Melissa Bowman
@dtkmelissa.bsky.social
Passionate about...just about everything! Especially Waterloo Region. 🇨🇦
Author of CitifiedWR blog https://citified.substack.com/
Co-founder of Waterloo Region Yes In My Backyard
"Kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight"
https://linktr.ee/dtkmelissa
Author of CitifiedWR blog https://citified.substack.com/
Co-founder of Waterloo Region Yes In My Backyard
"Kick at the darkness 'til it bleeds daylight"
https://linktr.ee/dtkmelissa
This is an important point that gets overlooked too often. These 'public meetings' aren't needed for every type of housing - they are mostly only required when adding units. A multiplex is almost always going to offer more affordability - which we say we want more of - but do we really?
And if a fourplex burns down and gets replaced with a one unit mansion, no public meeting needed. Classism that calls itself “local democracy”.
November 28, 2025 at 11:50 AM
This is an important point that gets overlooked too often. These 'public meetings' aren't needed for every type of housing - they are mostly only required when adding units. A multiplex is almost always going to offer more affordability - which we say we want more of - but do we really?
Why? Why do we do this to ourselves? This just feels like a waste of everybody's time. Why on earth do we think we need neighbours to weigh in on this?! Just build it already. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
November 27, 2025 at 11:31 PM
Why? Why do we do this to ourselves? This just feels like a waste of everybody's time. Why on earth do we think we need neighbours to weigh in on this?! Just build it already. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
"When the first snows fall, it’s great fun to find a high vantage point in a heavily travelled area to see the contrasts between where we walk and where planners or developers have recommended or prescribed that we walk." -Colin Ellard colinellard.substack.com/p/children-a...
Children and snails wandering the world
Finding agency in digital and real worlds
colinellard.substack.com
November 27, 2025 at 10:57 PM
"When the first snows fall, it’s great fun to find a high vantage point in a heavily travelled area to see the contrasts between where we walk and where planners or developers have recommended or prescribed that we walk." -Colin Ellard colinellard.substack.com/p/children-a...
"70-80% of 911 calls today have nothing to do with criminality and a non-police response to such calls would be feasible and preferable – if one existed."
Public safety for whom?
A safer city means less police, but only one party in the current Montreal election seems to understand that
buff.ly
November 27, 2025 at 12:30 PM
"70-80% of 911 calls today have nothing to do with criminality and a non-police response to such calls would be feasible and preferable – if one existed."
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
December Committee Meetings are underway next Tuesday. Here’s 3 highlights that will have an impact here in Kitchener and across the Region!
November 26, 2025 at 11:48 PM
December Committee Meetings are underway next Tuesday. Here’s 3 highlights that will have an impact here in Kitchener and across the Region!
Just a solid plan right here. Drivers complain that they never saw the sign that simply said there was a speed camera ahead, so the solution is to post these signs with about 4 signs worth of information. Yes, I'm sure that will work very well. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
November 26, 2025 at 11:21 PM
Just a solid plan right here. Drivers complain that they never saw the sign that simply said there was a speed camera ahead, so the solution is to post these signs with about 4 signs worth of information. Yes, I'm sure that will work very well. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
I don't understand how you can live in a similar type of housing as being proposed here and espouse the very same concerns about this proposal as others likely did about the housing you now occupy. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
In Waterloo’s downtown, residents in tall towers fight a plan for even taller towers
Disagreements over height, heritage and density have led some neighbours to oppose twin towers that would be the tallest in the city.
www.therecord.com
November 26, 2025 at 11:13 PM
I don't understand how you can live in a similar type of housing as being proposed here and espouse the very same concerns about this proposal as others likely did about the housing you now occupy. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
Your provincial government working hard for you. Sigh. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Oversized school-zone signs to replace photo radar cameras too big for Ottawa’s street posts
The temporary 12-foot-tall school-zone signs intended to replace photo radar cameras on Ottawa streets will not fit on municipal street poles, according to a councillor.
www.ctvnews.ca
November 26, 2025 at 5:39 PM
Your provincial government working hard for you. Sigh. www.ctvnews.ca/ottawa/artic...
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
Very much looking forward to this talk in DTK tonight at 6 with some excellent co-panelists. We'll be talking about Social Development Goals (no poverty or hunger). I'll talk about how addressing our high housing costs is necessary to end poverty.-- Martin events.sdgideafactory.ca/default/Deta...
