8 80 Cities' Ontario Community Changemakers is a microgrant and leadership program, intended to help spark new ideas and invigorate change in local communities. I was gratefully selected as a 2024-2025 Changemaker, allowing me to continue bringing people together in Waterloo Park through microparades. 

In collaboration with community groups, I integrated two microparades into existing community events. The first, a bubble parade, took place on the more populated east side of Waterloo Park and led people to a hidden area on the west, where the MacGregor Albert Community Association, Uptown West Neighbourhood Association, and the Uptown Tree Coalition hosted a celebration of an old oak tree. The second parade, a lantern procession at dusk, followed a day-time lantern-making workshop, hosted by the talented local artist Agnes Niewiadomski (Mindful Makers). Many people returned to the park at dusk to parade their work, where we were accompanied by student flutists from Wilfrid Laurier’s Faculty of Music. 

These projects were possible thanks to funding from 8 80 Cities and the Balsam Foundation, as well as additional funding for the lantern-making workshop from TD Park People Grants.  

Original poster art by Ida Lutzenberger.