Waterloo Region Development News [Archive]

Waterlooson

Mar 26, 2007, 3:10 AM

Good luck...I hope you see some towers built, because as it stands right now, your skyline is in the same league as Woodstock and Ingersoll.

I take it that K/W is the community in Canada that you know least about?

Here's a photo of downtown Kitchener:

http://www.globalairphotos.com/large/ON/Kitchener/All/2006/005/2

.... for a city of only ~200,000 it's skyline isn't all that bad. Waterloo Region's highrises are spread out over a large area. If they were all clustered in one area, it would make for a pretty dense skyline photo for a community of such a modest size.

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 28, 2007, 9:16 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 28, 2007, 9:21 AM

moved

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 28, 2007, 9:43 AM

deleted

Waterlooson

Mar 28, 2007, 4:53 PM

Do you know when construction on UW's new nanotechnology/quantum computing building will start?

Tony

Mar 28, 2007, 8:03 PM

I'd just like to take this time to remind you guys that this thread is in existence in order to showcase actual construction development or proposals in the K-W area.

waterloowarrior

Mar 28, 2007, 8:37 PM

^ do new Starbucks and LCBOs count? :p
update on barrellworks (http://www.city.waterloo.on.ca/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=1690)

zoning applications/meetings are progressing... formal public meeting in the spring or summer

can't wait to see this built - though there is lots of room for improvement - I'm trying to figure out if the latest version (from the March 5 07 council meeting) is the exact same as the one posted above (april 2006) or a revised one to that.

the Barrel Yards development will consist of:
• 750 luxury apartments in 7 buildings, with building heights from 7 to 17
storeys
• 12 townhouses
• 10 live/work units
• an “all suites” hotel with conference facilities and up to 150 suites
• 75,000 square feet of commercial office space
• 15,000 square feet of commercial retail space
• a one acre park
• a construction value of between $100-$130 million dollars.

Waterlooson

Mar 28, 2007, 9:00 PM

^^^ I checked that out, and it's very impressive.... this is exactly what "uptown" Waterloo needs.

adam-machiavelli

Mar 28, 2007, 9:18 PM

Re: new highway 7...

Oh great, just what we need, another freeway in the Golden Horseshoe.

Waterlooson

Mar 29, 2007, 12:23 AM

I find it funny that while Waterloo is the least known community in Canada on skyscraper, it is actually one of Canada's better known communities internationally (before someone bashes - obviously Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver, Calgary are more well known though)

It's funny you say that because you're so right. The last time I went to the Belagio's buffet in Las Vegas, I met an America engineer who had visited Raytheon in Waterloo. He asked me for the name of the hotel he stayed at during his visit. He described what I thought could be the Valhalla Inn in Kitchener, and he said, yes, that's the one! :D

I understand that Raytheon recently won a big contract. Do you know if they are expanding their plant on Philip and Columbia?

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 29, 2007, 10:58 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 29, 2007, 11:10 AM

deleted

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 29, 2007, 11:44 AM

deleted

eemy

Mar 29, 2007, 11:53 AM

Google currently only has a small office in Waterloo, but apparently they are planning on hiring over 200 people in the near future. I suspect that they will probably be building a new office building, likely in the Research and Technology Park.

Waterlooson

Mar 29, 2007, 4:10 PM

I haven't heard anything lately on a start date. Next time I go by there I'll try to see if they have any signs up. Some details from the arcchitects website, and a picture are here:
Size: 240,000 s.f. (approx.)
Completion: 2009
http://www.kpmbarchitects.com/index.asp?navid=30&fid1=&fid2=40&fid3=&minyearx=&maxyearx=#credits

A lot of the UW construction updates have been for the School of Pharmacy. When I went by last week, it was up to the 2nd floor:-) http://www.pharmacy.uwaterloo.ca/construction/index.html

I haven't heard anything about Raytheon either, but I'll keep my eyes open.

