KWPeace – Page 9

Civic Hub – 2nd Small Groups Summit hosted by @SPCofKW

Dear All,

It has been a year since our initial mobilization around the idea of a Civic Hub. A number of us continued meeting throughout the 2018 and worked on grants, connections and the first vision statement: A home, a landmark, accessible to everyone interested in civic and grassroots groups to showcase what is being done in the community, to allow groups to support each other, recruit, communicate and build credibility and capacity for advocacy and delivery of services to the community.

The number of small groups and organizations interested in the initiative is growing. A number of projects bringing together ethnocultural groups in Waterloo Region in 2018 testified that common, affordable space is a foundation for communication, collaboration and growth for many groups who feel isolated, under-resourced and in constant competition for supports.

However, there is little understanding of the core work that civic groups and small non-profits do in Waterloo Region.

We can learn together with other non-profit networks who want to create hubs for their sectors, such as WR Environmental Network and WR Arts Council.

Our strength is in our diversity and our common vision.

On January 21st 2019, we will gather again to share updates and brainstorm ideas about the next steps in creation of a Civic Hub.

6pm at SDC Office Map
in St John Church,
23 Water St North in Kitchener
Entrance and doorbell on Duke St.

RSVP by January 15th. Please get in touch if you need more information or have ideas/comments to share before the 21st.

Wishing you only the best to come in 2019.
Warmest Holiday Regards,
Aleksandra Petrovic
—
Executive Director
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
23 Water St. North, Kitchener ON, N2H 5A4
(entrance and doorbell on Duke Street)
Phone: 519-579-3800

Your Voice and Your Donation Count!
Give for A Better Common Future

Video: Perspectives On Peace — Where’s the Peace and Justice?

Perpectives On Peace: Where’s the Peace and Justice? was held on Saturday, 27 October 2018 at Kitchener City Hall.

YouTube: Where’s the Peace And Justice? Canada’s New Foreign and Defence Policies

Logo for Perspectives on Peace See the pictures from Perspectives On Peace — Where’s the Peace & Justice? Canada’s New Foreign and Defence Policies

Pictures: Perspectives On Peace 2018

Perspectives on Peace

On Saturday, 27 October 2018 KW Peace held the second Perspectives on Peace symposium. Lunch was provided at no cost thanks to the generosity and work of Kitchener Food Not Bombs.

People at Perspectives On Peace 2018, eating lunch provided by Food Not Bombs

People in discussion before the presentation

Emcee Sandee Lovas speaks with participants

Laura Hamilton gives the Land Acknowledgement, and emcee Sandy Lovas introduces the participating groups from KW Peace

Perspectives On Peace 2018: Tamara Lorincz

Tamara Lorincz gives a presentation on The Climate and Environmental Impacts of the Canadian Military. Download the slides (PDF, 6.2 MBytes)

Participants at Perspectives On Peace 2018 gather for a group photo

Perspectives On Peace 2018: Tamara Lorincz on Video

Video of Perspectives On Peace 2018 will be available soon

Fall 2018 KWPeace Potluck Meeting — Thu, 4 Oct 2018

Potluck dinner Are you an organizer for a Waterloo Region group that advocates for Peace, Nonviolence, or one of the many faces of Social Justice? Please join us at the Fall 2018 KWPeace Potluck Meeting.

The primary item on the agenda is this year’s Perspectives On Peace. This year we’re planning to serve lunch courtesy of Kitchener Food Not Bombs and we have special guest speaker Tamara Lorincz to talk about Canada’s new defence and foreign policies and the environmental and social impacts such as climate, military spending, &c.

If you have any particular items you’d like to discuss please let Mo Markham know at mo.markham@kwpeace.ca

The meeting is also a potluck dinner, so bring something to share if you can. Past contributions have included salads, entrées, snacks, and desserts. Some will be vegetarian and vegan dishes.

What: Fall 2018 KWPeace Potluck Meeting
When: Thursday 4 October 2018 from 6:00pm to 8:00pm
Where: Peace and Justice Room, Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church
Location: 57 Stirling Avenue North, Kitchener, Ontario Map

See you at the potluck meeting!

–Bob Jonkman
bobjonkman@kwpeace.ca

Join us for the RISE for CLIMATE rally at Waterloo Square this Saturday, September 8th 2018, 4:30pm

This Saturday, as part of the international Rise for Climate movement, thousands of rallies and other events will be held in cities and towns around the world. Our local rally will be held in Waterloo Square, this Saturday, 8 September 2018 at 4:30pm. Join us for art creation and some pre-rally street theatre starting at 3:00pm.

