Welcome to the 49th 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!
Mary shares: "Larry and Wendy are the kindest neighbours. Larry snow blows our corner lot nearly all winter. He's done this for years! At the beginning of the pandemic, Wendy sewed special masks for our family and left them in a brown paper bag with a lovely note. We are so thankful for Larry and Wendy!"
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Bonn Park Podcast celebrates 100 episodes with stories from neighbours |
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Organizers Sara and Marshall share: "Despite the weather at the end of September, Clair Hills neighbours turned up to share their voices, and we were so moved by what they had to say. Residents came to talk about why they love Waterloo, what their favourite things to do in the area are, and what it means to be a good neighbour."
With the help of a mini grant, neighbours were recorded sharing stories for a special 100th episode of Bonn Park podcast that will be released on October 20.
Tune in anywhere you get your podcasts.
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Do you have a Fall or Winter project idea to connect your neighbours? |
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Up to $300 available for ideas that create connections with neighbours. Reach out to neighbourhoods@waterloo.ca with your idea today! |
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Did you know that there are lots of good reasons not to bother raking or bagging leaves for disposal? Consider leaving your leaves alone this fall. Depending on the amount of leaves you have, you might not be able to be completely lazy, but there are lots of easier options that will also benefit our local pollinators, your lawn, and the environment.
You can mulch fallen leaves into your lawn with the lawn mower. Leaves contain nutrients that help feed microbes and healthy soil, reducing the need for commercial fertilizers.
You can feel free to leave some whole leaves around as winter shelter for pollinators or smaller critters. Your lawn can handle a thin layer of leaves to break down over winter. That annoying corner by the back steps that always accumulates a little pile of leaves? It is just you being neighbourly to butterflies, insects and small hibernators, so feel free to leave it alone.
Consider using leaves as a natural mulch in gardens. Leaves piled on the garden provide natural protection for plants through the winter, as well as shelter for those same pollinators and critters. The leaves will break down a bit over winter, leaving natural nutrients in the garden, and any that don’t break down can get tidied up when prepping your garden in the spring. (Be sure and wait until our pollinators and critters are out and about again before disturbing!)
Looking to strengthen your argument for skipping fall’s most dreaded chore this year? There’s lots more information available:
See all of the City of Waterloo’s leaf information at waterloo.ca/leaves. Intended for city-owned street trees only, not all trees on property.
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Braeside neighbours gather for street party! |
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Sunshine, sidewalk chalk, children's entertainer and song writer Erick Traplin, and nearby neighbours were the recipe for a fun September afternoon on Braeside Avenue. With the help of a mini grant, a good time was had by all. |
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Lift your Spirits: Uncovering Spooky Tales of Waterloo |
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Think you know Waterloo? Think again! Social historian Joanna Rickert-Hall’s, virtual ghost walk through the forgotten realms of Waterloo will send shivers down the spine. You will journey beyond the cemetery gates since not all graves are marked, nor are they silent. Sometimes, the dead do tell tales of murder, mayhem and yes, even the supernatural—at least to those who listen.
Bolster your courage this scary evening with a Halloween themed drink experience. Enjoy a group cocktail class lead by the creative folks at Waterloo’s White Rabbit Restaurant. Participants 19+ will learn to make and decorate a themed creepy cocktail. Each ticket will include cocktail supplies for 2 participants.
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Interested in joining a Board or Committee of Council? |
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Waterloo City Council invites interested persons to apply for positions on its boards and committees with term ending November 2022:
- Sustainability Advisory Committee
- Town And Gown Committee
- Waterloo Advisory Committee On Active Transportation
- Waterloo Park Advisory Committee
- Waterloo Public Library Board
For more information about the committees, eligibility, and to submit an application, please visit waterloo.ca/committees.
If you would like a paper or PDF application form or if you wish to speak to our staff about applying to volunteer on a committee, contact Kevin Gerlach at 519-747-8704 or email committees@waterloo.ca
Applications will be accepted until 8:00 a.m. on Monday, October 18, 2021.
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Possible local hydro merger |
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Like several other local power utilities in communities across Ontario, Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro and Waterloo North Hydro are considering taking the next step in their ongoing collaboration efforts by combining operations to create a larger, local and publicly-owned power utility that will provide reliable service, invest in new technologies that will benefit customers, generate cost savings through operational efficiencies and keep local jobs in our communities.
With a combined utility serving a service territory that includes the municipalities of Kitchener, Waterloo, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich, customers will benefit from having a larger, local and publicly-owned utility that can maintain the highest quality of service for customers while having the capacity to modernize and adapt to significant changes in Ontario’s electricity sector.
The head office will be the current Kitchener-Wilmot Hydro office in the City of Kitchener, with a second work location at the current Waterloo North Hydro office (on Country Side Road), at which activities will include leading innovation and new technology development.
A Memorandum of Understanding for the proposed hydro merger was presented to all five municipal councils for approval starting on Monday, October 4. Community engagement will include public information sessions, as well as details and reports about the proposed merger.
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- October 18 ~ Mawlid al Nabi. A Muslim celebration that commemorates the birth of Islamic prophet Muhammad in the third month of the Islamic calendar. It is recognized as a national holiday in many Muslim-prevalent countries around the globe. (Islam)
- October 24 ~ Karva Chauth is a one-day festival celebrated by Hindu women four days after Purnima (a full moon) in the month of Kartika. (Hindu)
- October 27 ~ Lhabab Düchen is one of the four Buddhist festivals commemorating four events in the life of the Buddha, according to Tibetan traditions. Lhabab Düchen occurs on the 22nd day of the ninth lunar month according to Tibetan calendar and widely celebrated in Tibet and Bhutan. (Buddhist)
- October 31 ~ Halloween. A North American celebration on the last day of October. On Halloween, many dress in costumes and children go door to door asking for candy, called “trick-or-treating”.
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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