A history of innovation is embodied inthe new Fairway Road ExtensionBridge that will complete the FairwayRoad extension from Zeller Drive inKitchener to Fountain Street andKossuth Road in Cambridge.

The new bridge, designed by a teamled by UW Engineering alumnus BobStofko, is a segmental post-tensionedconcrete structure that will carry fourlanes of traffic plus bicycle lanes anda mixed-use sidewalk on each side ofthe bridge. Segmental post-tensioned

bridges, first developed in France inthe 1940s, are recognized for theirefficient use of material and gracefulform. Post-tensioning for the FairwayRoad Extension Bridge is beingsupplied and installed by theCanadian division of the French firmthat invented this technology.

The new bridge requires nopermanent piers in the river and isbeing erected using the segmentalcantilever technique, pioneered inEurope in the 1950s, which requires

no temporary supports in the river.The contractor has retained one ofOntario’s most experiencedconstruction engineers, working witha segmental bridge building specialistfrom California, to carry out themeticulous engineering calculationsrequired for this method ofconstruction.

This type of construction is often usedin Europe, but is less common inCanada. In fact, the Italian-designed

Published by the Region of Waterloo Fall 2012

INSIDE

Garbage pickup – we needyour input! PAGE 3

www.regionofwaterloo.ca

Waterloo Region has long had aculture of creativity that sets us apartas a centre of innovation in Ontario.As a community, we have embracedmany innovations, from high-techelectronics to low-tech solutions toeveryday problems. We pioneeredblue box recycling, produced the firstCanadian automobile and are home ofthe world-renowned BlackBerry.

This tradition of innovation continueswithin municipal government. In fact,you may be surprised at some of thenovel approaches the Region ofWaterloo is taking to meet the needsof citizens in this community.

Recently, two innovative Regionalpartner projects were recognized withleadership awards from the Canadian

Urban Institute. The STEP Homeprogram received the InnovationAward for bringing together a uniquecollaborative of 12 programs through10 agencies to provide options andsupports to end persistenthomelessness in Waterloo Region. Inaddition, the Accelerator Centrereceived the Global City Award forcultivating technologyentrepreneurship and transformingWaterloo Region into a recognizedcluster for innovation andcommercialization within the high-tech and information communicationindustries. The Region contributed $4million toward the construction of thebuilding and is active on the Board ofDirectors.

In August, the Region was alsohonoured by the Association ofMunicipalities of Ontario for a uniqueinitiative that involves multiple transitauthorities consolidating theirpurchasing of bus parts to get betterpricing. You can read more about it onpage 5.

The Region of Waterloo takes pride infinding innovative solutions to thechallenge of providing a wide range ofcommunity programs and serviceswhile also remaining prudent withtaxpayer dollars. Throughout thisnewsletter, you will read about avariety of innovative Regionalprojects, including the Fairway RoadBridge, light rail transit, wastemanagement and TravelWise.

Modern bridge reflects an international heritageof innovation

Innovating for a better future

Help shape growth inWaterloo Region PAGE 5

Fly to Chicago PAGE 6

Comments or questions?Region of WaterlooCustomer Service: regionalinquiries

@regionofwaterloo.caTel: 519-575-4400TTY: 519-575-4608

HPV immunization PAGE 8

Join the discussion PAGE 4

Continued on page 2

2

The Region of Waterloo is proud to announce thegrand opening of the Sunnyside CommunityAlzheimer Program in Cambridge.

Led by a qualified team of health careprofessionals, the program provides a stimulatingand safe environment for people with mid to latestage Alzheimer’s disease and other dementias.Building on the abilities of each participant, theprogram offers music therapy, arts and crafts,horticulture, exercise programs, baking,reminiscing and community outings. Assistance isavailable for those who require support with meals,personal care and medication.

