People living at a large encampment in Kitchener will not have to move anytime soon now that a Superior Court hearing has been pushed back. The Region of Waterloo is trying to put a site-specific bylaw in place for 100 Victoria Street North in Kitchener. The proposed bylaw, approved by regional councillors in April, would have allowed the region to clear the encampment by Dec. 1. The region had previously stated the land was needed as a staging area during construction of a new transit hub. However, the region’s plans were temporarily halted in August when lawyers representing the encampment residents successfully sought a court injunction to delay the bylaw’s implementation. That injunction meant the region could not prohibit entry to the encampment, put up fences or barriers or dispose of personal belongings of the encampment residents. A Superior Court hearing was scheduled to start on Nov. 19 to determine the bylaw’s constitutionality. In a news release on Thursday, the region announced the hearing was adjourned until February 2026. The release also said representatives for both sides have agreed to mediation. “Mediation will allow for engagement, clarification, and we hope expedited resolution of issues. The mediation process is not expected to delay the Kitchener Central Transit Hub project,” the release explained. The region said its ultimate goal is to find alternative housing arrangements for the people living at 100 Victoria Street North. According to regional officials, as of Oct. 17, four people who had been living at the site when the bylaw was approved by regional council were still there. There were also 32 new residents. Waterloo Region Community Legal Services (WRCLS) has been working with the encampment residents throughout the legal battle. In a statement, the organization said it is pleased the region has proposed mediation. “Mediation provides the opportunity for the [Plan to End Chronic Homelessness] to be the guiding principle for dealing with issues of homelessness in our community,” the WRCLS statement said. “We are hopeful this will be a good faith process that will lead to human rights and charter compliant solutions for those living unhoused in our community.” While the mediation process is underway, people who call the encampment home will be allowed to stay pending the outcome of the Superior Court hearing.
