On May 20, 2026, the Region of Waterloo removed the community garden beds from the front yards of 60 Paulander Dr., a subsidized housing complex. In a statement made to CTV News, they cite infrastructure issues as the main reason why the garden boxes had to be removed. The residents are low-income, have disabilities and/or are immigrants who relied on these gardens for food.
The garden boxes were originally installed in 2023 by the Region of Waterloo and the Waterloo Regional Police Services to boost morale. Boxes were also installed on the second floor of the property above the parking garage. Any extra produce was often donated to the food back operated by Camino Wellbeing and Mental Health.
“It’s underhanded and dirty work, the Region’s strong-arming us, taking away our garden and our right to garden, and the other tenants, and all using these false pretenses, this kind of pressuring people who have less is exactly what they’re doing at the encampment,” Daryl Warren, the lead organizer for the gardens and a tenant of 60 Paulander Dr., said.
While Camino claims they had nothing to do with the removal of the gardens, there is evidence to suggest they knew the gardens were going to be removed before the residents.
In an email provided to TCE, Mina Gomes, Tenant and Community Relations Specialist (Housing) told Tashi Thomson, Camino Facilitation Manager, that the gardens may need to be scaled back for safety concerns due to potential weight risks to the garage underneath.
“We have no idea, like we don’t know, we’re thinking it’s okay, the next day they take everything away, that’s just a waste of our money, our time, our energy,” Taslima Begum, a tenant of 60 Paulander Dr., said.
Region of Waterloo representatives dismantled most of the garden boxes on both floors of 60 Paulander Dr. Many garden boxes still had crops growing in them according to residents.
The housing complex has 52 total units, and many of the residents relied on the food they grew themselves.
“[The gardens were] having maintenance problems. We did not know this before. No one told us until I found out on CTV News,” Begum said.
Wood, nails and soil for the gardens were provided by the Region of Waterloo. Tenants of 60 Paulander Dr. put the garden boxes together and purchased the seeds. Warren purchased and provided barrels and premium soil and various nutrients for the gardens.
“My girlfriend and I are both on low income, and we’re both struggling with the cost of food,” Warren said.
“We were really looking forward to growing our vegetables again, like we always had. And now we can’t. They took it away.”
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