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Growing Together West

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This project is now complete. On March 19, 2024 Kitchener City Council unanimously approved the Growing Together plan, a policy framework that builds on Kitchener’s role as a national leader in addressing the housing crisis. For more information, visit kitchener.ca.


Kitchener is growing, and a lot of that growth is around the ION LRT system.

Intensification around transit is a core fundamental principle of Ontario’s planning framework. It has been since the introduction of the Places to Grow and Greenbelt Acts in 2005. These areas have been identified as Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) by the Region of Waterloo. MTSAs have unique policies at both the provincial and regional level. Growing Together will carry out those policies by updating the City’s Official Plan and Zoning by-law.

Growing Together will create a planning framework for Kitchener’s MTSAs. This will enable and encourage responsible growth for many years to come.

Stay informed

If you would like to get email updates about this project, add your email to the Stay Informed section and click ‘Subscribe’.

An Award Winning Process

Growing Together has won four awards to date:

  • A Smart50 Award, an international award honouring the 50 most transformative smart projects of the year. Additionally, at the Smart Cities Connect conference in Denver in May 2023, Growing Together was announced as one of the top-3 projects overall.
  • A 2023 Excellence in Municipal Systems award by the Municipal Information Systems Association of Ontario.
  • Honorable mention at the 2023 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Canada Core Values Awards
  • A finalist for the World Smart City Awards in the Infrastructure and Building project award category. Smart City Expo World Congress is the world’s biggest and most influential event on urban innovation.


Kitchener is growing, and a lot of that growth is around the ION LRT system.

Intensification around transit is a core fundamental principle of Ontario’s planning framework. It has been since the introduction of the Places to Grow and Greenbelt Acts in 2005. These areas have been identified as Major Transit Station Areas (MTSAs) by the Region of Waterloo. MTSAs have unique policies at both the provincial and regional level. Growing Together will carry out those policies by updating the City’s Official Plan and Zoning by-law.

Growing Together will create a planning framework for Kitchener’s MTSAs. This will enable and encourage responsible growth for many years to come.

Stay informed

If you would like to get email updates about this project, add your email to the Stay Informed section and click ‘Subscribe’.

An Award Winning Process

Growing Together has won four awards to date:

  • A Smart50 Award, an international award honouring the 50 most transformative smart projects of the year. Additionally, at the Smart Cities Connect conference in Denver in May 2023, Growing Together was announced as one of the top-3 projects overall.
  • A 2023 Excellence in Municipal Systems award by the Municipal Information Systems Association of Ontario.
  • Honorable mention at the 2023 International Association for Public Participation (IAP2) Canada Core Values Awards
  • A finalist for the World Smart City Awards in the Infrastructure and Building project award category. Smart City Expo World Congress is the world’s biggest and most influential event on urban innovation.


This project is now complete. On March 19, 2024 Kitchener City Council unanimously approved the Growing Together plan, a policy framework that builds on Kitchener’s role as a national leader in addressing the housing crisis. For more information, visit kitchener.ca.


Do you have a question about this project? Ask it here.

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If your question is urgent, call the City of Kitchener at 519-741-2345 (TTY: 1-866-969-9994)

  • Share Just curious as to what the anticipated timeline is for next steps in the Growing Together initiative. Thanks. on Facebook Share Just curious as to what the anticipated timeline is for next steps in the Growing Together initiative. Thanks. on Twitter Share Just curious as to what the anticipated timeline is for next steps in the Growing Together initiative. Thanks. on Linkedin Email Just curious as to what the anticipated timeline is for next steps in the Growing Together initiative. Thanks. link

    Just curious as to what the anticipated timeline is for next steps in the Growing Together initiative. Thanks.

    Bill Lawlor asked 9 months ago

    Growing Together returns to Kitchener City Council for decision on March 18th, 2024. 

  • Share How long do the "brief" presentations at the workshops last? on Facebook Share How long do the "brief" presentations at the workshops last? on Twitter Share How long do the "brief" presentations at the workshops last? on Linkedin Email How long do the "brief" presentations at the workshops last? link

    How long do the "brief" presentations at the workshops last?

    Sminke asked over 1 year ago

    The presentations are scheduled to be 15 minutes in length.

  • Share What is the proposed format of the upcoming in person workshops? Are they structured as drop-ins, or is there a formal presentation at some point during the time period? Cheers, on Facebook Share What is the proposed format of the upcoming in person workshops? Are they structured as drop-ins, or is there a formal presentation at some point during the time period? Cheers, on Twitter Share What is the proposed format of the upcoming in person workshops? Are they structured as drop-ins, or is there a formal presentation at some point during the time period? Cheers, on Linkedin Email What is the proposed format of the upcoming in person workshops? Are they structured as drop-ins, or is there a formal presentation at some point during the time period? Cheers, link

    What is the proposed format of the upcoming in person workshops? Are they structured as drop-ins, or is there a formal presentation at some point during the time period? Cheers,

    John MacDonald asked over 1 year ago

    The March 25th event at Kitchener Market will be a drop-in format, with 1 on 1 or small group conversations and no formal presentation. The March 23rd workshop is a hybrid drop-in/ workshop, with a 15 minute presentation and guided exercise beginning at 6pm. However, you are welcome to drop-in at any time. All other events will be a hybrid drop-in/workshop format as well, with a presentation and guided exercise starting at 3pm and 6pm, respectively, but with drop-in availability from 2pm to 8pm. Thank you!