The Upside (August 2024)
Let's focus on good things happening in and around Waterloo Region
Work has begun on Kitchener’s newest library branch and the building will be net-zero-carbon, making it the first municipal building in Waterloo Region to be so. Kitchener Public Library’s Southwest branch broke ground on October 16th, 2023 and and should open by next year.
“The all-electric library will incorporate such features as wood building materials, solar photovoltaic panels, controlled use of glazing to capture solar heat, a geothermal field, a thick roof wall, a customized heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system and a building envelope designed with window-to-wall ratio of 29%.”
The Region welcomes its first-ever Integrated Crisis Centre (ICC) at 298 Lawrence Avenue, Kitchener. The Centre, a partnership between Thresholds Homes and Supports and the Canadian Mental Health Association, hopes to fill the gap in specialized care for individuals experiencing mental health and substance-use crises in our community.
According to the press release, “The Centre will provide a trauma-informed and therapeutic environment for those in need, staffed by professionals trained extensively in mental health and addictions.”
As a pilot project, the program currently has minimal funding and therefore limited hours (2 p.m. – 8 p.m., Tuesday – Saturday). The hope is that the pilot will demonstrate the effectiveness of such a program and eventually become a permanent and fully-funded initiative.
“The ICC will ensure clients have a welcoming environment, designed specifically for mental health, addictions and crisis challenges, with access to crisis stabilization and services, including peer support that will improve their overall support experience and health outcomes,” says Helen Fishburn, CEO, Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington.
The weather lately has been perfect for strolling through the park! If you haven’t had a chance recently, consider heading over to Roos Island in Willow River Park (Victoria Park). After being closed for an extended period, the island re-opened to visitors on July 22nd.
During the closure, the bandstand was renovated with an upgraded exterior and updated electrical system. “The surrounding landscaping was also improved with a new accessible pathway, plantings, and seating.” Much of this work was made possible through a donation from Kitchener Rotary.
“The idea of funding the refurbishment of the bandstand became one that we thought would symbolically continue to reflect our legacy, and our promise. The history of the bandstand is even longer than our 100 years of service to the community. It seems fitting that we should build on that history. Like Rotary, the bandstand exists to serve all in the community,” said Adrian DeCoo, the 100th President of Kitchener Rotary
Did you know? Improvements to solar panel technology means that “today’s systems no longer have to point directly at the sun — or even upward.” That’s significant because it allows for solar panels to be placed anywhere on a building, not just the roof.
A Toronto apartment building that needed to replace their balconies, “opted to install specially designed solar panels, manufactured in Toronto, that will generate electricity, lowering the carbon footprint and saving them on their power bill.”
Building-integrated photovoltaics (BIPV) are the newest frontier of solar. Essentially solar panels in disguise, they can be made to resemble marble, wood or steel, and a Toronto company saw their “first BIPV panels rolling off the line in 2021. Since then, they have been installed on a university residence in Halifax, a church in North York, a warehouse in Mississauga, an office building in Dubai and a courthouse in Midland.” Hopefully we’ll see these make an appearance in Waterloo Region soon!
The Region of Waterloo has developed a new Community Benefits Program to “support underrepresented groups in construction, including women, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, newcomers, people who identify as 2SLGBTQ+, veterans, racialized people, and Ontario Works recipients.” This pilot program is helping to minimize employment barriers by leveraging the Region of Waterloo’s affordable housing projects.
The program allows participants up to 1,500 hours of work on site for people needing construction experience. Hear from Emmanuel, one of the program’s participants.
Do you know of a local ‘good news’ story that is worth sharing? Reach out and maybe it will appear in the next edition of the Upside! Thanks for reading.
Thank you, Melissa!
Thanks Melissa!