Happy Tuesday, Waterloo Region!
We're a week into October and the forecast is still being generous. Soak it up while you can.
Before we get into it, we want to wish everyone a happy Thanksgiving this coming weekend.
🌤️ This week's weather outlook:
Tue Oct 6 | Wed Oct 7 | Thu Oct 8 | Fri Oct 9 | Sat Oct 10 | Sun Oct 11 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
High | 16°C | 22°C | 17°C | 16°C | 18°C | 22°C |
Low | 0°C | 7°C | 5°C | 5°C | 6°C | 12°C |
Chance of rain | 30% | 30% | 20% | 20% | 10% | 20% |
In This Issue
Two Kitchener spaces just reopened: a park built to hold water and a centre with a recording studio
Advance voting has started, and the dates and places to cast your ballot before October 26
Minimum wage went up last Thursday, and our corner of Ontario's living wage is still about $5 higher
The first human West Nile case of 2026 is confirmed, and the mosquitoes aren't done yet
What's happening in Waterloo Region this week and beyond: the Thanksgiving Day Parade, Willkommen Platz, DOGtoberfest, the Fall Pancake Breakfast, Grillefest and more.
Local News & City Updates
🏘️ Two Kitchener Spaces Just Reopened, and Both Were Built for the Neighbours
Meadowlane Park, 138 Glen Park Cres., Forest Heights. We put the party on your calendar two weeks ago; the City held the grand reopening on Saturday, September 26.
A new stormwater pond is meant to cut flood risk and improve water quality in the Sandrock Creek watershed.
The park also has upgraded trails, pond-side paths, seating, new trees and naturalized areas.
Three funders paid for it: $2.143 million from the federal Disaster Mitigation and Adaptation Fund, $3 million from Ontario's Building Faster Fund (the same program that sent Waterloo $3.77 million), and $178,500 from the Federation of Canadian Municipalities. The City covered the rest.
Mill Courtland Community Centre, 216 Mill St. It reopened Thursday, October 1, after 15 months closed.
The project cost $5.32 million, with $1 million from the federal Build Communities Strong Fund and the City covering the rest.
A new 2,755-square-foot addition has a multi-purpose program room, a recording studio, an office, a meeting room, storage and accessible washrooms. Heating, cooling, mechanical, fire and electrical systems were upgraded too.
Outside: a new roof and windows, a new basketball court, more greenspace, a storage building, a winter rink shed, and accessible walkways, parking and entrances.
Flood protection here, a recording studio there: two neighbourhood upgrades in under a week, Kitchener. Meadowlane Park, City of Kitchener | Mill Courtland, City of Kitchener
🗳️ Election Day Is Monday, October 26, and Advance Voting Has Started
Municipal and school board elections are on the ballot. Here’s what you need to know about when and where to vote.
Election day, all three cities: Monday, October 26, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Cambridge: October 6 to 10 at City Hall, October 17 at Hespeler Memorial Arena. Vote anywhere.
Waterloo: October 10, 16, 17 and 18, each at a different location. Check waterloo.ca.
Kitchener: October 13 to 17, including drive-thru at Sunrise Shopping Centre October 16 and 17. Vote anywhere.
Woolwich: Internet voting October 16 to 26. Paper ballots October 17 and 18 (Woolwich Memorial Centre, Breslau Community Centre, St. Jacobs Fire Hall) and October 26. Vote anywhere in the township.
Wellesley: Internet and telephone voting October 16 to 26. No in-person voting.
North Dumfries: Internet voting opens October 13. In-person voting at your ward's location October 21, 24 and 26.
Wilmot: Internet voting opens October 16. In-person voting at your ward's location October 26.
Check the link for your city or township below to confirm when and where to vote and what you'll need to bring, such as ID.
Pick your day, Waterloo Region. Kitchener | Waterloo | Cambridge | Woolwich | Wellesley | North Dumfries | Wilmot | wrvotes.com
💵 Ontario's Minimum Wage Went Up Last Thursday. Here's the Gap in Our Corner of the Province
Pay for a lot of the jobs that keep the Region running, from retail counters to restaurant kitchens to hotel front desks, just got a small bump.
The general minimum wage rose to $17.95 an hour last Thursday, October 1, up 35 cents from $17.60. For someone working 40 hours a week, the province puts that at roughly $728 more a year.
