Waterloo Region's Connection to Arts

Welcome back neighbours and hello to our new friends!!

No snow storm this past week and warm next few days, wow is it summer already? Haha, na we want to enjoy the snow a little longer! Hit the slopes, (snowshoe?) drink hot chocolate and make more meaningful connections. Speaking of, we have a lot of bright updates today, so bundle up and get ready to read… Oh, but first, today Kitchener Rangers are hosting a 🏒 pre-tournament game between Team Canada and Team Sweden before the 2026 World Jrs! If you are not going to the game, tune in 📺 and support! Ok let's do this.

Alright, today I want to highlight a true gem of our Region, Green Lights Arts, a producing theatre company, making work that is thoughtful, brave, and refreshingly alive since 2014.

Now if theatre had a personality, they would be the friend who shows up early, asks the good questions, and somehow convinces everyone to stay a little longer. This group creates theatre that leans into real-life topics, the kind that don’t always fit neatly into polite conversation, but absolutely belong on stage. Their shows don’t just end with applause; they spark conversations, reflections, and the occasional “Huh… I hadn’t thought of it that way.” Which, honestly, is theatre doing its job right.

I felt this firsthand at their holiday cabaret on December 15, 2025. One minute I was laughing at a local comedian, the next I was moved by live music, and somewhere in between I was browsing a holiday market and donating to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region. It was festive, generous, and deeply human. Nobody rushed out, but lingered, always a good sign!

At their core, Green Light Arts is about making space, on stage and off. They centre underrepresented voices, keep learning as they go, and work to make theatre more accessible and welcoming. This is why the arts matter. Theatre expands empathy. Music opens doors. Creativity reminds us we belong to something bigger than ourselves.

If you believe that, too, consider supporting their work:

Because great theatre doesn’t just entertain, it brings people together, and that’s kind of everything, isn’t it?! 🙂

Region’s latest on Homes, Work & Ways to Help 🦆 Do tell me if you end up indulging in any of these opportunities!

Work local at these (🔥 hot off the press) Arts related job opportunities:

💼 Waterloo Region District School Board is looking for a Visual Art (Junior) Teacher (apply here)

💼 Schelegel Villages, proud Canadian Organization serving elders is actively looking for an Art Therapist for their Waterloo location (apply here).

🏠 This “Artsy” house is on sale right now! Truly a rare example of mid-century modern architecture in Waterloo. Check it out here.

Give love to get more back! Not one, but two Arts related organizations have volunteer positions open in the Region:

🎗️ Grand River Film Festival (GRFF) celebrates and inspires community through the shared experience of independent and local film. They are looking for a Treasurer (apply here), and a Sponsorships Coordinator (apply here).

🎗️ Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony is a hub for concerts, music education and collaborative initiatives that bring the power of music to new spaces and audiences. They are looking for a Ticket Taker / Usher for this month’s concerts (apply here).

Look up, now down and everywhere around ☺️ . I love nature so here are some finds, hope you like them! See anything unique? Or have tips on how not to kill flora 😅 in the winter, reply and tell me.

🎇 Ursids meteor shower will be active from Dec. 17–26, peaking on the 22nd. There’s no interference from the Moon, so there’s a good chance that you will spot some of it.

☄️ Comet 3I/ATLAS, the third confirmed interstellar (from outside our solar system) object in history, was discovered this year, and will be closest to Earth on Dec 19! Too faint for the naked eye, but good time to go see your friend with the telescope 😇 curious to learn more? read here.

🌳 Yellow birch spotted in Wilmot! Know more about it here.

Say hi to our adorably loving neighbours! Share your sightings & adoptions by replying.

🪶 Downy Woodpecker spotted in Ayr!

🐶 Someone please bring Nina (gentle & talkative Husky) to our Region from Stratford!

🐈 Cuddle with Homer (grey domestic Shorthair/Mix) who wants to be in your lap!

There is a LOT happening in our Region, so sending Today’s thing-to-do here and all the other events in the next email later today to avoid overwhelm!

🏃 Farm League Running Club | Run, then beer. Why not More info |📍295 Ainslie St S, Cambridge | ⏰ 6:00 PM | 🎫 FREE

🧠⌛ Trivia Night at The Rabbid Fox | General Knowledge. Call ☎️ 519-748-2404 to reserve, it fills up |📍123 Pioneer Dr, Kitchener | ⏰ 7:30 PM to 9:00 PM | 🎫 FREE

🎄🧠 Christmas Trivia Night at EVO Kitchen & Bar | Call ☎️ 519-740-9900 to register | 📍31 Water St S., Cambridge | ⏰ 6:30 PM - 9:30 PM | 🎫 FREE

🍸✨Cocktails & Canapés under Meander | A unique living piece of architecture & art - sculpture that responds to people!! | 📍Tapestry Hall, 74 Grand Ave S, Cambridge | 🕕 6:00 PM - 9:30 PM | 🎫 $43.93 (buy here)

♠️ Euchre Night @ TWB | Learn basics at 6:30PM | 📍300 Mill St, Unit 1, Kitchener | ⏰ 6:45 PM - 9:30 PM | 🎫 $12 (buy here)

🎨 Paint Nite at Symposium Cafe |📍500 Can-Amera Pkwy, Cambridge | ⏰ 6:30 PM - 8:30 PM | 🎫 $35 (buy here)

🕺💃 Jazz & Tap | Dance performance by One Movement |📍15 Wellington St, Cambridge | ⏰ Option 1: 5:30 PM, Option 2: 7:00 PM | 🎫 $13.54 (Buy Opt 1 / Opt 2)

✨Holiday Dreams: A Spectacular Holiday Show | high energy, modern holiday production | 📍Centre In The Square, 101 Queen St N, Kitchener | 🎫 $63-91 (buy here)

Liked this a little? Forward and share the love with your neighbours! 💌

Waiting to hear your feedback, stories, anecdotes and gems you’d like to see highlighted.🔅

🆕 Someone forwarded you this email? Join in —

See you next week haha later today with the rest of the week’s events! Until then, keep riding the region’s rhythm!

with love,

Your Neighbourly Goose | Waterloo Region Rhythm