Category Archives: Uncategorized

Exploring Nature with Children

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MHBPNA has purchased licenses for the Journal portion of the Raising Little Shoots program. And we have a 20% discount code for the other material (available on their website). If you would like the journal for your family please contact MHBPNA by emailing us as ‘mhbpna@gmail.com’ or messaging us on our Facebook page.

For easier reading, magnify this page in your browser (e.g. 120% etc.)

Little Library Diversity Initiative

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Greetings! I am Dinah, a Mount Hope resident, and like many of you, I’m looking for ways to better educate myself on how I can become actively anti-racist. 
 
A couple weeks ago, I came across an Instagram account put together by Sarah Kamya of Arlington, MA. While walking past her neighbourhood Little Free Library recently, she thought to herself, “It would be great if we could fill that with diverse books by Black authors.” Sarah has since received thousands of dollars in donations and thousands of books and has set her sights on filling LFLs across the U.S.
 
I think we can do that here! So I’ve set up a project and I need your help. We are specifically looking for books by BIPOC authors and with BIPOC content (Black, Indigenous and People of Colour). 
 
If you’re on Instagram, you can find me @KWLittleFreeDiverseLibraries for all the details and frequent updates. But here is the quick info on how you can pitch in:

1) Donate money. This option is great because money raised allows me to buy books from Black-owned bookstores in the GTA as well as from Wordsworth Books in Waterloo. Then we can support small biz! Money raised is spent approx 50-50 between one of several Black-owned bookstores and Wordsworth. I’d like to check out some small used bookstores locally, as well. Money can be sent to me at murdochdinah@gmail.com via PayPal or etransfer. 
 
2) Click this link and you get to an Indigo registry I created with about 200 titles. You can click to order and the books are shipped straight to me. If there’s a title you love and it’s not on the list, go for it. 
 
3) You can buy books at small or used bookstores yourself and drop them off chez moi. Contact me at murdochdinah@gmail.com for my address. You can also pass on books (that fit the bill) that you’ve read and enjoyed from your own collection. 
 
My goal is to get books into LFLs all over KW. Especially into diverse neighbourhoods where children and adults may not have enough access to books that reflect their own lives and experiences.
 
Thanks in advance for your interest and your help! Please spread the word! 
 
Dinah

Engaging Art Opportunity in Mt. Hope Neighbourhood

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NEED A SUMMER PROJECT? – CALLING ON ALL ARTISTS OR ASPIRING ARTISTS – DUE BY JUNE 25TH

Shannondale has completed the fencing of the Electrohome Site at 152 Shanley.  They are asking us to turn the fencing into a neighbourhood/community art project and have installed 10 panels to display neighbourhood artwork.  We are expecting that you will be so excited to participate that Shannondale has agreed to add 10 more panels if we need them.

Sarah Marsh has pulled together a committee of neighbours (Sarah, Tanya Wright, Cherie Simmons and Catherine Owens) to get the project underway.  We are looking for families/artists/wannabe artists to claim one of the panels.  Shannondale specifically indicated that they want this to be a neighbourhood project and the artwork does not need to be professional. 

Here is what you need to know

  • INVITATION TO SUBMIT IDEAS. If you or your family are interested in designing and painting a panel, let us know by sending a brief overview of your thoughts or ideas. Please submit your response ASAP, by June 25!

 

  • PAINT GOES UP EARLY JULY. In an ideal world we would like to select the first 10 artists by the end of the month. Painting will take place in early July.  The earlier we fill the panels the less likely we will see graffiti on the fence.

 

  • ART FOR OUR NEIGHBOURS, BY OUR NEIGHBOURS. There is no particular theme for the artwork – it could reflect the history of the neighbourhood, of the former building, your personal history in the neighbourhood or simply your personal ideas of what you might want to see on a panel. 

 

  • LOGISTICS. We will work with you on figuring out practical logistics for what works best for you to install your art. You can fill your panel freehand or we can supply you with 4 X 8 sheets of paper if you want to pre-make a stencil – tape it up and spray paint your design. You can choose to paint on the spot, or bring the panels home to paint and then we will arrange to re-install them.

 

  • THANK-YOU SHANNONDALE!  Shannondale has donated funds to help with the purchase of painting supplies.

Next Steps

  • Send your ideas to Sarah Marsh, Cherie Simmons, Tanya Wright or Catherine Owens
  • Let us know what supplies you might need to paint the panel – and if possible, let us know, the major colour scheme (this will help us decide which panel is best for you)

And, if you have unused outdoor paint that you might want to donate, feel free to contact one of the members of the committee.

We look forward to hearing from you! Let’s get creative!!

Sarah Marsh – Sarah.marsh@kitchener.ca

Cherie Simmons – cherworm@yahoo.com

Tanya Wright – sendwordtotanya@gmail.com

Catherine Owens – catherine_owens@sympatico.ca

Covid-19 Testing and the City of Kitchener

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If you are experiencing symptoms that might indicate Covid-19, the main information link for the region is here:

https://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/health-and-wellness/community-assessment-centres.aspx

That includes a self-assessment tool and detailed information about further steps you can take.

Today, the Record posted an interesting article on how Grand River Hospital is handling this crisis.

