Today (September 11) marked the official groundbreaking of a new community centre and Catholic school in the Rosenberg neighbourhood of Kitchener. The centre and school will help meet the needs of this vibrant and growing community in south Kitchener.

The City of Kitchener and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) have partnered on this project in a collaborative effort to create space for students and residents to learn, grow, and thrive.  

Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Council members and staff attended the groundbreaking to celebrate this milestone. 

"Thanks to our long-standing history of partnerships with the Waterloo Catholic District School Board, our teams developed a great vision for building this new community centre, which has been fully endorsed by City Council through our commitment of $6 million towards the facility," said Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. "This vision has come to life thanks to the WCDSB, the Williamsburg Community Association, and our dedicated city staff team, who provided input throughout the planning process." 

The new Williamsburg Community Centre will be a 17,000 square foot facility that will serve as a hub for residents in the Rosenberg and Williamsburg neighbourhoods, offering a variety of programs and services for all ages. It will include a double gymnasium, four program rooms, offices and space for a future outdoor rink.  

"South Kitchener is the fastest growing area of Kitchener, and this new community centre will provide much-needed space where neighbours can come together, families can enjoy programs, and this growing community can thrive," said Ward 5 Councillor, Ayo Owodunni. "This community hub will serve the evolving needs of residents for many years to come." 

Once complete, this community centre will replace the existing Williamsburg Community Centre at 1187 Fischer-Hallman Road. The Williamsburg Community Association will call the new centre home, and work to activate the space with everything from children and youth activities to fitness classes for adults. 

"The Waterloo Catholic District School Board is thrilled to collaborate with the City of Kitchener on this project. Together, we share a vision of creating a community hub where students and families can gather, learn, and grow," said Tyrone Dowling, Director of Education, Waterloo Catholic District School Board. "The integration of a new school and community centre will serve this expanding community well and exemplifies what can be achieved through partnership for the greater good of our communities."