30th Anniversary Celebration

Think of it. A community of 250 neighbourhoods, and growing. Some large, some only the size of an apartment building or townhouse complex. Often overlapping, woven through and alongside one another, helping everyone to include, to belong; for the well-being of others, and for a kinder world.
The Festival of Neighbourhoods celebrated its 30th anniversary in the Kitchener City Hall rotunda, this Sunday, November 19th.
This was a time for the festival to look back, for enjoying the many achievements of neighbours this year, and for looking forward. The milestone was recognized by Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Regional Chair Karen Redman, and Kitchener Centre MP Mike Morrice who presented a certificate of recognition on behalf of the Government of Canada.

This year’s event saw the return of the two draws for $20,000 capital improvements. These funds have been used by previous winners to make all sorts of interesting projects: park improvements, the Doon Portable Skatium, accessibility improvements and contributions to splash pads, outdoor fitness equipment, murals and the list goes on. The Olde Berlin Town and Mill Park neighbourhoods were the lucky recipients of this funding. An early bird draw also saw $250 for activities and projects awarded to the Central Frederick Neighbourhood Association (CFNA).
Four additional awards were presented this year. The Trudy Beaulne Inclusion Award was presented to the Cedar Hills Community Project, while Pros of Propinquity Honours went to: A Better Tent City, Stanley Park and Victoria Hills. Each supports these winning neighbourhoods with a gift of $500.00 that can be put toward activities and projects in the next year. The awards were presented by the Paulander Princesses. They also honoured Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, MP Mike Morrice, Regional Chair Karen Redman, as well as Festival coordinator Heather Majaury as Princesses.

The event allowed time for neighbours to mingle and get to know each other just a bit better. Organizations who attended with displays included the Civic Hub Waterloo Region, A Better Tent City, Waterloo Region ACORN as well as the many neighbourhoods who brought photos and displays of their neighbourhood.
Also located around the rotunda were twelve display boards which set out the arc of the Festival’s journey, starting from our origins and leading full circle, like a big clock.
In the 30 years of the Festival there have been over 250 distinct participating neighbourhoods, gathering in over a thousand ways. Some just once, many that have grown in stature and confidence, with yearly traditions that gather and welcome neighbours, and a few that have registered their gatherings with us for each and every one of those 30 years. All conceived and led by citizens of every age, origin and ability. They have stepped forward: reaching out to their neighbours and connecting those ages, those origins, and those abilities to one another.
We have come a long way from the first year when 4 people approached City Council with their outrageous ideas of creative gatherings in the middle of the street, a civic parade of neighbourhoods, neighbourhoods floating around in the City Hall fountain, and improvement
projects where the citizens were in charge. Our vision was for neighbourliness to become a fundamental building block of our community. Together with our City and the Festival, Neighbours have brought it to life.
John MacDonald, one of the Festival co-founders, said: “We must ask ourselves: If I am not for others, who will be for me? Our true strength as a community comes from our connections with those who are not like us. Reaching with helping hands across our differences creates enormous and positive energy, and weaves a net that supports us all.”
29th Annual Celebration

Putting the Pink In Propinquity was the culmination of a year where the Festival was putting itself back on its feet and finding its stride. It was an amazing celebration with several new neighbourhoods choosing to join the network and festivities. Some of the more experienced Neighbourhood Associations attended and we were so happy they did. These Associations have been in existence for quite some time and they bring with them some serious experience in propinquity with the many events, actvities, and projects they plan and make happen. This year was a particularly busy year for the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association and we were able to honour their ongoing commitment, connection, and creativity.

Kudos were a must for the Paulander Neighbourhood who formed the infamous Paulander Princesses this year and they simply stole the show when it came to being inclusive. They were honoured for their amazing spirit, commitment and creativity.

The Pros at Propinquity this year were A Better Tent City. This is a unique Neighbourhood born out of necessity during the current housing crisis right at the beginning of the Covid Pandemic. With the coming together of many different champions and significant cooperation with our municipality more than 50 residents call A Better Tent City home while they wait for more permanent and adequate housing. They are truly pros at propinquity and we recognized that this year at our annual celebration.

