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.
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:
- View the Waterloo Public Library Board Code of Conduct (PDF)
- Review the Committee Policy (PDF)
- Review the Code of Conduct for Members of Council (PDF). This code applies to these committees: Audit Committee, Appeals Tribunal, Committee of Adjustment, Community Grants Committee, Dog Designation Appeal Committee, Municipal Heritage Committee, and Sign Variance Committee.
- Review the Code of Conduct for Members of Advisory Committees (PDF). This code applies to these committees: to Advisory Committee on Culture, Sustainability Advisory Committee, Waterloo Advisory Committee on Active Transportation, Waterloo Economic Development Advisory Committee, and Waterloo Park Advisory Committee.
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 advisory committee on culture advises council and staff on cultural growth in the city, including art, heritage, libraries, cultural industries and creative services. The advisory committee on culture meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 8:00 to 10:00 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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The audit committee reviews and audits City of Waterloo's financial transactions. The audit committee meets three to four times per year, or as needed. Contact 519-747-8774 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Sustainability Advisory Committee |
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The sustainability advisory committee advises council on the implementation and promotion of the city's sustainability program and strategy. The sustainability advisory committee meets on the second Thursday of every month from 8:30 to 10:00 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 advises council on existing and proposed methods of transportation. The Waterloo advisory committee on active transportation meets from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. on the following dates:
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 advises council on economic development programs, projects and initiatives. The Waterloo economic development advisory committee meets on the third Tuesday of every month from 8:00 to 10:00 a.m. Contact 519-747-8706 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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The Waterloo Park advisory committee advises council on the implementation of the work associated with the Waterloo Park Master Plan. The Waterloo Park advisory committee meets on the second Wednesday of every month from 5:00 to 7:00 p.m. Contact 519-886-2310 x 30323 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 through minor variance or applications submitted through municipal enforcement for rental housing, fence, business licensing, and property standards. Contact 519-747-8777 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Committee of Adjustment |
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The Committee of Adjustment considers applications for consent and applications for minor variances. It does not have terms of reference as it is guided by the Planning Act. 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 will hear appeals from dog owners to affirm or rescind a dog in question that has been designated dangerous or potentially dangerous by the pound keeper or is a restricted or prohibited breed. 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 municipal campaign finances as per 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 matters involving conservation and preservation of both public and private cultural heritage resources within the city. The municipal heritage committee meets on the fourth Thursday of every month at noon. Contact 519-747-6068 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 applications for signs and amendments to the sign bylaw. The Sign Variance Committee meets at 1:30 p.m. on the following dates:
Contact 519-747-8589 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.
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
Inter-agency committees are appointed by local agencies and generally have their terms of reference endorsed by city council.
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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Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee |
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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 enhances relationships, communications and policies among the universities, college, students, city, police and the community. Contact 519-747-8748 to reach the staff person responsible for this committee.
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Boards
City council has representation on the following external boards: