On January 27, 2023, Justice Michael Valente ruled the Region of Waterloo’s attempts to clear the 100 Victoria St. encampment were a violation of residents’ Charter rights.
On April 16, 2025 five large dumpsters and a large unmarked trailer were moved onsite to the surprise of residents, community advocates and organizations who support the residents. The Region of Waterloo proposed a site-specific bylaw that would clear the 100 Victoria Street encampment in Kitchener by December 1, 2025. Waterloo Regional Council passed the bylaw on April 23, 2025. Please see the by-law below for full details.
We truly hope that the Region and other governments will move forward with thoughtful, permanent remedies to address the homelessness crisis. We hope to see the prioritization of safe, dignified, and healthy alternatives to encampment evictions. We hope to see the Region and other governments actively engaging with service providers, advocates, and social organizations – and more importantly, with the directly affected communities – when making decisions about low-income and affordable housing plans. For those interested in learning more, documents pertaining to this case can be found below.
We want to thank everyone who has stood with us in support of our unhoused neighbours, particularly those residing at 100 Victoria St, Kitchener. We hope to see the life, security, and liberty of individuals experiencing homelessness protected. Lastly, we hope to see people treated with compassion, dignity, and respect.
Update: February 1, 2026
This case was originally scheduled to appear in court on February 5, 6, and 27, 2026.
The matter however, was adjourned due to changes made by the Region on January 9 to the site-specific bylaw.
Site Specific By-law
Application
More documents will be shared as this matter progresses.
News Coverage
Injunction Decision – August 21, 2025
The Superior Court’s decision issued on August 21, 2025 in favour of the encampment residents. The Region is restrained from enforcing its Site-Specific By-law until the the hearing in November 2025. The hearing will take place from November 19 to 21, 2025 at the Waterloo Region Courthouse (located at 85 Frederick St, Kitchener, ON).
Mediation
The Superior Court hearing of the Region of Waterloo’s application concerning the Site-Specific By-law for 100 Victoria Street North, originally scheduled for November 19–21, 2025, has been adjourned to February 2026 to pursue mediation.
WRCLS is pleased that the Region has proposed mediation, as any human rights based approach involves engaging those living at the encampment in dialogue about what they need. We are hopeful that this will be a good faith process that will lead to human rights and charter compliant solutions for those living unhoused in our community.
The Plan to End Chronic Homelessness (PECH) is the Region’s plan for reaching functional zero chronic homelessness and is infused with the voices of our community and Lived Experts. Mediation provides the opportunity for the PECH to be the guiding principle for dealing with issues of homelessness in our community.
Update: December 1, 2025
Our team attended two days of mediation with the Region of Waterloo regarding the 100 Victoria St. Encampment case (on November 17, and December 1, 2025) and were unable to reach an agreement.
We are now preparing to appear before the Court on February 5, 6, and 27, 2026.