The student rate (under 18, up to 28 hours a week while school is in session) is now $16.90. Homeworkers earn $19.70.
The 2025 living wage for the Dufferin, Guelph, Wellington and Waterloo region is $23.00 an hour, about $5 above the new minimum. The Ontario Living Wage Network updates its figures every November.
Ontario ties the minimum wage to inflation. Any change is announced by April 1 and starts the following October 1.
Worth knowing if you're setting a pay scale or sizing up a job posting. Government of Ontario | Ontario Living Wage Network
🦟 First Local Human West Nile Case of 2026
Mosquitoes have not packed it in for the year.
Public Health confirmed the region's first human case of 2026 on Friday, October 2. There were three in 2025.
Dr. Rabia Bana, the associate medical officer of health, says to keep protecting yourself "until we experience the first frost." A frost advisory covered the region overnight, so that cutoff may be close.
Use DEET or Icaridin repellent, wear light-coloured long sleeves, pants and socks, limit time outdoors at dusk and dawn, keep window screens on and clear standing water. Leave sick or dead birds alone, since they can carry the virus.
Most infected people have no symptoms. When they do show up, it's within 2 to 15 days of a bite: fever, headache, muscle aches, a stiff neck, swollen glands or a rash. Fewer than one per cent get seriously ill, and anyone with symptoms should see a doctor.
📹 Licence Plate Cameras Are Heading to Provincial Highways
Some of these cameras have been watching local intersections since June, and now additional cameras are headed for the highways.
Waterloo Regional Police and the Ministry of Transportation signed the first agreement of its kind in Ontario to put licence plate recognition cameras on provincial highways in Waterloo Region. How many and where hasn't been decided, and the locations will be public once they're running.
Fifteen intersections across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge and North Dumfries already have cameras. The full list is on the police website.
The cameras are marked with signs, record video only (no audio), don’t use facial recognition, and delete footage not needed for an investigation after about 30 days.
From January 1 to September 11, police say the in-cruiser version flagged 7,749 plates of interest, leading to 75 recovered vehicles, 94 arrests and 77 charges.
Handy to know where they are. WRPS release | WRPS CCTV page
📋 Kitchener's Report Card: Twelve Projects, No Misses
Every year, a committee of Kitchener residents grades how the City's big projects went. This year's marks are in.
All 12 projects in the 2025 Compass Kitchener report card met or exceeded expectations: 4 exceeded, 8 met, none fell short. It's the third year in a row.
Projects were rated on responsible delivery, public value, transparency and communication, and public engagement, with an equity lens on each.
The four that exceeded: Housing for All, localized transportation safety, the Tree Canopy Target Plan and entertainment venue management.
Looking ahead, the committee wants the City to explain why timelines or scope change, and wants the next strategic plan to measure what residents experience, not only what got finished. It also wants the City to be upfront about provincial rules and funding that limit housing, climate and transportation goals.
A report card is only useful if somebody reads it, so consider this your nudge, Kitchener. City of Kitchener | CityNews Kitchener
🏆 Know Someone Who Deserves a Spotlight? Kitchener Wants to Hear About Them
Spotlight on Sport is a permanent exhibit outside the Cowan Fieldhouse honouring people and organizations who’ve made a lasting mark on Kitchener sport. The City is collecting nominations for athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, teams and community champions. Submissions will rotate through digital displays. Submit at kitchener.ca/spotlightonsport. The Cowan Recreation Centre opens November 14.
🚧 Road Report
NEW - King St W, Kitchener. Closed to vehicles from Water St to Gaukel St starting Monday, October 5. The closure extends to Ontario St on Tuesday, October 6 and to Queen St on Wednesday, October 7, and King reopens Tuesday, October 13. No vehicle access.
NEW - College St, Kitchener. Closed from King St to Duke St, Monday, October 5 to Tuesday, October 13. Bell Lane access is kept. Gaukel St is closed from King St to Halls Lane for the same dates.
NEW - Young St, Kitchener. Closed from King St to Duke St, Tuesday, October 6 to Tuesday, October 13. Vehicle access to the City Hall parking garage and condos stays open. Ontario St is closed from Goudies Lane to Halls Lane, Wednesday, October 7 to Tuesday, October 13, with no vehicle access.
NEW - Hagey Blvd, Waterloo. Closed from Bearinger Rd to Columbia St W for night milling and paving, Tuesday, October 6 to Friday, October 23.
