Clair Hills
- Park upgrades
- Trail maintenance and drainage
- Balanced growth and transit connections
- Safe school routes
- Planning for Erbsville-area development
Practical leadership. Better everyday life.
- Affordability
- Safe neighbourhoods
- Resilient & vibrant communities
- Balanced growth
- Responsible taxes
My family and business have called Ward 2 home since 2011. With over 35 years in planning, architecture, development and volunteering, I bring practical, hands-on leadership to City Hall: better solutions, not just promises.
My priorities are affordability for everyone and safer streets and neighbourhoods, delivered through responsible growth, infrastructure that keeps pace, and smart use of technology and partnerships.
Monday, October 26, 2026 is Election Day in Waterloo.
Advance voting starts Saturday, October 10. See all voting dates
What we're hearing on doorsteps
The issues that matter most in Ward 2
The City's own resident-satisfaction research points to the same concerns residents raise with Khaled at the door and in neighbourhood chats. His plan speaks to these everyday pressures directly.
Affordable housing
More housing choices residents can actually afford
Road maintenance
Fix worn roads before they become costly repairs
Pedestrians & bikes
Safe routes to school, parks and transit
Climate action
Trees, stormwater and resilient parks
Snow clearing
Walkways, roads and transit stops cleared in winter
29%of regional residents named housing a top issue
6.41%Waterloo's approved 2026 property tax increase
30%of your tax bill goes to the City of Waterloo
59%of your tax bill goes to the Region of Waterloo
Figures from City of Waterloo and Region of Waterloo sources as presented in campaign materials.
Khaled's plan for Ward 2
Four commitments that affect daily life
Affordability comes first. Growth must support it, with infrastructure and services that keep pace, protected green spaces, and practical action to reduce climate risk. Each commitment is something a Ward 2 councillor can champion, measure, and report back on.
Make every tax dollar count
Keep Waterloo affordable by challenging low-priority spending, protecting essential services, and weighing long-term maintenance and energy costs before committing public money.
A plain-language Ward 2 budget scorecard will show residents exactly where every tax dollar goes.
Khaled will advocate to:
- Publish a plain-language Ward 2 budget scorecard before major budget votes, showing cost, service impact and where every tax dollar goes.
- Push for a line-by-line review of low-priority spending, external contracts, energy use and administrative duplication before adding new recurring programs.
- Use lifecycle cost, not the cheapest first price, when comparing roads, drainage, parks, buildings, fleet and equipment.
- Protect the basics residents use every week: fire protection, road and sidewalk maintenance, parks, trails and by-law response.
- Expand awareness of property-tax deferral options for eligible seniors and persons with disabilities, and report every major budget vote within 72 hours.
Safer streets, resilient communities and accessible transit
Make the daily commute safer near schools and along key routes, and make parks, trails and green spaces feel cared for and secure at every time of year.
When a Ward 2 concern falls under the Region or a partner agency, Khaled will actively advocate with them on residents' behalf.
Khaled will advocate to:
- Keep improving Ward 2 school zones with evidence-based speed-calming solutions, backed by traffic data and resident input.
- Press the Region and GRT for a Ward 2 transit service review, including Route 13 and 31 extensions and a shuttle or on-demand pilot.
- Prioritize winter maintenance (plowing and salting) for walking paths, streets, roads and transit stops.
- Improve accessibility in parks and trails with better lighting, clear sightlines, rest benches and shaded areas.
- Protect and expand green space and tree canopy, and coordinate infrastructure upgrades to reduce recurring ponding and erosion.
Housing with infrastructure to match
Yes to more housing choice, backed by a public infrastructure plan that keeps pace. Support smart, balanced growth with a cost-effective public plan showing when services will be ready and how they'll be funded.
Growth should never outrun the roads, pipes, parks and emergency access a neighbourhood depends on.
Khaled will advocate to:
- Support more housing choices across Ward 2, with growth planned alongside the services it needs.
- Publish a public infrastructure timeline showing when roads, pedestrian and bike paths, utilities, sewers, parks and emergency access will be ready.
- Show clearly how each piece of growth-related infrastructure will be funded.
- Carefully coordinate higher-density development with established neighbourhood streets, green connections and flood control.
- Push for faster permit reviews and better customer service to speed up the building process.
Planned growth in Ward 2: what it means for Vista Hills, Laurelwood and Erbsville Road
Seven developments are planned or under review in and around Erbsville North. Together they could add thousands of residents, hundreds of school-age children and tens of thousands of daily car trips. This is why Khaled insists that roads, schools and services are planned to keep pace.
