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w at er lo oc hr on ic le .c a W at er lo o C hr on ic le | T hu rs da y, O ct ob er 7, 20 21 | 14 Get the Waterloo Region Record Friday and Saturday home delivery for just $175* AWEEK FOR12 MONTHS YOU'LL GET: • Friday and Saturday home delivery • Complimentary 6-day ePaper edition • Complimentary 6-day access to therecord.com website *Plus HST. This introductory offer is not available to existing Waterloo Region Record subscribers. Save 55% off the newsstand rate for Friday and Saturday delivery. This offer does not include New York Times International Weekly or Book Review sections, or the Waterloo Region Record TV Book. This offer is for a 12-month term and includes complimentary access to therecord.com and the Waterloo Region Record ePaper edition. Complimentary access is available to Waterloo Region Record home-delivery subscribers with an active account in good standing. If you choose to cancel your print account, or your subscription is in arrears, your access to therecord.com and the ePaper edition will be discontinued. The Waterloo Region Record reserves the right to discontinue this offer at any time. Home delivery will continue after the 12-month introductory period at the regular rate. This offer is a fixed subscription term. If you cancel prior to the end of the term, you will be charged an early cancellation fee equal to amounts otherwise payable for the remainder of the term, plus applicable taxes. The cancellation fee will be charged using the billing method we have on file at the time of cancellation. Please contact customer service at 519-894-3000 to get the regular rate for your area. Payment must be made by credit card only. Credit card payments will be billed monthly. View our subscriber agreement terms at www.thestar.com/ agreement. The Waterloo Region Record is committed to protecting your personal information. View our privacy policy at www.thestar.com/privacy. Offer expires October 13, 2021. SAVE 55% OFFTHE NEWSSTAND RATE SUBSCRIBE ONLINE: wroffer.ca/deal/comm OR CALL: 519-894-3000 and quote code REC2DAY for Friday and Saturday home delivery for 12 months FRIDAY, AUGUST 6, 2021 SERVING KITCHENER, WATERLOO, CAMBRIDGE AND THE TOWNSHIPS ARTS&LIFE B1 BUSINESS A10 CLASSIFIED B9 EDITORIALS A8 HOMES B12 LOCAL A3 SPORTS B3 INDEX,A2 PER ISSUE:$2.00 PLUSGST HIGHEROUTSIDEKITCHENER, WATERLOOANDCAMBRIDGE Details, A11 KITCHENER -- The building and renovation boomcontinuesunabatedinWaterlooRe- gion, as residents add pools, decks, extra unitsandhomeofficestotheirhomesdur- ing thepandemic. The provincial Municipal Property As- sessment Corporation (MPAC), which tracks property data across Ontario, says Kitchener is one of the top cities in the province as far as the number of building permits issued. Fuelling the building boom has been a sharp spike in home renovations and im- provements, as people improve their homes with additions, new decks and pools, garages, sheds and finished base- ments. "Our renovations are well up -- like way up -- from last year," said Mike Seiling, Kitchener's chiefbuildingofficial. The number of permits issued for home improvements from January to June is justaboutdoublewhat itwas for the same period lastyear, Seilingsaid. The number of pools being installed is alsowayup, for example.AcrossWaterloo Region, permits for pools were up 52 per cent in 2020. This year, even more pools are going in:Kitchener issued154permits for pools in 2020, but has already sur- passed that number, issuing 161 pool per- mitsby theendofJune. Officials say there are several reasons for theboom. People have been using the money they normally would have spent on travel, on outings like theatres, concerts, dining and sporting events, and spending it to spruce uptheirhomes,Seiling says. "People arewatchingHGTVand looking at social media, and they're seeing their homes as something that can appreciate" with a new deck or fence, a renovated basementortheadditionofaroom.Work- ing fromhomemeans less commuting, so peoplehave timetodotherenovations,he