posted by admin on August 23rd, 2011  |  Creating One Voice for Waterloo Region at Siggraph 2011

From August 9 to 11, a team of Waterloo Region innovation leaders attended Siggraph 2011, the International Conference on Computer Graphics and Interactive Techniques in Vancouver.

This year, the conference boasted 16,000 attendees from 74 countries, which broke Vancouver’s conference attendance records. Over 150 industry organizations exhibited and more than 800 speakers participated including Canada’s Technology Triangle and Waterloo Region, who partnered to create a booth to raise awareness of employment and business opportunities—including over 800 technology companies, complimented by the art, culture and diversity that make Waterloo Region the ideal location to start new careers, new business ventures or expansions.

Engaged in the project was Machteld Faas Xander President, John Short, who acted as facilitator. John emphasized the need for one, outward-facing ‘Regional voice’ for the booth and helped trouble-shoot any issues that would have compromised the tradeshow experience for conference attendees.

The final booth captured the spirit of Waterloo Region’s diversity, thriving tourism sector and creative industry in arts and technology, as well as showcased our acclaimed educational institutions and entrepreneurial spirit through countless examples of successful start-ups. Undoubtedly, booth visitors were left with a lasting impression of Waterloo Region as one of the best places to live and work in the world.

“The show was an outstanding success thanks to the many efforts that really stood out for me … Rod Regier [Executive Director Economic Development] from the City of Kitchener was a rallying point, bringing people together with his boundless enthusiastic, and Timm Vera [Manager, Strategic Marketing and Creative Services, City of Kitchener] kept people focused on creating a booth that solidified the region versus the tendency for each contributor to tell their own independent story. The Conestoga College crew was integral in the booth’s creativity [they also supplied the booth superstructure] and Charles Fraresso of Christie Digital, supplied the booth’s eye-catching digital tiles. Thanks also goes to Karen Gallant of Communitech and Andrea Sweet from Canada’s Technology Triangle for stepping up to chase down visuals and necessary copy, and Neil Randle from University of Waterloo Gaming Institute who master-minded the booth’s unique and interactive game concept.”

The collaborative effort at Siggraph 2011 is one great example of how a fantastic regional experience can be communicated.

To learn more about Waterloo Region’s presence at Siggraph 2011, read the press release from Canada’s Technology Triangle and see photos of the booth and conference on Flickr.

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posted by admin on July 11th, 2011  |  Unicorns: The Future of Rapid Transit in KW?

Green alligators, and long-necked geese. Some humpy-back camels and some chimpanzees. Some cats and rats and elephants, but sure as you’re born. Don’t you forget my …

If you’re thinking unicorn, you not only took part in many a St. Paddy’s day, you also nailed the re-emerging, yet delightfully surprising theme in our ‘Draw it Up’ train car, Machteld Faas Xander’s interactive activity at Steel Rails 2011.

Yes, we had unicorns a plenty depicted by you, but in Marc’s case, a unicorn represents his future hope for rapid transit in Waterloo Region. A system that would not only be magical to catch a ride on, but also provide a real personal transportation option that would take you anywhere you’d like to go. Kind of reminds me of Falcor in the NeverEnding Story. Man, I loved that movie. Still do!

Before I get away from myself with my own dreams of riding the skies on a luck dragon and eradicating bullying in one full sweep, I’ll let Marc take it away. Not only was he nice enough to not only draw for us on the train, but he also took the time to give us a verbal interpretation of his art.

What do you think? And what the lucky stars could so many unicorns mean for the future of Waterloo Region?

Category: Community Design | 3 Comments »

posted by admin on July 8th, 2011  |  Making KW (even more) Awesome at Steel Rails 2011

On June 24, to do a little thought-provoking with our Digital Community Quilt—and the fabulous citizens of Waterloo Region were definitely game! You see, we were itching to expand on our Post-it wall from last year’s installation when we asked, “What do we need to do to build a better community?”

This year, our thoughts remained focused on our ideal: people working together to co-design a better #KWawesome. However, we decided to add a little twist and make the activity in our train car more visually interactive, by asking participants to draw their answers to one of our three community-focused questions.

