YK jan-feb:Layout 1.qxd

JANUARY-FEBRUARY 2011
A PUBLICATION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF KITCHENER
Rangers help
launch outdoor
rinks Dec. 11
GET ACTIVE, KITCHENER!
Celebrate winter at Civic Square rink at Kitchener
City Hall on Saturday, Dec. 11 from 10 a.m. to 2
p.m., with a free kick-off to announce funding from
the Kitchener Rangers for volunteers and their
families as 40 outdoor skating rinks open in
neighbourhoods around the city.
The event, supported by Active Kitchener, will be
fun for the whole family, with skating
demonstrations, mini-hockey games, children’s
entertainment and barbecues by the Lions Club.
Active Kitchener encourages involvement in
physical activity and sport in Kitchener. Dan the
Music Man will perform at 11 a.m.
Special guest appearances include K-W Glee, who
will perform at 12:30 p.m.; Alisha Nauth, former
contestant on Canadian Idol; local choirs, and the
Kitchener Rangers, who will be signing autographs
from 1-2 p.m. There will be also be a free draw for
new Olympic mittens, as well as a Kitchener
Rangers’ prize pack and a grand prize of tickets for
a family of five for the Team Canada versus Team
Finland game at The Aud on Dec. 23.
“Volunteers are always needed to help maintain the
rinks, to co-ordinate schedules and mobilize the
volunteers in the neighbourhood,” said Michele
McBride-Roach, co-ordinator of outdoor rinks.
“Our volunteers also keep track of funds and
supplies for the rink. They’re integral to helping
everyone in the neighbourhood get the most out of
winter.”
There are 40 possible rink locations; there is likely
one in your neighbourhood! All rinks are accepting
new volunteers. Call Breanna at 519-741-2389 for
more information or to volunteer! For a full listing
of outdoor winter rinks, see www.kitchener.ca,
search ‘outdoor rinks.’
LACE UP THE SKATES – One way to be active in the winter is to take advantage of the
city’s many indoor and outdoor skating rinks. Whether it’s public skating, or playing a
game of shinny or hockey practice, it’s a great way to get exercise while engaging in a
national pastime. The City of Kitchener has 10 ice pads and dozens of outdoor rinks at
schoolyards and community centres around the city, and at city hall. The official launch
of the outdoor winter rinks is Saturday, Dec. 11 at Civic Square, Kitchener City Hall,
from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. with the Kitchener Rangers appearing at 1 p.m. Get out and get
active this winter!
Early birdies get best pick of golf memberships
Did you know you can pay once and enjoy
unlimited games of golf, seven days a week, just
minutes from home, with a full Kitchener Golf
membership? It’s not too late to take advantage of
this great deal as a gift for your golfing partner or
teenager for the holidays.
“Our golf courses offer excellent value for
beginners and experienced golfers alike,” said Gary
Hastings, manager of the city’s two golf courses,
Rockway and Doon Valley. “As well, we have
memberships that can be tailored to the golfer’s
preference.”
Memberships to the pitch-n-putt course at Doon
Valley are ideal for four to 10-year-olds, beginners
or those working on their short game. A beginner
membership allows play seven days a week, and
family memberships are also available for up to four
members of the same family.
Rockway and Doon Valley golf courses are also
offering unlimited annual full diamond-level
memberships, which offer access to a full range of
golf facilities – suitable for every age and skill level –
including:
Doon Valley’s 18-hole course
Rockway’s 18-hole course
Doon Valley’s nine-hole course
Doon Valley’s nine-hole pitch ‘n putt course
Diamond-level memberships registered before
noon on Dec. 24 will also receive a $50 food and
beverage gift card per person ($25 for intermediate
and junior).
See golf, page 4
Google relocates office to Kitchener’s Tannery district
An old reclaimed factory in
downtown Kitchener is fulfilling the
vision of its owners and by city staff, as
Internet search engine Google recently
relocated its Waterloo offices to the
Tannery on Charles Street.
Already home to numerous
businesses, including high-tech
companies, a parent-and-child drop-in
centre, a health care clinic and
pharmacy, another 100,000 square feet
of the complex is occupied by the
Communitech digital media hub and
Desire2Learn, as well as a coffee shop,
gourmet pizza shop, and an event
centre for functions and to showcase
digital media talent.
Both The Tannery project and
Google's move into the newly
redeveloped building are direct results
of the city's strategic investment of its
$110 million Economic Development
Investment Fund (EDIF). Since 2004,
the fund has been leveraging major,
strategic private and public sector
investments in the downtown core that
have attracted talent and educational
institutions; achieved the adaptive
reuse of previously under-used former
manufacturing sites like The Tannery -and which are providing a thriving
environment for cutting-edge research
and technology, including a new digital
media hub, which includes a $500,000
investment from the city in 2008.
The Tannery offers “urban energy,”
according to Silvia Di Donato,
manager of business development for
the City of Kitchener.
“We know one of downtown’s
greatest assets is its character and
charm. It’s this very character, found in
the architecture of buildings like the
Tannery, Kaufman Lofts, 72 Victoria
St. and the Breithaupt block, that
creative businesses are searching
for.Their employees want funky,
creative spaces,” she said, adding
employees want to be close to coffee
shops, pubs, shopping and street
life. “The addition of Google and the
Communitech hub, as well as the
growth of Desire2Learn, clearly
confirms this.They chose the Tannery
because it can offer this recipe of cool
space amongst a growing urban vibe.”
In 2005, Google set up shop on
Start 2011 off right
at the New Year’s levee
Citizens and visitors of all ages are invited to join Kitchener’s mayor and city
council at the 2011 New Year’s levee, which will be held at city hall on Sunday,
Jan. 2, 2011, from 2-4 p.m.
Mark the start of another year, exchange New Year’s greetings with your
friends and neighbours, and with council, in anticipation of good news for the
year ahead.
Bring your skates for a spin around the rink on Civic Square, then warm up
inside in the rotunda, while enjoying musical excerpts performed by the
Kitchener Musical Society Band.
This free event is an annual ritual for many families who look forward to the
entertainment and the tasty refreshments donated each year by Bingemans.
The levee is a great chance to greet returning members of Kitchener city
council, meet the newest councillors, and continue the holiday spirit into 2011.
SEE SNOW, THINK
SNOW REMOVAL
ENVIRONMENTAL
LEADERSHIP
Dutton Drive in Waterloo, when it
acquired Reqwireless, a small Waterloo
firm devoted to developing mobile
phone applications, started by
University of Waterloo students. In
2007, it moved to “Tech Town,” the
RIM-inspired series of buildings
nestled on the edge of the University
of Waterloo campus.
Now with 70 employees, mostly
engineers and nearly half of the
company’s Canadian total, local
Google projects include the upcoming
Chrome operating system, HTML5
programming language and Buzz
social-networking service.
Google’s presence in the building
confirms the developer’s vision.
“Google joining the Tannery is the
ultimate confirmation of our vision,”
said Lana Sherman of Cadan Inc. “City
staff have worked with us to develop a
vision for the Tannery – a place where
people can share space and ideas.The
digital media hub cemented that vision
with their ‘virtual sandbox.’ Google
adds to the Tannery convergence
district with their innovation.”
Di Donato hopes the success of the
Tannery is just the beginning.
“We suspect this is just the first of
many creative companies, both small
and large, new and established, that
will see downtown Kitchener as the
right fit for their business and the
talent they attract,” she said.
FREE SATURDAY PARKING DOWNTOWN
We have made visiting downtown Kitchener easier for the
holiday season! There will be free parking every Saturday in
city-operated downtown lots until Jan. 1.
Council, committee meetings open to public
Kitchener city council meetings and standing committee meetings are held
in council chambers at Kitchener City Hall. Upcoming council and standing
committee meetings include:
DECEMBER 13
DECEMBER 20
JANUARY 4
JANUARY 10
JANUARY 17
JANUARY 20
JANUARY 24
FEBRUARY 7
FEBRUARY 10
FEBRUARY 14
FEBRUARY 28
COMMUNITY TRAILS
SURVEY
Committees
Council
Committees
Council
Committees
Budget (operating)
Council
Committees
Budget (capital)
Council
Committees
XTREME ICE RACING
No brakes, massive
More ways the city
Winter bylaws are in
engine power . . . on
Don’t miss the
leads
by
example.
effect.
chance to tell us what ice.
trails mean to you.
page 6-7
page 4
page 12
page 9
Page 2 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
YOUR NEW CITY OF KITCHENER COUNCIL
MAYOR CARL ZEHR
519-741-2300
[email protected]
COUNCILLOR SCOTT
DAVEY
Ward 1
519-741-2784
[email protected]
COUNCILLOR PAUL
SINGH
Ward 6
519-741-2793
[email protected]
Kitchener's new city council was elected on Oct. 25, 2010.
During the election, the number of councillors increased from six to 10.
All council members are elected for a four-year term. The mayor is
elected by voters from across the city, and councillors are elected by
voters within specific wards.
Members of city council meet at regularly scheduled council and
committee meetings throughout the year. Public hearings, special
council meetings, business license hearings and courts of revision are
also held as needed to consider specific matters.
