You did it. You got out and voted. Did it feel good? Did it feel like you were participating in democracy at Ywere participating in democracy at Y

its very root, democracy in action?

The City of Kitchener would like to thank all those who amarked their ballots – your vote made a difference. Thanks for making your voice heard.

Thank you also to those who worked at voting locations for this election. Your time made a difference. And thanks to all those who ran as candidates for ward and regional councillors and for mayor, regional council and the school boards. Your commitment makes a difference.

Since 1969, voter turnout for Kitchener municipal elections has ranged from 24-41 per cent. Voter turnout in the

2010 election was 27.41 per cent. This election, 30.66 per cent turned out to vote.

So what happens next?

All standing-committee and city council meetings are open to the public; citizens are invited to register as a delegation and speak to any issue that’s on a committee’s agenda for discussion. Agendas and minutes for all standing-committee and council meetings are available to the public, and are posted in the online calendar at www.kitchener.ca. The standing committees are:

Community and infrastructure services– Considers operational issues in community services and infrastructure services departments, including those affecting programs and services, such as

community centres roads, recreation and parks.

Planning and strategic initiatives – Considers all planning and engineering matters requiring public hearings and major strategic initiatives related to city growth, including oversight of the growth management strategy.

Finance and corporate services– Considers operational issues in the finance and corporate services department, budget and labour relations, and services such as licensing matters related to the Municipal Code.

Every municipal issue needing a decision goes through a legislated process usually involving one of the standing committees, and, ultimately, city council.

In addition to considering standing committee reports, city council makes decisions on other municipal matters, such as passing bylaws and receiving presentations and delegations. To help the standing committees in making informed decisions, a number of citizens’ committees meet regularly to provide advice and feedback on a variety of local issues.

All committee and council meetings are live-streamed over the internet, as well, so you can tune in to an in-session meeting or view recordings of past meetings at www.kitchener.ca, under the Inside City Hall tab. Rogers TV also regularly broadcasts council meetings and you can also view past council meetings by visiting their website.

Your Kitchener is published every other Your Kitchener is published every other Your Kitchenermonth to keep citizens informed on local issues and events. Questions or comments can be directed to 519-741-2345 ext. 7383 or communications@kitchener.ca. The City of Kitchener is committed to providing accessible formats. If another format would work better for you, please contact the number above.

More than surveysResidents’ participation in city government is critical to how well we are able

to build Kitchener for the future. When citizens have access to informationand choose to participate in discussions and consultations, they help councilmake decisions that are in the best interest of the community; the public feels confident that the city is accountable and transparent to its citizens.A recent example is the Your Kitchener, Your Say community engagement campaign. We heard from nearly 3,000 participants who told us we need to develop processes that ensure everyone can be engaged, represented and respected in the city’s decision making. We also received comments asking us to demonstrate that we listen when we ask for input and tell participants how we will use the feedback. Based on this feedback, Compass Kitchener identified 28 priorities for action for the next term of council (find out what they are at www.kitchener.ca/YourSay). There are several upcoming consultations we’d like to hear from the public about including:• The comprehensive review of the zoning bylaw (CroZBy); • Planning around rapid transit stations beginning with the central station areas;• Fischer Park skatepark;• A review of our city publications getting underway later this year;But participation and engagement is more than just surveys and focus groups. There are many ways to connect and engage with the city from volunteering inone of many opportunities across the city to attending an event or taking partin programs at our recreational facilities.We have also recently added a location-based mobile app, PingStreet, for BlackBerry, iPhone and Android devices. PingStreet is designed to enhanceonline customer service and give the public more options to access servicesand information from the city. And don’t forget you can call us 24 hours a day, seven days a week at 519-741-2345 for answers to your questions, or check out www.kitchener.ca to find current consultation opportunities, available volunteer positions and other ways to connect with Kitchener.