Moorland Crescent is a special and newer neighbourhood strongly connected to Doon South, but also its own unique force of nature. The street itself is quite a long street with many houses and the folks on the Crescent have been working diligently to create intimate street events that use their new park and green space to maximum effect. They also realize that their front lawns can be converted to meeting spaces whenever they want and they maximize there opportunities.

The in-person celebration this year rekindled our beloved celebration at the City Hall Rotunda and people were very happy to mix and mingle and learn about what each other was doing. We had some great local catering businesses participate including For All Ice Cream and Foodzen & Cedar Spoon Catering. EarlyON Child and Family Centres were there to join in the fun and contribute their own fun as well.
28th Virtual Annual Celebration
How is COVID Changing Us?
What a year! The Kitchener Festival of Neighbourhoods concluded it 29th season in 2021 by continuing its new tradition of an online zoom celebration. We continued to find interactive ways to engage and connect. We learned a lot in 2020 and built upon our experiences in the pandemic. The Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region acknowledged the adaptations and activities of the Central Frederick Neighbourhood to keep inclusion front and centre and setting a great example for all of us. During distancing, they hosted virtual craft events, delivered all the material to neighbours homes, and made and exibit of all the great work to continue staying in touch, sharing and supporting each other. Find out more here.

27th Annual Celebration
Festival Of Neighbourhoods 2020: A Mosaic Of Neighbourhoods
Kitchener’s Festival Of Neighbourhoods concluded its 27th season by connecting neighbours differently for its annual celebration in 2020. This year, neighbours and City Of Kitchener representatives ‘zoomed’ together in an interactive online celebration that recognized how neighbourhoods created community connections with health and safety in mind through an unpredictable year. Neighbours also discussed ways to continue creating connections and imagined what their neighbourhoods will be like as we move into a future of possibility.
The Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region contributed to the celebration of inclusion across neighbourhoods, and 17 different neighbourhoods participated in the online discussion from regions across the City of Kitchener.
A new “Neighbours Exchange” program was part of this year’s Festival Of Neighbourhoods celebration; two neighbours from different areas of the city were matched to take each other on short walking tours of their respective neighbourhoods and their experiences were shared as part of the online gathering.
The whole group of attendees were then divided into “Breakout Rooms” to discuss:
How did your neighbourhood create connection this year, and what would you need to continue these connections in an unpredictable future?
What ideas do you have for the future of your neighbourhood?
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic dropped in to each breakout session to connect with neighbours.
A wide range of ideas for future connections were shared;
– use of public golf courses for winter activities such as cross country skiing and tobogganing
– holiday walking tours, continuing traditional events in ways that are covid-safe, drop-off toy drives and fundraisers for charities
– emphasis on the increased need for outdoor spaces such as parks, ice rinks, and dog runs
– training for seniors, newcomers and anyone on how to operate Zoom to connect safely online
– neighbourhood contests towards environmental sustainability and aims to reduce climate change
– calls to neighbours to check-in and reaching out new neighbours
Video tours from two neighbourhoods were also shared as part of the celebration; and more can be viewed on https://www.facebook.com/FONKitchener
Victoria Park, Central Frederick, Schneider Creek, Doon South and Mount Hope Breithaupt Park have been featured and more videos will be posted soon from Huron, King East and Vanier/Kingsdale neighbourhoods.
Mayor Berry Vrbanovic thanked all the neighbourhood representatives and concluded with “I know by sticking together and working together we’ll all get through this and we’ll be a stronger community coming out the other side. Hopefully next summer we can enjoy some of our traditional things when a vaccine is in place”.
The celebration concluded with Door Prizes:
$100 Gift Card for Swansons Home Hardware and Building Centre; Central Frederick Neighbourhood Association
$100 Gift Card for Swansons Home Hardware and Building Centre; Schneider Creek Neighbourhood
Red Raccoon Bike Rescue, Neighbourhood Bike Tune-Up Clinic; Lakeside Park Neighbourhood
Five Swim Lesson Passes from the City Of Kitchener; Lakeside Park Neighbourhood
Festival of Neighbourhoods is a joint initiative between John MacDonald Architect and the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region with support from the City of Kitchener. Kitchener’s Festival Of Neighbourhoods looks forward to a new season in 2021 of celebrating and supporting neighbourhood projects and activities. More information and updates are at www.festivalofneighbourhoods.ca
26th Annual Celebration
November 17, 2019, 1-3 pm
Kitchener City Hall Rotunda

