Get involved

Save the date: Food and Funds on April 25

Organize a community clean-up

Celebrate Earth Day by showing love to your favourite local park.

Neighbourhood groups are invited to join our annual city-wide cleanup to remove litter from parks in Waterloo.

City staff will support you by providing supplies, giving tips and helping you dispose of the collected litter.

Register your group

More ways to get involved

• Applications are open for the 2023 Upstream Community Change Committee. This Region of Waterloo committee helps to distribute funds to community initiatves that reduce harm.

• Volunteer to lead a Jane’s Walk, a citizen-led walking tour that makes space for people to observe, reflect, share, question and collectively reimagine the places in which they live, work and play.

• The Inclusive Community Grants Program is now accepting applications for community projects that promote accessibility, safety and active living for people of all ages and abilities. Apply by April 20.

• Applications are open until April 21 for the Waterloo Region Community Foundation's Community Grant. This grant is available for organizations that focus on initiatives related to affordable housing and initiatives that have an impact on climate change in Waterloo Region.

• WR Grassroots Response to the Ukrainian Crisis is a volunteer-led group focused on helping displaced Ukrainians fleeing war and arriving in Waterloo Region.

Get inspired

See what's happening across Waterloo and find inspiration to make your neighbourhood a little more awesome. We can support your idea with things like grants and equipment. Interested? Just hit reply to this email.

Hot chocolate, cookies, and connections

Neighbours in Uptown West planned a neighbourhood skate to connect with each other. Skaters took to the ice and warmed up with hot chocolate, cookies and neighbour connections.

Thank you to the Uptown West Neighbourhood Association for hosting this event.

Signs of spring

Signs of spring are popping up all over Waterloo neighbourhoods. Have you seen signs of spring in your community? Share on social media and tag @citywaterloo and your local neighbourhood group.

As the weather gets warmer, consider planning an outdoor activity for your neighbourhood. Find ideas on the neighbourhoods website.

A neighbour shares:

"Scott always has an eye on the needs and safety of our street. He is kind, always helping with grass cutting, snow removal, lifting, moving, you name it! He has driven neighbours to the hospital, offered to look after our yards while we're away and he chats with everyone! He keeps an eye out for any suspicious visitors and lets us know if we left the garage door open or a light on in the car. Our street would not be the same safe and welcoming street without Scott."

Is there someone doing awesome near you?

We want to recognize people who do great things, big or small, in their neighbourhood. Nominations will be accepted year-round, and every nominee will receive a thank you package.

Get in the know

One month until the Chalk Challenge!

Save the date! From May 1 to 8 neighbours are encouraged to get outside and brighten their neighbourhoods with chalk art.

Stay tuned for more details.

Movies in the Parking Lot

Waterloo's drive-in movie theatre is back! We have two dates for you to pull up to this spring and fall. This event has limited space and spots are on a first-come, first-served basis.

• Dates: April 28 and October 19
• Time: 8:30 p.m.
• Where: Wing 404 (510 Dutton Dr, Waterloo)

Keep your eyes on the Movies in the Parking Lot page for the release of the movie titles.

Do you like to crochet or knit?

Participate in the Remembrance Reflection: a Commemorative Community Project. You can pick up a poppy-making kit at one of five city locations:



• RIM Park
• The Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex
• The Community Pavilion
• City Hall
• City of Waterloo Museum

Poppies will be collected until September 29!

More things to know!

• Join in the Easter Egg Hunt on April 8 from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m., hosted by the Uptown BIA. Participating Uptown Waterloo businesses will be handing out candy, with lots of fun for all.

• A new e-scooter and e-bike share program is rolling out in Waterloo Region, starting April 14. In its first year, the program will include up to 500 e-bikes and 500 e-scooters for community members to rent until the end of October.

• The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region offers free virtual and in-person tax preparation for low-income individuals. Returns can be done virtual, drop off, or in-person at the Civic Hub Waterloo Region. Appointments are required for all returns and can be booked through email at lesleyacrompton@gmail.com or 519-572-2570.

• The Community Coalition on Refugee and Immigrant Concerns (CCORIC) is thrilled to announce the annual World Refugee Day Awards of Distinction in Waterloo Region.

• Registration for the Adaptive Recreation Conference hosted by KW Gymnastics Club is open! Industry experts will share their knowledge on the business of adaptive sport, resources and best practices for front-line staff and so much more!

• REEP Green Solutions offers several programs to help green up your yard, including the backyard tree planting program and the Bloom in Box Garden Kits.

• On April 19 and 25, youth are invited to the Youth Take Charge: Advocacy Incubator 2023. This two-day virtual summit on advocacy, communications, and campaigns, will feature keynote speakers, trainers, facilitators and hands-on learning activities.

• Learn more about reporting Hate Incidents or Discrimination: involving Islamophobia, Racism or Anti-Immigrant Sentiment and religion, disability, sexual orientation, or ethnicity.

• Immigration Waterloo Region shares information on community support in solidarity with Ukraine and supporting Afghan resettlement in Waterloo Region.

April Diversity Calendar

April: Sikh Heritage Month

April - 2: World Autism Awareness Day

April - 2: Palm Sunday

April 5-13: Pesach

April - 6: Theravada New Year

April - 6: Holy (Maundy) Thursday

April - 7: Holy (Good) Friday

April - 9: Easter

April - 12: International Day of Pink

April 13-14: Sinhalese New Year

April - 13: Holy Thursday

April - 14: Vaisakhi

April - 14: Holy Friday

April - 16: Pascha - Orthodox Easter

April - 21: Eid Al-Fitr

April - 21: First Day of Ridvan

April - 22: Earth Day

Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion's Diversity Calendar.

Thank you for reading this edition 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