Swipe sideways to see the full table.
| # | Development | Units (official) | Type of housing (official) | Approval / construction status (official) | Est. population* | Est. school-age* | Est. daily traffic* | Key impacts on Vista Hills, Laurelwood & Erbsville Rd (planning analysis) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Erbsville North / Beaver Creek MeadowsNorthwest Waterloo (Erbsville North) | ~4,500 | Mix of singles, townhouses, low & mid-rise | MESP & District Plan in progress (2026) | ~12,000 | ~2,400 | ~36,000 | Largest long-term growth area. Major traffic increase on Erbsville Rd. |
| 2 | 720 Erbsville Road | 170 | 58 townhouses + 112 stacked townhouses | Approved (OPA-45 / Z-22-15) Mar 30, 2026 | ~390 | ~78 | ~1,170 | Moderate increase at both schools. Additional traffic on Erbsville Rd. |
| 3 | 500 & 515 Erbsville Road | 175 | 23 low-rise + 56 + 96 multi-residential | Draft Plan & ZBA submitted Nov 18, 2025 | ~375 | ~75 | ~1,125 | Moderate increase at both schools. More traffic on Erbsville Rd. |
| 4 | 556, 560 & 576 Conservation Dr | 478 | Singles, townhouses, stacked townhouses | Under Review (Z-16-14 / 30T-16402) | ~1,160 | ~232 | ~3,480 | Includes proposed elementary school. Reduces school pressure. |
| 5 | Roy Schmidt Rd & Conservation Dr | 195–342 | Singles, semis, townhouses, mixed-use | Under Review (Z-17-20 / 30T-17403) | ~470–830 | ~94–166 | ~1,410–2,490 | Moderate to high increase at both schools and traffic network. |
| 6 | 675 Conservation Drive | 36–40 | Single-detached dwellings | Under Review (30T-17402 / Z-17-15) | ~125–140 | ~25–28 | ~375–420 | Smaller increase at both schools. Minor additional traffic. |
| 7 | Beaver Creek Rd / Conservation DrBeaver Creek Rd & Conservation Dr | 657–1,015 | Mid-rise, townhouses & mixed residential | Under Review (Z-17-14 / 30T-17401) | ~1,580–2,440 | ~316–488 | ~4,740–7,320 | High increase at both schools. Significant traffic impact. |
High impactModerate impactSmaller impact or eases pressure
Key takeaways
- Significant growth in Ward 2 over the next 10 years across varied housing types.
- A new elementary school is proposed within the 556/560/576 Conservation Drive development.
- Major traffic volume increases along Erbsville Rd and Conservation Dr (2025–2028 upgrades).
- Vista Hills and Laurelwood schools face enrolment pressure if the new school is delayed.
Notes and data sources
- *Planning estimates based on City of Waterloo development charge occupancy assumptions: 3.40 people per single/semi, 2.30 per row house, 2.07 per apartment.
- Developments 4, 5, 6 and 7 are within the broader Erbsville North area (~4,500 units district total).
Smart technologies and partnerships for better city services
Bring in technology and partnerships with local businesses and institutions that make daily life easier. Use data to allocate city resources, so services go where they're actually needed.
Technology is not a substitute for listening. It's a tool for practical delivery.
Khaled will advocate to:
- Create a single City Hall platform where you can report a pothole, downed branch or streetlight outage from your phone and track its status in real time.
- Use data to catch small problems (worn road surfaces, aging pipes, failing signals) before they become costly emergency repairs.
- Deploy by-law and enforcement resources based on evidence, directing patrols and inspections to known hotspots.
- Explore proven safety technology, like speed monitoring at known danger zones, to reduce crashes and free up officer time.
- Speed up permit reviews and improve customer service at City Hall.
Waterloo's 2026 budget, plainly explained
Where your tax dollar goes, and where to look for savings
The 2026 operating budget is about $254.5 million, offset by roughly $139.5 million in revenue. That leaves about $115 million to be raised through taxes. Community Services (fire protection, parks, facilities and recreation) accounts for roughly 49% of that.
Rather than promise an arbitrary cut, Khaled's plan targets a measurable, recurring value-for-money review. Hidden costs typically sit in deferred maintenance, energy inefficiency and drawn-out project timelines. That's where to find real savings without cutting the services residents rely on.
- Challenge low-priority spending and administrative overhead first.
- Use lifecycle costing rather than the cheapest first price.
