Get involved

Provide ideas and feedback

The Region of Waterloo, the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region and community partners are looking for your ideas and feedback to create a plan to end chronic homelessness. There are several ways you can provide input:

• Complete the online survey by July 28
• Sign up for a virtual group lab where facilitators will guide participants through information-seeking activities

For more information on this project, visit Engage Waterloo Region.

Join the Youth Advisory Council

The Region of Waterloo is looking for young people (ages 14 to 25) to join a Youth Advisory Council to advise on Regional initiatives. Members of the Youth Advisory Council get the chance to present ideas to Regional Staff, Regional Council and the community as a whole.

Learn more about the Youth Advisory Council.

New spray pads are coming to Waterloo!

Two new spray pads are coming to Waterloo in 2024. They will be located at Eastbridge Green and Blue Beech Link. Before construction starts, we want to know your thoughts on the designs. Check out the project pages and vote for your favourite before July 28!

• Eastbridge Green
• Blue Beech Link

More ways to get involved

• View this checklist developed by Immigration Waterloo Region about best practices for language interpretation.

• Recognize kind neighbours through the Neighbourhood Kindness Program. Nominated neighbours will receive a thank-you package from the City of Waterloo.

• Save the date! The Region of Waterloo is hosting the Community Safety and Wellbeing Symposium on August 8 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. More details to follow!

• The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) invests in community-led projects that play an essential role in creating safe spaces, empowering youth and families, supporting career pathways and addressing issues faced by our communities. Review the various grant opportunities online.



• WR Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis is a volunteer-led group focused on helping displaced Ukrainians fleeing war and arriving in Waterloo Region.

Get inspired

See what's happening across Waterloo and find inspiration to make your neighbourhood a little more awesome. We can support your idea with things like grants and equipment. Interested? Just hit reply to this email.

Celebrating the opening of Alexandra Park

With support from a Neighbourhood Matching Fund, the Uptown West Neighbourhood Association planned a party to celebrate the opening of Alexandra Park. Neighbours enjoyed yummy treats, live music, face painting, crafts and had lots of fun on the new playground.

Thank you to all of the volunteers that made this event such a great success!

Garden party with neighbours

Summer is the perfect time for a garden party with neighbours! Angela and Robin teamed up with neighbours on their street to plan a garden party. There was plenty of food, fun and connection to celebrate!  

Apply for a mini grant today to support a neighbourhood connection opportunity. Learn more about mini grants.

This year, Tim Taylor celebrates 25 years of volunteering with the Westvale Community Association, including 15 years on the executive team and 3 years as chair. Tim supports community connections by organizing activities and projects like neighbourhood softball games, a pollinator garden, the perennial exchange, artistic picnic tables, neighbourhood signs, and more!

Tim also volunteers for the Strong Start program as a 1-on-1 reading skills coach in his local elementary school. He also cares for the Uptown Waterloo gardens with the Waterloo Gardeners, and looks after the gardens at his church and assists with general property maintenance. Tim helps families find affordable housing by helping to build Habitat for Humanity homes. Tim’s winter passion is curling and he loves to introduce new curlers to the game, leading a team of 15 volunteer instructors in the popular Learn to Curl program at the KW Granite Curling Club.

Tim hopes to inspire others to learn about the incredible variety of volunteer opportunities in Waterloo – there is something for everyone. Thank you, Tim, for all you do to make Waterloo neighbourhoods so great. Congratulations on 25 years!

Get in the know

July 15: Waterloo Code Quest

The City of Waterloo Museum is hosting a STEM coding-themed day to celebrate the museum’s new exhibition Cipher|Decipher, which breaks down communications encryption: what it is, how it works, and how it affects our lives. 

Date: July 15

Time: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.

Location: Winners Court, Conestoga Mall

Learn more about Waterloo Code Quest

Annual smoke alarm campaign kicks off

Uniformed firefighters from Waterloo Fire Rescue will be knocking on doors to kick off the annual Home Smoke Alarm Campaign. After being on pause since 2019, the program will resume this year with firefighters visiting 4,500 properties across Waterloo throughout the summer and into the fall. The goal is to raise awareness about the importance of smoke alarms, home fire escape planning and carbon monoxide alarms.

More things to know!

• Looking for an indoor activity to enjoy some air conditioning and cool off? Plan a visit to the Clay and Glass Gallery!

• August 2: The Waterloo Public Library is hosting Uptown Strolls: Prohibition in Waterloo a tour about prohibition and bootlegging in Waterloo during the early 1900's.

• August 15: Visit the Reep House for Sustainable Living open house to learn about energy, water and stormwater stewardship in a renovated 110-year-old LEED Platinum home.

• YMCA of Three Rivers has a Citizenship Support Group to help you prepare to take the Canadian Citizenship Exam.

• Construction is happening across the City. Check out a list of road, sidewalk and trail closures and subscribe for alerts.

• Learn more about reporting Hate Incidents or Discrimination: involving Islamophobia, Racism, Anti-Immigrant Sentiment and religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

• Immigration Waterloo Region shares information on community support in solidarity with Ukraine and supporting Afghan resettlement in Waterloo Region.

July Diversity Calendar

July 1: Canada Day

July 3: Asalha Puja (Dharma Day) (Buddhism)

July 9: Nunavut Day 

July 9: Martyrdon of the Báb (Bahá'í)

July 14: National Non-Binary Persons Day

July 18: Nelson Mandela Day (United Nations)

July 19: First day of Muharram (Islam)



Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion's Diversity Calendar.

Thank you for reading this edition of Neighbours helping Neighbours, a newsletter from the neighbourhoods team, with a focus on good news stories, important community updates, and local resources.

If you have ideas for resources to share or shareable stories of kindness, please send them to: neighbourhoods@waterloo.ca

Waterloo Neighbourhoods is published throughout the year to keep residents informed about the good things happening in neighbourhoods across Waterloo. If you have any questions or comments, please call 519-747-8515 or email communications@waterloo.ca. If you’re reading Waterloo Neighbourhoods as a non-subscriber, visit our subscription page to sign up for future editions.

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