Here’s a smattering of opportunities to get involved and continue to work in community as we advocate for a more inclusive, resilient, and abundant region.

Do you have an event, project, or opportunity that you’d like me to include in a future newsletter? Let me know! by sending an email to connect@holdthelinewr.org 🙂

Climate action + housing. ACORN Canada has recently released a new report about the need for better regulations to protect tenants from extreme heat, as our summers get ever hotter. Read here: Crumbling Apartments in a Warming World: Tenants in an Energy Cost Crisis.

Environment + public spaces: The City of Kitchener is updating the Victoria Park / Willow River Park master plan for the next 10 years of improvements! Join a community visioning session on Tuesday, June 17th at 1-3 PM or 6-8 PM at the Victoria Park Pavillion. 

Housing + belonging: The City of Kitchener is considering a staff report about the possibility of a “renoviction” by-law to regulate the eviction of tenants due to renovations. Renoviction is a tactic that certain landlords use to increase rents and displace people from affordable housing. Join advocates at the council meeting on Monday, June 16th @ 6:30pm to urge the city to form a joint committee of local housing advocates and tenants to work with the City of Kitchener in building tenant protections, including a bylaw, to ensure tenants are protected and housed. See the staff report here, and if you wish to sign up to speak, click here to sign up.

Arts + public spaces: The City of Waterloo has purchased the former St. Columba church on Lincoln Road in Waterloo. While the city works on their long-term plan for the property, arts advocates are requesting that the church be used for affordable artists’ studios. Read the staff report here on page 147. And consider attending the city council meeting on Monday, June 16th @ 6:30pm. You can sign up to speak here.

Public spaces + housing: The City of Cambridge is seeking feedback on the plan for Preston, which will guide growth in the area to 2051. This plan is intended to “ensure that the needs of existing and future community members can be met, with the range of housing types, community facilities, and infrastructure needed for people to live, work, and play in the community”.

Sport + public spaces: Good news from North Dumfries, where the township has decided not to sell the Ayr Community Centre. Congratulations to all the neighbours who successfully advocated to keep the vital cultural space that the ACC provides, while still investing in a new arena for the township.

Housing + public spaces: The Township of Wellesley has launched a Community Improvement Plan, which comes with various incentives (i.e., grants and loans) to stimulate growth and revitalization in the core areas of Wellesley village and St. Clements. 

Food + environment: Amid the uncertainty of the Wilmot land assembly, it appears that some farms that were purchased by the Region of Waterloo have now been leased back to farmers so they can continue to grow food. This is a small but significant change from some of the initial property sales which saw crops destroyed before they could be harvested last fall. Stay up to date by subscribing to Fight for Farmland. This is not a done deal yet, and the Region has still not identified an industrial buyer for the land.

Transportation + culture: Ontario’s only remaining historic covered bridge, the West Montrose Kissing Bridge in Woolwich, is due for repairs! The Region of Waterloo is currently starting work on needed maintenance. You can follow along on project updates here.