Your Region Pod

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, community leaders, and visionaries. Participants showed up to exchange ideas on how to plan, fund, and build affordable homes. They also took the opportunity to explore some pretty innovative solutions to help get shovels in the ground.

On this episode, we hear from the participants and learn what is possible. It was a fascinating day. We hope that our coverage of this event provides some insight on the complexities of the issue, and more about the solutions that are being explored. 

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 

It's been a busy Summer - and in case you missed it - in this episode we recap the decisions made at Regional Council:

1.  General Contractor to create 136-unit affordable housing in Cambridge
2.  Bike lanes coming to Benton and Frederick Streets
3.  New paramedic station coming to Cambridge
4.  Cart-based waste collection for downtown businesses
5.  Region of Waterloo investing $225,000 in local festivals and events
6.  Region of Waterloo pledges funds to support e-sports event 
7.  Region to receive $18M in infrastructure funds
8.  Council endorses rail link from Cambridge to Guelph 
9.  Region to review its Taxi By-law

Check out our monthly newsletter Making Decisions The Matter on our website to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• 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 

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 made September 5, 2023 so unforgettable, and how it could happen again.

Tune in to find out!

Get Your Region Pod anywhere you stream your 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 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 individual and relational factors to the bigger issues that we can all have a role in addressing.

Get Your Region Pod anywhere you stream your 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 

It's been a busy June - and in case you missed it - in this episode we recap the decisions made at Regional Council:

1.  Fischer-Hallman/Bearinger Road improvements start in July
2.  Victoria Street design alternative will improve cycling facilities
3.  Council creating more efficiencies in housing development process
4.  Council supports six entrepreneurial initiatives 
5.  Council supports 16 stewardship and sustainability projects
6.  Council supports 10 major arts and culture organizations 
7.  Council calls on province for funding to address substance use and harms
8.  Independent consultant to review Council remuneration, with public input 
9.  Region requesting inclusion in federal wastewater surveillance program

Check out our monthly newsletter Making Decisions The Matter on our website to learn more about these decisions and others that impact our community.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• 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 

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 the plan to end it. What does it mean for our community, and what will it take to achieve this goal?

We will hear from the people who have experienced homelessness, the academics who study it, and the key players who are working to address the crisis here in The Region.

Our first episode, The State of Chronic Homelessness in The Region. How did we get here?  will try to provide some context on how we got here. 

Get Your Region Pod anywhere you stream your 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 

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 North Dumfries
• Region to hire project manager to work on MobilityPLUS scheduling upgrades
•  Region to consider truck ban in downtown Ayr due to community concerns

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://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 

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 Play and get set up to ride in a matter of minutes. The app can also be used to locate available vehicles. For more information on the program, visit www.rideneuron.com/canada. For rules for riding and how-to-ride information, visit scootsafe.com and select Waterloo Region.

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• 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 

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: 

• 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 

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 sell, and how we can recycle more responsibly. We talk to a local business and people on the street about the waste they generate.

All of this comes from a need to divert waste from the landfill, and ensure sustainable growth for our community.

You can find out more about the changes to the blue box program in our newsletter, Around the Region.  Subscribe to the newsletter so you don't miss an edition. 

Find out more about Your Region Pod at our website: 

• 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