KWPeace – Newsletters, articles and events for Kitchener-Waterloo's Peace and Social Justice activists

KW Palestine Solidarity Day, Sunday 28 July 2024 at Carl Zehr Square

What: KW Palestine Solidarity Day
When: Sunday 28 July 2024 from 1:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall
Location: 200 King Street West, Kitchener Map
Online: Instagram @kwpalestinefestival

The 3rd annual KW Palestine Festival introduces Solidarity Day: The World Stands with Palestine🇵🇸

Hosted by Sporas Scattered and the Palestinian Youth Movement.

Due to the ongoing genocide in Gaza, we have changed the nature of this event from one of celebration to one of commemoration. Through this event, we hope to raise funds to support those in Gaza facing hardship and raise awareness of the Palestinian cause. As a Solidarity event, we seek to foster connections with our community and allies, uniting people who have been directly or indirectly affected by the current events. This is a safe space to express and connect with Palestine culture and tradition.

Program

2:00 PM Opening Remarks & Drumming Circle by Landback
2:30 PM Palestinian Poetry Performance
3:00 PM Palestine Trivia with Prizes
3:45 PM Irish Ceili Dance Teach-in
4:30 PM Palestinian Folklore Performance
6:30 PM Asala Dabke
7:00 PM Mustafa Al-Azzawi
8:00 PM Mawtini Performance

KW Vegfest, Saturday 27 July 2024 at Waterloo Public Square

What: KW VegFest
When: 2:00pm to 7:00pm, Saturday 27 July 2024
Where: Waterloo Public Square Map
Location: 75 King Street
Website: https://kwvegfest.ca/
Contact: kwvegfest@gmail.com

Waterloo Region Climate Initiatives Presents

Kitchener Waterloo VegFest

Free Face Painting (2:30pm – 5:30pm)
Sweet and Savoury Sustainable Food From Around the World
Free Samples
Free Raffle
Climate and Health Info

Back For Our 7th Year

Online: https://kwvegfest.ca
Instagram: @kwvegfest
Facebook: KW Veg Fest

KW VegFest is an initiative of Waterloo Region Climate Initiatives, and has brought sweet and savoury plant-powered festivals to Waterloo Region since 2018. We are here to entertain, to raise awareness about the connection between climate breakdown and the farming of animals, and to give the public the opportunity to love our shared planet with plant-based foods.

Waterloo Bookfest, now on Sunday 26 May 2024 from 2pm to 8pm at Waterloo Public Square

Due to the anticipated rain, showers, drizzle, cloudburst, storm, downpour, deluge, and other forms of precipitation the Waterloo Bookfest will now be held on
Sunday 26 May 2024

What: Waterloo Bookfest
When: 2:00pm to 8:00pm, Sunday 26 May 2024
Where: Waterloo Public Square
Location: 75 King Street North, Waterloo, Ontario Map
Online: KW Writers Alliance https://kwwritersalliance.com/bookfest-2024/

Waterloo Bookfest

Find your next summer read!

Book Sale
Local Authors
Live Readings
Free!

Family Story Hour

Starting at 2:00pm on Sunday 26 May 2024
Featuring local children’s authors:

Danette Byatt
Peggy Dietrich
Elizabeth Ngazi Mbonu
Carolyn Wilker
Christine Callahan-Oke
Jennifer Harris
HM Newsome
Sandra Wilson

More info at the KW Writers Alliance Bookfest 2024 page.

KW VegFest, Waterloo Public Square, 11am Saturday 11 May 2024

KW Vegfest on 11 May 2024 was cancelled due to weather, it has been rescheduled for Saturday 27 July 2024

What: KW VegFest
When: 1:00pm to 6:00pm, Saturday 11 May 2024
Where: Waterloo Public Square Map
Location: 75 King Street
Website: https://kwvegfest.ca/
Contact: kwvegfest@gmail.com

KW VegFest is an initiative of Waterloo Region Climate Initiatives, and has brought sweet and savoury plant-powered festivals to Waterloo Region since 2018. We are here to entertain, to raise awareness about the connection between climate breakdown and the farming of animals, and to give the public the opportunity to love our shared planet with plant-based foods.

Kitchener Waterloo VegFest Pop-Up | Saturday, May 11, 2024 | 1pm - 6pm | Waterloo Town Square | Come celebrate our 7th year!

Walk and Vigil for Missing and Murdered Indigenous People, Sunday 5 May 2024

@Lulex tweets:

May 5th at 10 am we gather together at 300 Frederick Street Kitchener to march and remember Missing and Murdered Indigenous people. Vigil at the Kitchener clock tower will follow.

What: Together We Walk
When: 10:00am on Sunday 5 May 2024
Where: Healing of the Seven Generations Map 1
Location: 300 Frederick Street, Kitchener, Ontario

What: Vigil
When: 6:00pm on Sunday 5 May 2024
Where: Clock Tower, Willow River Park (Victoria Park) Map 2
Location: Near 59 Joseph Street, Kitchener, Ontario

Stand with Gaza and U.S. students for Palestine at University of Waterloo, 8:30am Wednesday 1 May 2024

Tamara Lorincz writes:

Please join us tomorrow morning if you can before work! Please spread the word!

What: STAND WITH GAZA & SOLIDARITY WITH STUDENTS In the U.S. FOR PALESTINE
When: 8:30am to 9:30am, Wednesday 1 May 2024
Where: In front of University of Waterloo, ION train crossing
Location: 170 University Avenue, Waterloo Map

Join us with your flags & signs.

In Gaza, there are over 42,000 Palestinians killed and over 79,000 injured. All the universities, schools and libraries are destroyed. Most of the hospitals and homes are in ruins. Academics, doctors, nurses, paramedics and journalists and their families are killed. Israel is blocking aid and food to Gaza and Palestinians are starving. This is a genocide! See these EuroMed Human Rights statistics.

