City of Kitchener reviewing off-schedule livestreaming incidents

Kitchener, ON – The City of Kitchener is aware that cameras installed by LiveBarn Inc. (LiveBarn), a youth and amateur sports streaming platform, and administered by the Kitchener Minor Hockey Assocation (KMHA), in two city arenas (Lions Arena and Grand River Arena) were inadvertently streaming and recording off-schedule.

On July 22, 2025, staff were notified that the LiveBarn cameras were programmed improperly and displayed live video footage of activities in the rink area outside of approved events. Upon notification, the City immediately began working with KMHA and LiveBarn to understand the extent of the issue.

That review has determined that cameras at Lions Arena and Grand River Arena have been active since on or about April 14th. As a result, recent City summer camps in Lions and Grand River arenas were recorded and streamed. City staff have proactively reached out to parents and guardians of camp participants about this incident. Upon learning of the incident, the City took immediate action to move all LiveBarn cameras offline, and these cameras will remain offline while the city continues to investigate the issue.

LiveBarn cameras are installed in more than 1900 arenas across North America and are in all City owned arenas, excluding the Kitchener Memorial Auditorium, on a pilot basis. LiveBarn footage is available to subscribers only, and the off-schedule, inadvertent recordings of Lions Arena and Grand River Arena taken are no longer posted. Cameras capture ice surfaces only and do not record any other areas in Kitchener facilities.

We take the privacy of residents seriously. A thorough review of third-party owned streaming services in City facilities is being conducted.

The City of Kitchener has reported this incident to the Information and Privacy Commissioner of Ontario (IPC). There is no need to file individual privacy complaints, but if people wish to do so they may access their online reporting form at: https://www.ipc.on.ca/en/privacy-individuals/filing-a-privacy-complaint.

For more information:

Kayla Snyder

Manager, Corporate Communications

City of Kitchener

Media@kitchener.ca