And as promised, we’ve already started—albeit slowly—revealing visual squares illustrated by our train car riders. You can’t blame a girl for wanting to create a little anticipation, can you? Well today, I’ve decided to play nice and reveal three more quilt squares!

So without further adieu …

Question #1: What three wishes do you have that would make Waterloo Region an awesome place to live?

Our Interpretation: Creating a space for outdoor community theatre and arts, surrounded by the beauty of nature.

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posted by admin on July 5th, 2011  |  Formula for Dynamic City Growth: Steel Rails 2011

I hope everyone had a fabulous Canada Day long weekend, and a wonderful Independence Day (to our neighbours in the U.S. of A)!

Every Canada Day, I find that I get a little sentimental and misty-eyed when it comes to reflecting on this fine nation of ours. So much so that I, annually, find myself pondering on how lucky I am to live in this beautiful country, and in Waterloo Region on a more community-focused level. That’s why I thought that returning to our Steel Rails discussion post-long weekend would give us all the warm fuzzies (I’m a thoughtful gal, am I not?).

This little video clip was captured at Steel Rail sessions. It features Lia, an Urban Planner, who shares with us her personal formula for dynamic city growth. It includes these 3 elements:

1. Density: A critical mass of caring people to make great things happen.

2. Gentrification: In other words, money, or folks with the means to invest in this city.

3. Multiculturalism: Enough different opinions—and multi-cultures are a terrific way to start a dialogue.

Many thanks to Lia for contributing her beautiful artistic talents and thoughts to our “Draw It Up” activity. So now is the time to tell us what you think … what do you believe Waterloo Region needs more of to make it a thriving, dynamic community?

Category: Community Design | 4 Comments »

posted by admin on June 28th, 2011  |  Digital Quilting on Steel Rails 2011

What do you get when you let this region’s citizens explore a moving fusion of art, culture, community and science during on a two-hour train ride?

Pure inspiration for building a better community!

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posted by admin on June 6th, 2011  |  Perceptions of LRT are Very Optimistic in Waterloo Region

The debate over Waterloo Region’s Light Rail Transit (LRT) is heating up. It’s all over the local media, it’s a go-to conversation in coffee shops, and as I walked to work this morning, the topic came up, as it typically has this past month, among my shoe-to-pavement commuters. LRT is definitely on everyone’s mind.

As a creative design agency that works with many business, government and non-for-profit clients in this region, Machteld Faas Xander cares deeply about the community we live and work in. That’s why, as concerned citizens, we commissioned Angus Reid Public Opinion to conduct an online poll that would inform and let the people have their say.

The poll was conducted online among 456 Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge adults, between May 23 to May 25, 2011. The results showed a majority (73 percent) in agreement that this community desperately needs an updated public transit system to address population growth. Fifty-eight percent said a transit option that includes LRT would benefit Waterloo Region.

“We wanted to more fully understand the familiarity and attitudes towards the proposal to build a rapid transit system between Kitchener, Waterloo and Cambridge,” says Alison De Muy of Machteld Faas Xander and its decision to commission the poll by Angus Reid Public Opinion.

Poll results, released on May 27, 2011, indicate that the perceptions of the LRT in Waterloo Region are very optimistic with:

• Seventy-two percent of residents indicating that the impact of LRT would be positive for the Region.
• Half of residents claiming that the LRT would help ease traffic congestion.
• Fifty-eight percent saying that the LRT will be better for the environment than the current system, and
• Half of residents indicating that ridership would increase if LRT were an option.

And although poll respondents believe that the cost of LRT is significant, 53 percent still indicate that the cost to taxpayers would be acceptable in exchange for the development of the rapid transit infrastructure and the benefits it would bring to this community—including unification of the region, job creation, further economic development, and protecting valuable farmland from urban sprawl.

Stay tuned for more on LRT as Regional Councilors are expected to vote on June 15, 2011. In the meantime, you can read about LRT updates and check out the poll results at RQ Magazine.

Category: Community Design | 1 Comment »

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