Rosie Stevens lives in Cambridge and her husbandDennis attends the new program. “I am astonishedto see the care given to my husband. The staff areout of this world. They have patience andunderstanding of this disease, and without them wewould be lost,” Rosie said. “Dennis is a lot betterwhen he comes home after his outings. Hesometimes brings home a craft project, his face litup with pride as he shows me his work. Thanks amillion for this program.”

The program is open Monday, Wednesday andFriday from 9 a.m. - 2:30 p.m. The cost is $15 per day

which includes a hot lunch, snacks and beverages.Transportation is available upon request for anadditional cost. To register for the Sunnyside

Community Alzheimer Program (Cambridge), pleasecontact the Community Care Access Centre at 519-748-2222.

The Sunnyside Community Alzheimer Program(Cambridge) is operated by the Region of Waterlooand funded by the Waterloo Wellington LocalHealth Integration Network. For more informationon the program contact Sunnyside Senior Servicesat 519-893-8494.

Open HouseSunnyside

Community AlzheimerProgram(Cambridge)

Tuesday, October 23, 20122 to 4 p.m.

150 Main Street, Cambridge, 2nd Floor

Alzheimer’s program now available in Cambridge

In March 2012, the Region of Waterloo andcommunity representatives hosted a forum forOntario Works participants at Kitchener CityHall. The purpose of this unique forum was toprovide participants with information on thebenefits and services available to them.

Regional staff from Employment and IncomeSupport provided a brief overview of OntarioWorks. This presentation was videotaped andis now available atwww.socialservices.regionofwaterloo.ca.People were then invited to meet Regional staffand a wide range of community agencies tolearn more and ask questions. The servicespresent included the Ontario Disability SupportProgram, Opportunities Waterloo Region,YMCA Immigrant Services, Regional Housing,Northern lights, Lutherwood, and The WorkingCentre.

More than 80 Ontario Works participantsattended the forum. A working group is lookinginto ways to share information with largernumbers of participants.

What can we do for you today?

Watch our commercials at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

Sharing information on Ontario Works

Sunnyside Health & Wellness FairSaturday, October 20, 2012 � 10 a.m. - 2 p.m.

• More than 20 information booths on osteoporosis, arthritis,physiotherapy, heart health, diabetes, brain and hearing health,optometry and more

• Health care professionals will answer your questions

• Have your blood pressure and bone density checked

• Enjoy a free massage

• Watch foot care demonstrations

• Tour the state-of-the-art exercise facility designed specificallyfor older adults

Free Admission

and lots of

parking.

Sunnyside Campus, 247 Franklin Street North, Kitchener

Continued from page 1

orange “form traveller” system being used at FairwayRoad was shipped to Canada after completing work ona bridge near Prague.

Post-tensioned bridges are known for their durability,and the Fairway Road extension bridge incorporatesseveral other innovations that will give this bridge along life. For example, concrete surfaces subjected tosalt splash are being reinforced with advancedcomposite glass fibre reinforced polymer.

The road and bridge are scheduled to open in lateOctober or early November and are expected to servethe travelling public for at least 100 years.

Dennis, a participant at the new SunnysideCommunity Alzheimer program in Cambridge.

3

What can we do for you today?

Watch our commercials at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

The Region’s Waste Management division isworking on a new Waste Management Master Planstudy. This plan will guide the development ofWaste Management programs and services for thenext 20 years. With the help of a consultant team,we are examining our existing programs and findingnew and innovative ways to keep more garbage outof our landfill. We’re also looking at what we mightdo with our leftover garbage once the landfill is full.

When it comes to keeping garbage out of ourlandfill, the most effective programs need yoursupport and participation at the curb. Residents ofWaterloo Region are some of the best in theprovince when it comes to saving space in our one-and-only landfill, so who better to advise us onways to improve? Some ways other municipalities

are reducing garbage going to landfill include:• Standardized limits on the number of bags you

can put out on garbage day;• Collecting blue box and green bin materials weekly,

but leftover garbage every second week; and• Adding curbside collection services for other

recyclable items like mattresses or carpet.

