#kitchenerwaterloo — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #kitchenerwaterloo, aggregated by home.social.
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Hey, Waterloo region folks! I've been getting farm shares through Fertile Ground Farm for over ten years now. They're nice folks, and the food is good, too. They're looking for some more folks to sign on. If you choose to join, in, mention I sent you and I'll get a small credit. @WaterlooEvents @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo #kitchener
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) connects you directly with your farmers. Members sign up for a share of the harvest & are treated to an assortment of the fresh, locally-grown vegetables in season each week. Eat well AND feel great knowing your investment supports:
ecological farming methods
fair wages for our workers
affordable food distribution in the KW community
decreased food waste and carbon footprint
100% local with most CSA vegetables grown here at our farm.
Shares run June-October and are offered in 3 sizes. Pick-up in West Waterloo Thursdays 3:30-6:00. -
Hey, Waterloo region folks! I've been getting farm shares through Fertile Ground Farm for over ten years now. They're nice folks, and the food is good, too. They're looking for some more folks to sign on. If you choose to join, in, mention I sent you and I'll get a small credit. @WaterlooEvents @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo #kitchener
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) connects you directly with your farmers. Members sign up for a share of the harvest & are treated to an assortment of the fresh, locally-grown vegetables in season each week. Eat well AND feel great knowing your investment supports:
ecological farming methods
fair wages for our workers
affordable food distribution in the KW community
decreased food waste and carbon footprint
100% local with most CSA vegetables grown here at our farm.
Shares run June-October and are offered in 3 sizes. Pick-up in West Waterloo Thursdays 3:30-6:00. -
Hey, Waterloo region folks! I've been getting farm shares through Fertile Ground Farm for over ten years now. They're nice folks, and the food is good, too. They're looking for some more folks to sign on. If you choose to join, in, mention I sent you and I'll get a small credit. @WaterlooEvents @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo #kitchener
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) connects you directly with your farmers. Members sign up for a share of the harvest & are treated to an assortment of the fresh, locally-grown vegetables in season each week. Eat well AND feel great knowing your investment supports:
ecological farming methods
fair wages for our workers
affordable food distribution in the KW community
decreased food waste and carbon footprint
100% local with most CSA vegetables grown here at our farm.
Shares run June-October and are offered in 3 sizes. Pick-up in West Waterloo Thursdays 3:30-6:00. -
Hey, Waterloo region folks! I've been getting farm shares through Fertile Ground Farm for over ten years now. They're nice folks, and the food is good, too. They're looking for some more folks to sign on. If you choose to join, in, mention I sent you and I'll get a small credit. @WaterlooEvents @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo #kitchener
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) connects you directly with your farmers. Members sign up for a share of the harvest & are treated to an assortment of the fresh, locally-grown vegetables in season each week. Eat well AND feel great knowing your investment supports:
ecological farming methods
fair wages for our workers
affordable food distribution in the KW community
decreased food waste and carbon footprint
100% local with most CSA vegetables grown here at our farm.
Shares run June-October and are offered in 3 sizes. Pick-up in West Waterloo Thursdays 3:30-6:00. -
Hey, Waterloo region folks! I've been getting farm shares through Fertile Ground Farm for over ten years now. They're nice folks, and the food is good, too. They're looking for some more folks to sign on. If you choose to join, in, mention I sent you and I'll get a small credit. @WaterlooEvents @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo #kitchener
Community Shared Agriculture (CSA) connects you directly with your farmers. Members sign up for a share of the harvest & are treated to an assortment of the fresh, locally-grown vegetables in season each week. Eat well AND feel great knowing your investment supports:
ecological farming methods
fair wages for our workers
affordable food distribution in the KW community
decreased food waste and carbon footprint
100% local with most CSA vegetables grown here at our farm.
Shares run June-October and are offered in 3 sizes. Pick-up in West Waterloo Thursdays 3:30-6:00. -
The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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📅LAST CALL to sign up for this month’s meeting! 🌟 FEATURED SPEAKER: @[email protected] 📅 When: May 12 at 7:00 PM ET (Speaker at 7:30 PM) ✅ Members: Check your email for meeting details #KWKnittersGuild #MayMonthlyMeeting #MonthlySpeaker #AllWelcome #KnittingCommunity #KitchenerWaterloo
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📅LAST CALL to sign up for this month’s meeting! 🌟 FEATURED SPEAKER: @[email protected] 📅 When: May 12 at 7:00 PM ET (Speaker at 7:30 PM) ✅ Members: Check your email for meeting details #KWKnittersGuild #MayMonthlyMeeting #MonthlySpeaker #AllWelcome #KnittingCommunity #KitchenerWaterloo
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📅LAST CALL to sign up for this month’s meeting! 🌟 FEATURED SPEAKER: @[email protected] 📅 When: May 12 at 7:00 PM ET (Speaker at 7:30 PM) ✅ Members: Check your email for meeting details #KWKnittersGuild #MayMonthlyMeeting #MonthlySpeaker #AllWelcome #KnittingCommunity #KitchenerWaterloo
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📅LAST CALL to sign up for this month’s meeting! 🌟 FEATURED SPEAKER: @[email protected] 📅 When: May 12 at 7:00 PM ET (Speaker at 7:30 PM) ✅ Members: Check your email for meeting details #KWKnittersGuild #MayMonthlyMeeting #MonthlySpeaker #AllWelcome #KnittingCommunity #KitchenerWaterloo
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📅LAST CALL to sign up for this month’s meeting! 🌟 FEATURED SPEAKER: @[email protected] 📅 When: May 12 at 7:00 PM ET (Speaker at 7:30 PM) ✅ Members: Check your email for meeting details #KWKnittersGuild #MayMonthlyMeeting #MonthlySpeaker #AllWelcome #KnittingCommunity #KitchenerWaterloo
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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At the CFUW Book sale and they brought out 4 whole boxes of Star Trek paperbacks!
It’s the second day of the sale, so it’s a bit picked over. Nevertheless, I grabbed some dated social science books, one computer book, and even a few Aubrey-Maturin books. #Waterloo #KitchenerWaterloo
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Holy shit, they sent me a phone book.
It's very thin.
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KW - schools are closed tomorrow for us too
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“In general, #houses in #Kitchener-Waterloo are much cheaper. In 2025, the average price for a home was $673,100, while in #Toronto, the average rang up to $956,800.” www.blogto.com/city/2026/01...
Ontario city named best place ... -
Thoughts on this *possible* new show for kids and families on CityNews Kitchener? ✨️😉😁 #thedoonies #570news #kitchenerwaterloo #radio www.instagram.com/tv/DTL5NVhEq...
