Help us create an online hub for all things neighbourhoods!

When we worked with the community to develop our neighbourhood strategy, over 1,700 residents shared their thoughts about the great things neighbours can do to make Waterloo a more vibrant, caring, and engaged place where everyone belongs. An online hub for all things neighbourhoods - the development of a neighbourhood-specific website - will help neighbours access supports, tools, and information for neighbours to do great things.

Based on the feedback we received during the development of the neighbourhood strategy, our new neighbourhood website will include:

• Ideas to encourage neighbourliness
• Information on volunteering in your neighbourhood
• Available neighbourhood funding
• Online space for neighbourhood groups to connect
• Information about neighbourhood-based programs such as outdoor rinks, block connectors, neighbourhood and homes associations, and community gardens
• Easy to use toolkits for common neighbourhood projects or ideas
• Information about access to special event equipment for neighbourhood activities
• A mapping tool to explore indoor and outdoor spaces in Waterloo

Thank you for your feedback!

Thank you to everyone that provided feedback on the online hub for all things neighbourhoods! Based on the survey responses, the following items will be incorporated into website plans:

• Neighbourhood identity plans to help those without a neighbourhood association identify and name their area to help build community connections.
• Neighbourhood equipment program and available details.
• Neighbourhood-focused funding and grant information.
• Toolkits to assist neighbours with neighbourhood interactions such as how to support an inclusive neighbourhood, how to organize a neighbourhood event, and how to welcome new neighbours.
• Tips and inspiration from other communities.
• An easy to use and welcoming design that incorporates real neighbourhood photos.
  
  

Next steps:

The neighbourhood team is working with the website provider to:

1. Incorporate feedback into website content development and design
2. Select design and layout features for the website
3. Host online engagement with a website content draft
4. Launch the website
5. Add additional functions based on neighbourhood strategy action items
6. Update content and resources to reflect community supports over time

Stay tuned!

Follow this project to receive updates about the neighbourhoods website. Notifications will include important details and information on the next round of engagement to review the draft website.