SDG Talks: No Poverty & Zero Hunger
Tuesday, November 25, 2025 5:30 pm - 7:30 pm How can we build a future where no one is left behind?
Join us for a powerful evening exploring the goals of SDG 1 (No Poverty) and SDG 2 (Zero Hunger). ...
events.sdgideafactory.ca
November 25, 2025 at 10:39 PM
Very much looking forward to this talk in DTK tonight at 6 with some excellent co-panelists. We'll be talking about Social Development Goals (no poverty or hunger). I'll talk about how addressing our high housing costs is necessary to end poverty.-- Martin events.sdgideafactory.ca/default/Deta...
"Engineers believe that car crashes are the result primarily, almost exclusively, of driver error. If you look at what we do when there’s a crash, we go out and we try to assign blame. The data that we collect all goes to: who can we point fingers towards." -Charles Marohn buff.ly/kDuwUg2
November 25, 2025 at 12:31 PM
"Engineers believe that car crashes are the result primarily, almost exclusively, of driver error. If you look at what we do when there’s a crash, we go out and we try to assign blame. The data that we collect all goes to: who can we point fingers towards." -Charles Marohn buff.ly/kDuwUg2
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
“I’ve seen that the majority of folks in Ontario believe that these cameras are useful. And every study that I’ve seen shows that they are effective in reducing speeds. So, I don’t want this debate to end. I want it to continue with evidence.”
November 24, 2025 at 3:13 PM
“I’ve seen that the majority of folks in Ontario believe that these cameras are useful. And every study that I’ve seen shows that they are effective in reducing speeds. So, I don’t want this debate to end. I want it to continue with evidence.”
Waterloo councillors will see a pay increase after the 2026 election, a Cambridge Councillor must take sensitivity training, and the 2026 police budget comes to Regional Council this month. All that and more in this week's Citified.
The Council Round-Up (Nov 2025: Pt. 1)
A snapshot of what's happening in council chambers around Waterloo Region
buff.ly
November 24, 2025 at 12:30 PM
Waterloo councillors will see a pay increase after the 2026 election, a Cambridge Councillor must take sensitivity training, and the 2026 police budget comes to Regional Council this month. All that and more in this week's Citified.
Thanks, but no. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
November 23, 2025 at 11:14 PM
Thanks, but no. www.therecord.com/news/waterlo...
"ION reflects a long-term vision by our regional government across multiple councils. It’s an investment in mobility for the future. We can’t keep growing around cars, and ION helps with growing the region up and not out." Can't argue with this statement from @tritag.ca
November 23, 2025 at 8:47 PM
"ION reflects a long-term vision by our regional government across multiple councils. It’s an investment in mobility for the future. We can’t keep growing around cars, and ION helps with growing the region up and not out." Can't argue with this statement from @tritag.ca
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
Provide more transit and people will come!
Induced demand also works for trains!
New journeys, trips and adventures are created when new weekend trains are introduced.
More of this please!
Induced demand also works for trains!
New journeys, trips and adventures are created when new weekend trains are introduced.
More of this please!
Wow, big crowd out here in Guelph for the first weekend train. Lots of happy commuters and families going to Toronto for the day.
Thanks to everyone who pushed to convince Metrolinx that there is demand for weekend service.
Thanks to everyone who pushed to convince Metrolinx that there is demand for weekend service.
November 23, 2025 at 8:34 PM
Provide more transit and people will come!
Induced demand also works for trains!
New journeys, trips and adventures are created when new weekend trains are introduced.
More of this please!
Induced demand also works for trains!
New journeys, trips and adventures are created when new weekend trains are introduced.
More of this please!
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
Someone stayed with my best friend at Bathurst Station when he tripped and fell getting off the subway and started having seizures. That person stayed with him until the paramedics arrived. I don’t know who that person is but I hope they’re living a beautiful life.
Reposted with Alt text.
Reposted with Alt text.
November 23, 2025 at 3:55 PM
Someone stayed with my best friend at Bathurst Station when he tripped and fell getting off the subway and started having seizures. That person stayed with him until the paramedics arrived. I don’t know who that person is but I hope they’re living a beautiful life.
