Welcome to the 44th edition of Neighbours helping Neighbours, a bi-weekly newsletter from the neighbourhoods team, with a focus on good news stories, important community updates and an ever growing list of support resources.
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Is there someone doing awesome near you?
The City of Waterloo wants to recognize people who do something great, big or small, in their neighbourhood. Nominations will be accepted year-round and every nominee will receive a thank you package.
How can you get involved?
- Submit a quick and easy nomination to describe your kind neighbour’s contributions
- Help spread the word about this new program
- Be a caring and kind neighbour!
Spotted: Neighbourhood Kindness!
Megan shares: "My youngest son fell and broke his arm on Sunday afternoon. Stephanie offered to help while we were at the hospital. Fortunately we live quite close to the hospital and my husband was able to drop off what we needed so we didn't need Stephanie's help at that time. After settling back in at home Stephanie dropped off a freezer meal to help us focus on helping our son recover from his injury. Thanks so much Stephanie! We are so lucky to have such great neighbours on our Crescent!"
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Catching the Olympic spirit in Wissler Old Abbey! |
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Catherine of the Wissler Old Abbey Neighbourhood recently organized the 8 days of WOANA Olympics! Neighbours participated in activities for 8 days, done in their own family groups and reported on the community Facebook page. Games included a torch relay video, virtual opening ceremony, a decorated food Olympic rings, and a selfie scavenger hunt of 5 rings in the neighbourhood. Every participant won points and activities could be modified for one's age and stage. They even gave out medals! Catherine said seeing all the participation has been great and folks have even met new neighbours throughout. |
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The Neighbourhood Matching Fund (NMF) deadline is October 20. |
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Now is the time to reach out to neighbours and start brainstorming ideas to promote connection in your neighbourhood.
Collaborate with two or more neighbours to apply for up to $7500 in matched funds to support projects that promote place-making and community connections. For more details on the application process and eligibility, check out waterloo.ca/neighbourhoods
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Upcoming walking tours with the City of Waterloo Museum |
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These Four Walls: 200 years of the 1820 Log Schoolhouse
Friday, August 13 from 11 a.m. and 3 p.m.
Have you ever wondered what stories the four walls of the legendary Log Schoolhouse in Waterloo Park can tell? Then you will want to join the City of Waterloo Museum and the Municipal Heritage Committee at the schoolhouse for a peek inside. Throughout the day, we will delve into the many lives of Ontario’s oldest schoolhouse that has found its forever home in Waterloo Park. Don’t miss this rare chance to step inside and learn about these four walls.
Risky Business - Mount Hope Cemetery Walking Tour
Sunday, August 8 at 3 p.m.
Waterloo was a leader in risky business in the 1860s when insurance companies began popping up all over the city. At one time Waterloo was referred to as the “Hartford of Canada” and home to the headquarters of major insurance companies. Meet up at Mount Hope Cemetery to discover the ‘terms and conditions’ of insurance in Waterloo and the people who built this empire.
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Shade designs for Waterloo Public Square! |
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Earlier this year, we asked the community to provide input on shade structures for Waterloo Public Square. We now have a design concept based on that feedback, and we want to know what you think! Please visit Engage Waterloo to view the designs and complete a short survey, before Aug. 13.
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Pickleball comes to Beechwood West 2! |
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Karen shares, "With the help of a mini-grant for neighbours the Beechwood West 2 Homes Association purchased 8 pickleball paddles and 3 packages of pickleball balls for community use.
So far three wildly popular 'Learn-to-Play Pickleball' events have seen new pickleball players master the art of the underhand serve, figure out the 'the kitchen rule', and rattle off 3-number pickleball scores like nobody's business. A big shout-out to Val and Wayne Cooper for volunteering their time and skills to teach everyone how to play the game!
Drop-In Pickleball has been happening every Wednesday evening throughout the summer and will continue into the fall. When there's not an organized pickleball event going on, community members can borrow pickleball paddles and balls for personal use.
Pickleball is easy to learn, fun to play and accessible to all ages. It's wonderful to see this sport connecting so many diverse members of our community."
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Gardening tips from the Waterloo Horticultural Society |
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If you have a compost bin you will find it’s a very tidy and pest resistant way to recycle your garden and kitchen waste. Practically anything organic can go in but never add meat, fat, dairy products, pet waste or weeds.
There are ready made bins to purchase or you may build your own by checking the internet for easy to make designs. The bin should be placed in a sunny to partly shaded spot that’s easy to access.
The best process is to layer greens (veggie and fruit peelings, coffee grounds and grass clippings) and brown items (dry leaves, shredded paper, and straw) to keep everything moist. Some designs allow you to remove the finished compost from the bottom as you add fresh material to the top. You may find it works better to let the composter sit to completely break down the contents then remove everything.
If you are very attentive to the composter by chopping the additions, aerating every few days, monitoring moisture and temperature you may get finished compost after a month or so. Otherwise, it can take a year.
Compost is the best soil amender, fertilizer, and top dressing you can get for your garden and the good news is – it’s free if you do it yourself.
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August 9 ~ International Day of the World’s Indigenous People. Pronounced by the UN, this is a day to promote and protect the rights of the world’s Indigenous populations and recognize the achievements and contributions that Indigenous peoples make to improve world issues such as environmental protection. (International)
- August 10 ~ Muharram. The first month of the Islamic calendar. It is one of the four sacred months of the year during which warfare is forbidden. It is held to be the second holiest month, after Ramadan. (Islam)
- August 12 ~ International Youth Day (IYD). Held on August 12, this is a day to celebrate and mainstream young peoples’ voices, actions, and initiatives, as well as their meaningful, universal, and equitable engagement.
- August 13-15 ~ Obon is a Japanese Buddhist custom to honour one’s spiritual ancestors. For areas which follow the lunar calendar, Obon is celebrated from August 13-15. (Buddhist)
- August 15 ~ The Assumption of Mary into Heaven (often shortened to the Assumption) is, according to the beliefs of the Catholic Church, Eastern and Oriental Orthodoxy, the bodily taking up of the Virgin Mary into Heaven at the end of her earthly life. (Christian)
- August 15 ~ National Acadian Day. Observed to celebrate Acadian culture. (Canada)
- August 17 ~ Marcus Garvey Day. A day which celebrates the birthday of the Jamaican politician and activist who is revered by Rastafarians. Garvey is credited with starting the Back to Africa movement, which encouraged those of African descent to return to the land of their ancestors during and after slavery in North America. (Rastafarian)
Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion
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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.
The City of Waterloo is committed to providing accessible formats and communications support for persons with disabilities. If another format would work better for you, please let us know by calling 519-747-8515 or by emailing us at communications@waterloo.ca.
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