FAQs

Public engagement is the process of involving the community in decision-making to ensure their voices are heard and considered. For the Rockway Centre redevelopment, we are seeking input from older adults to understand their needs, preferences, and ideas. This engagement is vital because it will help us design a facility that truly reflects the needs of the community it serves, ensuring that the new centre is a welcoming, accessible, and functional space for all.

The feedback we collect from the community will be used to guide the design of the new centre, including the types of programs and services offered, the atmosphere, and the site features. This input will also help inform the criteria used in selecting a development partner through the Request for Proposal (RFP) process.

We encourage all older adults in Kitchener, including those who currently use the Rockway Centre and those who may use it in the future, to participate in the engagement process. We also welcome input from family members, care partners and support persons for older adults in our community.

We encourage you to share any specific ideas or concerns through the survey or by attending one of our engagement events. Your input is valuable, and we want to hear from you to ensure the new centre reflects the needs and desires of our community. If you have more questions or want to discuss your ideas in more detail, please contact Bethany Pearce, Supervisor of Older Adult Services, who can assist you.

You can stay updated on the Rockway Centre redevelopment by visiting www.kitchener.ca/Rockwayredevelopment or www.EngageWR.ca/Rockway. We will regularly post updates on the project’s progress and upcoming opportunities for involvement.

The greatest strength of the Rockway Centre has always been its people – the users, volunteers, and staff. The new centre will be welcoming, accessible and modern with amenities like a gymnasium, large multi-purpose rooms, with safe and appropriate flooring, washrooms and other spaces that are truly accessible for older adults. The Centre will also include places to grab a snack with a friend or to participate in activities like music, billiards, and cards. To better understand your needs and the programs and features you’d like to see included in the new facility, we’re engaging with older adults across the Kitchener community. Your feedback will ensure the new centre continues to be a vibrant and inclusive space for all.

The new older adult centre will not include a walking track, pool or arena because these facilities are part of the new indoor recreation facility located at RBJ Schlegel Park, which is scheduled to open in 2026. 

The new facility will be an older adult centre designed by and for Kitchener’s ageing population. Staff will seek feedback from older adults at the existing Rockway Centre, and across the city, to ensure the new Centre is a welcoming, accessible, and modern space that meets their needs.  
 
The centre will be available for other community uses when the space is not being used by older adults, which aligns with the current programming model at the existing Rockway Centre.  
     

More information about project timelines will be available after the Request for Proposal process is complete and the City has determined an appropriate development partner. 

During construction, the City will do its best to minimize program disruptions. Staff will work closely with participants to keep as many essential programs and services going as possible during the construction phase. If construction takes place on the existing site, staff will relocate as many programs as possible to other City facilities. If the community centre is built at an alternate site, it will have minimal impact to current programming during construction. When it is time to move, staff will ensure the transition to the new location is as seamless as possible.

While the initial plan (back in 2013) was to redevelop the Rockway Centre at its existing site, the substantial growth and development in the Rockway area of the city prompted staff to explore alternative locations. Constructing an older adult centre at a new location could offer an opportunity to build closer to the ION route and maintain programming at the current centre while a new centre is built – avoiding significant disruption to programming.   
 
Staff are exploring several location options which include redeveloping Rockway Centre in its current location, or at a location near the current site. No decision has been made about the location of the new centre.

In 2013, City Council previously directed staff to pursue a partnership with the private sector to redevelop Rockway Centre into a medium-to-high density residential building that includes an older adult centre on the ground floor and potential other services such as medical, dental, retail and office space.   
 
In addition, partnering with a developer could create an opportunity to build the new centre more quickly and at a lower cost than if the City built a new facility on its own. Mixed-use buildings that provide several functions is a more economical and sustainable method for future development. 

City Council approved $6M in the City’s capital budget for the redevelopment project. There may be other ways to generate additional revenue for the redevelopment partnership. 

Rockway Centre does not currently have a heritage designation under the City’s Municipal Heritage Register. In 2013, Council deferred a decision on the building’s heritage designation until the completion of the Request for Proposal process. No decision has been made about whether the existing facility will be preserved if a new centre is developed on the existing site. 

In 2013, City Council previously directed staff to pursue a partnership with the private sector to redevelop Rockway Centre into a medium-to-high density residential building that includes an older adult centre on the ground floor and potential other services such as medical, dental, retail and office space.   
 
In addition, partnering with a developer could create an opportunity to build the new centre more quickly and at a lower cost than if the City built a new facility on its own. Mixed-use buildings that provide several functions is a more economical and sustainable method for future development. 

In 2013, the City completed a feasibility study of Rockway Centre which identified significant challenges with the building and site design. At that time City Council directed staff to begin the process for the redevelopment of Rockway Centre into a medium-to-high density residential building that includes a ground floor older adult centre, as well as possible ancillary medical/dental, retail or office type uses.  
 
As part of the 2015 budget process, Council added funds to the 10-year capital forecast (2024/2025) to support the redevelopment of Rockway Centre. Now that the funds are available within the City’s capital forecast, staff have prepared a strategy to move forward with the redevelopment of the Centre.