Redeveloped Rockway Centre to be a ‘welcoming, comfortable, and social space’

Kitchener, Ontario – The City of Kitchener is excited to share the results of a recent community engagement campaign to better understand residents’ interests, needs, and desires for a new older adult centre.

“For 50 years, Rockway Centre has served thousands of Kitchener’s older adults, and the broader community. As we look forward to the construction of this new centre, we are pleased that it will be designed by, and for, Kitchener’s older adult community,” said Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, “With our aging population on the rise, it's crucial that their input shapes this cherished community hub to effectively meet their needs for a place purpose-built for active lifestyles and social connections for many decades to come.”

The City heard from more than 700 residents who participated online and in-person to share their vision for the features, programs, and services to be included in the new Rockway Centre. With proposed amenities such as a gymnasium, large multi-purpose rooms, accessible washrooms and other spaces that are specifically designed for older adult programming, the new centre will meet the needs of the City’s aging population.

Overall, residents said they would like the new older adult centre to be welcoming, comfortable and social. The top features residents would like to see in a new older adult center are:  

“Rockway Centre is Kitchener’s only dedicated older adult centre where residents can come together and participate in a wide variety of programs designed specifically for them and is a vital hub for community services,” said Ward 8 Councillor and Community & Infrastructure Services Committee Chair Margaret Johnston. “We are excited to envision a new, welcoming space that will meet their needs.”

The redevelopment of Rockway Centre is a complex and lengthy project. The next step involves finding an appropriate development partner to build a mixed-use facility with an older adult recreation centre on the ground floor. In the coming months, City staff will use the information collected through community engagement, as well as other relevant information, to develop mandatory criteria for a Request for Proposal (RFP). Staff will consult with members of the Rockway Advisory Committee before finalizing the RFP criteria, which will be presented to Council in 2025.

Read the full report online at www.kitchener.ca/rockwayredevelopment or pick up a copy in the Rockway Centre lobby.

To subscribe to regular updates on the Rockway Centre redevelopment project, visit engagewr.ca/Rockway.