Neighbours connected and shared skills and ideas at 26th Kitchener’s annual Festival of Neighbourhoods Celebration. The Festival Season has encouraged and recognized once again this year a wonderful range of neighbourhood gatherings large and small, totaling 69 in all. Neighbours have taken the initiative to organize and attend gatherings at which they meet one another, exchange ideas and strengthen the fabric of our community.
Citizens from neighbourhoods across Kitchener, city councillors & staff, and representatives of various supporting businesses and agencies came together in a spirit of celebration to share ideas on how to make their neighbourhoods stronger, and to be inspired by the stories of others. Participants struck conversations while enjoying ice cream and snacks, and visiting informational stations that highlighted the key aims of the Festival and recognized the energy and efforts of participants. The Celebration was organized as a “gathering of the gatherings”, staying true to the overall aims of the Festival for bringing people of all ages, backgrounds and abilities to meet and engage with one another.

The Victoria Commons Neighbourhood and Chicopee Neighbourhood were the recipients of the Festival’s two $20,000 capital grants, provided by the City of Kitchener. They will work side by side with the City in the coming months to make improvements in their neighbourhoods.

The Williamsburg, Sprucedale Crescent, Stanley Park South, Victoria Commons and Chicopee neighbourhoods were highlighted by the Festival and the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region for holding neighbourhood gatherings that strived to be as inclusive as possible. These neighbourhoods have worked to identify barriers to participation and have found practical and innovative solutions to participation in the spirit of the Festival’s motto: Reach!





The Trudy Beaulne Award, from the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, was presented to the North 6 Neighbourhood in order to provide support for engagement and community development activities that strengthen social connections and capacity throughout this neighbourhood and community. The newly formed North 6 neighbourhood, centred in the Westmount and Ottawa area, looks forward to the possibilities.


The Ward Challenge went to Ward 10 (Councillor Sarah Marsh), with 22 registered neighbourhood gatherings. The “Neighbourhood to City” station highlighted how a neighbourhood becomes stronger when neighbours come together, and how city councillors & staff can offer support to citizens to make their neighbourhoods even greater. The Ward challenge is a fun way to highlight areas of the community where registered participation in the Festival is especially strong.
After a Neighbours Day Picnic, the organizers felt the positive changes in Chicopee neighbourhood. In the words of one participant: “I noticed after our get together, people are smiling more and saying hi to each other. The children feel safe playing outside.I see some residents talking to each other on a daily basis. It has become a warm and pleasant environment.”
Victoria Commons held their first Block Party in June.“Many people made new connections, and people seemed more inclined to be walking in the neighbourhood saying hi after the Party”
This year’s Sponsors of the Festival and its aims include: Boehmers Brampton Brick, Steed and Evans, the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association, Alejandra Ivic Re/Max Twin City Realty Inc., the Grand Valley Society of Architects, Swansons Home Hardware Building Centre, the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region, and the Waterloo Regional Police Service.
The supporters at this year’s Celebration were Tina’s Zentangle, Articulate Photography and Four All Ice Cream!

