Our strategic plan is our community's shared vision for the future of Kitchener. We're building a city for everyone where, together, we take care of the world around us - and each other.
On this page, you'll find information on key indicators and actions for each of our five strategic goals. Actions are intended to directly impact key indicators by either increasing or decreasing the metrics they measure. For the first time, we're aligning actions to specific indicators in an attempt to demonstrate how we are moving our strategic goals forward.
On this page:
- What are key indicators?
- What are actions?
- UN Sustainable Development Goals
- Progress updates
- Our 2023-2026 strategic goals
- Building a connected city together
- Cultivating a green city together
- Creating an economically-thriving city together
- Fostering a caring city together
- Stewarding a better city together
What are key indicators?
The strategic plan indicators are a new feature of the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan, intended to objectively measure our performance on each strategic goal.
What are actions?
Some actions in the strategic plan are multi-year projects divided into several phases, with annual deliverables. The completion dates listed in the tables below represent the end dates for the current phase of the project. Learn more in the April 2024 strategic plan update.
UN Sustainable Development Goals
Each of our 2023-2026 strategic goals has been linked to associated UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) – these are depicted in the coloured icons with numbers 1 through 17. Visit the UN website to learn about the SDGs.
Progress updates
Download a detailed update from the list below. We'll continue to update this page with progress updates on our 2023-2026 strategic plan.
Our 2023-2026 strategic goals
Building a connected city together
We live in all kinds of neighbourhoods and types of housing. We work together to ensure that we each have secure and affordable homes. We get around easily, sustainably and safely to the places and spaces that matter most to us.
Key indicators
In March 2023, Kitchener city council unanimously approved a housing pledge that will support the building of 35,000 additional homes in Kitchener by 2031. The pledge is a commitment to advance progress on a variety of strategies and actions that will support the building of new homes.
As a part of the provincial Building Faster Fund, the following housing construction statistics have been reported:
| Indicator | 2023 | 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| Provincial annual housing target for Kitchener (based on housing starts) | 2,567 | TBA |
| Housing starts (measured by housing units under construction) | 3,579 | TBA |
| Provincial housing target achieved | 139% | TBA |
| Residential units approved for future development | 11,457 | 3,791 |
| Residential permits issued to start construction |
3,945 |
2,558 |
In addition to the above housing construction statistics, staff track the following indicators.
| Indicator | Previous | Most recent | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Households in core housing need* |
13.5% (2016) |
10.2% (2021**) |
developing |
| Transportation deaths |
3 (2022) 0 (2023) |
0 (2024) |
0 |
| Transportation serious injury |
9 (2022) 3 (2023) |
12 (2024) |
0 |
| Transportation minor injury |
93 (2022) 59 (2023) |
113 (2024) |
developing |
* core housing need determines if a household can afford suitable (enough bedrooms for the number of people) and adequate (in good condition) in their community
** data is collected every five years
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Housing for All implementation Learn more on our Housing for All page. |
2025 | On track |
|
Localized transportation safety improvement |
2025 | On track |
|
City-wide active transportation routes |
2025 | On track |
|
Official Plan comprehensive update Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
Cultivating a green city together
We follow a sustainable path to a greener, healthier city. We work together to enhance and protect our parks and natural environment while transitioning to a low-carbon future. We support businesses and residents to make more climate-positive choices.
Key indicators
| Indicator | Previous | Most recent | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Corporate GHG emissions, from 2016 baseline |
+0.9% (2022) -4% (2023) |
-6% (2024) |
-8% by 2026 Net-Zero by 2050 |
|
City tree canopy coverage*
|
24.8% (2014) 27.2% (2019) |
analysis and anticipate updates to Council late in 2025 | 33% citywide by 2070 |
| Local park area per person |
9.8 sq.m. per person (2022*) |
8.7 sq. m. per person (2024-2025) |
10 sq.m. per person |
* updated data to be presented to Council in late 2025
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Corporate Climate Action Plan 2.0, Pivot: Net Zero Learn more on our corporate sustainability page. |
2025 | On track |
|
Clean energy transition strategy Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
| District energy business case | 2025 | On track |
| High performance development standards Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
|
Implement tree canopy target plan Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
|
Implementing actions from Parks Master Plan Learn more on our parks strategic plan page. |
2026 | On track |
| Parkland acquisition strategy | 2025 | On track |
| Grand River park strategy | 2025 | On track |
Creating an economically-thriving city together
We use our collective strengths to grow an agile and diverse local economy powered by talented entrepreneurs, workers and artists. We work together to create opportunities for everyone and a resilient future that propels our city forward.