- Make City assets work harder before asking residents for another dollar, through partnerships, shared facilities, smart building and fleet technology, and appropriate use of underused City land.
$115M2026 net tax-supported operating budget
$107Approximate yearly increase for the average household
$18.2MCorporate Services net cost, the first place to look
1–3%Recurring savings target to explore ($1.15M to $3.45M a year)
What can be delivered
A Municipal Efficiency and Partnership Target: audited, measurable recurring savings or new non-tax revenue, reported every year. No accounting transfers or one-time deferrals.
Where each property-tax dollar goes
- Region of WaterlooTransit, regional roads, water, police, paramedics
- City of WaterlooFire, local roads, parks, recreation, by-law. This is what Council controls.
- School boardsEducation portion (approx.)
Climate as asset management, not a slogan
Climate change is already a cost and safety issue
Waterloo's own projections show the average yearly temperature rising from 7.0°C (1981–2010 baseline) to 10.2°C by the 2050s, with days above 30°C going from about 10 to roughly 31 a year, and heavier rainfall throughout.
7.0°C1981–2010
10.2°C2050s projection
That connects directly to stormwater capacity, shaded walking routes, resilient parks and winter maintenance. Khaled's test for any climate measure: it must lower full cost over time, protect residents or infrastructure from climate risk, or deliver measurable emission reductions. Every measure shows its funding source, payback and result, and pilots expand only once independent evidence confirms they work.
40%City corporate emissions reduction since 2010
32.5%Current tree canopy, with 10,000 more trees funded
92.6%Share of regional community emissions from transportation and buildings
3×Projected increase in 30°C+ days by the 2050s
How Khaled will work for you
Progress you can see and measure
You deserve more than promises. Khaled walks Ward 2's streets to listen first, then turns what he hears into action.
- 1
Listen
Neighbourhood walks, social media chats and an online priority form.
- 2
Plan
Quarterly Ward 2 town halls turn concerns into a workable agenda.
- 3
Act
Requests acknowledged within two business days whenever possible.
- 4
Report back
An annual Ward 2 report card and a public tracker of commitments.
For your neighbourhood
Every neighbourhood deserves attention
Ward 2 isn't one neighbourhood. It's several, each with shared and distinct priorities. Find yours below.
Vista Hills
- Traffic and transit connections
- Growing-family needs
- Recreation amenities
- Safe routes to schools and Wood Lily Park
- Infrastructure that keeps pace with growth
Columbia Forest
- Traffic calming near new developments
- Road and trail maintenance
- Pedestrian safety
- Transit connections
- Protecting established streets
Laurelwood
- Walkability
- Coordinating higher-density development
- Flood control and woodland protection
- Community recreation
- Protecting green connections
Doing it together
More ideas we can build together
Beyond the four commitments, these are ideas Khaled wants to develop with Ward 2 residents, the City of Waterloo and the Region, through joint, collaborative effort.
Youth, well-being & multiculturalism
- Community swimming pools
- Cultural events and youth sports
- Water fountains and benches along trails and sidewalks
Affordable housing
- Support affordable housing initiatives
- Help low-income families
- Explore alternative funding sources
Transit, cycling & roads
- More peak trips on GRT Routes 13, 29 and 31
- Extend service to Laurelwood St. and the end of Vista Hills
- More bus shelters and repaved damaged roads
- Reconsider 40 km/h neighbourhood speed limits
Sustainable, smart community
- LEED certification for new and existing buildings
- Smart and AI-based city services
- Community-based recycling programs
Public-private partnerships
- Schools, universities and research centres working with the City
- Businesses and community groups helping plan and fund infrastructure
Green spaces & heritage
- Preserve Ward 2 landmarks
- Partner with the GRCA to make Laurelwood Conservation Area a stronger local attraction
Streets & parking
- LED street lights for safer nights and energy savings
- Plant and replace street trees
- Better snow removal capacity
- Review street parking permits and single-car driveway rules
Environment & clean energy
- Eco-friendly de-icing for sidewalks and lots
- Solar and renewable energy in homes and businesses
- More public EV charging stations
Meet Khaled Berbash
A Ward 2 neighbour who listens first
For 20 years, Khaled has called Waterloo home and raised his kids in Ward 2, living in both Clair Hills and Columbia Forest. He's a community-minded business owner who believes in practical, transparent, collaborative leadership.
He has spent more than 35 years across public service, planning, architecture, infrastructure, project delivery, not-for-profit volunteering and private business. He believes good decisions start with active listening, and that clear planning, disciplined execution and honest reporting are what get results.
