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 fix broken power lines. They're a fascinating group, and we're excited to introduce you to them and how they make it happen.

You can stay informed on local weather events and sign up for Alert Waterloo Region. This service allows residents to receive important public safety messages in the event of large-scale emergencies such as floods, severe weather, or significant power outages. Notifications can be delivered to landlines, mobile phones, and email.

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Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

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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 another 411 coming by the end of 2026. The question is, now that we have the funding for these spaces, do we have enough educators to staff them? 

On this episode we sit down with experts from across the region and learn that as critical as this funding is, it only solves half the problem. Have a listen and let us know what you think on our social channels.

 Joining us on this episode:

• Barb Cardow, Director of Children`s Services, Region of Waterloo
• Kristine Parsons, Director of Operations, Rising Oaks Early Learning Ontario
• Carolyn Finlayson, Chair, Child Development & Education Studies, Conestoga College

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Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 learn more from Mike about what the Region is doing to try to ensure that everyone can benefit from them - including cars, trucks, and people walking and rolling. 

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Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 climate change and the important role municipalities play in reducing harmful emissions. 

We hear from Dr. Sarah Burch, a professor at the University of Waterloo and the Executive Director of the Waterloo Climate Institute. Tova Davidson joins us as well, she is the Executive Director at Sustainable Waterloo Region, an organization that helps businesses see the cost benefits of environmental sustainability.

Meaghan Eastwood, Manager of Planning and Sustainability at the Region of Waterloo and a member of Climate Action Waterloo Region, shares a few examples of what the Region is doing to reduce emissions. Visit the Region's 2024 yearbook to learn more. 

Check out our newsletter, Around the Region,  for more news and stories about how we are addressing climate change. 

And... if you haven't already, listen to our Meet the Pollinators episode to learn about out how some of the smallest creatures have a big role to play in keeping life on this planet healthy.

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

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Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 get where they need to go, and how you can as well.   

Vicki Wojcik, the Executive Director for Pollinator Partnership Canada joins us to help us identify who these pollinators are. Spoiler: It's not just bees. 

Dr. Jennifer Leat from Waterloo Region Nature talks about the pollinator roadside program.

Brydon Rayner, the Region's expert on forestry and horticulture shares his insights on ideal habitats for pollinators.

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region  for news and stories on how The Region is becoming one of the best places to live in Canada.

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 community members and organizations who work with individuals and groups who are often excluded and face barriers to opportunities that many of us take for granted. We speak with some of the participants, and learn what the Region is doing to help through the Upstream fund.

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region  for news and stories on how The Region is becoming one of the best places to live in Canada.

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 visit to the space to get creative and learn more about the benefits it has for children.

The Discovery Space is located in the Schneider Haus museum on 466 Queen St South, in Kitchener. You can find out more about the Discovery Space here:
https://regionofwaterloomuseums.ca/en/visit/discovery-space.aspx

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region  for news and stories on how The Region is becoming one of the best places to live in Canada.

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 Water Services and we learned a lot, including the strangest things they've ever found in the collection system. There's a reason they educate residents on what not to flush!

You can find out more about The Region Water and Waste program here: https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/water-and-wastewater.aspx

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region  for news and stories on how The Region is becoming one of the best places to live in Canada.

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region  for news and stories on how The Region is becoming one of the best places to live in Canada.

Check the links from our contributors to find out more.

• Reep Green Solutions; Reep Green Solutions – Reep Green Solutions is an environmental charity that helps people live sustainably.
• GreenHouse: https://www.instagram.com/ucgreenhouse/
• Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre: https://www.instagram.com/wisc_uw/
• United College: https://www.instagram.com/unitedcollegeuw/
• University of Waterloo Sustainability Office: https://www.instagram.com/uwsustainable/

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook 

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 begotten more cars. In response to this, The Region is creating Community Safety Zones in areas with higher pedestrian volumes.

To help guide us through the program we invited Valerie Smith, Director of Road Safety and Safe Mobility Programs at Parachute Canada. Leslie Maxwell from Student Transportation Services of Waterloo Region. We also bring back Doug Spooner, the Interim Commissioner for Transportation Services here at The Region of Waterloo. 

We hope you enjoy the episode, and we'd love to know what you think. You can find us on our socials below.

• Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo | Kitchener, Ontario | Instagram photos and videos 
• FB: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook
• Linkedin: Region of Waterloo | LinkedIn 

You can find Your Region Pod wherever you stream your favorite podcasts.

• Website: https://yourregionpod.buzzsprout.com 
• Spotify: Your Region Pod | Podcast on Spotify
• iTunes: Your Region Pod on Apple Podcasts 

Be sure to sign up for our monthly newsletter Around The Region on our website.

Send us an email!

Instagram: Regional Municipality of Waterloo (@regionofwaterloo) • Instagram photos and videos

Facebook: Region of Waterloo | Kitchener ON | Facebook