Council for a Day contest
Find out how to apply our Council for a Day contest, open to all grade 5 students who live or attend school in Waterloo.
On this page:
About the contest
The Council for a Day contest takes place from January to April.
Each year, 8 students are chosen to be Council for a Day based on their ideas for improving life in Waterloo. Winners are invited to attend State of the City and spend the day with the Mayor.
How to apply
The Council for a Day Contest is now closed and will reopen in 2027.
Follow these steps to apply:
- Create a 90-second video or write 2 short paragraphs answering the question: What is your one idea to make Waterloo an even better place to live?
- Submit your entry using our Council for a Day form
- We judge submissions based on creativity, originality and overall appeal.
- We email winners by mid-April.
- If you have questions about the contest or would like to share your idea in another format, email iliana.medellin@waterloo.ca
2026 winners
Please note: Winners were assigned wards for this contest, which may not reflect where they live or attend school
| Ward | Name | School | Idea |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mayor | Juliana R | Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School | Create a city-wide contest to encourage water conservation |
| Ward 1 | Nathan F | Mary Johnston Public School | Create community gardens for kids |
| Ward 2 | Clara Z | Laurelwood Public School | Teach kids about responsibility and money management through a junior job program |
| Ward 3 | Niyam S | N. A. MacEachern Public School | Make Waterloo more bike-friendly with more bike lanes and better signage |
| Ward 4 | Elliot N | Lester B Pearson Public School | Install more misting tents around the city to help people cool off and prevent heat stroke |
| Ward 5 | Beatrix L | Sandowne Public School | Host a free Children’s Day event celebrating childhood and togetherness |
| Ward 6 | Searc K | Keatsway Public School | Improve crosswalk safety with a unique solar-powered crosswalk design |
| Ward 7 | Maggie B | Mary Johnston Public School | Help fight climate change by planting more native plants to support bees and butterflies |
Contact us
If you have questions about the contest, you can email iliana.medellin@waterloo.ca, call 519-747-8777 or visit City Hall on weekdays from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.