The city’s publication for its residents November-December 2012

Expansion team photo provided by Kitchener Rangers

The Kitchener Rangers skated into

an expanded and renovated arena

for their season opener at The Aud

a few weeks ago. And in fitting style, the

Rangers defeated their opponents, the

Oshawa Generals, by a score of 6-2.

It is that winning attitude that bonds the

Rangers’ fans to the team.

It is what makes the fans set up lawn

chairs on a hot summer day to watch the

expansion under way.

As one of two remaining not-for-profit

hockey teams in the Ontario Hockey

League (OHL) – Peterborough being the

other – The Rangers’ contribution to the

city, and to its fans, fosters a unique and

reciprocal relationship with the

community.

Construction on the 60-year-old building

started in February and added 1,000

seats to the arena's capacity.

As well, there were three levels added. The

first level houses the concourse that

supports the new seating area and

concessions.

The second level is the Legends level with

five private suites, National Hockey

League amd Canadian Hockey League

suites and media lounge, and the

Rangers’ executive board room.

The third level will feature the home and

visiting media boxes. Other changes were

made to washrooms and renovated team

space, including dressing rooms, player

services, offices and retail areas.

“We’re very excited and happy with how

the entire project has moved forward since

we began,” says the Rangers’ chief

operating officer, Steve Bienkowski. “A lot

of the credit goes to the various

tradespeople who have worked diligently

to meet the tight timelines.”

An additional 1,000 seats brings the

capacity for hockey, including suites and

standing room, up to 7,600-7,800, and

reduces the 1,300 names on a waiting list

for season tickets.

The Kitchener Rangers funded the full

cost of the expansion, which sits at $9.6

million, but requested that the city provide

funding in the form of a repayable loan,

based on a 15-year repayment schedule.

The Rangers teamed up with local

restaurants and added a free bus to bring

fans to each game at The Aud.

Service on the Rangers Express is offered

on a first-come, first-serve basis at several

pick-up points around Kitchener and

Waterloo, including the Duke Street

entrance at Kitchener City Hall.

Buses will depart for The Aud 45 minutes

prior to game time. The Rangers Express

returns riders to their original location

leaving 10 minutes after the game’s three-

star selection.

For more on the Rangers Express and the

expansion, see

www.kitchenerrangers.com n

Sidewalk

snow-how

It’s -10C, and the snow storm ended

several hours ago. On the street, a

parent struggles to push a stroller down

a rutted, icy, snow-covered sidewalk.

Across the street and down the hill, a

motorized wheelchair struggles through

thick snow. Its engine whirrs as the wheels

spin on ice and get stuck in ruts. Then it

tips, tossing its occupant out onto the

cold, snowy sidewalk.

It doesn’t take much to think about how

that person feels, or how they would even

get back into their wheelchair.

“Snowy and slushy sidewalks present

great dangers for falls, stuck wheelchairs,

tipped wheelchairs,” said Susan St. John,

executive director of the Waterloo District

Chapter of the MS Society, which

advocates for accessible and affordable

housing, barrier-free public transportation,

age-appropriate long-term care, and

accessible and danger-free sidewalks in

winter. “In a normal winter, several of our

clients, while attempting to travel through

their community, are thrown from their

power wheelchairs while attempting to

navigate a badly cleared sidewalk.”

“Sidewalks need to be shovelled

immediately after a snowfall because they

are a vital part of the transportation

network of the city,” said Shayne Turner,

the city’s director of enforcement. “It is so

much easier to walk down a street where

sidewalks in front of all the properties

have been shoveled, especially for people

who have mobility issues, those who are

elderly, and parents with small children.”

So what does someone with a physical

disability do when they’re lying on the

sidewalk or in a snowbank? They wait for

someone to help, St. John said.

“These people cannot get back into their

chairs without help, so there they lay, in

the snow, in the cold, until a passerby

stops to help,” she said. “Think of your

mother, your friend or brother laying

helpless on the cold ground until someone

‘happened’ by.”

