The story of Waterloo
For generations and generations, the Haudenosaunee, Anishinaabe and Neutral People gathered and lived on the territory where the city of Waterloo is now located. Following the arrival of settlers in the 1800s, this piece of Turtle Island was officially incorporated into a village in 1857, a town in 1876, and a city in 1948.
At the time of the 2016 census, Waterloo had a population of 104,986. The city has been recognized by many as a great place to work and live, and it has boasted a continuously growing population of immigrants and new Ontarians; in fact, almost 1 in 4 residents in the greater Waterloo region are immigrants. The city is now home to people with diverse histories, cultures, languages, and beliefs.
Unfortunately, the community remains greatly affected by poverty. In 2006, approximately 10.2% of residents in the Waterloo Region – or 1 in 10 people – were living in poverty. Many financial and health initiatives have been implemented since these data were gathered; up to over 450,000 meals were served in one year through meal programs throughout Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo.
Poverty is strongly correlated with adverse physical and mental health outcomes, and it does not merely affect those who are directly experiencing it. Rather, it affects us all as a community. The impacts of poverty pervade health care, social services, sociolegal enforcement, etc. Furthermore, existing official Social Assistance programs are often unable to meet even the most basic demands such as food, shelter, and clothing.
Individuals who want to mitigate the problem of poverty within the community often lack sufficient tools and support. There are too few places where residents can come together, and many neighbourhoods with the highest levels of concentrated poverty have the fewest programs and services to help people build a better life.
At TCHS, we aim to help remedy this need. Our projects and initiatives are directed towards low-income individuals or families, particularly those who are immigrants or newcomers. We look forward to contributing to a more accessible and equitable Waterloo where all individuals have the support to thrive and celebrate their stories.
