City of waterloo neighbourhoods: strong and connected.

Spring is here!

It's a great time to get outdoors and plan a neighbourhood gathering to welcome the warmer season. Here are some ideas:

Organize an Earth Day Community cleanup. Gather your neighbours to help clean up a local park - we can provide the supplies!
Enjoy your neighbourhood park. Go for a nature walk, plan a fun scavenger hunt or a relaxing yoga session.
Greet neighbours. A smile and a wave can go a long way, especially as more neighbours spend time outdoors.

People standing around eating food and talking in a park.

Get involved

Neighbourhood kindness

Do you have a neighbour who always says hello or welcomes neighbours to the neighbourhood? We want to know!

Nominate them as a kind neighbour, and we will send them a thank-you package with a note from the Mayor and a chance to win a $20 Uptown BIA gift card.

Nominations are open year-round!

Three pop up tents in a row outside in a park and people standing around it.

More ways to get involved

Encourage any Grade 5 neighbours you know to apply to be a councillor for a day! Applications close April 1.
Discover over 150 volunteer positions on Volunteer Waterloo Region for ways to give back to the community.

sky with sun peeking out from behind clouds

🙂 Smile corner 🙂

A neighbour shared that seeing the sunshine more is making them smile.

Share with us what makes you smile! 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

Fun times in the park

A young neighbour near Werni park planned a fun event with snacks, games and activities for the neighbourhood. There was lots of laughter and great memories!

Want to do something similar? This event was supported by the mini grant.

People playing outdoors on the grass and basketball court. Blue sky with some clouds in the background.

More ways to get inspired

Have an idea to support community safety and well-being? Check out the Waterloo Region Upstream Fund - expression of interests are due on April 1.
Explore our event ideas page to discover new events that you could run in your neighbourhood! Reach out to the Neighbourhoods team to help you along the way.

Get in the know

Try a new activity with a neighbour

Spring 2026 Guide ActiveWaterloo. With a child on a skateboard as the image.

City programs are an affordable way to stay active, learn new skills and connect with others in the community. Come on your own or bring a neighbour!

There are programs for all ages like first steps in music, teen ArtShine, and adult fitness classes. Explore all your options using the ActiveWaterloo guide.

More things to know

If you or someone you know has a physical disability that makes bringing bins to the curb difficult, check out this special accommodation recycling collection program.
Last chance to nominate a neighbour for the Senior of the Year Award! Applications are open until March 31.
Bring a neighbour and explore all the upcoming events at the City of Waterloo Museum.
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.

March Diversity Calendar

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

Women’s History Month (International)

Irish Heritage Month (Canada)

Bangladeshi Heritage Month (Ontario)

Multiculturalism Month (Newfoundland and Labrador)

Epilepsy Awareness Month (Canada)

Endometriosis Awareness Month (Nova Scotia & Ontario)

March 2 - March 9: Black Mental Health Week

March 2 - March 20: Nineteen Day Fast

March 4 - March 6: Hola Mohalla

March 9 - March 19: Laylat al-Qadr

March 16 - March 22: Neurodiversity Celebration Week

29 March - April 4: Holy Week (Western)

March 1: Zero Discrimination Day

March 1: Self-harm Awareness Day

March 1: Disability Day of Mourning

March 2: Black Mental Health Day

March 2 (sundown) - March 3: Purim

March 3: Māgha Pūjā

March 3: Lantern Festival

March 3: Chötrul Düchen

March 4: Holi

March 4: Employee Appreciation Day

March 8: International Women’s Day

March 15: International Day to Combat Islamophobia

March 17: Saint Patrick’s Day

March 17: Chaharshanbe Suri

March 19: Navratri / Navaratri

March 19: Ugadi / Yugadi

March 19 (sundown) - March 20: Nowruz / Norouz

March 19 (sundown) - March 20: Eid Al-Fitr

March 20: Ostara / Spring Equinox

March 20: International Francophonie Day

March 20: International Day of Happiness

March 20: Two-Spirit and Indigenous LGBTQQIA+ Awareness to Celebration Day

March 21: International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination

March 21: World Down Syndrome Day

March 22: World Water Day

March 24: International Day for the Right to the Truth Concerning Gross Human Rights Violations and for the Dignity of Victims

March 25: International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade

March 26: Khordad Sal

March 26: Purple Day

March 26: Ram Navami

March 27: Muslim Women's Day

March 29: Palm Sunday (Western)

March 31: Mahavir Jayanti / Mahavir Janma Kalyanak

March 31: International Transgender Day of Visibility

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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