Read the full story online at

www.kitchener.ca. For more on the city’s

winter bylaws, see

www.kitchener.ca/bylaws n

Ask us about the 2013 budget

Set aside an hour on Dec. 10 at 1 p.m. to log into Facebook, where the city’s

director of financial planning, Ryan Hagey, will engage in a conversation about

the budget for 2013. Hagey’s appearance in the city’s Ask an Expert social media

campaign is designed to deliver timely answers to budget questions. Post questions

ahead of time or join in the conversation on Monday, Dec. 10 at 1 p.m.; he will answer

questions live at www.facebook.com/cityofkitchener.

Ask an Expert is just one of the opportunities that citizens have to give feedback

throughout this year’s budget process. Citizen feedback plays a key role in the budget

process, and other opportunities for earlier engagement also include a convenient

online budget calculator and a comment web page.

The online calculator lets residents experience some of the hard decisions that council

must consider, along with the financial implications of those decisions. Learn more

about the 10 potential reductions and what effect, if implemented, they could have on

the city portion of your taxes.

The webpage also allows you to make your voice heard. Not only can you let council

know what choices you’d like them to consider, your comments will be provided to

council to help them make their decision on final budget day on January 17, 2013.

Those not online can still provide feedback by phone by calling 519-741-2602 and

leaving a message; in writing to 2013 Budget, City of Kitchener, 200 King St. W, PO Box

1118, Kitchener ON N2G 4G7, or by taking part in the public input session on Jan. 7.

For more information, go to www/kitchener.ca, search words “budget 2013.”n

If you cannot clear

your sidewalks, try

these agencies (fees

may apply):

House of Friendship

519-742-8327

The Working Centre

519-513-9225

Community Support

Connections/Meals

Wheels and More -

519-772-8787

Your Kitchener Is published every other month to keep our

citizens informed on local issues and

events. If you have questions or comments,

please contact us by phone at

519-741-2383 or by email at

communications@kitchener.ca.

The City of Kitchener is committed to

providing accessible formats and communication supports for persons with

disabilities. If another format would work better for you, please contact the

inclusion coordinator, City of Kitchener/City of Waterloo, at 519-741-2226.

The buildings are typical of their era

– the mid-to-late 1800s and a bit

later. Recognizable from their

multitude of windows, the height of their

ceilings, and in some cases, painted

brickwork, the Tannery, Breithaupt Block,

Kaufman Lofts, Arrow Lofts and the

Simpson Block, historical buildings in the

core of Kitchener, have one thing in

common.

They have become, either directly or

indirectly, touchstones in the city’s

strategic economic development plan.

The city’s vision for the downtown includes

feisty start-up tech companies in

repurposed factories, and a global

workforce drawn by creative working and

living spaces.

It’s a long way from the blue-collar factory

jobs that were once the mainstay of

Kitchener’s economic engine. Industrial

gears that once created buttons, shoes,

shirts and other products are now silent,

but the creative gears of the minds now

working in those same spaces – for

example, Google, Desire2Learn and

Communitech – are very much active and

alive. It’s a migration of an industrial

economy to an information economy, and

it hasn’t happened overnight.

“We have worked in the region for more

than 10 years, starting with our

redevelopment of Waterloo Town Square.

While working there, we always admired

the leadership and direction that we saw

from the City of Kitchener and the vision

they had for the future,” said Craig Beattie,

co-owner of Perimeter Development

Corporation, which is developing the

Breithaupt Block and Simpson Block in

downtown Kitchener.

“It took some time for us to find the right

project in Kitchener, which we finally did

with the Breithaupt Block,”he adds.

Beattie sees the potential of an old

building as a creative workplace. His

efforts to revitalize the Breithaupt Block

are turning the old factory into places of

innovation and information.

“Where possible,” he said, “our goal is to

maintain as much of the old, interesting

elements of these old buildings, while

integrating the new modern amenities that

are required to meet the needs of today's

sophisticated tenants.”

The buildings are also interesting

opportunities for community-building

projects, particularly where the arts is

concerned.

Perimeter and some downtown

restaurants use their spaces to house

galleries and art programs that need help

finding a good home to display their works

and raise awareness for the arts in

general.