Across North America, students are rising up, occupying their campuses and condemning university complicity in the genocide unfolding in Gaza. American students have been violently assaulted and detained by police.

Canada is complicit by sending weapons to Israel. We need a two-way arms embargo against Israel. Stop the weapons! Frequently Asked Questions: Arms Embargo on Israel

Canadian universities are complicit in their silence. The universities and colleges in Waterloo-Kitchener should stop being silent, should speak out against genocide & divest from weapons & war. No more research with weapons companies.

#StopTheGenocide #CeasefireNOW #FreePalestine

“Let’s Talk About How We Move” by ClimateActionWR, 7pm Wednesday 1 May 2024 at Waterloo Public Library

It’s not too late to register for the upcoming Community Climate Talks Event: “Let’s Talk About How We Move” on Wednesday 1 May 2024 at Waterloo Public Library at 7 p.m.

What: Let’s Talk About How We Move
When: 7:00pm to 8:30pm on Wednesday 1 May 2024
Where: Waterloo Public Library
Location: 35 Albert Street, Waterloo, Ontario Map
Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-climate-talks-lets-talk-about-how-we-move-tickets-872125449697
Contact: Sydney Sandluck (she/her), Project Coordinator, ClimateActionWR
Email: sydney.sandluck@climateactionwr.ca
Phone: +1‑226‑476‑1659

This session is a continuation of last Fall’s exciting hybrid workshop series hosted by ClimateActionWR and led by the ClimateActionWR dedicated volunteer events team. Each session will consist of guest speakers, panels and opportunities to engage with other community members and attendees.

During this community workshop, we will be talking about How We Move in the community and will dive into topics such as:

The current and future landscape of transportation services in Waterloo Region
Why transportation choices matter for climate targets
Behaviour and mindset shifts in order for us to get to the targets
Addressing the barriers and gaps

and more!

The guest speaker panelists for this discussion include:

Arcy Canumay, Bicycle Mayor of Waterloo
Geoffrey Keyworth, Senior Engineer, Transportation Planning at the Region of Waterloo
Samantha Leger, PhD candidate and Active Transportation Planner, School of Planning at the University of Waterloo

Please see the Eventbrite link for more information and to register while spots are available.

Please feel free to share within your team and networks.

Red Road “Change 4 Change” Bike Ride and Community Clean Up on EARTH DAY, 11am on Monday 22 April 2024

Call out to those who care about our Mother Earth 🌏 Please spread the word if you cannot be a part.

Join Two White Feather as he pedals for the planet on Monday, 22 April 2024. Route begins at Lang’s Community Centre Map 1 in Cambridge at 11am and ends at Willow River Park Map 2 in Kitchener – parking lot by washrooms, on side of clock tower. You can meet up anywhere along the way. For more details of route or to coordinate a meet up along the way, please email awombwithaview55@gmail.com

Cheerleaders along the way are encouraged — honk to show support. You can also join us outside the Civic Hub on 23 Water Street North for around 2pm where we will be doing a community clean up. Sanguen Community Van has given us supplies to do so safely.

And of course, ‘change 4 change’ can be donated. A loonie or toonie goes a long way towards helping make a difference. If money is collected, proceeds will be shared with Red Raccoon Bike Rescue and Sanguen this time out.

Chi Miigweech / thank you for kicking off 2024’s Biking Season with Two-White Feather’s Red Road Bike Rides; the first initiative of our emerging grassroots peer led, culturally relevant crisis response alternative!

Lori “Gentle Eagle” and Issac “Two White Feather”

A WOMB WITH A VIEW CRISIS RESPONSE
(including Red Road Bike Rides and The Creator’s Shelf)

We live and work on the traditional territory of the Anishnaabe, Haudenosaunee and Neutral people. We respect the Original People of this land and responsibly endeavour to go beyond apologies & land acknowledgements while decolonizing culture and working for restorative justice.

“WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT, MAKES A DIFFERENCE”

Earth Day 2024
Red Road Bike Rides
First ride of 2024
Earth Day
Start time 11am
Langs Community Centre
Eagle St to Speedsville Rd
Maplegrove Road to River Bank
King St to Willow River Park
Clean Up at 23 Water Street 2:00pm

Community Dinner at St. John’s Church, 5pm on Sunday 3 March 2024

Laura Hamilton writes:

I wanted to make sure that you are all aware of the upcoming community dinner at St John’s Church this Sunday. The Community Kitchen Co‑op is hosting this in the hope that members of the congregation can learn more about good work that is happening through the Civic Hub. Thompson Tran (of The Wooden Boat) will be preparing the meal, and it will the include Vegan, Vegetarian and Halal options.

Dinner is free or donate what you can. I have also heard murmuring in the church that some folks would like to see the property turned into affordable housing… so this will be a wonderful opportunity for you to share your knowledge of the need for housing over a meal with unsuspecting parishioners.

ALL ARE WELCOME! Please invite your friends! Please register at Eventbrite: Community Dinner.

What: Community Dinner by the Community Kitchen Co‑op
When: 5:00pm to 8:00pm, Sunday 3 March 2024
Where: Upper hall, St. John The Evangelist Church (enter from Duke Street)
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/community-dinner-tickets-823819043937

Members from local government and the wider community are being invited to make this an opportunity for you to share what you are doing. The Civic Hub is a group of organizations that advocate for our community. Volunteers from the Community Kitchen Co-operative Kitchener-Waterloo Inc are organizing this dinner and will make you feel welcome.

Enter the building on the the corner of Duke and Water – Kitchener – through the accessible entrance on Duke Street.