Regional council set to receive advice regarding Victoria Street encampment litigation
Posted Dec 11, 2025 07:45:29 AM.
Last Updated Dec 11, 2025 09:49:33 AM.
More conversations are happening at regional council, this time behind closed doors, as litigation between the Region of Waterloo and the residents of the encampment at 100 Victoria St. continues.
The municipality is receiving “advice that is subject to solicitor-client privilege” as the two sides were unable to reach mediation.
The region was attempting to put in place a site-specific bylaw for 100 Victoria St., where the future Kitchener Central Transit Hub will be. It looked to clear the encampment in preparation for construction; however, the encampment’s residents and those representing them claim that the bylaw breaches their charter rights.
The hearing began in November but was adjourned until February so that the two sides could engage in mediation.
“Region of Waterloo engaged in mediation regarding the Region’s Site-Specific By-law for 100 Victoria Street North. Unfortunately, the parties were unable to come to a mediated agreement,” said the Region of Waterloo in a statement to 570 NewsRadio. “Preparations continue for the court dates in February 2026, which were adjourned from November to facilitate mediation. This process is not expected to delay the Kitchener Central Transit Hub project.”
The region added that its goal remains to support the residents of the encampment in their search to find alternate housing.
The Region of Waterloo claims that these proceedings are not expected to delay the construction of the Kitchener Central Transit Hub.
However, the original plan set in motion when the site-specific bylaw was first discussed back in April was that the site would be cleared of all residents by Dec. 1, but now, more than a week from that date, a reported 30 people still live there, though only four of them are what the region is calling “original residents.”
The special council meeting is scheduled for Thursday at 9 a.m.