“Those opportunities are what is just

getting us started; along with the positive

support and leadership of the city's

economic development team, the city is

an attractive place to put our capital to

work,” said Beatty. “We are excited about

the future opportunities.”

For more on the city’s economic

development, please see

www.kitchener.ca, search words

“economic strategy.”n

Santa Claus parade

Dress warmly and bring the kids on

Nov. 17; Santa Claus is coming to

town. Floats, bands and Santa - the

parade starts at 10 a.m. in uptown

Waterloo and travels along King

Street. The BIA, in co-operation with

the city, offers free parking downtown

on Saturdays on Dec. 15, 22 and 29,

with the exception of lots on Otto

Street, at Centre in the Square and

the Civic District garage. n

Christmas craft sales

Country Hills Community Centre is

having a Christmas craft sale on

Saturday, Nov. 24, from 9 a.m. to 1

p.m. Gifts, crafts, decorations, door

prizes and tea room are all part of the

event. Vendor space is still available;

enquire at 519-741-2596 or visit

Country Hills Community Centre.

Rockway Centre is holding its

Christmas market and craft sale also

on Nov. 24 from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

The sale features craft vendors, a

silent auction, baked goods, a

children’s area and a tea room.

Admission to both events is free. n

Christkindl Market

Willkommen! Come enjoy the sights,

sounds and tastes of Christmas at

Kitchener City Hall Dec. 6-9. Visit

Christkindl Market and relive a

centuries-old tradition. Our festival of

German Christmas is a four-day

festival with more than 70 vendors

and free entertainment. For more

information visit www.christkindl.ca n

Christmas Fantasy

On Thursday, Dec. 6 at 5 p.m.,

Victoria Park comes alive with

thousands of twinkling lights, creating

a winter wonderland through the

holidays – and right through New

Year’s Day. This free family event

features entertainment, hot chocolate

and the lighting ceremony. Lights

remain on until early January 2013.

Christmas Fantasy is a partnership

with the city, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro

and Pioneer Lions club and Kiwanis

Club of Twin Cities. n

Breakfast with Santa

Bring the kids to share breakfast with

the jolly ole elf himself on Saturday,

Dec. 8. The event includes one photo

with Santa, breakfast and a craft.

Tickets are $5 or $15 for a family of

four ($5 for additional children),

available at the Kitchener Market

office, Tuesday to Friday, 9 a.m.-4

p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m.

Limited spaces are available. n

Something old, something new

The TragicallyHip come toThe Aud

It’s lucky 13 for the quintessentially

Canadian band, the Tragically Hip, as

they make a stop in Kitchener with The

Arkells on Feb. 5 on the tour for their

13th studio album, Now For Plan A.

Tickets are now on sale for the concert,

which will be at The Aud on Feb. 5 at 8 p.m.

The band joins the ranks of the likes of

Bob Dylan, Elton John and Neil Young, who

have also played The Aud in recent years.

A five-piece group of friends including

Robby Baker (guitar), Gord Downie (vocals,

guitar), Johnny Fay (drums), Paul Langlois

(guitar) and Gord Sinclair (bass), the band

released their first album, The Tragically

Hip, in 1987 and have since earned two

diamond certifications and more than 20

#1 hits.

They enjoy mass popularity with more than

eight million albums sold worldwide, as

well as peer recognition through 11 Juno

awards.

Tickets (incl. HST) are $35, $69.50, &

$99.50 (plus service charges), and are

available online at www.theaud.ca, at The

Aud box office, Centre in the Square box

office, or by calling 519-578-1570 or 1-

800-265-8977.

For more information about shows at The

Aud, see www.theaud.ca n

It’s the holiday season and you’re

downtown for a party at a friend’s

house, or a local club. You didn’t plan on

drinking, but hey, you haven’t been out for

awhile and it is the holidays. You’re a

responsible drinker, and although you

drove to the party, after that first drink,

you know you won’t drive home.

The next day, you bus back to where your

car is parked, but a little piece of paper is

fluttering from its windshield – a parking

ticket.

