Kitchener-Waterloo & Cambridge city guide
For newcomers & families
Where the community is: Many South Asian students and families live near the universities and in south Kitchener and Cambridge.
Health coverage
OHIP (Ontario Health Insurance Plan)
Apply in person at a ServiceOntario centre with proof of status, residency and identity.
Driver’s licence
Ontario driver’s licence (ServiceOntario / DriveTest)
Licences from some countries can be exchanged; others start the graduated G1 → G2 → G process. Bring a letter of driving experience from your home country.
Getting around
Grand River Transit (ION LRT)
Pay with a EasyGO card.
Schools
Waterloo Region DSB
Waterloo Catholic DSB
Public school is free for children of permanent residents and most work- and study-permit holders.
Free newcomer help
Settlement.Org
Settlement.Org (Ontario)
Free settlement services help with jobs, English or French classes, housing and paperwork.
First steps in Canada
Apply for your Social Insurance Number (SIN)
Canada Child Benefit for families
Open a bank account and get a local phone number in week one.
Read the full newcomer checklist →
Festivals & events
University student associations host big Diwali and Holi events.
Rules and programs change; always confirm on the official site before you apply.
Local directory
🍛 Indian restaurants
🍢 Pakistani restaurants
🥟 Nepali restaurants
🍬 Sweet shops & bakeries
Gwalia Sweets and Restaurant – Kitchener
334 Manitou Dr Unit C, Kitchener, ON N2C 1L3
The Grand Mehfil Factory Outlet
1111 Franklin Blvd unit 8, Cambridge, ON N1T 1J3
🛒 South Asian grocery stores
🙏 Gurdwaras
🛕 Hindu temples
BAPS Shri Swaminarayan Mandir, Cambridge
333 Speedsville Rd, Cambridge, ON N3H 4R6
Brahmarishi Mission of Canada. Shri Ram Dham Hindu Temple
525 Bridge St E, Kitchener, ON N2K 3C5
Radha Krishna Mandir & Cultural Centre, Cambridge Ontario
85 Boxwood Dr, Cambridge, ON N3E 0E5
💅 Beauty salons, threading & henna
⚖️ Lawyers & immigration services
Arpanjot Immigration Services Inc.
191 King St S suite 106, Waterloo, ON N2J 1R1
AV Locky Immigration Solutions Inc.
155 Frobisher Dr Unit H212, Waterloo, ON N2V 2E1
💼 Other professional services
Some listing details come from © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL) and may be out of date. Own one of these businesses? Add or update your listing for free.