We asked our mayor and councillor about what the city is doing to advocate for better access to Covid-19 testing. It has been reported our region is lagging behind the rest of Ontario. This is the reply from our mayor, Berry Vrbanovic.

“Hi Ted,

Thanks for your email Ted.  I trust you and your family are staying healthy during these challenging times.

This has been a challenging issue, and one we have been advocating on.

The province changed the guidance on testing late last week, and testing is now available throughout the weekend to all symptomatic people, and is no longer limited to those in certain groups like residents of LTC’s, first responders and those who travelled overseas.
 
As a result, appointments are available at the testing centres at all 3 hospitals throughout the weekend for those who want to be tested, as long as the self-assessment is identifying them as being symptomatic and thus should be tested.
 
You can sign up at..
Grand River Hospital…..
 
St. Mary’s General Hospital…..
 
Hope this helps!  Let us know if we can be of further assistance.
Thanks,
BV”
 
 

Program and Event updates

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MHBPNA has supported a local soccer program for the past few years. This year we could not hold it because of the Covid-19 situation. It may be possible to offer something in the fall, or it may have to wait until next spring. As we know, everything is in flux so we will announce events when we are sure it is safe to go ahead. 

The Duke St. West Music Fest was being planned for its third year. We have have the local musicians, the space, the equipment but…..it will certainly not go ahead in June as planned. Depending on the official recommendations on events we may plan something for the fall. But everything may have to wait until next year. Who knows, perhaps we can try some kind of ‘virtual’ event.

MHBPNA has been active behind the scenes with our virtual executive meetings and we have a couple of activities we are organizing. We’ll let you know in the next week or so about them.

WATCH THIS SPACE.

Covid-19 and the Community

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The MHBPNA held our last meeting online and the future looks bleak for social gatherings. Everyone is encouraged to get out and walk around the block, or on the Spur Line trail etc. while maintaining a 2 metre distance from others. We are fortunate to have enough space in Kitchener so this is very easy.

Yes, we are still planning another fabulous Duke Street West Music Fest on June 20, but we have no idea what the health situation will be at that time. So we are hopeful but, as we know, things change every day. We will provide updates on our website.

The Soccer program is also on hold. Everyone who has participated in the past should be receiving emails that provide updates.

The city of Kitchener has closed playgrounds because they cannot clean the equipment. People are still free to walk (or run) in parks and playgrounds.

The City of Kitchener’s Covid Update is here.

The Region of Waterloo has a comprehensive page on the virus here.

There is a great deal of information out there. Here is a great interview placing the pandemic in context.

As always, if you have questions about our Neighbourhood Association you can contact us at mhbpna@gmail.com or by posting a message to our Facebook Page.

Transit Hub Public Consultation, Monday, January 27th

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RE: King Victoria Transit Hub Public Consultation (Open House)
To: Transit hub stakeholders and interested public

The Region of Waterloo believes in open and transparent public consultation. We invite
you to join us to learn more about the King Victoria Transit Hub and provide feedback
on the latest design concepts.
What: King Victoria Transit Hub Public Consultation Open House
When: January 27, 2020 from 4-8 p.m.
Where: Region of Waterloo Headquarters Lobby – 150 Frederick St. Kitchener, ON
The transit hub will connect ION, GRT, GO, VIA, pedestrians and cyclists in one
convenient location. It will connect to the Toronto-Waterloo innovation corridor and
provide opportunities for community and economic development.
The purpose of this public meeting is to inform, answer questions and collect feedback
about current design concepts including the building(s) and use of site space. Regional
staff, architects and Metrolinx will be on hand to answer questions.
Can’t attend? The design concepts and project information are now online. Your
comments are valuable. Visit engagewr.ca to give feedback on current designs, access
key dates and documents, as well as sign up for ongoing project updates.
Regards,
Ellen McGaghey, Project Director
Region of Waterloo
If you require accessibility assistance to participate in this event, please contact us in
advance at: 519-575-4596 or the deaf and hard of hearing line (TTY): 519-575-4608.

“D” is for December and Development!

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There are many “Development Related” events happening this week and you can stay informed by attending any of them. Probably the most important for our city’s development is the meeting on Monday. Bring a coffee, relax in council chambers and listen to a discussion of zoning changes. It can be more exciting than you think!

Monday December 9th at 7 pm.   Meeting of the Planning and Strategic Initiatives Committee to approve the Secondary Plans for KW Hospital/Midtown (the section of our neighbourhood running from King St to Moore Avenue).  Other Secondary Plans for approval include:  Cedar Hill, Victoria Park, Civic Centre, Mill Courtland, King East and Victoria Street.

The meeting will be held in Council Chambers at City Hall and the information is here and the agenda is here (note that some Delegations will present their response to the Secondary Plans).

Tuesday December 10th at 10 am.   Committee of Adjustment

Request from the owner of the property at 52 Wilhelm to sever a lot in order to build two duplexes on the current single lot. Link to meeting.

Thursday, December 12 at 6:30 pm in the Conestoga Room.  The City/owner of the property at 41 Moore Avenue (the vacant lot between Louisa and Wellington) will hold an open house in order for neighbours to review the proposed building plans for the lot.