Discover the top 10 stories of 2024
Around the Region tells stories about where you live. We cover topics that matter here in Waterloo Region, as we share the many ways your Region of Waterloo government is working to support this community.
This year, we published 102 stories. Which grabbed the most attention? Here are the top 10 stories that our readers loved in 2024:
- How to use new e-scooters and e-bikes in Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge: Where can I find an e-scooter? How do I ride? How much does it cost? This story is full of useful FAQs to get you rolling. It was published back in spring 2023, when this e-scooter and e-bike program had just launched.
- First tenants welcomed into new affordable housing at St. Mark’s Place: An exciting new space opened in Kitchener at the turn of 2023, providing cozy apartments for people moving out of homelessness. Check out the video in this story to take a tour through this renovated Lutheran church, and meet the group working to support vulnerable people.
- New changes to Waterloo Region’s blue box program: Blue box recycling is a proud part of Waterloo Region history – it started here! But in 2024, the blue box program changed across Ontario. The good news for residents? You still take your items to the curb, just like before. Read the story to learn what did change.
- Remembering the Cambridge Flood of 1974: This story recalls one disastrous day in downtown Cambridge. Hear the personal memories from two people who witnessed this major flood, now more than 50 years in the past. This story was published last year, but readers continue to be curious about this chapter in local history.
- How to get free compost from the Region of Waterloo: Everyone loves free stuff, right? The Region offers free compost for residents from our Waterloo and Cambridge landfills, while supplies last. Bookmark this story for next spring so you can find out how.
- New Indigenous language greetings now part of Region headquarters: A new welcome message now greets visitors in 15 Indigenous languages when they enter Region of Waterloo headquarters. It’s a step on our Truth and Reconciliation journey.
- A word from the curb: three common recycling mistakes: Can I recycle Styrofoam? What should I do with cardboard boxes? We’ve got you covered with some recycling FAQs.
- Kitchener dog takes unexpected trip on ION train: An overly-adventurous dog was reunited with his owners, thanks to some help from an ION train operator who spotted him jumping onto her train.
- Look inside the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant with new virtual tour: The Grand River is one important source of drinking water for our community. But how do we take river water, treat it, then deliver it to your tap? We summarize the whole process for you in this video.
- New food and drink choices take flight at YKF airport: Back in June, we proudly opened a new food vendor at the Region of Waterloo International Airport, complete with new YKF coffee and lager. Which local company did we partner with?
Thank you for reading Around the Region in 2024! Stick around in 2025… we will continue to share good news stories and useful information from across this community.