Emma Miller on Instagram: "Tho... -
Thoughts on this *possible* new show for kids and families on CityNews Kitchener? ✨️😉😁 #thedoonies #570news #kitchenerwaterloo #radio www.instagram.com/tv/DTL5NVhEq...
Emma Miller on Instagram: "Tho... -
Thoughts on this *possible* new show for kids and families on CityNews Kitchener? ✨️😉😁 #thedoonies #570news #kitchenerwaterloo #radio www.instagram.com/tv/DTL5NVhEq...
Emma Miller on Instagram: "Tho... -
Thoughts on this *possible* new show for kids and families on CityNews Kitchener? ✨️😉😁 #thedoonies #570news #kitchenerwaterloo #radio www.instagram.com/tv/DTL5NVhEq...
Emma Miller on Instagram: "Tho... -
Thoughts on this *possible* new show for kids and families on CityNews Kitchener? ✨️😉😁 #thedoonies #570news #kitchenerwaterloo #radio www.instagram.com/tv/DTL5NVhEq...
Emma Miller on Instagram: "Tho... -
A WALK ALONG THE WALTER BEAN TRAIL WITH BEN GORODETSKY
The rain that greeted us at the Walter Bean Trail in Kitchener did not deter actor/producer/teacher/writer Ben Gorodetsky (he/they) from enjoying our walk.
“I feel most at home when it’s lightly raining and we’re near a body of water,” Gorodetsky said. “It feels very nourishing.”
Gorodetsky was born in Edmonton, Alberta, just ten days after his parents immigrated from Donetsk, Ukraine. His mother was not the only pregnant member of their party—they also transported a pet spaniel who gave birth to a litter of puppies two weeks after Gorodetsky was born.
After a stint in Saskatoon where their father trained as a vet, Gorodetsky grew up in Burnaby, British Columbia, and they developed a connection to large bodies of water and nature to tap into an unbound and energetic sense of self. That connection is one they continue to draw on in their artistic work.
While living in the Vancouver suburbs, Gorodetsky’s parents enrolled him in a Russian youth theatre to preserve his mother tongue.
“That was very important to them, cultural…linguistic preservation,” Gorodetsky said. “This theatre [became] a slippery slope…not just to multilinguality but also to a career in the arts.”
The arts were ever-present in Gorodetsky’s upbringing. In addition to language preservation, their parents provided access to art both inside and outside the home.
“They took us to see shitloads of theatre and shitloads of music,” Gorodetsky said. “They organized…Soviet alternative folk music festivals all through my childhood. [My dad] was not doing it for the career, was losing money on it every single time, but was doing it because it made life worth living.”
Our path on the trail took us past the Humane Society, where the barking of dogs enjoying a romp in the rain mixed with the sounds from the Grand River to provide a soundtrack for the conversation.
Gorodetsky left British Columbia to pursue acting training in the conservatory program at the University of Alberta. He also developed improv skills by performing regularly with Rapid Fire Theatre. After graduation, Gorodetsky began creating his own work.
“I got really into documentary theatre, working with interviews…artifacts…documents, and making something current and vital,” Gorodetsky said. “For me…[docu-based is] just the only way that I know how to do anything, and it seems to be another pathway into the truth. [I] love oversharing, love TMI.”
They continued their exploration of truth and art at Brooklyn College in the Performance and Interactive Media Arts Master’s program, moving to New York with their partner. After graduation, and now with a young child, a teaching opportunity brought Gorodetsky and their family back to Canada on what was to be a temporary basis, but the pandemic changed their plans.
Gorodetsky’s sister-in-law offered her home in Waterloo, and what was meant to be a short-term solution lasted over a year and included the birth of their second child. The pandemic was a challenging time for Gorodetsky’s mental health, but the decision to make roots in this community helped them recover.
“Without any grand foresight, but with some desire to live rather than not, I started making changes,” Gorodetsky said. “Let’s try and make a go of here…so Fall 2021 I launched Pinch Cabaret to try and meet every cool artist in town.”
Inspired by the model of production they witnessed at home as a child; Gorodetsky began hosting the monthly variety show which platforms artists from a wide range of disciplines and backgrounds. Pinch Arts grew to include improv classes and workshops, as well as the monthly Together We’re Boisterous comedy show.
Humour and getting a laugh is one artistic fuel for Gorodetsky. As a project for a gifted program in elementary school, they decided to take a performative approach and dance with their dog, eschewing the expectations of a more traditional report.
From there, Gorodetsky developed a love of the absurd and the audience. He used improv to finely tune his humour and sought ways to layer in drama and catharsis to achieve a surprise tonal shift in his work.
“I’m interested in dark humour and playful tragedy,” he said. “I think the one is boring without the other, like a chocolate chip cookie without a little bit of sea salt on top.”
The intersection of family, art, and animals led Gorodetsky to create My Pet Ate What?, a documentary television series for CTV Wild and Crave that follows their veterinarian father as he performs endoscopy on pets to retrieve ingested items.
Through his work performing, creating, teaching and producing, Gorodetsky has discovered that connection is key for his artistic and emotional well-being. He continues to look for opportunities to create art and foster community in Kitchener-Waterloo.
“I thought greatness was the only goal,” they said. “I’ve learned that meaning can be derived from joy and happiness and groundedness and community, and it’s about a lateral reach. [I’ve arrived] at the greatest life; I literally never could have imagined,” Gorodetsky said.
#Alberta #BenGorodetsky #britishColumbia #brooklynCollege #ctvWildAndCrave #documentaryTheatre #edmonton #humaneSociety #kitchenerWaterloo #myPetAteWhat #pandemic #togetherWeReBoisterous #walkInThePark
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Shout out to Ravenwood Tabletop for their #TTRPG holiday market. They worked extra hard to accommodate my whole family on an incredibly busy day.
https://ravenwoodtabletop.ca/products/a-ravenwood-holiday-bazaar
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Waterloo region folks, please keep an eye out for David. He went missing yesterday in the Chesapeake Drive area. https://www.ctvnews.ca/kitchener/article/missing-84-year-old-man-last-seen-in-waterloo/ @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo
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Pet water fountain - free to anybody local. Comes with a few filters.
It's this one:
https://www.amazon.ca/dp/B0CL4WMX6Z
#KWAwesome #KitchenerWaterloo #Kitchener #WaterlooRegion #Waterloo #FreeStuff
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WELCOME TO OUR QRIB
Willow River Centre and Spectrum’s Black, Racialized and Indigenous Queers (BRIQ) House are co-organizing a series of events called QRIB (Queer, Racialized, Indigenous and Black) community hangouts to help foster a safer community for self-identifying queer, racialized, Indigenous and Black individuals.
The two organizations started hosting these hangouts last year from Aug. 9 to Dec 13. Initially focused on karaoke, the hangouts have since evolved to include other community-focused activities like bonfires and discussion circles.
