Waterloo Region Community Legal Services

Waterloo Region Community Legal Services Providing free legal information, legal support/advice, & legal representation in Waterloo Region.

The focus of WRCLS includes the protection of housing, and protection of income. We spend most of our time helping people with the following kinds of issues:

• Ontario Disability Support Program
• Ontario Works
• Landlord and Tenant
• Canada Pension Disability
• Employment Legal Issues and Employment Insurance
• Criminal Injuries Compensation
• Immigration
• Some Consumer and Debt Issues

We als

o can provide support in these areas:

• Indigenous Justice Support and Referrals
• Sexual Harassment in the Workplace

We DO NOT do: Family Law, Criminal Law, WSIB, Real Estate or Estates. Our staff will assist in making appropriate referrals to other agencies and programs.

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labour Day. Please contact us through our web contact...
09/03/2026

Our offices will be closed on Monday, September 7 in observance of Labour Day.

Please contact us through our web contact form at wrcls.ca/web-contact and we will connect with you as soon as possible.

Did you know there are new rules about tenant-installed air conditioners in Ontario? We’ve created a new Tenant Rights I...
08/31/2026

Did you know there are new rules about tenant-installed air conditioners in Ontario?

We’ve created a new Tenant Rights Information tip sheet to help renters understand the new changes about tenant-installed air conditioners.

If your landlord doesn’t provide air conditioning, you may be able to install your own window or portable unit—but there are important rules to follow.

👉Download a free copy on our website at wrcls.ca/tenant-issues

What happens when social assistance no longer provides a meaningful safety net?Our Director of Legal Services, Joel Ying...
08/31/2026

What happens when social assistance no longer provides a meaningful safety net?

Our Director of Legal Services, Joel Yinger, was quoted in this recent PressProgress article examining Ontario’s social assistance system, including concerns about benefit rates, rising costs of living, and the barriers many people face when trying to access the support they need.

As Joel points out, the gap between social assistance rates and the cost of living is leaving people further and further behind.

Read the full article at pressprogress.ca.


Today, we’re sharing some of the findings of a national survey on sexual harassment in Canadian workplaces. The study is...
08/28/2026

Today, we’re sharing some of the findings of a national survey on sexual harassment in Canadian workplaces.

The study is titled “Is work safer? The second national survey on harassment and violence at work in Canada," linked from the news story here https://bit.ly/46h2EJ7.

This is the second study of its kind, conducted in 2025 by Western University’s Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children (CREVAWC), in partnership with the Canadian Labour Congress. The first survey was conducted between 2020 and 2021.

The findings tell us that:

1. There hasn’t been a meaningful decrease (less than 1%) in workplace sexual harassment in Canada over the past five years.

2. Marginalized people continue to be most targeted. This includes Indigenous people, gender-diverse and LGBTQ+ people, and people living with disabilities.

3. Third-party harassment – that which happens via clients and customers rather than coworkers – is on the rise.

4. The stress of sexual harassment impacts worker health and well-being, as well as overall productivity. This has implications for both workers and businesses.

If you're experiencing workplace sexual harassment or discrimination, SHAPE (Sexual Harassment, Advice, Prevention, Education) provides free and confidential legal advice across Ontario.

Call 📞 1-833-677-5146 or
Visit 🌐 shapeyourworkplace.ca (link in bio) or Shape Your Workplace

New to municipal elections? Here’s the when and what of the 2026 municipal election in Ontario: Election DateMonday, Oct...
08/20/2026

New to municipal elections? Here’s the when and what of the 2026 municipal election in Ontario:

Election Date

Monday, October 26, 2026 – elections will be held across all Ontario municipalities

Other Key Dates

- Nomination period: May 1 – August 21, 2026 (closes at 2 p.m.)
- Acclamation date: August 24, 2026 (if there’s only one candidate running)

What's Being Voted On

Municipal councils (including mayors) and school board trustees across Ontario cities, towns, and regions

You can also find information about voting on the Region of Waterloo’s website at www.regionofwaterloo.ca/government-and-council/elections or the website for the city or town where you live.

08/19/2026

📢 Canada is renewing its National Housing Strategy! And we have a once-in-a-decade opportunity to make sure we get it right.

The federal government must follow its own right-to-housing law, meaning the National Housing Strategy must:

- Prioritize people in greatest housing need
- Establish clear goals and timelines to stay accountable
- Improve housing outcomes as quickly as possible

These commitments were never fully reflected in Canada’s current National Housing Strategy. The renewed Strategy must change that.

Join us in calling on the federal government to follow its own law and uphold housing as the fundamental human right that it is.

👉 Send a letter: https://housingrights.ca/make-the-new-national-housing-strategy-follow-the-law/

📌 We will be back at Woolwich Community Services next Wednesday, August 26 from 9 am to 12 pm for our next mobile legal ...
08/19/2026

📌 We will be back at Woolwich Community Services next Wednesday, August 26 from 9 am to 12 pm for our next mobile legal clinic.

☎️ Walk-ins are welcome, or contact Woolwich Community Services to book an appointment.

📌 We will be back at Wilmot & Wellesley Resource Centre in New Hamburg on Monday, August 24 from 9 am to 12 pm.☎️ Contac...
08/18/2026

📌 We will be back at Wilmot & Wellesley Resource Centre in New Hamburg on Monday, August 24 from 9 am to 12 pm.
☎️ Contact Wilmot & Wellesley Resource Centre to book an appointment and speak directly with a legal staff for free legal help!

The risk factors for sexual harassment in the workplace can vary based on sector and industry. Some of the greatest risk...
08/14/2026

The risk factors for sexual harassment in the workplace can vary based on sector and industry.

Some of the greatest risk factors reported by people who have experienced sexual harassment in the workplace are:

• Instances where you interact with the public, especially if you’re serving alcohol or handling money or prescription drugs*

• A high ratio of men in positions of power in the organization†

• Employees are unaware of the reporting and grievance procedures available for incidents of workplace sexual harassment†

If you're experiencing workplace sexual harassment or discrimination, SHAPE provides free and confidential legal advice across Ontario.

Call 📞 1-833-677-5146 or
Visit 🌐 shapeyourworkplace.ca or Shape Your Workplace



Sources:

*Berlingieri, A., Welsh, S., MacQuarrie, B., McFadyen, N.D., Bigras-Dutrisac, H. with the Canadian Labour Congress. (2022). Harassment and violence in Canadian workplaces: It’s [not] part of the job [Revised]. Centre for Research & Education on Violence Against Women & Children, Western University.

†Employment and Social Development Canada. (2017). Harassment and Sexual Violence in the Workplace – Public Consultation: What We Heard. Ottawa, ON: Government of Canada.

Address

450 Frederick Street # 101
Kitchener, ON
N2H2P5

Opening Hours

Monday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Tuesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Wednesday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Thursday 8:30am - 4:30pm
Friday 8:30am - 4:30pm

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