There’s an important new message in these events — “a fast and fair transition to 100% renewable energy for all”, holding together themes of climate, jobs and justice.

Progress toward a more stable climate requires justice for all people – those impacted by the damages of climate chaos, and those who’s communities and jobs will have to change in the shift from fossil fuels.

The Rise for Climate rally is an excellent opportunity to learn more about strategies for a “just transition,” to connect with an increasingly diverse coalition of climate activists, and to voice your call for our region, province and country to move quickly in addressing the climate crisis.

RSVP at Rise for Climate, Jobs, and Justice Waterloo Region for more event details.

Partnering with

See you there!

Thank you for your ongoing support for Divest Waterloo and for your part in our collective action to raise awareness and engage our community on issues related to climate change, our pursuit of a low carbon economy, and our movement towards a just and sustainable future.

Join us for the RISE for CLIMATE rally at Waterloo Square this Saturday, September 8th, 4:30pm | Mailchimp

Pictures from the KWPeace Potluck Meeting for Summer 2018

KWPeace held its Potluck Meeting for Summer 2018 on Thursday, 19 July 2018 in the Peace and Justice room at Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church. Scott Miller Cressman was there to take pictures.

Vegetables on a plate in the shape of a Peace sign — Peace

Various empty pots and plates after the potluck — Leftovers

Dwyer Sullivan, with others in the background — Dwyer Sullivan talks about Camp Micah

Charles and Aleksandra Petrovic (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region)

People sitting around the room at the KWPeace Potluck Meeting for Summer 2018 — KWPeace Potluck Meeting for Summer 2018. Clockwise, from bottom left: Sharon Sommerville (Fair Vote Waterloo, Alliance Against Poverty, Council of Canadians, Yes Cambridge), Esther Kern (Christian Peacemakers Team) (out of frame), Aleksandra Petrovic (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region), Gehan Sabry (Cross Cultures), Dwyer Sullivan (Conscience Canada, Educators For Justice, Camp Micah), Mary Groh (Conscience Canada), Charles (Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, Disabilities and Human Rights Project), Ellen Papenburg (Council of Canadians, Animal Protection Party of Canada, Funeral Advisory and Memorial Society of South and East Ontario), Mo Markham (KW Animal Save, KW Vegan Society, Mother Earth Save, KW Climate Save), Sue Klassen (Alternative Vision for Peace, Stirling Avenue Mennonite Church Peace and Justice Committee), Megan Ruttan (Citizens Climate Lobby) (out of frame), Cathy Scott (Fair Vote Waterloo) (out of frame), Jim Sannes (Council of Canadians, Unitarian Church Peace Outreach) (out of frame), Bob Jonkman (WR Nonviolence, Green Party, Fair Vote Waterloo)

Mary Groh speaks, other people listen — Mary Groh talks about Conscience Canada

Sharon Sommerville and Esther Kern — Sharon Sommerville (Fair Vote Waterloo) and Esther Kern (Christian Peacemaker Team)

Ellen Papenberg and Mo Markham — Ellen Papenburg (Council of Canadians, Animal Protection Party of Canada, Funeral Advisory and Memorial Society of South and East Ontario) speaks while Mo Markham (KW Animal Save, KW Vegan Society, Mother Earth Save, KW Climate Save) takes notes.

Gehan Sabry, Dwyer Sullivan, Charles — Dwyer Sullivan talks, Gehan Sabry and Charles listen.

Sue Klassen speaks, Megan Ruttan, Kathy Scott, Jim Sannes and Bob Jonkman listen — Sue Klassen speaks about Alternative Vision for Peace

Esther Kern speaks, Jim Sannes, Bob Jonkman and Sharon Sommerville listen — Esther Kern talks about the Christian Peacemaker Team

All pictures by Scott Miller Cressman.

Pharmacare Town Hall in Burlington — Monday, 5 March 2018 at 7pm

Monday, March 5 at 7 PM — 9 PM
Art Gallery of Burlington
1333 Lakeshore Road
Burlington, Ontario

PHARMACARE FOR ALL — WHY NOT?

An event sponsored by Council of Canadians (Halton Chapter) — Monday, March 5 at the Art Gallery of Burlington, 7 PM to 9 PM.