We’re looking for your input on any and all waysthat we can reduce the amount of garbage goinginto our landfill. Join us at one of our publicinformation events the week of October 22(see sidebar for a complete list of events anddetails). Our programs require your participation forsuccess, and we hope to hear from as manyresidents as possible.

Why a new Master Plan?A Master Plan is the Region’s way of setting strategyand direction for programs and services. Theoriginal Waste Management Master Plan, written in1986, was followed by the Recycling ImplementationPlan (1987), and the Waste Reduction Master Plan tothe Year 2000 (1992). The majority of suggestions inthose plans have all been successfully implemented.

It’s time for a new Waste Management Master Plan,one that considers the new waste managementtechnologies available, and the projected growthand needs of Waterloo Region. Part of the Region’sStrategic Plan includes a directive to “Reduce theamount of waste going to landfill,” and the newWaste Management Master Plan will includerecommendations to support this goal.

Public Information EventsAll Public Information events run from

5 p.m. to 8 p.m. For more information, please visitwww.regionofwaterloo.ca/waste.

Monday, October 22Knox Presbyterian Church

50 Erb Street West, Waterloo

Tuesday, October 23Elmira Lions Hall

40 South Street West, Elmira

Wednesday, October 24Kitchener Memorial Auditorium

400 East Avenue, Kitchener

Thursday, October 25Calvary Assembly Church

127 Hespeler Road, Cambridge

Garbage pickup could change – we need your input!

Through the blue box, green bin, and other diversionprograms, we keep reducing the amount of wastethat needs disposal, but we’re always going to needa home for our garbage. It’s time to start thinkingabout what we’re going to do with our leftovergarbage when the landfill is full. While 15-20 yearsof remaining landfill life seems like a lot, it can takeup to ten years to approve, site and build a newwaste facility, which is why we’re starting now.

There have been some exciting innovations ingarbage disposal technology over the years, andwe recognize the need to view garbage as avaluable resource, rather than a by-product. Overthe next few months, consultants will look atoptions for future garbage disposal, and evaluatethe different technologies for staff and Council.We’d like to hear from residents on what they thinkof these potential solutions for our waste. Join us atone of our public information events the week of

October 22 (see sidebar for a complete list ofevents and details) to learn more about disposaltechnologies and share your thoughts on whatmight be the best answer for Waterloo Region.

What do we do when the landfill is full?

Landfill tours Saturday, October 20, 2012

9 a.m. to 1 p.m.Free, one hour guided bus tours of the Waterloo landfill

To book a spot call 519-883-5100 ext. 3810 oremail waste@regionofwaterloo.ca

Get up close to landfillequipment and collection trucks!

See where yourgarbage goes!

Find out how we turngreen bin organicsinto

compost!Watch ussort your recycling!

How will rapid transit fit into our community? Whatare the best uses for the land at the King/VictoriaTransit Hub to bring the greatest benefits to thecommunity? When will the reconstruction of KingStreet be completed? How can we make it easierfor residents and visitors to walk, cycle and rollaround our communities?

These are just some of the questions the Region ofWaterloo, our municipal partners and thecommunity have been working together to answeras part of the many planning initiatives nowunderway to find innovative solutions to meet ourfuture transportation needs.

But our work isn’t done yet! This fall and winter, wewill need your input again on several key projects:

• After a year of study and consultation, theRegion’s Active Transportation Master Plan,Walk Cycle Waterloo Region, is almost done. InNovember, we will need your input again on thefinal walking and cycling networks as well asthe draft Action Plans we need to put thenetwork in place. Please visitwww.walkcyclewr.regionofwaterloo.ca for moreinformation.

• The Community Building Strategy will providethe Region with a framework that will help usfind new and innovative ways to realize thebenefits rapid transit will bring to ourcommunity. In November, we’ll have the finalstrategy ready for public input. Please visit our

website at www.centraltransitcorridor.ca tolearn more about the Community BuildingStrategy and how you can get involved.

