Host: Leah Gerber
In many communities, the Christmas season is kicked off with a city tree-lighting ceremony, where a large bedecked Christmas tree is lit up for all to see – in fact, Waterloo Region’s three cities are all lighting their Christmas trees this coming Friday. But in today’s environmentally tough times, some may be wondering if cutting down 30-foot giants is the best choice for a city’s Christmas tree. Radio Waterloo takes a look.
CKMS News -2024-10-04- Kitchener’s Community Canopy tree planting program celebrates 1st year
dan kellar
Kitchener – The Community Canopy tree planting program will see over 100 new trees planted in the Chandler-Mowat neighbourhood this year. Some of the trees have been planted already with more going into the ground over the fall. The initiative is a partnership between the City of Kitchener and Reep Green Solutions, and builds on efforts to have 30% of the city covered with tree canopy by 2050
This program targets “deserving neighbourhoods” based on metrics which measure socio-economic factors as well as the current tree canopy cover.
On Thursday October 10th, from 3-5pm, a community event will take place at Laurentian Park to celebrate the accomplishments of the pilot program, and to announce the transformation of the Community Canopy program into an annual initiative.
This show features interviews with Hajnal Kovacs, the forestry project manager for the city of Kitchener, and Taylor Ross the community engagement coordinator for Reep Green Solutions.
dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – The International Water Association has recognized the City of Kitchener for its stormwater management projects through the organization’s Climate Smart Utilities Recognition Programme.
The recognized work, which the IWA calls “most inspiring”, has focused on re-naturalizing stream beds throughout the city and is aimed at adapting to and mitigating the effects of climate change, which includes more frequent storm events with increased intensity. The recognition was made at the IWA’s annual congress, which was held this year from August 11-15th in Toronto.
This show features an interview with Bu Lam, the Director of Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities for the City of Kitchener, who speaks about the recent recognition the city has received for its work on stormwater management.
dan kellar
Waterloo, ON – With wildfires burning across the continent, and record breaking heat intensifying around the world, the additional focus on climate change at this year’s KW VegFest is very timely. VegFest organizers say the annual festival is “for everyone” and they invite folks to “learn about plant-based and planet-based eating, health, gardening, and climate action.”
Among the info-booths at VegFest, representatives from the Waterloo Regional Community Garden Network and the Canadian Association of Physicians for the Environment will be present to discuss links between food, climate and health. The rising popularity of plant based food will be reflected, with vendors from around the region offering their vegetarian and vegan options.
This show features an interview with Mo Markham, a member of Waterloo Region Climate Initiatives, and an organizer of the 7th annual KW VegFest. The event is taking place at the Uptown Square in Waterloo on Saturday July 27th from 2-7pm.
dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – Work on “Kitchener 2051“, the city’s next 25 year official plan has commenced, and staff have opened applications for residents who would like to work in a community working group who will provide guidance throughout the process.
In the press release, Rosa Bustamante, Kitchener’s Director of Planning and Housing Policy said “Kitchener 2051 is an opportunity to tackle these issues head-on, ask big questions, and prepare us for an uncertain future”. With work starting in the fall, the press release says the community working group will “exert real influence through their expertise and insights”.
This show features an interview with Natalie Goss, the policy and research manager for the City of Kitchener. Goss discusses the scope of “Kitchener 2051”, how the plan will be adapted as we move through dynamic social and ecological conditions, and how folks can get involved in shaping the city’s new 25 year official plan.
2024-05-08- Mayor McCabe delivers Waterloo ‘State of the City’ address
by: dan kellar
Waterloo – Waterloo’s annual State of the City was delivered on May 2nd by mayor Dorthy McCabe at Wilfrid Laurier University, and was full of celebration of the current work the city is doing, and enthusiasm for the future.
The mayor focused significantly on the work the city is doing on housing, climate action, community building, infrastructure, service delivery, and affordability and she noted the interconnectedness of these topics throughout her speech.
McCabe also celebrated the youth of the city and the students of the region’s high schools, post-secondary institutions throughout the speech, saying of the “council for the day” students “Waterloo’s future looks very very bright”.
The State of the City was organised by the Rotary Club of Waterloo and raised over 15,000$ for Supportive Housing of Waterloo, an organisation which helps people who have experienced long periods homelessness with housing and other support services.
MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON
At its April 29 Council meeting, Kitchener City Council approved a $250 million capital grant over 25 years ($10 million per year) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.
This decision, part of the city’s second corporate climate action plan named Pivot Net Zero, aims to significantly reduce emissions primarily from city facilities and the city vehicular fleet. In an earlier show this week, CKMS spoke to city staff about these changes.
These goals come amidst various challenges including technological uncertainties and financial constraints. Despite these hurdles, the plan has garnered unanimous support from the council, emphasizing the need to set a positive example for the community and act urgently in the face of the climate emergency declared by the city in June 2019.
The plan aligns with the city’s broader strategic goals of cultivating a green city.
by: dan kellar
Kitchener – Kitchener’s Corporate Climate Action Plan, has been guiding the city’s to transition away from carbon intensive energy sources, with version 2.0 prominently featuring “Pivot Net Zero”. The electrification of cars, light utility vehicles, and hand tools is already well underway, and staff continue to explore new avenues of reducing carbon emissions with larger trucks and equipment.
The city has reported a “payoff” in staff experience due to electrification, citing a reduction in exposure to fumes, noise, and the weight of equipment. Economic savings have also been noticed through maintenance costs and energy efficiency.
This show features interviews with Kitchener’s director of Fleet, Matthew Lynch, and the city’s corporate sustainability officer, Anna Marie Cipriani, who speak about the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for both their fleet and buildings. Kitchener city council will vote on April 29th endorse the updated Corporate Climate Action Plan.
MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON
A few years ago, it was common for car windshields to be spattered with bugs after a drive in the country. According to Jennifer Leat of the Pollinator Roadsides Project, that’s not happening so much anymore. There are fewer bugs, and fewer bugs equals fewer pollinators.
A community driven project to help pollinators will be happening on Saturday April 13 to restore habitat corridors for pollinators by planting pollinator-friendly native plants along roadsides.
Backed by a grant from the Region of Waterloo’s Community Environment Fund with support from volunteers and sponsors, the Pollinator Roadside Project seeks to increase biodiversity, support pollinator conservation, reduce maintenance costs, and control water runoff. The project also hopes to set a provincial and national precedent for prioritizing sustainability in roadside plantings.
Jennifer Leat, Lead of the Pollinator Roadsides project talks to CKMS about the project and the importance of pollinators.
MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON
In 2023, the Ontario government designated Lyme disease a disease of public health significance.
Lyme disease, a combination of skin rashes, fevers, headaches, and fatigue, is contracted from black legged ticks, and if left untreated, can escalate to affect joints, the heart, and nervous system.
Statistics from Public Health Ontario showcase an increase of 300 new Lyme disease cases across the province, From 1, 490 in 2022 to 1, 795 in 2023. In Waterloo Region, the 2003 data has not been released yet, but by looking at earlier years, a clear upward trend is evident, from 13 cases in 2021 to 22 cases in 2022.
ETick.ca is an online platform where people voluntarily report tick sightings in the environment or when found on humans or animals. Comparing the first three months of 2023 to 2024 shows there has been a threefold increase in blacklegged tick reports for KW on eTick.ca.
The Region of Waterloo’s Public Health Manager for Vector-borne Diseases is Rebecca Piovesan, and she talked to CKMS News about lyme disease and back-legged ticks.
In addition to resources above:
Canadian Veterinary Medical Association,
The Ontario government page on Lyme disease and tick removal.
Host: Melissa Bowman
Today’s Waterloo Region Weekly Roundup episode focuses on the June 22nd Region of Waterloo council meeting. This was a rather full agenda as it was the last council meeting prior to the summer break.
Topics discussed at this meeting included the Climate Action Plan, several housing projects, and an update regarding the Region’s child care plan since closing the 5 regionally owned centres last year. There’s also a discussion regarding plans for the Charles Street terminal redevelopment and ReallocateWR’s proposal for an Indigenous Community Hub on that land.
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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.
Check out the archived versions of this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.
You can follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca
Host: Shalaka Jadhav
Climate action is often reported and engaged with at the national and international scale, but often, the local organizing efforts are lesser known. 50×30 Waterloo Region is a grassroots, community-led campaign advocating for the need for Waterloo Region to commit to a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the imperatives of climate science and centering social justice and well-being.
For this segment, I will be in conversation with four community members:
In part two of this two-part series, we’ll talk about the history of organizing in the Region that the campaign is building on, the importance of building solidarity, and what a just climate future could look like, in the Region.
To learn more about 50×30, check out their website, including their petition to Regional Council.
Upcoming events include 50×30 Faith, to engage local faith communities on climate justice on Monday February 22nd, at 7:00pm EST.
If you’re interested engaging with the campaign, create your own 2-minute 50×30 video, take the 50×30 pledge as an organization, business and local group, or browse through the Climate Champion Communications Toolkit to build your own local climate action journey.
If you’d like to learn more about other cities working towards 50×30, consider the work of C40 Cities, including Vancouver, and Halifax.
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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.
Check out the archived versions of this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.
You can follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca.
Music for this episode was courtesy of Dylan Prowse.
Host: Shalaka Jadhav
Climate action is often reported and engaged with at the national and international scale, but often, the local organizing efforts are lesser known. 50×30 Waterloo Region is a grassroots, community-led campaign advocating for the need for Waterloo Region to commit to a 50 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030, in line with the imperatives of climate science and centering social justice and well-being.
For this segment, I will be in conversation with four community members:
In part one, we’ll hear about their motivations, the need for local climate action, and their work on a petition leading up to a motion to be presented at Regional Council.
In part two, we’ll talk about the history of organizing in the Region that the campaign is building on, the importance of building solidarity, and what a just climate future could look like, in the Region.
To learn more about 50×30, check out their website, including their petition to Regional Council.
Upcoming events include 50×30 Faith, to engage local faith communities on climate justice on Monday February 22nd, at 7:00pm EST.
If you’re interested engaging with the campaign, create your own 2-minute 50×30 video, take the 50×30 pledge as an organization, business and local group, or browse through the Climate Champion Communications Toolkit to build your own local climate action journey.
If you’d like to learn more about other cities working towards 50×30, consider the work of C40 Cities, including Vancouver, and Halifax.
—
This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.
Check out the archived versions of this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.
You can follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca.
Music for this episode was courtesy of Dylan Prowse.