The results for Kitchener are:Mayor: Berry Vrbanovic

Ward 1: Scott Davey

Ward 2: Dave Schnider

Ward 3: John Gazzola (acclaimed)

Ward 4: Yvonne Fernandes

Ward 5: Kelly Galloway-Sealock

Ward 6: Paul Singh

Ward 7: Bil Ioannidis

Ward 8: Zyg Janecki

Ward 9: Frank Etherington

Ward 10: Sarah Marsh

Regional chair: Ken Seiling

Regional councillors for Kitchener: Karen Redman, Tom Galloway, Wayne Wettlaufer, Geoff Lorentz

Waterloo Region District School Board:Ted Martin, Kathi Smith, Natalie Waddell, Mike Ramsay

Waterloo Catholic District School Board: Greg Reitzel, Joyce Anderson, Brian Schmalz, Amy Fee

Conseil scolaire Viamonde: Denis Trudel

Conseil scolaire de district catholique Centre-Sud: Dorothee Petit-Pas

Four dates to know for the 2015 budgetIt’s early in the process for the 2015 budget, but the city staff who are preparing for budget discussionshave set some dates for residentsto note, and will be seeking feedback through the next few months.

Get involved in the discussionby responding to the City of Kitchener Facebook posts, tweetsby @CityKitchener, or coming outto address council on Feb 2.

www.kitchener.ca #KitBudget

Budget discussions for 2015 will be held in January and February. Mark these dates in your calendar:

Jan. 5: operating

budget;

Jan. 12: capital budget;

Feb. 2: public input night;

day.

The city’s publication for its residents November-December 2014

You did it. You got out and voted. 2010 election was 27.41 per cent. This community centres roads, recreation and In addition to considering standing

Kitchener Market cooks!There’s always something fun happening at the Kitchener Market. Free events take place on Saturdays, including tour of the market with Chef D every second Saturday. Cooking classes take place Wednesdays, 6:30-8:30 p.m., unless otherwise indicated:• Slow cooker meals: Nov. 12

• Wine & Art: Tuesday, Nov. 18 or Dec. 16

• Dinner party how-to: Nov. 19

• Ladies night out - Cocktails and appetizers: Thursday, Nov. 20, 27, Dec. 4 or 11

• Ladies night out - The great cookie exchange: Thursday, Dec. 18

• Kids in the Kitchen: seepage 3, Dec. 13, Dec. 20

For details, visitwww.kitchenermarket.ca/events.

Santa Claus paradeDress warmly and bring the kids on Nov. 15; Santa Claus is coming to town. Floats, bands and Santa, and more -- the Lions parade starts at 10 a.m. in uptown Waterloo and travels along King Street through downtown Kitchener. Canada Post picks up mail for the “jolly old man” from the children during the parade, for delivery at: Santa Claus, North Pole, Ho Ho Ho. The Waterloo Knights of Columbus are involved in the toy drive with the Waterloo Fire Department, and food items are collected for the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.

Christkindl MarketWillkommen! Come enjoy the sights, sounds and tastes of Christmas at Kitchener City Hall Dec. 4-7. Visit Canada’s original Christkindl Market and experience a centuries-old tradition. Our festival of German Christmas features more than 70 food and gift vendors and free entertainment. Visit www.christkindl.ca for more information. There will be free Saturday parking at city hall during Christkindl. Check downtownkitchener.ca for other free parking programs.

What’s your partin PARTS?The Ion will be rolling through

Kitchener in just a few shortyears and the City of Kitchener

is hard at work trying to plan for the change it will bring.

“I’ve heard from residents, business owners and developers, many of whom have expressed some anxiety around what changes the LRT will bring,” said Tina Malone-Wright, senior planner for the City of Kitchener. “That’s what this process is about -- and why it’s so important. This is our opportunity to shape what that change looks like by developing the policies and regulations that will dictate what can and can’t be done around these station stops. It’s also important to note that not all station areas are targeted for change and that’s why we need to go through this process.”

Starting with the central stations study area plan, in part because of the work and momentum already happening in the core, the city will begin a process of consulting with the public to develop a plan that spells out the most appropriate land uses, streetscapes and infrastructure requirements within about a 10 minute walk of the ION station stops.

Other considerations that will be discussed through this process are pedestrian, bicycle, transit and road issues as well as traffic in general, stormwater management and accessto water and wastewater.

To launch the central stations areaplan, we will be inviting the public toan information session on Wednesday,Nov. 19, 2014 from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. in the Conestoga Room at Kitchener City Hall. This session will provide information about the project and the work that’s been done to date and will ask participants some specific questions to help staff understand where people’s concerns are and what factors could influence peoples’ decisions to use the light rail transit. Some examples of questions that participants will be asked are:

• Do they live, work or go to school within a 10 minute walk of a station?

• Do they see themselves using the ION and if not, what would encourage them to do so?

