The Region and area municipalities are beginning to reopen their administrative buildings and reintroduce some programs and services. Visit www.regionofwaterloo.ca/HereForYou or call 519-575-4400 for more information.
Read the latest media releases
You can find more COVID information on your city or township website: Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo, North Dumfries, Wilmot, Wellesley and Woolwich.
Community Services
As COVID-19 recovery continues, Community Services has re-opened its doors. Things look a little different though. Here is what you should know before you visit.
Welcome Spaces will have limited capacity
The following measures are in place in our Welcome Spaces to protect everyone from COVID-19:
- Limits to the number of people in the space at one time.
- Fewer computers will be available.
- Time on computers may be limited to ensure everyone has access to them.
Welcome Spaces at 150 Main Street in Cambridge, 99 Regina St. S. in Waterloo, or 235 King St. E. in Kitchener will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday to Friday. Navigators will be available to help connect you to services you need.
Masks will be available in the Welcome Spaces
A bylaw is now in place that requires everyone to wear a mask in enclosed public spaces. This includes our Welcome Spaces. When you enter, you will be offered a mask free of charge if you do not bring your own.
In-person and virtual appointments
Appointments for service will be offered virtually and in person. In-person service will be offered at a reduced rate due to physical distancing requirements in the building. Staff working in Housing Services, Employment and Income Support, and Children’s Services will be in the office a few days a week. Please call ahead if you would like to arrange to meet with someone in person. If you are an Ontario Works participant and would like to book an appointment with your caseworker, please call them directly or call the number below to be connected. Computers are also available if you need to come to the Welcome Space to meet staff virtually.
If you have any questions about this update or our services, please call 519-575-4400 or email Community Services general inquiries.
For more ways the Region and its partners are supporting the community during COVID-19, please visit our COVID-19 Community Supports page.
Regional Museums
The Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum will be open with reduced hours beginning July 2. Timed tickets can be purchased online or at the desk to access the Mandela exhibit and Doon Heritage Village, which will be open as a "walk in the park" experience, with no heritage buildings open.
Summer camps will begin July 6 and will operate from Schneider Haus. All programs will comply with Provincial and Public Health guidelines.
Region of Waterloo Library branches
The Region of Waterloo Library has 10 branches across our four townships. These branches currently offer curbside pick-up by appointment. Branches will begin to open their doors for services like public computer access in mid-July. These services will also be available by appointment to ensure physical distancing can be maintained.
Grand River Transit
Fare collection
Fare collection on all GRT buses, ION light rail and MobilityPLUS will resumes on June 1, 2020. Contactless payment with an EasyGO fare card is preferred, but cash will still be accepted. Details: grt.ca/covid19
Managing Physical Distancing
GRT will now be managing physical distancing on buses. Once a bus reaches the point where physical distancing can't be maintained, the bus will not pick up more passengers and another bus will be sent. See the GRT website for details.
View the full list of routes affected.
Sunnyside Home
As directed by the Ministry of Health, all non-essential visits to Sunnyside Home long term care and Sunnyside supportive housing have been suspended. Visits will be limited to those who come to see very ill residents or residents who are at end-of-life. All non-essential programs and services are also closed until further notice. View the protocols for essential visitors and the full list of closures.
Garbage collection
Services are back to normal operations. See the Garbage and Recycling page for the latest Waste Collection news.
Region of Waterloo International Airport
Details are changing rapidly. We ask that passengers use your flight number to check your flight status online before heading to the airport. Passengers with questions should contact your airline. Please note airline call centre volumes are high: Please call only if your travel is within 72 hours.
See the Airport website for Closures and Service Suspensions.
Provincial Offences Court Closures
The Provincial Offences Court Office is open from 9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m. for front counter service.
All in person Provincial Offences Act matters scheduled in Waterloo Region from Monday, March 16 to Friday, October 16, 2020 will be adjourned and rescheduled to a later date. If you have a matter scheduled during this time, you do not need to attend court. A notice for your new court date will be sent by mail to the address on file with the court.
For more information, please contact Region of Waterloo Provincial Offences court by emailing POA@Regionofwaterloo.ca.
Water Efficiency programs
Rain Barrel Distribution scheduled for April 25 has been postponed. We hope to hold the sale at a later date.
WET Home Program is paused. Our partner Reep Green Solutions is not conducting home audits or scheduling new home visits at this time. The program will re-start at a future date. For more information please contact Reep Green Solutions at 519-744-9799 ext 1 or by email.
Community Gardens
Over 80 community gardens that exist in the region have reopened. For full details read the news release issued on May 4, 2020.
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