Council members may also be appointed to local or regional boards or
commissions.
COUNCILLOR BERRY
VRBANOVIC
COUNCILLOR JOHN
GAZZOLA
COUNCILLOR YVONNE
FERNANDES
COUNCILLOR KELLY
GALLOWAY
Ward 4
519-741-2779
[email protected]
Ward 5
519-741-2791
[email protected]
COUNCILLOR BIL
IOANNIDIS
COUNCILLOR ZYG
JANECKI
COUNCILLOR FRANK
ETHERINGTON
COUNCILLOR DAN
GLENN-GRAHAM
Ward 2
519-741-2243
[email protected]
Ward 7
519-741-2783
[email protected]
Ward 3
519-741-2790
[email protected]
Ward 8
519-741-2796
[email protected]
Ward 9
519-741-2798
[email protected]
Ward 10
519-741-2786
[email protected]
Page 3 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
NEW LOOK – The revamped King Street downtown has a new look and feel – not just during the day (left) but at night through the winter
(right). King Street has been transformed into a vibrant, urban, modern environment. The transformation is so striking, the City of
Kitchener and the IBI Group (consultants) were recently awarded a prestigious Community Places Award at the International Making
Cities Livable Conference in Charleston, South Carolina. This new streetscape will help to create a high-quality, pedestrian-friendly
downtown that will be one of North America’s first urban green streets with a livable, sustainable and vibrant environment for
pedestrians and businesses alike. The winter decorations (above right) were partly funded by the federal Community Adjustment Fund
(CAF) and the downtown BIA.
Have you been downtown Kitchener lately?
management systems, to name a few.
The first step in redefining King
Street as the centre of everything
urban in Waterloo Region is now
complete. Come see for yourself how
King Street has transformed into a
lifestyle, with the needs of the
community put first.
Wider sidewalks
Dynamic downtown
King Street has been designed with
the pedestrian in mind. The
pedestrian-first model is all about the
experience - vibrant street
atmosphere, a contemporary urban
feel, great shopping and restaurants.
New benches, bike racks and flower
pots make your next downtown visit
more enjoyable.
Festival street
Parades, festivals, ceremonies –
Kitchener celebrates on King street.
Curbs have been lowered, smaller
event pads have been added, video
projection, known as “the Cube,” has
been installed atop city hall, and
Speaker’s Corner and Civic Square
have been expanded.
Green street
Designated as a “green street” by
Tree Canada, King Street’s design has
a myriad of environmentally
sustainable design elements. The
street includes 120 new street trees;
bike racks to encourage cycling;
planter beds that collect and filter
storm water, use of recycled materials
in roadway and improved waste-
Waterloo Region Small Business Centre
Winter seminars
All seminars are from 6–8 p.m. at the Small Business Centre in
Kitchener City Hall.
Visit www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com for complete listings.
Call 519-741-2604 to register.
www.waterlooregionsmallbusiness.com for complete seminar and
event listings.
Cost $25 + GST (unless noted); pre-payment is required to reserve
seat.
Starting a Business
January 13
Everything You Need to Know About Websites January 18
Writing a Business Plan
January 20
Understanding Financials for the Business Owner January 27
Managing Client Relations
February 4
9:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Effective Records Management February 11
9:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Creating Dynamic Presentations February 18
9:15 – 11:30 a.m.
Income Tax for the Small Business Owner
February 24
WHO WE ARE
Your Kitchener is distributed to 67,000 homes in Kitchener,
six times a year. If you have questions or comments about the
publication, please contact:
Communications and Customer Service division,
City of Kitchener, City Hall,
PO Box 1118, Kitchener, ON, N2G 4G7,
E-mail to: [email protected], or call 519-741-2383.
This summer, restaurants, coffee
shops and retailers spilled out onto
the new sidewalks in the warmer
months, and were the scene of more
than 100 live music performances.
Summer events and festivals, such as
the Kitchener Blues Festival, can
enjoy more outdoor, interactive space
with lower curbs and improved
pedestrian accessibility.
Brighter nights
Contemporary improved street
lighting, up-lighting in trees and
additional accent lighting brightens up
King Street each evening.
Retail and restaurant
opportunities
The new King Street offers the
Region’s best contemporary curb
appeal, ideal for new shops and
restaurants. For more information,
contact economic development at
519-741-2292 or the Downtown BIA.
Flexible parking options
European-style bollards line King
Street and provide our residents with
flexible parking options. In warmer
months, the bollards are used to close
portions of the street and convert
parking spaces into spaces for outdoor
cafes, patios and restaurant seating.
During the winter months, the
bollards will be set to maintain onstreet parking while maintaining a
pedestrian environment.
Speakers’ Corner
An historical gathering place for
Kitchener residents has been
enhanced with a contemporary new
design to match the rest of King
Street. Open space, seating and an
interactive art installation have all
been added to Speakers’ Corner to
improve this space.
Free your glee for New
Year’s Eve at city hall
Bring along skates for a
Ring in the new year
skating party on Civic
on Dec. 31 at Civic
Square with special
Square, with free
guests, the Kitchener
festivities, starting with
Rangers’ mascots. The
a children’s New Year
skating rink will remain
celebration from 5-8
open until just past
p.m. Erick Traplin kicks
midnight.
the festivities off at 5
p.m., and the children’s
Once the kiddies are
countdown takes place
home in bed or with the
at 6 p.m. There will be
babysitter, the New Year’s
half-hour
Eve Countdown on Civic
performances, starting
Alisha Nauth performs Square starts at 9 p.m.
after the countdown,
with Alisha Nauth, followed
New Year’s Eve.
with the Irish Celtic
by K-W Glee at 10 p.m.,
Dance Academy, until 8 p.m.
showcasing popular musical hits. A live
music and dance show runs until just
During all the music and
after the countdown at midnight.
entertainment, the kids can make
crafts to take away, while quantities
For more information, please see
last, and there will be food and hot
www.newyearsevekitchener.ca
chocolate for purchase.
For more information on downtown events, or
to sign up for the Downtown E-News,
go to www.downtownkitchener.ca
Page 4 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
Keep Kitchener roads and sidewalks clear and safe
As the wind blows and the snow swirls, ice forms
underfoot, and roads and city sidewalks become
slippery sources of frustration. City of Kitchener
staff does its best to clear the snow and ice and
reduce hazards to motorists and pedestrians as
quickly as possible.
Here are a few things you can do to help keep
Kitchener roads and sidewalks clear and safe:
Observe winter parking regulations. Streets that
have parked vehicles on them cannot be plowed. To
report parking violations, please call 519-741-2330;
Please shovel snow from driveways and
sidewalks onto your property. Placing snow on
roadways or public sidewalks is in violation with the
Highway Traffic Act and city bylaws;
Keep sidewalks clear from snow and ice. Not
only is it the law, it helps those using walkers, canes,
strollers and wheelchairs;
Please understand that there is no practical way
to avoid pushing snow into driveway entrances
during plowing. Wait to shovel until the street is
cleared, to avoid additional work;
Remind children not to climb or play on
snowbanks; it can be dangerous;
Start braking early for stop signs and red lights
and leave extra stopping distance between you and
the car ahead of you;
If your hydrant is buried by drifts or
snowbanks, please dig it out or call the Kitchener
Fire Department at 519-741-2494 or City of
Kitchener at 519-741-2345.
For more information, see the Snow-How brochure
at www.kitchener.ca/snow
DID YOU KNOW?
About 570 lane kilometres are
maintained throughout the winter
season; 173 of those are regional;
There are 15 salt routes, and 32
plow routes in the city;
It takes up to 24 hours to complete
all snow-plowing routes after the snow
has stopped falling;
There are 1,170 bus stops that are
generally cleared within two days;
The City of Kitchener provides free
sand for residential use on icy walks
outside the gate at the Bramm Street
yard (located at the end of Joseph
street just off Victoria street south);
The City of Kitchener uses an "antiicing" program to reduce salt usage on
winter roads. Anti-icing is the direct
liquid application of a salt brine onto
the roadway prior to a snow event,
preventing snow and ice from bonding
to the pavement.
When you see snow, remember tag-and-tow
Golf memberships
Continued from front page
Restricted diamond-level memberships are also
available. Enjoy unlimited play Monday to Friday
only (holidays excluded) at Doon Valley and
Rockway’s 18-hole courses, along with Doon Valley
nine-hole gold-level course.
Junior diamond level memberships, which are valid
before 5 p.m. on weekdays and after 2 p.m. on
weekends, are also available.
A gold membership allows unlimited play seven
days per week at Doon Valley’s nine-hole gold-level
course only, with an added bonus of paying just
$17.70 anytime to play diamond-level courses.
Current members must renew their memberships
by March 1 to guarantee their membership for the
upcoming season. Only a limited number of
memberships are available, so memberships will be
filled on a first-come-first-served basis.
For more information on fees, restrictions or
privileges, see www.kitchenergolf.ca
If you think it’s hard getting down a narrow city
street in a car during a snow storm, think about how
much harder it is for the snowplow drivers!
When a snow event hits Kitchener, it is the goal of
the city’s operations crews to clear all streets within
24 hours after the storm stops. This job can be
difficult when vehicles are parked on the streets,
impeding snow-removal equipment.
