Get involved

Get involved and support connections

The next Neighbourhood Matching Fund (NMF) deadline is coming up on October 17. Apply to receive up to $7,500 in matched funds to support neighbourhood projects. Need inspiration? Neighbours have used the funds to support movie nights, live music at neighbourhood markets, park projects and more.

Learn more about the Neighbourhood Matching Fund.

Community planting opportunities

Come out to a community planting event this fall! Together, we will plant native wildflowers, shrubs, and trees within natural areas in city parks to help create healthy habitats for pollinators and other wildlife.

• September 9: Waterloo Park
• September 16: Bechtel Park
• September 16: RIM Park
• September 19: Waterloo Park

Sign up online to participate!

More ways to get involved

• Nominations for the 2023 Newcomer Landlord Award are now open until September 15.

• The Youth in Recreation Fund supports organizations that encourage participation in healthy and safe community recreation activities for youth in Waterloo Region.

• The Youth Opportunities Fund (YOF) offers grant opportunities to support community-led projects that play an essential role in creating safe spaces, empowering youth and families, supporting career pathways and addressing issues faced by our communities.

• Learn about volunteer opportunities at the City of Waterloo.

• Register for the United Way's March of 1000 Umbrellas fundraiser.

• Interested in volunteering in your neighbourhood, connect with your local neighbourhood association or become a block connector.

• Check out the Rainbow Community Calendar to find details on SPECTRUM's groups and events.

• 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.

Enjoy a ride and stay for awhile

With support from a Neighbourhood Matching Fund, the Upper Beechwood II Homes Association added bike racks for neighbours to use. This project helps to encourage bike travel and foster neighbourhood connections.

Have an idea to support community connections? Reply to this email (neighbourhoods@waterloo.ca) to chat about your idea.

New picnic tables!

Three neighbourhood parks have new picnic tables! Through the neighbourhood picnic table program, community members nominated a local park in their neighbourhood to add these vibrant creations. The tables bring temporary public art to outdoor spaces to create more connection.

Find them the next time you're in Old Post Park, Brighton Park or West Wind Park!



Pictured: Em'bed'ded by Shannon Stehr in Old Post Park

A neighbour shares:

"Sharon is one of the most amazing community supporters I have seen. She quietly steps up to volunteer for so many community programs. Never takes credit but yet with out her help and support many of the projects she is involved in would have fallen apart.  She often takes the less glamourous tasks and never fails to follow through.  Our community would be a less kind place with out her."

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 and be entered into a random draw to win a $25 gift card. The next draw is in the fall.

Get in the know

Save the date!

The fourth Annual Neighbourhood Summit is on November 9. Come together to enjoy conversations, connections with neighbours, and enjoy light food and refreshments. It's a great opportunity to connect and learn.

Date: November 9 from 7:30 - 9 p.m.

Location: Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Community Pavilion

More details, including registration details, will be shared soon. Stay tuned!

Get ready for the Lumen Festival!

Lumen is an exciting festival where light, art, and technology meet. This free, family-friendly and all-ages event is happening on Saturday, September 23 from 6:00 to 11:00 p.m. throughout uptown Waterloo.

Learn more about Lumen.

Apply to be a volunteer at Lumen.

More things to know!

• September 9: Waterloo Book Fest is happening in the Waterloo Public Square from 1-7 p.m. This free event will include live readings, a book sale, and local authors.

• September 16: Attend Doors Open Waterloo Region to explore 20 different local sites for free. Plan your day now!

• October 28: Join Coalition of Muslim Women for their annual fundraising event, Kindred Radiant Ladies Night Gala.

• Check out Immigration Waterloo Region's latest #RacialEquityWR video. Share the video with interested neighbours!

• REEP Green Solutions is selecting the 2023 Tree of the Year.

• The Tamarack Institute has published a response to the June 2023 hate acts that occurred at the University of Waterloo.

• A list of zone change applications are included on Engage Waterloo.

• Learn more about reporting Hate Incidents or Discrimination: involving Islamophobia, Racism, 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.

September Diversity Calendar

September 4: Labour Day (Canada)

September 6: Krishna Janmashtami (Hinduism)

September 10: World Suicide Prevention Day (International)

September 15-17: Rosh Hashanah (Judaism)

September 19: Ganesh Chaturthi (Hinduism)

September 19: Powley Day (Canada)

September 23: International Day of Sign Languages (United Nations)

September 24-25: Yom Kippur (Judaism)

September 25-30: International Week of Deaf People (World Federation of the Deaf)

September 26-27: Mawlid al Nabi (Islam)

September 29: Mid-Autumn Festival (East and Southeast Asia)

September 29 - October 6: Sukkot (Judaism)

September 30: National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (Orange Shirt Day, Canada)

Source: Canadian Centre for Diversity and 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

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