City of waterloo neighbourhoods: strong and connected.

Help your neighbourhood shine

The final round of the Neighbourhood Fund for this year is on October 22 at 2 p.m.

Apply and get up to $7,500 in funding to bring your idea to life. Ideas can be anything that supports neighbourhood connection and helps to make your neighbourhood shine.

Need inspiration? Check out these great ideas.

Outdoor message board in the ground with grass blue sky and a fence in the background.

Community message board: Find a public space, such as your local park, where neighbours can post announcements, events and important updates to keep everyone connected.
Neighbourhood craft workshop: Set up a creative space where neighbours can come together to learn new skills, share ideas and make handmade crafts!
Little library: Set up a bookshelf where community members can exchange books, promote literacy and share a love for reading for all ages.

Whatever your idea is, the Neighbourhood Fund is your chance to make it happen! If you're not sure if your idea is the right fit, reply to this email to chat with us and we can help!

Get involved

Great neighbourhoods start with you, and a little funding from us!

Join us this Fall for events that will help inspire you to get involved in your neighbourhood.

October 2: Join us for Food and Funds to discuss your ideas for connecting the neighbourhood, learn about grants available to you and enjoy snacks while getting to know neighbours. Drop in any time from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. at the Visitor Information Centre.
November 5: Attend the annual Neighbourhood Summit and learn about ways you can support accessibility and inclusion in your neighbourhood. Taking place at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Community Pavillion from 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Get involved by sharing your feedback

The City is moving ahead with various projects, and your feedback is an important part of the process!

New parks: We're currently redesigning St. Mortiz Park and creating a new Margaret Ave Park. The initial concepts for both of these parks will soon be available, so make sure you're following the project pages for updates! There will also be public open houses on Sept 23 (Margaret Ave Park) and Sept 24 (More St. Mortiz Park )
The Bechtel Park courts are getting upgrades! Share your feedback on the design layout before October.
The Albert McCormick Community Centre and Waterloo Public Library McCormick branch are getting makeover. Share your ideas on what you would like to see at AMCC and learn more about the project.

More ways to get involved

Spend a day outside with your neighbours and help make Waterloo an even better home for pollinators at these community planting events!
Level Up programs empower youth to grow, lead, and make a difference through social justice initiatives. There’s an opportunity for every young person to get involved!

A rock painted with a flower and text that reads have a great day

🙂 Smile corner 🙂

A neighbour shared how they really appreciate how kind people are in their neighbourhood.

Learn some tips and tricks of being neighbourly.

Share with us what makes you smile! Submit a photo and a caption by replying to this email, and we might feature it in the Smile Corner of our next newsletter!

Get inspired

Rock and roll neighbourhood style

Folks in a Beechwood neighbourhood gathered to celebrate with rock and roll, snacks and great company.

Neighbours bonded over the unifying power of music, creating lasting connections and memories.

Want to do something cool like this in your neighbourhood? Contact us to get started!

Photo taken in the dark the band set up playing music and people watching outside.

More ways to get inspired

Reep Green Solution's zero waste challenge starts on October 1. Learn some tips and tricks and how to challenge yourself to waste less!
Explore the Waterloo Public Library fall programs to find one that interests you! Don't forget to bring your neighbour.

Get in the know

New temporary dog park in Waterloo Park

Take your dog to the new temporary off-leash dog park in Waterloo Park, and invite a neighbour to join you!

The new dog park is on the west side of Waterloo Park, by the Westmount Road entrance.

This temporary space will stay open as we work toward a permanent leash-free dog park in the city’s core. More information about this will be available later this fall!

More things to know!

Don't forget to visit A Distiller's Tale: The Art and Legacy of the Seagram Distillery at the City of Waterloo Museum. Admission is always free!

The City of Waterloo is planting 10,000 new trees across parks and public spaces. Learn more and to see if trees are being planted in your neighbourhood.

Spectrum Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space offers a variety of programs and services.

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

Waterloo Region has a long history of welcoming refugees and refugee claimants. Immigration Waterloo Region shares information on community support for refugees living in our region.

September Diversity Calendar

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

August 26- September 5: Onam

September 1: Labour Day

September 4 - September 5: Mawlid al-Nabī / Eid-Maulad-un-Nabi

September 5: International Day of Charity

September 7- September 13: Mennonite Heritage Week

September 7: Ukrainian Heritage Day

September 8: International Literacy Day

September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day

September 11: Ethiopian New Year / Enkutatash

September 14 - September 20: Mennonite Heritage Week

September 18: International Equal Pay Day

September 21: International Day of Peace

September 21- September 27- Gender Equality Week

September 22 (sundown) - September 24: Rosh Hashana

September 22- September 28: International Week of Deaf People

September 22- September 28: Gender Equality Week

September 22: Fall Equinox

September 22: Mabon / Harvest Home / Fall Equinox

September 22- October 2: Navratri / Navaratri

September 23: International Day of Sign Languages

September 23: Bi Visibility Day

September 25: Franco-Ontarian Day

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation / Orange Shirt Day

Acne Awareness Month (Canada)

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