Mother and daughter share a book in front of “FLUX,’ the new public art piece at the recently renovated Kitchener Library Central Branch

The city’s publication for its residents May-June 2015

City and United Way pair up to match fundsWhat better way to encourage community groups to

plan activities that make their neighbourhood a vibrant place to live, than helping them do it?That’s exactly what Kitchener City Council thought when it approved a neighbourhood matching funds grant, a one-time grant to place-based grassroots initiatives.

The grant is administered by a

committee that includes community programs and services staff; members appointed by the Safe and Healthy advisory committee, and representation from United Way Kitchener Waterloo & Area, who will be contributing to the grant fund for the first three years.

The neighbourhood matching fund grant will provide support to neighbourhood groups and/or place-based grassroots initiatives that:

• Renew public and green spaces;• Foster neighbourhood pride;• Build stronger relationships between neighbours and

neighbourhood groups;• Demonstrate capacity to improve quality of life in a

specific community of interest, and• Improve safety, accessibility and/or mobility.

It is also possible for a Kitchener community to win a $21,000 improvement grant through the Festival of Neighbourhoods (FON). All inclusive gatherings held between Oct. 1, 2014 and Sept. 30, 2015, in which neighbours are brought together face-to-face can be registered; the event must be registered by Oct. 5 to qualify for prizes.

Join others who brought their neighbours together at the FON finale on Oct. 18, 2015, 1-3 p.m. at Kitchener City Hall. You have to be there to win prizes and awards, including the random draw for the $21,000 capital improvement grant for qualifying registered neighbourhoods.

Register your neighbourhood activity – whether it’s a street party, localized project, a simple gathering – at www.kitchener.ca/fon n

Your Kitchener is published every other month to keep citizens informed on local issues and events. Questions or comments can be directed to 519-741-2200 x7383 or communications@kitchener.ca. The City of Kitchener is committed to providing accessible formats. If another format would work better for you, please contact the number above. A sense of placeWhat makes a neighbourhood? Is it houses? Is

it the people living in those houses? Is it the playgrounds and events that take place in a

certain locale?

What a neighbourhood is goes beyond just being a specific area in a city. It’s about belonging – having a sense of place and owning the things that happen in that place. Residents feel safe, have places to play, know their neighbours and take part in community activities in a healthy neighbourhood.

In February, Kitchener City Council approved a Neighbourhood Strategy as a corporate project within the city’s 2015 business plan. While the City of Kitchener has a history of helping to plan, build and support safe and thriving neighbourhoods through municipal investments and tools, it doesn’t do this by itself . . . partnerships with other orders of government, community organizations and citizens is also important to how neighbourhoods thrive.

“There are thousands of people in Kitchener who actively work for hundreds of different organizations that are in one way or another focused on supporting different elements of the city’s neighbourhoods,”

said Michael May, deputy chief administrative officer, community services, for the City of Kitchener. “Community groups, in particular, play an active and critical role in creating safe and thriving neighbourhoods.”

These groups include: service clubs; not-for-profit groups; cultural and faith-based groups; recreational clubs; informal neighbourhood groups and the city’s very active network of neighbourhood associations.

Strong neighbourhoods is where city-building starts, said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic in his first State of Our City speech as Kitchener’s new mayor, given in March. He painted a vivid picture of Kitchener’s future as a smart, caring, connected city built on neighbourhoods made strong by meaningful and memorable places.

Throughout his address, Mayor Vrbanovic called on all citizens to recognize their own role as city builders, and announced a new award – the Mayor’s City Builder Award – to recognize individuals, groups and organizations that demonstrate their commitment to building a better Kitchener.

The Mayor’s City Builder Award will be handed out for the first time in 2016.

The strategy will involve significant engagement with the community. The objectives are twofold:

• Help the City of Kitchener, citizens and community groups coordinate their efforts to plan, build and support safe and thriving neighbourhoods.

• Create a framework to help citizens foster placemaking in the city’s neighbourhoods. Placemaking is a term that describes a process for people to collectively and collaboratively reimagine and reinvent public spaces as the heart of every community.