“This is absurd,” you think to yourself. “I

did the right thing by taking a taxi home. I

paid for the taxi, and now I have to pay a

parking ticket!”

There are options to all users of our

parking facilities who may be drinking

after they have parked, said Shayne

Turner, director of enforcement for the city.

“If there is a remote chance you may be

drinking when you’re downtown, maybe

think about taking alternate modes of

transportation to and from your

destination,” he said. “If you do drive, I

recommend parking in one of our 24/7

garages – such as at Charles and Benton,

or Ontario street -- where you pay for the

time you use. Or you can park in a surface

lot for free from 6 p.m. to 8 a.m. the

following day. This is a good option, too,

but you could still be impaired, and will

have to make arrangements to pick up

your vehicle before 8 a.m. the following

day.”

Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD), a

charitable organization committed to

stopping impaired driving and supporting

victims, suggests a few things to think

about when planning a night out with

friends:

l Never ride with an impaired driver.

l Plan ahead if you're going to be

drinking.

l Take a cab or bus, arrange a

designated driver or plan to stay over.

l If you see a driver you suspect is

impaired, call 911 to report it to

police.

For more on the city’s parking bylaws, see

www.kitchener.ca/parking. n

Don’t get the parking blueswhen you’re out celebrating

“If there is a chance

you may be drinking . . .

think about taking

alternate

transportation to and

from your

destination,”

-- Shayne Turner

director of bylaw

enforcement

Ask an expert

Wondering about the 2013 budget

process? Ask our expert, Ryan Hagey,

director of financial planning for the

City of Kitchener, on Monday, Dec. 10

at 1 p.m. using our Facebook forum.

For more details, see

www.kitchener.ca/askanexpert n

Strummerfest

Come down to City Hall for a free

concert commemorating the life and

work of Joe Strummer on Dec. 14, 7-

10 p.m. Music will be at multiple

venues throughout downtown

Kitchener, and the city hall stage will

have bands covering classic Joe

Strummer and Clash tunes. Check

details on :

www.strummerfest2012.com n

Kids’ Hop – with a special visit

from Santa!

Santa Claus joins Erick Traplin for

Kids’ Hop at Kitchener Market on

Dec. 18 from 11 a.m. to noon. The

kids can dance up a storm as Traplin

plays a free concert, and they can get

a free photo with Santa, with a

donation to the Waterloo Region Food

Bank. n

Honouring loved ones during the

holidays

On Saturday, Dec. 22 from 2-4 p.m.,

please join Kitchener Cemeteries at

Williamsburg Cemetery for a casual

gathering honouring loved ones by

placing a personalized ornament

(provided) on a tree of remembrance.

If you are unable to come on Dec. 22,

ornaments can be placed on the tree

Dec. 8 or 15 during office hours. For

more information, please call

Kitchener Cemeteries at

519-741-2880. n

Christmas Market

Holiday entertaining is a lot easier

when you come to the Kitchener

Market to pick up all of your holiday

entertaining needs on Dec. 22 from 7

a.m. to 2 p.m.

Carollers will wander the market

celebrating the Christmas spirit with

beautiful holiday songs. For more

information, call 519-741-2297 or

visit www.kitchenermarket.ca n

Send a kid to camp!

Summer is about fun for everyone!

Your tax deductible donation of just

$352 ensures one child or youth with

a disability will receive the one-to-one

support necessary to successfully

participate in camp for one week this

summer (alternative donation

amounts are also welcome). Visit

www.kitchener.ca/EveryKidCounts to

learn more. n

Public input help shape plans for Rockway

How do Kitchener residents spend

their leisure time? More

importantly, how will they spend

their leisure time 15 or 20 years from

now?

These are questions the city asked as part

of the Rockway feasibility study and

business case.

During June, July and August, the city

surveyed adults in Kitchener about their

leisure interests, with a significant focus

on older adults and the Rockway Centre.

More than 1,000 people responded, in

addition to public consultations held in

May.

When choosing a facility to participate in

their favourite leisure activities, 47 per

cent of respondents selected a multi-

purpose facility that caters to all age

groups without an older adult component.

