REGION OF WATERLOO Message from the Regional Chair At the beginning of each term, With this refreshed vision and mission that reflects Regional Council works with a community poised for continued success, our plan the public and Regional staff sets out strategic priorities under the five focus areas to develop a set of strategic that were developed through the consultation process priorities that will guide its – Thriving Economy, Sustainable Transportation, work during the four year Environment and Sustainable Growth, Healthy, Safe term of Council. Earlier this and Inclusive Communities and, Responsive and year, we began an extensive Engaging Government and Services. This is what we public consultation process heard is important to the citizens of Waterloo Region including online and telephone surveys, over the next few years and this is what will guide social media forums and focus group sessions. The Council and staff over the next few years as we work response has been tremendous and the input received for you. from the community and staff has informed and is Waterloo Region is a thriving community with an reflected in our new plan. energy and spirit of collaboration that is unparalleled. We are pleased to present the Strategic Plan for the It is important that we continue to plan carefully and 2015-2018 Regional Council term. Each member of work in partnership with the community to ensure that Regional Council has been involved in creating this it remains a place we are all proud to call home. plan that will guide us as we work together to attain Sincerely, our vision of a “community where people matter and ideas grow.” Ken Seiling, Regional Chair Regional Council Regional Council Joe Nowak is elected by the Wellesley Township residents of Waterloo Doug Craig region to establish City of Cambridge policies, priorities Karl Kiefer and oversee the many City of Cambridge services provided Helen Jowett by the Region of City of Cambridge Waterloo. Regional Berry Vrbanovic Council is the policy- City of Kitchener forming and decision- Tom Galloway making body of City of Kitchener Regional Councillors regional government. Geoff Lorentz for 2015-2018 Regional Council is comprised of: City of Kitchener Term of Council: Karen Redman • 16 Councillors of which eight are directly elected Ken Seiling City of Kitchener at large from the urban municipalities as follows: Regional Chair Elizabeth Clarke Cambridge (2); Kitchener (4); and Waterloo (2). City of Kitchener Sue Foxton • Seven area municipality mayors automatically sit on North Dumfries Township Dave Jaworsky Regional Council, as elected from within their lower- City of Waterloo Sandy Shantz tier municipality. Jane Mitchell Woolwich Township City of Waterloo • The head of Regional Council is the Regional Chair Les Armstrong Sean Strickland who is elected at-large across the entire region. Wilmot Township City of Waterloo STRATEGIC FOCUS.2015-2018 |1 Waterloo Region – The community at a glance Waterloo Region includes the three cities of Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo, and the four townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich, providing a unique blend of urban and rural centres. 88% of residents Comprised of live in cities. seven area municipalities municipalities 7 r ive R nd ra TownshipG of 12% of Con Waterloo region’s estogo River Woolwich residents live Township of 2014 total population Wellesley in townships. (including students) To Guelph was 7 85 Region’s City of To Guelph G r Waterloo a n d R population i ver has grown To Toronto Township of 8 Speed River on average City of Wilmot 7/8 Kitchener City of Cambridge 1.2% To Stratford N each year, or ith R iv e 568,500 r 8 401 24 6,700 Township of To Hamilton Median age of r e people per year over v i R North Dumfries d n a r Waterloo region’s G the past five years. To London population is To Brantford 37.7years. The Ontario average is 40.4 years. Region of Waterloo – the organization’s programs and services There are two levels of municipal government in The Region of Waterloo and the local area Waterloo Region: municipalities (cities and townships) are responsible 1. Regional level of government – Regional for different services. The Region of Waterloo is Municipality of Waterloo (Region of Waterloo). responsible for providing approximately 60 per cent of municipal government services in this community and 2. Local area levels of government for the City of provides a range of services through six departments Cambridge, City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo and and a Chief Administrator’s Office. the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Public Health and Emergency Services • Clinics - Immunization (e.g. influenza, Hepatitis • Health promotion and awareness initiatives B, HPV), HIV testing, sexual health, sexually e.g. vaccination, injury prevention, tobacco use transmitted Infections, dental health, tuberculosis prevention, healthy eating and active living, preconception health, healthy child development, • Disease surveillance and health status reporting to community engagement, policies to prevent illness the public and promote health • Communicable disease control and environmental • Healthy Babies Healthy Children health (management of cases, outbreaks, health hazards and the human health impacts of • Paramedic Services (land ambulance) environmental problems) • Preparedness and response for public health • Food and water safety (inspections and promotion) emergencies e.g. pandemic influenza planning • Providing emergency food, shelter and clothing during a disaster • Emergency Management Office- coordination of mitigation, response, recovery activities STRATEGIC FOCUS.2015-2018 |2 Region of Waterloo – the organization’s programs and services Community Services • System planning for early learning and child care • Administer Regionally owned service system and community housing through • Five Children’s Centres and Home Child Care program Waterloo Region Housing • Support services for children with special needs • Community Housing (WRH, non- profits and cooperatives) and the • Financial assistance with child care costs community housing wait list • Administer funding to licensed early learning and • Housing Programs: new supply initiatives, child care operators affordable home ownership, Ontario Renovates and • Sunnyside Community Alzheimer’s Program housing assistance programs • Young onset dementia Association (YODA) program • Homelessness Programs: prevention and outreach programs, emergency shelters and supportive • Sunnyside Supportive Housing and Assisted Living housing Program • Financial Assistance (Ontario Works) • Sunnyside Long Term Care Home • Waterloo Region Energy Assistance Program (WREAP) • Sunnyside Wellness Centre • Emergency Assistance through Ontario Works and • Sunnyside Volunteer Program persons with low income • Homemakers and Nursing Services Program • Employment Resource centres • Housing services plans and strategies • Employment Ontario Service provider • Housing Services funding: Homelessness Partnering • Employment services and supports for Ontario Strategy (HPS), Community Homelessness Initiative Works participants (CHPI) and Investment in Affordable Housing (IAH) • Administer Social Development Programs including Community Outreach/Counselling Collaborative Planning, Development and Legislative Services • Growth forecasting and planning for growth • In-house legal and real estate services and management Provincial Offences Act prosecutions • Regional Official Plan • Council and Committee support • Review and approve area Municipal Official Plans • Information and document access, management • Review and approve various development and archives applications • Design, print and mail services • Region of Waterloo (Township) libraries • Provincial Offences Court administration • Waterloo Region Museum, Doon Heritage Village, • Licensing and enforcement services Joseph Schneider Haus, McDougall Cottage • Environmental sustainability office • Public art • Regional economic development • ION Community Building Strategy implementation • Region of Waterloo International Airport STRATEGIC FOCUS.2015-2018 |3 Region of Waterloo – the organization’s programs and services Transportation and Environmental Services • Water Supply (including operations, engineering • Transportation planning and corridor control and planning, water conservation, source water • Grand River Transit planning protection) • Transportation demand management • Wastewater treatment • Rapid Transit / ION project • Water distribution and wastewater collection in Wellesley and North Dumfries • Transportation operations • Waterloo landfill site and transfer stations, blue • Transportation engineering box, green bin and materials recycling, and garbage • Design and construction of road projects collection • Design and construction of environmental projects • Grand River Transit operations (wastewater, water, waste management) • Grand River Transit fleet maintenance • Design and construction surveys, inspections and • MobilityPlus CAD Corporate Services • Corporate budgeting and financial reporting • Information technology infrastructure and support • Accounting, accounts payable/receivable and payroll services • Inventory and materials management • Information technology planning and project delivery • Procurement • Geographic information systems • Risk management/insurance services • Regional facilities management • Cash, investment and debit management • Energy management • Development charge