Region of Waterloo back in court in hopes to clear Kitchener encampment

The region is back in court pleading its case to clear the encampment to make room for a new transit hub. CTV’s Jeff Pickel reports.

The Region of Waterloo is back in court seeking judicial approval to clear the encampment at 100 Victoria Street in Kitchener.

The site has been an encampment since 2021 when the first tents appeared on the vacant land owned by the Region of Waterloo.

The region wants it cleared as the property will be used as the construction staging ground for the Kitchener Central Transit Hub to be built just down the street at Victoria Street and King Street.

In court of Thursday, lawyers for the Region of Waterloo said Metrolinx plans to start construction in October 2026 and to prepare the land for Metrolinx, the region needs it vacant by June.

In 2023 a legal challenge prevents the region from evicting encampment residents after a legal challenge question if the bylaw breached residents’ charter rights.

In that decision, Justice Valente determined the region must provide safe alternative housing before they can remove encampment residents.

In January 2026 the Region of Waterloo approved a new bylaw seeking to remove the encampment.

Three days of hearings have been set aside to hear out the case.

The lawyer for the Region of Waterloo began their submissions arguing they have done everything they can to assist encampment residents.

“No one needs to tell region about the challenges and needs of the homeless population,” said Andrew Lokan, a lawyer representing the Region of Waterloo. “No municipality in Ontario has done more to meet the challenge.”

Lokan said of the 40 encampment residents who were on the property prior to April of last year, all 40 have either transitioned to other housing or have left on their own.

The region argues that anyone who moved to the property after April 16th, 2025, is in violation of their bylaw and is not permitted to be on the site.

With the impending construction of the transit hub, the region said it’s looking for the court to take a practical approach and to work with the region.

“The region has met its obligations, if you disagree, please give us practical road map to address whatever concerns you have been left with,” said Lokan.

The hearing will resume Friday where lawyers from the Waterloo Community Legal Services representing the encampment will argue their case.