SPECIAL EDITION 5
Waterloo is a caring community.
Welcome to the 5th edition of Neighbours helping Neighbours, a weekly newsletter from the neighbourhoods team, with a focus on good news stories, important community updates and an ever growing list of support resources.

Thank you to those who work in healthcare, grocery stores, pharmacies, home-delivery and take-out services and other essential areas: We appreciate you. 

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

P.S. Was this email forwarded to you?  You can get your own !
How to Have Difficult Conversations, a 90 minute online workshop with CJI's Community Mediation Service
Difficult conversations - we've all had them! They're easy to put off and can be a challenge to initiate especially when they haven't gone well in the past.

Members of City of Waterloo neighbourhood associations, homes associations and leaders in neighbourhoods are invited to join Jason Spencer, Community Justice Initiatives' Community Mediation Coordinator, for an informative 90 minute workshop (via Zoom - videoconferencing platform) on how to have difficult conversations.

Jason's workshop will outline how to prepare for these conversations so that you feel equipped, as well as offer strategies to work through common barriers to effective communication. These simple skills can be applied effectively to support conversations that are fundamental to good relationships with your loved ones, colleagues, and neighbours.

Join us via Zoom
Tuesday April 21, 2020
7:00 PM – 8:30 PM EDT

Colourful signs of spring popping up across neighbourhoods
Lincoln Heights, Uptown West & Lakeshore North neighbourhoods encouraged residents to participate in putting out signs of spring/easter that others could search for over the weekend. A good time was had by all! 

Thanks to Deb T from Lincoln Heights for sharing this photo!
Sharing the love of chalk
Vernessa, a Lakeshore North resident, shared a recent act of kindness from a new neighbour. Although the households have not yet had a chance to meet, a small note with some sidewalk chalk was left on the porch after a neighbour saw the recent crafting of Vernessa’s children. The purple chalk was especially appreciated, as the young sidewalk artists reported this supply was running low!
Public Health reminders
As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to evolve around the world and in our community, the health and wellbeing of Waterloo Region remains our top priority. All area municipalities continue to work closely with the Region of Waterloo's Public Health experts to monitor and respond to new developments.

Now more than ever, we need to do our part to prevent the spread of COVID-19. Please remember these important rules:

  • ·Observe the provincial directive of no more than 5 people gathering (unless there is more than 5 people living in the same household)
  • If you want to go outside and get some exercise, please stay within your neighbourhood and observe physical distancing
  • Don't drive to locations that draw large crowds - people should only be at the park to pass through, not to congregate at picnic tables or to play catch, etc.
  • Don't dump garbage in city parks
  • Observe physical distancing at all times - don't use playground equipment, skate parks, basketball courts, etc.

We encourage you to stay up to date on city services affected by COVID-19, as well as the numerous resources that are available by following the City of Waterloo on Twitter , Facebook and our website .

These are difficult times and we encourage you to safely look out for one another, stay socially connected (text, phone call, online) and practice physical distancing.
Congratulations local volunteers!
The 15th Annual Volunteer Impact Awards will again recognize inspiring individuals, organizations and businesses in Waterloo Region for their volunteer contributions. Please help acknowledge the following 16 individuals and/or groups that have gone above and beyond to truly make a difference locally. Congratulations Waterloo residents!

City of Waterloo and area municipalities reschedule, delay or cancel events and extend facility closures up to June 30
The City of Waterloo, in collaboration with other local municipalities and organizers of large events on municipal property, have agreed to reschedule, delay or cancel events up to June 30, 2020. 

Indoor and outdoor municipal facilities will also remain closed throughout Waterloo Region up to and including June 30th, 2020. This includes all municipal cultural, recreational and leisure facilities in Waterloo Region including museums, libraries, recreation facilities, community centres, arenas, pools and sportsfields.

Although provincial or regional public health does not currently require such postponements or cancellations, these changes allow for the potential extension of the physical-distancing requirements currently in place. 

Many of these community events rely heavily on volunteer and community group efforts. These changes will ensure countless volunteer hours leading up to an event are not lost. 

We are evaluating options for Canada Day celebrations including reasonable alternatives to large public gatherings. More information about other municipal programs will be shared later this week. 

This decision impacts the following events:  

  • April 25: Playwrights Workshop at Visitor and Heritage Information Centre
  • June 6: Waterloo Service Centre Open House
 
Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex
  • June 16: Parkinson's Society "A Taste of Waterloo Region’s Finest"
  • June 24: St. David Graduation
  • June 25: Bluevale Graduation

Waterloo Park
  •  May 23: Dog Guide Walk
  • May 22 - 24: WMGS Ghosts Invitational Softball Tournament
  • May 31: Cystic Fibrosis
 
RIM Park Manulife Sportsplex
  •  May 2: Etsy Spring Show
  • May 7 - 9: OBA Women’s Basketball Tournament
  • May 9: Muay Thai
  • May 20: Ramadan Iftar Event
  • May 23: Bengali Cultural Group Event
  • May 22 - 24: OBA Men’s Basketball Championships
  • May 25: Waterloo Wellness Expo
  • May 30: Martial Arts Championships
  • June 5 – 7: Skate Ontario Training Camp
  • June 10: Wedding
  • June 11 – 12: Pickleball Tournament
  • June 18: WMGH AGM Banquet
  • June 25 – 27: Youth Leadership Development Seminar
 
Neighbourhoods
  • June 4: MacGregor 200 Years
  • June 14: Eastbridge Music in the Park
  • June 20: Westvale Take Part & Fireworks
  • June 21: Mary Allen Fun Fair
  • June 27: Laurelwood Summer Solstice Event
  • June 28: Moses Springer Neighbours Celebration

Festivals and events
  • May 6, 13, 27, June 3, 10, 24: We Dance Day
  • May 20, June 17: Campfire
  • May 29, June 26: Art Market & Duels
  • June 6: RCACS Annual Ceremonial Review
  • June 20: Open Streets
  • June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day
  • June 21, 28: Summer Concert Series
  • June 26-27: Solstice Sampling 
Coordinated COVID-19 response newsletter - April 10, 2020
These weekly newsletters keep everyone informed about
the coordinated response to the evolving COVID-19 situation. The Region, area municipalities and local community partners are meeting regularly to make sure pandemic response efforts
are coordinated and aligned.

Through our Waterloo Windows community art project
Waterloo is a caring community. Throughout our COVID-19 isolation, there have been so many generous acts of caring. Which is why we have started Through our Waterloo Windows.
We're collecting your drawings, photographs, stories, poems and thoughts of positivity.
Submissions will be assembled into a community exhibit that will be shared on social media and eventually displayed in public.
Ideas include:
  • Signs, notes, and images of chalk drawings that neighbours have left workers on the frontlines
  • Messages of positivity, kindness, or stories of neighbourly acts
  • Drawings, paintings, photographs, or collages of time spent
  • Creative musings, poetry, sheet music or writing
We are asking for you to submit a photo of your work .
Virtual Living with Loss Group
The Bereaved Families of Ontario Midwestern Region is pleased to offer a virtual version of their Living with Loss program to ensure that people who are grieving can continue to receive peer support.

Their virtual sessions will be facilitated by two peer support volunteers who provide a safe space to connect with other people that are grieving, to share thoughts and feelings and to hear new perspectives and coping strategies. This group is for adults 18+ and is still free of charge.

Registration for virtual groups is required. The next group is on Wednesday April 15 from 7-9 p.m. Call 519-603-0196 and leave a message, or email  support@bfomidwest.org.
Resources:
 Stay tuned for the next edition of Waterloo Neighbourhoods.
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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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