Departments

The Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) provides overall leadership and direction for the Region of Waterloo. It also oversees the Regional Operations managed by the following seven departments:

  • Community Services
  • Corporate Services
  • Engineering and Environmental Services
  • Human Resources and Citizen Service
  • Planning, Development and Legislative Services
  • Public Health and Paramedic Services
  • Transportation Services

All the departments work to ensure professional, timely and citizen-centered services to the residents of Waterloo Region.

Office of the Chief Administrative Officer (CAO)

The office of the Chief Administrative Officer provides overall leadership and direction related to the administration and operation of the Region of Waterloo. This includes:

  • Fostering a culture that reflects the Region's values
  • Establishing and monitoring priorities
  • Ensuring that the Region's services are delivered efficiently and effectively.

The CAO's Office oversees Corporate Strategy and Performance, Corporate Communications, Truth and Reconciliation and, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion.   

Community Services
Community Services plans, administers and delivers a variety of programs and services, including:
  • Children's services
  • Employment and income support
  • Housing services
  • Seniors' services

The department administers Regionally owned housing and provincially and federally mandated programs for housing and homelessness. It provides early learning services through five children's centres and a Home Child Care Program. It also administers the Child Care Subsidy program and provides services for children with special needs. 

The department operates Sunnyside Home, a long-term care facility, and provides specialized care for people with physical and cognitive needs.

Community Services administers Ontario Works and is an approved Employment Ontario service provider.

For more information, go to the Region of Waterloo Community Services page.

Corporate Services 

Corporate Services supports and advises Council and Regional departments in these areas:

  • Management of the Region’s financial processes, including financial planning, budgeting, capital & operating planning and monitoring of Regional expenditures and revenues.
  • Corporate financial reporting, accounting, purchasing, inventory management, internal audit and risk management services.
  • Ensures medium and long-term financial and information technology related plans are in place to support the development and implementation of the Region’s strategic objectives.
  • Planning, development, implementation, and maintenance of Information Technology infrastructure, systems and applications.
  • Provides corporate support for all Information Technology Services (ITS) including security devices, networks, servers, databases, applications, and telecommunications.

The divisions in Corporate Services are:

  • Information Technology Services (ITS)
  • Treasury Services
  • Corporate Finance

Engineering and Environmental Services

The divisions in Engineering and Environmental Services are:

Human Resources and Citizen Service

The Human Resources and Citizen Service department is responsible for employee recruitment, retention, training and engagement, as well as compensation management, benefit and system administration, health and safety and labour relations. 

The department also oversees the Region's evolving Citizen Service functions, including the Service First Call Centre and the Region's Service Improvement Strategy. 
The department focuses on the key links between engaged and supported employees and the provision of excellent service.

The Divisions in Human Resources are:

  • Employee Relations
  • Employee and Organizational Effectiveness
  • Employee Services and Systems 
  • Citizen Service

Planning, Development and Legislative Services 
This department is responsible for planning the future growth of our community and creating strategies to support our continued prosperity.

This includes the operation of the Region of Waterloo International Airport, the Region's museums and libraries and the management of Regional Forests, as well as oversight of the Regional Official Plan and related review roles. Corporately, we provide a broad range of services including legal counsel, real estate, licensing, by-law enforcement, corporate publishing, Council and administrative services, and provincial offences prosecution and administration.

The divisions in Planning, Development and Legislative Services are:

Public Health and Paramedic Services

The Public Health and Paramedic Services Department provides two health services, both cost-shared with and mandated by the Ontario Ministry of Health and Long Term Care.

Public Health works to promote and protect health, and prevent disease.

Paramedic Services provides pre-hospital care and hospital transport. Its goals are to ensure excellence in patient care, meet response-time targets and increase awareness and availability of Public Access Defibrillators. 

The divisions in Public Health and Paramedic Services are:

  • Central Resources
  • Child and Family Health
  • Emergency Management Office
  • Health Protection and Investigation
  • Healthy Living
  • Infectious Disease, Dental/Sexual Health 
  • Medical Officer of Health 
  • Paramedic Services

For more information, go to Region of Waterloo Public Health and Paramedic Services. 

Transportation Services

The divisions in Transportation Services are:

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