This event intends to inform the public about the health, social and economic impacts of universal Pharmacare, and intends to help keep this issue at the forefront of the political agenda for Ontario and Canada as a whole

Keynote Speakers

Maude Barlow:

Maude Barlow is the Honorary Chairperson of the Council of Canadians and chairs the board of Washington-based Food and Water Watch. She serves on the executive of the Global Alliance for the Rights of Nature and is a Councillor with the Hamburg-based World Future Council. Maude is the recipient of fourteen honorary doctorates as well as many prestigious awards for her environmental activism. In 2008/2009, she served as Senior Advisor on Water to the President of the UN General Assembly and was a leader in the campaign to have water recognized as a human right by the UN. She is the author of dozens of reports, as well as 18 books, including her latest, Blue Future: Protecting Water For People And The Planet Forever and Boiling Point: Government Neglect, Corporate Abuse, and Canada’s Water Crisis.

Prof Emeritus Brian Hutchison:

Brian Hutchison is a Professor Emeritus in the Department of Family Medicine at McMaster University and past Director of the Centre for Health Economics and Policy Analysis at McMaster University. He practiced comprehensive family medicine for five years in a fee-for-service group practice, followed by 25 years in a McMaster University academic family practice. Among other senior roles, he was the Co-Chair of the Canadian Working Group for Primary Healthcare Improvement from 2008 to 2014 and is currently a vice-chair of Canadian Doctors for Medicare. In 2015 he was named as one of 20 Top Pioneers of Family Medicine Research in Canada by the College of Family Physicians of Canada.

Following their presentations, there will be a panel including a local pharmacist, a retired benefits specialist and a health professional. The audience is welcome to participate in the discussion.

Canada is the only developed country with a universal Medicare program without a universal Pharmacare plan. This event intends to inform the public about the health social and economic impacts of universal Pharmacare and keep this issue at the forefront of the political agenda for Ontario and Canada as a whole. Ontario has already improved Pharmacare coverage to Age 25 but it is time to complete the process.

Free Admission
For parking, there is street parking available nearby, free after 6 PM. Also, the AGB parking lot (see map http://bit.ly/2EtoJck) requires payment only until 7 PM.
https://artgalleryofburlington.com/

Please bring your own reusable water bottle

Let us know you’re coming on our Facebook Event page.

Pharmacare Toolkit — https://canadians.org/pharmacare-toolkit

Pharmacare Town Hall – Halton Chapter

CBC News reports on Cross Cultures event

Kitchener marks UN Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination

We need to “treat each other as human beings instead of labelling and stereotyping,” organizer says

CBC News Posted: Mar 21, 2017 7:00 AM ET

This flag was used at a Walk Against Racism in Regina in February. A day-long event at Kitchener City Hall Tuesday is dedicated to the United Nation’s International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination. (CBC)

External Links

Cross Cultures: Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination 2017 event page

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external links.)

An all-day event at Kitchener City Hall Tuesday is meant to open the discussion on racism in Waterloo region.

The event marks the United Nations’ International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and is organized by the editor of the local website Cross Cultures, Gehan Sabry.

In the past year, there has been a lot of talk about racism in the region and Sabry hopes this event — now in its 16th year — will help kickstart more dialogue about the issue.

“There is racism,” Sabry said.

“Sometimes it’s more obvious and to the surface,” she added. “We’re hoping that people, through understanding each other, that there will be less of the unknown and treat each other as human beings instead of labelling and stereotyping and being leery of other people because they just don’t understand them.”

Everyone has talents, passions

The day will include several speakers, presentations, booths, music and discussions. The morning and early afternoon is largely for high school students, but the public is encouraged to take part in events starting at 2 p.m.

One of those talks will be by the organization Bridges to Belonging. Executive director Cameron Dearlove said that group is known for helping people with developmental disabilities or mental health issues, but he says they help anyone who struggles to build a full life in the community.

He said their message will be about how we need to see each other as people first.

“Everybody, whether you have a disability or not, has gifts, has talents, has passions,” he said. “If people aren’t sharing those, that’s our job to help people uncover those and find the places where they can share those and build their life within the community.”

‘More peace, more respect’

This year’s theme is Our Home On Native Land, and Sabry said it’s important because we need to remember “we are all guests of the Indigenous people of this Turtle Island.”

Sabry, who is Muslim, said she hopes people will come, listen and then go back to their communities and talk about the issues.

“I’m hoping people will be encouraged to share this information with others: Their family, their friends, their colleagues. And that we can promote better feelings amongst us, more peace, more respect, mutual respect,” she said.

Kitchener marks UN Day for Elimination of Racial Discrimination – Kitchener-Waterloo – CBC News