NOTRE DAME CATHOLIC GRADE 7-12 SCHOOL
AT 20 WOOLNER TRAIL
AT 20 WOOLNER TRAIL
NEW LOWERED SPEED LIMITS ON FAIRWAY ROAD
As of August 13, 2026.
The following speed reductions were made by the Region Of Waterloo to increase safety for students
at Notre Dame Catholic School and Chicopee Hills Public School:
60 KMH from the Fountain Street Roundabout to the end of the Grand River Bridge
40 KMH from the end of the Bridge, through both the Notre Dame School Zone and
the Chicopee Hills School Zone, past Lackner Blvd to just before Idle Creek Drive.
The image below shows the new 40 KMH speed limit through both school zones.
A Video I Created in August of 2026 To Illustrate The Changes Can Be Seen HERE
The following speed reductions were made by the Region Of Waterloo to increase safety for students
at Notre Dame Catholic School and Chicopee Hills Public School:
60 KMH from the Fountain Street Roundabout to the end of the Grand River Bridge
40 KMH from the end of the Bridge, through both the Notre Dame School Zone and
the Chicopee Hills School Zone, past Lackner Blvd to just before Idle Creek Drive.
The image below shows the new 40 KMH speed limit through both school zones.
A Video I Created in August of 2026 To Illustrate The Changes Can Be Seen HERE
When the Zone Change Application needed for a school to be built by the Waterloo Catholic District School Board at 20 Woolner Trail came to Council's Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on October 30, 2023 a number of student safety concerns were raised by residents and myself. To give our staff and myself time to investigate resolving these issues, I made a motion to defer the decision on this to the December 11 Council meeting. At the December 11 Council meeting, I made another motion to further defer the decision to the January 22, 2024 Council meeting to allow further investigation with staff from The City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo and WCDSB for resolving the safety issues.
Multiple and significant discussions with collaboration and a shared desire to address student safety issues have taken place. I further arranged an on-site meeting that took place on Friday January 12 where 18 key staff members and Directors from the Region of Waterloo, WCDSB and City of Kitchener took place. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic attended along with Regional Chair Karen Redman and Councillors Kari Williams and Colleen James. Tyrone Dowling, the Director of Education for the WCDSB also attended. At this meeting, Kitchener's General Manager of Development Services provided an update created by our Director of Transportation Services, Barry Cronkite that explained the progress made by each stakeholder on the issues that have been raised.
There was a very good discussion and a walk around of the property followed to see the areas where the issues are. . Below is a summary of the issues and where they stand.
Multiple and significant discussions with collaboration and a shared desire to address student safety issues have taken place. I further arranged an on-site meeting that took place on Friday January 12 where 18 key staff members and Directors from the Region of Waterloo, WCDSB and City of Kitchener took place. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic attended along with Regional Chair Karen Redman and Councillors Kari Williams and Colleen James. Tyrone Dowling, the Director of Education for the WCDSB also attended. At this meeting, Kitchener's General Manager of Development Services provided an update created by our Director of Transportation Services, Barry Cronkite that explained the progress made by each stakeholder on the issues that have been raised.
There was a very good discussion and a walk around of the property followed to see the areas where the issues are. . Below is a summary of the issues and where they stand.
Issues Updates
Speed Limits
City Of Kitchener Responsible and Resolved
Region Of Waterloo Responsible and Resolved
- School Zone Property on Woolner Trail will be signed at 30 km/h to align with school opening in 2026
Region Of Waterloo Responsible and Resolved
- With WCDSB adding Right in Right out access from Fairway Road, a School Zone at least the length of the school property with a speed limit of 40 km/h
- Speed Reductions As Illustrated in the image below
- These Speed Reductions were implemented on August 13, 2026.
Region Of Waterloo - Additional Measures
Pedestrian Safety Issues
City Of Kitchener Responsible and Resolved
Region Of Waterloo Responsible – Committed to Explore Resolution
WCDSB Responsible and Resolved
Neighbourhood Issues
WCDSB Responsible and Resolved
City Of Kitchener Responsible and Resolved
City Of Kitchener – Committed to Explore Resolution
Woolner Heritage Farm Issues
WCDSB Responsible and Resolved
On January 22 after collaborative resolutions had been achieved, Council unanimously approved the zone change.