That said, there are a lot of construction projects in the area currently on the go. On King Street I can think of: Conestoga Mall update&expansion, redevelopment of the former Conestoga College Waterloo campus on King Street, X-Flats Condo, Andy's Apartments, a building going up on the south side of Lauier's King street residence, Waterloo Town Square redevelopment, UW School of Pharmacy, Kaufman Lofts, centre block proposal (comes out april 30), le marche condos, Fairview Mall renovations, redevelopment of former Lulu's site, Sportworld Redevelopment. Of course we've got the proposal for LRT as well. When I have time (maybe this weekend), I should try to make a nice organized list of all our projects. (as I've seen done for other cities) It would also be cool to do a photo tour of all the sites (but once again that takes time)

Thanks for that extermely informative post!

Here's two renderings for the proposed nano/quantum computing building at the University of Waterloo:

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/ocean20/Nanoquan.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v221/ocean20/nanaquan2.jpg

Deez

Mar 29, 2007, 4:36 PM

^I really wish they had planned to build that puppy over some of the x-thousand parking spots at the south end of campus instead of bulldozing a greenfield. Looks reasonable...though the honeycomb pattern is a little cheezy.

As for the Barrelworks, I live literally right next door and had no idea this was going down. Shows how out of touch I am with KW development. It'll be a huge boost for uptown to have that many residents move in.

Waterlooson

Mar 29, 2007, 4:48 PM

That honeycomb pattern has a deeper meaning.... such as the structure of carbon nanotubes:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbon_nanotube

.... so the honeycomb pattern isn't so cheezy after all.

Deez

Mar 29, 2007, 5:15 PM

^That was why I thought it was cheezy. It's too obviously a reference to nanotech.

Waterlooson

Mar 29, 2007, 5:31 PM

^That was why I thought it was cheezy. It's too obviously a reference to nanotech.

Okay, I see your point.

waterloowarrior

Mar 29, 2007, 6:43 PM

all UW students, be sure to 'pass the pass' (http://vote.feds.ca/ballot/)
(vote for the universal bus pass) before 8 pm tonight

yes committee (http://vote.feds.ca/node/140)

http://feds.ca/docs/upass.pdf

MolsonExport

Mar 29, 2007, 9:37 PM

WaterlooInvestor: If you have a problem with working within the framework of this forum and understanding that boosterism and versus threads are against the rules perhaps you should leave. Either way, such matters are to be addressed in Private Messages to myself. (This applies to anyone who has similar issues) - Tony

I think that you've met your waterloo. :haha:

WaterlooInvestor

Mar 30, 2007, 11:05 AM

moved

Deez

Mar 30, 2007, 4:19 PM

^The UPass has passed. vote.feds.ca

waterloowarrior

Mar 30, 2007, 5:17 PM

great! :tup:

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 1, 2007, 11:55 AM

waterloowarrior

Apr 3, 2007, 1:58 PM

uw expansion
Two new buildings up for approval

Two entirely new buildings for UW, as well as a major addition to the Optometry building, are on the agenda for approval by the board of governors this afternoon.
One of the new buildings will extend the faculty of engineering into what are now being called the "East Campus Lands", between Phillip Street and the railway track, now largely occupied by parking lot B. It's proposed as a $48 million building of about 150,000 square feet, approximately the same size as Engineering III or the CEIT building, and would be linked to E3 by an overhead pedestrian link.

The building is "the first phase of Engineering's capital plan", says a briefing to the board from its building and properties committee, which discussed the proposal in early March. "The Faculty of Engineering requires the completion of the building at the earliest possible date," it adds. It says money would come partly from government grants for graduate enrolment expansion, partly from UW's own funds and partly from fund-raising.

"UW is currently pursuing a zone change for the site," says the report, which also says that consultant Joe Berridge — who headed the preparation of the campus master plan (http://www.uwaterloo.ca/documents/masterplan/) more than a decade ago — "has been retained to complete a district/development plan for the 12-acre ECH lands (lands east of the rail line)".
The second new building is a "research facility" at 475 Wes Graham Way in the north campus research and technology park. "Interim space needs are being meet through the use of portables and the 35,000-square-foot 'BFG building'," the committee reports. Putting up a 60,000-square-foot building by next spring, when the university's lease (http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/2005/jun/08we.html) on BFG (195 Columbia Street) expires, will cost about $8.4 million, it says. "The building will be used as a research accelerator centre by providing a staging area for new research initiatives. Sufficient one-time funding is available from the Research Infrastructure Fund."