• What route would they take to go to or from a station stop and would they walk bike or drive to it?

• Do they want to grab a coffee, pick up groceries or stop at a park on the way to or from the station or what other amenities would they like tosee around the station stops?

Staff will take the feedback received through this phase of the project and go back to the public next spring to present several possible scenarios so that people can see what may be possible. Staff will take the feedback received from the public on the possible scenarios and develop a preferred scenario that will be presented in thefall of 2015 for feedback.

For more information and a detailed map of the area in consideration, please visit www.kitchener.ca/parts you can also email PARTS@kitchener.ca. The website will be regularly updated with information throughout the process.

Winter may seem like an odd time to be thinking about skateparks, but did you know that the City of Kitchener is building a new skatepark next year at Fischer Park? This is the time for work on design and vision for what that skatepark will look like.

So, what would you like to see in a new skatepark?

We’re looking for input at upcoming design workshops. The feedback provided from participants will be used to design the new skatepark. All meetings will be held at Forest Heights Public Library (251 Fischer Hallman Rd.), from 7-9 p.m. on the following dates:

• Thursday, Oct. 23 - Visioning and brainstorming workshop

• Thursday, Nov. 27 - Design alternatives workshop

• Thursday, Jan. 8 - Preferred design presentation.

Consultation and design of the skatepark would take place October 2014 to January 2015, with construction taking place next spring and summer. Fischer Park is located at the corner of Fischer Hallman Road and Queen’s Boulevard. The site is adjacent to Forest Heights Collegiate Institute, Forest Heights Pool and Kitchener Public Library’s Forest Heights branch.

Throughout 2010 and 2011, staff talked to local skateboarders to get their input on where two new skateparks should be built, outlined in the City of Kitchener Skatepark Planning Study. Fischer Park was identified during that process as being a desirable location for a new skatepark, and was subsequently approved by council.

For more information on the new skatepark planning, go to www.kitchener.ca/skatepark or email Skatepark@kitchener.ca.

24hrs of Nspiration

From Nov. 14-16, the City of Kitchener will be participating in a 24hr startup event with Nspire Innovation Network, a student run non-profit whose purpose is to connect, empower and inspire youth and build leaders in the business and technology space.

On Friday, Nov. 14, the 24hr Startup will begin with team building and idea generation. The competition will begin on Saturday with a 24-hour exchange of disruptive ideas and vibrant energy from some of the top university students in the region. The event will conclude with “Dragons’ Den” style pitches to a panel of judges at Kitchener City Hall beginning mid-day.

The event is part of the roll-out of city’s latest release of open data sets. Staff is excited for the opportunity to engage with the teams to understand how open data could be used to support their business concepts and what startup companies need from their local government to support their business’s needs.

“There is huge potential to come up with something great given the immense amount of local tech talent in the area,” said Dan Murray, the City of Kitchener’s Interim Director of IT. “We are really looking forward to seeing what the community can do with it.”

The city now has more than 30 open data sets posted in our catalogue and continues to release data as it become available.

Learn more at www.kitchener.ca/opendata

Two Christmas trees at Williamsburg Cemeteries Dedication Centre celebrate the season of giving in very different ways. One is a 20-foot fir

tree of remembrance decorated by staff and long-time community volunteers, Pat and Gloria Doherty; the other ready to be “dressed” with donations of new hats, mitts, scarves, socks and boots.

On Saturday, Dec. 20 from 2-4 p.m., Kitchener Cemeteries hosts a casual gathering honouring loved ones at the dedication centre, providing a personalized ornament to place on the tree of remembrance. If you are unable to join us on Dec. 20, please drop by Saturday, Dec. 6 or 13 from 2-4 p.m., to simply view the tree, donate to the “bare” tree, or personalize an ornament and place it on our Christmas Tree of Remembrance.

The items placed on the second Christmas tree are donated to local charities, such as Anselma House or YWCA Mary’s Place, which provide shelter and services for abused women and their children, and St. John’s Kitchen, which provides support and outreach services in downtown Kitchener.

Donations can be made during regular office hours. For more information,call 519-741-2880 or visit www.kitchenercemeteries.ca/christmas.

A Christmas Fantasy20th anniversaryVictoria Park comes alive with thousands of lights for the magical 20th anniversary of A Christmas Fantasy on Saturday, Dec. 6,from 5 p.m. Visit the bandstand on Roos Island this year for live entertainment at the heart of the festivities including Santa’s Workshop and Mr. and Mrs. Claus. Check out one of our community village huts on the island for some hot chocolate on Friday and Saturday nights until Jan. 3.

