Author: KWPeace

KWPeace is a website to link the many Peace and Social Justice organizations in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the Waterloo Region townships. KWPeace tries to provide a comprehensive calendar of events.

Movie: The Eternal Song, at the Civic Hub, 5:30pm on Tuesday 30 September 2025

You are invited to watch The Eternal Song on September 30.

If you are joining us virtually, the film will begin at 6:00pm. If you are attending in person at the Civic Hub in Kitchener, there will be a feast from 5:30pm to 6:00pm. Potluck style is encouraged, if you are able to contribute. Please bring your feast bundle to eat with. Let’s wear our Orange Shirts and put our heads, hearts and hands together as we engage in healing ourselves, our communities, our Nations and our planet from the harms of colonization.

In the spirit of reciprocity, this fundraiser will be sharing proceeds with the Kinema platform, A Womb With A View, and some of the Indigenous groups highlighted in the film.

Please join us on Truth and Reconciliation Day for a unique perspective on healing from colonization. We will have a brief circle afterwards to debrief and selected craft items & Orange Shirts will be on sale. If you are unable to join us, please share this information and/or consider sponsoring a ticket for someone else to participate.

Miigweech.

Lori and Two White Feather
A Womb With A View

The Eternal Song | Ancestral Wisdom for Collective Healing

Multicultural Festival of Elmira, Gibson Park, 11am to 6pm on Saturday 20 September 2025

Cultural Food – Indigenous Lacrosse Demo – Hair Braiding – Origami – Community Mural Art | Mennonite History – Henna – Face Painting – Madhubani Art – Cultures United Tent

Free Entry – All Are Welcome

Performances by Christin Dennis – Peg and Darrel – Two Families Band – Los Hijos de Tuta – Nii Osabu – Korexion – Moka Band – Tracy Lee – El Ceibo – Culture Philippines of Ontario

with MC Jahmeeks Beckford and DJ Gury Gury

Multicultural Festival of Elmira | heartsopenforeveryone.ca @heartsopenforeveryone HOPE Hearts Open For Everyone | Saturday, September 20, 2025, 11am-6pm | Gibson Park, 17 First St. W., Elmira | Cultural Food - Indigenous Lacrosse Demo - Hair Braiding - Origami - Community Mural Art | Mennonite History - Henna - Face Painting - Madhubani Art - Cultures United Tent | Free Entry - All Are Welcome - Performances by Christin Dennis - Peg and Darrel - Two Families Band - Los Hijos de Tuta - Nii Osabu - Korexion - Moka Band - Tracy Lee - El Ceibo - Culture Philippines of Ontario | with MC Jahmeeks Beckford and DJ Gury Gury (many logos of sponsoring organizations)

Draw The Line, Waterloo Public Square, 2pm to 3pm on Saturday 20 September 2025

  • What: National Day of Action: Draw The Line – Waterloo Draw The Line (irregular black letters on an orange background)
  • When: 2:00pm to 3:00pm on Saturday 20 September 2025
  • Where: Waterloo Public Square
  • Location: 75 King Street South Map
  • Online: https://drawtheline.world

Draw The Line | For People, For Peace, For The Planet (photo illustration of two hands coloured like a world globe with white doves flying around them, on a background of clouds)

Cross-Canada Day of Action to call on the Carney government: Put people over profit. Build a green, sustainable future, not more pipelines. Fund our communities, not the war machine. Cut military spending. Uphold Indigenous sovereignty. Stop sending weapons to Ukraine, start negotiating. Stop sending weapons to Israel. End the genocide in Gaza. In recognition of Peace Week. The world needs peace, climate action, justice & cooperation.

Presentation: Canada and the Genocide in Gaza, WLU, 7pm on Friday 19 September 2025

This event has been cancelled. For more information see Wilfrid Laurier University cancels talk on Canada and the Genocide in Gaza from ActionNetwork.org.

  • What: Public Event: Canada and the Genocide in Gaza CFPI | Canadian Foreign Policy Institute (stylized red letters)
  • When: 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Friday 19 September 2025
  • Where: Room 106, Schlegel Building, Wilfid Laurier University
  • Location: 75 University Avenue, Waterloo, Ontario Map
  • Contact: Tamara Lorincz tlorincz@dal.ca

What Rules-Based Order?