As for the Optometry expansion, it was approved by the board a year ago (http://www.bulletin.uwaterloo.ca/2006/jun/07we.html), with a budget of $9 million, but the committee is now recommending a bigger project, to cost $13.4 million and include almost 40,000 square feet of academic space. Tenders will be called this summer.

Other items on the agenda for today's board of governors meeting include 2007-08 tuition fee increases and the operating budget for the year ahead. The meeting will start at 2:30 p.m. in Needles Hall room 3001.

Deez

Apr 3, 2007, 9:51 PM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 5, 2007, 11:48 AM

waterloowarrior

Apr 5, 2007, 12:54 PM

check out the background of the developers here... these 3 developers have had some great projects

http://www.kitchener.ca/committee/centre_block_redevelopment_project.html

Tony

Apr 5, 2007, 1:05 PM

One of the new buildings will extend the faculty of engineering into what are now being called the "East Campus Lands", between Phillip Street and the railway track, now largely occupied by parking lot B. It's proposed as a $48 million building of about 150,000 square feet, approximately the same size as Engineering III or the CEIT building, and would be linked to E3 by an overhead pedestrian link.

But being honked at by the slow-mo tanker train is so much more fun.

koops65

Apr 9, 2007, 2:19 PM

Does anyone know what is being developed on Queen St. S by Joseph Schneider House? They've dug a very deep hole in the ground recently...

MolsonExport

Apr 9, 2007, 5:19 PM

^I heard that they were diggin' a hole to China.

koops65

Apr 9, 2007, 5:25 PM

that would be ULTRA deep... lol

rapid_business

Apr 13, 2007, 4:26 AM

As a future resident I figured I'd join this thread to follow what's up in KW. Doing the Urban Planning bit at U of W this coming fall with a bunch of courses transferring from my previous degree. So, now time to get active in another thread like the present.

ummagumma66

Apr 13, 2007, 4:27 AM

does GRT have a route to the airport, if not are they planning to add some form of transit to the airport??

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 13, 2007, 9:53 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 13, 2007, 10:16 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 15, 2007, 8:16 AM

moved

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 15, 2007, 8:58 AM

rapid_business

Apr 17, 2007, 10:50 PM

any more info on the Arrow Lofts? link? prices? floor plans?

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 18, 2007, 9:11 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 18, 2007, 9:25 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 18, 2007, 9:46 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 18, 2007, 10:00 AM

moved

Tony

Apr 18, 2007, 11:06 AM

^ Forsyth / Centre Block lands?

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 18, 2007, 11:22 AM

moved

rapid_business

Apr 18, 2007, 1:00 PM

yeah... strange layout with the first 2 bdrm. What is up with that 3-way walk-in closet?

Tony

Apr 19, 2007, 2:23 PM

nope, this would be a different development! :banana:

Schweet. Wonder where it is.

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 19, 2007, 5:06 PM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 21, 2007, 10:28 AM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 23, 2007, 4:29 PM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 23, 2007, 5:20 PM

moved

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 23, 2007, 6:00 PM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 23, 2007, 6:03 PM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 24, 2007, 5:48 PM

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 24, 2007, 5:50 PM

moved

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 24, 2007, 6:03 PM

rapid_business

Apr 24, 2007, 11:50 PM

I like it. What's the FAR on that section of land? What is the current sq.ft. price for something new like that in the KW area?

WaterlooInvestor

Apr 27, 2007, 6:11 PM

rapid_business

Apr 27, 2007, 11:33 PM

haha... yeah, it's true. We'll make a pretty penny on our place here. It's good we got in a couple years ago.

