City of waterloo neighbourhoods: strong and connected.

See you at the park, neighbour!

There's nothing like spending a warm summer day at the park. It's also the perfect place to bring neighbours together. Here are a few ideas to inspire your next neighbourhood event.

Movie night - grab your popcorn, candy, and invite your neighbours to enjoy a movie in the park. Learn how to plan an outdoor movie night.
Neighbourhood picnic - all you need are your neighbours, sandwiches, and an outdoor blanket.
Yoga in the park - a great way to enjoy the sounds of nature while stretching with your neighbours.
Book club in the park - gather your neighbours, pick a book, and meet at a nearby park.

People standing outside on a basketball court, playing games on a sunny day.

Get involved

Community gardens in your neighbourhood

Community vegetable gardens are spaces where residents get together to grow vegetables, fruits and herbs for their own use. They're coordinated by volunteers, and plots are usually assigned annually.

Enjoy the gardens on your neighbourhood walk, then take a seat at one of the painted picnic tables through the Neighbourhood Picnic Table program.

Curious about the gardens near you? Here's a great directory of local community gardens.

Reminder: If you didn't plant something, then please don't pick it!

People outside with shovels in front of garden beds in a park.

More ways to get involved

If you or someone you know is 21+ and interested in being a lifeguard, check out the free daytime Aquatic Leadership Certification program.
Get ready for the upcoming municipal election (Oct 26) by making sure you're registered to vote and your voter information is correct.

Chalk design on the ground with the words fifa 2026 in different colours and a soccer ball.

🙂 Smile corner 🙂

A neighbour submitted this fun chalk design to celebrate the start of the FIFA World Cup!

Submit a photo and a caption by replying to this email, and we may feature it in the Smile Corner of our next newsletter!

Get inspired

Get to know your neighbours

Neighbours in Dunvegan Park had a wonderful time meeting each other, enjoying snacks and playing games at a recent social event at the park.

One neighbour was so happy that they shared a kind message, "We've been trying to meet neighbours for years now and haven't been too successful. This was a wonderful idea, and we met so many new people!"

This event was organized by great neighbours and supported by a mini grant - apply now to do something similar!

A group of people in a park all talking and enjoying food on a sunny day.

Neighbours in two lines learning a dance on a driveway.

The Southwick Croyden neighbourhood had another great annual BBQ event. They shared laughs, enjoyed food, and learned a new dance.

This event was supported by the operating grant. Apply to start the tradition in your neighbourhood!

Get in the know

New mural in Waterloo Public Square

Ask a neighbour to join you in uptown Waterloo to admire the new mural by Maddie Resmer in honour of Indigenous Peoples Day.

Learn more about the mural, and watch the video statement from the artist, Maddie.

wànakìwin: harmony between relations, created by local artist Maddie Resmer of Western Sky Designs image on the ground.

More things to know

New parks coming to Waterloo! The final design for Margaret Ave park is available now, and the final design for St. Moritz Park will be shared on July 7.
Enjoy a day at the Museum with your neighbours! The latest exhibit is the Iron Willed exhibition, uncovering the incredible stories of women who forever changed the world of science and technology.
Cool down at a city splash pad - open 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. this summer to balance keeping these cooling spaces available while using water responsibly.
Spectrum Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space offers a variety of programs and services.

June diversity calendar

Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity & Inclusion's Diversity Ink Newsletter

Deafblind Awareness Month (Canada)

Filipino Heritage Month (Canada)

Indigenous History Month (Canada)

Italian Heritage Month (Canada)

Portuguese Heritage Month (Canada)

Pride Season (International; may vary from June to September)

June 1: Global Day of Parents

June 1: Intergenerational Day

June 3: Clean Air Day

June 3: Red Shirt Day of Action for AccessAbility and Inclusion

June 4: Treaty Day (New Brunswick)

June 12: Araw ng Kasarinlán, Philippines Independence Day

June 13: International Albinism Awareness Day

June 13: Men’s Mental Health Awareness Day

June 16: Martyrdom of Guru Arjan Dev

June 16 (evening) - June 17: Islamic New Year / Hijri New Year

June 18: Autistic Pride Day

June 18: International Day for Countering Hate Speech

June 20: World Refugee Day

June 20: Summer Solstice

June 21: Litha / Midsummer / Summer Solstice

June 21: National Indigenous Peoples Day

June 24: St. Jean Baptiste Day

June 24: June Day

June 26: Ashura

June 27: Canadian Multiculturalism Day

Waterloo Neighbourhoods is published throughout the year to keep residents informed about the good things happening in neighbourhoods across Waterloo. If you’re reading Waterloo Neighbourhoods as a non-subscriber, visit our subscription page to sign up for future editions.

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