The name “QRIB” is a play on words for the word crib and was chosen to evoke a sense of home or gathering space. The Willow-River Centre, an event venue based in Kitchener, played a key role by offering a space designed for the Indigenous and racialized queer population, incorporating culturally specific elements, local art and non-hierarchical, healing-focused community values, instead of clinical or colonial support models.
“They bring a sense of safety for a lot of Indigenous and queer people locally,” Karla Gomez, a facilitator of the QRIB hangout, said.
Spectrum provides funding and support, including food and resources at hangouts. Though the organization wasn’t initially inclusive, recent leadership changes made it more committed to reconciliation and community prioritization.
“The hangouts are non-hierarchical, free, and community-led, fostering healing and connection in ways that feel safe and liberating to those involved,” Roni Noodle, a director of the QRIB hangouts, said.
Noodle also explained how QRIB is unique in Kitchener-Waterloo, and no other local spaces offer the same intersectional support for 2SLGBTQIA+ and racialized individuals. Noodle described BRIQ House as another supportive space for Indigenous and queer people in the area but noted it holds a different relationship with the community compared to Willow River Centre. Although Spectrum started hosting QRIB hangouts to create a more inclusive space, it’s not a space designed for racialized, Black and Indigenous individuals. Even though they’re attempting to change, they decided a partnership with Willow River Centre will help them.
“It’s a space where you don’t need to translate your soul. It’s designed with you in mind,” Roni said.
They said that people from within the racialized or queer community are not always comfortable in public spaces and they do not feel acknowledged or seen, but this is a space where those individuals can feel comfort and express themselves more freely.
Noodle explained that last year’s QRIB hangouts went very well. However, Spectrum’s director changed earlier this year and the two organizations were not sure if they had funding for the hangouts this year. However, the new director was very supportive of the events.
“Events like this are too important to the community for us not to prioritize funding for it,” Gomez said.
She said events such as the QRIB hangout need to exist, saying that Spectrum continues to show commitment to supporting these hangouts, by applying for funding for racialized Indigenous Queers.
These events have had a successful turnout so far, with returning participants and new individuals joining the hangout, these events also address local issues revolving around the racialized, queer, and Indigenous communities such as peer support, food insecurity, loneliness, and isolation.
#2SLGBTQIA_ #Black #colonialSupportModel #FoodInsecurity #healingFocused #Indigenous #Isolation #karlaGomez #KitchenerWaterloo #LocalArt #loneliness #PeerSupport #qrib #queer #racialized #RoniNoodle #SafeSpace #SangjunHan #Spectrum #WillowRiverCentre
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WELCOME TO OUR QRIB
Willow River Centre and Spectrum’s Black, Racialized and Indigenous Queers (BRIQ) House are co-organizing a series of events called QRIB (Queer, Racialized, Indigenous and Black) community hangouts to help foster a safer community for self-identifying queer, racialized, Indigenous and Black individuals.
The two organizations started hosting these hangouts last year from Aug. 9 to Dec 13. Initially focused on karaoke, the hangouts have since evolved to include other community-focused activities like bonfires and discussion circles.
The name “QRIB” is a play on words for the word crib and was chosen to evoke a sense of home or gathering space. The Willow-River Centre, an event venue based in Kitchener, played a key role by offering a space designed for the Indigenous and racialized queer population, incorporating culturally specific elements, local art and non-hierarchical, healing-focused community values, instead of clinical or colonial support models.
“They bring a sense of safety for a lot of Indigenous and queer people locally,” Karla Gomez, a facilitator of the QRIB hangout, said.
Spectrum provides funding and support, including food and resources at hangouts. Though the organization wasn’t initially inclusive, recent leadership changes made it more committed to reconciliation and community prioritization.
“The hangouts are non-hierarchical, free, and community-led, fostering healing and connection in ways that feel safe and liberating to those involved,” Roni Noodle, a director of the QRIB hangouts, said.
Noodle also explained how QRIB is unique in Kitchener-Waterloo, and no other local spaces offer the same intersectional support for 2SLGBTQIA+ and racialized individuals. Noodle described BRIQ House as another supportive space for Indigenous and queer people in the area but noted it holds a different relationship with the community compared to Willow River Centre. Although Spectrum started hosting QRIB hangouts to create a more inclusive space, it’s not a space designed for racialized, Black and Indigenous individuals. Even though they’re attempting to change, they decided a partnership with Willow River Centre will help them.
“It’s a space where you don’t need to translate your soul. It’s designed with you in mind,” Roni said.
They said that people from within the racialized or queer community are not always comfortable in public spaces and they do not feel acknowledged or seen, but this is a space where those individuals can feel comfort and express themselves more freely.
Noodle explained that last year’s QRIB hangouts went very well. However, Spectrum’s director changed earlier this year and the two organizations were not sure if they had funding for the hangouts this year. However, the new director was very supportive of the events.
“Events like this are too important to the community for us not to prioritize funding for it,” Gomez said.
She said events such as the QRIB hangout need to exist, saying that Spectrum continues to show commitment to supporting these hangouts, by applying for funding for racialized Indigenous Queers.
These events have had a successful turnout so far, with returning participants and new individuals joining the hangout, these events also address local issues revolving around the racialized, queer, and Indigenous communities such as peer support, food insecurity, loneliness, and isolation.
#2SLGBTQIA_ #Black #colonialSupportModel #FoodInsecurity #healingFocused #Indigenous #Isolation #karlaGomez #KitchenerWaterloo #LocalArt #loneliness #PeerSupport #qrib #queer #racialized #RoniNoodle #SafeSpace #SangjunHan #Spectrum #WillowRiverCentre
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WELCOME TO OUR QRIB
Willow River Centre and Spectrum’s Black, Racialized and Indigenous Queers (BRIQ) House are co-organizing a series of events called QRIB (Queer, Racialized, Indigenous and Black) community hangouts to help foster a safer community for self-identifying queer, racialized, Indigenous and Black individuals.
The two organizations started hosting these hangouts last year from Aug. 9 to Dec 13. Initially focused on karaoke, the hangouts have since evolved to include other community-focused activities like bonfires and discussion circles.
The name “QRIB” is a play on words for the word crib and was chosen to evoke a sense of home or gathering space. The Willow-River Centre, an event venue based in Kitchener, played a key role by offering a space designed for the Indigenous and racialized queer population, incorporating culturally specific elements, local art and non-hierarchical, healing-focused community values, instead of clinical or colonial support models.
“They bring a sense of safety for a lot of Indigenous and queer people locally,” Karla Gomez, a facilitator of the QRIB hangout, said.
Spectrum provides funding and support, including food and resources at hangouts. Though the organization wasn’t initially inclusive, recent leadership changes made it more committed to reconciliation and community prioritization.