Reposted with Alt text.
Reposted with Alt text.
Happy 'Weekend GO Train' day to all who celebrate!
Added weekend service on GO Kitchener Line starts Sunday
More frequent weekend trains and extended routes are being added starting Sunday
buff.ly
November 23, 2025 at 1:00 PM
Happy 'Weekend GO Train' day to all who celebrate!
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
If you miss the "good days" Twitter algorithm, when it did a little but not too much, try playing around with custom feeds. These ones are good starters for adding highlights, so you can catch up on the day if you're a sane person checking once or less per day.
A short thread to plug my Highline custom feeds and why I built them! 1/7
November 22, 2025 at 10:32 PM
If you miss the "good days" Twitter algorithm, when it did a little but not too much, try playing around with custom feeds. These ones are good starters for adding highlights, so you can catch up on the day if you're a sane person checking once or less per day.
Reposted by Melissa Bowman
Tomorrow morning! We’ll be in the first car
Join us to ride the first weekend GO Train Kitchener to Toronto! Help us mark a major milestone.
Toronto activities: TTCriders Streetcar Summit, Santa Claus Parade, or just enjoy the city.
Return via 4:48pm train or train to Bramalea + bus. Weekend GO Passes are $10, kids under 12 ride free.
Toronto activities: TTCriders Streetcar Summit, Santa Claus Parade, or just enjoy the city.
Return via 4:48pm train or train to Bramalea + bus. Weekend GO Passes are $10, kids under 12 ride free.
November 22, 2025 at 9:04 PM
Tomorrow morning! We’ll be in the first car
Residents concerned about neighbourhood density: If reasonable developments were proposed, we'd happily accept some changes to the street.
Developer: We'd like to change a semi into a 6-plex.
Some residents: We have concerns. www.therecord.com/news/council...
Developer: We'd like to change a semi into a 6-plex.
Some residents: We have concerns. www.therecord.com/news/council...
November 22, 2025 at 4:05 PM
Residents concerned about neighbourhood density: If reasonable developments were proposed, we'd happily accept some changes to the street.
Developer: We'd like to change a semi into a 6-plex.
Some residents: We have concerns. www.therecord.com/news/council...
Developer: We'd like to change a semi into a 6-plex.
Some residents: We have concerns. www.therecord.com/news/council...
"A lane of traffic can move 2,000 people an hour while an LRT using that same space can move 22,000 people an hour," Spooner said. "When we talk about growth, when we talk about LRT, we're talking about increasing capacities in the corridor." #ion #LRT www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/f...
Fast-tracking LRT to Cambridge will risk $12M that may not be reimbursed
Transportation commissioner Doug Spooner laid out a 2026 capital budget request for studies and land purchases that need to happen before full funding is sought from province and feds
www.cambridgetoday.ca
November 22, 2025 at 3:50 PM
"A lane of traffic can move 2,000 people an hour while an LRT using that same space can move 22,000 people an hour," Spooner said. "When we talk about growth, when we talk about LRT, we're talking about increasing capacities in the corridor." #ion #LRT www.cambridgetoday.ca/local-news/f...
"A decade of research shows that body cameras do not reduce police violence or racial profiling, while augmenting the power of police to arrest marginalized people for low-level crimes, surveil and repress protests, and wage a public relations war against their critics."
Public safety for whom?
A safer city means less police, but only one party in the current Montreal election seems to understand that
tedrutland.substack.com
November 22, 2025 at 1:47 PM
"A decade of research shows that body cameras do not reduce police violence or racial profiling, while augmenting the power of police to arrest marginalized people for low-level crimes, surveil and repress protests, and wage a public relations war against their critics."
"Even before the housing market went topsy-turvy, there was a sense in Canada that apartment living was something one did because one had to, or you did while young until you “grew up".
But despite the derision, there is still much to admire about the condo." www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
But despite the derision, there is still much to admire about the condo." www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
November 21, 2025 at 10:50 PM
"Even before the housing market went topsy-turvy, there was a sense in Canada that apartment living was something one did because one had to, or you did while young until you “grew up".
But despite the derision, there is still much to admire about the condo." www.thestar.com/opinion/star...
But despite the derision, there is still much to admire about the condo." www.thestar.com/opinion/star...