Other benefits the strategy could give to citizens include identifying the unique history or heritage of neighbourhoods; bringing residents together to talk about the unique character of their neighbourhood and the priorities for improvement, which allows the city and community groups to pool their efforts and investments, and deliberate neighbourhood planning to facilitate better or more interesting community gathering spaces.

For more on the neighbourhood strategy, or the State of Our City address, go to www.kitchener.ca. n

Neighbours’ DayDawn Godin, Wynne Ollerenshaw,

Kirstan Howells and Beverly Ritchie want to show off their community centres at the same time as they bring people together to see what their neighbourhoods have to offer. As community centre staff, they encourage volunteer engagement, and work with residents and partners towards common community goals.

On June 13, the City of Kitchener hosts its first-ever Neighbours’ Day, an event introduced by community centre staff. Fourteen community centres, city pools, golf courses and Fire Station 7 are all on display; there will be crafts, demos, tours, games, activities, barbecues, contests, giveaways, music and more.

“We are hoping people come together to see what their community has to offer, as well as build friendships and meet others living and working in their neighbourhood,” said Jennifer Sullivan, a city staff person who is a member of the organizing committee for the event. “People who feel connected and informed are more likely to get involved, learn about community issues and perhaps join a board or volunteer.”n

Humans’ best friend at their finestK-W Kennel Club presents their annual dog and specialty shows at The Aud on May 16-18, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Dog lovers will drool over the beauty of hundreds of breeds competing in confirmation shows in the Kinsmen and Kiwanis arenas, and agility trials on the Centennial Stadium field (Saturday and Sunday). n

Snap, crackle, POP!It’s Victoria Day, the official start of summer, on May 18. And that means you might be thinking about fireworks. Under the city’s Municipal Code, fireworks can only be set off on Victoria Day and Canada Day and the day immediately before and after each holiday. For more information on safety around fireworks, go to www.kitchener.ca/fireworkssafety. n

Monster X trucks roar through Witness the thunder of the Monster X tour on May 29 and 30 at The Aud. Experience the nation’s most competitive monster trucks as they invade The Aud for two shows on May 29 and May 30 at 7:30 p.m. Pit party from 6-7 p.m. For more information, visit www.theaud.ca. n

Carry the torchKing Street and Carl Zehr Square light up as the torch relay for the Toronto2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games comes through Kitchener on Thursday, June 18 from 5-8 p.m. The games are July 10-26 and Aug. 7-15. The flame will be lit during a traditional ceremony in Teotihuacan, Mexico, before it travels a 41-day journey to more than 130 communities in Canada, making its final stop on July 10 at the opening ceremony of the 2015 games. www.toronto2015.org n

Fully Completely HipTo commemorate their 1992 album, Fully Completely, Canada’s favourite band, the Tragically Hip, is on tour and making a stop at The Aud on June 29 at 8 p.m. Catch the Hip on their way through Kitchener! More information is available at www.theaud.ca n

Canada DayKing Street will be packed for Canada Day festivities on July 1 as thousands come out for a free concert on Carl Zehr Square at 5 p.m. There’s food, a beer garden and a fireworks display at the end of the night. www.kitchenerevents.ca for more information. n

Signs; picnic and seating areas; lighting; public art and enhanced natural features are among the

items under consideration in the Iron Horse Trail (IHT) improvement strategy, currently underway.

And there are lots of opportunities for you to tell us about how the future of the city’s main commuter multi-use pathway will look.

With the urban intensification growth in Kitchener and Waterloo, and the incoming ION rapid transit system, the municipality needs to understand how the IHT will shape the future as a world-class transportation, recreational, and cultural corridor.

“The Iron Horse Trail is a significant part of Kitchener-Waterloo’s heritage because it connects downtown Kitchener to uptown Waterloo, and links Victoria Park to Waterloo Park,” said Josh Joseph, multi-use pathways and trails project manager for the City of Kitchener. “Thousands of residents use the trail each year for transportation and recreation.”

Interactive surveyProvide input on the city’s trail strategies using our interactive survey. Complete the survey online by visiting http://communityremarks.com/Kitchener/ for a chance to win prizes. The survey runs from May 15 to June 15. It’s your chance to tell us your ideas about improving the Iron Horse Trail.

Trail feedback stations Meet us on the trail and give your input on the city’s trail improvement strategies, whether you walk, jog, rollerblade or cycle.