That’s one of the reasons the city enacted the tagand-tow bylaw, enabling operations crews to clear
the streets of snow more quickly and ensure the
safety of both pedestrians and vehicular traffic, and
enabling access for emeergency vehicles.
The tag-and-tow bylaw prohibits parking on all city
streets when a “snow event” is declared, to provide
safe and efficient access for the city’s operations
crews to plow the streets.
A snow event is based on credible weather forecast
information, when a minimum of eight centimetres
of snow is forecast to fall.
“Our bylaw officers will be out during snow events,
watching for parked vehicles that are preventing the
snow-removal equipment from clearing the street,”
said Shayne Turner, the city’s director of bylaw
enforcement. “It’s really better to take the easy road,
and find alternative parking during snow events.”
If you park on a city street during a snow event:
Your vehicle will be ticketed. Parking fines
during a snow event are $80.
Your vehicle may be impounded or relocated to
another nearby area, where you will have to
arrange to pick it up.
Owners of vehicles that have been towed will
be provided with a phone number to call, to
find out where their vehicles have been taken.
In the event that some, but not all, vehicles are
towed away, the remaining vehicles found in
violation will be ticketed.
Any parking tickets and towing charges issues
cannot be cancelled or withdrawn at any time. To
receive notices when snow events are declared,
subscribe online at www.kitchener.ca, search word
“bylaw.”
Cul-de-sacs during snow events
The City of Kitchener improved snow removal
service for cul-de-sacs during a snow event in 2008.
In order to make sure all city streets are plowed
within 24 hours after the storm stops and to improve
snow removal in these hard-to-maintain areas, culde-sac bulbs are maintained by snow blowers, which
will pile snow whenever possible in the centre of the
cul-de-sac.
Snow plows and trucks will continue to maintain
the remainder of the cul-de-sacs.
During a snowfall of less than eight centimetres,
snow plows will maintain the entire cul-de-sacs,
including the bulbs.
For more information on the city’s tag-and-tow
bylaw, please contact 519-741-2330, or visit
www.kitchener.ca
Preventing the flu comes down to hygiene
With winter comes flu season, and the lessons
learned from last year’s H1N1 pandemic mean that
it shouldn’t be too hard to remember how to
prevent the spread of the virus.
It’s all in the hygiene.
The best way to prevent catching the virus is by
practicing good hygiene:
Live well – eat a balanced diet, get a good
night’s sleep and exercise regularly;
Wash your hands frequently, for at least 20
seconds – the length of time it takes to sing
“Happy Birthday” – using soap and warm
water, especially before and after cooking,
eating or taking medication; after wiping your
nose or if you use your hands to cover your
mouth to sneeze or cough, and after using the
washroom or handling pets;
LOOKING FOR
QUICK & EASY
GIFT IDEAS?
Try any of these:
• Market dollars (available at the Kitchener Market)
• Marketplace cooking classes vouchers (available at the Kitchener Market)
• Summer swim passes for city pools (available at any pool)
• Golf memberships (available at any online kitchenergolf.ca)
• Downtown BIA dollars (available at the BIA office, 519-744-4921)
• Performances at The Aud:
• Sesame Street Live, Saturday, Dec. 18.
• Rock the Ice, Jan. 8
• Xtreme Ice Racing, Jan. 31
Avoid coughing or sneezing into your hand. Use
your elbow, sleeve or a tissue. Discard the used
tissue immediately;
Avoid touching your eyes, mouth and nose;
Avoid engaging in handshakes, hugs and kisses;
Clean hard surfaces with a disinfectant;
influenza can survive on surfaces for eight to
48 hours;
Use alcohol-based hand sanitizer, only if soap
and warm water aren’t available;
Stay home if you’re sick!
Members of the community who have questions or
want more information can call Region of Waterloo
Public Health at 519-883-2000, or Telehealth
Ontario at 1-866-797-0000. For more information
on the flu shot, please visit www.gettheflushot.ca
Page 5 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
Ways to spend winter days . . .
If there’s snow, the toboggan hill
at
McLennan Park isKeepopen
It might look steep, but the ride
a safe distance from the
down McLennan Park toboggan hill is
a smooth and fun one.
And it’s one you’ll want to repeat
over and over.
That’s why the hill is open from 6
a.m. to 11 p.m. each day throughout
the winter.
McLennan Park is located near the
intersection of Ottawa Street and
Strasburg Road. The big hill, visible
from the road, is the toboggan hill,
and as long as there’s snow, there’s
tobogganing.
A number of guidelines have been put
in place to protect people who are
tobogganing or sledding:
For your protection, helmets are
strongly recommended.
Always sit or kneel facing
forward on your sled.
Keep your hands, arms and legs
inside your sled to prevent
injury.
Avoid using the hill if it is icy.
Do not stop in the middle of the
hill - someone could get hurt.
sled in front of you.
Pay attention to other sledders.
No snow jumps allowed! Keep
everyone safe.
For utmost safety, please only slide
down the designated hill, which is
marked by signs.
Tobogganing outside of the
designated area is prohibited, as is
drinking alcohol while using the hill.
Parents must stay and play with their
children, because the hill is
unsupervised.
All those using the hill do so at their
own risk.
The City of Kitchener is not
responsible for, and accepts no liability
for, any injuries, loss or damage
claimed or suffered by anyone related
to the access and use of this area,
however it’s caused.
Problems can be reported to park
operations, City of Kitchener, at
519-741-2557, or
[email protected]. In an
emergency, please call 911.
Centres for adults 50+ can
help keep lifestyle healthy
When Old Man Winter waves his
wand and covers the city with a
blanket of beautiful white snow, and
freshens the air to that crisp cold
feeling, don’t think it’s time to
retreat to the couch! There are
groups and activities at our centres
for adults 50+ that welcome you to
join the fun of the season.
Walking
Get active and enjoy the mild
winter days by strolling with friends
for one-hour walks close to home.
The Breithaupt Centre Happy
Hoofers go walking on Thursdays in
January 2011 at 1 p.m. Walks are
held within the city during the
winter season to limit driving, and
are shorter to keep your toes warm!
For more information, call
519-741-2502.
Many of our community centres
and neighbourhood associations also
have walking groups for all ages,
outdoor and indoor. For correct
information, it is best to contact
your closest centre or check the
Winter Leisure Guide 2011 for
current information.
Fitness
Start each morning off with a burst
of energy at any one of the three
adults 50+ centres offering fitness
classes. Classes are offered for those
from 50-95+. The courses are coded
with hearts to designate difficulty:
one heart indicates the easiest level,
and three hearts are a real workout
for any age! Courses include
strength training, cardio walkers,
zumba, pilates, ball classes, to
mention a few.
You can warm up and find the class
that suits your skill level at the
facility closest to you, or check the
latest edition of Leisure to see what
classes are available.
Events
Rockway Centre features Leisa Way
and The Wayward Wind, back by
popular demand, for their new
Dolly Parton tribute concert,
Rhinestone Cowgirl, on Feb. 3,
2011. Leisa was at Rockway recently
playing Patsy Cline.
Doors open at 5 p.m. with dinner
at 5:30 p.m. The show runs from
6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tickets are $22 + HST for
members, and $24 + HST for nonmembers.
For more details, or to buy tickets,
please call 519-741-2508.
Volunteering
Finally, if you are looking to get
active and weekly fitness is not your
cup of tea, perhaps volunteering
may be? How about serving tea at
one of the three snack bars located
within Breithaupt Centre,
Downtown Centre or Rockway
Centre? This type of job will allow
you to get exercise and serve in the
community all at once. For a
complete list of all the volunteer
opportunities available, contact
Leslie Bamford, at 519-741-2564.
Jack Frost will definitely be active
this winter, so don’t be left out.
Grab your mitts and come visit us at
the 50+ centres, Rockway,
Downtown and Breithaupt, to see
what activities will keep you warm
over the winter, or check out
www.kitchener.ca for more
information.
Find solitude on city trails
You don’t have to go far to find lush trees towering
overhead, the scent of evergreen lingering in the crisp
winter air and the snow crunching beneath your feet —
just find a city trail.
Kitchener has 304 parks, 2,000 acres of parkland and
open spaces, and more than 125 kilometres of
community trails. The best ones for skiing and
snowshoeing include Kiwanis Park, Huron Natural
Area, Bingemans Ski Trail and the Walter Bean Grand
River Trail.
Find your winter legs again, and rediscover familiar
trails under a blanket of snow.
If you are interested in finding out more about
Kitchener’s trails, and the community trails master
plan, see page 8. Check out our website at
www.kitchener.ca, search word “trails.”
Find your inner artist
through city art programs
Pablo Picasso, artist and
co-founder of the Cubist
movement, said art
washes away from the
soul the dust of everyday
life. John Updike, art
critic and novelist, said,
“What art offers is
space, a certain
breathing room for the
spirit.”
Find out how art can
feed your soul by
enrolling in art
programs at Breithaupt
Centre, which offers day
or evening classes in a
number of art forms
taught by skilled art
instructors. A display of
art produced in some of
these classes can be seen
in the display cases on
the second floor of city
hall throughout the
month of January.
