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 contest will reopen in January 2026.
- 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 entry form between January and April
- 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
Last year's 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 | Nathan G. | Edna Staebler Public School | Use a robot to help clean the city. |
| Ward 1 | Wyatt I. | Holy Rosary Catholic Elementary School | Find alternatives for melting snow and ice. |
| Ward 2 | Namirah G. | Edna Staebler Public School | Tiny book hubs or libraries across the city. |
| Ward 3 | Kavin S. | N.A. MacEachern Public School | More green spaces in busy areas. |
| Ward 4 | Odessa B. | Elizabeth Ziegler Public School | Encourage relationship building between seniors and children. |
| Ward 5 | Prishani A. | École élémentaire L'Harmonie | Connect kids with gardeners to collaborate on greenhouse work. |
| Ward 6 | Zaid I. | Keatsway Public School | Improve transit availability in the city. |
| Ward 7 | Elodie D. | Elizabeth Ziegler Public School | City green space dedicated to food education. |
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.