@PeopleofKW

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[peopleofkw]

Week 186: Melissa Durrell

Twitter handle: @melissadurrell

Hi! I'm Melissa. I live, work and mostly play in Uptown Waterloo.

I moved to Waterloo in 2004, while working for CTV as a broadcast reporter and eager to work with one of the top news teams in the country. Six years later, two kids, and a mortgage I moved on to one of the best jobs in world... Uptown Waterloo City Councillor. The city has changed dramatically over the last decade and I'm grateful everyday that I can be a part of it. I'm passionate about urban issues, community building and green sustainable solutions.

City Councillor is a part-time job in Waterloo because we are a smaller community and so in 2011 I started a Communications company. My team and I work with brilliant entrepreneurs and tech founders helping them tell their stories. I'm what they call (in the tech world) a Pitch Coach, and I'm one of the only women doing this job in Canada, connecting Angel's, VC's and startup CEO's. This has allowed me to be actively involved in the startup scene across the country.

I'm super proud to work with awesome organizations like the Zonta Film Festival, Open Streets Uptown Waterloo, REEP, The Button Factory, and many other amazing pop-up groups that connects arts, equality, placemaking and the environment.

Most importantly, I have a super family, my husband is Jason, a rock-star teacher at WCI, and my two kids are Kennedy and Marcus, Oh, and our cat named Big Deal (Han Solo's nickname for Finn... yep big Star Wars fans in our home). We live in Mary-Allen neighbourhood in an old yellow brick house!

I'm hoping to intro you to lots of great Uptown spots and the characters that make it the best! #uptownwaterloo #loveuptown #uptownopen #waterloo

[peopleofkw]

Week 185: Kiana Simmons

Twitter handle: @simmonskiana

I’m Kiana, a 3rd year planning student at the University of Waterloo. I’m specializing in urban design, and beginning a co-op term with the City of Waterloo’s planning department in January where I will be helping to process new development applications and helping update the zoning by-law.

Most of my time spend in KW is dedicated to studying, but I also like to indulge in casual dining, yoga, community events, concerts and local comedy.

Some of my favorite spots are The Huether Hotel, Balzacs @ The Tannery, Goodness Me! (my place of part time work), The Yeti and City Café Bakery.

I’m really looking forward to interacting with people throughout the region this week, and getting to know KW a little better.

[peopleofkw]

Week 184: Sam Trieu

Twitter handle: @strieudal

Hey, I'm Sam. I'm a community marketer at Sortable, a local startup in this crazy, burgeoning tech ecosystem. I've been a huge fan of #KWAwesome ever since I graduated from UW and crossed into the vast beyond outside of campus. The days I stumbled into The Boathouse,The Yeti, The Lanc, Pyrus Cafe, Ethels-not-on-Taco-Tuesday, and The Bent Elbow were glory days. 

I've been involved with street festivals, geek week takeovers, and Startups and Beer (not another bro-down). In my spare time, I volunteer at the intersection of arts, culture and tech. You might also find me running outdoors, training for my next race.

This week, you'll come with me to a talk hosted by D2L on building happier teams, a launch party for a centralized art/artist resource in Waterloo Region, and a weekend hackathon where 175 developers will create something with tangible social impact and help empower women through technology. 

Finally, I have a beagle mutt with eleven teeth, named Tobes McGobes; and an asshole cat on long-term loan from my baby cousin. The cat's name is Ratchet. She also answers to 'Stop It'.

[peopleofkw]

Week 183: Chris Mintz

Twitter handle: @StVinceB

How you doin?

Name’s Chris Mintz and I live on the edge of Belmont Village in Midtown. I absolutely love it here. Love the city of Kitchener as a whole too – love the heck out of it. I love it so much, it had to ask me not to hug it so hard.

I’m the Creative Director for digital marketing agency, Sky Machine Creative (@SkyMacCreative) and we really enjoy the work we do.