Festival of Neighbourhoods is a joint initiative between John MacDonald Architect and the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, with support from the City of Kitchener.
25th Annual Celebration
November 18, 2018, 1-3 pm
Kitchener City Hall Rotunda
“Reaching out across the diversity in our neighbourhoods is not easy but is so worth the effort and will enrich the community life in Kitchener”.
Trudy Beaulne, 2017
More than 11,000 people from across Kitchener participated in the 123 gatherings registered with Festival of Neighbourhoods. Registered neighbourhood gatherings ranged in size from four to 1000 participants.
The winners of two $20,000 capital grants provided by the City of Kitchener were Cherry Park and Queen’s Park neighbourhoods. The grants, which are awarded annually, enable residents to plan and execute meaningful improvements in their neighbourhood.
The Neighbourhood Connections Award, sponsored by the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, has become the Trudy Beaulne Award, in honour of one of the Festival of Neighbourhoods founders. The award was presented to the Victoria Park neighbourhood in order to provide time for more engagement and community development activities to strengthen the social connections in this neighbourhood.
The Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region helped recognize gatherings for being inclusive and welcoming to residents in their neighbourhood. Those recognized included the New Doon neighbourhood BBQ, Schneider Creek neighbourhood annual potluck, and Auditorium neighbourhood New Year’s skating party. Doon South neighbourhood was also recognized for their “Backyard Sessions” series of inclusive gatherings, which included a forest therapy hike, and sessions on traditional Indian yoga, home maintenance, as well as other activities.
This year’s Ward Challenge winner was Ward 4, with 26 registered neighbourhood gatherings.
The amazing 2018 Celebration Sponsors: Boehmers Hargest Block, Steed and Evans, Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association, Alejandra Ivic Re/Max Twin City Realty Inc., Grand Valley Society of Architects, Strassburger, Mumbly Insurance, Swanson’s Home Hardware Building Centre, Freure Homes, Waterloo Regional Police Service, Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region, & ASCEND (KidZone sponsor).
24th Annual Celebration
We had a wonderful 24th Annual Celebration at Kitchener City Hall on Sunday, November 19th 2017.
We gave away prestigious awards and two $20,000 neighbourhood improvement grants.
Neighbours reached out, connected and shared stories.
More than 17,000 people from across Kitchener participated in the 130 gatherings registered with Festival of Neighbourhoods. Neighbourhood gatherings ranged in size from four to 1,000 participants. We had 49 neighbourhoods registered and hope the number will grow in the year ahead under the REACH! theme.
After five years in a row of Ward 10 having the most registered gatherings, this year the Ward Challenge was taken by Ward 9 (Councillor Frank Etherington) with 31 gatherings.
The Schneider’s Creek and Settlers Grove neighbourhoods took home the Festival’s main prize, two $20,000 capital grants provided by the City of Kitchener.
The Pillar Award, sponsored by Steed and Evans, for a neighbourhood who has registered an event for five or more years, was presented to Bridgeport neighbourhood. The Newcomer Award (for a first-time registered activity), sponsored by the Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association, was presented to the Doon South neighbourhood.
The Paulander neighbourhood received the Arts and Culture award, sponsored by Alejandra Ivic, RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc., for registering their annual community BBQ, where residents enjoyed a mobile gallery, collaborative art project, henna and face painting.
This year, Laurentian West neighbourhood Wetlands Cleanup, which was organized by students in grades five and six received the Youth Award. This award is sponsored by Waterloo Regional Police Service.
The Safer Neighbourhoods Award, which is sponsored by Swanson’s Home Hardware Building Centre, was presented to the New Doon neighbourhood, who registered their BBQ.
The Green Neighbourhood Award, sponsored by Boehmers Hargest Block Ltd., was presented to the Mill-Courtland neighbourhood.
The Heritage Award selection, sponsored by Grand Valley Society of Architects (GVSA), was the Victoria Park neighbourhood, who registered a pizza party and trivia night, which featured neighbourhood-specific questions researched and presented by local neighbourhood historians.
The Traynor-Vanier neighbourhood was selected by the Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region for the Inclusion Award.
The Neighbourhood Connections award, sponsored by the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, was presented to the King East neighbourhood in order to provide more time for more engagement and community development activities to strengthen the social connections in this neighbourhood.
