Published by the Region of Waterloo
Fall 2010
INSIDE SEPTEMBER 2010
Diversion rates increase . . . we’re on our way!
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• Did you know the largest temperate rainforest in the world is right here in Canada? By recycling your paper, you have a direct impact on our forests.
destruction and saved energy equal to filling that pop can half full of gasoline. • Stopped using a plastic, disposable water bottle? Great! You have positively affected climate change. Making a bottle from petroleum creates four times its weight in greenhouse gases. • If you have green binned, you have created compost that is used to improve the health and quality of the soil in our farmers’ fields. Let’s keep that positive impact going. Think reduce, reuse, then recycle. Reduce first - less packaging, less bottles, less waste. Then, take advantage of all the diversion programs, both curbside and drop off at the landfill. Along with the blue box and green bin at your home, you can visit the landfill to divert even more materials for reuse and recycle. Drop off gently used household goods, paints, wood pallets, scrap metals, tires and more! Call us at 519-883-5100 for all the details.
• By recycling just one pop can, you have reduced air and water pollution, habitat
Thank you for making this happen. You are making a difference . . . every day!
he Region of Waterloo has achieved a 51 per cent residential waste diversion rate. This is an excellent jump from last year’s 47 per cent and puts us in the top six per cent of Ontario municipalities. Congratulations to you, our citizens, who made this happen!
Healthy aging gets a boost at Sunnyside New Wellness Centre now open to the public Aging is inevitable. While we can’t stop the passage of time, healthy aging is possible. The Region completed 30 new supportive housing apartments at the Sunnyside Campus at 245 Franklin St. N., Kitchener in May. Supportive housing provides tenants with the care and support services they need to live independently. A first-of-its-kind Wellness Centre also opened to the public. The Sunnyside Wellness Centre removes many of the barriers to access and participation experienced by older adults providing: • exercise programs supervised by a certified kinesiologist in a fitness centre designed specifically for older adults • massage therapy and foot care for all ages • a therapeutic spa for hydrotherapy • educational programs on health, wellness and nutrition
Raising the bar for healthy aging means raising more funds The Sunnyside Foundation’s Wellness Centre campaign has raised $440,000 of its $600,000 target to build, furnish and equip the centre. You can help older adults enjoy a healthy and vibrant life for as long as possible by making a donation to the Sunnyside Wellness Centre campaign by calling 519-893-8494 ext. 6377, email hbeitz@regionofwaterloo.ca or online at www.sunnysidefoundation.ca.
What does 51 per cent waste diversion mean? Over half of the waste we are producing is being effectively reused and recycled through our diversion programs; programs such as the blue box (started right here in the region!), yard waste and, most recently, the green bin. We are on the road to new thinking – that waste is a resource. Fifty-one per cent is already being diverted from landfill and into a new use. Well done! Every time you divert, you have a positive impact on our children’s future.
Do you make a difference? YES!
Only 4.8-litre toilets to be rebated starting January
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he Region will only provide $60 rebate incentives for water efficient toilets flushing 4.8-litres or less as of January 2011. S
With over 700 combinations of makes and models of toilets currently included, residents have a wide selection to choose f
still be eligible for a $40 rebate if other qualifiers are met. Call 519-575-4021 for details.
See inside for your new issue of ENVIRONEWS
Want to tour or join the new centre? Tours, memberships and appointments are available by calling Laura-Lee Spaetzel, Registered Kinesiologist, 519-896-0805. Visit the website at www.region.waterloo.on.ca/sunnyside and choose ‘Wellness Centre’ from the menu.
Shaping the future of Waterloo Region PAGE 2
Sunnyside Wellness Centre Grand Opening and Wellness Expo Saturday, October 16, 2010 • 10 a.m. - 2 p.m. Sunnyside Campus, 245 Franklin St. N., Kitchener Booths and educational sessions on osteoporosis, heart health, Alzheimer’s disease, diabetes, pharmaceutical, massage therapy, foot care and more. For more information, call 519-896-0805. For a full list of participants and education sessions, visit us at www.region.waterloo.on.ca/sunnyside and choose ‘Wellness Centre’ from the menu.
Waterloo Region Museum PAGE 3
Region’s solar panels will supply green energy
August 2010 saw the completion of the largest installation of solar panels to date at the Region of Waterloo. The solar panels were installed on the rooftops of the Operations Centre buildings located at 100 Maple Grove Rd., Cambridge. A contract with the Ontario Power Authority (OPA) will allow the Region to use the solar panels to collect energy from the sun and feed it back into the provincial power grid. It will also provide the Region
with an income of $0.713/kWh. Under ideal conditions the system is capable of generating 170kW of power, which could supply nearly 20 houses with clean solar electricity per year. The total budget for the project was $1.5 million with costs shared equally between the federal, provincial and regional governments through the Infrastructure Stimulus Funding Program. Based on the positive results of the solar panel installation on the Emergency Medical Services Headquarters (2005) and Operations Centre buildings, and the implementation of the Ontario Power Authority’s Feed-In Tariff (FIT) program, Regional Council gave the Region’s Energy Conservation Office the green light to install solar panels on an additional 37 Regionally-owned buildings. This is all part of the Province’s initiative to reduce reliance on nonrenewable sources of power, and the Region’s own Environmental Sustainability Strategy to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by providing clean solar electricity to the Provincial grid.