“The hangouts are non-hierarchical, free, and community-led, fostering healing and connection in ways that feel safe and liberating to those involved,” Roni Noodle, a director of the QRIB hangouts, said.
Noodle also explained how QRIB is unique in Kitchener-Waterloo, and no other local spaces offer the same intersectional support for 2SLGBTQIA+ and racialized individuals. Noodle described BRIQ House as another supportive space for Indigenous and queer people in the area but noted it holds a different relationship with the community compared to Willow River Centre. Although Spectrum started hosting QRIB hangouts to create a more inclusive space, it’s not a space designed for racialized, Black and Indigenous individuals. Even though they’re attempting to change, they decided a partnership with Willow River Centre will help them.
“It’s a space where you don’t need to translate your soul. It’s designed with you in mind,” Roni said.
They said that people from within the racialized or queer community are not always comfortable in public spaces and they do not feel acknowledged or seen, but this is a space where those individuals can feel comfort and express themselves more freely.
Noodle explained that last year’s QRIB hangouts went very well. However, Spectrum’s director changed earlier this year and the two organizations were not sure if they had funding for the hangouts this year. However, the new director was very supportive of the events.
“Events like this are too important to the community for us not to prioritize funding for it,” Gomez said.
She said events such as the QRIB hangout need to exist, saying that Spectrum continues to show commitment to supporting these hangouts, by applying for funding for racialized Indigenous Queers.
These events have had a successful turnout so far, with returning participants and new individuals joining the hangout, these events also address local issues revolving around the racialized, queer, and Indigenous communities such as peer support, food insecurity, loneliness, and isolation.
#2SLGBTQIA_ #Black #colonialSupportModel #FoodInsecurity #healingFocused #Indigenous #Isolation #karlaGomez #KitchenerWaterloo #LocalArt #loneliness #PeerSupport #qrib #queer #racialized #RoniNoodle #SafeSpace #SangjunHan #Spectrum #WillowRiverCentre
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WELCOME TO OUR QRIB
Willow River Centre and Spectrum’s Black, Racialized and Indigenous Queers (BRIQ) House are co-organizing a series of events called QRIB (Queer, Racialized, Indigenous and Black) community hangouts to help foster a safer community for self-identifying queer, racialized, Indigenous and Black individuals.
The two organizations started hosting these hangouts last year from Aug. 9 to Dec 13. Initially focused on karaoke, the hangouts have since evolved to include other community-focused activities like bonfires and discussion circles.
The name “QRIB” is a play on words for the word crib and was chosen to evoke a sense of home or gathering space. The Willow-River Centre, an event venue based in Kitchener, played a key role by offering a space designed for the Indigenous and racialized queer population, incorporating culturally specific elements, local art and non-hierarchical, healing-focused community values, instead of clinical or colonial support models.
“They bring a sense of safety for a lot of Indigenous and queer people locally,” Karla Gomez, a facilitator of the QRIB hangout, said.
Spectrum provides funding and support, including food and resources at hangouts. Though the organization wasn’t initially inclusive, recent leadership changes made it more committed to reconciliation and community prioritization.
“The hangouts are non-hierarchical, free, and community-led, fostering healing and connection in ways that feel safe and liberating to those involved,” Roni Noodle, a director of the QRIB hangouts, said.
Noodle also explained how QRIB is unique in Kitchener-Waterloo, and no other local spaces offer the same intersectional support for 2SLGBTQIA+ and racialized individuals. Noodle described BRIQ House as another supportive space for Indigenous and queer people in the area but noted it holds a different relationship with the community compared to Willow River Centre. Although Spectrum started hosting QRIB hangouts to create a more inclusive space, it’s not a space designed for racialized, Black and Indigenous individuals. Even though they’re attempting to change, they decided a partnership with Willow River Centre will help them.
“It’s a space where you don’t need to translate your soul. It’s designed with you in mind,” Roni said.
They said that people from within the racialized or queer community are not always comfortable in public spaces and they do not feel acknowledged or seen, but this is a space where those individuals can feel comfort and express themselves more freely.
Noodle explained that last year’s QRIB hangouts went very well. However, Spectrum’s director changed earlier this year and the two organizations were not sure if they had funding for the hangouts this year. However, the new director was very supportive of the events.
“Events like this are too important to the community for us not to prioritize funding for it,” Gomez said.
She said events such as the QRIB hangout need to exist, saying that Spectrum continues to show commitment to supporting these hangouts, by applying for funding for racialized Indigenous Queers.
These events have had a successful turnout so far, with returning participants and new individuals joining the hangout, these events also address local issues revolving around the racialized, queer, and Indigenous communities such as peer support, food insecurity, loneliness, and isolation.
#2SLGBTQIA_ #Black #colonialSupportModel #FoodInsecurity #healingFocused #Indigenous #Isolation #karlaGomez #KitchenerWaterloo #LocalArt #loneliness #PeerSupport #qrib #queer #racialized #RoniNoodle #SafeSpace #SangjunHan #Spectrum #WillowRiverCentre
-
WELCOME TO OUR QRIB
Willow River Centre and Spectrum’s Black, Racialized and Indigenous Queers (BRIQ) House are co-organizing a series of events called QRIB (Queer, Racialized, Indigenous and Black) community hangouts to help foster a safer community for self-identifying queer, racialized, Indigenous and Black individuals.
The two organizations started hosting these hangouts last year from Aug. 9 to Dec 13. Initially focused on karaoke, the hangouts have since evolved to include other community-focused activities like bonfires and discussion circles.
The name “QRIB” is a play on words for the word crib and was chosen to evoke a sense of home or gathering space. The Willow-River Centre, an event venue based in Kitchener, played a key role by offering a space designed for the Indigenous and racialized queer population, incorporating culturally specific elements, local art and non-hierarchical, healing-focused community values, instead of clinical or colonial support models.
“They bring a sense of safety for a lot of Indigenous and queer people locally,” Karla Gomez, a facilitator of the QRIB hangout, said.
Spectrum provides funding and support, including food and resources at hangouts. Though the organization wasn’t initially inclusive, recent leadership changes made it more committed to reconciliation and community prioritization.
“The hangouts are non-hierarchical, free, and community-led, fostering healing and connection in ways that feel safe and liberating to those involved,” Roni Noodle, a director of the QRIB hangouts, said.
Noodle also explained how QRIB is unique in Kitchener-Waterloo, and no other local spaces offer the same intersectional support for 2SLGBTQIA+ and racialized individuals. Noodle described BRIQ House as another supportive space for Indigenous and queer people in the area but noted it holds a different relationship with the community compared to Willow River Centre. Although Spectrum started hosting QRIB hangouts to create a more inclusive space, it’s not a space designed for racialized, Black and Indigenous individuals. Even though they’re attempting to change, they decided a partnership with Willow River Centre will help them.