“It is this relaxing and
therapeutic quality of art
that makes it so
attractive to many
people,” said Diane
Cowie, program coordinator, “and although
the final project is part
of the goal, the true
enjoyment is coming to
class.”
Glass fusing is one of
the most popular
courses at the centre,
and teaches the art of
tacking, fusing, and
slumping glass using the
kiln. Students are taught
to choose colours and
create design, and to
cut, break and glue glass.
Everyone leaves the
beginners’ class with up
to five projects. Studio
classes are also offered
for students who have
previous glass fusing
experience and simply
need space and time to
work.
“
adults 50+ — can
unleash their creativity
through chunks of clay in
a pottery class. The
process of slab bowls,
pinch pots, coils bowls
or working on the wheel
allows everyone a sense
of accomplishment and
the glazing, or dressing
with colour, is truly the
most fun. This coming
Art washes away from the soul
the dust of everyday life.”
-- Pablo Picasso
Bunka, a type of
Japanese embroidery, is
offered weekly.
Resembling delicately
shaded paintings, the
bunka needle is held and
operates in much the
same manner as an
artist’s brush or pencil.
This art form provides
hours of relaxation while
working on the canvas.
Watercolours are very
delicate as a medium,
allowing self-expression
that is sensitive to the
touch and has every
colour under the
rainbow. Learn new
skills of shading, washes,
shadows, depth and
many other skills.
All ages — from youth,
children and families to
winter, Breithaupt
Centre is switching to
stoneware so students
can make bowls and
mugs that will be sturdy
and dishwasher safe.
Breithaupt Centre also
offers a variety of
drawing classes, wire
tree sculpture, and
children’s multi-media
art classes. These and
other art courses are
also offered through
local neighbourhood
associations and 50+
centres.
Register online now
using WEBreg at
www.kitchener.ca to
avoid disappointment for
programs starting in
January 2011.
City pools now offer swim lessons in other languages
LIFE SKILLS -- Forest Heights pool offers swimming instruction in five
prevent newcomers from accessing
swimming programs and education
about water safety. The Swim to
Survive program is offered in Spanish,
Italian, French, Polish and Arabic.
The sessions for swimmers aged
seven to 12 years run from 4 to 5
p.m., from Dec. 27-29, while the
classes for swimmers aged three to six
years runs from 5 to 6 p.m.
About 57 per cent of drowning
deaths occur while participating in
aquatic activities such as swimming or
boating,, according to the Lifesaving
Society. Ontario leads the national
rates of water-related fatalities, at 36
per cent of the total drownings in
Canada.
Drowning is the second leading cause
of preventable death for children
under 10 years of age.
The skills required to survive an
languages other than English, Dec. 27-29.
The stats are in. A study conducted
this year by the Lifesaving Society
indicates that new Canadians are four
times more likely to be unable to swim
than those born in Canada, and are
therefore at higher risk for drowning.
The City of Kitchener pools are
hoping to change that statistic for the
better, by offering opportunities to
gain basic swimming skills, taught by
instructors in five languages.
The Lifesaving Society’s Swim-toSurvive™ Standard program will run
two sessions a day for three days, for
children aged three to 12 years.
The session will be held December
27-29 at Forest Heights pool, 253
Fischer Hallman Rd.
Sponsored by Tim Hortons, the
program is free for all participants.
“The Canadian Swim to Survive
Standard is a minimum standard of
swimming skill for all children,” said
Janet Zomer, supervisor of Forest
Heights pool.
“Knowing how to swim is a life skill.
This program doesn’t take the place of
swimming lessons, but it does provide
a basic knowledge of how to survive an
unexpected fall into the water,” she
explained, adding, “With the record
number of drownings in Ontario this
past summer, this is even more
relevant, especially for newcomers
who may not have any experience of
interacting with swimming pools or
larger bodies of water.”
Zomer said that language barriers can
The free Swim to Survive
program at Forest Heights
pool is offered Dec. 27-29
in the following languages:
Spanish
Italian
French
Polish
Arabic
Call 519-741-2493 to
register.
unexpected fall into water are:
Roll into deep water
Tread water for one minute
Swim 50 metres
Call 519-741-2493 to register.
Direct from
your house to
the fire house
DIRECT
DETECT
The only in-home fire monitoring
system connected directly to the
fire department.
You could save up
to 15% on your
home insurance.
www.directdetect.ca
Call
519.741.2651
available in the municipalities of Kitchener & Waterloo
and the townships of Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich.
Page 6 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
green
kitchener
Kitchener resident Lillian Croal
uses the first Blue Box - created
in Kitchener - in 1983.
leading by example.
Reduce, Reuse, Recycle
Birthplace of
the Blue Box
S
Strategic Plan for the Environment
eparate the garbage from the
recyclables. Place the recyclables
in the Blue Box. Put the Blue
Box at the curb to be collected.
This is a weekly – and extremely
worthwhile – routine for many of us,
as we all strive to do our parts to
preserve the environment and reduce
the amount of waste that ends up in
our area landfills.
But have you ever wondered who
came up with the novel concept of
placing various items made of glass,
paper, cardboard and plastic in a large
blue bin?
The answer is closer than you think.
It all started here, in Kitchener!
Nyle Ludolph, who worked for
Laidlaw Waste Systems, believed waste
could be managed better. With the
support of his employer, he worked on
research that eventually led to the
development of the Blue Box.
The prototype for the Blue Box was
cardboard, and it was used for a pilot
project in the Kitchener Auditorium
neighbourhood in 1981. In September
1983, recycling was introduced
citywide.
Today, approximately five million
households in Ontario have access to
recycling – that’s 99 per cent of
Ontario’s population, diverting
hundreds of thousands of tons of
recyclables from landfills
provincewide.
The Blue-Box program has also
expanded in various forms throughout
Canada and to countries around the
world, serving more than 40 million
households globally.
This is a shining example of how
Kitchener – and the innovation and
creativity of the residents of this
community – has made a tremendous
impact and shown great leadership in
the environmental movement – and on
the global stage.
updated plan to life.
Kitchener residents have made it
clear through years of surveys, public
workshops and consultations, including
two Environics surveys and the Whoare-you-Kitchener? campaign, that
they believe the environment should
be an important factor in every
decision the city makes in planning
Kitchener’s future.
A number of priority areas have been
incorporated into the updated plan and
are the focus of the development of
environmental initiatives and priorities
for the city, as well as the community
at large.
Those areas include:
natural heritage systems and
recreational amenity areas
water resources
air quality
land resource and growth
management
energy systems
resource consumption and waste
management
environmental education and
public awareness
“We continually aim to identify and
implement policies and practices
which reflect community values and
impact positively on our local
environment,” Steiner said.
For more information or to read the
city’s strategic plan for the
environment, please visit
www.kitchener.ca
Our guide to making every day Earth Day
I
t is one thing to say you’re going
to preserve the environment…but
it’s quite another to chart a course
– or better yet, a comprehensive plan
– and follow through with action.
for action in key areas of focus.
In fact, Kitchener is one of the first
municipalities in the province to have a
comprehensive environmental plan of
this kind.
That’s exactly what the City of
Kitchener has done with its strategic
plan for the environment – a living
document, last updated in 2008, which
guides the development of its current
and future environmental initiatives,
and identifies objectives and priorities
“Our main objective through our
strategic plan for the environment is to
ensure our environment is ecologically
sound and supportive of the health,
safety and well-being of our residents,”
said Barbara Steiner, a senior
environmental planner with the City of
Kitchener, who helped bring the
...one of the first municipalities in the
province to have a comprehensive
environmental plan of this kind.
LEAF Program
Spurring grassroots action through smart investments
I
t has been more than three years
since Kitchener city council
underscored the city’s
commitment to protecting and
conserving the environment through
the creation of the $5-million Local
Environmental Action Fund (LEAF).
Since then, and following two
successful LEAF grant application
processes, a variety of green projects
have been completed – or are in the
midst of taking place, as a result of this
municipal stimulus program, as well as
a resolute commitment from residents
across the community to make
Kitchener a cleaner, greener place to
live.
LEAF must:
Contribute to the reduction of
greenhouse gases produced by the
city’s own operations and/or the
community at large.
Increase public awareness of the
environmental impact of the actions of
municipal governments, communities,
businesses, families and/or individuals,
and promote changed behaviour at this
local level.
Provide a long-term, sustainable
benefit to Kitchener.
Funded projects and programs must
also accomplish one or more of the
following:
Contribute to enhanced local air
quality.
Result in reduced energy use,
increased energy efficiency, increased
use of alternative energy sources.
Increase city ownership of
significant natural lands where other
“We have approved some very creative,
innovative funding proposals – projects that
have taken a unique perspective on
celebrating the local environment.”
“We have reviewed and, in many
cases, approved some very creative,
innovative funding proposals –
projects that have taken a unique
perspective on celebrating the local
environment,” said Barbara Steiner,
senior environmental planner and
administrator of the LEAF program.
The goal of Kitchener’s LEAF
program is to reduce or repair our
city’s impact on the environment, and
to enhance the community’s ability to
live sustainably into the future.
