Here are readers’ favourite stories of 2025
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 works with and in this community.
Here are the top 8 stories that our readers clicked in 2025:
- 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. And it continues to get frequent use!
- Explore with Doors Open Waterloo Region: There was lots of interest this year in the annual Doors Open Waterloo Region event. In September, anyone could go behind-the-scenes to explore local buildings and their stories. This free event includes gorgeous architecture and rich local heritage. There were 23 participating sites this year, including three churches, three museums, two architect studios, an art gallery, and a rural fire station. Watch for Doors Open to return in fall 2026!
- How to get free compost from the Region of Waterloo: Any gardeners out there? Apparently yes, because this information was again popular. The Region offers free compost for residents from our Waterloo and Cambridge landfills, while supplies last. Bookmark this story for next spring (or follow us on social media) so you can find out how.
- 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 early 2024, the blue box program changed across Ontario. It’s now managed by an organization called Circular Materials. Read the story to learn what did and didn’t change. P.S. More recycling changes are expected to come in 2026.
- Testing new safety features for Region of Waterloo roundabouts: We have about 40 roundabouts – and counting! – on Regional roads. We continue to make improvements, like the new pilot project that began in fall 2025. Learn about the changes we made at three busy roundabouts to test new pedestrian safety measures.
- 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. By the way, this story was published in 2024. In 2025, we published a similar greetings wall at the Region of Waterloo International Airport.
- 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 back in 2023, but readers continue to be curious about this chapter in local history.
- Understanding and celebrating Indigenous history in Waterloo Region: this story provides an introduction to Waterloo Region’s diverse Indigenous peoples and history. It was published in 2023 for Indigenous History Month.
Thank you for reading Around the Region in 2025! See you in 2026 with more good news stories about Waterloo Region stories and useful information from across this community.