Is Waterloo Region ready for a million people?

As Waterloo Region grows closer to the 2050 projection of one million people, it faces challenges shared with many growing regions and municipalities across Canada. This hopeful milestone comes with big questions about infrastructure, housing, transit, livability and the overall readiness of the region to support its residents in responsible, resilient ways.

A new partnership between the Future Cities Institute (FCI) founded by CAIVAN at the University of Waterloo, and the Business and Economic Support Team of Waterloo Region (BestWR), a coalition of local business leaders, is working to answer the important question: are we ready?

To help answer this question, BestWR launched the first issue of the Vision 1 Million Scorecard, a public-facing tool grounded in data designed to measure how prepared the region is across five key areas of readiness: housing supply, transportation infrastructure, healthcare services, employment opportunities, placemaking and livability. The scorecard is a living tracker of not just where the region is going, but how well it is progressing. Updated every six months, the scorecard will support the region’s efforts to direct resources to where they’re most needed.

To ensure the scorecard is credible, transparent and grounded in data, BestWR has chosen the FCI as its academic partner. This collaboration brings new depth to the project, adding academic expertise and community accountability. In the lead-up to the first review cycle, the FCI is helping to confirm baseline data and align the metrics with Waterloo Region initiatives.

“Cities receive population projections from the province,” says Dr. Leia Minaker, director of the FCI. “But most don’t have comprehensive ways to actually measure preparedness. This is the gap we’re going to help close.”

Making metrics matter

The scorecard addresses that gap by bringing traditionally siloed indicators into one accessible, public-facing framework.

“It’s a scorecard with purpose,” says Ian McLean, President and CEO of the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (GKWCC). “But we need more than just good intentions. We need accurate data, academic backing and insights on how to get us to where we need to be.”

That’s where the FCI comes in. As a hub for interdisciplinary, action-orientated work and research, FCI will refine and validate the metrics and support ongoing data analysis. The FCI will also help ensure the tool evolves with community feedback and academic insights.

“We don’t want to just import a model here,” Minaker says. “This is about co-creating a regional tool that’s useful, usable and totally rooted in reality.”

Built with partners, built to last

This partnership aligns with FCI’s mission and vision of creating scalable, innovative solutions that address the most pressing challenges cities and communities face today and in the future. It also highlights the FCI’s approach to partnerships: not as one-off collaborations, but as long-term ventures that create real impact in our communities.

“The scorecard is about accountability and transparency across sectors,” Minaker says. “If we want to be a community that leads, we need to have the courage to ask the tough questions, create the tools to answer them, and then work with industry, government and civil society organizations to make sure we’re all contributing.”

Just the start

The Vision 1 Million Scorecard offers a new way to tackle those challenges head-on, with evidence, experience and shared responsibility.

For the FCI, it’s another example of how impactful academia and innovative tool-making can meet the moment. Municipal leaders, industry partners and community members are all encouraged to explore the findings and join the conversation.

Defining readiness is not just a numbers game; it’s a mindset, and Waterloo Region is ready to lead the way.

To learn more and stay updated, follow the FCI on LinkedIn, or visit our website.