Reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion at the City of Kitchener

This policy outlines our commitment to support access to city services for Kitchener residents with uncertain or no immigration status and who may fear detention or deportation when accessing services. The policy enables these residents to use municipal services, and to do so without fear that we will ask for and provide information about their immigration status to other institutions or orders of government. 

Learn more about Access Without Fear.

This program provides dedicated swim times for trans and non-binary individuals, as well as their friends and family members to use our pools in a safe, welcoming and inclusive environment.

Learn more about the BE U Swim program and find registration links on our swimming programs page.

In September 2022, we helped bring the resident-led Every Child Matters Crosswalk vision to life through our LoveMyHood matching grant. The crosswalk creates a lasting public memorial in memory of the children who lost their lives in residential schools. The resident lead for the tribute, Sheena Merling, Bin-no-g Man-na-doe Quay – Spirit of the Children, and a committee of Indigenous community members and allies engaged with residents, raised awareness and educated community members as part of this initiative.

Learn more on the LoveMyHood blog.

Huron Natural Area has evidence of Indigenous settlement dating back hundreds of years. We’re working with Indigenous communities of what is today Kitchener-Waterloo to ensure that Huron Natural Area is a safe, welcoming space for Indigenous people to celebrate culture, heritage and gathering today.

We’re working with local Indigenous artists to create new wayfinding and trail names in traditional languages. Our goal is to create an outdoor space that feels welcoming to Indigenous organizations, Indigenous student centres and Indigenous community members looking to host ceremonies, events, or gatherings.

Learn more about Huron Natural Area.

Immigration Waterloo Region brings together the information immigrants, employers, and partners need to help newcomers settle, work, and belong in our region. The City is part of Immigration Partnership Waterloo Region, working with organizations across sectors to support newcomers and help build a more inclusive and prosperous community. 

Kitchener Tech Connects is both a technology lending library and a slate of free technology training classes for adults over 55 years old. This includes free access to borrow devices that are enabled with or without cellular data.

With interpretation and translation services, we have brought this valued program and opportunity to Arabic-speaking women in the Chandler Mowat neighbourhood, a group that might not have otherwise participated.

Learn more about Kitchener Tech Connects.

Leisure Access is a fee subsidy program that attempts to remove some of the financial barriers residents experience when trying to access our recreation and leisure programs.

In November 2022, staff in program and resource services removed one of the barriers that newcomers were experiencing when trying to apply. Now, individuals who arrive in Canada as a refugee or a qualifying newcomer are eligible to apply within their first year (365 days) of receiving documentation that shows immigration status.

Learn more about Leisure Access.

Multi-faith rooms were created to address the need for staff to have suitable spaces to pray or meditate. A multi-faith room is a shared space that is open to all faith groups.

City staff use the space for a moment of prayer, reflection, and other faith-based activities.

Kitchener is one of the fastest-growing cities in Canada, and newcomers are central to that growth. Newcomer populations enrich the cultural, social, and economic fabric of Kitchener. Our Municipal Newcomer Strategy provides a coordinated approach to help newcomers access the information, services, and opportunities they need to thrive and participate fully in our community.

Learn more about the Municipal Newcomer Strategy

Our parks and cemeteries team is working to build relationships with the Indigenous and Urban Indigenous communities to transform park spaces like Huron Natural Area into places that better represent past and present Indigenous communities, art, culture and reflect current Indigenous initiatives. These dedicated gathering spaces will be a place for communities to hold ceremonies and celebrate cultural traditions.

Learn more on our Indigenous placemaking page.

The Reconciliation Action Partnership is a collaborative group of municipal representatives working to coordinate efforts to support Indigenous-centred initiatives across Waterloo Region.

Learn more about the Reconciliation Action Partnership

Our Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Advisory Committee is continuing the grassroots community involvement of the Mayor's Task Force to develop and implement reconciliation, equity, diversity and inclusion work at the City using a diverse lens and a community-driven approach.

Learn more on our advisory committees and boards page.

At the request of Grand River Collegiate Institute students and local Indigenous community members, we reviewed the name Indian Road for consideration of renaming the street, including engagement with Kitchener residents. Following the review, it was determined that further action would be paused until a broader naming convention strategy could be developed by the Reconciliation Action Partnership.

Learn more on Engage Kitchener.

The Racialized and Indigenous Supports for Equity (RISE) Fund is a community grant that provides support for community-led organizations, programs, initiatives or events meant to decrease inequities and increase opportunities and well-being for Black, Indigenous and racialized communities in Kitchener. 

The RISE Fund has an annual budget of $150,000, with one intake period. From 2022 to 2025, the RISE program supported 51 community organizations supporting various projects, activities, and core organizational costs. 

Learn more on our RISE Fund page.

In 2024, the City of Kitchener conducted a follow-up employee census, following our first-ever census in 2019. This presents the first opportunity to track our progress as the City of Kitchener strives to have a workforce that is representative of the community we serve.  

We have a responsibility to serve everyone in our community. When our staff bring with them a broad diversity of lived experiences and perspectives, we are better able to make decisions that respond to the needs of everyone in our community. Research shows that increasing diversity and inclusion in the workplace can lead to an increase in mental health and wellbeing for all employees, as well as increased employee satisfaction, retention and productivity. 

Some quick facts about the workforce census:

• our employee culture survey had a 67% response rate with over 1,800 individual responses
• since 2019, we saw meaningful growth in representation in several key areas including employees identifying as racialized, 2SLGBTQIA+ and Indigenous to Canada
• the Ontario Human Rights Commission encourages organizations like ours to collect this type of demographic data
• staff participation in the census questions was voluntary, none of the questions were mandatory 

View our staff census results infographic for more information.