“It’s a space where you don’t need to translate your soul. It’s designed with you in mind,” Roni said.
They said that people from within the racialized or queer community are not always comfortable in public spaces and they do not feel acknowledged or seen, but this is a space where those individuals can feel comfort and express themselves more freely.
Noodle explained that last year’s QRIB hangouts went very well. However, Spectrum’s director changed earlier this year and the two organizations were not sure if they had funding for the hangouts this year. However, the new director was very supportive of the events.
“Events like this are too important to the community for us not to prioritize funding for it,” Gomez said.
She said events such as the QRIB hangout need to exist, saying that Spectrum continues to show commitment to supporting these hangouts, by applying for funding for racialized Indigenous Queers.
These events have had a successful turnout so far, with returning participants and new individuals joining the hangout, these events also address local issues revolving around the racialized, queer, and Indigenous communities such as peer support, food insecurity, loneliness, and isolation.
#2SLGBTQIA_ #Black #colonialSupportModel #FoodInsecurity #healingFocused #Indigenous #Isolation #karlaGomez #KitchenerWaterloo #LocalArt #loneliness #PeerSupport #qrib #queer #racialized #RoniNoodle #SafeSpace #SangjunHan #Spectrum #WillowRiverCentre
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NOWHERE TO GO: THE PUBLIC WASHROOM SHORTAGE IN KITCHENER WATERLOO
In a region known for innovation and growth, one necessity remains elusive: a place to go when nature calls. For residents, tourists and the city’s most vulnerable, the search for a public washroom in Kitchener-Waterloo can feel like a scavenger hunt—one with no prize at the end.
Despite being home to over half a million people, Kitchener-Waterloo has very few public washrooms. In 2024, the City of Waterloo unveiled a stand-alone public toilet: the Uptown Loo. Installed on a traffic island at the south end of Uptown Waterloo, the facility has all the bells and whistles— it is self-cleaning, accessible and secure. But it is also a stark reminder of how far the region still must go.
The Uptown Loo was a step forward, but it remains the only one of its kind. According to municipal records, there are no public bathrooms in the region that are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Even the Uptown Loo closes at night. The few round-the-clock options are seasonal porta-potties at sports fields—hardly a solution for a growing urban population. And while private businesses once filled the gap, many have now locked their doors to non-customers, citing safety and maintenance concerns.
This shortage is more than civic oversight—it is a public health and human rights issue: for people experiencing homelessness, those with medical conditions, parents with young children and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The lack of accessible washrooms can mean indignity, discomfort and danger. For those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, the lack of accessible facilities can be a barrier to participating in public life altogether.
Historically, public bathrooms have been fraught with social tension. In Canada, moral panics around gay sex led to the closure of many public facilities. These closures were often justified under the guise of public safety, but they disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. The legacy of that era still lingers in how cities design and manage public spaces today.
“Public spaces reflect our values,” Troy Glover, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, said. “If we truly want public spaces to work for all people, we have to start by asking who they’re currently designed to exclude.”
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the answer is clear. The people arguably most in need of public facilities—those experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—are often the ones left out of the conversation. And when they are included, it is usually in the context of risk management rather than rights.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding public bathrooms today is their association with drug use. There is a widespread perception that public washrooms will become hotspots for drug consumption, leading to overdoses and safety concerns. While this fear is not entirely unfounded, it is often exaggerated and used to justify inaction.
According to the Region of Waterloo’s Drug Overdose and Poisoning Dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of paramedic calls for overdoses or poisonings occur in public indoor spaces. However, the data lacks specificity—there is no breakdown of what types of spaces these are, and the Region has declined to provide further clarification despite multiple requests.
Geoff Bardwell, a faculty member at the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Region Drug Action Team, notes that he is unaware of any research on the frequency of drug usage in public washrooms vs. other locations in the Region.
This lack of data makes it difficult to have an informed public debate. It also reinforces harmful stereotypes about who uses public bathrooms and why. The need for accessible, safe washrooms is universal. Everyone, at some point needs to go.
“I think, in short, people need to be able to use washrooms,” Bardwell said.
“[W]e should not be making decisions about washroom access under assumptions that bad things will happen in them,” he said.
There are solutions. Cities around the world have implemented innovative bathroom strategies, from Portland’s “Portland Loo” to Tokyo’s transparent public toilets that turn opaque when occupied. These designs prioritize safety, cleanliness and accessibility—proving that public bathrooms don’t have to be dirty, dangerous or stigmatized.
In Waterloo, the Uptown Loo is a promising start. It features a braille map, an adult change table, grab bars and a system that alerts an attendant if the door remains locked for more than 20 minutes. Its walls are coated with graffiti-proof material, and it includes an emergency button for users in distress.
But officials with the City of Waterloo have confirmed that they have no plans to provide any more facilities like the Uptown Loo, citing costs and security as the primary factors in that decision.
The City of Kitchener has also confirmed that they have no plans to create any more public washrooms.
As Kitchener-Waterloo continues to grow, the need for inclusive infrastructure becomes more urgent. Public bathrooms are not a luxury—they are a cornerstone of a functional, compassionate city. Without them, we send a clear message about who is welcome and who is not.
So the next time you’re out in Kitchener-Waterloo and nature calls, ask yourself: where can you go? And more importantly, who can’t?
#2SLGBTQIA_ #bathrooms #drugConsumptions #Drugs #FionaMcAlister #GeoffBardwell #kitchenerWaterloo #poisoningDashboard #publicDebate #publicWashroomShortage #Region #uptown #uptownLoo #uptownWaterloo #washrooms #WaterlooRegionDrugAction #waterloosDrugOverdose
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NOWHERE TO GO: THE PUBLIC WASHROOM SHORTAGE IN KITCHENER WATERLOO
In a region known for innovation and growth, one necessity remains elusive: a place to go when nature calls. For residents, tourists and the city’s most vulnerable, the search for a public washroom in Kitchener-Waterloo can feel like a scavenger hunt—one with no prize at the end.
Despite being home to over half a million people, Kitchener-Waterloo has very few public washrooms. In 2024, the City of Waterloo unveiled a stand-alone public toilet: the Uptown Loo. Installed on a traffic island at the south end of Uptown Waterloo, the facility has all the bells and whistles— it is self-cleaning, accessible and secure. But it is also a stark reminder of how far the region still must go.
The Uptown Loo was a step forward, but it remains the only one of its kind. According to municipal records, there are no public bathrooms in the region that are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Even the Uptown Loo closes at night. The few round-the-clock options are seasonal porta-potties at sports fields—hardly a solution for a growing urban population. And while private businesses once filled the gap, many have now locked their doors to non-customers, citing safety and maintenance concerns.
