I know this is propaganda curated from only the good news to make the Region of Waterloo look its very best but I gotta say, the 2025 RoW Yearbook really does instill a sense of civic pride & a feeling of momentum.

https://www.rowyearbook.ca/

Not featured: the tireless work of activists & community organizers to shape these policies to be inclusive & accessible thru dissent & critique.

@waterlooregion #Waterloo #Kitchener #Ontario #Wilmot #RegionOfWaterloo #Wellesley #NorthDumfries #Woolwich

#LGBTQ related #Wikipedia article created 1 hour ago

Jane M. Bowers

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jane_M._Bowers
Jane Meredith Bowers (September 17, 1936 – June 28, 2022) was an American flautist, musicologist, educator and feminist. She is most known for editing Women Making Music: The Western Art Tradition, 1150-1950 (1986) and for her contributions to The New Grove Dictionary of Music and Musicians

#Educators #Wellesley #Writers #Scholars

TRAVERSING CULTURAL LANDSCAPES THROUGH THE LIBRARIES

If you’re looking for an affordable way to explore in Waterloo Region this winter, look no farther than your local library. With diverse community programs at a variety of branch locations, there are plenty of opportunities to learn and meet new people. Each of the listed events below are free to attend, open to anyone and require advance registration.  

The Region of Waterloo Library serves the residents of Wellesley, Woolwich, North Dumfries, and Wilmot with 12 branches. Below are five cultural events to add to your calendar.  

Celebrate Black History Month with three short films centering Black stories and history from the National Film Board of Canada (NFB), followed by a community discussion on Wednesday, Feb. 25 from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Register for the Ayr Branch event online. Afterwards, learn about Waterloo Region’s connection to the Underground Railroad by reading about Buxton, Ontario.  

Did you know that chess, formerly known as chaturanga, originated in India during the Gupta Empire in 600 CE? The strategic game’s playing pieces resembled components of the military and the game traversed the world through trading routes. Join a game every Tuesday and Saturday at the New Hamburg Branch and every Wednesday at the Baden Branch from 6:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m.  

Hygge—pronounced “hoo-gah”—is perhaps one of Denmark’s most identifiable cultural exports. It is the notion of coziness and encompasses everything from the glow of a candle to spending time with good people. Head to the Breslau Branch on Tuesday, Feb. 10 for a night of Winter Hygge from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for ages 9 and up. Enjoy hot beverages, crafts and puzzles and good company.  

Embracing winter weather is a feat for some and a joy for others. Cambridge resident and globally published freelance journalist Paul Gains will share his love of the Arctic’s snowy owls during a presentation at the Ayr Branch on Wednesday, Feb. 18 from 7 p.m. to 8 p.m.   

Escape the cold and slip into a sunny state of mind without hopping on a plane. Chef Arielle is teaching a Roti and Trini Curry Masterclass at the Wilmot Recreation Complex on Tuesday, Feb. 24 from 6 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. for ages nine and up.   

The Cambridge Public Library (CPL), Waterloo Public Library (WPL) and Kitchener Public Library (KPL) offer a wide range of tools to rent out, some of which will help support your Waterloo Region (and beyond!) explorations. Visit their websites or branches in-person to borrow skates, snowshoes, trekking poles, wildlife kits, museum passes, or Grand River and Ontario Parks passes.  

Learning a language is a phenomenal way to travel deeper. Start at home with free language classes, French reading buddies, or language circles in French, Chinese, Spanish and English at CPL, WPL and KPL branches.   

Finally, if you’re looking for an activity that’s engaging for the whole family, the WPL is hosting The Great Family Geocache Challenge. Geocaching is an adventurous hobby where participants search for hidden objects based on other participants’ clues. It’s an excellent way to get outside, exercise your brain, and enjoy a new and free activity at home or elsewhere around the world.  

Happy exploring!  

HEATING AND COOLING CENTRES OFFER REFUGE ACROSS THE REGION

Waterloo Region residents can access a network of warming, cooling, and clean air spaces designed to provide temporary relief from extreme weather and poor air quality.  

According to the Region of Waterloo, these designated public buildings offer space for anyone who needs refuge from heat, cold or unsafe air during regular business hours. These spaces are intended for temporary relief and are not meant for extended stays.  

The region made these spaces more accessible during late 2022 and early 2023 by expanding hours beyond official weather warnings. This makes spaces available year-round during extreme cold or heat and opens specific overnight warming shelters.  

“Warming, Cooling, and Clean Air Spaces are buildings in the region that provide space for the public to get temporary relief from heat, cold, or poor air quality during regular business hours,” the Region of Waterloo environmental health webpage state.  

So far, there are 57 spaces coordinated by Region of Waterloo Public Health in Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. They are operated by various partners, including the Region itself, area municipalities, community agencies, recreation centres, libraries, and other public buildings.  

In addition to these locations, two Region of Waterloo buildings, 150 Main St. in Cambridge and 150 Frederick St. in Kitchener, are open on weekends and holidays for community members.  

The Region of Waterloo Housing Services is also working closely with community partners, service providers, and those with lived experience to prepare for the cold weather this year.  

“Winter plans include expansions of the emergency shelter system, creating new overflow spaces in shelters and motels across the community, the distribution of winter warming packages, and the opening of two overnight warming spaces,” Scott Cressman, communications specialist at Waterloo Region, said.   

He stated the Region developed warming packages in partnership with co-creators of the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, including items to support people experiencing homelessness. These packages are distributed by outreach workers who can connect individuals to supports.  

Public libraries also serve as designated spaces. Waterloo Public Library currently has three libraries serving as cooling, warming, and clean air spaces. These branches include the Eastside branch, the John M. Harper branch and the Main branch. Due to size constraints, the McCormick branch is not considered a warming, cooling, or clean air space.  

“As public spaces, community members are welcome and encouraged to visit our library locations any time. In extreme weather conditions, we offer our spaces to anyone in the community, along with all our free library amenities, services, programs, and online resources,” Anjana Kipfer, Marketing and Communications manager at the Waterloo Public Library, said.  

Kipfer explained that she does not know when the libraries were designated as cooling, warming, or clean air spaces, but she suspects it occurred quite a long time ago, and the branches will continue to have this designation.  

“We have been used for temporary relief from heat, cold, or poor air quality throughout the seasons, as a cooling centre in the summer during heat waves, as a clean air space during poor air quality conditions, and as a warming centre during extreme cold warnings,” Kipfer said.  

She also said that besides the Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system the library has for heating, cooling, and air quality, they do not have other specialized equipment.  

Residents can access these spaces even without official weather alerts. Extreme Cold Warnings are issued when temperatures or wind chill reach -30 degrees for at least two hours, while Heat Warnings are issued during high temperatures or when humidex values meet national criteria.   

Many of the designated spaces operate year-round during business hours to provide relief whenever needed, ensuring that residents of all ages, including those experiencing homelessness, have safe and accessible options during extreme weather or poor air quality conditions. 

News -- Amarin of Thailand in Wellesley to return, opening in a new location in Newtonville. https://bostonrestaurants.blogspot.com/2025/12/amarin-of-thailand-in-wellesley-to.html

#restaurant #newton #newtonville #wellesley