Kitchener, ON
City in Ontario
Canada
Kitchener, ON Growing Together engagement campaign shapes the future of Major Transit Station Areas
Kitchener took a multi-faceted approach to shaping future developments at MTSAs with Growing Together. Online exercises on the Engage Kitchener platform asked for residents' favorite places and streets near ION light rail stops. Community members were also asked for comments on proposed Strategic Growth Areas supporting responsible development near MTSAs. In-person workshops and office hours used 3D-printed city models for informed discussions of growth proposals.
Kitchener, ON
Canada
Kitchener, ON develops suite of mobile apps for expedited winter sidewalk clearance inspections
Kitchener experienced slow responses to sidewalk clearance complaints due to mobile-unfriendly software. The city's IT team built low-code apps on the Microsoft Power Platform for by-law enforcement officers and back-office staff. Officers quickly respond to reports of snowy or icy sidewalks with photos and notes sent to a centralized system for analysis. City officials reported a 300% increase in daily inspections per officer and an average response time of 20 minutes with the new apps.
Kitchener, ON
Canada
Kitchener, ON seeks local solutions to long-term challenges with social entrepreneurship incubator
City officials approved an incubator at 2 King St. W for the implementation of U.N. Sustainable Development Goals. Startups and entrepreneurs with ideas for solving racial equity, social, and environmental challenges receive guidance at the hub. The Waterloo Region Small Business Centre operates the incubator and attracts additional partners for improved support. Innovations generated at the hub also fulfill economic recovery goals in the Make It Kitchener 2.0 plan.
Kitchener, ON
Canada
Kitchener, ON simplifies its annual sidewalk audit with robots from a local start-up
Kitchener-based Top Hat Robotics worked with city officials on a trial run of its robots for sidewalk inspections. Top Hat robots are equipped with depth cameras that scan surfaces with one-millimeter accuracy. Public works crews that previously spent months on manual inspections were freed to make priority repairs. The pilot allows for long-term maintenance planning through sidewalk mapping and grading.
Kitchener, ON
Canada
Kitchener, ON teaches residents about new zoning amendment with Backyard Homes Design Competition
Kitchener changed its zoning bylaws to accommodate detached dwellings like tiny homes. City officials published a design workbook on its engagement platform for residents to imagine their own dwellings. Qualified entries in the competition include building sketches and 200-word narratives about dwelling residents. Participants submit their designs in youth, post-secondary, adult, and professional categories with category winners receiving $500 CAD to $2,500 CAD.
Kitchener, ON
Canada
Kitchener, ON turns resident feedback into website accessibility and customization with MyKitchener
Residents create free MyKitchener accounts to customize their front pages with relevant information. MyKitchener notifies users of new content and offers text messages for news from city departments. A customizable experience emerged from three years of city engagement with residents interested in expanded online services. City staffers also worked with the Digital Kitchener Lab to simplify website language for readers and voice-activated assistants.
Kitchener, ON
Canada
Kitchener, ON turns to Instagram for COVID-19 precaution awareness during Safety Dance Challenge
Kitchener residents were asked to create their own Instagram takes on a city-created dance throughout March 2021. The routine included recommended steps to halt COVID-19 spread including handwashing, social distancing, and mask use. Participants tagged the city's Instagram account, added #KitchenerSafetyDance, and mentioned two friends. Qualifying posts were entered into drawings for gift cards to eateries and grocery stores.
Kitchener, ON
Canada