I have two crazy whippets, Boris and Vladimir and they enjoy going for runs with me. I also love food and Belmont Village sure is the place to be if you like food! We’re right in the middle of a food drive right now in support of the Waterloo Region Food Bank and GivingTuesday. I also play accordion – wasn’t sure what to do with that skill until I started an 80s cover band, Heintz 57 & The Wailing Whippets, and people find it hilarious. So join us this week as we get to know Midtown a little better.

#BelmontVillage #GivingTuesdayWR #Whippets #RunnerBliss

[peopleofkw]

Week 182: Jessica Jungton

Twitter handle: @manfraiya

Hi friends!

My name is Jessica Jungton and I’ve been moving around Waterloo Region for the last 10 years; Kitchener, Waterloo, Kitchener again, different Kitchener apartment, back to the first Kitchener place, Hespeler and now Galt.

I am excited to be tweeting during #arthuntWR on Sunday, November 13, and hope you join us. I paint and my husband, Evan, Etch a Sketches but even if you aren’t really into art, you should come out for the hunt and experience the thrill of the chase.

Evan and I like making furniture out of pipe and other creative musings. We have two parrots, Hitchcock and Hemingway. And yes, Hitchcock knows how to stab a knife from the Clue board game.  For work, I am an online communications specialist for The Social Spider. I write stories on Medium and edit The Writing Cooperative.

Tweet me about art, writing, ASL and events in our region.

And, of course, I smile at strangers.

[peopleofkw]

Week 181: Latasha Nelson

Twitter handle: @beingtash

Hello! My name is Latasha Nelson. I am an undergraduate student at the University of Waterloo. I am obtaining my Bachelors of Arts degree with Speech Communication and Business with a minor in Human Resource Communication and Digital Arts Communication. I'm currently on my co-op term at Renison University College as an International Administrative Assistant. I love photography/videography which plays a great role in my passion for digital imaging. I have a Youtube channel if you want to check it out. I show off my latest beauty tips (you can find me at http://www.youtube.com/powimtasha). Honestly... truly...Don't be a afraid to say hi! Talk to me about anything!

[peopleofkw]

Week 180: Vicky Jiang

Twitter handle: @vixjiang

Hey y'all, my name is Vicky Jiang and I'm wrapping up my third year of Honours Political Science and Business at the University of Waterloo. I'm currently the USG Outreach for the UW Model G20 and am suffering through the jobhunt for my next co-op term. I'm from the GTA but I pretend I'm from Toronto.

I love digital marketing and I spend way too much of my time on Reddit and Product Hunt because I also love technology. I've been running my own blog for over a year now (you can find me at http://greyexpectations.wordpress.com if you're interested in reading about tech, music, fashion, or dope study spots in KW). Talk to me about science fiction or social media, or send me GIFs of cute puppers.

[peopleofkw]

Week 179: David Lin

Twitter handle: @davethetaxman

Hi Everyone! 

My name is David Lin and I've lived in K-W for the last 12 years! Born and raised in Ottawa, I moved to Waterloo to study at the University of Waterloo where I completed my Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management and Master of Accounting degrees. 

For work, I'm a Chartered Accountant (CA) and Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) practicing in Canadian tax at an international accounting firm where I work with local individuals and companies for all of their tax needs. My specialty areas are corporate taxation, primarily in the technology and consumer business space, as well as trust and estate planning. I'm also a part-time adjunct lecturer at the University of Waterloo where I teach accounting and tax courses. 

For fun, you can probably find me at a local gym where I'm working on my perpetual weight loss journey until I hit my goal weight. I'm an avid hockey fan that cheers for the Ottawa Senators, a sneakerhead that is always looking for the freshest kicks, and an avid tech geek looking for the latest and greatest technology, a lot of which is being developed right here in our region. Oh, and I like long walks on the beach...? Hit me up K-W! 