This shortage is more than civic oversight—it is a public health and human rights issue: for people experiencing homelessness, those with medical conditions, parents with young children and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The lack of accessible washrooms can mean indignity, discomfort and danger. For those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, the lack of accessible facilities can be a barrier to participating in public life altogether.
Historically, public bathrooms have been fraught with social tension. In Canada, moral panics around gay sex led to the closure of many public facilities. These closures were often justified under the guise of public safety, but they disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. The legacy of that era still lingers in how cities design and manage public spaces today.
“Public spaces reflect our values,” Troy Glover, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, said. “If we truly want public spaces to work for all people, we have to start by asking who they’re currently designed to exclude.”
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the answer is clear. The people arguably most in need of public facilities—those experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—are often the ones left out of the conversation. And when they are included, it is usually in the context of risk management rather than rights.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding public bathrooms today is their association with drug use. There is a widespread perception that public washrooms will become hotspots for drug consumption, leading to overdoses and safety concerns. While this fear is not entirely unfounded, it is often exaggerated and used to justify inaction.
According to the Region of Waterloo’s Drug Overdose and Poisoning Dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of paramedic calls for overdoses or poisonings occur in public indoor spaces. However, the data lacks specificity—there is no breakdown of what types of spaces these are, and the Region has declined to provide further clarification despite multiple requests.
Geoff Bardwell, a faculty member at the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Region Drug Action Team, notes that he is unaware of any research on the frequency of drug usage in public washrooms vs. other locations in the Region.
This lack of data makes it difficult to have an informed public debate. It also reinforces harmful stereotypes about who uses public bathrooms and why. The need for accessible, safe washrooms is universal. Everyone, at some point needs to go.
“I think, in short, people need to be able to use washrooms,” Bardwell said.
“[W]e should not be making decisions about washroom access under assumptions that bad things will happen in them,” he said.
There are solutions. Cities around the world have implemented innovative bathroom strategies, from Portland’s “Portland Loo” to Tokyo’s transparent public toilets that turn opaque when occupied. These designs prioritize safety, cleanliness and accessibility—proving that public bathrooms don’t have to be dirty, dangerous or stigmatized.
In Waterloo, the Uptown Loo is a promising start. It features a braille map, an adult change table, grab bars and a system that alerts an attendant if the door remains locked for more than 20 minutes. Its walls are coated with graffiti-proof material, and it includes an emergency button for users in distress.
But officials with the City of Waterloo have confirmed that they have no plans to provide any more facilities like the Uptown Loo, citing costs and security as the primary factors in that decision.
The City of Kitchener has also confirmed that they have no plans to create any more public washrooms.
As Kitchener-Waterloo continues to grow, the need for inclusive infrastructure becomes more urgent. Public bathrooms are not a luxury—they are a cornerstone of a functional, compassionate city. Without them, we send a clear message about who is welcome and who is not.
So the next time you’re out in Kitchener-Waterloo and nature calls, ask yourself: where can you go? And more importantly, who can’t?
#2SLGBTQIA_ #bathrooms #drugConsumptions #Drugs #FionaMcAlister #GeoffBardwell #kitchenerWaterloo #poisoningDashboard #publicDebate #publicWashroomShortage #Region #uptown #uptownLoo #uptownWaterloo #washrooms #WaterlooRegionDrugAction #waterloosDrugOverdose
-
NOWHERE TO GO: THE PUBLIC WASHROOM SHORTAGE IN KITCHENER WATERLOO
In a region known for innovation and growth, one necessity remains elusive: a place to go when nature calls. For residents, tourists and the city’s most vulnerable, the search for a public washroom in Kitchener-Waterloo can feel like a scavenger hunt—one with no prize at the end.
Despite being home to over half a million people, Kitchener-Waterloo has very few public washrooms. In 2024, the City of Waterloo unveiled a stand-alone public toilet: the Uptown Loo. Installed on a traffic island at the south end of Uptown Waterloo, the facility has all the bells and whistles— it is self-cleaning, accessible and secure. But it is also a stark reminder of how far the region still must go.
The Uptown Loo was a step forward, but it remains the only one of its kind. According to municipal records, there are no public bathrooms in the region that are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Even the Uptown Loo closes at night. The few round-the-clock options are seasonal porta-potties at sports fields—hardly a solution for a growing urban population. And while private businesses once filled the gap, many have now locked their doors to non-customers, citing safety and maintenance concerns.
This shortage is more than civic oversight—it is a public health and human rights issue: for people experiencing homelessness, those with medical conditions, parents with young children and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The lack of accessible washrooms can mean indignity, discomfort and danger. For those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, the lack of accessible facilities can be a barrier to participating in public life altogether.
Historically, public bathrooms have been fraught with social tension. In Canada, moral panics around gay sex led to the closure of many public facilities. These closures were often justified under the guise of public safety, but they disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. The legacy of that era still lingers in how cities design and manage public spaces today.
“Public spaces reflect our values,” Troy Glover, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, said. “If we truly want public spaces to work for all people, we have to start by asking who they’re currently designed to exclude.”
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the answer is clear. The people arguably most in need of public facilities—those experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—are often the ones left out of the conversation. And when they are included, it is usually in the context of risk management rather than rights.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding public bathrooms today is their association with drug use. There is a widespread perception that public washrooms will become hotspots for drug consumption, leading to overdoses and safety concerns. While this fear is not entirely unfounded, it is often exaggerated and used to justify inaction.
According to the Region of Waterloo’s Drug Overdose and Poisoning Dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of paramedic calls for overdoses or poisonings occur in public indoor spaces. However, the data lacks specificity—there is no breakdown of what types of spaces these are, and the Region has declined to provide further clarification despite multiple requests.
Geoff Bardwell, a faculty member at the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Region Drug Action Team, notes that he is unaware of any research on the frequency of drug usage in public washrooms vs. other locations in the Region.
This lack of data makes it difficult to have an informed public debate. It also reinforces harmful stereotypes about who uses public bathrooms and why. The need for accessible, safe washrooms is universal. Everyone, at some point needs to go.
“I think, in short, people need to be able to use washrooms,” Bardwell said.
“[W]e should not be making decisions about washroom access under assumptions that bad things will happen in them,” he said.
There are solutions. Cities around the world have implemented innovative bathroom strategies, from Portland’s “Portland Loo” to Tokyo’s transparent public toilets that turn opaque when occupied. These designs prioritize safety, cleanliness and accessibility—proving that public bathrooms don’t have to be dirty, dangerous or stigmatized.
In Waterloo, the Uptown Loo is a promising start. It features a braille map, an adult change table, grab bars and a system that alerts an attendant if the door remains locked for more than 20 minutes. Its walls are coated with graffiti-proof material, and it includes an emergency button for users in distress.
