Kitchener businesses receive update on downtown safety concerns

Safety in downtown Kitchener was the focus of a second townhall discussion after businesses shared concerns about issues like crime and growing homelessness.

The first ‘downtown safety’ meeting happened in January, and a second was held this week, where businesses got an update on the progress so far. The initiative has been spearheaded by the Downtown Kitchener Business Improvement Area (BIA), which teamed up with the City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo, and Waterloo Regional Police.

Linda Jutzi is the BIA’s executive director and said these are complex issues that require collaborative solutions.

“These aren’t problems that can be shouldered by one group,” Jutzi said while on The Mike Farwell Show on Thursday.

She said part of their efforts over the last few months included adding overnight security from 11 p.m. to 6 a.m.

“They’re checking properties, checking doors, ensuring properties are secure,” said Jutzi. “They also carry plywood and tools so if a window is broken, they can secure it.”

The Downtown Kitchener BIA also wanted to build on the City of Kitchener’s Downtown Safety Ambassador program.

“Council approved four full-time people back in 2024 to be on that ambassador team — they’re trained and they work with bylaw, they’re very identifiable on the street.”

Jutzi said businesses phone the downtown ambassadors when law enforcement isn’t required and because the outcomes have been so positive, the BIA added two more.

“We’re funding additional ambassadors to be downtown until 11 o’clock at night over the summer and into the fall.”

The organization hired a coordinator who helps businesses file incident reports with the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS), as some owners raised concerns that it was too time-consuming to do while they’re trying to run their stores. This also ensures WRPS is getting all the relevant data about crime in the downtown core.

“So now we’re linking data, we’re coordinating, we’re collaborating, and we’re working together for the better of downtown,” Jutzi highlighted.

Additionally, a building at 87 King St. W. is being donated with donated furnishings to provide a collaborative space where WRPS can meet with BIA members and better address downtown concerns.

Jutzi said the City of Kitchener is also evaluating crime prevention through environmental designs and has ramped up morning property inspections, while the Region of Waterloo is focused on a coordinated multi-agency outreach plan.

She acknloweged these are complex issues and there’s still much more work that needs to be done, which will require continued collaboration and support from upper levels of government.