Housing & Real Estate
Real Estate Snapshot
Area | Sales (YoY) | Avg. price (YoY) | New listings (YoY) | Months supply (YoY) | Days on market (YoY) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Region-wide | 412 (-18.9%) | $703,054 (-6.5%) | 1,232 (-16.7%) | 3.8 (-5.0%) | 33 (+3.1%) |
Kitchener | 194 (-12.6%) | $646,426 (-11.3%) | 544 (-23.2%) | 3.7 (-9.8%) | 31 (-11.4%) |
Waterloo | 90 (-8.2%) | $775,276 (+2.4%) | 277 (-7.4%) | 4.2 (-6.7%) | 35 (+6.1%) |
Cambridge | 90 (-34.8%) | $697,453 (-4.1%) | 282 (-19.7%) | 3.5 (-2.8%) | 30 (+20.0%) |
Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®, as of October 5, 2026.
What the numbers tell us: September was a slow month. Sales across the Region fell 14.2% from August, even as new listings jumped 38.4%. Cornerstone CEO Bill Duce calls the market relatively balanced, with modest price declines despite the slowdown. Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®
🏡 Home Tip of the Week: Is Your Furnace Ready?
Colder nights are close, and the first cold snap is a bad time to find out your furnace has a problem. Spend ten minutes this week swapping the filter, since a dirty one makes the system work harder and pushes your bill up. Then set the thermostat to heat a few degrees above room temperature, listen for odd noises and check that warm air is coming out of the vents. If anything sounds off, book an HVAC tune-up now, before it turns into a costly mid-winter breakdown.
Good to Know
🔥 Fire Prevention Week: Charge Safely, Cook Attended
Fire Prevention Week runs through Saturday, October 10, and this year's national theme is "Charge into Fire Safety."
Stick with the charger approved for your device, plug in on a hard, flat surface, and keep it clear of doorways and exits. If a battery gets hot, puffs up, smokes or leaks, retire it. That goes for phones, laptops, power tools, e-bikes and scooters.
Distracted or unattended cooking is the leading cause of home fires in Canada. Stay in the kitchen, or turn the stove off if you step away.
Pick two ways out and a meeting spot outside, and practise with everyone in the house. Test your alarms monthly while you're at it.
Ten minutes at the kitchen table is time well spent. City of Kitchener | Public Safety Canada
🗑️ Black Cart Swap Is Open Until October 31
The free black cart swap we told you about last week is now open until October 31, so request your size change online or at 519-575-4400. See last week's issue for more information.
Sports
Kitchener Rangers: Rangers fans, the voice you've been missing is back. Mike Farwell is on the mic again for the rest of the season, calling the play-by-play for every home and away game on FM 985 (CKWR), and you can listen online at ckwr.com for this week's three road games. CHL
Date | Opponent | Where | Puck drop |
|---|---|---|---|
Wed, Oct 7 | at Flint Firebirds | Dort Financial Center, Flint, MI | 7:00 p.m. |
Fri, Oct 9 | at Soo Greyhounds | GFL Memorial Gardens, Sault Ste. Marie | 7:07 p.m. |
Sat, Oct 10 | at Saginaw Spirit | Dow Event Center, Saginaw, MI | 7:05 p.m. |
Tue, Oct 13 | vs London Knights | Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud) | 7:00 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 Breezeway - 300 King St E, Kitchener. Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. Link
🧺 Cambridge Farmers' Market - 40 Dickson St, Cambridge. Saturdays 7:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Link
This Week (Oct 6 - Oct 12)
🎵 Something To Talk About (Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones songs) - The Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick St, Kitchener. Wednesday, October 7, 7:30 p.m. $55.66. A night of Bonnie Raitt and Norah Jones songs. Details/Tickets
🎪 Bloody Berlin Walking Tour - Schneider Haus National Historic Site, 466 Queen St S, Kitchener. October 8, 10, 15, 22, 29 & 31 at 7:00 p.m. Ages 16+, advance tickets only. $26.95 plus HST. Tickets
🍴 Grillefest - King St in front of Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St W. Friday, October 9, 11:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. A $5 minimum donation gets you a sausage on a bun, a cold drink and a cookie, and all proceeds go to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. Food donations are welcome too, at the event or in the City Hall Rotunda donation box. Details
