Canadian Urban Institute names two Regional partners award winners

Waterloo Region – The Urban Leadership Awards program is an annual initiative of the Canadian Urban Institute designed to recognize those who have made significant contributions to improving the quality of life in Canada’s cities and urban regions. This year, two out of a possible 11 Urban Leadership Awards have been awarded to Region of Waterloo partner projects for improving the quality of life in Canada’s cities and urban regions and making our cities healthier, safer and more dynamic places to live and work.

The Waterloo Accelerator Centre has received the Global City Award for “cultivating technology entrepreneurship and transforming the Waterloo Region into a recognized cluster for innovation and commercialization within the high-technology and information communication technology industries.”  As a partner, the Region of Waterloo is proud to have contributed $4 million toward the construction of the building and continues to be active on its Board of Directors.

“We are proud partners of The Accelerator Centre and have supported it as it has grown to become recognized as a world-renowned and award-winning centre of innovation in Waterloo Region”, said Ken Seiling, Regional Chair.

The STEP Home (Support to End Persistent Homelessness) program has received the Innovation Award for bringing together a unique collaborative of 12 programs through 10 agencies at 19 sites to provide options and supports to end persistent homelessness in Waterloo Region.

“Housing is a basic necessity of life and an important factor in our community’s health and well-being. Only when a community comes together can it be successful in addressing the needs of persistent homelessness,” added Ken Seiling.  “The Region is proud to be an active member of STEP Home by providing planning and financial support to help address homelessness in Waterloo Region.”

An awards ceremony will be held in Toronto on June 8, 2012 where the recipients will be formally recognized. Congratulations are extended to our local award winners and to their many partners throughout the community.

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For more information please contact:
Bryan Stortz, Director of Corporate Communications, Region of Waterloo,
519-575-4408 Bstortz@regionofwaterloo.ca