If I were on council, here are the questions I’d ask at today’s meeting about the future of 16-20 Queen St N. What do you think? https://youtu.be/eu_pb-8eFRg #kitchener #watreg #wrpoli
Sam Nabi
mastodon 4.7.3Candidate for Kitchener Ward 10 Councillor
User experience & accessibility & moderation support for @projectmushroom@projectmushroom.social
5 weeks to go! This is not a drill. I want to take a moment to express my gratitude for the 30+ volunteers, 60+ donors, and 180 residents who requested a sign. We have real momentum, and it feels like this election will be a close one.
If you’ve been waiting to get involved, now is the time to act. Send me a message or leave a comment below. We have a place for you on this campaign. #Kitchener #WatReg #WRPoli
https://youtu.be/glsRM7fTemI
5 weeks to go
Troy Glover is someone who understands how community resilience and belonging get built. Working with him on One Million Neighbours, I learned how to think about creating inclusive communities that make room for all of us. Thank you for your endorsement, Troy. #Kitchener #WatReg #WRPoli
I’m in excellent company for the Best of Waterloo Region shortlist 💕 Thank you to The Community Edition for making space to celebrate what makes this region a wonderful place to live, work, and play. We need local journalism now more than ever. As this publication enters a new chapter, I hope it can be a strong voice in a media landscape that has lost some of our most important local coverage recently. #Kitchener #WRPoli #WatReg
Thank you for your endorsement, Yvonne! It means a lot to have the support of someone with your experience as a fierce supporter of your community and of our shared environment. #Kitchener #WatReg #WRPoli
Isabel Cisterna is a trailblazer and has brought one-of-a-kind festivals to this community while lifting up emerging artists and celebrating multiculturalism. I’m honoured to have her support to represent Ward 10. #Kitchener #WatReg #WRPoli
I had a blast volunteering at the WR Labour Council’s Ed Weidinger Memorial Labour Day Picnic! Working the inflatable obstacle course brought me back to my high school days working as a lifeguard at the water park 😎
I want to extend my heartfelt gratitude to all the unions and civil society groups at the picnic who are working toward a better future for all of us.
Thank you to Amit Mehta, founder of Good Company Productions, for endorsing my campaign. Amit is a visionary who has created new and unconventional events, and raised the standard for live music production across this city, all while building a deeply skilled and passionate team. #Kitchener #WatReg
At today’s Queen Margaret festival, it was a pleasure to connect with neighbours and participate in a leaf printing art workshop — thanks Michelle and Abby for showing me the ropes! Folk art, storytelling, music, and crafts… these are the kinds of events that strengthen our relationship to each other and to the natural world. #kitchener #watreg #wrpoli
Signs are going up all across Ward 10! Big thanks to the volunteers who are helping me distribute our first 100 signs today 😁 more on the way. A lawn or window sign is a great way to show support.
Fun fact, the number of Sam Nabi signs in pollinator gardens is very high, something I love to see 🐝
We deserve approachable government! If you’re a first-time applicant for a business license or building permit, city hall shouldn’t assume you have a team of consultants and experts at your disposal. We can better support people trying to make their neighbourhoods a better place by exploring a staff liaison role, similar to what already exists in the neighbourhood office to help recipients of LoveMyHood grants. What do you think?
https://youtube.com/shorts/03-3gmpFd9M?feature=share
As co-owner of Full Circle Foods, I work with local farmers and producers, helping neighbours to make local and zero-waste shopping decisions. Together, we’ve saved over 167,000 single use packages from the landfill.
We can think global and act local in Kitchener to do our part for the planet.
In the community over the past two weeks…
Kind Minds Family Wellness launched their Sankofa Families Project.
Take Back The Night took over Gaukel Block.
Supportive Housing of Waterloo showed a screening of their documentary.
Friends of Huron Natural Area gathered for a picnic.
At the Terry Fox Run in Kitchener, I cheered on Jeremy and friends.
We celebrated CAFKA’s 25th anniversary.
Tiny Home Takeout had their annual fundraiser.
Climate Fest was a rousing success.
😁
Anyone who makes a political promise to be fulfilled 10 years or more in the future is selling you on the hope that someone else will do it
Our team spent today door-knocking in a downtown high-rise, where many neighbours mentioned that they love Kitchener for its plethora of events and festivals.
So of course I had to swing by the KW Palestine Festival this afternoon to enjoy some of the best maamoul date cookies I’ve ever tasted 😋
With today’s Kitchener Takes The Stage event, the city has announced its intention to become an “emerging music city”.
We deserve a city where artists can afford to live, find studio space, and build their fan base at every stage of their career.
Today is Red Dress Day.