• May 27: IHT @ Glasgow Street, 7:30–9:30 a.m., 4–6 p.m.

• May 31: IHT @ Victoria Park/Henry Sturm Greenway, 11–3 p.m.

• June 3: IHT @ Courtland, 7:30–9:30 a.m., 4–6 p.m.

• June 9: IHT @ Queen Street, 11 a.m.–3 p.m.

Public workshopA facilitated session to brainstorm improvements to the trail. Free coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.

Drop-ins are welcome. Please RSVP by emailing Josh.Joseph@kitchener.ca.

• June 8: Victoria Park Pavilion, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Public meetingLearn more about proposed improvements. City staff will prepare detailed display boards and provide a summary of the public feedback received. Free coffee, tea and refreshments will be provided.

• June 23: Victoria Park Pavilion, 5:30–7:30 p.m.

Bike KitchenerBikeKitchener fosters a sustainable cycling culture for all ages, backgrounds, and abilities.

Whether it’s cycling routes, safety tips, promotional events or upcoming projects, BikeKitchener provides information, resources, and support to those interested in cycling.

Watch for BikeKitchener booths, fix-it stations and tour guides events in the city this summer. www.bikekitchener.ca #BikeKitchener n

Are you prepared?

May 3-9 was Emergency Preparedness Week. Emergencies can happen

anywhere at any time, with or without warning. You may not know it’s an emergency until it’s happening, which is why it is so important to be prepared.

The City of Kitchener has its own emergency preparedness plan, but do you? Being ready for all kinds of emergencies, if they happen, is not just the city’s responsibility – it’s yours, too.

Making a plan to prepare for three days of shelter and resources is important for those who depend on you. These three steps will help you make sure you are prepared for all emergencies:

• Know your risks;• Have a plan;• Make a kit.

Visit www.kitchener.ca/beprepared to learn about our region’s risks and find links to help you make a plan and an emergency kit. n

Get your express permits hereBefore you build or renovate, get a

permit. Or at least check to see if you need one.

May is Building Safety Month, which raises awareness of the Ontario Building Code, the importance in obtaining building permits and the efforts of municipal building officials. The week of May 11, from noon to 2 p.m., the City of Kitchener building

division staff will be available in the rotunda to answer questions about your project.

Summer is a popular time for home improvement projects. The building division also extends its hours of service from 4-6:30 p.m. every Tuesday, May through August.

So if you can’t visit city hall during the day, you still have enough time to apply for and get the permits you may need to start a home project, such as decks, porches, swimming pools and sheds.

This express service gives you a place to go if you have any questions about the work you’re doing and find out whether or not permits are needed for your project.

For a list of projects that require permits, go to www.kitchener.ca/building

Improving the Iron Horse Trail

Draft zoning bylaw What two documents determine

what your property can be used for (e.g. residential,

commercial, parks) and what and where on your property you can build?

Answer: the Official Plan and the zoning bylaw.

The city has begun a comprehensive review of the zoning bylaw (CRoZBY). The first draft of a new zoning bylaw (Component A) was received by council on March 30, and is now available for public comment until June 12.

“We’re mandated by the Planning Act to review our zoning bylaws once there is a new Official Plan,” said Natalie Goss, senior planner for the City of Kitchener. “Our zoning bylaw is 20-30 years old, and now needs to be updated to reflect our new Official Plan. It is our intent to bring in a new zoning by-law, in three components, over the next two to three years.”

Zoning by-laws divide the cityinto different land use zones. They also specify permitted uses and required standards for building size and location,

as well as provide a way to manage potentially conflicting land uses.

The city is in its initial stages of development of a new zoning bylaw. The review process includes many opportunities for feedback. Staff is available in May to meet individually with interested parties to discuss the CRoZBy and proposed zoning of properties.

