Your Region Pod

We’ve got snow in the forecast , and we thought this would be a good time to peek behind the scenes and meet the people who clear our roads in the winter.  Heavy snow can cause dangerous road conditions, and there is a highly dedicated team of plow operators and patrollers who make our roads safer. The services they provide ensure that first responders can get to an emergency, and hydro crews can...

The federal government continues to work with provincial governments to fund more child care spaces across the country in an effort to reduce child care costs to $10 a day. On this episode of Your Region Pod, we’re going to look at the impact of the Canada-wide Early Learning and Child Care system (CWELCC) on families in Waterloo Region.  So far, 3,725 spaces have opened through CWELCC, with anoth...

With more than 40 across Waterloo Region, the Region is a leader in roundabouts in Canada. The Region's Transportation Services Director Mike Henderson says we've learned a lot in 25 years, and we continue to make improvements with a new pilot project set to begin this fall. In this episode of Your Region Pod, we chat with people on the street about their experience with roundabouts and...

In May, Regional Council approved a Corporate Climate Action Plan , which aims to reduce the amount of greenhouse gases our organization emits. This plan is part of a larger community strategy called TransformWR , and the goal is to cut emissions in half by 2030 and achieve net zero by 2050.  On this episode of Your Region Pod we look at the challenges we face in reducing the local effects of clim...

Okay, so you may not enjoy the company of bees, but they’re vital for plant reproduction and biodiversity. Without bees and other pollinating species, a significant portion of our global food supply would be in jeopardy. On the latest episode of Your Region Pod we take a look at the top three pollinators in Waterloo Region (you may be surprised!), what our community partners are doing to help them...

What does it mean to belong? On this episode of Your Region Pod , we look at how belonging benefits the whole community.  The idea for this episode came out of a symposium called “ Forward Together: Activating Change, Amplifying Belonging ." The event, hosted by the Immigration Partnership , Children and Youth Planning Table , and the Community Safety and Wellbeing Plan , brought together com...

The Region of Waterloo museums are making sure our littlest citizens are given a sense of belonging from a very young age. February marks the one year anniversary of the opening of the Discovery Space , a play-based learning environment at Schneider Haus where children can unleash their creativity. The space is complete with soundscapes that encourage focus and relaxation. Sam and Sherry take a vi...

Did you know that The Region has a digestive system? There are 13 of them, and they work a lot like our bodies. Not only do they clean the water that gets discharged into the river (the equivalent of 3,600 backyard pools A DAY), but they recover nutrients and use them in a more beneficial way.  Sherry and Sam recently took a tour behind the scenes with Dominika Celmer-Repin, a senior engineer in W...

In this episode of Your Region Pod , we take on the Zero-Waste Challenge . Every October, residents of Waterloo Region to try to fit their single-use waste into a mason jar for 7, 14, or 30 days. We decided to take the 7 day challenge, and found that changing our habits wasn't easy. Listen to find out how we did, and to get some tips on how to reduce your contribution to the landfill.  Be sur...

On this episode of Your Region Pod , we are looking at Community Safety Zones . What are they, why are they needed, and how are they enforced? The reality is that more kids than ever are being driven to school because parents no longer feel safe letting their kids walk, or ride their bikes. This has everything to do with the number of cars, and high rates of speed. In a sense, more cars have begot...

With a growing waitlist for housing, it's never been more critical to build affordable homes in our community. This summer, the first-ever Housing Summit was hosted in Waterloo Region with the purpose of creating home grown solutions for accessible housing, and we decided to cover the event for Your Region Pod .  At the Summit, local government connected with housing providers, developers, co...

It's been a busy Summer - and in case you missed it - in this episode we recap the decisions made at Regional Council :  General Contractor to create 136-unit affordable housing in Cambridge  Bike lanes coming to Benton and Frederick Streets  New paramedic station coming to Cambridge  Cart-based waste collection for downtown businesses  Region of Waterloo investing $225,000 in local festivals...