35+ years of experiencePlanning, designing and managing public- and private-sector development projects.
Four university degreesPh.D. in Construction Management and Master of Public Service from the University of Waterloo, plus a B.Sc. in Architecture & Urban Planning and an M.Sc. in Engineering Management.
Knows how the system worksHands-on experience with municipalities, regions and agencies across Ontario to secure development approvals.
Local business owner since 2010Founder of Can-Connect Developments Inc., working in consulting, networking and real estate development.
Volunteer and inventorDecades of local and international volunteering, public-service engagement, academia and NGO work, and holder of a U.S. patent (Hot-Driveway Mat, 2012), with a passion for smart technology that improves quality of life.
Values
- Integrity
- Respect
- Curiosity
- Practical problem-solving
Ward 2 deserves an experienced representative who responds to residents' concerns, understands the practical impact of major City decisions, and keeps asking the hard questions about cost, timing, service and results.
Conflict of interest: Public confidence depends on transparency. If elected, Khaled will comply with all municipal conflict-of-interest and disclosure rules, declare interests when required, and step away wherever the law requires.
Khaled has always been a thoughtful, progressive, and details oriented thinker with a genuine interest in making our community a better place to live.
I have found immense professionalism, ethics and integrity in Khaled's professional life. His experience straddles working with different municipalities, regions and agencies to secure the right approvals for development projects.
Khaled always comes up with innovative ideas to make projects viable from the perspective of different stakeholders. I greatly respect his creative approach to finding reasonable solutions, and I'm convinced he would bring the same approach to his role as a City of Waterloo Councillor.
Voting information
Your ward. Your voice. Your vote.
Waterloo voters will elect one Mayor, their Ward Councillor, Regional Councillors and school board trustees. Ward 2 residents choose one candidate to represent them on Waterloo City Council.
Election Day
Monday, Oct. 26, 2026Vote at your assigned polling station or any supervote location in Waterloo.
Advance voting
Sat. Oct. 10, Sat. Oct. 17 and Sun. Oct. 18Extended hours over the Thanksgiving weekend.
Who's on the ballot
Mayor, Ward & Regional Councillors, trusteesFor Ward 2 Councillor, look for Khaled Berbash.
Before you vote
- Check that you're on the voters' list and your address is correct.
- Bring ID showing your name and Waterloo address.
- Can't vote in person? Appoint a proxy, or ask about the City's new Vote at Home pilot.
- Students living away from home may be able to vote in both their home and school municipalities.
Please confirm voting locations, hours and ID requirements with the City of Waterloo, which runs the election.
Get involved
Build a better Ward 2 with Khaled
When residents are part of the conversation, the whole community works better together. Whether you can spare an hour or simply want to share a concern, your voice matters.
Donate
Support Khaled's campaign
Your contribution helps reach Ward 2 residents and host neighbourhood conversations for a positive, practical campaign.
Contributions are accepted only in accordance with the Ontario Municipal Elections Act, 1996 and the campaign's approved finance process. Before contributing, please confirm you're eligible to make a municipal campaign contribution. The campaign will collect the contributor information required by law.
How to contribute
Send an Interac e-Transfer to berbashkhaled@gmail.com, or email the campaign for other payment options and the contributor information required.
Limit: under Ontario law, contributions to a single candidate cannot exceed $1,200.
The campaign cannot accept contributions that aren't permitted by law.
Contact and FAQ
Get in touch with the campaign
Share an issue or concern, invite Khaled to a small neighbourhood conversation, or ask a question about the campaign.
Why is Khaled running?
To bring practical, accountable leadership to Ward 2. He believes residents deserve a councillor who listens, understands how City decisions affect daily life, and reports back on progress.
What will Khaled focus on first?
His four commitments: household affordability; safer streets and resilient, greener neighbourhoods with accessible transit; responsible growth with infrastructure to match; and smart technology and partnerships for better city services.
Can a Ward 2 councillor fix every issue alone?
No. Some services, like GRT transit and many regional roads, belong to the Region of Waterloo or partner agencies. When a Ward 2 concern falls under their responsibility, Khaled will actively advocate with them on your behalf.
How will Khaled stay accessible?
Through neighbourhood walks, online chats, quarterly Ward 2 town halls, and a commitment to acknowledge requests within two business days whenever possible. An annual report card and public commitment tracker will show progress.
How can I help?
Share a local priority, host a coffee chat, volunteer a few hours, or request a lawn sign. Choose how to help.