Join us for a free, public presentation about Canada’s complicity in the ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people with Dr. Peter Eglin & Yves Engler. What global rules are Canada & the U.S. following arming Israel? What are the possibilities for peace?

Moderated by Tamara Lorincz, PhD candidate, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University.

Books will be available for sale.

In recognition of Peace Week. All welcome!

Speakers

  • Dr. Peter Eglin, Professor Emeritus of Wilfrid Laurier University and author of the new book “Analysing the Israel Effect in Canada: A Critical Auto-Ethnography”.
  • Yves Engler, author of “Canada and Israel: Building Apartheid” and NDP leadership candidate.

Public Event: What Rules-Based Order? Canada and the Genocide in Gaza Friday, September 19, 7:00 - 8:50 p.m. Room 106, Schlegel Building Wilfrid Laurier University 75 University Ave., Waterloo (photo of a balding man wearing glasses) Dr. Peter Eglin, Professor Emeritus of Wilfrid Laurier University and author of the new book “Analysing the Israel Effect in Canada: A Critical Auto-Ethnography” Join us for a free, public presentation about Canada’s complicity in the ongoing Israeli genocide against the Palestinian people with Dr. Eglin & Yves Engler. What global rules are Canada & the U.S. following arming Israel? What are the possibilities for peace? Moderated by Tamara Lorincz, PhD candidate, Balsillie School of International Affairs, Wilfrid Laurier University. Books will be available for sale. In recognition of Peace Week. All welcome! (very close close-up of a man with five-o'clock shadow, wearing a blue collared shirt) Yves Engler, author of “Canada and Israel: Building Apartheid” NDP leadership candidate www.foreignpolicy.ca

Movie: The Encampments, Princess Twin Cinemas, 6:30pm Tuesday 30 September 2025

Join us for the premier screening in our community of The Encampments. This 2025 movie is a documentary on the anti-genocide movement and the challenge of protecting the call for free speech. It is a US movie that shows thew student encampment initiative that was ignited by Columbia State University and spread quickly to many universities including University of Waterloo. Following the movie there will be a discussion and opportunity for questions.

Admission : Regular prices for tickets, get yours early in September, they will be available on line at the Princess website.

Zatoun | Palestine in a bottle | Fair Trade Extra Virgin Olive Oil | experience ~ learn ~ share | www.zatoun.com info@zatoun.comZatoun Olive Oil will be available at this event supported by Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine.

Not since the Vietnam War students rocked the world to end the genocide in Gaza | The Encampments | Tuesday, Sept-30 ~ 6:45 pm | Doors open at 6:15 pm | Princess Twin Cinema, Waterloo | Introduction by Robert Massoud, founder of Zatoun & screening followed by conversation | Presented by Princess Cinema in partnership with Waterloo Region Friends for Palestine (WRFP) | Supporters: Canadian Voices for Palestinian Rights (CVPR), Independent Jewish Voices (IJV) Waterloo, KW Neighbours for Palestine, Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM), Sporas and Zatoun | Available for purchase: Zatoun, olive oil from Palestine, T-shirts, kuffiyehs & books | Advance tickets online at www.princesscinemas.com - please purchase early

Not seen since the Vietnam War, a student movement which rocked the world.
The genocide in Gaza ignited the passion of a generation of students.

The Encampments is a 2025 American documentary film about the 2024 Palestine solidarity campus encampments at Columbia University and other university campuses during Israel-Gaza war.

The Encampments is lauded for “its sense of contemporary and historical detail, owed to both footage shot by the filmmakers, as well as by the protesters themselves.” The Columbia Daily Spectator called the film a “testament to the strength of the community born within the student-led pro-Palestinian movement at Columbia, and how hope and belief can grow, even in the face of institutional backlash” and offers an “insightful and intimate look into what happened within the gates, well beyond mainstream coverage.” Also, from Hyperallergic, the online arts magazine, The Encampments “extricates the movement from the grips of mainstream and conservative media narratives and places it back in the hands of its organizers.”