[peopleofkw]

Week 178: Melissa Earl

Twitter handle: @MulsaEarl

Hi guys! My name is Melissa and I’m a fourth year legal studies and business student at the University of Waterloo. In addition to my full time studies, I also work for Kik, which is a local tech start-up (if you’re unfamiliar feel free to check out kik.com to learn more). I just finished writing my LSATs, and I’m excited to hopefully attend law school within the next few years. :) I was born in Halifax, Nova Scotia and moved to Waterloo when I was 10 years old. The majority of my earliest childhood memories are from growing up out East - playing on the beaches, learning how to fish with my grandparents, and sitting on the dock overlooking the lake in my backyard. While growing up in Nova Scotia has greatly impacted who I am as a person, living in Waterloo has provided me with a number of amazing opportunities, including the daily exposure to two world renown Universities which I didn’t get to experience so deeply in Nova Scotia. Living in Waterloo has provided me so many amazing opportunities, one of which is the high school that I attended. I was a student in the International Baccalaureate (IB) Programme at Cameron Heights Collegiate Institute, in Kitchener. The IB program is a highly intense academic-focused program, which aims at proving a well-balanced education across the disciplines of academics, athletics and community services. This program was one of the most stressful, challenging, and overall satisfying experiences that I have overcome in my life. In June 2013, I graduated with an International Baccalaureate Diploma, the Ontario Scholar Certificate, as well as a certificate in International Studies.

I chose to attend the University of Waterloo for a number of reasons. First of all, it is close to home, which allows me to live off-campus with my parents and commute to school. Second, UW had the perfect program for me - I'm mainly interested in business and law, and the Legal Studies major in the ARBUS program is a perfect balance of these two disciplines. I’m super excited to go to law school within the next few years and contribute to the world of feminist legal scholarship, as I am deeply interested in this area of policy. My hope one day is to reform laws surrounding feminist debates and create a more fair and encompassing legal system to be a part of. 

On a less academic side, I have been a figure skater for the past 18 years, competing both individually and with a synchronized skating team. Some of my proudest moments have been when I am on the ice. In 2013, after weeks of try-outs, I made it onto the world renown synchronized skating team called "NEXXICE". We trained out of Burlington and Grimsby (each city about an hour and a half drive from Waterloo), and competed in the 2013-2014 skating season (which was also my first year of university). I won a regional title with NEXXICE in 2014, placing first overall in Ontario, and went on to skate in the 2014 National Championships in Burnaby, British Columbia, where we placed 4th overall in Canada. 

I’m always looking for ways to meet new people around the city - I love sharing all the little hot-spots that I’ve come to know over my years of living here. Expect to see a lot of the UW campus, the Kik HQ and Famoso (I love pizza). #ILubKDub

[peopleofkw]

Week 177: Robert Wiebe

Twitter handle: @eduk8u

Robert has been a teacher for 26 years, a husband for 21 years and a parent for 17 years. Born and raised in the Niagara area, he moved up here for work and stayed. Robert likes to cook, garden, and do a little woodworking once in a while. He has a small pond in the backyard, and a lot of tomatoes. His 3 girls are into music, soccer and karate so the van has comfortable seats. One of his girls is celiac so he is trying to learn more about being gluten free. Everyday is an adventure and he is just trying to live it.

[peopleofkw]

Week 176: Nigel Gordijk

Twitter Handle: @nigelgordijk

Nigel Gordijk is an expat from London, England (pop. 8.5 million) who now lives in New Hamburg, ON (pop. 8,000) with his Canuck wife and Manx cat. He’s a self-employed graphic designer who creates websites and social media marketing plans for small businesses and non-profits.

Since 2013, Nigel and his Toronto-born wife Cheryl (www.JustCher.com) have been the organizers for the Wilmot Terry Fox Run (www.WilmotTerryFox.ca).