Projects or programs funded by
techniques for acquisition have not
succeeded.
Provide capital enhancements to
city-owned and city-managed natural
lands over and above what would
occur as part of normal city
procedures.
Facilitate capital improvements
that will make existing communities
more complete and residents of those
communities less dependent on the
automobile.
For more information about how to
apply, visit www.kitchener.ca/leaf.
Past LEAF grant recipients
Sandhills public school; GREEN (Sandhills’ greening project);
$2,000.
King Edward public school; Schoolground greening and
playground improvement; $3,210.
Kitchener Master Gardeners; Pesticide-free workshops; $4,244.
Southridge public school; Schoolground greening; $4,680.
Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW); Power $aving
Network; $5,000
Waterloo Stewardship Network; Classroom trees from seed;
$6,500.
Grand River Conservation Authority; Restoration of Pioneer
Tower floodplain forest; $8,500.
Waterloo Region District School Board; Huron Natural Area
interpreter; $12,000.
Waterloo-Wellington Children’s Groundwater Festival; Only Tap
Water Delivers program; $12,900.
Emmanuel Bible College; Forest restoration, rain gardens, bioswales; $18,740.
J.W. Gerth public school; Schoolyard greening; $20,000.
Waterloo Stewardship Network; School stewardship program;
$20,000.
Grand River CarShare; Public awareness and social marketing
campaign to promote and increase car sharing in Kitchener;
$25,000.
Trinity Village; Green roof addition; $31,075.
Sustainable Waterloo; The CO2 Initiative: a carbon-reduction
project for the high-tech sector; $35,000.
World Wide Opportunities for Women; Home Energy Saver
Project: A Green Multicultural Initiative; $49,900.
Waterloo Region Green Solutions (Residential Energy Efficiency
Project); REEP House; $60,000.
City of Kitchener Green City committee; City hall waste reduction
initiative; (up to) $74,700.
City of Kitchener community services department, Westmount
neighbourhood association, Friends of Laurentian Wetland, W.T.
Townshend public school and Kitchener-Waterloo Field
Naturalists; Master plan and applied pilot projects for
sustainable urban forest in Kitchener; $37,416 for Westmount
neighbourhood association’s street trees and $37,716 for
Laurentian wetland.
Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate and Vocational School; Green
Industries Education Centre; $220,000.
Community Renewable Energy Waterloo (CREW) with city’s
building division; Kitchener green housing incentive program;
$500,000.
Page 7 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
green
kitchener
leading by example.
Major Strategies
Walking the green talk
N
ot only has the City of Kitchener developed
an entire strategy around preserving and
protecting the local environment, in the
form of its strategic plan for the environment; the
city has extended its green commitment to all of its
other major strategies too.
By way of numerous public consultations, meetings
and workshops in recent years, residents made their
collective voice heard, and the city has answered the
call, building the community’s priorities into every
major strategy thereafter.
City of Kitchener Strategic Plan
Topping the list is Kitchener’s strategic plan – a
comprehensive, 20-year blueprint for the future that
guides and aligns the city’s work and spending with
our community’s six key priorities for the future.
Not surprisingly, Kitchener citizens care deeply
about the environment and they have identified its
preservation and protection as one of six key
priorities for the future.
Through extensive community consultation in
recent years, thousands of citizens also helped to
develop their vision for the Kitchener’s
environment.
“Our shared vision is for Kitchener to be a
community that focuses significant energy and
resources on becoming more environmentally
friendly through investments in things like bike
trails, improved transit systems, tougher
environmental bylaws and stricter growth
management policies that limit sprawl.”
Today, the strategic plan’s directions put action
behind the vision and priorities. The plan calls for
embracing the community’s commitment to ensuring
more sustainable development in the future –
development that balances the needs of a growing
city with the need to protect our natural
environment.
It also ensures that environmental considerations
are important factors in every decision that the city
makes – and that we continue to provide leadership
in conserving, protecting and improving the
environment for the benefit of all Kitchener
residents.
Kitchener Growth Management Strategy
Public input over the course of more than a year
helped the city identify six main goals at the heart of
this comprehensive strategy – with two being to
enhance the city’s valued natural and cultural
heritage resources, and ensure greater transportation
choice for residents.
“Conservation of our natural environment is vital to
the quality of life of the Kitchener of tomorrow.
Additionally, the conservation of historical resources
is needed to contribute to understanding and
enhancing our cultural identity,” said Brandon Sloan,
PRIORITY -- Kitchener citizens care deeply about the environment, and have identified
preservation and protection as one of six key priorities for the future.
the city’s interim manager of long-range planning.
“The city is engaged in significant efforts to enhance
both our natural and cultural heritage. As we grow,
the linkage between these elements and the location
and design of new growth is ever more important.”
Under the goal of enhancing the city’s valued
natural and cultural heritage resources, the city aims
to, among many things:
conserve significant natural heritage features,
systems and networks;
provide local solutions to 10 help improve air
and water quality;
implement energy conservation measures for
the municipality and promote the benefits to
the community, and
ensure new development limits its impact on
water/wastewater systems.
In ensuring greater transportation choices for
residents, the city aims to, among many things, focus
intensification to support the central transit
corridor/rapid-transit system; and incorporate
cycling planning and infrastructure for destination
travel. Doing so is also a significant draw for the
critical talent needed to support Kitchener’s new
economy.
Economic development strategy
Six years ago, the city created its cutting-edge
$110-million economic development investment
fund (EDIF) which immediately began to stimulate
private-sector investment in Kitchener’s downtown.
Much has been said about the incredible economic
success of the fund, but what many people don’t
realize is that this massive downtown revitalization
has also been good for the environment.
As a direct result of EDIF, many vacant buildings
and properties are being cleaned up and restored to
good use.
For example, the fund has led to the clean up of 8.8
acres of formerly contaminated downtown lands. In
their place, some new developments – featuring
hundreds of new residential units and new
commercial and work spaces – have already come to
life, while several others are currently still being
developed.
Naturally, bringing more people downtown to live,
work and play, facilitates greener lifestyles where the
close proximity of amenities sees people walking,
biking, taking public transit and meeting friends or
enjoying art in places which were once covered by
abandoned industrial buildings.
The key to green energy business success
Doing business in Kitchener
Whether relocating, expanding or forging new opportunities,
Kitchener is a great place to do business. Located in the heart of
Canada’s Technology Triangle and within an hour’s drive of
metropolitan Toronto, Kitchener offers everything needed to establish
or grow business success.
Invest in the future here and enjoy:
• Access to a pool of top talent from Canada’s best constellation of
colleges and universities.
• Being part of a region that is an internationally known hotbed of
innovation and cutting-edge research.
• Convenient access to Canada’s most direct routes to multiple US
markets.
• One of the best networks of businesses and support organizations
anywhere.
Did you know?
• Kitchener’s economy continues to outperform the rest of Canada,
with leading indicators consistently placing Kitchener at the top
of CMAs (census metropolitan areas).
• Ideally located and accessible to North America from southern
Ontario, Waterloo Region is the most economically intensive area
of Canada.
• The Kitchener business community consists of approximately
28,000 businesses of which about 1,575 are in the manufacturing
sector.
• Waterloo Region offers a youthful, educated and skilled labour
force in excess of 270,000.
The City of Kitchener is situated in the centre of Waterloo Region, an
ideal place for business and living. A centre for advanced technology
in the Canadian economy, the region thrives on a young, educated
and skilled community of talent and a dynamic spirit of innovation
and entrepreneurship.
And on top of all that, Kitchener is a place where cutting-edge green
technology is geared for global markets – but it still only takes 10
minutes to commute to the office!
These advantages, and many others, are encouraging new business in
a wide range of areas including specialized, high technology sectors
such as:
• Leading-edge digital media;
• Education and knowledge creation;
• Life sciences, biotechnology
• Advanced high technology manufacturing
www.kitchener.ca ww.waterloomin.com
Some city services prepare for relocation to CMF
Page 8 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
With work nearing completion on
the city’s new consolidated
maintenance facility (CMF), located on
Goodrich Drive — all of the exterior
paving and landscaping is now
complete, and the city’s greenhouse
and salt storage structure have now
been installed — the city will begin
relocating a number of its municipal
operations and services to the CMF in
the spring of 2011.
The services that will begin relocating
to the CMF, located at 131 Goodrich
Dr., include:
City facilities management
Corporate call centre
Fleet repair
Gas-line works/utilities
Greenhouses
Parks and woodland maintenance
Road maintenance
Salt storage
Snow clearing
Stockrooms and bulk material
storage
Watermain and sewer
maintenance
Relocation to the new facility will
eliminate duplicated vehicles and
equipment, and improve coordination
of work and services, said Cynthia
Fletcher, project director.
“With all these services and
operations under one roof, we can
improve how efficiently we use our
vehicles, and response times for
emergency vehicles,” said Fletcher,
adding service levels will not only be
maintained, but improved. “It all adds
up to streamlined delivery of services
to the community, not to mention the
reduced environmental impact we have
achieved.”
Most of the divisions will move in
two-week blocks, at times predicted to
be less busy and disruptive to the
services each provides the community,
Fletcher said.
