Committees
Find out how to volunteer on committees, how committees work and about different types of committees. Meeting schedules, agendas and minutes are posted on our calendar.
On this page
- Volunteering on a committee
- Current committee opportunities
- How committees work and codes of conduct
- Advisory committees to council
- Statutory committees
- Advisory committees to staff
- Inter-agency committees
- Boards
Volunteering on a committee
Volunteering on a City of Waterloo committee of council or local board is one of the ways you can get involved and make a difference. Committees of council provide advice to Council and staff on issues important to the public. The city looks for members that can assist Council in strengthening Waterloo as a diverse and inclusive community.
Current committee opportunities
We are not currently recruiting for committee members. To join our contact list and receive updates on future opportunities, email committees@waterloo.ca.
How committees work and codes of conduct
Advisory committees hold public meetings to discuss topics within their mandate. Any person can attend a meeting or sign up to be a delegate before the committee.
To see a list of committee meetings and to find the agenda for an upcoming meeting, see the committee calendar.
Committee process and code of conduct |
Every committee elects a chair who presides over the public meetings. Committees also have non-voting staff members who provide advice to the committee, circulate agendas, and take minutes. Committees are governed by the city’s committee policy and members are required to follow a code of conduct. The following codes of conduct apply for committee members:
To learn more about a specific committee or to contact the staff member for the committee, you can find more information below. |
Advisory committees to council
An advisory committee advises council directly based on the mandate outlined in their terms of reference.
The Creative Sector Advisory Committee informs council and staff on the growing cultural scene by including it in all city policies, projects and planning. The creative sector includes the arts, museums and galleries, libraries and creative industries. The Creative Sector Advisory Committee meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 8 to 10 a.m. Contact 519-747-6124 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Audit Committee |
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By selecting an external auditor, the audit committee informs council on best financial and accounting policies and reviews financial reports. The Audit Committee meets three to four times per year, or as needed. Contact 519-747-8777 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Sustainability Advisory Committee |
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The Sustainability Advisory Committee supports a greener and more sustainable Waterloo. The committee gives advice to council on environmental issues, climate action and socio-economic well-being. The Sustainability Advisory Committee meets on the third Thursday of every month from 8:30 to 10 a.m. If you are interested in attending the committee as a delegation, please fill out this form. Contact 519-747-8064 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation |
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The Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation advocates for Waterloo to be a more walkable, bikeable and scootable city. The committee gives advice to Council on transportation solutions that are good for the environment, promoting healthier lifestyles and improving road safety. The Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation meets from 8 to 10 a.m. on the following dates:
Find meeting agendas and minutes on the Council and Committees calendar. Contact 519-747-8744 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee |
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The Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee connects the city with the local business community. The committee gives council advice on initiatives related to the economic growth of the city while championing competitiveness and viability. The Waterloo economic development advisory committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month from 8 to 10 a.m. Contact 519-747-8706 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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The Waterloo Park Advisory Committee works to improve Waterloo Park, guided by the Waterloo Park Plan. The committee advises council on construction initiatives, marketing opportunities and amenities available at the park. The Waterloo Park Advisory Committee meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 5 to 7 p.m. Contact 519-886-2310 x30323 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Statutory committees
These committees are established by a municipal bylaw or provincial law and function according to legal requirements.
Appeals Tribunal |
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The Appeals Tribunal hears appeals of orders and decisions made by municipal enforcement for rental housing, business licensing, property standards and minor variance. Contact 519-747-8777 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Committee of Adjustment and Fence Variance Committee |
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The Committee of Adjustment and Fence Variance Committee reviews requests to change city zoning rules and apply for small changes to the Planning Act. Deicisons are made for exemptions to the Fence Bylaw and appeals of decisions made by city enforcement officers related to the Fence Fence Bylaw. The Committee of Adjustment meets at 4:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Visit our committee of adjustment page for more information. Contact 519-747-8773 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Dog Designation Appeal Committee |
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The Dog Designation Appeal Committee hears appeals from dog owners. The dog may be labelled as dangerous, dangerous, restricted or prohibited. Contact 519-747-8777 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee |
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The Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee reviews the finances of a municipal campaign to ensure they follow the rules of the Municipal Election Act. Contact 519-747-8798 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Municipal Heritage Committee |
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The Municipal Heritage Committee advises council on how to protect and preserve public and private historic buildings and cultural sites in the city. The Municipal Heritage Committee meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at noon. Contact 519-747-8546 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Sign Variance Committee |
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The Sign Variance Committee reviews requests to consider changes to sign requirements in Waterloo. The committee considers how the signs may impact the nearby streets and community. The Sign Variance Committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month at 1:30 p.m. except in December. The December meeting is on the second Tuesday of the month at 1:30 p.m. Contact 519-747-8752 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Advisory committees to staff
These committees are established by recommendation of council or city staff to carry out specific functions. They often work with other stakeholders, staff groups or committees.
The Age Friendly Cities Committee advises council on how best to promote active aging in Waterloo. Contact 519-747-8748 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee. Waterloo Senior of the Year Award Each year, the committee presents the Waterloo Senior of the Year Award to one local 65+ person who has made outstanding contributions to the community. Visit our civic awards webpage for applications details. Annual events The Age-Friendly Cities committee is active in hosting annual events and engaging seniors to get involved in their community. They do this through:
We look forward to what our committee can offer as we retool some of our annual events for the community. Designations, awards and reports Our commitment to age friendliness was recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), which designated Waterloo among the Global Network of Age-friendly Cities in 2012 for our commitment to assessing and improving our age-friendliness. The WHO designation requires continual development. The committee created an assessment tool of the age-friendliness of our city and developed a city-wide action plan (PDF) to meet these requirements. In March 2018, the City of Waterloo received an Ontario Age-friendly Community Recognition Award. This award celebrates the work of Ontario municipalities who strive to be age-friendly. In 2018 the University of Waterloo School of Planning prepared an evaluation report (PDF) summarizing the city's challenges and areas of strength as an aspiring age-friendly community. The evaluation was based on data collected from focus group sessions held early in 2018. In 2021, University of Waterloo graduate students prepared the Alternatives to Long-Term Care & Housing: Environmental Scan report. The housing report (PDF) highlights seven approaches that a city could consider to accommodate residents as they age.
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Waterloo Award Committee |
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The Waterloo Award Committee reviews applications and makes a recommendation to council for the Waterloo Award. Contact 519-888-6488 x 78204 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Inter-agency committees are appointed by local agencies and generally have their terms of reference endorsed by city council.
The Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC) advises seven municipalities within the Region of Waterloo to fulfill the purpose of the Accessibility for Ontarians with Disabilities Act by providing advice in regards to the removal of all levels of barriers. Recruitment for GRAAC typically opens in mid-September each year for the term starting January of the following year. The committee consists of a maximum of 15 members and is a four-year term. Recruitment is dependent on spaces available. Meetings and agendasView upcoming GRAAC meetings and agendas.
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Town and Gown Committee |
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The Town and Gown Committee works to improve relationships with the universities, college, students, city staff, police and the community. The goal is to communicate shared concerns, such as neighbourhood development, housing and health and safety. The committee supports volunteer programs, local events and economic activities. Contact 519-747-8748 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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City council has representation on the following external boards: