Forest Heights is an established neighbourhood located on Kitchener’s westside. Forest Heights is fortunate to have everything residents could need within the community’s borders: 

• Community Centre
• Primary Schools
• Highschool
• Grocery Stores 
• Childcare Facilities 
• Senior Care Facilities

Shopping & Entertainment 

Highland Hills Mall is adjacent to Forest Heights; here, you’ll find a Real Canadian Superstore for all your grocery needs. If you’re looking for some interior design inspiration, a Jysk is also located in this plaza along with a Beer Store location, all within a 3-minute drive from home! 

Located a short trip south at Ottawa and Fischer-Hallman, is the Sunrise Shopping Centre. It’s one of the largest shopping centres in Kitchener-Waterloo and includes large box stores like Walmart and Canadian Tire. With an assortment of cafes, clothing stores, services, and restaurants for residents to try. Whether running errands or going out for dinner with the family, it’s a handy place to have just minutes from home.

• Ardenes
• Bluenotes
• Cleo
• Fairweather
• La Vie en Rose
• Maurices 
• Nygard 
• Ricki’s 
• Trends for Men
• Walking On a Cloud 
• Tootsies 
• First Choice Haircutters 
• Healthy Planet 
• Le Nails
• Shoppers 
• Trade Secrets 
• Canadian Tire 
• The Homedepot
• Bell
• Barburrito 
• iShawarma
• Kelseys
• Pho Sunrise 
• Pita Pit 
• South St. Burger
• Starbucks 
• Mark’s 
• Old Navy
• Winners
• Hallmark 
• Pet Valu
• Hakim Optical 
  

Restaurants & Food Services 

Are you hungry for a little slice of magic? Magic Pizza at the Driftwood Plaza is a locally renowned pizzeria that uses fresh local ingredients to deliver quality tasting pizza right to your door. 

Driftwood Plaza is also home to Fish Hut, a quaint fish and chips diner. Enjoy freshly made fish and chips minutes from your home and an assortment of comfort snacks. 

Suppose you’re more in the mood for something warm and filling check out, Pho Dau Bo, located beside Sunrise Shopping Centre. A favourite, especially on brisk nights, a big bowl of traditional beef soup will hit the spot!

HealthCare 

Located on the western end of Forrest Heights at Highland and Ira Needles is Driftwood Martial Arts; this mixed martial arts school offers students the chance to train in Karate, Judo, and other mixed martial arts. If you’re looking to keep fit but want a change from the gym, this is the dojo for you.

Are you looking to practice a lighter form of self-care? Head down to Blue Lemon Studio located at the Driftwood Plaza. Blue Lemon specializes in hairstyling, but also offers nail care appointments, ensuring you’re looking good head to toe.

Residents are lucky to have Driftwood Medical Centre next door; if you’re feeling under the weather or looking to get a family doctor, the medical centre has been operating here for more than 10 years.

Forest Heights is the ideal community if you’re looking to start a family, with schooling from jk through 12 offered within the neighbourhood’s borders. 

Catholic students can attend either St.Mark Catholic Elementary School or St.Paul Catholic Elementary School and continue their faith-based studies through highschool at Resurrection Catholic Secondary School. 

Students attending public schools have the option of attending one of 4 elementary schools within the neighbourhood:

• Meadowdale Public School
• Westheights Public School
• John Darling Public School
• Driftwood Park Public School

And can attend Forest Heights Collegiate Institute that offers classes for grades 9-12.

Source: www.walkscore.com

Forest Heights residents benefit from being between 2 community hubs making travel via transit as comfortable as can be. Residents looking to travel to the Boardwalk or Downtown Kitchener can hop on either routes 1 or 20. Route 2 connects Kitchener’s west and east sides travelling from the Driftwood area to Stanley Park Mall. Catch the 201 to ride to the University and Conestoga Mall areas or hop on the 204 and ride to Bridgeport. Finally, residents are lucky enough to be along the 77 route, a specialty route that goes out to Wilmont and New Hamburg. 

• Route 1 Queen-River
• Route 1 Queen-River
• 201 iXpress Fischer-Hallman
• 204 iXpress Highland-Victoria
• Route 77 Wilmot

Forest Heights got its name from its natural surroundings as it’s home to various green spaces and forests. Traverse the Forest Heights Community Trail that bisects the neighbourhood’s interior to see why this community earned the name Forest Heights.

Westheights Park can be seen as the ‘central park’ of the community as its smack in the neighbourhood’s middle. This park offers residents forest trails, fields, and a massive pond to enjoy nature’s sights and sounds.

Located beside Driftwood Park Public School is Driftwood Park; here, residents can find soccer fields, a baseball diamond and a playground structure for their children to use. 

Finally, the newly renovated Fischer Park offers residents a baseball diamond, community pool and a skateboarding park open all year round. ed for bikes and off Terran hiking.