“A great deal of work and preplanning has been done to ensure the
relocation to the new facility is as
smooth as possible, and that business
continues with as few service
disruptions as possible,” she said.
For example, operations staff who
maintain local roads won’t move until
the end of April, once the prime
snowstorm season has passed, while
Kitchener Utilities staff will move in
June, once the high risk for watermain
breaks that comes with the change is
seasons has passed.
The city will regularly communicate
with residents during the relocation to
the new facility, particularly if any
services are anticipated to be disrupted
and what actions will be taken to
minimize impact.
LEED rating and solar roof
Once all of the divisions have moved
into the new facility, the city will host
a public open house, allowing citizens
to tour the CMF, get a feel for the
work that’s done there, and see all of
the green features that have been
included in the construction of the
facility. Details will be shared in the
next edition of Your Kitchener and
online.
The CMF has been built to
Leadership in Energy and
Environmental Design (LEED) silver
standard, which will result in reduced
energy use and significant cost savings.
LEED is the most recognized and
accepted North American standard for
rating the environmental friendliness
of the design, construction, operation
and sustainability of buildings. Among
the LEED components that are
included in the design and
construction of the CMF are:
Building-system controls
Expanded drainage
Geothermal heat recovery system
Improved lighting
Low-flow fixtures
The costs associated with LEED will
be covered by a portion of $14 million
in federal, provincial and municipal
infrastructure stimulus funding the
CMF project has been awarded.
All stimulus funds must go toward
new additions to the scope of the
project, over and above what was
approved in the original base
construction budget.
Along with achieving the LEED silver
standard, the CMF will also be home
to a 500-kW/h rooftop solar energy
Bridgeport Community Centre
renovations continue
Bridgeport Community Centre is currently closed and is undergoing
extensive renovations to better serve the community.
A public meeting will be held early in the new year to provide
information to the community about the centre renovations, which include
a larger lobby area with public-access computers for community use,
program room upgrades and kitchen modifications.
It is anticipated that the resource centre will reopen in spring 2011.
Residents of Bridgeport will receive a flyer about the meeting, or they can
call Victoria Hills Community Centre at 519-741-2717 for more
information.
Nominations for athletic
awards close Jan. 31
Nominations for the athletic awards wrap up Jan. 31, 2011. The awards
ceremony is held to celebrate Kitchener amateur athletes who have
achieved a provincial, national or international championship sanctioned by
a recognized sport governing body.
Each year for the past 43 years, the city has recognized and celebrated the
accomplishments of many of this city’s and country’s finest amateur
athletes, and the coaches who have inspired and motivated them to
excellence.
The theme of the 2010 awards, to be held on March 8 at Bingemans,
marks Rockway Golf Course’s 75th anniversary. The golf course’s
milestone will be commemorated in the memento that each athlete takes
home.
For more details regarding the criteria, examples of eligible events or to
find out more about nominating an athlete, visit www.kitchener.ca or call
519-741-2688.
NEARING COMPLETION -- Miguel Camacho is one of the workers who
is helping the consolidated maintenance facility (CMF) come
together. Some city services will begin relocating to the new facility in
spring 2011.
system, which will be installed, owned
and operated by the city.
The city will sell all generated power
from the solar-energy system – which
consists of 2,500 photovoltaic solar
panels, with each producing 200 watts
of power — to the Ontario Power
Authority (OPA) under a 20-year
contract.
The $4.1 million solar roof project is
funded largely by federal and
provincial infrastructure stimulus
funding and a $1.3 million grant from
the city’s Local Environmental Action
Fund (LEAF).
The solar roof is expected to generate
more than $363,900 in net revenue for
Work of forged steel art
offers unique tribute
A forged-steel vine wrapped
around six feet of Stony Ridge
wall in Williamsburg Cemetery
offers a new way to
memorialize loved ones. The
vine, made of grape vine,
leaves, vine tendrils, and grape
bunches, combines artistry with
function, allowing families to
purchase leaves on the vine and
have their loved ones’ names
engraved on it.
Stoney Ridge is a newly built
feature, a distinctive circular
wall made of natural stone, in
the cemetery, and is part of a
new cremation feature area. It
is surrounded by traditional
A close-up of the forged-steel vine,
adult interment lots, as well as which adorns the Stony Ridge Wall at
Williamsburg Cemetery, is one of the
the cemetery’s unique golf
works of art used for memorialization.
section.
“We are always searching for
new and innovative ways for the
The installation was designed and
public pay tribute to their loved ones,” created, with input from cemetery
said Lorelei Eckel-Braun, manager of
staff, by a blacksmith from Goderich,
cemeteries. “This is a unique art
James Wallace, who uses wrought iron
display, using forged steel and the
as a medium for creative expression.
stone of the Stony Ridge wall to
Wallace is a member of the Artistsymbolize the strength of love.”
Blacksmith Association of North
The cemetery has a number of ways
America (ABANA), and co-founder of
in which loved ones can be
the Ontario Artist-Blacksmith
memorialized, including trees and
Association (OABA), a chapter of
stone benches memorialized with a
ABANA.
bronze plaque, and a bronze butterfly
For more information on City of
with engraved cells on it, located
Kitchener cemeteries, please see
inside the dedication centre.
www.kitchenercemeteries.ca
www.kitchenergolf.ca
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• DoonValley’s new 18-hole course
• DoonValley’s regulation length 9 hole course
• DoonValley’s new 9-hole Pitch n’ Putt
Unlimited Play Memberships
start as low as $527!
While the new pitch and putt course is only $79 for
the year! Reasonably-priced corporate memberships
are also available.
Whether you’re in search of new challenges or fun
for your whole family, Kitchener Golf has exactly
what you’re looking for - and more!
Visit www.kitchenergolf.ca for more information!
www.kitchenergolf.ca
For more information
about our exciting
new memberships
500 Doon Valley Dr.
Kitchener, ON 519.741.2663
the city each year — and more than
$3.5 million over the course of two
decades with the OPA.
Staff is currently working on the
relocation process, to determine the
logistics of physically moving divisions
from their old facilities to the CMF.
They are also identifying the services
that must continue through the move,
and putting contingency plans in place
ahead of the move to ensure
disruptions to service are minimal.
A relocation schedule has been
developed, outlining when each
division will be relocating to the new
facility; the relocation schedule can be
found at www.kitchener.ca
625 Rockway Dr.
Kitchener, ON 519.741.2583
Deadline extended for community trails survey
Page 9 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
As Kitchener continues to grow, the
importance of having a high-quality,
connected trail network grows. Trails
provide residents and visitors to
Kitchener with opportunities to
pursue healthy, active lifestyles, and
the ability to travel off-road
throughout the city, as well as
experience the many parks, public
open spaces and natural areas.
Community trails are an important
part of an active transportation
infrastructure.
The City of Kitchener is currently
conducting a community trails survey
to inform and assist in developing the
community trails master plan and
implementation strategy. The deadline
has been extended for residents’ input
through the online survey about their
use of trails. The survey can be found
at www.kitchener.ca, search word
“community trails.”
The results of the survey are
expected to capture a sample of
opinions from residents regarding
trails and will be used as one of the
tools to develop the master plan. The
purpose of the master plan is to
provide a renewed vision for linked
open spaces across our city.
The plan will include:
Detailed mapping, plans and
standard construction details for
the integration of a linked system
of pedestrian and cycling trails
throughout the city.
A strategy and recommendations
to address missing links in the
trail and open-space system.
Suggested scheduling for the
implementation for all
recommendations.
This long-term strategic plan will
build upon the considerable trail work
completed throughout the city since
1972, when the department of
planning and development created the
original vision and planning policies
that have been instrumental in shaping
the city’s urban fabric and open space
environment that is present today.
The study area includes the entire
city.
Today, there are about 125 kilometres
of community trail throughout
Kitchener. This includes the Walter
Bean Grand River Trail, the Iron Horse
Trail, the Trans Canada Trail and
numerous trails along hydro corridors,
along greenways and watercourses and
through natural parks.
For more on community trails, visit
www.kitchener.ca.
Is your home safe for
the heating season?
Now that the heat is on in our houses, it
is important to ensure we are safe from
carbon monoxide (CO2), which is an
invisible, odourless, tasteless and
poisonous gas.
Exposure to high levels of CO2 can kill
in just minutes or a few hours. It can be
produced when you use your furnace,
fireplace, or any other fuel-burning
appliance. Poor maintenance, damaged or
blocked venting, improper use of
appliances, or inadequate air flow can
cause dangerous levels of CO2 to build up
inside your home.
Avoid high levels of CO2 by:
• Inspecting and maintaining your
furnace and fireplace;
• Keeping all outside vents clear of
blockage;
• Making sure your house isn’t too
airtight;
Make sure gas fireplaces are
• Installing approved CO2 alarms.
properly vented and well
Know the symptoms of CO2 poisoning. maintained.
They are similar to the flu – nausea,
headache, burning eyes, confusion and
drowsiness – except there is no fever. If they appear, it is imperative to get
everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air immediately and call 911 or the
local fire department.