Have you ever been sitting on the bus, or ION, and wondered what goes into your daily commute? Who are the people who get you to your destination, and what has to happen to get you there on time?  In this episode of #YourRegionPod , ride along with Sherry and Sam as they take you behind the scenes of public transit. We'll meet the people who make it happen, and hear their stories. Like what m...

In Part 2 of our series on chronic homelessness in Waterloo Region, we explore the three main causes of homelessness through two voices - criminologist Dr. Erin Dej from Wilfrid Laurier, and Marjorie, an advocate who’s lived through it, and now helps those who are struggling. This episode is a helpful reminder that in order to prevent and end chronic homelessness, we must look beyond the individua...

It's been a busy June - and in case you missed it - in this episode we recap the decisions made at Regional Council :  Fischer-Hallman/Bearinger Road improvements start in July  Victoria Street design alternative will improve cycling facilities  Council creating more efficiencies in housing development process  Council supports six entrepreneurial initiatives   Council supports 16 stewardship...

Chronic homelessness is growing across The Region, and it has reached a crisis point for many communities across the country. In Waterloo Region, it is estimated to have increased at a rate of 28 percent, year-over-year since 2020. Why is this happening? And what are we doing about it? Your Region Pod   is working on a series that explores the history behind long term homelessness, the causes, and...

Among the decisions made at Regional Council this month: Council approves Plan to End Chronic Homelessness  Region creates opportunities for culturally responsive child care  Grand River Transit reinstates late night transit service for students  Yearbook shares progress on community priorities Council approves contractor for Bleams Road improvements  Region extends lower speed on Swan Street in N...

The Neuron Mobility program is back for users in Waterloo Region who rely on it – and it’s benefiting the rest of the community too.  In this episode of Your Region Pod , we explore the success of the e-scooter and e-bike sharing program, and how the Region is working with its partners to connect greener ways of getting around. Riders can download Neuron’s mobile app from the App Store or Google P...

Among the decisions made at Regional Council this month: Action on affordable housing Property tax changes to help support affordable rental units Region’s drinking water scores high in provincial safety standards Region to study drug use and overdose Check out the podcast to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community. Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: ...

Starting this month, the Region of Waterloo will no longer collect recyclables through the blue box program. These changes are happening behind the scenes, so you likely won't notice, but you may be wondering why. In this episode we answer this question and examine the benefits. We also look into the emerging concept of holding producers responsible for the lifecycle of the packaging they sel...

Among the decisions made at Regional Council this month: Extension to River Road; Using Regional land and buildings to develop child care spaces; Additional funding for arts and culture; and Rehabilitation design for historic bridge. Check out the podcast to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community. Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website:  Website: https://...

Music has the power to take us back to a time, or place, in our lives that makes us feel good.  At the Region of Waterloo’s Community Alzheimer Program (CAP) , it is a powerful tool for people living with dementia.  In this episode, we meet program participants, their families, and learn how the power of song is enhancing lives.  We will also meet two of the people leading this service.  At the he...

Not everyone has 3 hours to watch Regional of Waterloo Council sessions. So twice a month Chevon brings you the highlights to help you stay up to date on the decisions that matter to your community. On Jan 24th, 2024   Council approved the following initiatives: New hybrid buses will give residents affordable, climate-friendly transit Regional Council is investing $43.2 million in 36 new hybrid bu...

What happens when there is an emergency in the Region? A storm, blizzard, or flood can have a huge impact on our community. Enter the Emergency Management Office or EMO. The EMO is responsible for maintaining the Regional Emergency Response Plan and coordinating the community response to emergencies. That means that the EMO has to plan - and drill - for any number of scenarios. Blizzards, floods,...

Not everyone has 3 hours to watch Regional of Waterloo Council sessions. So once a month Chevon will bring you the highlights and help you stay up to date on the decisions that matter to your community. On Dec 13th, 2023 Council approved the following initiatives: Approved 2024 Plan and Budget makes critical investments to meet growth The Region of Waterloo is investing $2.1 billion in 2024 to mai...