added. The pandemic has fundamentally changed the way we use our homes, said Carmelo Lipsi, MPAC vice-president and chiefoperatingofficer, inan interview. "Thehomenolongerbecamejustaplace to live," Lipsi said. "It also became a place to work, it also became a place to learn, with online learning for children ... and it alsobecomemoreofa staycationspot." And people are making changes to their home so it can better serve those other uses. Carpenters frame the second-floor walls of a home under construction in Waterloo earlier this year. The number of permits issued for home improvements from January to June is just about double what it was for the same period last year. DAVID BEBEE WATERLOO REGION RECORD Building, renovation permits are among highest in province Home improvement licences double as people add pools, offices CATHERINE THOMPSON WATERLOO REGION RECORD PERMITS continued on A3 WATERLOOREGION--The real es- tate market in Kitchener and Waterloo saw a bit of a sum- mertimecooldownlastmonth, with sales andprices retreating fromJune'shotpace. The Kitchener-Waterloo As- sociation of Realtors sold 611 homes through its Multiple ListingService (MLS) inJuly-- above-average for the month, but down17 per cent fromJuly 2020's record numbers and off June's monthly high of 740 sales. The average price for all resi- dential properties was $755,681, down 0.6 per cent from June but still showing a gainof18.2percent, or$116,357, compared toJuly2020. Thedetachedaveragestoodat $907,192, down 1.4 per cent fromJune, butup21.9per cent, or$162,982, year-over-year. "The housing market took a bit of a breather last month," association president Nicole Pohl said in a release. "July is typically a quieter month with Detached homes in Kitchener, Waterloo see $160K yearly rise Month-to-month comparison shows slight retreat from June's pace BRENT DAVIS WATERLOO REGION RECORD HOMES continued on A4 2021 BOARD AND COMMITTEE RECRUITMENT TERM ENDING NOVEMBER 2022 The Council of the City of Waterloo invites interested persons to apply for positions on its boards and committees. Volunteering on a committee provides an opportunity to be engaged with matters affecting the community. The City is looking for members that can assist Council in strengthening Waterloo as a diverse and inclusive community. Members of the public may apply for positions on the following committees and boards: • Sustainability Advisory Committee • Town And Gown Committee • Waterloo Advisory Committee On Active Transportation • Waterloo Park Advisory Committee • Waterloo Public Library Board For more information about the committees, eligibility, and to submit an application, please visit the City of Waterloo website at: www.waterloo.ca/committees If you would like a paper or PDF application form or if you wish to speak to our staff about applying to volunteer on a committee, contact Kevin Gerlach at 519-747-8704 or email committees@waterloo.ca Applications will be accepted until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 18, 2021 P. 519-886-1550 TTY. 1-866-786-3941 waterloo.ca FRIDAY, OCTOBER 8 Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest 2021 WHEN: 12:00 a.m WHERE: Kitchener-Waterloo - Various Locations, King St. S and Union St. E, Kitchener CONTACT: Kitche- ner-Waterloo Oktoberfest, https://www.oktoberfest.ca/ COST: See website for info We are committed to bringing as much of our favourite festival to you through virtual events, small gatherings and some very special contests. Sep 24 to oct 11, 2021 at participating locations in kitchener-waterloo. Impact Interna- tional Theatre Festival WHEN: 12:00 a.m WHERE: Kitchener-Water- loo - Various Locations, King St. S and Union St. E, Kitchener CONTACT: info@mtspace.ca, https:// mtspace.ca/impact21/ Powerful performances. Adapted for COVID-19. Theatre is here. A week of innovative, electrifying performances. Glencairn Pickleball - Fridays All Level WHEN: 9:00 a.m - 12:00 p.m WHERE: Glencairn Mennonite Brethren Church, 725 Erinbrook Dr., Kitchener CONTACT: Harry A Chin, 