Check out www.safetyinfo.ca for more home safety tips or call the Technical
Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) at 1-877-682-8772.
For Kitchener Utilities inspections, service and repairs, call 519-741-2529,
select option #2. For natural gas emergencies, call 519-741-2541.
DEADLINE EXTENDED -- There are about 125 kilometres of community
trails in Kitchener, such as the this one through Breithaupt Park,
pictured above. The results of the survey to find out what residents
think of the city’s community trails will be considered in the
community trails master plan.
Kitchener firefighters start
youth pipes-and-drums program
The Kitchener Fire Department
and the Kitchener Professional Fire
Fighters Association is forming a
new program designed to introduce
the bagpipes and drums to children
aged five to 16.
The Kitchener Fire Pipes and
Drums, a ceremonial band, has
formed a youth program for
children,focuing on learning to play
the instruments and discusses the
uniform, marching and band drill.
“There is no program like this
available to our youth in the
Kitchener-Waterloo area,” said Tim
Beckett, Kitchener fire chief. “This
is a great opportunity to get youth
involved with the community, and to
build a long-lasting relationship to
music and to our fire pipes and
drums band.”
Cost is $20 per session. Sessions
are held on Saturdays between 9:30
a.m. and 12:30 p.m.
The Kitchener Fire Pipes and
Drums was formed in 2009, with
the assistance and participation of
the Paris Port Dover Pipe Band.
For more information, e-mail
[email protected]
Breithaupt 25-yard pool
closed for renovations
Renovations to the Breithaupt Centre’s 25-yard pool are underway and the pool
is closed until February 2011.
The Breithaupt pool renovation includes filter system upgrades, complete repiping, and pool tank upgrades to the 25-yard pool. The main floor will be remodelled to include a family changeroom, upgraded accessible washrooms and
renovated men’s and women’s changerooms.
The 25-yard pool and adjacent changerooms will be closed during the
renovations. The exercise pool and all other areas of the facility will remain open
and operational during these renovations.
Program schedules and renovation updates are available online at
www.kitchener.ca or by contacting the Breithaupt Centre at 519-741-2502.
New stormwater user rate coming in 2011!
The City of Kitchener is transferring
stormwater* management funding from
property taxes to a user-fee program, effective
Jan. 1, 2011. This new stormwater user fee will
appear on your monthly utility bill beginning
in February 2011. The average single dwelling
homeowner will be charged approximately
$10.50/per month for stormwater management.
All properties including non-residential
properties will see the new user fee on their
utility bill based on the rate category their
property is in. This approach is the most fair and
equitable way to fund stormwater management
since the properties that use the system more also
pay more.
* Stormwater is water that flows across the land
and over hard surfaces before it’s routed into
drainage systems and then on to our natural areas.
Why is the new rate important?
The new user rate will allow the city to improve its stormwater service
levels by:
•Keeping pollutants out of our stormwater system - leading to better
protection of our source water.
•Preventing local flooding and pollution from reaching our creeks and
streams - preserving their health and vitality.
•Replacing aging stormwater infrastructure (pipes, catch basins)
•Accelerating needed improvements to the local stormwater
management system, including Victoria Park Lake.
Where do I get more information?
For more information on the city’s new stormwater user rate, please:
•Visit www.kitchener.ca/stormwater
•E-mail [email protected]
•Call 519-741-2450
City’s redesigned website wins awards
Page 10 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
The City of Kitchener’s newly
redesigned website, www.kitchener.ca,
has recently been honoured with two
prestigious 2010 MarCom Awards. The
awards include:
Platinum award for overall
website redesign
Gold for the city’s redesigned
home page
The MarCom Awards are an
international competition for
marketing and communication
professionals involved in the concept,
writing and design of marketing and
communication programs and print,
visual and audio materials.
More than 5,000 entries were
submitted for competition in this
year’s awards from a variety of
companies and government
organizations.
“As more and more residents go
online to get information and services
from their city, our website has
become a primary and easy-to-access
customer service tool,” said Michael
May, the city’s director of corporate
communications and marketing. “Our
first goal in redesigning Kitchener’s
website was to provide residents with
the information and services they are
looking for in an easy-to-find location
and an easy-to-read format.”
A committee of city staff worked
with eSolutions Group, a local
consultant, for several months to
redesign the website – which included
rewriting over 90 per cent of the
content. When it was launched in
August 2010, the redesigned website
marked the completion of Phase 2 of
the city’s overall website
redevelopment project.
Phase 3 of that redevelopment will
include looking to add more
interactive features and services to the
website.
“Receiving these two MarCom
Awards is a reinforcement of the
positive feedback we have been
receiving from visitors to the new
website,” explained May. “The success
we have realized in redesigning and
relaunching the city’s website can be
directly attributed to the significant
and positive contributions city staff
made to this project.”
The new well-organized website
shares relevant information that’s easy
to read, find and understand, and
enhances public engagement
opportunities.
The redesigned site includes a variety
of new, user friendly and interactive
features and services, including:
An A-Z listing of municipal
services and programs
BrowseAloud speech-enabling
program
Interactive website calendar,
which accepts submission from
the public
Mobile (text-only) version of the
site
Online calendar - providing the
public with the option of
submitting events
Option to increase and decrease
font size
Photo galleries - with the option
of submitting your own photos for
consideration
RSS feeds
Share functionality
Subscription-based e-newsletter
Translation into 10 languages
“We have heard that people really
appreciate the added features and
services we’ve included on our site,
and they consider a visit to our site a
useful, effective and engaging
experience,” May added.
Introducing the 2011 artist-in-residence, Sean Puckett
A PORTRAIT OF KITCHENER -- Sean Puckett is the City of Kitchener’s
artist-in-residence for 2011.
A collection of about 1,000 portrait
photographs capturing the diversity of
our city, entitled A Portrait of
Kitchener, is the goal for the City of
Kitchener’s 2011 artist-in-residence,
Sean Puckett, who starts his residency
on Jan. 2.
The photographs will be taken during
Kitchener events, such as the blues
festival and the multicultural festival,
and at locations such as the Kitchener
Market. Puckett plans to photograph
willing passers-by, using a standardized
lighting and background set-up to
provide a common visual feel, thus
allowing each person’s individuality
and unique appearance to be revealed.
“I hope residents gain a deeper
understanding of the diversity of
people that make up the city of
Kitchener,” said Puckett. “People from
all walks of life, from differing ethnic
backgrounds, of varying ages and
appearances, of myriad financial
The cities of Kitchener and Waterloo
each recently received a donation of
$175,000 from TD Bank Group; the
money is designated for significant
environmental and archaeological
protection projects in Kitchener at the
Huron Natural Area and the
introduction of the new TD GreenLab
project in Waterloo.
At Huron Natural Area (HNA), the
money will be used to support trail
development and interpretative
signage in the park.
Associated with the work on the trail
is the protection of one of the region’s
most significant archeological sites, a
Neutral Nation Village that is home to
artifacts dating back as far as 9,000
years. As part of the overall project,
the city constructed an elevated
boardwalk, which allows people to
visit the site, while also ensuring its
protection.
“We are pleased to support these
exciting community initiatives in
Kitchener and Waterloo that will
provide interpretative signage and trail
access to a significant archeological site
in Kitchener, providing residents and
visitors to the community with the
opportunity to appreciate and learn
about the unique ecosystems and
history along the Huron Natural Area,”
says Chris Stamper, senior vice-
president, TD Canada Trust, Western
Ontario Region. “We are equally
pleased to support the introduction of
environmentally responsible practices
at Waterloo’s RIM Park with the TD
GreenLab project.”
HNA is the largest and most valuable
natural area at 107 hectares on the
south side of Kitchener. The natural
area includes:
Strasburg Creek, a coldwater
stream
Provincially significant wetlands,
forest, meadows and significant
species
Scenic hiking trails, boardwalks
and lookout areas
An amazing cultural and natural
history
HNA is a partnership between the
city, the Waterloo Catholic District
School Board (WCDSB) and the
Waterloo Region District School
Board (WRDSB). The partners aim to
collectively maintain or improve the
ecological integrity and stewardship of
the park, and to help educate park
visitors about the indigenous
ecosystems of the area.
For more about the archaeological
site at HNA, please see
www.kitchener.ca, search word
“HNA.”
Kitchener receives TD Bank Group
funding for Huron Natural Area
circumstances — are all around us,
everywhere, but rarely do we take the
time to actually see them with
thoughtful eyes. Through my
photography, I hope to show Kitchener
residents just who their neighbours
really are.”
Puckett is planning to exhibit the
photographs at local events, and to
post them online and publish them in a
book entitled A Portrait of Kitchener,
2011. He plans to hold four public
photography workshops throughout
the year to engage the public on how
to achieve good portraits at home.
“I’m very pleased to be given this
unique opportunity to document the
enormous range of people that make
up the city we all call home,” he said of
the project for 2011. “Walking down
the streets of Kitchener one sees so
many interesting people, and all of
them different. Sharing what I see,
through photography, is the essence of
my artistic practice. Being 2011’s
artist-in-residence will not only extend
my ability to see more, it will allow
me to share more as well.”
