Play a key role in our city's future by sitting on a local advisory committee or board.

On this page:

  1. About committees
  2. Apply to join an advisory committee or board
  3. Advisory committees
  4. Boards
  5. Quasi-judicial committees

About committees

Committees give advice and feedback to city council and standing committees on a variety of issues, including arts and culture, accessibility, downtown and the environment. Boards have the autonomy to make decisions for the good of their organizations.

Each advisory committee and board also has at least one city council member.

Accessible formats and communication supports are available to committee/ board members (and guests) upon request. If you require assistance to take part in a city meeting or event, please call 519-741-2345 or TTY 1-866-969-9994.

Apply to join an advisory committee or board

If you want to join one of our advisory committees, boards or quasi-judicial committees, applications closed on September 21, 2022.

Key dates

  • August 29 to September 21 – application period
  • September 19 to October 31 – review of applications
  • December 5 – presentation of slate of applicants to city council
  • January 1, 2023 – appointees assume their positions

Advisory committees

Open the accordions below to learn about our advisory committees. For more information, including planned work for each committee during the current term, please use the contact information in the accordion.

Active Transportation and Trails Advisory Committee

Meets: second Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.

Provides community input to assist city council in creating a livable, environmentally friendly city that is safe for walking and cycling. Advises on design, development and delivery of cycling and trail policies, programs and facilities. For more information, please contact Ivan Balaban at 519-741-2200, ext. 7302 or review the committee's terms of reference. (current terms of reference under review)  The current appointees are Councillor Aislinn Clancy, Matthew Bells, Emily Bennett, Jorg Broschek, Philip Charbonneau, Lynn Dramnitzki, Bart Forwell, Victoria Hand, Josh Orita, Greg Piccini, Rida Rahman, Craig Reynolds, Barry Tracey and Wanda West.
Aeronautical noise advisory committee

This committee is temporarily suspended.

Provides regular and effective communications between the Region of Waterloo International Airport, residents, local aviation businesses and users, businesses located within Canada's Technology Triangle, Transport Canada, Nav Canada, Canadian Business Aircraft Association and the Air Transport Association of Canada, with regards to the effects of aviation noise from the airport on the surrounding community. For more information, please contact the airport manager at 519-648-2256, or review the committee's terms of reference.
Arts and culture advisory committee

Meets: third Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.

Provides advice and recommendations to city council and staff on arts and culture matters to further our strategic directions. For more information, please contact Karoline Varin or call 519-741-2200 ext. 7912, or review the committee's terms of reference. The current appointees are Councillor Dave Schnider, Canan Altinkas, Chandrika Anjaria, Ivy Bhattacharjee, Annabelle Girard, Maggie Iaam, Anna McWebb, Maria Melo, Jeffrey Paquette, Isabella Stefanescu, Mark Waddell and Esther Wainaina.
Climate change and environment committee

Meets: third Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.

An advisory committee to city council on all environmental matters. The committee considers the environment in its broadest possible terms, and its mandate includes all activities and operations of the city that affect the environment. For more information, please contact Shannon Lodenquai at 519-741-2200, ext. 7407, or check out the committee's terms of reference. The current appointees are Councillors Scott Davey and Aislinn Clancy, Klas Bockasten, Jennifer Clary-Lemon, Morgan Garner, Gudmundur Johannesson, Braden Kurczak, Kyle Loveless, Veronica Nhio-Son, Mahyar Shafii, Farzaneh Tohidi, Brian Unrau, Brooklin Wallis and Seth Wynes.
Compass Kitchener

Meets: first Wednesday of the month at 4 p.m.

Validates the Compass Kitchener vision, guiding principles, values and strategic priorities on a regular basis, with the community's input and participation. This committee creates and leads public processes to determine community concerns, identify priorities for action and monitor progress toward achieving the community vision. For more information, please contact Linda Korabo at 519-741-2200, ext. 7092, or check out the Compass Kitchener terms of reference. The current appointees are Evren Aitinkas, Kim Brabazon, Troy Glover, Alide Fortmanis, Ruth Lavender, Wasai Rahimi, Judy Stephens-Wells, Linda Terry, Lee-Anne Thompson, Lori Trumper and James Young.
Downtown action and advisory committee

Meets: fourth Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.

