EDITION 60
Welcome to the 60th edition of Neighbours helping Neighbours, a newsletter from the neighbourhoods team, with a focus on good news stories, 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.
A family of four helps plant a tree with shovels and mulch in a neighbourhood park.
Project opportunity: community planting of trees in parks
The City of Waterloo, Neighbourhood Associations, and neighbourhood groups work together to host small community planting events in neighbourhood parks on or around National Forest Week in September or October.

2022 Community planting program
Neighbourhood associations or neighbourhood groups can coordinate a park project involving the planting and maintenance of up to 15 trees in your neighbourhood park this fall. Help enhance the urban forest and provide shade around playgrounds, seating areas, trails or park perimeter.

Review the 2022 community planting information sheet (PDF), select a park that meets the criteria, then communicate with your neighbourhood to gage interest. Two project coordinators complete the online application form no later than May 31 to express interest. See our Community Plantings webpage for details.
Five youth hockey players stand distanced on a neighbourhood outdoor rink this winter.
Goodbye and thanks to this winter's outdoor rinks!
Outdoor rinks across Waterloo neighbourhoods have provided lots of fun and opportunities for recreation this winter! A special thank you to all of the volunteers who make these rinks possible.

Most rinks are now closed for the season. For remaining rinks, the last day of maintenance is March 20.
Maximum 30 kilometers per hour begins street sign. Sign is black and white with the sky in the background and street name signs above.
Speed limit changes on neighbourhood streets
The City is looking for feedback about speed limit changes on neighbourhood streets. There are two proposed options to consider. Before you take the survey, try out the estimated travel time tool to see how changes might impact your drive. From there, take the speed management survey to share your feedback and thoughts. 

Also related to city streets is the possibility of a paid on-street parking program in the Northdale neighbourhood. If you live, work or visit the Northdale area, the project team would like to hear from you.
Naturalization options for yards
The City is also looking to hear from you about amending the Lot Maintenance bylaw to allow more options for natural areas in yards. We want to ensure there is enough guidance to allow for eco-friendly, pollinator-supporting options while making sure that neighbourhood standards are maintained. Take the naturalization survey to share your feedback and thoughts by March 25.
Neighbour shout-outs!
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!
Jeff has volunteered to make the neighbourhood ice rink one of the best in Waterloo for years. He works tirelessly early morning to make sure that the surface is safe, smooth and enjoyable. He has even communicated via community social media channel to ensure safe protocols are followed and provide updates on conditions. During the lockdown, this outdoor, safe activity was appreciated more than ever and he is the one who made it happen and allows many community members (mostly kids!) feel like life was normal again. Thanks Jeff!
Text reads "We've been busy getting our new site ready!" The bee part of been is highlighted and two bees fly around an image of the City of Waterloo Museum's new homepage of the website. There is a yellow computer keyboard and mouse below.
The City of Waterloo Museum has a new website
The museum website offers a handy events calendar to keep up with the museum team and participate in programs. New features let you explore objects in the collection, browse past exhibits, and take in stories of our past presented as online exhibits. Educators can contact the museum team directly and make program-booking inquiries online.
 
To encourage visitors to get to know our new virtual museum, an online scavenger hunt will begin March 21 and end on April 1, 2022. Visitors to the website can search for the bees hidden throughout the site and enter to win one of several prize packs. Winners will be drawn weekly on March 28 & April 4.
 
The City of Waterloo Museum invites visitors to come and discover all it has to offer online. We are proud of this new and vibrant heritage portal where residents and visitors can celebrate stories unique to Waterloo!
Earth Day community cleanup is written over a photo of park grass and trees. A garbage can with a sticker that says "the only cure for litter is you" is also pictured in the park. The City of Waterloo logo is in the corner of the photo.
Earth Day Community Cleanup in a park
Celebrate Earth Day, April 22! Join us April 22-24 for the city's annual spring cleanup. Help keep Waterloo clean and green by spending just 20 minutes picking up litter within local parks and trails in Waterloo.

We invite Neighbourhood Associations, Homes Associations, Block Connectors and neighbourhood groups to coordinate a neighbourhood-wide cleanup of nearby parks and trails during April 22-24. Register your event online by April 12 for supplies and support. See our webpage for details.

In the event of heavy snow or rain, consider rescheduling your cleanup to the second Tuesday in May (May 10) to help create awareness about Ontario’s Provincial Day of Action on Litter.
Learn more about reporting Hate Incidents or Discrimination: involving Islamophobia, Racism or Anti-Immigrant Sentiment and religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.
City of Waterloo resources:
Resources:
Multicultural Calendar:
March 1: Maha Shivaratri
March 2: Ash Wednesday
March 2 - April 14: Lent
March 2 - 20: Nineteen Day Fast
March 7 - April 23: Great Lent, or Great Fast
March 16-17: Purim
March 18: Chotrul Duchen
March 18: Holi
March 20: Spring Equinox

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.

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