Neighbours helping Neighbours 65th Edition

EDITION 65

Welcome to the 65^thedition of Neighbours helping Neighbours, a newsletter from the neighbourhoods team, with a focus on good news stories, important 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

Neighbours connect in the park after a community bike ride.

Neighbours get their wheels moving

A Conservation Meadows neighbour, Yen, organized a spring bike ride in the neighbourhood. With the help of a mini grant, there were snacks, prizes and many smiling faces! It was a lovely day to connect with neighbours and meet some new neighbours who had just recently moved into the area. Everyone was super grateful for the event!

Park bench sits by playground equipment in a park.

Grant alert! Apply for the Neighbourhood Matching Fund

Have an idea to build connections or celebrate your neighbourhood? Apply for up to $7,500 in funds towards neighbourhood projects. The next Neighbourhood Matching Fund deadline is June 1 at 2 p.m.

Any two or more neighbours can apply for community message boards, neighbourhood events, community gardens, ideas in parks, art projects and more!

Tell us about your idea at neighbourhoods@waterloo.ca or apply online.

Pictured: Community seating from a Mary Allen Neighbourhood Association Neighbourhood Matching Fund grant

Eleven neighbours gather around a picnic table. Several red bags with garbage and other debris sit on the grass in front showing all the litter they cleaned from the park.

Lakeshore North community clean up

Lakeshore North neighbours joined together this April to clean up Pinebrook Park litter. A big thank you to the neighbourhood association organizers and involved neighbours for participating in the City of Waterloo litter clean up program and encouraging neighbours to show their community care!

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!

Greg goes above and beyond for all of the neighbors. From snow blowing, to sharing produce from his garden, a kind word always, and helping in anyway he can. He watches out for everyone. A great neighbor and friend to have.

A youth in a yellow hoodie draws a green and pink flower and rainbow butterfly with sidewalk chalk.

Thanks for spreading chalk cheer!

Thanks to neighbours that shared sidewalk chalk creations in their community. There were lots of colourful entries and kind messages in this year's Chalk Challenge.

Each image submitted was entered into a draw for a local gift card prize. Congratulations to Norah on submitting the lucky photo! Norah is ten years old and enjoys working with chalk when the weather cooperates!

See you next spring for the 2023 Chalk Challenge!

Neighbours walk with baskets amongst trees and greenspace to find Easter Eggs.

Easter fun with neighbours

Beechwood North neighbours recently gathered for an Easter Egg Hunt and pancake breakfast. Community members had a great day, despite a little snow. Everyone enjoyed hunting for eggs, egg decorating, a few games (fishing, giant memory, ring toss, cornhole) and lots of pancakes!

Photo credit: Beth

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:

Council meeting agendas and information packets are available to everyone. Meetings are streamed and stored on the City's YouTube channel.
Visit the City of Waterloo Museum Health in Space: Daring to Explore exhibit until September 2022. Located in Conestoga Mall by the Galaxy Cinemas and Food Court.
Have a new neighbourhood idea for this spring or summer? Email neighbourhoods@waterloo.ca with an idea for up to $300 in funds through Mini Grants for Neighbours.
Reminder: Join the Cemetery Tour- Symbols Carved in Stone on May 28 at Mount Hope Cemetery. Tickets are $3.

Resources:

Check out Waterloo Public Library's In the Loop for what's on in June. Programs and activities include Pride Trivia with SPECTRUM, Sunshine Storytime for ages 0-5 with a caregiver, and Bike Repair with Red Raccoon Bike Rescue.
Immigration Waterloo Region shares information on community support in solidarity with Ukraine and supporting Afghan resettlement in Waterloo Region.
An Ontario grant is available to support Anti-Hate Security Measures for Faith-Based and Cultural Organizations. Applications will be accepted until August 31.
Live in Northwest Waterloo? Consider volunteering to guide a research project and action plans related to the development of dementia-inclusive communities.
Region of Waterloo Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan offers an opportunity to provide survey feedback or attend a decision-making conversation on how an Upstream Fund will work. This will support a variety of action including Truth and Reconciliation, Equity, Diversity and Inclusion and improving the Social Determinants of health for all.

Multicultural Calendar:

Asian Heritage Month

Jewish Heritage Month

National Speech and Hearing Month

May 17: International Day Against Homophobia, Transphobia and Biphobia

May 21: International Day for Cultural Diversity, for Dialogue and Development

May 23: National Patriots’ Day

May 23: Victoria Day

May 24: Declaration of the Báb

May 26: Feast of the Ascension

May 29: Ascension of Baha’u’llah

May 30 - June 5: National AccessAbility Week

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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