🎪 The Dark Side of Galt Evening Walking Tours - McDougall Cottage Historic Site, 89 Grand Ave S, Cambridge. October 9, 16 & 23 at 6:30 p.m. and 7:00 p.m. Plus a Haunted Halloween edition Friday, October 30. $24.95 plus HST. A 90-minute guided walk through Galt's darker history. Ages 14+, pre-registration required, limited spots. Tickets
🎪 Oktoberfest Willkommen Platz - Carl Zehr Square, 200 King St W, Kitchener. Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11. Free for all ages, and family and dog friendly. Downtown's biergarten, main stage and vendor markets, with the official keg tapping Friday at 12:00 p.m. Headliners at 8:30 p.m.: Bif Naked on Friday and Lee Aaron on Saturday. Sunday's closer is Robyn Ottolini's Oktoberfest Goes Country at 4:30 p.m. Walter Ostanek plays all three days. Details
👨👩👧 KIDtoberfest - Kitchener City Hall Rotunda, 200 King St W, Kitchener. Friday, October 9 to Sunday, October 11, 11:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. daily. Free. Oktoberfest fun for kids ages 3 to 10. Details
🐕 DOGtoberfest - Gaukel Block, 44 Gaukel St, Kitchener. Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 11:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m. Free. Dogs should be on non-retractable leashes at all times. Details
🎪 All Ages Oktoberfest - Schneider Haus National Historic Site, 466 Queen St S, Kitchener. Saturday, October 10 and Sunday, October 11, 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Root beer tasting, fresh-baked soft pretzels, backyard games, polka and the chicken dance, all included with admission. Tea for Three performs Sunday from 1 p.m. to 3 p.m. Details
🍴 Fall Pancake Breakfast - Sand Hills Maple Products, 1270 Manser Rd, Wellesley. Saturday, October 10, 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. Free admission; breakfast is $10, $15 or $20 including a drink. Pancakes with apple topping, ice cream and maple syrup, plus guided maple tours, pumpkin bowling, leaf piles and campfires. Leashed dogs welcome. Details
🚂 Heritage Hopper Steam Special - Meeting Point 330 Farmers Market Road, Woolwich (Waterloo). Saturday, October 10. Trains depart at 10:00 a.m., 12:00 p.m. & 2:00 p.m. From $37.44, about two hours. Steam Locomotive No. 9 leads the Thanksgiving weekend lineup. Details/Tickets
🚂 Thanksgiving Steam Excursion - Meeting Point 330 Farmers Market Road, Woolwich (Waterloo). Sunday, October 11. Trains depart at 11:00 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. From $48.14, about two hours. A round trip to Elmira behind Steam Locomotive No. 9, with a run-past. Details/Tickets
🎊 58th Annual Oktoberfest Thanksgiving Day Parade - Starts at Weber St E and Frederick St, Kitchener, travels up Weber Street and finishes at Bridgeport Road. Monday, October 12, 9:30 a.m. Free. Bleacher seats are available for $10 per person, located at Queen and Weber. No pets. Details
👨👩👧 Kidchella (Oktoberfest Edition) - THEMUSEUM, 10 King St W, Kitchener. Monday, October 12, 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. An indoor music festival with live performances from kid-friendly musical artists. Admission varies by age. Details
🎪 Bingemans Screampark - Bingemans, 425 Bingemans Centre Dr, Kitchener. Thursday - Sunday for the rest of October. Check link for times and prices. All ages (not recommended for children under 12 or anyone easily frightened). Details
🎪 Just outside the Region: Rockton World's Fair - 812 Old Highway 8, Rockton. Thanksgiving weekend. A tradition since 1852. Thursday, October 8 - Monday, October 12. Schedule
Coming Up This Month (Oct 13 - Nov 5)
🍴 Cambridge Oktoberfest Lunch - City Hall, Civic Square, Cambridge. Wednesday, October 14, 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m. Enjoy a free sausage with sauerkraut while supplies last. A ceremonial keg tapping and visits from Oktoberfest mascots Onkel Hans and Tante Frieda. Details
🎵 Gord Bamford - Maxwell's, 35 University Ave E, Waterloo. Wednesday, October 14, doors open at 7:00 p.m. Details/Tickets
🏃 WWE Presents NXT Live - Kitchener Memorial Auditorium (The Aud), 400 East Ave, Kitchener. Thursday, October 15, 7:30 p.m. Tickets / 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!