City of Kitchener launches planning process for 2027–2030 Strategic Plan

The City of Kitchener has started gathering community feedback to inform its 2027–2030 Strategic Plan. 

The Strategic Plan sets Council’s priorities, goals and actions for each four‑year term. The upcoming plan will build on the success of the current 2023–2026 Strategic Plan and carry forward Kitchener’s long‑term vision of “building a city for everyone where, together, we take care of the world around us – and each other.” 

Early insights from a statistically significant community survey led by Abacus Data signal the strengths, opportunities and priorities residents have for the City for the next four years. Abacus Data surveyed 861 Kitchener residents using a mix of phone and online methods. Survey insights will be presented during a Special Council meeting on May 4, 2026. 

 Key findings include: 

• Overall satisfaction with City services is strong relative to national benchmarks: Seven in ten Kitchener residents (70%) report being satisfied with City services overall, based on the 2026 Abacus survey conducted in Kitchener. This is significantly higher than the results from a parallel 2026 Abacus Omni survey of Canadians nationally (54%) and residents of comparable large cities (52%), indicating that Kitchener performs well on core municipal service delivery. 
• Concerns about affordability: Cost of living (32%) and housing affordability (29%) stand out as the community’s top concerns. 
• High confidence in safety: Nearly 80% of residents feel safe in their neighbourhoods. 
• Community connection driven by access: 59% report feeling connected. Residents prioritize reducing financial barriers (54%) and improving access to public spaces (53%) to increase connection. 
• Strong satisfaction with daily life: Most residents report good access to daily activities (83%), programs (80%), and feel Kitchener is a supportive place to raise a family (78%). 
• Strong attachment to Kitchener: Most residents plan to stay in Kitchener over the next five years (70%) 

"We’re hearing clearly from residents that Kitchener is a strong and vibrant place to live, while also recognizing that continued focus on making life more affordable is needed,” shared Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrabanovic. “These early insights give us a solid, evidence‑based starting point. Community voices will continue to play a central role as we refine priorities and actions for the years ahead.” 

As the process continues, community voices will remain central to shaping Kitchener’s Strategic Plan. 

Compass Kitchener is a longstanding community‑led advisory committee that helps guide and validate the city’s long‑term vision, guiding principles, values and strategic priorities. The committee has been actively involved in the Strategic Plan process since 2000, providing guidance and feedback shaped by community input, and will continue to support the plan’s development. 

 “By bringing community members, leaders and diverse voices into meaningful dialogue, this strategic planning process will ensure Kitchener’s priorities are grounded in what matters most,” said Troy Glover, Chair, Compass Kitchener. “We encourage everyone in the community to get involved, share their perspectives and help shape the future of our city.” 

The City’s strategic planning process will continue throughout 2026, with additional research and engagement inputs spanning: 

• A Voluntary Local Review (VLR) in partnership with the University of Waterloo, making Kitchener one of only a handful of Canadian municipalities to formally assess local progress toward the UN Sustainable Development Goals 

• Resident panel – applications open May 8, 2026 

• Community conversations – applications open May 8, 2026 

• Youth‑focused workshops 

• On‑the‑street interviews 

• Collaboration with Compass Kitchener and other City of Kitchener advisory committees 
• Additional Council strategy sessions to refine priorities and goals 

A draft 2027–2030 Strategic Plan is expected in early 2027, following the municipal election.

For more information about the strategic planning process and to stay involved, visit EngageWR.ca/KitchenerStrategicPlan 

For more information: 
Corporate Communications and Marketing 
City of Kitchener 
media@kitchener.ca