WRCF launches 2025 Waterloo Region Vital Signs® Report focused on social infrastructure in our community
For Immediate Release | September 10, 2025
WATERLOO REGION, ON – Advancing social infrastructure across Waterloo Region is critical to ensuring our communities are equitable, connected, sustainable, and that people are thriving as we grow to one million residents. As a result, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) has researched and created the 2025 Waterloo Region Vital Signs® Report, focused specifically on this area.
Social infrastructure refers to the system of shared spaces, experiences, and resources that enable people to connect with each other. It is essential for building trust, participating in civic life, and fostering belonging and wellbeing in our communities. This report provides more information about social infrastructure to help people and organizations understand its importance and turn that knowledge into action, so we can all work together to improve it.
Released today, the 2025 Waterloo Region Vital Signs® Report brings together data, insights, and lived experiences to show where the social infrastructure in our region is thriving and where gaps remain.
The data shows us:
No other metropolitan area in Canada is growing – and changing – as quickly as Waterloo Region, driven by young adults, racialized groups, and a steady influx of people seeking opportunity and a place to put down roots.
The region’s rapid transformation has created real pressures – but the data also points to where investments and action can make the biggest difference.
Waterloo Region has a long tradition of investing in strong social infrastructure – from parks and libraries to cultural institutions and community spaces. This report presents growing evidence that these assets are vital to wellbeing and belonging. It also highlights that the investment in social infrastructure hasn’t fully kept pace with growth, change, or recovery.
Included is a section that talks about work already happening across our region, along with local, national, and international resources focused on social infrastructure to help us learn from others and take action locally.
“Across Waterloo Region, many of the spaces and experiences that once connected us are under strain or disappearing altogether,” says Eric Avner, President & CEO, Waterloo Region Community Foundation. “However, within these challenges lies an opportunity to renew, reimagine, and rebuild the social infrastructure that can help our communities thrive. We hope this report offers the necessary insight to mobilize our community to join us in taking action on this important area.”
Waterloo Region’s 2025 Vital Signs® Report would not have been possible without the funding provided by our sponsors and supporters, including The Daniels Corporation, Equitable, Intact Public Entities, Caldwell Group at Richardson Wealth, and Common Good Strategies.
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About Waterloo Region Community Foundation
Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) collaborates with partners to ensure our communities are equitable, connected, and sustainable; and people are thriving. We strengthen local organizations, spaces, and experiences to increase connection with communities across the three cities and four townships of Waterloo Region. We make it easy for people to do more good. We work with individuals and companies to support the organizations and issues they care about. WRCF is focused on Granting, Investing, and Mobilizing to make measurable and sustainable impacts. Gifts are directed to WRCF's endowed funds, with the income generated being distributed in partnership with Fundholders through grants and investments that support a wide range of charitable causes that drive positive change within our community. We are growing our assets in a socially-responsible way without compromising financial returns, and transitioning to a 100% mission-aligned portfolio. These investments include directing at least 10% of our portfolio to impact investments. As a leading community-building organization, we also work to amplify voices and issues of importance by mobilizing conversations and sharing information, which leads people to action, while approaching our work with an equity mindset. In 2025, WRCF continues to focus on improving social infrastructure in Waterloo Region. www.wrcf.ca
About Vital Signs
Vital Signs® is a community check-up conducted by community foundations across Canada that measures the vitality of our communities and identifies significant trends in a range of areas critical to quality of life. Vital Signs® is coordinated nationally by Community Foundations of Canada.
For additional information about this release or to schedule an interview, please contact:
Lynne Short
Vice President, Waterloo Region Community Foundation
519-725-1806 x 204
lynne@wrcf.ca