New Year’s EveThe countdown is on for 2015! Join us downtown Kitchener and ring in the New Year on Wednesday, Dec. 31 in retro style! We have something for everyone at this ‘80s throwback party. This free event features an ‘80s toy and collectible expo inside the Rotunda with iconic exhibits, a photo booth, and a trivia and gaming lounge featuring vintage arcade games. On Civic Square, there will be skating, food for purchase and live entertainment until the countdown. For more information, please visit kitchenerevents.ca #KITNYE.

New Year’s LeveeStart off 2015 with Kitchener’s new mayor, Berry Vrbanovic and members of council at the New Year’s Levee on Sunday, Jan. 4, from 2-4 p.m. at city hall. Bring your skates for a spin around the rink, then warm up indoors at this free family-friendly event. There will be refreshments, live entertainment, free face painting, a balloonist, and a craft table. Mark the start of another year by exchanging New Year’s greetings with your friends and neighbours, and with council, in anticipation of a good year ahead.

The Aud & Arenasskating scheduleLace up your skates for the ice season and take advantage of a variety of ice programs in the City of Kitchener’s arenas. Programs include paid public skating and adult shinny hockey, special public skating events, and free community skating presented by Josslin Insurance. Visit www.kitchener.ca/skatingschedule or call 519-741-2699 for more information.

Home safe: warm up to safety this winterEvery season brings its sunshine and leisure activities, and also its hazards. Winter is when we have to think about safety indoors as well as outdoors. There are things we should do because they keep us and our neighbours safe, and there are things the city requires us to do through bylaws. By working together as a community, we help keep each other safe.

The city also has bylaws that cover snow removal, winter parking and also ensure owners of residential rental buildings provide adequate heat for tenants. Homeowners’ responsibilities increase in the winter as snow and ice pile up. Think about these things when you’re out shoveling your driveway in winter:

• By removing snow around exhaust and intake vents, we protect our home from carbon monoxide poisoning.

• By assisting the city to dig out fire hydrants, we reduce the time it takes to respond to a fire.

• By clearing the snow around meters, we keep them accessible in case of emergency.

• By clearing snow and ice from sidewalks, we prevent falls and mishaps for pedestrians and people who are using assistive devices or strollers.

“There are a few key things we need to remember for keeping our homes, ourselves and others safe in the winter time,” said Gary Mann, interim fire chief for Kitchener Fire Department. “Thinking about it in the middle of an emergency is too late.”

Adequate heatUnder the city’s Municipal Code, all rental housing heated by the property-owner must be at least 21C (70F).

“Having adequate heat within your home or apartment is a property owner’s duty,” said Shayne Turner, the city’s director of enforcement. “Landlords must make sure their tenants have adequate heating when the weather gets colder during the falland winter months.”

A complaint can be registered with the city’s bylaw enforcement division. The property owner is required to address the issue within a certain time period, or be fined up to $5,000.

Home safe: gas metersIt’s important to keep snow and ice from building up on your gas meter. Gas meters need to vent. If ice or snow builds up around your gas meter and prevents it from venting, the gas build-up could be forced back into the house, creating a safety risk.

Home safe: carbon monoxideNow the heat is on in our houses, make you are safe from carbon monoxide (CO), an invisible, odourless, tasteless and poisonousgas, by:

• Having a certified fuels technician inspect the furnace annually;

• Keeping all outside vents clear;

• Installing a CO alarmon every floor.

CO detectors are now required by law in most homes.The symptoms of CO poisoning are similar to

the flu – nausea, headache, burning eyes, confusion and drowsiness – but without the fever. If symptoms appear, get everyone, including pets, outside to fresh air immediately and call 911.

For Kitchener Utilities inspections, service and repairs and natural gas emergencies, call 519-741-2345. Learn more about home safety and service disruptions by visiting kitchenerutilities.ca.

Home safe: smoke detectorsCity of Kitchener Fire Department urges you to practice fire safety over the holiday season, which is one of the deadliest times of the year for home fires. The law requires working smoke alarms on every storey and outside all sleeping areas; smoke alarms are missing or not working in almost 50 per cent of the residential fires the fire department gets called to.

