An Insider's Guide to Waterloo Region

February 24th and 25th, 2010

Look back at the prices in the past year…

July 2010- $0.98.8/l

June 2010- $0.90.7/l

I posted this picture of a Petro Canada sign in Toronto in June 2008 when the price per litre was $1.38.9

I hope we are not continuing in that direction again!

1839 Spragues Road, North Dumfries Township

The Region of Waterloo’s Regional Forests and Woodlands include 16 wooded areas owned by the Region. Sudden Tract is south of Cambridge at 1839 Spragues Road. I have enjoyed the trails here particularly in the fall and winter. The Chickadees and Nuthatches are very friendly and will eat out of your hand. This is where I saw my first Red-bellied Woodpecker a few years ago.

The boardwalk traversing the large wetland near Spragues Road has been closed to the public for over a year now. It is in poor repair and is missing cross boards in many areas. People (like myself) walk around the barriers and follow the trail toward the back of the forest where glacial hills and formations add the beauty of the forest. I wouldn’t recommend using this trail though especially when spring arrives.

The boardwalk over the wetland is unsafe

Here is a link to a January 2011 report from the Region of Waterloo concerning the Regional Forest Management Plan. According to the report, in the fall of 2010 ” a team of students from Conestoga College’s Environmental Engineering program undertook the project of designing a replacement boardwalk as their major course project. To date they have produced an “Existing Conditions” report and are currently in the design stage of the project. It is anticipated that if their recommendations are realistic and achievable, that their proposal will be presented to EEAC for consideration at a later date.”

Red-bellied Woodpecker along broken boardwalk trail

Retirement residence under construction

The Westmount Long Term Care Facility opened in 2002. Located at 200 David Bergey Drive in Kitchener, it is one of the newer nursing homes in the region. A new retirement home is under construction next to the current long term care building. It is next to the Laurentian Wetland which has been featured in several post on this site. (map)

The Westmount Long Term Care Residence

Blackhorne Drive entrance to McLennan Park

Phase two of the City of Kitchener’s development of McLennan Park is well under way. It is slated to open in the spring of 2011 and according to the city website will include:

• Playground area, including accessible playstructure and splash pad.
• Skateboard park with bowl and street elements.
• McLennan Park gate roadway, centralized drop-off and parking areas.
• Entrance feature off McLennan Park gate at Blackhorne Crescent and Block Line Road.
• Pedestrian trails and landscaping.
• Basketball and beach volleyball courts.
• Washroom building and picnic shelter.
• A great lawn for picnics, ice skating and field play.

(map)

Trinity Banquet Hall is located at the corner of Ottawa Street South and Fischer-Hallman Road in Kitchener.