“It’s fascinating to look back over another year of exploring and celebrating neighbourhoods and the connections we can make with each other right where we live” said Trudy Beaulne, Festival of Neighbourhoods partner. “Since the start of this initiative 24 years ago, participation has grown considerably but much has remained the same. The simple gesture of reaching out to our neighbours may be intimidating if we have a lot of diversity in our neighbourhood. However, doing so can help us to build stronger, welcoming and more caring neighbourhoods. It’s well worth the effort!”
Opening remarks by John MacDonald.
REACH! stories from inclusive neighbourhood gatherings 2017
23rd Annual Festival Finale
2016 Festival of Neighbourhoods Finale, October 16th 12:30pm to 3pm at Kitchener City Hall
The final step in the registration with the Festival of Neighbourhoods is to send at least one representative of your neighbourhood to the Festival Finale Celebration! You are encouraged to bring as many people from your neighbourhood as you would like—everyone is welcome!
At the Finale, you will join many community members and neighbourhood champions from the city who helped organize activities and gatherings to bring their neighbours together. Join in the celebration, inspire and be inspired by others.
The Festival Finale is your celebration:
- Special activities at during Sign In this year with the Interactive Felting Session and Puppet Zoo with Sarah Granskou and Tannery School of Music!
- Refreshments and door prizes
- Stories and Conversations – scrapbooking and Festival of Neighbourhoods FUN Bingo!
- KidZone – children’s activities during the Finale with a special workshop from the Green Light Arts Theatre!
- Awards Ceremony – recognition awards and the draws for the $20, 000 and $10,000 Capital Improvement Grants (neighbourhoods must be represented at the Finale to be eligible)
- Smiles for the Festival Finale Photo
Festival of Neighbourhoods welcomes all the Ward Councillors, the Neighbourhood Strategy Team and all our award sponsors in celebrating one extraordinary year as we build the future of Kitchener’s neighbourhoods together.
Award Winners
The grand prize draw winner of the $10,000 Capital Improvement Grant was awarded to Edgewater Estates and $20,000 Grant went to Hohner Avenue! Congratulations!
The Pillar Award (a neighbourhood that has registered an event for five or more years) – Forest Heights neighbourhood, a long time community beehave for old and young!
The Newcomer Award (first-time registered activity) goes to Prosperity that registered their first activity Easter Egg Hunt and started as a neighbourhood blitz with the FON team!
The Arts and Culture Award – King East for a creative transplanting of Porch View Dances inspiring music and dance in public places and private porches around the neighbourhood.
The Green Award – Forest Heights Neighbourhood for a series of activities to improve the edible forest and pollinator fedges alongside the trails in the neighbourhood.
The Youth Award – Traynor-Vanier, for the Pre-Halloween Party organized by young tenants.
The Heritage Award – Lower Doon, for a creative and neighbourly Drop-in Map activity to learn about historical timeline and landmarks in the neighbourhood.
The Safer Neighbourhoods Award – Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association for their Pumpkin Parade.
The Inclusion Award – Laurentian West, for their Community FUN Fair organized by the W.T. Townshend Parent Council and engaging the whole community around the school.
The Neighbourhood Connections award – Cherry Park neighbourhood for the second year in order to deepen community engagement efforts in the neighbourhood.
Ward Challenge Award went to Ward 10 fifth year in a row, for planning, hosting and registering 38 neighbourhood events.
Thank you to our 2016 award sponsors
Festival of Neighbourhoods is fortunate to have the loyal support and sponsors year after year, all those businesses and organizations that believe we can do more for our neighbours.
- Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association – Newcomer Neighbourhood Award
- Hammond Plumbing and Heating – Pillar Neighbourhood Award
- MMM Group – Green Neighbourhood Award
- Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region – Inclusion Award
- Swanson’s Home Hardware Building Centre – Safer Neighbourhoods Award
- Waterloo Regional Police Service – Youth Award
- Alejandra Ivic, RE/Max Twin City Realty Inc. – Arts and Culture Award
- Grand Valley Society of Architects – Heritage Award
- Social Development Centre Waterloo Region – Neighbourhood Connection
- City of Kitchener – $20,000 and $10,000 Capital Grants!
22nd Annual Festival Finale
Date: Sunday October 18, 2015 from 1-3pm.
Location: Kitchener City Hall Rotunda
39 neighbourhoods came together to celebrate strong and thriving neighbourhoods at the 22nd annual Festival of Neighbourhoods (FON) award ceremony this past weekend.
We collectively brainstormed what would be cool winter activities and how to keep neighbours involved for the long term – hope you find this collection of answers useful!
Over 1300 community members took the leadership in helping to organize 162 registered Festival of Neighbourhoods events, attended by more than 25,500 people in the 2014/15 season.
Award Winners
The grand prize draw winner of the $21,000 Capital Improvement Grant was awarded to Ward Six neighbourhoods who came together to organize an annual Ward Six movie night.
The Pillar Award (a neighbourhood that has registered an event for five or more years) – Auditorium neighbourhood
The Newcomer Award (first-time registered activity) Queen/Highland neighbourhood
The Arts and Culture Award – The Central Frederick neighbourhood, for their Fairy Walk project, annual porch party event and for adding music to their local park through their Piano in the Park project.
The Green Award – Mansion Greens Community and Edible Forest project – they planted fruit trees and shrubs to create an edible landscape open for anyone in the community to enjoy, along with perennial vegetables and ground covers to assist with natural insect control.
The Youth Award – Laurentian West, for the Annual Laurentian Wetlands Clean-up. The event was organized by grade 5 and 6 students who also participated to provide help on the day of the clean up.
The Heritage Award – Victoria Park Neighbourhood, for a lecture in the park in which a long-time neighbourhood resident, Harold Russell spoke about his experience growing up in Victoria Park during World War Two and reflected on the changes of the neighbourhood from then to now.
The Safer Neighbourhoods Award – Stanley Park Neighbourhood for their Bike Safety event.
The Inclusion Award – Tanglewood Neighbourhood, for their neighbourhood street party. The organizers were sure to include everyone by bringing food to immobile neighbours, and sat with them to eat and to watch the fireworks.
The Neighbourhood Connections award – Cherry Park neighbourhood, for their engagement and community development activities to strengthen the social connections in this neighbourhood.
And finally, the Ward Challenge Award went to Ward 10, for planning, hosting and registering 32 neighbourhood events.
Thank you to our 2015 award sponsors
We look forward to building even stronger connections with this year’s sponsors! Festival of Neighbourhoods is fortunate to have not only the financial support of the following local businesses and organizations, but also their support in promoting the festival throughout the year. Their participation is a true indication of their commitment to the quality of life in our community and the value of the effort and contribution of the leaders who organize their neighbourhood gatherings.
- Mount Hope-Breithaupt Park Neighbourhood Association – Newcomer Neighbourhood Award
- Hammond Plumbing and Heating – Pillar Neighbourhood Award
- MMM Group – Green Neighbourhood Award
- Independent Living Centre of Waterloo Region – Inclusion Award
- Swanson’s Home Hardware Building Centre – Safer Neighbourhoods Award
- Waterloo Regional Police Service – Youth Award
- Vladimir and Alejandra Ivic, RE/Max Twin City Realty Inc. – Arts and Culture Award
- Grand Valley Society of Architects – Heritage Award
- Social Development Centre Waterloo Region – Neighbourhood Connection
- City of Kitchener – $21,000 Capital Grant
21 Years of Celebrating Neighbours!
21st Festival of Neighbourhoods Finale brought 35 neighbourhoods together on November 2nd, 2014, 1-3 pm at the Kitchener City Hall Rotunda! We celebrated the record number of registrations again this year – 141 registered activities from 56 Kitchener Neighbourhoods! Take a look at the 2013/2014 FON Map and count the stars! Take a look then at the media release to see the description of the awards presented at the Finale.The $21 000 Capital Investment Grant is going to the Brock Street Neighbourhood and the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region is awarding Traynor-Vanier for the 2nd year to have enough time to support resident engagement and improve the social conditions in the neighbourhood! Ward 10 won the Challenge for the fourth year in a row with a record high number of activities.
We thank all our champions and sponsors, and particularly our first program sponsor Julia White – The Cooperators Insurance. Both Carl Zehr and Berry Vrbanovic share the passion for neighbourhoods and we are only so grateful for the support from the Mayor’s office, the City Council and the staff that we can continue to rely on.
See more photos and congratulations on our Facebook and Twitter pages!
20th Festival Finale Celebration
All our volunteers did the wonderful job of co-hosting a historic celebration and helped in making all our award winners shine. The Festival received an award itself from Catherine Fife, MPP of Kitchener-Waterloo!
All the awards, except the $10,000 grant, were selected this year by the Steering Committee or the Award Sponsors based on the merit and award criteria. If you want to learn more about this years activities go to the FON 2012/2013 Map and see some quotes from the neighbours! To see the photographs from the finale, go to our Facebook photo stream!
On the Festival of Neighbourhoods blog page, you can also read about the community conversations hosted in Kitchener front yards and parks in 2013 as a part of 1000 conversations initiative led by Tamarack – An Institute for Community Development!