The MMIWG report calls on all governments to, among other things, “support the establishment and long-term sustainable funding of Indigenous-led low-barrier shelters, safe spaces, transition homes, second-stage housing, and services for [those] who are homeless, near homeless, dealing with food insecurity, or in poverty, …”
These are the responsibilities that come with a commitment to reconciliation. #NoMoreStolenSisters #RedDressDay
The cherry blossoms in Cherry Park are one of my favourite hidden gems in this city. I love how the neighbourhood association leans all the way in to the theme with their annual Cherry Festival! Thank you to all the volunteers who make this happen, and the community organizations who show up to make it a memorable experience 🍒 #Kitchener
It’s official — I’m running to be your #Kitchener ward 10 councillor! It’s day one of the campaign and I feel great. Thank you to everyone who has offered advice and support as I consider this decision to serve my community in a new way :)
More to come!
Afrovibes lit up downtown with high energy and international talent! What a night 🪩 This is an example of a grassroots event that saw a need for greater presence of afrobeats music in our community. Four years later, it’s going strong and an important part of our summer festival lineup. Congratulations to Peter and the organizing team 👏
Today, Kitchener Council considers the second draft of the new official plan. I was part of a Community Working Group that consulted with staff for more than a year. It’s a plan that opens up neighbourhoods to diversity of new housing and mixed uses, plus new growth areas outside of downtown.
I’m proud to have played a small part in this version of the official plan. We need more affordable housing, fewer food deserts, and connected green spaces. This plan moves us in that direction.
What a start to the campaign! Josh, Yulia, and I spent our Sunday knocking on doors and talking with neighbours in the Olde Berlin Town neighbourhood. We heard about the need for traffic calming, affordable housing access, support for local arts organizations, and much more.
I am committed to reaching every corner of Ward 10 and having those valuable face-to-face conversations. We know social media can be an echo chamber. It’s so important for us to go reach people where they’re at.
Do you forage in the city? Would you like to see more edible plants in parks, along city streets, and in public flowerbeds? #eatlocal #foraging #urbanharvest #kitchener #wrpoli https://m.youtube.com/shorts/qcFjI5NLpNU
We’re having a party and you’re invited ⚡️ Let’s kick off my campaign for Ward 10 Councillor with local music and poetry, refreshments, and discussions with community organizers. RSVP at samnabi.ca — I hope to see you there!
Climate adaptation in 2026 looks like taking a heat exhaustion-induced nap after work beside my struggling a/c unit, waiting until the outside temperature turns from sweltering to just hot, and soaking in the nighttime city.
It’s 10pm and a roofer is working above King Street. I can still smell the humidity. Karaoke music wafts from an open window. A family with children gather around a public art piece to take selfies, illuminated by street lamps. I find a quiet parkette to read a book. #dlws
Join us for a casual drop-in discussion. Meet new neighbours and speak directly with me about the issues that are important to you!
Time: 6-8pm, Wednesday July 15
Location: 55 Duke Street West, Kitchener
Focus topic: housing (but we can chat about other things too)
RSVP at samnabi.ca 😁
Last week in the community:
SPECTRUM celebrated its launch of the Rainbow Pages directory, Willow River Community Land Trust held its launch event in the city hall rotunda,
40 neighbours joined me for a Jane’s Walk, and we danced the night away at Under The Bridge!
Tonight, #Wilmot neighbours gathered to share their experiences of water shortages and quality issues due to the Region’s over-pumping in Wilmot Centre well field. Our local agriculture can’t function without reliable water supply. This is no way to solve the water crisis. The Region of Waterloo ought to publish the data from its monitoring wells & ensure adequate emergency water access when neighbours report well interference.
Thanks to everyone who came out to our Community Conversation on housing last week. It was a great chance to have some more in-depth discussions and connect the dots between affordability, liveable neighbourhoods, and sustainable development.
#kitchener #housing #wrpoli #rentals #infill #missingmiddle #urbanforest
The big music streaming platforms are so dominant and so boring. It’s like they actively dissuade deep exploration of new music.
I’d love to see a platform that integrates deeply to the media and live music ecosystem. I want playlists of:
- what has been played lately on college radio in my area
- music festival lineups
- songs from different artists with the same musician/production credits
Three quick ideas. It’s easy not to be boring!
The gall it takes to release music as “Neil W Young” 😂
Today is World Day Against Trafficking In Persons. In our community, human trafficking occurs at almost three times the national rate, and many more cases go unreported.
Social isolation and systemic marginalization can increase someone’s vulnerability to exploitation. I encourage you to familiarize yourself with the “What are the warning signs” and “What can you do” sections on SASC’s site: https://www.sascwr.org/ahtp.html