The encampments and the students challenged the big money donors, politicians, administrators and police as had not been for two generations. Relying on false accusations, trumped up charges, student expulsions and intimidation and brutal police force, the establishment was left naked for all to see.

Film will be followed by conversation / Q&A with members from local universities.

USA | Workman and Pritsker | 85 minutes | English

an online comment:

The students always lead the way. Will we be brave enough to follow their example? We must, or any of us can be the next person to be disappeared by our government for voicing dissent.

The Encampments is one of the most vitally important docs I can remember. Citizens of America (and the world) must watch this to see what our universities, police and government are doing to suppress peaceful cries for justice. The footage that was captured is stunning. This is what actual journalism looks like.

Don’t be afraid to speak up. You’re not alone. We need everyone in this fight. Please watch this film.

Hope to see you at the film, please share with family and friends. Princess Cinema needs our support to encourage screening of more films on or about Palestine. Thank you.

In solidarity and peace,
Irene,
Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine

Proportional Representation Rally, Waterloo Town Square, 1:30pm on Sunday 14 September 2025

On Sunday September 14, there will be a non-partisan rally planned by local organizers at Waterloo Town Square (Uptown Waterloo) to show support for Proportional Representation. The rally theme is Better Late Than Never.

The rally begins at 1:30 with time to gather, and make posters to show support for PR.

Speeches at 2:00 PM will be from:

  • Aislinn Clancy (MPP for Kitchener-Centre and Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario)
  • Mike Morrice (former MP for Kitchener-Centre)
  • Mike Schreiner (MPP for Guelph and leader of the Green Party of Ontario)
  • Fair Vote Canada

and others.

Now is the time to speak up! Although Justin Trudeau broke his often-repeated promise to Canadians that the 2015 election would be the last under the first-past-the-post system, there is still strong support for the idea – even among those in power. After stepping down as Liberal leader, Trudeau shared that his one regret leading up to the 2025 election was not being able to change the way we elect our governments in this country  1 . Mark Carney has also spoken positively about electoral reform and has shared openness to addressing “those more structural issues in our democracy” 2 .

We are rallying to show that Canadians from across the political spectrum have not forgotten this broken promise, and that now is the time to act. More than ever, we need a strong democracy, with elected officials who reflect the will of the people, and where every citizen’s vote counts equally. We hope that you will join us!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, anytime.

Thank you,

WR4PRNow Organizers

  • Heline Chow
  • Lisa Massaro
  • Stephanie Janzen-Martin

wr4prnow@gmail.com

Rally For Representation | Meet The Speakers | MC Aislinn Clancy, MPP - Kitchener Centre | Waterloo Public Square | Sunday September 14th @ 1:30pm (photo of Aislinn Clancy, a woman with short blonde hair, wearing a black sleeveless dress)

 1  — Trudeau says abandoning electoral reform is his biggest regret.
 2  — Mark Carney speaks positively about working on electoral reform.

—
Waterloo Region for Proportional Representation

Protest Rally to Demand the CRA Stop Subsidizing Genocide, CRA Offices in Kitchener, Noon on Wednesday 3 September 2025

National Week of Action | Demand the CRA stop subsidizing genocide! | September 2 - 5 ,2025 (a hand holding a bullhorn over a Palestinian flag; various organizations logos along the bottom)

In 2024, the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) revoked charity status for the Jewish National Fund and Ne’eman Foundation for violating CRA policy, but that is not enough! Canadian charities are still sending hundreds of millions of dollars per year to Israel, to fund its genocide and expansion of its settler colonial project. These charities are used as front to finance an illegal occupation, apartheid, and genocide—and the CRA allows this to continue.

Join us as part of a National Week of Action to Demand the CRA Stop Subsidizing Genocide. Actions are scheduled from coast to coast between September 2 and 5. You can join our action at lunchtime on Wednesday 3 September 2025 — we’ll be gathering outside the CRA office in downtown Kitchener to call for the CRA to ensure that not a cent of our Canadian tax dollars helps to fund a genocide.

What to bring: Signs and banners.

Parking is available nearby at Centre in the Square. All ages welcome.