FAR means Floor Area Ratio. It is the number assigned by the planning department that allows certain number of floors (or general height) based on the area of land or sq. footage of the actual building.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Floor_Area_Ratio

EDIT: see this page on the Edmonton thread (http://forum.skyscraperpage.com/showthread.php?t=126429&page=99) to get a perspective on the usage of FAR. (halfway down it starts) /EDIT

Condo prices look pretty good there comparatively. It appears to be about $200/sq.ft. for Le Marche... and about $310/sq.ft. for Mansion (according to that on suite... but that's overpriced compared to a couple other Mansion units I saw on MLS)

woodframe suburban condos are going for about $310/sq.ft. now, and higher end downtown concrete is about $500/sq.ft.
(all new that is)

WaterlooInvestor

May 2, 2007, 8:55 AM

WaterlooInvestor

May 2, 2007, 9:04 AM

WaterlooInvestor

May 2, 2007, 10:03 AM

WaterlooInvestor

May 2, 2007, 10:10 AM

WaterlooInvestor

May 2, 2007, 10:32 AM

moved

WaterlooInvestor

May 2, 2007, 10:44 AM

Tony

May 2, 2007, 1:46 PM

I sure hope they plan on restoring the original look of the building at streetlevel, the stucco'd facade looks so cheap and grubby.

Cambridgite

May 2, 2007, 11:51 PM

The uptown shops and residences looks awesome.:tup: Btw, when I registered for this forum, one of the rules was that you couldn't put up any commercial postings without prior approval. Does this mean that I can't post up a website for a new condo development without contacting the developer first?:shrug:

Cambridgite

May 3, 2007, 2:25 AM

Also, you guys should check out the urban design guidelines for downtown Kitchener.
http://www.kitchener.ca/pdf/downtown_design_brief_dts-06-156.pdf
IMHO, they are looking pretty good. It'd be nice to see the skyline develop like that. I'd say give it 15-20 years. :)

WaterlooInvestor

May 3, 2007, 7:41 AM

Tony

May 3, 2007, 11:09 AM

Does this mean that I can't post up a website for a new condo development without contacting the developer first?:shrug:

Sure you can. You cannot however advertise something you have vested interest in or are involved with that clearly doesn't have anything to do with urban issues. Also, Welcome!

WaterlooInvestor

May 3, 2007, 11:33 AM

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 1:30 AM

Sure you can. You cannot however advertise something you have vested interest in or are involved with that clearly doesn't have anything to do with urban issues. Also, Welcome!

In that case, aweseome!! Here's the thread for Waterscape condominiums in the downtown Galt area of Cambridge.
http://www.waterscape.ca/
It's height separates it from a lot of other recent developments in that area. Because of the historic streetscape and low-rise nature of Galt, tall glass spikes don't fit in as well as they would in downtown Kitchener or even Uptown Waterloo. In the case of this development, it's slightly offset from the very core. It's next to the Grand River, right by the trail and just south of GCI (oldest operating high school in Ontario), by the train tracks.

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 1:42 AM

Sure you can. You cannot however advertise something you have vested interest in or are involved with that clearly doesn't have anything to do with urban issues. Also, Welcome!

In that case, aweseome!! Here's the site for Waterscape condominiums in the downtown Galt area of Cambridge.
http://www.waterscape.ca/
It's height separates it from a lot of other recent developments in that area. Because of the historic streetscape and low-rise nature of Galt, tall glass spikes don't fit in as well as they would in downtown Kitchener or even Uptown Waterloo. In the case of this development, it's slightly offset from the very core. It's next to the Grand River, right by the trail and just south of GCI (oldest operating high school in Ontario), by the train tracks.

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 1:54 AM

Here's a project that was recently completed there as well.
http://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/en/inpr/su/sucopl/upload/Brownfield-Redevelopment-for-Housing-in-Canada-Case-Studies-Wellington-Square-Cambridge-Ontario.pdf
This one was basically the kick-off for URBAN developments in Cambridge. It was being developed at around the same time as the U of W architecture campus. Since then, buyers and developers are slowly gaining confidence. A few other developments have followed and more are to come! In fact, the city is now worried about the core becoming overdeveloped with projects that don't fit in, so they have frozen new development until the city's urban design guidelines are complete.
I like the idea of downtown campuses that UW and WLU are supporting. It's a great way to give a boost to the cores and it's a more fun and interesting environment for most students as well. Too bad UW's main campus is out in the middle of suburbia, surrounded by parking lots on all sides...yuck.