Another round of consultation will take place during a council meeting in the autumn. For more information and to provide feedback please visit www.kitchener.ca/crozby. n

Summer Lights Arts FestivalStay up late and experience the arts at Summer Lights Festival on June 20, 8 p.m. to 1 a.m. in downtown Kitchener. Music, art, performance, storytelling – it’s all there to be part of. www.summerlights.ca n

FUNtario FridaysGet down to Ontario Street between Duke & King on Friday, May 29, 6-11 p.m., to dominate a Mario Kart tourney, play oversized outdoor arcade games, watch locally made short films and visual art, catch a late-night screening of Scott Pilgrim at the Apollo. Free fun and games by StylFrugal, Candy Candy Candy, Adventurers’ Guild and Apollo Cinema. The first of three through the summer. n

Discovery SquareCarl Zehr Square is a hive of activity July 6, 14, 21 and 28 from 5-8 p.m. each night, as kids explore STEAM (science, technology, engineering, art and math). Hosted by Erick Traplin, this event is for children aged five to 12. For more information or to volunteer, go to www.kitchenerevents.ca n

Big Music Fest Week The excitement builds in downtown Kitchener July 6-9 as bands take to the stage in the lead-up to Big Music Fest, which returns to McLennan Park, July 10-12. This year’s line-up includes Rod Stewart, Blondie, Soundgarden, Jane’s Addiction, Extreme and more. For the full line-up, festival and ticket details, please visit www.bigmusicfest.com n

Cruising on King Street Like beautiful cars and vintage vehicles? Make sure you find a spot on King Street on Friday, July 10 for the 25th anniversary of Cruising on King Street! The show and shine in Victoria Park is from 2-6 p.m., and the cruise down the main street starts at 7 p.m. Once the parade is over, the cars line up along King Street until 10 p.m. For more information or to volunteer, go to www.kitchenerevents.ca n

We want your opinion about Your KitchenerThe City of Kitchener is surveying the readership of each of the three publications it produces for citizens –Your Kitchener, Leisure and Best of Times – and we need your input! Tell us what you like, what you don’t like and how we can improve! All survey participants will be entered into a draw for some great prizes.

If you wish to be entered into the draw, please include your name, telephone number and/or your email address.

NAME: ________________________________________________TELEPHONE NUMBER: __________________________________EMAIL ADDRESS: ______________________________________

Fill out the survey and drop it off at any of the city’s community centres or pools OR mail it to us at:Your Kitchener, c/o Colleen Collins, 2nd Floor, Kitchener City Hall, 200 King St. W., PO Box 1118, Kitchener, ON, N2G 4G7.

Or, if you would prefer to fill this survey out online, please visit www.kitchener.ca/publicationsurvey. Thank you for your participation!

1. How often do you read Your Kitchener? q Every issue q Most issues q Occasionally

q Rarely q Never

2. How do you receive Your Kitchener?

q Delivered with the Kitchener Citizen

q At a community centre, pool or other city facility

q I read it online

3. Please rate the quality of YK on the following (check the appropriate box based on your opinion.):

EXCELLENT GOOD FAIR POOR

Overall appearance

Readability of the articles

Photographs

Layout

Variety of issues covered

Usefulness for staying

informed about the City of Kitchener

Enjoyability

4. In your opinion, the length of the articles in Your Kitchener is generally:

q Too long q Too short q Just right

5. In your opinion, the level of difficulty of articles in Your Kitchener is generally:

q Too basic q Too complicated/technical

q Just right

6. On average, how much of Your Kitchener do you read? q All of it q Most of it q None of it

q Skim through and read a few articles

q Glance at headlines and photos

8. Is there any particular information that is currently not included, or that you would like more of, in Your Kitchener? Please specify. ________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

9. Is there any particular information that you would like to see less of in Your Kitchener? Please specify. ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

10. Currently, Your Kitchener newspaper is published six times per year. Would you like to see this publication offered:q More often q Less often q Keep the same (6x per year)

11. What do you like best about Your Kitchener? ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

12. What do you like least about Your Kitchener? ______________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

13. Do you have any further comments/suggestions about Your Kitchener? _____________________________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________

14. Please tell us your gender (optional): _________________

15. Tell us about your household: How many people in your household are in the age ranges below?

Age rAnge # of people

0-5

5-10

11-17

18-24

25-50

51-64

65+

5.05” x 5.875”5.05” x 5.875”

SEE THE SIGNS... SLOW DOWNOur road crews are out daily making repairs to keep everyone safe. Help them stay safe by obeying the signs.

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