Palestinian flag background with white text and graphic accents like a ripped piece of paper and a megaphone. Text reads: National Week of Action September 2-5 2025. CRA: Stop Subsidizing Genocide! Wednesday September 3 12pm 166 Frederick Street Kitchener ON

O’Canada Occasion – Amnesty International Fundraiser, KW Little Theatre, 6pm on Saturday 13 September 2025

Celebrate human rights for 2SLGBTQIA+

Skits, music, drag show, silent auction, snacks and beverages!

Tickets are $25. Send an e-transfer to groupnine9@gmail.com with the message “fundraiser ticket“. We’ll welcome you at the door!

Fundraiser Highlights:

A silent auction including:

  • Works of art by local artists Sandee Lovas, Jackie Bradshaw, Janet Main, and Sharon Woodley
  • Gift certificate for two to attend Mysterious Players at the Aberfoyle Mill: Murder Mystery Dinner Theatre
  • Two beautiful traditionally hand crafted Persian tablecloths / wall hangings
  • Music with a human rights theme provided by local band Ironhorse and members of the Old Chestnuts Song Circle “Channeling Pete Seeger”.
  • Drag Performances featuring Quinta Sensual and Uncle Rabbit (They/Them).
  • A live auction with some tongue-in-cheek poking fun at American calls for annexation of Canada.
  • Presentations including a sharing of personal experiences of human rights issues from two of our 2SLGBTQIA+ members and an interview with Dr. Nancy R. Tapias Torrado, UW Prof of Human Rights and former Amnesty International’s Americas Regional Researcher (International Secretariat, London, UK)

Celebrating Human Rights: O'Canada Occasion When: Sat, Sept 13 6-9pm Where: KW Little Theatre 9 Princess St E, Waterloo What: Music, Skits, Speakers, Silent/Live Auctions, Drag Show, FUN! For Tickets ($25) Email: GroupNine9@gmail.com

Group Nine is the local chapter of Amnesty International Canada in the Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Group Nine meets at 7:30 pm on the first Tuesday of every month in The Fretz Seminar Room (Room 4224) at Conrad Grebel College, University of Waterloo (140 Westmount Road North, Waterloo) Map 2

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/AmnestyInternationalGroup9/
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/amnestygroup9/

www.amnesty.ca
groupnine9@gmail.com

Urgent Meeting of WR for Palestine, 6pm on Tuesday 5 August 2025

🚨
For two years Canada has lied about their arms trade with Israel- and now we have the proof.

Join us on Tuesday, 5 August 2025 at 6:00pm for a critical community meeting to plan our next steps. Register now via link in bio.

This is your chance to get informed, get organized and take action. This is our chance to demand a two-ways arms embargo on Israel once and for all.

Arms Embargo Now Urgent Community Meeting The time to act is now. For two years Canada lied about sending weapons to Israel -- now we have the proof. Join us to get informed, get organized and to take action. Tues, Aug 5th @ 6:00 Register for Location Link in Bio Palestinian Youth Movement Neighbour

Stop Starving Gaza — KW Emergency Protest at Waterloo Public Square at 6pm on Thursday 24 July 2025

  • What: KW Emergency Protest: Stop Starving Gaza Now!
  • When: 6:00pm Thursday 24 July 2025
  • Where: Waterloo Public Square
  • Location: 75 King Street South Map
  • Online: 🚨KW EMERGENCY PROTEST (Instagram)
  • Contact: Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine wrfriendsofpalestine@gmail.com

Gaza is being starved to death!

The past few months have pushed our people to the edge — children are dying from hunger and dehydration, families are being wiped out under siege and bombing, and exterminated by a lack of food, water and medical care. This is a murderous genocide, and starvation has become an intentional weapon used by Israel. This inhumanity must be stopped through world protests and actions, we will honour our responsibility to bring this to an end.

JOIN US on Thursday 24 July 2025 at 6:00pm in Waterloo Public Square to demand an immediate lift of the siege! 🇵🇸

Palestinian Youth Movement KW Emergency Protest Stop Starving Gaza Now! Thursday July 24 6:00pm Waterloo Public Square 75 King St S, Waterloo , ON N2J 1P2 (background photo of aid workers carry boxes)

Organizers: