If you spend any time on social media or watching local news, you’d be forgiven for thinking there’s not a lot of good news out there these days. While I don’t think that’s accurate of what’s really happening, it does feel like we have to be intentional in seeking out positive stories. So, that’s what ‘The Upside’ is all about - highlighting some of the good news stories out there.
Honestly, this first story didn’t start off great, but ends well. Cambridge Councillor Scott Hamilton proposed a motion to Cambridge Council for staff to look into options for building affordable housing on city-owned parking lots. Unfortunately that motion failed 5-4. However, Kitchener Council and Regional Council both expressed interest in this plan and have passed motions that will have staff research which city-owned land might be a good fit for this idea. Regional Councillor Pam Wolf says, “Parking lots, vacant properties, and buildings that could be redeveloped will all be considered. Staff will also report back on possible locations and project concepts, including potential partners.”
While there were lots of organizations and individuals working to make this happen (including Councillor Hamilton), I do want to thank Citizens for Cambridge for all of the work they put in advocating for this motion.
Speaking of affordable housing, Indwell has been busy finishing up work on the redevelopment of St. Mark’s in Kitchener. You can check out a short video that gives you a sneak peak of how things are coming along!
The most recent edition of the Waterloo Regional Labour Council shares the following good news: WRLC Welcomes the Newest Unionized Workers of Waterloo Region!
“Congratulations to the Graduate TAs and RAs at the University of Waterloo for unionizing and joining the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) family! Congratulations also goes out to the Fairway Road Starbucks, where their workers voted to unionize with the United Steelworkers! We are excited to see the labour movement alive and well in Waterloo Region.”
If you still find yourself on Twitter (is anyone actually calling it ‘X’?), you may want to check out Good Twitter where folks are trying to cultivate a positive space on that platform by “Sharing the things that excite, thrill, sooth, salve, inspire or comfort your soul.”
A recent study coming out of the University of Waterloo demonstrates the value of developing and enhancing urban parks as a strategy to improve population health and well-being, and as a means of cost savings to the medical system. Jeffrey Wilson, professor in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development, speaks to why this research is important: “It can be challenging for decision-makers to support the development and expansion of urban parks because there are competing land use pressures, and municipalities are responsible for park operation and maintenance costs. However, this study offers concrete evidence that the health system savings alone justify the financial investment.”
Winter may not be everyone’s favourite season, but perhaps we all need to take a lesson from this doggo and just jump in and enjoy it!