Key indicators
| Growth indicator | Previous | Most recent | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Downtown density (residents and jobs per hectare) |
218 (2022) 220 (2023) |
220 (2024) |
225 (by 2031) |
| New residential units built in existing city areas (not on undeveloped lands) |
51% (2022) |
57% (2024) |
60% annually |
| Density near major transit stations (residents and jobs per hectare) |
35-185 (2023) |
35-194 (2024) |
160* (based on transit station) |
| New development density on previously undeveloped lands (residents and jobs per hectare) |
data not available |
data not available |
65 |
* target for each Major Transit Station Area (exception: Block Line station target: 80 residents and jobs per hectare)
| Economic development indicator | Previous | Most recent | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Business startup and retention activity |
237 (2022) 482.97 (2023) |
253 (2024) |
600 (2024) |
| Events visitation rate |
520,369 (2022) 562,431 (2023) |
570,000 (2024) |
591,874 (2024) |
| Employment rate |
65.8% (2022) 65.08% (2023) |
66% (2024) | developing |
| Unemployment rate |
5.28% (2022) 6.63% (2023) |
8.2% (2024) | developing |
| Labour force participation rate |
69.53% (2022) 69.74% (2023) |
71.9% (2024) |
developing |
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Accelerate commercial business approvals Learn more in the related staff report. |
2024 |
Complete |
|
Implement health/medical technology innovation campus |
2025 |
On track |
| Creative industries school | 2026 | On track |
| Special events and festivals action plan | 2026 | Not started |
|
Entertainment venue management Learn more in the related media release. |
2025 | On track |
|
Implement arts and creative industries action plan |
2026 | Not started |
Fostering a caring city together
We welcome residents of all ages, backgrounds and lived experiences. We work together on the decisions that matter to us and have a meaningful influence in our community. We’re healthy and thriving as we easily access the diverse and inclusive programs and services we need to succeed.
| Indicator | Previous | Most recent | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Rate of diverse population participation in city-led programs |
NA | 20.3%* | developing |
| Rate of diverse population participation in neighbourhood association programs | NA | 23.1%** | developing |
| # of older adult-focused programming across city neighbourhoods | 553 (winter/spring 2024) | 695 (winter/spring 2025) | developing |
*32% survey response rate
**32.5% survey response rate
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Truth and Reconciliation | 2024 |  Complete |
|
Municipal newcomers strategy Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
|
Enhance city's engagement practices Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
| Community centre operating model | 2025 | On track |
| City-led recreation and leisure program review | 2025 | On track |
| Sport and recreation master plan | 2026 | Not started |
| Community grants review Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2025 | On track |
Stewarding a better city together
We, the City’s employees, are stewards of Kitchener’s present and its future. We’re responsive, innovative, diverse and accountable public servants who work together efficiently to serve residents. We remove barriers and champion residents’ collective vision for a better city and a better world.
Key indicators
| Indicator | Previous | Most recent | Target |
|---|---|---|---|
| Residents who agree their input is valued by the city* | data not collected in 2022, 2023 | NA | developing |
| Satisfaction with city services (extremely and somewhat satisfied) |
76% (2022) 84% (2023) |
81%(2024) | 85% |
| Ease of use of city services |
78% (2022) 59% (2023) |
82% (2024) | 70% |
| Turnover rate for permanent city staff |
11.5% (2022) 9.67% (2023) |
7.49% (2024) | developing |
| Turnover rate for permanent city staff in their first year of employment |
2.31% (2022) 1.71% (2023) |
1.37% (2024) | developing |
| Time to fill vacant full-time permanent positions (calendar days) |
75 (2022) 79.5 (2023) |
67.18 (2024) |
developing |
* data collection for 2024 in progress
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Implement city-wide data strategy | 2025 | On track |
| Digital Kitchener strategy | 2026 | On track |
| Support a psychologically safe workplace | 2025 | On track |
| Strengthen employer identity/value proposition | 2025 | On track |
| Procurement innovation | 2025 | Complete |