City of waterloo neighbourhoods: strong and connected.

Ways to connect with your neighbours

As the days get shorter and winter approaches, it’s easy to feel a little more isolated. Help beat the winter blues by reaching out, striking up a conversation and finding small ways to connect with your neighbours.

Say hello and smile when you see your neighbours outside or in the hallway.
Offer to help with something simple like carrying groceries or watering plants.
Join or plan a neighbourhood activity like a neighbourhood walk, coffee social or games night.

We have a guide filled with tips on how to be more neighbourly, plus we have grants to support your neighbourhood activity ideas!

People standing outside in a circle in a park.

Get involved

Meet us at the Neighbourhood Summit!

On November 4 from 7 p.m. to 9 p.m. join neighbours across Waterloo at the Neighbourhood Summit!

This is a free event where you can meet neighbours, discover exciting ways to bring your neighbourhood together and learn how to turn your ideas into neighbourhood events.

Registration required! Sign up and encourage your neighbours to come with you.

Someone standing at the front presenting and other sitting and listening inside.

Spread kindness in your neighbourhood

A person cutting a green bush outside with gardening gloves on.

There are so many great neighbours in Waterloo. Here’s a wonderful message we received recognizing a neighbour:

"Quietly and dependably, Donna makes herself available to numerous neighbours who need assistance with dog walking, garbage placement, newspaper and mail pickup, groceries, or household tasks. She takes time out of her day to listen to others and stay connected, frequently going above and beyond the call of duty. She is not part of a group or organization. She just does it humbly and out of community care. She is a great neighbour!

Have a wonderful neighbour like this? Nominate them for the Neighbourhood Kindness Award. We'll send them a thank-you package, and they will be entered for a chance to win a $20 Uptown BIA gift card!

More ways to get involved

November 5: Attend the annual City of Waterloo Senior Health Fair to meet local service providers, discover community programs and supports, and more! Register online or call 519-579-1020.
The Sports and Recreation grant is accepting applications until November 3. This grant supports eligible community organizations and not-for-profits in the sport and recreation field. You could get up to $5,000!

Smile Corner

A neighbour shared that seeing all the leaves changing colour makes their morning walk that much more enjoyable.

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

Making your neighbourhood feel like home

A child outside flying a kite in the green grass.

People standing and sitting outside on the street talking.

Every connection big or small, helps make a neighbourhood feel more like home!

Some neighbours get together for a fun day of kite flying, or they gather everyone together for a street party with delicious food and games.

Simple moments like this can create lasting memories and bring people closer together.

Get in the know

Look out for coyotes in your neighbourhood

Wild animals, including coyotes, live in our neighbourhood parks, trails and green spaces. Around this time of year, it's common to see more coyote activity as young coyotes are leaving the den. Keep your pets safe by keeping cats indoors and dogs on a leash.

Find some helpful tips about dealing with coyotes and don't forget to share this with neighbours.

More things to know

Share the 2026/2027 Ageing Well Directory for older adults with your neighbours - it has names and contact information for hundreds of local services and businesses for older adults.
Did you know you can borrow a sensory backpack while you’re in a city facility? They’re filled with things like sunglasses, fidget tools, and noise-cancelling headphones.
With fall here and the leaves falling, don't forget to share with your neighbours how leaving the leaves is good for the environment.
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.

October diversity calendar

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

ADHD Awareness Month (International)

Alternative & Augmentative Communication (AAC) Awareness Month (International)

Autism Awareness Month (International)

Canadian Islamic History Month (Canada)

Disability Employment Awareness Month (Canada)

German Heritage Month (Canada)

Hispanic Heritage Month (Ontario)

Latin American Heritage Month (Canada)

Mark it Read for Dyslexia Awareness Month (Canada)

Mi'kmaq History Month (Nova Scotia)

Women’s History Month (Canada)

October 5 - October 11: Mental Illness Awareness Week

October 11 - October 17: Workplace Bullying Awareness Week

October 18 - October 24: Invisible Disabilities Week

October 25 - October 31: Ace Week

October 1: International Day of Older Persons / National Seniors Day

October 1: Treaty Day (Nova Scotia)

October 2 (sundown) - October 3: Shemini Atzeret

October 3 (sundown) - October 4: Simchat Torah

October 4: National Day of Action for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ people

October 5: World Teachers’ Day

October 8: International Lesbian Day

October 10: World Mental Health Day

October 11: International Day of the Girl Child

October 11: National Coming Out Day

October 12: Thanksgiving

October 15: International Day of Rural Women

October 18: Persons Day

October 20: Dussehra / Vijayadashami

October 21: International Pronouns Day

October 22: International Stuttering Awareness Day

October 26: Intersex Awareness Day

October 31: Halloween

October 31 (evening) - November 1: Samhain / Samhuinn / Hallows

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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