• Work is continuing on the many studies andinitiatives underway to get the King/VictoriaTransit Hub site ready for redevelopment overthe next few years. The Region has submitted aformal application to the City of Kitchener tochange its Official Plan and Zoning Bylaw toallow for the full range of land uses we maywant to consider at the site. The City ofKitchener is now reviewing our application andwill hold a formal public meeting this winter toget your input. Please visitwww.regionofwaterloo.ca/transithub for moreinformation about the ongoing work at theTransit Hub.

4

A lot has happened since Regional Councilapproved the recommended procurement anddelivery option of Design-Build-Finance-Operate-Maintain (DBOFM) for rapid transit earlier this year.With the required Transit Project Assessment (TPA)completed, the Region received final approvalsfrom both the federal and provincial governmentsand hired Parsons Brinkerhoff to serve as theGeneral Engineering Consultant (GEC).

For a project of this size, it is likely that a number ofcontractors, known as a consortium, will pool their

expertise and resources together to bid for theDBFOM contract. The consortium will be identifiedthrough the Region’s procurement process thatincludes two phases. Request for Qualifications(RFQ) is currently underway and Request forProposals (RFP) from the shortlisted consortiumswill begin next spring. The approved consortiumwill be announced by 2014.

Also in 2014, the adapted bus rapid transit (aBRT)service from Ainslie Street Terminal in Cambridgeto Fairview Park Mall in Kitchener will begin

operating. Construction of the light rail transit (LRT)line between Fairview Park Mall and ConestogaMall in Waterloo will also get underway, withservice set to start in 2017.

The Region is committed to reaching its rapidtransit milestones. Over the next few months, watchfor updates on the new LRT vehicles. Stayconnected by visitingwww.regionofwaterloo.ca/rapidtransit.

Join the discussion!Help shape the future of transportation in Waterloo Region

KING VICTORIATransit Hub

DBFOM option approved TPA approved GEC hired Region issues RFQ

Region issues RFP Consortium hired

aBRT service launches LRT construction begins

LRT service launches

2012

2013

2014

2017

Connecting to the future

What can we do for you today?

Watch our commercials at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

Grand River Transit (GRT) can take you fromCambridge all the way to Elmira. Do you want to tryit out but aren’t sure how it all works? Are you newto our community? Has it been a long time sinceyou took a bus? Do you use a wheelchair andwould like to see if GRT buses work for you? Wecan help!

GRT offers TrainingPLUS, a new program designedto help you learn about GRT, whether it is a quicklesson on how to use our trip-planning tools ormore intensive support to learn how to use thesystem.

Training can be tailored to meet your specific needsone on one, or delivered to your friends andorganizations through group orientations. You can

also teach yourself with our online how-to videos.GRT also offers “train the trainer” workshops forlocal agencies.

By 2013, all GRT buses will be accessible to peoplewith mobility challenges. Drivers lower the front ofthe bus to the height of the curb so you can walkright in. A ramp can be extended onto the sidewalkso that customers can drive their wheelchair orsmall scooter easily onto the bus, and park in thepriority seating area reserved for customers with adisability. There are no stairs to climb on these low-floor buses.

TrainingPLUS will help you get comfortableaccessing and traveling on GRT. For moreinformation, call 519-585-7555 or visit www.grt.ca.

A program developed by staff at the Region of Waterloo to encourageemployees to walk, cycle or take transit to work to reduce parking demands isnow being used by a growing number of businesses across Waterloo Region.

The Region launched the TravelWise Transportation Management Associationin January 2012 to share the successful program with other employers. Theprogram began with 15 participating companies. That has since grown to 17companies and is expected to grow to 20 by 2013.