For more home safety tips, go to www.safetyinfo.ca/autumn-winter or call the Technical Standards & Safety Authority (TSSA) at 1-877-682-8772.

In the Christmas spiritEntertaining is a lot easier during

the holidays when you come to the Kitchener Market to pick up your ingredients on Dec. 20 from 7 a.m.to 2 p.m.

Carollers will wander the market celebrating the Christmas spirit with beautiful holiday songs.

Since the Saturday market is a one-stop shop for your Christmas cooking, while you’re there picking up your turkey (order ahead!) and fixings, learn some new recipes with your little ones at the Kids in the Kitchen in the Marketplace from 10 a.m. to noon.

Classes are taught by one of our professional chefs, who give yourkids, and you, lots of opportunitiesto participate.

On Dec. 13, make and decorate a gingerbread house with Santa Claus, and on Dec. 20, create some treatsfor his reindeer.

The Kitchener Market welcomes donations to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region at its Saturday events.

Sit down for a family-style breakfast and picture session with the jolly ole elf himself on Saturday, Dec. 6, at 10 a.m. Breakfast with Santa includes one photo with Santa, breakfast and a craft.

The Kitchener Market office is open Tuesday to Friday, 8 a.m.-3 p.m. and Saturday, 7 a.m.-2 p.m. Limited spaces are available so be sure to register using the cooking classes page at www.kitchenermarket.ca, or call 519-741-228 for more information.

Yes, you need both!To protect you and your family, you need to have both alarms in your home.Fire and carbon monoxide (CO) present a risk to you and your family. To manage these risks, you need to have working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms in your home. Under new Ontario regulation, most single family homes, townhouses or multi-unit buildings with up to six units have until April 15, 2015, to purchase and install carbon monoxide alarms. Buildings with more than six residential units have until October 15, 2015 to comply. For more carbon monoxide safety information, visit www.kitchener.ca/co

Kitchener leaf collectionprogramCity of Kitchener leaf collection drop sites open October 10.No matter where you live in the city, please, where possible:• Mulch or compost leaves on your property, or• Take leaves to one of the drop-off sites listed, or• Bag your leaves for collection under the Region of Waterloo’s yard waste

program or deliver them directly to the regional landfill site.

Drop-off sites1. Schaeffer Park (Bloomingdale Road) 2. Breithaupt Park (Kinsmen Park - off Union Street) 3. Kitchener Auditorium (Ottawa Street North entrance) 4. Meinzinger Park Soccer Fields (Homer Watson Boulevard) 5. Lions Arena (Rittenhouse Road) 6. Southwest Optimist Sports Field (Pioneer Drive) 7. Cherry Park (Strange Street at Waverly Road) 8. Victoria Street South at Eastforest Trail (Eastforest Trail parking lot) 9. Hofstetter Park (40 Hofstetter Avenue)

Use the online tool to find the leaf collection options for your specific address at www.kitchener.ca/CurbsideCollection or by calling 519-741-2345.

What does Kitchener Golf

have for you this holiday season?

Learn more about how we can help get you holiday-ready this season.

Visit www.kitchenergolf.ca or call 519-741-2949 to learn more.

A great place to host a holiday party

Early bird savings on memberships for 2015

Gift cards for the golfer on your list

www.kitchenergolf.ca

REMEMBER!Give them a PARTY they’ll

Choose The Marketplace for your holiday party and we’ll take the stress out of planning. From a basic rental to a fully customized package with a personal chef, the Kitchener Market is your partner in creating an event they’ll cherish.The Marketplace is a 2,000 sq. ft. room located in the heart of the market with a full-sized commercial kitchen - perfect for hosting a variety of events.For more information and to view our photo gallery, visit www.kitchenermarket.ca/rentals or call 519-741-2287.

For energy-saving tips, rebates, recipes and more!For energy-saving tips, rebates, recipes and more!

NaturalComforts.caVisit Visit

Snow means NO!The City of Kitchener would like to remind you there

is no overnight parking on city streets between December 1 and March 31 each winter.

Parking is not permitted on any City of Kitchener street between 2:30 am and 6 am.

NO Exemptions will be granted.

The city’s tag and tow by-law remains in effect. When a snow event is declared by the City of Kitchener parking is not allowed on city streets

at any time until the snow event has ended.

For more information contact City of Kitchener by-law division at

519-741-2345 or visit www.kitchener.ca