Assists the economic development division with the implementation of various initiatives of the Downtown Kitchener Action Plan, and advises city council on matters that affect the downtown and its adjacent neighbourhoods. For more information, please contact Victoria Filippelli at 519-741-2200 ext. 7197, or check out the committee's terms of reference. The current appointees are Councillors Debbie Chapman and Aislinn Clancy, Sandra Castle, Joel Leslie, Jeannette Makad, Ben Campbell, William Turman, Graham Trusler, Brandon Van Dam and Izabela Wyllie.
Economic development advisory committee
Advises city council and the economic development division on the development and ongoing implementation of economic development strategies and initiatives. For more information, please contact Katelyn Remus at 519-741-2200 ext. 7957, or check out the committee's terms of reference.  The current appointees are Councillors Ayo Owodunni, Dave Schnider and Margaret Johnston, Ali Akbar, Mark Bingeman, Ben Campbell, Joe Curto, Srikanth Desikachar, Chuck Howitt, Oanh Kasperski, Paul Kreutner, Matthew Kruschack, Jason Malfara, Laura Rodriguez Reyes, Keean Sarani, Graham Trusler and Barclay Whittaker.
Equity and Anti-Racism Advisory Committee

Meets: monthly or at the discretion of the committee. View the meeting calendar for upcoming meeting dates.

This advisory committee provides advice and recommendations to Council on matters related to equity and anti-racism to support and further the City’s strategic directions. The committee supports the Equity, Anti-Racism and Indigenous Initiatives division as a resource, source of collaboration and feedback, and serves as a conduit to the larger community when additional feedback and engagement is required. The committee also serves as the selection committee for the Racialized & Indigenous Supports for Equity (RISE) Fund, a community grant program for Black, Indigenous and racialized groups and organizations. 

For more information, please contact Rea Parchment or review the committee's terms of reference.

The current appointees are: Ann Marie Beals, Avni Adams, Ayesha Munir, Danny Martin, Fiorella Benini, Leo Campbell, Oluseun Olayinka, Paul Okoye, Rida Rahman, Saba Oji, Veronica Vasquez and Yexin Tan.
Heritage Kitchener

Meets: first Tuesday of each month at 4 p.m.

Advises on matters involving conservation of publicly and privately owned cultural heritage resources within Kitchener, and serves as our municipal heritage committee, as defined in the Ontario Heritage Act. For more information, please contact Mariah Blake, or check out the committee's terms of reference. The current appointees are Councillors Christine Michaud and Debbie Chapman, Ilona Bodendorfer, Brianne Casey, Peter Ciuciura, Shannon Eckel-Braun, Taijwant (Tony) Geer, Jean Haalboom, Natalie Pikulski, Andrew Portengen, Des Rosskopf, Robyn Schwarz and Donny Vongphakdy.
Safe and healthy community advisory committee

Meets: second Thursday of each month at 4 p.m.

Advises city council and staff on policies, programs and services we're involved with that relate to inclusion and belonging, with a focus on building healthy communities and bridges to engagement. For more information, please contact Janis McKenzie at 519-741-2200, ext. 7225, or check out the committee's terms of reference.

Boards

Open the accordions below to learn about our boards. For more information, including planned work for each committee during the current term, please use the contact information in the accordion.

Centre in the Square board of directors

Meets: bi-monthly on a Wednesday at 8 a.m.

The Centre In The Square Inc. is a not-for-profit arts corporation, which operates and maintains the city-owned venue known as the Centre In The Square (CITS) where both local and international artists perform. The main duty of the board of directors is one of governance. From time to time, board members with specific skills are sought including, but not limited to, legal, accounting, human resources, marketing and fund raising. Please ensure you specifically highlight any skills, experience or expertise that would benefit CITS in your application. For more information, please contact the Centre In The Square at 519-578-5660. The current appointees are Councillors Christine Michaud, Bil Ioanndis and Scott Davey, Alex Kinsella and Kayleigh Platz.

Board description
Position:

Centre In The Square Board of Directors

Term:

Normally three (3) years, with the option of a second term for three (3) years.
A director that has served two (2) consecutive terms will be eligible for reappointment to the board if they sit out for one full year after the second consecutive term.

Legal requirements:

Must be at least 18 years old, a Canadian citizen, and a resident or work at a company with a City of Kitchener address. Maybe not employed by Centre In The Square.

Time commitment required:

A minimum of six (6) board meetings, normally held on Wednesday mornings from 8 a.m. to 9:30 a.m.

All reports are distributed via email and/on internet.