- Safety improvements that have been completed in this corridor including:
- The installation of a multi-use trail from Pebblecreek Drive to Lackner Blvd
- Narrowed travel lanes over the bridge to accommodate the multi-use trail and support slower speeds
- Removal of the right turn channel northbound from Fairway to Lackner to limit crossing distances and make it safer for children to cross
- In addition to the above and in advance of the new school opening, the following initiatives are underway/under review:
- Consideration for a pedestrian crossing signal and/or refuge island on Fairway Road at Eden Oak Trail
- An Adult School Crossing Guard will be stationed at the roundabout
- Stopping restrictions will be installed on east side of Woolner Trail, along school frontage
- Parking will be prohibited on the west side of Woolner Trail, between Upper Mercer Street and Fairway Road
- Woolner Trail speed limit will be reduced to 30 km/h along the school property
- Staff will also Continue to monitor Woolner Trail, Upper Mercer Street and Lower Mercer Street for traffic volumes and speeding as well as parking upon opening of school, and install seasonal traffic calming and/or more formal traffic calming measures if warranted.
- With changes to the use of automated speed enforcement, City staff will continue to work with regional staff to determine what additional safety measures could be taken in this corridor to ensure safety for all users.
Pedestrian Safety Issues
City Of Kitchener Responsible and Resolved
- Crossing Guard to be installed at the Roundabout, with monitoring taking place and installing more crossing guards if needed.
Region Of Waterloo Responsible – Committed to Explore Resolution
- Installing a Pedestrian Crossing Signal at Eden Oak Trail. Light would remain green, until a pedestrian activates the signal to stop traffic. Region is studying student volumes potentially crossing here and considering neighbourhood benefit for safe crossing after hours to school property and trails.
- Pedestrian Refuge Island in the middle of Fairway Road at Eden Oak Trail. Region is studying as above.
WCDSB Responsible and Resolved
- Installing and maintaining a Multi-Use Trail on Woolner Trail along the school property.
Neighbourhood Issues
WCDSB Responsible and Resolved
- School Bus Staging will be done on the School Property. Buses will use the access points on Woolner Trail. School Bus arrival and departure times will be staggered to accomplish this.
- Parental drop off will be done on the school property with the use of a Kiss and Ride section.
City Of Kitchener Responsible and Resolved
- Seasonal Traffic Calming Measures to be installed in Spring 2024 on Upper and Lower Mercer
- Parking and Stopping on Woolner Trail will be prohibited once school is opened in 2026
- Truck and service vehicle access to the site will be done from School access points on Woolner Trail and from Fairway Road Access points.
City Of Kitchener – Committed to Explore Resolution
- Formal Traffic Calming for Upper and Lower Mercer Drive. More monitoring to take place once the school is opened. Staff will monitor to see if requirements are met to have measures installed if needed.
- Parking and Stopping restrictions on Upper/Lower Mercer will not be implemented at school opening but will be monitored to see if there are issues. With student drop off accommodated on the school property, it should decrease the need to do student drop off on these streets. This situation will be reviewed once the school opens in 2026 to be sure residents aren’t negatively impacted.
Woolner Heritage Farm Issues
WCDSB Responsible and Resolved
- Trespass/Privacy & Safety Concerns: Chain link fencing between the properties is proposed. This can be changed to a wood fence if requested.
- School Lighting will be turned off as per the City’s policies.
- Noise Concerns: Programmed Events will align with City’s Noise Bylaw.
On January 22 after collaborative resolutions had been achieved, Council unanimously approved the zone change.
PROJECT HISTORY
The Waterloo Catholic District School Board came to the City of Kitchener Planning Committee Meeting on Monday October 30 to request a zone change to build a new Grade 7 to 12 School at 20 Woolner Trail. It was item 10.3 on the agenda. You can see all the documents related to this request and watch the video from the meeting where the WCDSB and several delegations spoke to the application HERE
With current projections, WCDSB estimates 1,400 students will attend this school. Around 700 students would be bussed with an estimated 14 busses needed.
The decision for the zone change application was deferred until December 11. On December 11, it was further deferred until the January 22, 2024 Council Meeting so all stakeholders, the WCDSB, Region Of Waterloo and City of Kitchener could discuss the safety issues brought up and address them.
When the Zone Change Application for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board school at 20 Woolner Trail came to Council's Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on October 30, 2023 a number of student safety concerns were raised by residents and myself.
To give our staff and myself time to investigate resolving these issues, I made a motion to defer the decision on this to the December 11 Council meeting. At the December 11 Council meeting, I made another motion to further defer the decision to the January 22, 2024 Council meeting to allow further investigation with staff from The City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo and WCDSB for resolving the safety issues.
I arranged an on-site meeting that took place on Friday January 12 where 18 key staff members and Directors from the Region of Waterloo, WCDSB and City of Kitchener took place. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic attended along with Regional Chair Karen Redman and Councillors Kari Williams and Colleen James. Tyrone Dowling, the Director of Education for the WCDSB also attended. At this meeting, Kitchener's General Manager of Development Services provided an update created by our Director of Transportation Services, Barry Cronkite that explained the progress made by each stakeholder on the issues that have been raised. Multiple and significant discussions with collaboration and a shared desire to address student safety issues took place. The WCDSB responded to addressing the concerns under their jurisdiction. You can read those responses HERE
The safety concerns raised and the details on these safety resolutions is documented above in the Issues Updates section.