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 2:10 AM

Finally, here's one more Galt project. This one's not quite downtown, but in an older neighborhood, about a 5 minute walk away.
http://www.sprucegardenlofts.ca/
By the way, does anyone have any information about "the block that rocks" on King, between Francis and Water streets in downtown Kitchener? I heard there was a developer looking to revitalize that entire block of decay. It makes sense with all the other developments popping up, plus it's REALLY close to the soon-to-be UW School of Pharmacy. :tup:

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 2:15 AM

OFFICE DEMAND IS BOOMING :cheers:

CBRE: 1Q-2007 Office Report

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/7945/waterlooofficemarket1q0jx1.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4207/waterlooofficemarket1q0cp9.jpg
http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/4425/waterlooofficemarket1q0no7.jpg

WaterlooInvestor, isn't this forum supposed to be about specific developments and not just boosterizing the Region's economy? I know that could explain many of the developments, but I thought this thread was about the developments themselves. Anyways, what does German heritage have anything to do with a high-tech company wanting to locate in Kitchener? And for that matter, why would they site that reason for a city where the proportion of people who are of German origin is in decline? Glad to see the office market is booming nevertheless.

eemy

May 4, 2007, 3:01 AM

In that case, aweseome!! Here's the site for Waterscape condominiums in the downtown Galt area of Cambridge.
http://www.waterscape.ca/
It's height separates it from a lot of other recent developments in that area. Because of the historic streetscape and low-rise nature of Galt, tall glass spikes don't fit in as well as they would in downtown Kitchener or even Uptown Waterloo. In the case of this development, it's slightly offset from the very core. It's next to the Grand River, right by the trail and just south of GCI (oldest operating high school in Ontario), by the train tracks.

I have no idea which highschool can lay claim to the title of oldest in Ontario, but while 155 years is a long time to be in existance, my alma mater (Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa) was established in 1843 and is 9 years older.

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 3:22 AM

I have no idea which highschool can lay claim to the title of oldest in Ontario, but while 155 years is a long time to be in existance, my alma mater (Lisgar Collegiate Institute in Ottawa) was established in 1843 and is 9 years older.

Did the research and it turns out it's only "one of the" oldest high schools in Ontario. It turns out Galt Collegiate was indeed established in 1852. So we can just sum it up by saying it's a really old school.

WaterlooInvestor

May 4, 2007, 9:16 AM

ldoto

May 4, 2007, 3:12 PM

CBC eyes growth in region

Fri, May 4, 2007

The London area is at the top of the list for a Radio One station.:cheers: :cheers:

By HANK DANISZEWSKI, SUN MEDIA

Fans of CBC Radio One in the London-Kitchener area might finally get their own full-scale station.

The Canadian Broadcasting Corp. is considering a plan to beef up its presence in 15 areas across Canada it considers "underserviced."

The Southwestern Ontario market is at the top in the list because it's the most populous, said Ted Kennedy, chief of staff for CBC's English Radio network.

"Southwestern Ontario is the No. 1 priority . . . we're talking about one-and-a-half million people," he said.

CBC has a two-person news bureau in London but local listeners get a morning show based in Toronto and an afternoon show out of Ottawa.

Kennedy said the CBC recognizes the region deserves better service.

"There was a time when Toronto was more representative of southern Ontario than it is now. Many people in Southwestern Ontario define themselves as 'not being Toronto,' " Kennedy said.

Kennedy said if the plan goes ahead the London-Kitchener outlet would be the largest of the new stations and would employ more than 20.

He doesn't expect strong opposition from private broadcasters serving the London and Kitchener markets because the CBC doesn't sell advertising and has a different focus. "They recognize we're fishing in a different pond."

Kennedy quietly held a meeting at the University of Western Ontario this week to unveil the CBC's plans to an invited group of about 30 civic and business leaders and academics. He said the plan to service all 15 areas will cost about $25 million a year and hinges on funding approval by the Harper government.