General function of the board:

The CITS Board of Directors stewards the financials and operations of the facility setting key policies for implementation by the staff. The Board appoints the General Manager who directs programming, brand management, customer service, marketing, fundraising, finance and operations, including all other personnel.

Specific duties of board members:

  • Support the organization and actively fundraise for it.
  • Oversee the short-term and long-range maintenance and improvements of the facility.
  • Establish and monitor the organization's strategic plan, measuring KPls and adjust plans to meet the overall goals.
  • Set the annual operating budget for the organization and facility. Approve the yearly audited statements.
  • Assess and adopt policies to govern the organization and its operations.
  • Recruit and evaluate annual performance of the General Manager.
  • Participate in planned public relations and act as spokesperson for the organization, when required.
  • Endorse requests and applications to local, provincial and national funding programs to support programming activities and/or infrastructure improvements.
  • Attend all Board meetings, committee meetings as assigned.
  • Attend outside meetings and community events.
  • Ensure the organization meets health and safety standards and other legislated compliance for public facilities.
  • Promote and advocate the role of CITS as a presenter and animator of the performing arts in the KW region.

Desirable qualifications and experience:

  • Business acumen and demonstrated leadership abilities.

  • Aptitude for planning - both long and short range.

  • Ability to work in a political environment.

  • Knowledge of the community's social and economic conditions.

  • Skilled in advocacy, fundraising, building management and financial literacy.

Contact for more information:

Rob Sonoda, General Manager, CITS

rsonoda@centreinthesqaure.com

Dan Carli, Chair, Board of Directors

decarli232@gmail.com 
Kitchener Housing Inc. board of directors

Meets: third Wednesday of each month at 4 p.m.

Provides leadership for this non-profit organization, and remains committed to developing and managing innovative and affordable housing that fosters personal and community growth. The board's purpose is also to expand and diversify the organization's rental housing portfolio by mobilizing community support and financial resources through the development of innovative partnerships. Please ensure your application includes specific experience, skills and expertise that would benefit Kitchener Housing Inc. For more information, please contact Lori Trumper at 519-744-6655, ext. 209. The current appointees are Councillors Bil Ioannidis and Jason Deneault, Melanie Goodfellow, Andrew Vlcek, Cassandra O’Brien, Tara Bedard and Andrew Portengen.
Kitchener Public Library board

Meets: third Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m.

The Kitchener Public Library (KPL) board, which is established under provincial legislation, is responsible for the management and control of our local public libraries. Please ensure your application includes specific experience, skills and expertise that would benefit KPL. For more information, please contact KPL CEO Mary Chevreau at 519-743-0271, or check out the following description of a board trustee position. The current appointees are Councillors Margaret Johnston and Christine Michaud, Katherine Andrews, Shannon Nicholson, Clare Wagner, Anjali Misra, Dan Deeth, Maggie Lam, Brandon Van Dam, Laura Blythe, Bonita Hansra.

Quasi-judicial committees

Open the accordions below to learn about our quasi-judicial committees. For more information, including planned work for each committee during the current term, please use the contact information in the accordion.

Committee of adjustment

Meets: every third Tuesday morning

The committee of adjustment considers and makes decisions relative to the following types of planning applications:

  • Minor variances to the zoning bylaw
  • Consents (dividing land parcels to create new lots)
  • Validation of title
  • Fence and sign variances
  • City council appoints all members of the committee of adjustment.

The current appointees are Scott Hannah, Srikanth Desikachar, David Gundrum, Douglas Pateman and Brian Santos.
Dog designation appeal committee
An appeal tribunal for citizens who have dogs that have been designated by the Kitchener-Waterloo and North Waterloo Humane Society under our dog designation bylaw. For more information, please contact Mariah Blake at 519-741-2200, ext. 7277, or check out our dog designation appeal committee guidelines and appeal application form. The current appointees are Councillors Jason Deneault, Ayo Owodunni and Margaret Johnston (Alternate) and a member of the Canadian Kennel Club.
Property standards committee

Meets: last Wednesday of each month at 1 p.m.

An appeal tribunal for citizens who have received 'Orders to Comply' from our enforcement staff regarding property standards. For more information, please contact Mariah Blake at 519-741-2200, ext. 7277, or check out our property standards appeal committee guidelines and appeal application form. The current appointees are Mike Pulley, Sharlene Mohlman, Cyrus Medina and Sean McKelvie.