Thirteen-and-a-half per cent of

respondents selected a facility that is

dedicated to older adults.

For respondents who were Rockway

members, the top choice was this type of

facility (54 per cent). Just over 11 per cent

of respondents were Rockway members.

Phase One of a cultural heritage resource

study and assessment by Heritage

Kitchener is complete and, based on the

draft report, Heritage Kitchener

recommends that council designate

Rockway Centre as a heritage property.

That decision has been deferred to a

future date. A copy of the draft heritage

assessment report is posted online and is

also available at Rockway Centre.

The steering committee for the Rockway

Centre feasibility study and business case

is currently developing and refining

options for the types of spaces and

amenities that would allow the city to

meet the current and future needs of

older adults.

The options will be offered to the public for

input and consideration once dates are

set for public consultation.

To follow the process and to view the

options, please see www.kitchener.ca,

search words “Rockway study.”n

Get intowinter Check out these things to do in

downtown Kitchener before the

end of the year!

NOVEMBER

15: Waterloo Festival for Animated

Cinema at Chrysalids Theatre

www.wfac.com

15-18: Artworks at Bingemans

20: Neil Young & Crazy Horse rock

The Aud

20: CAFKA hosts a free talk by

contemporary artist Rebecca

Belmore at Kitchener City Hall

22-Dec. 1: Lost & Found Theatre

presents Cariboo Magi at the

Registry Theatre

23: Hopelessly Devoted at KW|AG;

it’s a karaoke night and fan fair.

24-25: The G33K art show at

Kitchener City Hall

29: Faber Drive, live at Chrysalids

Theatre

DECEMBER

Make a donation to the Food Bank of

Waterloo Region. The items needed

most include:

l peanut butter

l canned meat and fish

l rice.

2: Big Wreck and Theory of a

Deadman hit up the Centre in the

Square

6: Christmas Fantasy: grab a hot

chocolate and enjoy the Christmas

lights in Victoria Park

11: Sexologist Dr. Robin Milhausen on

50 Shades of Grey, hosted by KPL at

Victoria Park pavilion

12: Nerd Nite at the Rum Runner pub.

Come learn about nerdy things.

www.kw.nerdnite.com

16: Barenaked Ladies: greatest hits

and holiday songs with the K-W

Symphony at Centre in the Square

14: #getdowntown after dark!

Themuseum and select shops are

open late; it’s the perfect time for

some holiday shopping

21: themuseum hosts an end-of-the-

world party not to be missed

31: Join us for an outdoor concert to

ring in the new year!

There are lots of free and nearly free

activities to do within the city, too.

Check out www.kitchener.ca, search

words “free or nearly free” to plan

your weekend or next evening out. n

The countdown is on for 2013! As

Kitchener winds down its centennial

year, come downtown Kitchener and ring

in the new year right. Whether it’s New

Year’s Eve celebrations or new year

resolutions, resolve to spend some time

with us.

We have something for everyone at this

year’s New Year’s Eve event on Monday,

Dec. 31. From 4-6 p.m., the kids can do

arts and crafts inside city hall, drink free

hot chocolate, skate on the rink in front of

city hall, or get their faces painted. There

will also be children’s entertainers and a

kiddie countdown at 6 p.m.

From 7 p.m. to midnight, the downtown air

will fill with blues music and other special

performances. For more information,

please visit NewYearsEveKitchener.ca or

follow us @kitchenerevents

New Year’s Levee

Start the new year right, with Mayor Carl

Zehr and members of council at the New

Year Levee on Sunday, Jan. 6, from 2-4

p.m. in the rotunda at city hall. Bring your

skates for a spin around the rink on Civic

Square, then warm up indoors in the

rotunda at this family-friendly event.

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. Stay for refreshments, live

entertainment and activities for children.n

What are you doing for the new year?

The historic Williamsburg Dedication Centre was originally built in the 1800sto serve as a place of worship, on Toronto's waterfront. Following itsdemolition, the City of Kitchener purchased the original roof decking andsupport beams and brought the building back to life using reclaimedmaterials from buildings that had marked Kitchener's past.

