01-22-2018, 02:24 PM
I would second the comment on boring places vs. boring people. Kitchener-Waterloo (and the Region in general) was built on community and there are a plethora of community level groups, organizations and activities out there. The challenge is connecting everything together. When local media was centralized, it was easier to get the word out about anything happening. If it was in The Record, most people knew what was going on. Now, with the diversification of news sources and community calendars, it's more difficult to spread the word. Often, if I were to try and get the word out about a community event, it might take the best part of two hours to cover all of the major community calendars in the area.
Non-boring places take time to evolve. Having a mixture of independent businesses, community spaces and public space instead of a run of chains helps. As does avoiding privatized amenity space or buildings built up to the sidewalk with no provision for public stopping places makes any space boring. Unfortunately, the public space has generally lost out in the interest of "big visions" that sometimes work and sometimes fail spectacularly.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation takes the pulse of the Region in its Vital Signs report.
Finally, encouraging people inhabit public spaces is a challenge. When it is just as easy to stay home and watch a Netflix show as it is to go out for a walk; or when waiting for a bus or an appointment it is easier to pull out a phone than to make conversation, the public space becomes a dead zone.
What's the best way to retain talent in KW? Keep doing your part to make it a great place. Say hi to someone you don't know, walk in your neighbourhood (even if the only destination is back where you started), or go out and find the communities that are already out there (or make a new one yourself).
Non-boring places take time to evolve. Having a mixture of independent businesses, community spaces and public space instead of a run of chains helps. As does avoiding privatized amenity space or buildings built up to the sidewalk with no provision for public stopping places makes any space boring. Unfortunately, the public space has generally lost out in the interest of "big visions" that sometimes work and sometimes fail spectacularly.
The Kitchener-Waterloo Community Foundation takes the pulse of the Region in its Vital Signs report.
Finally, encouraging people inhabit public spaces is a challenge. When it is just as easy to stay home and watch a Netflix show as it is to go out for a walk; or when waiting for a bus or an appointment it is easier to pull out a phone than to make conversation, the public space becomes a dead zone.
What's the best way to retain talent in KW? Keep doing your part to make it a great place. Say hi to someone you don't know, walk in your neighbourhood (even if the only destination is back where you started), or go out and find the communities that are already out there (or make a new one yourself).