These committees are established by recommendation of Council or City Staff to carry out specific functions. They often work with other stakeholders, staff groups or committees. The City's Advisory Committees and Boards are required to follow Procedure By-law 23-035.

Arthur White Sports Bursary Fund Committee

The Arthur White Sports Bursary Fund Committee provides financial assistance to:

  • athletes who are residents of the City of Cambridge or registered members of a relevant athletic group in the city and are deserving of financial assistance 
  • any team or athletic group representing the city at the provincial, national or international level of competition and who is deserving of financial assistance 

The basic source of funds is from the interest earned from a capital fund, which is held and invested as a Trust Account by the City of Cambridge. The City issues receipts for contributions to the fund, in accordance with Federal Income Tax requirements. 

The trustees have full authority in distributing the income of the fund. They also have the right to encroach on capital, subject to the conditions stated herein. 

Learn about the awards and bursaries related to the Arthur White Sports Bursary Fund. 

Staff Liaison: Don Crowder, Supervisor of Recreation - Sport Development & Booking 

View the Terms of Reference of the Arthur White Sports Bursary Fund Committee 

View the meeting agendas and minutes of the Arthur White Sports Bursary Fund Committee 
Citizen Committee on Council Compensation 

The Province of Ontario through the Municipal Act, 2001 delegates City Council the authority to set its remuneration. Each term of Council, a Citizen Committee for Council Compensation is established to act as an independent body charged with reviewing and bringing forward recommended changes on remuneration, benefits and expenses for members of Council, as well as any other additional policies for the offices of Mayor and Council. 

Recommendations made by the committee are applied to the incoming term of Council. 

View the Terms of Reference of the Citizen Committee on Council Compensation 
Committee of Adjustment 

The Committee of Adjustment is an independent decision-making tribunal, made up of 5 persons of the community appointed by Cambridge City Council.  The Chair of the Committee is appointed by the members of the Committee. The Committee has been granted authority under Sections 45 and 53 the Planning Act to consider applications for:

  • Minor Variances to the Regulations of Zoning By-laws
  • Changes or Extensions to Legal Non-Conforming Land Uses, Buildings and Structures
  • Interpretations to Generalized Zoning By-laws

The Region of Waterloo has also delegated its authority to the Committee to consider applications for consent, which includes:

  • Severances
  • Lot Additions
  • Easements/rights of way between private property owners
  • Leases for more than 21 years.


The committee of adjustment meets once a month on Wednesday.  Visit the committee of adjustment page for more information.
General Appeals Committee

The General Appeals Committee is a new quasi-judicial body comprised of five (5) citizen members that meets once per month to hear appeals made to a Property Standards Order that was issued by a Property Standards Officer of the City of Cambridge and Dog Muzzle Orders issued by an Animal Control Officer of the City of Cambridge. 

The committee operates under the authority of the Statutory Powers and Procedure Act and may confirm, modify or rescind Property Standards and Dog Muzzle Orders, or in the case of Property Standards matters, may extend the time for compliance. 

The decisions of the General Appeals Committee may be appealed to the Superior Court of Justice. 

Members of the General Appeals Committee will receive remuneration in the amount of $80 per meeting and should have experience with legal tribunal governance, land use, real estate or experience relative to the bylaw the committee will hear. 

View the Terms of Reference of the General Appeals Committee. 
Grants Review Committee 

The Grants Review Committee reviews all applications from community non-profit organizations for municipal financial assistance. The committee also recommends levels of funding, based on their assessment process, to General Committee of Council. 

For inquiries, contact cfo@cambridge.ca

View the Terms of Reference of the Grants Review Committee 

View the meeting agendas and minutes of the Grants Review Committee  
Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee

A joint Municipal Elections Compliance Audit Committee (MECAC) has been established by the Region of Waterloo, Cities of Cambridge, Guelph, Kitchener and Waterloo, and Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. When an application for a compliance audit is received, a meeting is held in the applicable municipality. 

The MECAC reviews all applications filed in accordance with Section 81 of the Municipal Elections Act (MEA). Section 81 allows an elector to apply for a compliance audit of a candidate's election campaign finances if they believe that the candidate has broken any regulations outlined in the MEA. 

City meeting procedures and MEA regulations must be followed when applying for an audit. Any application which does not meet the legislative deadline for submission will not be presented to the committee for review. 

Staff Liaison: Danielle Manton, City Clerk

View the Terms of Reference of the Municipal Election Compliance Audit Committee 
Placemaking Working Group (Closed)

At its meeting of February 28, 2023, Council established a new Placemaking Working Group that will be comprised of 8 members of the public. The application period for the Placemaking Working Group is now closed. 

The purpose of the Placemaking Working Group (PWG) is to provide input and assist with the Placemaking Study that will be initiated by the City of Cambridge and funded through the Core Areas Transformation Fund (CATF).

The goal of the Placemaking Project is to have a consultant conduct a study to determine where areas are available and appropriate for placemaking projects within Downtown Cambridge and what may be developed there. 

Staff Liaison: Michael Launslager, Director of Economic Development 

View the Terms of Reference of the Placemaking Working Group

 

Please note that this Working Group is at full capacity, and we are no longer accepting applications.

NEW - Hespeler HCD Community Focus Group  

Are you a Hespeler resident interested in local history and providing your voice to the project team on the Hespeler Heritage Conservation District Study? If so, consider joining our newly formed Community Focus Group which will be meeting monthly until the Study is completed in April 2024, with the possibility of extension until November 2024. Meetings will take place virtually. Open to Hespeler residents only.

For more information please visit the website: https://www.engagewr.ca/hespeler-heritage-conservation-district-study-and-plan or contact Jeremy Parsons, Senior Planner – Heritage, at parsonsje@cambridge.ca.

Affordable Housing Reserve Fund Working Group (Closed)

Attention Cambridge residents! Are you passionate about contributing your informed feedback that will help to establish processes and regulations associated with accessing the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund? If so, we have an exciting opportunity for you to join the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund Working Group! 

Your invaluable feedback will help establish processes and regulations for affordable rental housing targeted at families with core housing needs.

We seek individuals with professional or lived experience in finance, construction, operating non-profit organizations, or the rental housing industry. If you have the expertise and passion to impact your community positively, we encourage you to apply today!

To apply, please submit your expression of interest via email to clerks@cambridge.ca. For more information, please refer to the Terms of Reference for the Affordable Housing Reserve Fund Working Group or contact the Clerk's Division by calling (519)623-1340, extension 4079.

Note: The expression of interest period is now closed. We will contact individuals who submitted an expression of interest concerning the next steps.
 Preston Secondary Plan Community Focus Group

The City of Cambridge is forming a Community Focus Group (CFG) as a key component of the overall engagement strategy for the Preston Secondary Plan. We are looking for residents of Preston or those who work or own businesses in the community to join the CFG and share your perspectives, suggestions and input as the project progresses. The CFG may also have representatives from local community organizations involved in a range of issues such as housing, homelessness, arts and culture, environment and sustainability, accessibility, and more. Please submit your application by May 26, 2025.

For more information, please visit the City's Engage Page for further details: Cambridge - Preston Secondary Plan | EngageWR