The court hearing regarding the Region of Waterloo’s relocation plans for the encampment at 100 Victoria St. N. in Kitchener, which was scheduled for next month, has been postponed to February. This delay is due to the agreement among the involved parties to pursue mediation instead of proceeding with the Superior Court hearing.
The encampment at 100 Victoria St. first emerged in early 2022. Attempts to evict individuals from the site were made in the same year but were halted by a Kitchener judge in 2023, ruling that the region could not evict people without providing alternative housing. In response, a site-specific bylaw was enacted in April to clear the lot as it is required by Metrolinx for the construction of a new transit hub at the intersection of King Street and Victoria Street.
The bylaw prohibits any form of residence or occupation on the site after December 1. A Superior Court hearing was initially set for November 19 to 21 to seek legal guidance on enforcing the bylaw following the 2023 ruling. However, a previous court ruling by Justice Michael Gibson in August stipulated that the bylaw enforcement should be suspended until the upcoming hearing.
Despite the mediation process, the region assures that the timeline for the Kitchener transit hub project will not be affected. The region remains committed to collaborating with the encampment residents to explore alternative housing solutions. Currently, there are four original residents and 32 new residents still present at the site as of October 17.
Waterloo Region Community Legal Services will be participating in the mediation process and has expressed satisfaction with the region’s decision to engage in dialogue with the encampment residents to address their needs. The region’s homelessness eradication plan, formulated with community input, is expected to guide the discussions towards compliant solutions for individuals experiencing homelessness in the community.
