City of waterloo neighbourhoods: strong and connected.

Visit an outdoor skating rink this season!

Did you know? The rinks in your neighbourhood are run by dedicated volunteers. To help everyone enjoy the rink, here are some reminders:

Share the space and welcome all neighbours. The rink is a great place to get outdoors and meet others in the winter.
Keep the space clean. Help take care of this shared space by cleaning up after yourselves and encouraging others to do the same.
Say thank you to the volunteers. The rink volunteers work in the cold and late at night to keep the rink going for all to enjoy. A thank you can go a long way!

Check the outdoor rink map to see if there's a rink near you.

Someone standing on the outdoor rink with a hose and a big coat at night.

Get involved

Join the Pollinator Working Group

Connect with neighbours through the Pollinator Working Group and take part in hands-on projects and learning opportunities that support pollinators in our community.

Apply by January 25.

More ways to get involved

The winter can be a tricky time to see your neighbours. Do you have a neighbour who goes out of their way to bring neighbours together? Helps shovel or salt the sidewalks? If so, you should nominate them as a kind neighbour, and we'll send them a special thank-you gift.
Looking to get more involved in your neighbourhood this year? Learn about what it means to be a neighbourhood connector. Applications are open year-round.

🙂 Smile corner 🙂

One neighbour shared how they love to walk outside and see the sunshine. It always puts a smile on their face.

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

Here are some ways neighbours have been celebrating the winter season!

In Lincoln Heights, a group of neighbours came together for a Winter Solstice Walk. They all put on their warm winter clothes, grabbed a hot chocolate and walked around the neighbourhood. It was a great way to catch up, get outside and enjoy the snowy season. It was an especially great way to connect with new neighbours who just moved into the neighbourhood!

In uptown, a group of neighbours gathered for some holiday singing. They enjoyed warm drinks, cookies and sang songs together.

Want to do something similar? Both of these events were supported by a mini grant, which is open for applications year-round!

A group of people standing outside in the dark with lights on in the background.

People outside on the sidewalk walking with winter coats on.

Get in the know

Visit the City of Waterloo Museum

Here's a fun thing to do with a neighbour: Explore the craftsmanship, culture and community behind Seagram’s iconic whisky. The City of Waterloo's latest exhibit is A Distiller's Tale: The Art and Legacy of the Seagram Distillery. Admission is always free!

More things to know

Enjoy one of the many Skate Night Date Nights happening at the Waterloo Public Square.
After-school art programs for teens have started, with everything from watercolours to art fusion. Find them all on ActiveWaterloo.
The Region's 2026 Curbside Collection Changes are coming soon. If you want to change the size of your black cart, you can request a one-time exchange starting in fall 2026.
Winterloo, Waterloo's largest winter festival, is happening on January 24.
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.

January Diversity Calendar

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

Alzheimer’s Awareness Month (Canada)

Tamil Heritage Month (Canada)

January 01: New Year’s Day

January 04: World Braille Day

January 04: National Ribbon Skirt Day

January 06: Epiphany

January 07: Christmas / Feast of the Nativity (Orthodox / Eastern)

January 13: Lohri

January 14 - January 17: Pongal 

January 14: Orthodox New Year

January 15 (sundown) - January 16: Lailat al Miraj

January 17: Raoul Wallenberg Day

January 19: Martin Luther King Jr Day

January 21: Lincoln Alexander Day

January 23: Vasant Panchami

January 24: International Day of Education

January 24: World Day for African and Afrodescendant Culture

January 27: International Holocaust Remembrance Day

January 29: National Day of Remembrance of the Quebec City Mosque Attack and Action Against Islamophobia

January 29: Sadeh

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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