Inventory of Ideas

People Make Great Places: A Community Workshop by LoveMyHood

Posted Friday, November 02, 2018

 “Great public places are those that show off the unique personality of the neighbourhood. When neighbours design and create these features for themselves, they are more likely to bring them to life with activities that make people feel safer and more connected to their neighbourhood.” – Juanita Metzger, LoveMyHood Project Team Member and Mount Hope Resident.

A few years ago, the Love My Hood project team led one of the city’s largest and most inclusive...

Random Acts of (Neighbourhood) Kindness

Posted Tuesday, October 30, 2018

Today is Random Act of Kindness Day, a day to not only practice kindness, but make it a priority.

From colourful crosswalks to community gardens, Love My Hood grants provide residents the opportunity to bring placemaking projects to life. While these projects are important, we know that so much community building happens in day-to-day life through acts of neighbourly kindness.

That’s why we’ve rounded up 10 ways to bring the joy of a simple act of kindness to your...

Kitchener youth show their #LoveMyHood pride at Pride

Posted Tuesday, October 16, 2018

On May 29, 2018, Kitchener’s LGBTQ2+ communities came together to celebrate the installation of the city’s first rainbow crosswalk at Joseph and Gaukel Streets. Residents gave speeches alongside the mayor, and teens chalked up the street with messages of love and support.

This resident-led project began with Placemaking Challenge applications submitted by the rainbow community space SPECTRUM and KW Counselling’s OK2BME youth group. Both proposed a rainbow crosswalk...

Going gaga for gaga ball on Marl Meadow Court

Posted Tuesday, October 02, 2018

Don’t get hit - that’s the goal of Gaga ball.

One summer weekend in 2016, the residents of Marl Meadow Court--a small cul-de-sac near Brigadoon Park--closed off their street to build (and play in) a gaga ball pit!

Residents came out to compete in the neighbourhood game, turning the underused green space in the middle of their cul-de-sac into a ball pit that engaged neighbours of all ages. The gaga ball pit can be easily set up and taken down whenever the mood strikes...

Placemaking makes a splash at the Wilson Community Pool

Posted Tuesday, September 18, 2018

The neighbourhood pool and community centre are important hubs for the residents of Kingsdale.

A group of local artists known as The Firm painted a mural on the side of the Wilson Community Pool building. It screams adventure and excitement—a ship sailing into the sunset, with a Canadian flag, and the word WILSON stylized to resemble crashing waves.

Many residents in the community supported the mural and came to watch the artists hard at work.

“We saw community members...