On January 22 after collaborative resolutions had been achieved, Council unanimously approved the zone change needed.
I appreciate the genuine efforts of the WCDSB, Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener staff to work together to resolve the issue. I also appreciate the support of Mayor Vrbanovic and all of Kitchener council for their support and Regional Chair Karen Redman and Councillors Kari Williams and Colleen James for their support. This was a collaborative effort.
Below, outlined in red, is an image of the land where the school is to be located and some of the issues that needed to be addressed and have been address. There are also a gallery of photos showing the Roundabout crossing area
With current projections, WCDSB estimates 1,400 students will attend this school. Around 700 students would be bussed with an estimated 14 busses needed.
The decision for the zone change application was deferred until December 11. On December 11, it was further deferred until the January 22, 2024 Council Meeting so all stakeholders, the WCDSB, Region Of Waterloo and City of Kitchener could discuss the safety issues brought up and address them.
When the Zone Change Application for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board school at 20 Woolner Trail came to Council's Planning & Strategic Initiatives Committee meeting on October 30, 2023 a number of student safety concerns were raised by residents and myself.
To give our staff and myself time to investigate resolving these issues, I made a motion to defer the decision on this to the December 11 Council meeting. At the December 11 Council meeting, I made another motion to further defer the decision to the January 22, 2024 Council meeting to allow further investigation with staff from The City of Kitchener, Region of Waterloo and WCDSB for resolving the safety issues.
I arranged an on-site meeting that took place on Friday January 12 where 18 key staff members and Directors from the Region of Waterloo, WCDSB and City of Kitchener took place. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic attended along with Regional Chair Karen Redman and Councillors Kari Williams and Colleen James. Tyrone Dowling, the Director of Education for the WCDSB also attended. At this meeting, Kitchener's General Manager of Development Services provided an update created by our Director of Transportation Services, Barry Cronkite that explained the progress made by each stakeholder on the issues that have been raised. Multiple and significant discussions with collaboration and a shared desire to address student safety issues took place. The WCDSB responded to addressing the concerns under their jurisdiction. You can read those responses HERE
The safety concerns raised and the details on these safety resolutions is documented above in the Issues Updates section.
On January 22 after collaborative resolutions had been achieved, Council unanimously approved the zone change needed.
I appreciate the genuine efforts of the WCDSB, Region of Waterloo and City of Kitchener staff to work together to resolve the issue. I also appreciate the support of Mayor Vrbanovic and all of Kitchener council for their support and Regional Chair Karen Redman and Councillors Kari Williams and Colleen James for their support. This was a collaborative effort.
Below, outlined in red, is an image of the land where the school is to be located and some of the issues that needed to be addressed and have been address. There are also a gallery of photos showing the Roundabout crossing area
The image below shows where students will have to cross through the roundabout to get to the school. It also shows an issue where some students may attempt crossing Fairway at Eden Oak Trail. A signaled pedestrian crossing like the one on Lackner Blvd at Corfield Drive or stop lighted intersection at Eden Oak Trail were suggested. The Province of Ontario has specific requirements to allow a signalled pedestrian crossing. You can read them HERE From discussions on this The Region of Waterloo is considering a pedestrian controlled signal where the light only turns red when activated by a pedestrian.
Speeds on Fairway Road are also an issue. From our discussions, the following has been achieved. The WCDSB has added access to their property from Fairway Road. This allowed the Region of Waterloo to add a School Zone with a speed limit of 40 km/h prior to the school opening. The Region of Waterloo is lowering the 80 km/h speed limit coming out of the Fountain Street roundabout to 60 and having the speed decrease to 40 km/h start at the end of the Grand River Bridge, further away from the school. The City of Kitchener is lowering the speed on Woolner Trail in the school area to 30 km/h and are providing a crossing guard for the roundabout. The crossings in the roundabout will be monitored and if more crossing guards are needed, they'll be added. The WCDSB constructed and will maintain a multi-use trail on Woolner Trail along their school property.
There is potential for congestion causing safety issues along Upper and Lower Mercer and Woolner Trail. Parents may choose to use these streets as a drop off area. To address this the WCDSB will have a student drop off area on their property. School bus drop off and pick ups will be done at staggered times and on school property. The City of Kitchener will monitor drop off issues and take appropriate measures if needed.
Some images from the Fairway/Woolner/OldZeller Drive Roundabout and Eden Oak Trail at Fairway Rd intersection where students would cross Fairway Road and Woolner Trail.
Taken Monday November 6, 2023 Between 12:50 and 1pm