Although trained as a computer
programmer, Puckett gave up the
keyboard for a camera and now makes
his living as an artist. He is past
president of the Kitchener-Waterloo
Society of Artists (KWSA), the official
photographer for Kitchener-Waterloo
Little Theatre, photographer-inresidence at the Kitchener-Waterloo
Symphony and teaches photography at
his own studio in Kitchener.
“It is the essential role of artists of all
kinds — visual, theatrical, musical,
literal, and so on — to add colour and
flavour to life. Without art, without
culture, there is nothing but grey
monotony,” said Puckett. “Art
programs such as the city’s artist-inresidence program provide a necessary
venue for challenging, complex and
long-term artworks that might not
otherwise be possible, but provide
enormous benefit to the community as
a whole. The creation of thoughtful
public artworks adds an essential,
unique spice to life in our community.”
The photographs will be posted at
www.seanmpuckett.com, as the year
progresses.
For more information about the
artist-in-residence program at the City
of Kitchener, please visit
www.kitchener.ca, search word “artist
in residence.”
Build green
Buy green
Save green!
Kitchener
Green Housing
Incentive Program
Are you looking to buy a new home and want to save
money, reduce your impact on our enviroment and live
more comfortably? Consider buying a green home.
The City of Kitchener has partnered with Community
Renewable Energy Waterloo (www.CREWzone.ca) to
create this new grant program, which encourages local
home builders to build LEED (Leadership in Energy and
Enviromental Design) certified homes.
Green homeowners enjoy:
•
•
•
•
•
Lower energy and water bills
Reduced greenhouse gas emissions
A more comfortable, more durable house
Less exposure to mould, mildew and other
indoor allergens and toxins
Improved quality of life
Would you like more information about this program,
please visit: www.kitchener.ca/greenhousing
or call 519-741-2312
Page 11 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
The Kitchener Market offers a friendly and warm atmosphere where families, co-workers and friends can enjoy tasty
lunches from our food vendors. Enjoy authentic Italian, Caribbean, Croatian, German or Mexican meals. Now also serving
organic food. Take-out is also available.
Kitchener Market hours are Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m. to 2
p.m. The farmers' market (lower level) is open Saturdays from 7 a.m. to 2 p.m.
For more information about
all the great events at the
Kitchener Market, check
the market’s website at
www.kitchenermarket.ca
Kids’ Hop
Local musicians entertain your child! Join us for Kids’ Hop on Tuesdays
AND Thursdays, from 11 a.m. to noon. FREE ADMISSION.
JANUARY
4
6
11
13
18
20
25
27
FEBRUARY
Erick Traplin
Robert Davis
Music With Brian
Erick Traplin
Erick Traplin
Music with Brian
Robert Davis
Erick Traplin
1
3
8
10
15
17
22
24
Erick Traplin
Music with Brian
Robert Davis
Erick Traplin
Erick Traplin
Music with Brian
Music with Jake
Erick Traplin
Kids’ Club
Our Kids’ Club offers FREE crafts, interactive activities and
demonstrations the first Saturday of each month from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m.
Join the storytellers from the Kitchener Public Library for wonderful story
times and crafts.
Market entertainment
Local musicians play international tunes, jazz, country, oldies or classic
rock. Free admission. Live entertainment runs 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.
during the week, and 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Saturdays. Relax, grab a bite
to eat and enjoy the music:
JANUARY
8
15
22
29
Tim Louis
Ben and Ryan
Schwebbs
Mandippal Jandu
5
12
19
26
Tim Louis
Ben and Ryan
Jesse Webber Jazz
Andy Klaehn
FEBRUARY
Page 12 YOUR KITCHENER January-February 2011
X-treme ice racing comes to The Aud
The energy resonates from the moment the race engines start. The
stadium shakes with the sound, and the heart starts racing to match
the revs of the engines.
And that’s just at the starting line.
This is X-treme International Ice Racing (XiiR), and it’s coming to
The Aud on Monday, Jan. 31 at 7 p.m.
XiiR is a professional racing tour. Speedway bikes and quads are
modified and compete on an indoor ice track. Human and machine
accelerate from 0-60 mph in less than three seconds…on ice!
The average car has a maximum 8,000 revs, whereas an ice speedway
bike has a maximum 14,000 revs. These cool machines have 1,600
razor-sharp steel studs on their tires added for traction and, as if that’s
not enough, there aren’t any brakes.
This is not an ordinary sporting event. This will not be a time for
relaxing; this will be heart-pumping, edge-of-your-seat entertainment!
Tickets are on sale now starting at $20 for adults and $15 for children
12 and under.
Cheer for your
Kitchener Rangers!
Kitchener Rangers
home games take place at
The Aud through January
and February.
Rangers’ home
games
Friday, Jan. 7 vs. Erie,
7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 14 vs. Peterborough, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 21 vs. Oshawa, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 23 vs. Sault Ste. Marie, 6 p.m.
Friday, Jan. 28 vs. Windsor, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 4 vs. Plymouth, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 6 vs. Sault Ste. Marie, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 8 vs. Guelph, 7 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 11 vs. Sarnia, 7:30 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 18 vs. Mississauga, 7:30 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 20 vs. Sudbury, 2 p.m.
Friday, Feb. 25 vs. Saginaw, 7:30 p.m.
Feats of skill raise funds for charity
Hang onto your seats as Thrills
Spills and Chills hits The Aud stage
in a thunderous explosion, with
90 minutes of high-flying stunts
and feats of balance and skill, on
Saturday, Feb. 26, 2011.
Performances are at 1 and 4 p.m.
This year’s show features the
Craz E Crew Stunt Team loaded
with pro-class extreme sports
athletes from Ottawa. These boys
Pull out the Canadian flags and
your team spirit, and watch Team
Canada take on Team Finland in the
2011 IIHF World Junior
Championship at The Aud on
Thursday, Dec. 23, at 7:30 p.m.
The Kitchener Rangers and the
City of Kitchener, in partnership
with Hockey Canada, are hosting a
pre-competition match-up for the
World Junior Championship.
The national junior team has been a
force at the IIHF World Junior
Championship since 1982, winning 15 gold medals,
including a five-year run from 2005 to 2009.
The Kitchener Dutchmen take to the ice at The Aud this winter. Ticket prices:
adult $10, seniors and students $8, children (under
13) $5, family 2+2 $25; additional family
members $5 each.
Home games
Tuesday, Jan. 4 vs. Brantford, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Jan. 9 vs. Owen Sound, 2 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 11 vs. Port Colborne, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 18 vs. Cambridge, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Jan. 25 vs. Brantford, 7 p.m.
PUBLIC SKATING
Public skating sessions provide everyone with the opportunity to enjoy the
sport of ice skating with family and friends. For years,The Aud and
Kitchener community arenas have been offering public skating to our
community.
ADMISSIONS & SHARPENING
Give the gift of entertainment.
TICKETS ON
SALE NOW!
Imagine singing and
dancing with Elmo,
Abby Cadabby, Big Bird
and all your favorite
Sesame Street Live
friends!
Sat., Dec. 18, 5pm
Tickets start at $18.
TICK ETS
Details on Canada’s national
junior team’s selection camp and
the selection camp roster will be
announced by Hockey Canada in
the coming weeks.
The selection camp runs Dec.
11-15 in Toronto.
Tickets to the Canada-Finland
game are $26 plus applicable
service charges.
For more information on
Canada’s National Junior Team and
the 2011 IIHF World Junior
Championship, please visit www.HockeyCanada.ca.
Children 17 and under/session
$3.75
Adult/session
$5.25
Family/session
$11.75
Seniors/session
$3.75
Skate sharpening
$5
A game of shinny costs $5.25.
Be sure to check out the skating schedule in the winter edition of Leisure
Guide or visit www.kitchener.ca/skatingschedule
Tuesday, Feb. 1 vs. Waterloo, 7 p.m.
Sunday, Feb. 13 vs. Cambridge, 6:30 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 15 vs. Guelph, 7 p.m.
Tuesday, Feb. 22 vs. Listowel, 7 p.m.
Sesame Street Live
will love. Watch the Infinite
Fantasy Family Circus from
Moscow as they perform
incredible feats of balance and
skill.
Tickets are $18. Group rates are
available of four people or more.
Children age three and under get
in for free. Order tickets now at
519-571-0937 or online at
spcentertainment.com.
Canada takes on Finland in world junior hockey
Kitchener Dutchmen home games
1-2-3 Imagine! with Elmo & Friends
attack the ramp at high speeds and
perform seemingly impossible
dare-devil acrobatic manoeuvres.
The show, which marks the 15th
annual fundraiser for the Sunbeam
Centre for multi-challenged
children and young adults, also
features comic magician Dick
Joiner, whose infectious zany
laugh creates a high-paced
interactive magic show the kids
Tickets for events at The Aud are available by calling 519-578-1570,
or 1-800-265-8977; visiting www.theaud.ca; or in person at The Aud
and Centre In The Square the box offices.
Rent your ice
time today.
Call 519-741-2699
or visit www.theaud.ca
The Aud Gift certificates. Call 519-578-1570, 1-800-265-8977
or visit The Aud or Centre in the Square Box Office to purchase one today!