Get involved

City of Waterloo budget

The City of Waterloo's 2024-2026 budget is now available on Engage Waterloo. Public engagement is a priority in the budget process and you can get involved in different ways:

• Review the budget online.
• Complete the online survey to provide input.
• Attend a hybrid budget information session on January 9 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Learn more about the budget

ActiveWaterloo Guide

There are many ways to stay active this winter!

The ActiveWaterloo Winter Guide is available with details on active living, leisure and sporting opportunities in the City of Waterloo. Sign up for programming opportunities online.

Mark your calendars: Registration for swimming programs opens on December 20.

More ways to get involved

• The Ageing Well Waterloo Directory is a comprehensive list of services, programs and amenities for older adults.

• Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has relaunched its Inclusive Communities campaign. This campaign encourages neighbours throughout Canada to engage and welcome newcomers to their communities.

• Volunteer as a neighbourhood block connector! Block connectors help build strong and connected communities.

• The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) has created an online tool that shows accessibility status by school.

• Check out the Responding to Hate-Motivated Incidents Guide to explore ways to support your neighbours during challenging times.

• 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.

Learning about the history of home

With the help of a mini-grant, neighbours that live in the Alexandra School Building recently came together to celebrate it's 100 year anniversary.

All neighbours in the area were invited to learn about the building's history and enjoy refreshments. Informational displays were created to share unique facts and stories about the 100-year old school.

Celebrating the end of the gardening season with neighbours

Keats Way neighbours came together to help close the garden and celebrate a successful season. Neighbours enjoyed pitching in to help with tasks and connect with refreshments and snacks. Once the work was done, neighbours enjoyed connecting and creating chalk art.

A mini grant helped make this event happen! 

A neighbour shares:

"Laura is a great neighbour and is a critical board member of the MacGregor Albert Community Association (MACA). Her volunteering on the MACA board has been instrumental to another successful MACA BBQ this year. While out walking her dogs or visiting Waterloo Park, she finds every opportunity to engage with her neighbours and connect the community."

Is there someone doing awesome near you?

We want to recognize people who do great things, big or small, in their neighbourhood. Nominations will be accepted year-round, and every nominee will receive a thank you package and be entered into a random draw to win a $25 gift card. The next draw is happening in the winter.

Get in the know

Celebrate New Years in uptown Waterloo

Create Waterloo is hosting a family-friendly New Years Eve Celebration on December 31 from 6 to 9 p.m.

Come on out to enjoy skating, music, crafts and hot cider!

Learn more about the NYE event

Register for the Lego Building Contest

The City of Waterloo Museum is hosting a Lego Building Contest! They are looking for participants to pull out their Lego bins and build a model of a heritage or iconic building found in the City of Waterloo. 

Register your Lego project by December 15 and submit your completed project by January 19.

Learn more about the Lego contest

Important snow reminders

With colder weather on the way, here's a refresher about snow:

• When a snow event is declared, you can use the new Getting Around Map to plan your route and see which roads have been plowed.
• During snow events, parking is not allowed on any streets, until the snow event is over. Cars must be moved by midnight or risk being ticketed and towed.
• It's your responsibility to clear your sidewalks within 24 hours of snow or ice build up. Although it’s the law, it’s also the neighbourly thing to do.

Learn more about snow in Waterloo

More things to know!

• Explore Wonders of Winter at Waterloo Park until January 1. The 120 light displays are turned on from 5 to 10:30 p.m.

• Winterloo is back on January 27, 2024. From 12 to 5 p.m. enjoy winter activities in uptown Waterloo.

• Did you know that the City of Waterloo now offers interpretation services in over 240 languages?

• The Waterloo Region Immigration Film Festival is happening from December 1 to 18.

• Check out the Rainbow Community Calendar to find details on SPECTRUM's groups and events.

• 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.

December Diversity Calendar

December 1: World AIDS Day

December 2: International Day for the Abolition of Slavery (United Nations)

December 3: International Day of Persons with Disabilities (United Nations)

December 3: First Sunday of Advent (Christianity)

December 6: National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women (Canada)

December 7-15: Hanukkah (Judaism)

December 8: Bodhi Day (Buddhism)

December 10: Human Rights Day (United Nations)

December 18: International Migrants Day (United Nations)

December 24: Christmas Eve (Christianity)

December 25: Christmas Day (Christianity)

December 26 to January 1: Kwanzaa (until Jan 1)

December 26: Boxing Day (Canada)

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

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