He enjoys being active in the community and donates his design and communication services to several local non-profits, such as Wilmot Responds (the local refugee resettlement initiative: www.WilmotResponds.ca), and 100 Women Who Care: Wilmot (www.100WomenWilmot), for which he was granted the status of Honorary Woman.

Find out more about Nigel here: www.commonsensedesign.net.

[peopleofkw]

Week 175: Jenevieve Ayuste

Twitter handle: @Jena_Tweets

Hello there, my name is Jenevieve Ayuste and I was born and raised in KW. I’m currently in my third-year of French and Business at the University of Waterloo. This week, I am an orientation leader and will be be welcoming approximately 1200 first-year art students to the university as well as helping these students transition from high school to university.

Outside of orientation week, I work as the Special Events and Social Media Associate for the Faculty of Arts at the University of Waterloo as part of my co-op term this Fall, I am the president/editor-in-chief for a club at the university called Her Campus Waterloo and I enjoy watching YouTube videos in my spare time.

Feel free to ask me about social media marketing, blogging, entrepreneurship and university studying tips.

[peopleofkw]

Week 174: Penny Loker [Redux]

Twitter handle: @PLoker

My name is Penny Loker and I have lived and worked in KW all my life. I work for Rogers communications downtown which gives me lots of amazing lunch options!

When I’m not working I knit, read, write, and watch TV. I volunteer at Grand River Hospital in the ER department … Oh the stories I can tell! With my sister I’m also a full time care giver to our mom who suffered a massive stroke almost 3 years ago.

I have unique perspectives on almost every subject so feel free to chat me up this week!

Penny previously curated @PeopleofKW during Week 160.

[peopleofkw]

Week 173: Dustin O’Connor

Twitter handle: @OConnorDustin

Hey! My name is Dustin O'Connor, and I'm a local Realtor and businessman here in KW and a Laurier grad. I also sit on the #WRTalk committee as the community outreach coordinator. #WRTalk is a twitter based networking group in Waterloo Region focusing on personal connections between small and large business owners and community members. 

I'm also involved involved with other local organizations like Waterloo Track three which helps children with disabilities, as well as Ontario Easter Seals through my Company Century 21.

I’m excited to curate for people of KW, to share my real estate knowledge and thoughts, as well business, charity, sports and cars, all things I am super passionate about.

[peopleofkw]

Week 172: Sally Sarachman

Twitter handle: @eafwrgiving 

Kitchener has been my chosen hometown for almost 15 years - arriving here to work in media sales and staying to follow my passion for community building at Extend-A-Family Waterloo Region (www.eafwr.on.ca). 

I share my life with an amazing husband, three pets, a growing collection of purses and the greatest group of friends and coworkers that a girl could ask for. 

I'm excited to curate for People of KW this week: I'm on holidays and glad that you'll be keeping me company!

[peopleofkw]

Week 171: Greg Lehman

Twitter handle: @SpikeGreg

Founder of @Spike_CS, @KWPolar, and @TuxedoMutt. Freelance writer, dog lover, hippie in a business suit.

[peopleofkw]

Week 170: Chris Plunkett

Twitter handle: @cmlplunkett

Having grown up in Guelph, with family in Waterloo Region - I’ve come back to the area after a long path that took me to Kingston, Ottawa, NY and D.C. And upon returning  I’ve absolutely  fallen in love with the way the city is growing up and transforming itself for the future. A supporter of all things urban, pedal or people-powered and transit–oriented, I’m thrilled with what is happening in downtown, uptown and midtown, actually get excited by all the construction – and dream of the day where the ION will go gliding by the old factory buildings like the Tannery. 

By day, I’m the Director of External Relations at Communitech – helping to let the world know what is happening in the tech sector in Waterloo Region, and along the Toronto-Waterloo Corridor. I’m also a board member for the Summer Lights Festival which will be happening on June 18th – so expect to see a lot of tweets about the exciting things that will be happening at this years festival – and  a resident of downtown Kitchener, so you can expect to see a lot of #DTK love as well.