TravelWise helps employees find innovative solutions to their daily commute,encouraging them through education and incentive programs to try walking,cycling, transit, carpooling or a combination of these to get to work instead ofdriving alone. It also provides employees with carpool matching services, anemergency ride home program and a corporate pass for Grand River Transit.

The benefit for employers is reduced demand for employee parking, not tomention more active and productive employees. Participating employees havebenefited financially with $8,000 plus in fuel savings since TravelWise launched.They have also collectively reduced more than 10,000 drive-alone trips sinceJanuary, accounting for 15,000 kilograms of reduced greenhouse gasemissions.

If you would like your company to participate in TravelWise, go to our websiteat www.regionofwaterloo.ca/travelwise.

5

The Region of Waterloo wants you to “learn the turn” with its 2012 Roundabouteducation campaign. This year, it’s back to basics with a video that focuses onroundabout essentials and answers the ultimate question, “How the heck doyou drive in a roundabout?”

This video takes viewers step-by-step through the rules of roundabouts. Itcovers the meaning of roundabout signage, signaling, pedestrians, and trucksin roundabouts.

The video was produced to reach a variety of audiences and has beendistributed widely to libraries, high schools, driving schools, insurancecompanies and local businesses. It can also be viewed in its entirety or insmaller “chapters” on the Region’s roundabout website,www.goroundabout.ca, or on the Region’s YouTube Channel athttp://bit.ly/NkxH97.

Since 2004, roundabouts have been an important part of our roadwaylandscape in Waterloo Region. These circular intersections improve roadsafety, manage increased traffic demand and help improve air quality byeliminating unnecessary stops and idling.

To order a copy of the video, please contact the Region of Waterloo at519-575-4558 or email transportation@regionofwaterloo.ca.

Region partners with localbusiness to find innovativetransportation solutions

Watch our commercials at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

What can we do for you today?

Travel on GRT with confidence and comfort Innovating to save you moneyThe Region of Waterloo along with six othersouthern Ontario municipalities recentlyreceived the 2012 Peter J. Marshall InnovationAward from the Association of Municipalities ofOntario (AMO). The award recognizes a uniqueinitiative that involves multiple transit authoritiesconsolidating their purchasing of bus partsthrough a single North American supplier. Quitesimply, the transit authorities work together topurchase bus parts in a coordinated fashion inorder to get better pricing through large orders.This process also reduces administration costs,increases efficiency and reduces the supplychain’s carbon footprint.The Region of Waterloo’s transitsystem, Grand River Transit,has a fleet of 218 buses withtwo garages, providingover 19 million passengertrips per year.

The Region of Waterloo will be celebrating the 11thAnnual National Housing Day on November 15, 2012.Each year, National Housing Day celebratesinnovative progress being made towards housingissues throughout Waterloo Region. With over10,500 Community Housing units either owned oroverseen by the Region of Waterloo, NationalHousing Day will be “Celebrating HousingExcellence in Waterloo Region.”Through numerous partnerships with builders,developers, housing providers and privatelandlords, the Region of Waterloo is able to offerprograms such as Community Housing (affordablerental housing) and Affordable Home Ownership.These programs ensure that housing is available toindividuals and families who cannot afford to live inprivate market housing.

National Housing Day celebrations will take placefrom 9 to 11 a.m. in the Region of Waterloo’s CouncilChambers at 150 Frederick St. in Kitchener and willfeature guest speakers and award presentations. A

reception with refreshments will be held followingthe formal celebrations in the foyer

For more information and event updates, pleasevisit: www.regionofwaterloo.ca/housing.

6

Picture yourself travelling from Waterloo Region to Chicago,on a 1 hour-10 minute flight! American Eagle, the regionalaffiliate of American Airlines, now provides twice daily non-stop service between the Region of Waterloo InternationalAirport and Chicago O'Hare International Airport.

Once you’ve landed at O’Hare, take advantage of the CTATrain which is located right in the terminal, and you’ll be inthe heart of downtown Chicago in just 30 minutes. Whilethere, take in a Cubs game, try Garret’s famous “ChicagoStyle” popcorn, visit “The Bean” and shop ‘till you drop.

For passengers looking to travel to other destinations,

consider using Chicago as a hub to connect. AmericanAirlines provides connections through O’Hare to over 250cities in 40 countries worldwide. As the cooler weatherapproaches, this makes travelling South so much easier!

If you prefer to travel West, fly WestJet from Waterloo Regionto Calgary non-stop daily – minus the stampede. Don’t forgetour Nation’s capital, Bearskin Airlines provides multiple flightsdaily flights between Waterloo Region and Ottawa.

Visit www.waterlooairport.ca for more information or contactyour travel agent to book.

Order a Chicago deep-dishpizza . . . for pick-up!

Region of Waterloo celebrates 11th annual National Housing Day

What can we do for you today?

Watch our commercials at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

7

The Region of Waterloo has collaborated withthe City of Guelph to create a websitededicated to informing homeowners aboutwater softeners. The sitewww.watersoftenerfacts.ca providesimportant information you should knowbefore purchasing a water softener.

With a lot of inaccurate information aboutwater softeners in the marketplace, this sitewill help identify important factors inselecting a water softener, such as sizing,salt and water usage and availabletechnologies.

Salt and water use testing results on a varietyof water softeners are available on the site topromote ones that use less salt and water.These softeners help keep sodium andchlorides out of water flowing to wastewatertreatment plants and help reduce waterconsumption and extend our drinking watercapacity.

One common mistake people make with awater softener is to improperly program thesoftener’s hardness setting. The websiteoffers water hardness maps for WaterlooRegion and Guelph. Residents can locatetheir home on the map and find the hardnessof the water at that specific location.

For more information on water softeners,please visit www.watersoftenerfacts.ca, orcall 519-575-4757 x3558.

Get the facts on water softeners

Learn about innovation in our community at the Waterloo Region Museum. Formany years, people living and working in Waterloo Region have developed andembraced innovations. Whether they are solutions to old problems, high-techelectronics or social programs, this culture of creativity and invention setsWaterloo Region apart as a centre of innovation in Ontario. From the LeRoy, thefirst Canadian production car, to the Lee-Enfield Rifle and, of course, theBlackBerry, Waterloo Region has a rich history of innovation that continues tothis day. This exhibit is open for a limited time and will close in early 2013. Formore information, visit www.waterlooregionmuseum.com or call 519-748-1914.

Unconventional Thinking: Innovation in Waterloo Region

Membership offers huge savings with unlimited admission to all Region ofWaterloo owned and operated museums for the whole year! Enjoy savings,fun, special events, learning opportunities, gallery exhibits and more at the

following Region of Waterloo Museums: Waterloo Region Museum, Doon Heritage Village, Joseph Schneider Haus, McDougall Cottage

For more information, visit www.waterlooregionmuseum.com or call 519-748-1914.

DOON HERITAGE VILLAGE

www.regionofwaterloo.ca/mcd

MUSEUMSREGION OF WATERLOO

www.waterlooregionmuseum.com

www.regionofwaterloo.ca/jsh

MEMBERSHIP PROGRAM

What can we do for you today?

Watch our commercials at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

www.regionofwaterloo.ca

COUNCIL CONTACTSREGIONAL CHAIR

Ken Seilingkseiling@regionofwaterloo.ca

519-575-4585 (R)COUNCILLORSCAMBRIDGEJane Brewer

jbrewer@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3402 (R)

519-653-3315 (H)Doug Craig

dcraig@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3404 (R)519-740-4517 Ext. 4215 (W)

Claudette Millarcmillar@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3408 (R)

519-621-7202 (H)KITCHENERTom Galloway

tgalloway@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3401 (R)

519-578-2112 (H)Jean Haalboom

jhaalboom@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3406 (R)

519-748-1508 (H) Geoff Lorentz

glorentz@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3413 (R)

519-741-1494 (H)Jim Wideman

jwideman@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3409 (R)

519-576-5150 (H)Carl Zehr

czehr@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3403 (R)

519-741-2300 (W)NORTH DUMFRIESRob Deutschmann

rdeutschmann@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3407 (R)

519-621-0340 (W)WATERLOOBrenda Halloran

bhalloran@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3400 (R)

519-747-8700 (W)Jane Mitchell

jmitchell@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3411 (R)

519-886-9626 (H)Sean Strickland

sstrickland@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3414 (R)

519-503-0613 (C)WELLESLEYRoss Kelterborn

rkelterborn@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3410 (R)

519-699-4611 (W) WILMOT

Les Armstronglesarmstrong@regionofwaterloo.ca

519-575-4404 Ext. 3412 (R)226-748-8971(C) WOOLWICHTodd Cowan

tcowan@regionofwaterloo.ca519-575-4404 Ext. 3405 (R)

519-669-0591 (H) General Fax for Council

519-575-4048TTY: 519-575-4608

W-work R-region H-home C-cell

8

HPV vaccine to be expanded for high school girlsImmunization is the best way to protect againstHPV (Human Papillomavirus). Immunizationprotects young women from HPV strainsresponsible for approximately 70 per cent ofcervical cancers. In Canada, cervical cancer isthe second most common cancer in womenbetween the ages of 20 to 44.

The province is expanding Ontario’s HumanPapillomavirus (HPV) Immunization Program toinclude a catch-up program for eligiblefemales.

Effective September 2012, female students whodid not start or did not complete their HPVimmunization series when they became eligiblefor the publicly-funded vaccine in Grade 8(since 2007/2008 school year), may receivepublicly funded HPV vaccine until the end oftheir Grade 12 year. In addition, a one-timecatch-up program will be offered fromSeptember 2012 to June 2013 for females whowere born in 1993/1994 who did not receivetheir vaccine in school or who have notcompleted their series and are no longer inhigh school.

For more information about the catch-upprogram or on how to access this publiclyfunded vaccine, please call Region of WaterlooPublic Health at 519-883-2007, option 6.

The Region is responsible for providing about 60 per cent of municipal governmentservices in this community, and our new Diversity & Inclusion strategy will help ensure allresidents have access to Regional services and programs. We are also working toattract and retain a skilled, talented and diverse workforce. A more diverse workforcebetter understands the needs of our community.

Here are a just few of the things we are doing to value diversity and improve inclusion:

Fast facts:� Every year about 500 women are diagnosed with cancer of the

cervix and about 140 die of this disease in Ontario� The association between HPV and cervical cancer is stronger

than the link between tobacco and lung cancer� HPV is the most common sexually transmitted infection in

Canada � Other factors associated with an increased risk of HPV infection

include:

• Current and past tobacco use• Previous infection with Chlamydia or herpes simplex virus• Having immune suppression• Having HIV

Making a difference – every day

Consider a career with the Region of Waterloo

If you are interested in contributing to thedevelopment of your community, we inviteyou to consider a career with the Region ofWaterloo. We continually acceptapplications for positions including busoperator, senior project manager,registered nurse, registered practical nurseand childcare teacher. For more information on how to apply andpositions available, visit the “jobopportunities” section at www.regionofwaterloo.ca.

• Taking our service to places where diverse people live, work and play.

• Using inclusive, person-first language.

• Seeking help from organizations and people who belong to or understand diverse communities.

• Understanding barriers faced by citizens and how our actions impact them.

• Ensuring our locations are easily accessible (for people with disabilities, for those taking transit, walking, cyclingand driving.)

Find out more about the Region’s Diversity & Inclusion strategy at www.regionofwaterloo.ca. Click on Regional Government, then Diversity & Inclusion.

Valuing diversity and improving inclusion at theRegion of Waterloo