Welcome to the 47th 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!
Lorie shares "Guy does so much around our condominium --landscaping, helping with gardening and general clean-up, water meter readings. He's definitely one of the 'unsung heroes' for our community!"
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Do you have a great idea to help connect neighbours? Apply for a Mini-Grant for Neighbours and receive up to $300 to support your idea. Follow steps 1-3 to easily apply today!
In the past few months, neighbours have used mini-grants to spread cheer and enhance neighbourhood connections. Community scavenger hunts, neighbourhood cards, fun crafts, distanced ice cream socials, or virtual workshops are some great ideas that have happened. For inspiration check out our Instagram @CityWaterloo!
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Celebrating new neighbourhood spaces |
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The Albert McCormick Central Plaza has been an exciting addition to the Lakeshore South neighbourhood. Members of the community association worked to plan a great COVID-19 appropriate celebration of this new space. Bubbles, a scavenger hunt by the Waterloo Public Library, prizes, Bankshot basketball, and water play were just a few of the things the neighbourhood enjoyed!
Photo credit: Tomasz Adamski
Feedback from a nearby resident:
"My son was at the new facility the other evening and raved about how great it was and how many kids were there. He connected with some younger kids who watched him do his stuff. I am so thankful for that project."
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Il-LUMEN-ate Culture Days |
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In partnership with Lumen and Culture Days, we are getting creative with the Many Shapes of Clay exhibit. Stop by the City of Waterloo Museum on Saturday, September 25 to pick up an at home program bag. This bag will include all the supplies needed to make a light inspired clay piece. While at the museum, take at look at our Many Shapes of Clay exhibit to get inspired by global and local potters. Then head home and make your very own piece. When the sun sets and LUMEN starts on September 25, safely light up your clay piece and share your work with us on social media #cityofwaterloomuseum #lumen #createwaterloo
The museum is open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. and supplies are limited to the first 50 participants, so be here early to join in the fun.
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Last call to join the Parkland Strategy Conversation with Neighbours on September 21! |
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The draft parkland strategy is a document to guide planning in City of Waterloo parks over the next 10-15 years. There are 77 recommendations that outline actions in different areas that impact local parks in the short, medium and long term during this period. Learn more about the items that impact neighbourhood life and wellbeing such as use, amenities, events, programs, and funding in parks.
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Community Garden Picnic Tables - there's a map for that! |
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An online map developed by the Arts & Culture team showcases the artwork from the Neighbourhood Garden Picnic Table program! It features pictures of the tables, details on their locations, and information about the artists and the artwork.
Pictured above (left to right):
1 - "Bee-Dazzled" by Tara Nix
2 - "Flowers" by Christie Shen
3 - "Picnic for the Birds" by Esther Slevinsky
4 - "Flourish" by Baz Kanhold
5 - "Waterloo's Butterflies" - Ekaterina Abesheva
6 - "Bean Shoots in the Garden. So Tender. So Sweet." by Tara Cooper
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Waterloo Neighbourhood Matching fund - deadline Oct. 20 before 2 p.m. |
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Great neighbourhoods start with you and some money from us!
Fun park features, murals, community gardens, message boards, little libraries – ideas that address social isolation, support community wellbeing and build neighbourly connections in safe ways. Tell us about your idea so we can help.
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Something magical at Beechwood Villas! |
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Beechwood Villas hosted a magician this summer to allow for physically distanced entertainment. Community members were able to enjoy the show and see friendly faces from the neighbourhood. |
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Native Shrub & Wildflower planting event |
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Join the City of Waterloo’s Laurel Creek Citizens Working Group as we plant native shrubs and wildflowers in an open meadow at Westvale Park on Saturday September 25 from 10:30 a.m. – 12 noon. Help us establish a healthy stream buffer of native vegetation around Maple Hill Creek / Westvale SWM pond.
Together, we will be planting 50 native shrubs and 150 native wildflowers within the natural area between the waterway and public trail across from the playground. Stream buffers filter and clean water, reduce soil erosion and cools the stream, helping to protect water quality. Adding native wildflowers to natural areas increases plant diversity, provides food and habitat for pollinators like bees and butterflies, and adds to the aesthetic beauty of the area.