But officials with the City of Waterloo have confirmed that they have no plans to provide any more facilities like the Uptown Loo, citing costs and security as the primary factors in that decision.
The City of Kitchener has also confirmed that they have no plans to create any more public washrooms.
As Kitchener-Waterloo continues to grow, the need for inclusive infrastructure becomes more urgent. Public bathrooms are not a luxury—they are a cornerstone of a functional, compassionate city. Without them, we send a clear message about who is welcome and who is not.
So the next time you’re out in Kitchener-Waterloo and nature calls, ask yourself: where can you go? And more importantly, who can’t?
#2SLGBTQIA_ #bathrooms #drugConsumptions #Drugs #FionaMcAlister #GeoffBardwell #kitchenerWaterloo #poisoningDashboard #publicDebate #publicWashroomShortage #Region #uptown #uptownLoo #uptownWaterloo #washrooms #WaterlooRegionDrugAction #waterloosDrugOverdose
-
NOWHERE TO GO: THE PUBLIC WASHROOM SHORTAGE IN KITCHENER WATERLOO
In a region known for innovation and growth, one necessity remains elusive: a place to go when nature calls. For residents, tourists and the city’s most vulnerable, the search for a public washroom in Kitchener-Waterloo can feel like a scavenger hunt—one with no prize at the end.
Despite being home to over half a million people, Kitchener-Waterloo has very few public washrooms. In 2024, the City of Waterloo unveiled a stand-alone public toilet: the Uptown Loo. Installed on a traffic island at the south end of Uptown Waterloo, the facility has all the bells and whistles— it is self-cleaning, accessible and secure. But it is also a stark reminder of how far the region still must go.
The Uptown Loo was a step forward, but it remains the only one of its kind. According to municipal records, there are no public bathrooms in the region that are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Even the Uptown Loo closes at night. The few round-the-clock options are seasonal porta-potties at sports fields—hardly a solution for a growing urban population. And while private businesses once filled the gap, many have now locked their doors to non-customers, citing safety and maintenance concerns.
This shortage is more than civic oversight—it is a public health and human rights issue: for people experiencing homelessness, those with medical conditions, parents with young children and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The lack of accessible washrooms can mean indignity, discomfort and danger. For those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, the lack of accessible facilities can be a barrier to participating in public life altogether.
Historically, public bathrooms have been fraught with social tension. In Canada, moral panics around gay sex led to the closure of many public facilities. These closures were often justified under the guise of public safety, but they disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. The legacy of that era still lingers in how cities design and manage public spaces today.
“Public spaces reflect our values,” Troy Glover, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, said. “If we truly want public spaces to work for all people, we have to start by asking who they’re currently designed to exclude.”
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the answer is clear. The people arguably most in need of public facilities—those experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—are often the ones left out of the conversation. And when they are included, it is usually in the context of risk management rather than rights.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding public bathrooms today is their association with drug use. There is a widespread perception that public washrooms will become hotspots for drug consumption, leading to overdoses and safety concerns. While this fear is not entirely unfounded, it is often exaggerated and used to justify inaction.
According to the Region of Waterloo’s Drug Overdose and Poisoning Dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of paramedic calls for overdoses or poisonings occur in public indoor spaces. However, the data lacks specificity—there is no breakdown of what types of spaces these are, and the Region has declined to provide further clarification despite multiple requests.
Geoff Bardwell, a faculty member at the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Region Drug Action Team, notes that he is unaware of any research on the frequency of drug usage in public washrooms vs. other locations in the Region.
This lack of data makes it difficult to have an informed public debate. It also reinforces harmful stereotypes about who uses public bathrooms and why. The need for accessible, safe washrooms is universal. Everyone, at some point needs to go.
“I think, in short, people need to be able to use washrooms,” Bardwell said.
“[W]e should not be making decisions about washroom access under assumptions that bad things will happen in them,” he said.
There are solutions. Cities around the world have implemented innovative bathroom strategies, from Portland’s “Portland Loo” to Tokyo’s transparent public toilets that turn opaque when occupied. These designs prioritize safety, cleanliness and accessibility—proving that public bathrooms don’t have to be dirty, dangerous or stigmatized.
In Waterloo, the Uptown Loo is a promising start. It features a braille map, an adult change table, grab bars and a system that alerts an attendant if the door remains locked for more than 20 minutes. Its walls are coated with graffiti-proof material, and it includes an emergency button for users in distress.
But officials with the City of Waterloo have confirmed that they have no plans to provide any more facilities like the Uptown Loo, citing costs and security as the primary factors in that decision.
The City of Kitchener has also confirmed that they have no plans to create any more public washrooms.
As Kitchener-Waterloo continues to grow, the need for inclusive infrastructure becomes more urgent. Public bathrooms are not a luxury—they are a cornerstone of a functional, compassionate city. Without them, we send a clear message about who is welcome and who is not.
So the next time you’re out in Kitchener-Waterloo and nature calls, ask yourself: where can you go? And more importantly, who can’t?
#2SLGBTQIA_ #bathrooms #drugConsumptions #Drugs #FionaMcAlister #GeoffBardwell #kitchenerWaterloo #poisoningDashboard #publicDebate #publicWashroomShortage #Region #uptown #uptownLoo #uptownWaterloo #washrooms #WaterlooRegionDrugAction #waterloosDrugOverdose
-
NOWHERE TO GO: THE PUBLIC WASHROOM SHORTAGE IN KITCHENER WATERLOO
In a region known for innovation and growth, one necessity remains elusive: a place to go when nature calls. For residents, tourists and the city’s most vulnerable, the search for a public washroom in Kitchener-Waterloo can feel like a scavenger hunt—one with no prize at the end.
Despite being home to over half a million people, Kitchener-Waterloo has very few public washrooms. In 2024, the City of Waterloo unveiled a stand-alone public toilet: the Uptown Loo. Installed on a traffic island at the south end of Uptown Waterloo, the facility has all the bells and whistles— it is self-cleaning, accessible and secure. But it is also a stark reminder of how far the region still must go.
The Uptown Loo was a step forward, but it remains the only one of its kind. According to municipal records, there are no public bathrooms in the region that are open 24 hours a day, year-round. Even the Uptown Loo closes at night. The few round-the-clock options are seasonal porta-potties at sports fields—hardly a solution for a growing urban population. And while private businesses once filled the gap, many have now locked their doors to non-customers, citing safety and maintenance concerns.
This shortage is more than civic oversight—it is a public health and human rights issue: for people experiencing homelessness, those with medical conditions, parents with young children and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community. The lack of accessible washrooms can mean indignity, discomfort and danger. For those with disabilities or chronic illnesses, the lack of accessible facilities can be a barrier to participating in public life altogether.
