What is the Block Parent Program?
Our Mission
Building Safer Communities, One Block at a Time. The Waterloo Regional Block Parent Program is a community-building child-safety program that helps encourage school-aged children to feel safe and secure in their neighborhoods.
Our Vision
A connected and engaged neighborhood where community members help create a sense of safety, resiliency, and independence in our children
Our History
Since 1977, The Waterloo Regional Block Parent® Program has served the people of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and the surrounding rural communities by providing programs and services that build safe, connected, and engaged neighbourhoods that encourage children, and their communities, to embrace a more safe, healthy and active lifestyle in the Region of Waterloo.
“Block Parent signs in a neighbourhood show children that people are there to help if they need it. The Block Parent sign, and what it symbolizes, is the main benefit of the program. Being a Block Parent is a low effort, high impact way of giving back to your community.”
By becoming a Block Parent, you are connecting to your community and building trust between you and your neighbours!
On the rare occasion when a Block Parent home is called upon for assistance, the value of volunteering will be immediate. A child will be helped, a neighbour in distress will gain comfort, and a potential emergency may be avoided.
Our Team
The Waterloo Regional Block Parent® Program is guided by a dedicated group of volunteers who make up the Board of Directors
Tara Mondou
Chair Person
Tara has been an integral part of the Block Parent Program since June 2009. Tara`s on-going passion for building child-safety and active transportation programs has resulted in a successful partnership with the Canadian Cancer Society and Active & Safe Routes to School Waterloo Region; whose mission is to implement Walking School Bus programs across the Region. Tara is the author of, "Little Girl in the Mirror" and was also the recipient of the Bernice Adams Memorial Award 2018 for Communication/Literary Arts.
John Czubak
Treasurer and Funding Coordinator
John joined the Block Parents Board of Directors in the fall of 2012. John is a Manager at PwC in Waterloo, holds a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Wilfrid Laurier University, and is a Chartered Accountant. He is responsible for providing leadership in funding planning, budget preparation, and fundraising initiatives. John recalls seeing the signs on his walk to school in his childhood and feeling safe as a result, and wants to work towards bringing that feeling back to our community.
Natalie Schwartzentruber
Secretary and Block Parent Coordinator
Natalie joined Block Parents Board of Directors in 2021 with an eagerness to help reinvigorate the Block Parent program and build safer and more connected neighbourhoods. She is a graduate of the University of Western Ontario and Canadore College and currently works with the City of Kitchener to keep our major parks and playgrounds clean and safe. Natalie strives to create a more united community—like the one she remembers as a child, that is a wholesome place for her nieces and nephews to grow up in.
Brad Mulligan
Co Vice Chair
Brad joined the Block Parents Board of Directors in 2022. He is a graduate of Wilfrid Laurier University and has spent over 10 years working in the social service sector. Remembering Block Parent signs in his neighborhood while growing up, Brad now wants to give back to Waterloo Region by making communities feel safer and more connected. In his spare time, Brad loves to get creative and make art in various mediums.
Ted Aslanidis
Co Vice Chair
Ted joined the Block Parents Board of Directors in 2022 and has been actively involved in volunteer recruitment and community outreach. Ted is a graduate of Queens University and the Ivey Business School and leads a shared services team at the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB). Ted is grateful that he has lived in a great community that has been a safe and terrific place to raise a family. Ted is hoping to help foster that sense of safety and community across Waterloo Region. Ted is a father of three and lives in Waterloo.
Camilla Vu
Communications Coordinator
Camilla is excited to join the volunteer team and bring her expertise in content creation and storytelling to the community! With over 5 years of experience in TV journalism and digital media, she is passionate about crafting meaningful and engaging content and create designs. Camilla looks forward to collaborating on projects that make a positive impact and is eager to share her skills to help the social media life bright again.
Minurvi Yadav
Communications Assistant
I`m Minurvi Yadav, a Public Relations and Advertising student and the Assistant Communications Coordinator for Block Parents. I love adding humor and wit to our communications because let`s be honest, it`s just more fun that way! Creating cute and engaging posts for Block Parents is a passion of mine, especially because their mission is so close to my heart.
Join Our Team!
Learn MoreOur Donors, Sponsors and Partners
Block Parents and Volunteers
Without you, the program would not exist. Thanks for your dedication and your commitment to the ongoing success of our program!
Rotary Club of Cambridge North
The Waterloo Regional Block Parent Program extends tremendous thanks to the Rotary Club of Cambridge North. Thank you for your donation!
City of Cambridge
The Waterloo Regional Block Parent Program acknowledges the contributed funds provided by the City of Cambridge. Thank you for your support!
Joseph Balan & Associations at Co-Operators
We thank Joseph Balan for his generous support of the Block Parent Program and our 98.5 CKWR radio ad campaign 2023.
Mini Mall Storage Cambridge
Thank you to Mini Mall for providing space for the Block Parent Program to store our inventory.
AroundKW
Thank you Around KW for generously providing this web hosting and tech support.
98.5 CKWR Real Community Radio
Thank you to CKWR for your on-going support of our child-safety community initiatives.
Waterloo Regional Police Services
Thank you for your many many years of help and support of our child-safety community initiatives.
Region of Waterloo
Thank you, Region of Waterloo, for your continuing support of the Block Parent Program.