A limited number of participants are required for this community stewardship activity, so register early using our online sign-up form no later than Friday, Sep. 24 at noon. For more information, view the City’s Community planting webpage.
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Gardening tips from the Waterloo Horticultural Society |
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Kathy shares the joys of Late Summer Gardening. As the autumn approaches, we still see lots of activity in the garden. Many pollinators, birds and small mammals are still visiting and enjoying them.
It is a good time to review your garden and plan for next year. New gardeners will have learned a lot in their first attempts. Here are a few tips to set yourself up for even more success next year:
- Have a garden plan of this year’s garden so you know the location of perennials that might die back to ground level through the winter.
- Evaluate the performance of annuals and consider saving seed for next year.
- Harvest your vegetables and once vegetables are finished producing, cut plants off at ground level, remove any spoiled seeded items. You can chop the plant material and leave on the garden to dry and be incorporated into the soil before winter.
- Planning for Spring 2022. Many perennials and trees go on sale at nurseries and these may be added to your garden in the early fall with great success. Consider using native species whenever possible.
- Your spring garden may be enhanced by the planting of bulbs like tulip, daffodils and many other varieties. Planting a clump near a perennial that takes time to get started in the spring will add interest to the garden and the fading foliage of the bulb will be hidden under the perennial as it grows. Follow package instructions when planting your bulbs.
- The cooler temperatures of early fall provide an excellent time for overseeding lawns. Many people are considering the benefits of planting clovers as an alternative to traditional turf grasses. If you use fertilizer on your lawn the fall application is very important.
If you wish to learn more about gardening and other environmental topics, consider subscribing to our Waterloo Gardeners newsletter which will be offering articles and links to gardening information on a bi-weekly basis throughout the fall and winter. To subscribe send an email.
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City of Waterloo Museum current exhibit: The Many Shapes of Clay presents over 75 historic ceramic pieces from the collection. Open Monday to Friday 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Located in Conestoga Mall by the Galaxy Cinemas and Food Court
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Mary Allen Stories shares The Making of Mary Allen Park, Part 2.
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The Waterloo Public Library (WPL) is offering great events and programs for teens, like a book club, Disney trivia night, paint night, and teen writing group. For more details or to register, visit the wpl.ca/teens.
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The Uptown BIA has created two points of interest maps showcasing what’s on in Uptown Waterloo from day to night!
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Explore Lumen Lite, Waterloo’s festival of light, art, and technology-based installations. Lumen will take place on September 25, 2021 from 6 -11 p.m. in spaces throughout uptown Waterloo.
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IMPACT International Theatre Festival is happening September 28 – October 9!
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- September 15-16 ~ Yom Kippur. The Jewish Day of Atonement which comprises a 25-hour fast whereby people refrain from working, eating, and drinking. Synagogue services are also attended in worship of this sacred day. (Jewish)
- September 20-26 ~ International Week of the Deaf. Celebrated annually across the world during the next last full week of September since 2009. In 2018, it is first time celebrated with official International Day of Sign Languages (IDSL) declared by the UN. (International)
- September 20-27 ~ Sukkot. Commonly translated as Festival of Tabernacles also known as Chag HaAsif, the Festival of Ingathering, is a biblical Jewish holiday celebrated on the 15th day of the seventh month, Tishrei (varies from late September to late October). (Jewish)
- September 21 ~ International Day of Peace. This is a day to recognize the efforts of those who have worked hard to end conflict and promote peace. It is also considered to be a day of ceasefire- personal or political.(International)
- September 21 ~ Mid-Autumn Festival (Moon Cake Festival). A harvest festival occurring on the 15th day of the eighth month of the Han Calendar. It is commonly referred to as the Moon Festival due to the full moon observed that evening.
- September 22 ~ Fall Equinox. According to the Wiccans this represents the first day of Fall and one of two days in the year in which there are approximately equal amounts of day and night time (International)
- September 23 ~ International Day of Sign Languages. Celebrated annually across the world on 23 September every year along with International Week of the Deaf. (International)
- September 27 ~ Shmini Atzeret. Literally meaning “The assembly of the eighth day”, this holiday is a celebration observed after Sukkot. (Jewish)
- September 28-29 ~ Simchat Torah. A Jewish holiday that marks the completion of the annual Torah readings and begins a new reading cycle. (Jewish)
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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