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.
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.
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 start target for Kitchener (measured in housing units) | 2,567 | 2,917* |
| Housing starts (measured in housing units) | 3,579 | 696* |
| Percent of provincial housing start target achieved | 139% | 40.32%** |
| Residential units approved | 11,457 | 2,306*** |
| Residential permits issued |
3,945 units |
1,508 units*** |
* as of June 2024
** as of August 2024
*** as of July 2024
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 |
| Transportation serious injury |
38 (2022) |
38 (2023) |
developing |
| Transportation minor injury |
333 (2022) |
298 (2023) |
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. |
2024 | On track |
|
Localized transportation safety improvement |
2024 | On track |
|
City-wide active transportation routes |
2025 | On track |
|
Official Plan comprehensive update Learn more on Engage Kitchener. |
2024 | 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) |
-5% (2023) |
-8% by 2026 Net-Zero by 2050 |
| City tree canopy coverage |
24.8% (2014) |
27.2% (2019*) |
33% citywide by 2070 |
| Local park area per person |
10.1 sq.m. per person (2022*) |
data collection in progress |
10 sq.m. per person |
* data is collected every five years
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 | 2024 | On track |
| High performance development standards | 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. |
2025 | On track |
| Parkland acquisition strategy | 2025 | Planned to start in 2024 |
| 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) |
225 (by 2031) |
| New residential units within the already built-up area of the city |
51% (2022) |
69% (2023) |
60% annually |
| Density target for Major Transit Station Areas |
data not collected in 2022 |
75 residents and jobs per hectare (2023) |
35-185 residents and jobs per hectare (based on transit station) |
| Greenfield new development density |
data not available |
data not available |
65 residents and jobs per hectare |
* 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 |
276.70 (2022) |
482.97 (2023) |
600 (2024) |
| Events visitation rate |
520,369 (2022) |
562,431 (2023) |
591,874 (2024) |
| Employment rate |
65.8% (2022) |
65.08% (2023) |
developing |
| Unemployment rate |
5.28% (2022) |
6.63% (2023) |
developing |
| Labour force participation rate |
69.53% (2022) |
69.74% (2023) |
developing |
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
|
Accelerate commercial business approvals Learn more in the related staff report. |
2024 |
Complete |
| Creative industries school | 2025 | Planned to start in 2024 |
|
Entertainment venue management Learn more in the related media release. |
2025 | On track |
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.
Key indicators
As of 2024, we are beginning to measure these key indicators for the first time:
- rate of diverse population participation in city-led programs
- rate of diverse population participation in neighbourhood association programs
- increase in older adult-focused programming across city neighbourhoods
We will report on these indicators in 2025.
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Advance Truth and Reconciliation | 2024 | On track |
| Municipal newcomers strategy | 2025 | Planned to start in 2024 |
| Improve city's engagement practices | 2024 | On track |
| Community centre operating model | 2025 | On track |
| City-led recreation and leisure program review | 2025 | Planned to start in 2024 |
| Community grants review | 2025 | Planned to start in 2024 |
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 | data not collected in 2023 | developing |
| Satisfaction with city services (extremely and somewhat satisfied) |
76% (2022) |
84% (2023) |
85% |
| Ease of use of city services |
78% (2022) |
59% (2023) |
70% |
| Turnover rate for permanent city staff |
11.5% (2022) |
9.67% (2023) |
developing |
| Turnover rate for permanent city staff in their first year of employment |
2.31% (2022) |
1.71% (2023) |
developing |
| Time to fill vacant full-time permanent positions (calendar days) |
75 (2022) |
79.5 (2023) |
developing |
* data collection for 2024 in progress
Actions
| Action | Expected completion | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Implement city-wide data strategy | 2025 | On track |
| Strengthen employer identity/value proposition | 2025 | On track |
| Procurement innovation | 2024 | On track |