www.region.waterloo.on.ca
Get involved in accessibility
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The Region of Waterloo 2009 Financial Report is now available. Call 519-575-4099
Comments or questions? Region of Waterloo Customer Service: regionalinquiries @region.waterloo.on.ca Tel: 519-575-4400
Shaping the future of Waterloo Region Regional Council recently approved two very important plans that will shape the future of this community: the Regional Official Plan (ROP) and the Regional Transportation Master Plan. The ROP contains the planning policies needed to direct growth and change in Waterloo Region over the next 20 years. Through the ROP, the Region will continue its tradition of innovative planning and growth management and focus on moving Waterloo Region towards a more balanced community. Key elements of the ROP are: a fixed border between rural and urban areas; directing growth to make better use of land within the built-up areas of the region; increasing transportation choice, including the creation of a rapid transit system; protecting our drinking water and significant environmental areas; and increasing the quality of life of citizens in Waterloo Region. The Regional Transportation Master Plan is a document that will shape the future of
transportation in Waterloo Region. This plan defines the ways our transportation systems will grow and change until 2031. The plan includes the creation of a rapid transit system connecting Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge. It also builds on the progress we have already achieved in transit, walking and cycling, while recognizing that travel by auto will still be an important part of our future transportation network. Planning for transit change and growth will help balance our cultural, economic, environmental and social needs to ensure Waterloo Region will continue to be a livable and sustainable community. For more information on the Regional Official Plan, visit our website at www.region.waterloo.on.ca and click on Living Here and New Regional Official Plan. To learn more about the Regional Transportation Master Plan, please visit www.movingforward2031.ca.
Staying safe when riding the bus Please keep these tips in mind when boarding the bus: 1 Be at the stop in advance. Be at the bus stop at least five minutes before the bus is scheduled to arrive. If you are running to catch the bus, the operator may not see you and you may be left behind. 2 Sitting in the shelter? If you are sitting in the shelter, you may not see the bus as it approaches. Wait at the stop so the operator knows you want to board the bus. 3 Not the bus you want? If the bus that comes is not the bus you want, signal to the operator that you do not want to be picked up. 4 Boarding the bus. Be ready with your fare and ask for a transfer at the start of your trip. Move to the back of the bus to make room for other passengers. 5 Boarding the bus with a bike? Secure your bike on the racks at the front of the bus. Don’t forget to take your bike when you exit the bus. Let the operator know you have a bike on the racks. 6 Stroller safety. Enable the safety brakes on your stroller and hold it firmly to avoid tipping. Position your stroller so it doesn’t block the centre aisle. Grand River Transit wants you to enjoy a safe trip on our buses. Be ready and waiting to catch the bus when it arrives at the stop.
FLY TO PUNTA CANA We make it easy! Non-stop weekly from Waterloo Region For more information contact your local travel agent, or visit www.sunwing.ca today!
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Fairway Road extension and bridge over the Grand River Construction of the Fairway Road extension from Zeller Drive to Fountain Street and Kossuth Road began in late August. The new four-lane road will have two lanes of traffic in each direction, bicycle lanes and sidewalks on both sides and a roundabout at each end. A four-span bridge with no piers in the water will be built over the Grand River and will feature custom designed architecture, pedestrian vistas, scenic lookouts, gateway portals on
Grand River Transit partners with Google Grand River Transit users and city commuters can now access Google Maps to plan their trips within Waterloo Region. As a complementary product to GRT’s EasyGo Trip Planner, Google Transit has combined GRT’s schedules and routes with Google Maps’ travel itineraries. Those seeking to use transit within the region are encouraged to use our EasyGo trip planning software found on our website www.grt.ca. Our SMS text messaging feature is another great way to access times of the next bus while standing at the bus stop. GRT’s partnership with Google is just another way to access routes and schedules. Trips using Google Transit may differ from those received through GRT’s EasyGo system and our customer service department. Google transit uses various calculations for travel times and walking distance. All trip itineraries shown in Google Maps will display the most current schedules, and fare information. Our partnership with Google has now made our transit schedules an integrated feature in Google’s global mapping tool, and is more visible to more transit users.
each side and provisions for future connections to the Walter Bean Trail. The bridge will serve as an important connection between Cambridge and Kitchener. It will also provide another connection from Kitchener to Guelph and additional access to Highway 401 via Highway 24. The extension will also serve the east side lands, an area designated to grow over the next few decades.
Access to the current stretch of Fairway Road, as well as Fountain Street and Kossuth Road will remain open throughout construction. The road and bridge will cost $40.67 million to construct and are expected to be open to traffic by October 2012. Artistic rendering of the bridge to be built over the Grand River as part of the Fairway Road extension project.
