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9 | W aterloo C hronicle | T hursday,A ugust 8,2019 w aterloochronicle.ca Notice of Study Commencement University Avenue (Regional Road 57) Improvements Albert Street to Weber Street North City Of Waterloo Municipal Class Environmental Assessment, Schedule 'C' The Region of Waterloo (the Region) is undertaking a Schedule 'C' Municipal Class Environ- mental Assessment (Class EA) for improvements to the University Avenue (Regional Road 57) corridor from Albert Street to Weber Street in the City of Waterloo. The study will consider improvements to roadway and underground infrastructure, active transportation facilities and traffic operations along the corridor. This study is being completed to develop an appropriate design for this section of University Avenue, with consideration given to potential social, economic and environmental impacts, and appropriate mitigation measures to prevent or minimize these impacts. This study will be completed in accordance with the requirements of the Class EA process, dated October 2000 (as amended 2015). The Region will be seeking public input on known issues, opportunities for improvements, and the findings of this study. Public Information Centres will be announced and held at a later date to present more information and solicit input. If you are interested in participating or learning more, you can request to be added to the study mailing list to receive study updates, or submit any comments or questions regarding the study to either of the following: Andrew Doman, P.Eng. Senior Project Manager Kelly Cobbe, P.Eng. Director, Project Manager Region of Waterloo IBI Group (Study Consultant) 410 Albert Street, 150 Frederick Street Kitchener, ON N2G 4J3 Suite 101 Waterloo ON N2L 3V3 Phone: 519-575-4400 x3183 Phone: 519-585-2255 x63201 Email: ADoman@regionofwaterloo.ca Email: kcobbe@IBIGroup.com All comments and information received from individuals, stakeholder groups, and agencies regarding this project are being collected to assist the Region of Waterloo in making a decision. Under the "Municipal Act", personal information such as name, address, telephone number, and property location that may be included in a submission becomes part of the public record. Questions regarding the collection of this information should be referred to Andrew Doman at the Regional Municipality of Waterloo. Nick Bordman has country music in his soul. "In high school, after a breakup or anything of that sort, I would listen to coun- try music and it was so in- teresting to hear these sing- ers singing about heart- break," said the 19-year-old musician from Waterloo. Bordman recently read a column I wrote for this newspaper about a local busker who sings classic country songs, and reached out to me by email. "I myself am very pas- sionate about classic coun- try music and have recent- ly began writing and sing- ing," he wrote, and went on to tell me how he had just released his first country single, Tread Lightly, on YouTube, Spotify, Apple Music, and iTunes. So I gave it a listen and was captivated by Bord- man's authentic voice and old-fashioned outlaw coun- try sound. Curious to hear more about Tread Lightly and his musical influences, I chatted with Bordman this past week. "The music of Johnny Cash, Waylon Jennings, George Jones, Merle Hag- gard, and Hank Williams really got me into this genre," he said. "And with Tread Light- ly, the inspiration came from a breakup at the time, and a new relationship that soon followed. Hank Wil- liams Sr. once said, 'If you can't write a song in 20 min- utes, it ain't worth writing.' And I wrote Tread Lightly in about 15 minutes." Bordman credited his friend and local producer, Matt Koebel, with the clas- sic country sound of Tread Lightly, mixed with con- temporary elements. "He did an amazing job capturing the sound I wanted, while helping me build the song up and co- writing the end product," he said. "Matt is extremely talented and actually played every instrument on the track except drums and guitar." Bordman recently played a few songs during an open mic night at the Boathouse in Victoria Park. "Me and a few friends played a three-song set that included American Kids by Kenny Chesney, Family Tradition by Hank Wil- liams Jr., and Friends in Low Places by Garth Brooks, and it was great to get some experience play- ing live. The crowd seemed to love it." I told Bordman how I'm looking forward to seeing where his journey into country music and song- writing takes him. "I always try to sing with passion," he said, "and I'm still a young guy, so I'm not going to claim I have exten- sive knowledge of life or love, but I think from my young age I can offer an in- teresting perspective to lis- teners." You could say Bordman, despite his youth, has an old soul -- and you can hear it in his music. Marshall Ward is a freelance writer and artist. Email is welcome at mar- shall_ward@hotmail.com. Waterloo country singer Nick Bordman. Kate Brown/Photo JOURNEY INTO COUNTRY MUSIC OPINION LOCAL SONGWRITER NICK BORDMAN RELEASES HIS FIRST SINGLE, TREAD LIGHTLY, WRITES MARSHALL WARD MARSHALL WARD Column