REEP rewards with upcomingstormwater workshops

REEP Green Solutions is offering free workshops and presentations on topics like

how to build your own rain barrel and other techniques homeowners can use to

reduce stormwater runoff. Not only are practices such as installing rain barrels, rain

gardens and infiltration galleries good for the environment, they can also qualify

property owners for credits towards the stormwater portion of their utility bills.

Rain gardens: Specifically designed gardens constructed to receive, filter, and absorb

water runoff into the ground, these gardens are located so they are in line with a water

downspout of the home, and where rain water drains from the property. They also use a

special “bioretention” soil media instead of regular soil.

Permeable pavers: These pavers are an alternative to traditional pavement or paving

stones designed in a way that allows rainwater to drain between the paver stones into

an under-layer of gravel, but not sand.

Infiltration gallery: This is an underground area, located near a house and connected to

the downspout to collect rainwater. The galleries are filled with gravel or stone that

temporarily holds water, allowing it to soak slowly into the ground instead of running off

into the storm sewer.

Visit www.kitchener.ca/stormwatercredits or call 519-741-3400 x3355 to learn more

about the stormwater credit program. n

Emerald ash borer (EAB)is now established across the city. Most of the city’s ash trees will be dead by 2017, if no action is taken.

You can save your ash trees.Protect your large, healthy ash trees by injecting them with TreeAzinTM – a natural by-product.To learn more and to find a qualified service provider, check www.bioforest.ca.Help conserve Kitchener’s tree canopy.www.kitchener.ca

Let us help you get into theChristmas spirit

at theKitchener Market with these fun,

family holidayevents!

Breakfastwith SantaDecember 8, 9 a.m.

$5 per ticket or $15 for a family of four__________

Kids in the KitchenCookie and cupcake decorating

December 1510 a.m. - 12 noon__________

Kids’ Hop– with a special visit from Santa!

December 1811 a.m. - 12 noon__________

Christmas MarketDecember 227 a.m. - 2 p.m.

WE’RE NOWONLINE!

Visit us at www.naturalcomforts.ca

*“CITY BUCKS” can be used to pay a City of Kitchener bill or to purchasetickets, services or merchandise at city-owned facilities, like The Aud,Rockway and Doon Valley Golf Courses and many more!! Don’t delay! Deadlineto enter for your chance to win $300 “CITY BUCKS” is December 20, 2012.

Enter now to WIN $300 in “CITY BUCKS*”!

Just complete a brief survey at www.naturalcomforts.cato be entered into the draw.

information and energysaving tips are now availableanytime, anywhere!

Our new website is filled with energy-saving tips, recipes, rebates, online

billing options and much more; available 24-hours a day using your

computer or mobile device!

We value our customers and want to provide the information you need in

a format that is convenient for your busy lifestyle!

Lace ‘em up forpublic skating programsand NEW skating events:

· “Skate-while-you-wait” at The Aud

· NewYear’s Day, Family Day…and more!

www.kitchener.ca/skatingscheduleor call 519-741-2699 for details.

Lace ‘em up forpublic skating programsand NEW skating events:

· “Skate-while-you-wait” at The Aud

· NewYear’s Day, Family Day…and more!

www.kitchener.ca/skatingscheduleor call 519-741-2699 for details.

Rain garden

Stormwater Credits...apply now and save!If you own residential property and ou have: rain barrels, cisterns,infiltration galleries, rain gardens, or permeable pavers you could be eligible to receive up to 45% of the stormwater portion of your utility bill!

Visit www.kitchener.ca/stormwatercredits to apply now! Simply complete the online application telling us how much stormwater you divert from the municipal system using the tools above. Apply before March 1, 2013 and eligible credits could be retroactive to Jan 1. 2011 or the date installed. After March 1, eligible credits will be applied to the date the application was received by the city.To receive a paper copy of the application visit Kitchener City Hall, 5th floor or call 519-741-3400 x3255. Stormwater credits are also available for non-residential property owners – visit www.kitchener.ca/stormwatercredits to learn more.