Waterloo Region Museum
The Waterloo Region Museum is located at the intersection of two important transportation routes that crossed the property in the 19th and 20th centuries. In the floor of the museum’s lobby, you will find the crossroads where Huron Road and the Galt to Elmira Line of the Grand Trunk Railway intersected for almost 100 years.
www.waterlooregionmuseum.com
Fite the Bite: Protect yourself from West Nile Virus, Lyme Disease and Rabies What is West Nile Virus (WNV)? WNV is primarily a disease of birds, but it can be transmitted to people through the bite of an infected mosquito that has been feeding on the blood of birds carrying the virus.
What is Lyme Disease? Lyme disease is an infection caused by the bacteria Borrelia burgdorferi. In Ontario, these bacteria are spread by the bite of black-legged ticks.
What is Rabies? Rabies is a very serious disease that attacks the nervous system and affects the behaviour of an animal. It is spread when the saliva of an infected animal enters a cut or wound through the animal bite or scratch.
Diseases can spread to people through mosquito or tick bites, or contact with animals. You can take action to avoid these diseases. Visit our website at www.region.waterloo.on.ca/ph to learn more about the disease and what you can do to fight the bite. If you think you may have any of the illnesses above, or have been bitten by an animal, immediately contact your doctor and inform Public Health at 519-883-2008 ext. 5147.
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Get involved! Help improve accessibility for people with disabilities in your community!
COUNCIL CONTACTS REGIONAL CHAIR Ken Seiling kseiling@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4585 (R) COUNCILLORS
The Region of Waterloo along with the Cities of Kitchener and Waterloo, and the Townships of North Dumfries, Wellesley, and Woolwich are now recruiting two volunteers for the Grand River Accessibility Advisory Committee (GRAAC), each to fill a three-year term beginning January 2011. Members of GRAAC provide input and advice into accessibility planning for the six participating municipalities. For more information, including membership application, please visit: www.graac.ca or contact: Vanessa Lopak, Region of Waterloo, at vlopak@regionofwaterloo.ca, 519-575-4757 ext. 3861 or 519-575-4608 (TTY). Pamela Albrecht, City of Kitchener, at Pamela.Albrecht@kitchener.ca, 519-741-2226, or 1-866-969-9994 (TTY). Applications for membership will be accepted until Wednesday, November 10, 2010.
CAMBRIDGE Jane Brewer jbrewer@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3402 (R) 519-653-3315 (H) Doug Craig dcraig@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3404 (R) 519-740-4517 Ext. 4215 (W) Claudette Millar cmillar@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3408 (R) 519-621-7202 (H) KITCHENER Tom Galloway tgalloway@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3401 (R) 519-578-2112 (H) Jean Haalboom jhaalboom@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3406 (R) 519-748-1508 (H) Jake Smola jsmola@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3413 (R) 519-571-4130 (W) Jim Wideman jwideman@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3409 (R) 519-576-5150 (H) Carl Zehr czehr@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3403 (R) 519-741-2300 (W) NORTH DUMFRIES Kim Denouden kdenouden@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3407 (R) 519-621-0340 (W) WATERLOO Brenda Halloran bhalloran@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3400 (R) 519-747-8700 (W) Jane Mitchell jmitchell@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3411 (R) 519-886-9626 (H) Sean Strickland sstrickland@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-503-0613 (R) WELLESLEY Ross Kelterborn rkelterborn@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3410 (R) 519-699-4611 (W) WILMOT Wayne Roth wroth@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3412 (R) 519-634-8444 Ext. 231(W) WOOLWICH Bill Strauss bstrauss@regionofwaterloo.ca 519-575-4404 Ext. 3405 (R) 519-669-1647 Ext. 245 (W) General Fax for Council 519-575-4048 W-work R-region H-home
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Serving you better Visitors to Regional Headquarters at 150 Frederick St., Kitchener, will now receive a warm welcome as they enter the main lobby. A Citizen Service Associate can answer your general questions and help point you in the right direction. You can also buy Grand River Transit bus tickets and monthly passes at the counter and you can pick up applications for these and many more: Passport Birth Certificate Social Insurance Community (affordable) Housing Watering By-Law Permits
These same services will continue to be available at the Citizen Service counters at 99 Regina St. S., Waterloo, and 150 Main St., Cambridge.
With two kids getting ready takes a lot longer. With easyGo online trip planning, I know exactly how much time I have and can plan ahead.
makes it easy! SMS alerts Online trip planning Next bus calling
visit www.grt.ca today for more info
How to find out about career opportunities at the Region of Waterloo and be heard Are you interested in a career with the Region of Waterloo but not sure how to find out about current opportunities? Visit the Region of Waterloo website at
www.region.waterloo.on.ca and subscribe to our RSS feed to get automatic notification of all new career opportunities.
Making a difference – every day
www.region.waterloo.on.ca
MONDAY, OCTOBER 25, 2010
2010 MUNICIPAL