David Spencer, a professor of media and information studies at UWO, said the London area is a "gaping hole" in CBC radio coverage and a new station would be welcomed. He expects most of the staff in a London-Kitchener station would be in London.

Spencer said the new station would offer a full range of local news and programming.

"The station here would be very little different from the one in Toronto," he said.

Spencer expects there will be an outcry from private broadcasters in the area. But he said the Harper government, struggling to build its political base, may be surprisingly supportive.

"There are a lot of things happening with the government right now, but alienating the CBC is not one of them."

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 9:29 PM

http://www.csb-system.com/home/index.php?content=unternehmen/adressen&language=021#germany
Headquarters:
CSB-System AG
An Fürthenrode 9-15
D-52511 Geilenkirchen
Germany
Tel: +49 2451 625-0

Branch office Canada:
CSB-System
INTERNATIONAL, Inc.
41 River Road East, Unit #2
Kitchener, Ontario N2B 2G3
Canada
Tel: + 1 519-579-7272

I imagine they cited German heritage because CSB-System International AG is a German company. I imagine a high-tech company choose Waterloo Region because of the University of Waterloo. Kitchener does still have a relatively large German base. From the 2001 census:

http://www12.statcan.ca/english/census01/products/highlight/ETO/Table1.cfm?Lang=E&T=501&GV=4&GID=3530013&Prov=35
Ethnic origin Population Percent
Canadian 55,465 29.48%
German 47,380 25.18%
English 43,030 22.87%
Irish 29,520 15.69%
Scottish 29,320 15.58%
French 17,620 9.36%
Polish 10,515 5.59%
Dutch 7,240 3.85%
Portuguese 5,350 2.84%
Italian 4,670 2.48%

This is just my hypothesis. I'm not German. If you wanted the exact reasons, I'd recommend calling the company.

This is a report about buildings, not GDP.

The CB Richard Ellis reports do relate to development. They come out quarterly and show: office buildings under construction, major leases, absorption rates, vacancy rates, etc.. (the things that developers look at)

Knowing that the Waterloo Region area absorbed 333,008 sq. feet of office space in the first three months of the year, is helpful in discussing future developments. That's almost the size of One London Place (356,000 sq. ft), so it's conceivable that the Waterloo area could get a 100 m+ proposal in the next few years. Being informed on the current market conditions will lead to better discussions when proposals do arrive. (At a 4.9% vacancy rate, it is only a matter of time.)

It's nice to know that 177,396 sq. feet of development is currently under construction. Also that there's a 95,000 sq. feet building planned for the R&T park.

I'm not really sure how an office market report doesn't relate to development?

I see what you're saying about "developments themselves", but take a look around the message boards, and you'll find far less relevant information being posted than office building reports.

You're right. Even if it's declining, 25% is quite high. Higher than probably any other city in Canada. And I didn't realize it was a German company, so thanks for the clarification.

You're also right that there's a lot of irrelevant material being posted on skyscraper. So I guess that's not too far astray from the topic. Well, I hope we do see some major high-rise office developments in the core. The skyline is lacking! There's enough low-rise office parks being built not far from where I live, so I'm sure it's more than achievable.

Cambridgite

May 4, 2007, 9:44 PM

"Southwestern Ontario is the No. 1 priority . . . we're talking about one-and-a-half million people," he said.

"There was a time when Toronto was more representative of southern Ontario than it is now. Many people in Southwestern Ontario define themselves as 'not being Toronto,' " Kennedy said.

This is absolutely true. Halifax has a major news station and it's a fair bit smaller than either of the London or Kitchener CMAs, the 10th and 11th largest in the country respectively (those positions will likely swap very soon). Kitchener is a very fast growing service area and would likely cover Guelph, Brantford, Stratford, and many small town/rural areas. I don't buy the "Kitchener is too close to Toronto for it's own news station" bit, since Hamilton has its own CH News and it even covers Halton Region (Milton and Oakville are quite close to Toronto)! In regards to merging into a London-Kitchener station, I'm not sure what the point of that would be. I actually think that Kitchener is a pretty separate entity from London and if anything, Toronto news would be more relevant to us than London news. Two separate stations makes the most sense to me.