5194962446, har- ry.chin@rogers.com, https:// www.glencairn.ca/pickleball Adult drop-in Pickleball for all level.. Three courts allows for minimum wait time between play. See All Level play also on Mondays and Beginner- sPlus on Wednesdays. Contact Harry Chin for newsletter and cancel- lations UpTown Gallery Art Exhibition WHEN: 11:00 a.m - 6:00 p.m WHERE: Uptown Gallery, 75 King St. S., Waterloo CONTACT: in- fo@uptowngallerywaterloo.com UpTown Gallery presents "Explora- tion" featuring new works by Ida Tong, Gordy Ess, and Christine Murray. Sept. 21st - Nov. 14th, Waterloo Town Square, 75 King St. S. Waterloo. Denise Pelley WHEN: 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m WHERE: The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo CON- TACT: Grand River Jazz Society, info@kwjazzroom.com, http://www.kwjazzroom.com COST: $20.00 / Person Presented by the Grand River Jazz Society. Sponsored by Diva International.Doors open at 6:30 p.M. Advance tickets required. Please go to https://www.kwjazz- room.com to purchase advance tickets for this event. Friday Night Karaoke WHEN: 7:00 p.m - 9:00 p.m WHERE: Galt Legion, 4 Veterans Way, Cambridge, Ontario, Cam- bridge CONTACT: Galt Legion Br. 121, 519-621-5850, galtle- gion@yahoo.com Karaoke every Friday Night start- ing at 7pm at the Galt Legion Br. 121.Come on down and beat the blues, or sing them...(All Covid guidelines in place) social dis- tancing, protective screen, sani- tizer, personal mic covers available for purchase. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 9 Elmer Ferrer WHEN: 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m WHERE: The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo CONTACT: Grand River Jazz Society, info@kwjazz- room.com, http://www.kwjazz- room.com COST: $22.00 / Person Presented by the Grand River Jazz Society. Doors open at 6:30 p.M. Advance tickets required. Please go to https://www.kwjazz- room.com to purchase advance tickets for this event. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 15 Matt Rait WHEN: 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m WHERE: The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo CONTACT: Grand River Jazz Society, info@kwjazz- room.com, http://www.kwjazz- room.com COST: $20.00 / Person Presented by the Grand River Jazz Society. Doors open at 6:30 p.M. Advance tickets required. Please go to https://www.kwjazz- room.com to purchase advance tickets for this event. SATURDAY, OCTOBER 16 20th Annual Frederick Art Walk WHEN: 10:00 a.m - 5:00 p.m WHERE: Central Frederick Neigh- bourhood, 280 Frederick St., Kitchener CONTACT: Christa Ptatschek, 2267892767, market- ing@frederickartwalk.org, http:// frederickartwalk.org The 20th Frederick Art Walk offers hand-crafted works for sale as part of 3 km walking tour of 19 homes and 50 artists in the Central Frederick Neighbourhood in Kitchener. freder- ickartwalk.org Free Spirits WHEN: 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m WHERE: The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo CONTACT: Grand River Jazz Society, info@kwjazz- room.com, http://www.kwjazz- room.com COST: $22.00 / Person Presented by the Grand River Jazz Society. Sponsored by Diva International.Doors open at 6:30 p.M. Advance tickets required. Please go to https://www.kwjazz- room.com to purchase advance tickets for this event. FRIDAY, OCTOBER 22 Carey West WHEN: 6:30 p.m - 10:30 p.m WHERE: The Jazz Room at the Huether Hotel, 59 King St. N., Waterloo CONTACT: Grand River Jazz Society, info@kwjazz- room.com, http://kwww.kwjazz- room.com COST: $20.00 / Person Presented by the Grand River Jazz Society. Sponsored by Diva International.Doors open at 6:30 p.M. Advance tickets re- quired. Please go to https:// www.kwjazzroom.com to purchase advance tickets for this event. EVENTS Visit waterloochronicle.ca/eventsfor more. To submit your own community events hit the POST YOUR EVENT button! As schedules are constantly changing due to COVID restric- tions we recommend you contact the organizers of the events featured here to confirm the details closer to the date.