tickets / Details
🎪 Bloody Berlin Walking Tour - Schneider Haus National Historic Site, 466 Queen St S, Kitchener. October 15, 22, 29 & 31 at 7:00 p.m. Ages 16+, advance tickets only. $26.95 plus HST. Tickets
🎭 Muppet Treasure Island - The District Square, Gaslight District, 64 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge. Friday, October 16, 6:00 p.m. Free outdoor screening on the Big Screen, rain or shine. Gaslight District
🎭 The Rocky Horror Picture Show - The District Square, Gaslight District, 64 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge. Friday, October 16, 8:00 p.m. Free outdoor screening on the Big Screen, rain or shine. Gaslight District
🚂 The Dark Side of Galt Evening Walking Tours - McDougall Cottage Historic Site, 89 Grand Ave S, Cambridge. October 23 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Plus a Haunted Halloween edition on Friday, October 30. $24.95 plus HST. A 90-minute guided walk through Galt's darker history. Ages 14+, pre-registration required, limited spots. October 16 is sold out and October 23 is selling fast. Tickets
🎪 The Monster Mash Market - Moore Berries, 497 Pinehurst Rd., Ayr. Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. Free, with a no-cost general admission ticket to reserve online. The farm's season finale is a costume party with pumpkin picking, creepy characters, a curated vendor market, live music from noon to 3:00 p.m., the Kids Corral and the Longhorn cattle. Coffee from Alexander Henry's, plus an ice cream truck and Longhorn Smokehouse. Get tickets
👨👩👧 STEM Starts Here: Celebrating Waterloo Innovators - Winners Court, Conestoga Mall, 550 King St. N., Waterloo. Saturday, October 17, 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Free, drop in, no registration. Hands-on science, math and tech with local experts: guide a Mars rover, control a maze-solving robot with hand gestures, tackle math puzzles, explore atoms and light with the Institute for Quantum Computing, take a giraffe quiz for a 3D-printed keychain, and learn about the human heart with Wilfrid Laurier University. Presented by the City of Waterloo Museum and Conestoga Mall, tied to the museum's Iron Willed: Women in STEM exhibition. Event details
👨👩👧 Fun-Filled Fall Family Fiesta - McDougall Cottage, 89 Grand Ave. S., Cambridge. Saturday, October 17, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. (last admission 3:00 p.m., event wraps at 3:30 p.m.). $12 plus HST per child aged 3 and up, $5 plus HST per adult. Register ahead, then drop in anytime. Pumpkin bowling, a scavenger hunt, skeleton-hand ring toss, fall crafts and a treat for every child. Costumes welcome, not required. Limited tickets may be sold at the door. Register | Details
🎊 HMCS Parade - Queen's Square, Cambridge. Saturday, October 17, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. A community commemoration honouring the women of HMCS CONESTOGA, marking the ship's 84th anniversary and the Royal Canadian Legion's 100th. Details
🎊 Mid-Autumn Festival Celebration - Waterloo Public Library, John M. Harper Branch, 500 Fischer-Hallman Rd N, Waterloo. Saturday, October 17, 1:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. Free drop-in, and everyone is welcome. Stage performances in the YMCA Multi-Purpose Room include local musicians, dancers and singers, Tai Chi, martial arts, poetry and a children's show, while crafts, puzzles, prize draws and community booths are in the Program Room. Mooncakes to sample. Details
🎵 The Divines Live in Concert (Museum After Dark) - THEMUSEUM, 10 King St. W., Kitchener. Saturday, October 17, doors 6:30 p.m., show 7:00 p.m. $35; a limited number of couple tickets are available. All ages. Three voices and a full band take you through R&B, soul and blues, from '60s girl-group harmonies to Aretha Franklin, Bonnie Raitt and Amy Winehouse. Two one-hour sets with an intermission; drinks and light snacks for purchase, debit or credit only. Tickets
🎃 Hands-On Paranormal Investigation Tours - Homer Watson House & Gallery, Garden Studio, 1754 Old Mill Rd., Kitchener. Saturday, October 17, one-hour tours at 9:30 p.m. and 10:45 p.m. $40 per person, plus HST for ages 14 and up. The 7:00 p.m. and 8:15 p.m. tours are sold out. Walk through the house and gallery with paranormal investigation gear in your hands, guided by the Ontario Paranormal Society. Part of the gallery's Spirit Season fundraiser. Tickets
🎭 Yuk Yuk's on Tour - Kingpin Bowlounge, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr., Kitchener. Saturday, October 17, doors 7:00 p.m., show 8:00 p.m. $15 per person. Ryan Horwood is the feature act, Jordan Policicchio is the middle act and Amber Harper-Young is the MC. Get there at 7:00 to order food and drinks before the show, and bring your ticket printed or on your phone. Details
👨👩👧 Family Sunday: Pumpkin Carving - Button Factory Arts, 25 Regina St. S., Waterloo. Sunday, October 18, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Free, but you need to register, and donations are welcome. Carve a pumpkin without the mess at home: bring your own or buy one there. Knives are involved, so a guardian needs to supervise kids. Register
🎪 Bingemans Screampark - Bingemans, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr., Kitchener. Thursday to Sunday for the rest of October. All ages, though it's not recommended for children under 12 or anyone easily frightened. Check the link for times and prices. Details
Coming Up This Month (Oct 21 - Nov 12)
🍴 The Art of Neapolitan Pizza (Wednesday Night Aperitivo) - THEMUSEUM, 10 King St. W., Kitchener. Wednesday, October 21, 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. $75. Learn the centuries-old tradition behind Neapolitan pizza with the Peachy Rooster, then get hands-on and make your own. Tickets
🎵 Stone Rock: Turn Back the Clock - Maxwell's, 35 University Ave. E., Waterloo. Wednesday, October 21, doors 7:30 p.m., show 8:30 p.m. General admission $15 plus fees. 19+. Tickets
🎭 Mrs. Doubtfire - Centre In The Square, 101 Queen St. N., Kitchener. Tuesday, November 3 and Wednesday, November 4, 7:30 p.m. Tickets start at $86.08. Tickets
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!