Historically, public bathrooms have been fraught with social tension. In Canada, moral panics around gay sex led to the closure of many public facilities. These closures were often justified under the guise of public safety, but they disproportionately targeted marginalized communities. The legacy of that era still lingers in how cities design and manage public spaces today.
“Public spaces reflect our values,” Troy Glover, a professor in the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies at the University of Waterloo, said. “If we truly want public spaces to work for all people, we have to start by asking who they’re currently designed to exclude.”
In Kitchener-Waterloo, the answer is clear. The people arguably most in need of public facilities—those experiencing homelessness, people who use drugs and members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community—are often the ones left out of the conversation. And when they are included, it is usually in the context of risk management rather than rights.
One of the most contentious issues surrounding public bathrooms today is their association with drug use. There is a widespread perception that public washrooms will become hotspots for drug consumption, leading to overdoses and safety concerns. While this fear is not entirely unfounded, it is often exaggerated and used to justify inaction.
According to the Region of Waterloo’s Drug Overdose and Poisoning Dashboard, approximately 12 per cent of paramedic calls for overdoses or poisonings occur in public indoor spaces. However, the data lacks specificity—there is no breakdown of what types of spaces these are, and the Region has declined to provide further clarification despite multiple requests.
Geoff Bardwell, a faculty member at the School of Public Health Sciences at University of Waterloo and a member of the Waterloo Region Drug Action Team, notes that he is unaware of any research on the frequency of drug usage in public washrooms vs. other locations in the Region.
This lack of data makes it difficult to have an informed public debate. It also reinforces harmful stereotypes about who uses public bathrooms and why. The need for accessible, safe washrooms is universal. Everyone, at some point needs to go.
“I think, in short, people need to be able to use washrooms,” Bardwell said.
“[W]e should not be making decisions about washroom access under assumptions that bad things will happen in them,” he said.
There are solutions. Cities around the world have implemented innovative bathroom strategies, from Portland’s “Portland Loo” to Tokyo’s transparent public toilets that turn opaque when occupied. These designs prioritize safety, cleanliness and accessibility—proving that public bathrooms don’t have to be dirty, dangerous or stigmatized.
In Waterloo, the Uptown Loo is a promising start. It features a braille map, an adult change table, grab bars and a system that alerts an attendant if the door remains locked for more than 20 minutes. Its walls are coated with graffiti-proof material, and it includes an emergency button for users in distress.
But officials with the City of Waterloo have confirmed that they have no plans to provide any more facilities like the Uptown Loo, citing costs and security as the primary factors in that decision.
The City of Kitchener has also confirmed that they have no plans to create any more public washrooms.
As Kitchener-Waterloo continues to grow, the need for inclusive infrastructure becomes more urgent. Public bathrooms are not a luxury—they are a cornerstone of a functional, compassionate city. Without them, we send a clear message about who is welcome and who is not.
So the next time you’re out in Kitchener-Waterloo and nature calls, ask yourself: where can you go? And more importantly, who can’t?
#2SLGBTQIA_ #bathrooms #drugConsumptions #Drugs #FionaMcAlister #GeoffBardwell #kitchenerWaterloo #poisoningDashboard #publicDebate #publicWashroomShortage #Region #uptown #uptownLoo #uptownWaterloo #washrooms #WaterlooRegionDrugAction #waterloosDrugOverdose
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Hey, @waterlooregion, Create Waterloo's latest Trail Mix mixtape is up on Bandcamp: https://createwaterloo.bandcamp.com/album/trail-mix-the-complete-bag
#Waterloo #music #WaterlooRegion #KitchenerWaterloo #kwawesome
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Waterloo BookFest is this Saturday. I'll be reading a scary little short story at 3:30. Come check us out! I'll be helping out a bit with the Indigenous Poets Society booth, so come say hi! https://englishatwaterloo.wordpress.com/2025/05/21/waterloo-bookfest-2025/ @WaterlooEvents #CanLit #IndigenousCreatives #IndigenousAuthors #AuthorsOfMastodon #KitchenerWaterloo
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There is a flood warning in effect for low lying areas of Kitchener today. The Grand River is expected to overflow today. https://evb.gg/n#eisss23ohau/0gy9-El6 @waterlooregion #KitchenerWaterloo #FloodWarning
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"WARNING: The WRCSB is voting Monday on a motion that would ban pride flags, slogans, and symbols from being hung or shown (even on a sticker!) on school property. Even teacher's personal flags would not be allowed.
Please show up on Monday to show support!"
I will add that their motion also erases Indigenous Peoples by saying the Canadian flag represents all. Kitchener is on the Haldimand Tract, the stolen, occupied territory of Six Nations.
https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3lkwkdtihyk2y
@waterlooregion #homophobia #CatholicSchool #pride #LGBTQIA2S #fascism #ontario #KitchenerWaterloo #ProtectTheTract #HaldimandTract
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"WARNING: The WRCSB is voting Monday on a motion that would ban pride flags, slogans, and symbols from being hung or shown (even on a sticker!) on school property. Even teacher's personal flags would not be allowed.
Please show up on Monday to show support!"
I will add that their motion also erases Indigenous Peoples by saying the Canadian flag represents all. Kitchener is on the Haldimand Tract, the stolen, occupied territory of Six Nations.
https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3lkwkdtihyk2y
@waterlooregion #homophobia #CatholicSchool #pride #LGBTQIA2S #fascism #ontario #KitchenerWaterloo #ProtectTheTract #HaldimandTract
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"WARNING: The WRCSB is voting Monday on a motion that would ban pride flags, slogans, and symbols from being hung or shown (even on a sticker!) on school property. Even teacher's personal flags would not be allowed.
Please show up on Monday to show support!"
I will add that their motion also erases Indigenous Peoples by saying the Canadian flag represents all. Kitchener is on the Haldimand Tract, the stolen, occupied territory of Six Nations.
https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3lkwkdtihyk2y
@waterlooregion #homophobia #CatholicSchool #pride #LGBTQIA2S #fascism #ontario #KitchenerWaterloo #ProtectTheTract #HaldimandTract
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"WARNING: The WRCSB is voting Monday on a motion that would ban pride flags, slogans, and symbols from being hung or shown (even on a sticker!) on school property. Even teacher's personal flags would not be allowed.
Please show up on Monday to show support!"
I will add that their motion also erases Indigenous Peoples by saying the Canadian flag represents all. Kitchener is on the Haldimand Tract, the stolen, occupied territory of Six Nations.
https://bsky.app/profile/mdruker.app/post/3lkwkdtihyk2y
@waterlooregion #homophobia #CatholicSchool #pride #LGBTQIA2S #fascism #ontario #KitchenerWaterloo #ProtectTheTract #HaldimandTract