Justice – KWPeace

Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, 5:30pm Friday 6 December 2024 at St. Columba Anglican Church

What: Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
Who: CFUW-KW (formerly Canadian Federation of University Women)
When: 5:30pm on Friday 6 December 2024
Where: St. Columba Anglican Church
Location: 250 Lincoln Road, Waterloo Map
Info/Contact: Mary Sehl +1‑519‑603‑7390, maryt@golden.net
Online: https://www.cfuwkw.org/post/december-6-vigil-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women-1

At a time when hate-crime statistics for Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge have made national news, a local organization says it is more important than ever to remember the 14 young women who were killed 35 years ago on December 6, 1989 at the École Polytechnique de Montréal.

CFUW K-W, formerly known as the Canadian Federation of University Women, will host a vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women on Friday 6 December 2024 at St. Columba Anglican Church, 250 Lincoln Road in Waterloo at 5:30 p.m.

Vigil organizing committee chair and CFUW K-W member, Margaret Walker, said the event will include short speeches and opportunities for reflection and remembering.

“These 14 young women should be at the peak of their careers today,” Walker said. “Instead they lost their lives at a young age solely because of their gender.”

She said the vigil is a way to affirm equal rights. “We believe this is especially important at a time when Statistics Canada has released crime data indicating that Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge have the highest rate of reported hate crimes across all metropolitan areas in Canada.”

The vigil will feature music performed by violinist Kaitlynn Cook and pianist Lisa Santoprete from Wilfrid Laurier University’s Faculty of Music.

St. Columba Anglican Church can be reached by Grand River Transit Bus 29. It stops at the corner of Lincoln Road and Mayfield Avenue, next to the church.

A free Night of Labour Films, 7pm Thursday 28 November 2024 at the Apollo Cinema

What: Five short Labour films
When: 7:00pm to 9:00pm, Thursday 28 November 2024
Where: Apollo Cinema
Location: 141 Ontario Street North, Kitchener Map
RSVP: https://waterloolabour.ca/events/cliff24-waterloo-region-screening/

From the Waterloo Region Labour Council:

Get ready for a cinematic experience that celebrates the spirit of the labour movement! We’re excited to invite you to an evening of inspiring and thought-provoking films from the Canadian Labour International Film Festival!

We’ll be showcasing five captivating short films, including:

Curious about what to expect? Learn more about the film lineup at Labour Films

Feel free to bring your friends, and let’s make it a memorable evening!

Can’t wait to see you there! 🎥✨

WE ARE A MEMBER OF
Canadian Labour Congress
Ontario Federation of Labour

50 Sportsworld Crossing Road (East Building), Suite #220,
Kitchener, ON N2P 0A4, Canada

Trans Day of Remembrance Vigil, 6:30pm on Wednesday 20 November 2024 at Waterloo Town Square

What: Vigil for the Trans Day of Remembrance 2024
When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Wednesday 20 November 2024
Where: Waterloo Public Square
Location: 75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario Map
Online: https://ourspectrum.com/2024/11/19/trans-day-of-remembrance-2024/

On November 20th from 6:30 – 8:30 PM, Spectrum will be hosting a candlelight vigil at Waterloo Town Square (75 King St. S.), to honor transgender lives lost. This event is open to the public. Please read more about the event at SPECTRUM Trans Day of Remembrance 2024.

Agenda

6:30 – Candle lighting / settling in the space
6:40 – Welcoming drum song / thanksgiving address from Willow River Centre
6:50 – Land Acknowledgement
6:55 – Introduction / moment of silence
7:00 – 8:00 – Main Speakers
8:00 – 8:25 – Open microphone for the public to honor their loved ones
8:25 – 8:30 – Closing / second moment of silence

Keep in mind this agenda is fluid, and depending on the length of speakers the evening may end earlier than 8:30 PM.

Film: Walking Through The Fire at Zion United Church, New Hamburg at 7pm on Thursday 14 November 2024

From Caterina Lindman’s newsletter:

What: Walking Through the Fire
When: 7:00pm on Thursday 14 November 2024
Where: Zion United Church
Location: Map
Register: https://walkingwilmot.eventbrite.ca

This is the screening of a visual album, entitled Walking Through the Fire. It’s an opportunity to hear music and stories from Indigenous musicians from across Canada. This film, created by the award-winning Sultans of String, will be screened at Zion United Church, New Hamburg on Thursday, November 14, 2024 at 7 p.m. Register now.

Film Screening and Panel Discussion: Bridging Divides: Voices and Visions about Homelessness in Midsize Cities – 7pm on Monday 18 November 2024, Old Post Office library, Cambridge, Ontario

What: Film showing and Panel Discussion: Bridging Divides: Voices and Visions about Homelessness in Mid-size Cities
When: Monday 18 November from 7:00pm to 8:30pm
Where: Old Post Office library, Riverview Room, Reading Room
Location: 12 Water Street South, Cambridge, Ontario Map
Register: https://ideaexchange.libnet.info/event/11792453 (optional, but recommended)

Dr. Erin Dej writes via the Unsheltered Campaign:

Hi friends,

As many of you know, I’ve been doing research the last 4 years on misperceptions of homelessness in mid-size cities, including in Cambridge. The research has all come together by way of a documentary called Bridging Divides: Voices & Visions on Homelessness in Mid-Size Cities. The documentary explores the issue of homelessness, safety, and belonging by showcasing voices from diverse backgrounds, including conversations with individuals with lived experience of homelessness, service providers, business owners, and law enforcement.

We are holding a screening and panel discussion on 18 November 2024 from 7:00 – 8:30 at the Old Post Office Library (12 Water Street South) in Cambridge. It would mean so much if you were able to attend. As you know, Cambridge is struggling right now, so this conversation is more important than ever.

The panel discussion is going to feature Dr. Laura Pin, as well as Marjorie Knight and José de Lima, so you know it’s going to be a great conversation!

You will find all the details in the poster below and in case you’re able to share on any of your social media. All the details are at Wilfrid Laurier University website.

Thanks everyone!

Erin

Download poster: 2024-Nov_Cambridge – Poster_Bridging-Divides.pdf (1.3 MB)

Bridging divides and building perspectives through a dialogue

A powerful documentary featuring voices from diverse backgrounds. Discover new insights on homelessness and explore solutions to build safer, more inclusive communities.

Documentary screening – panel discussion
November 18th | 7:00 – 8:30 p.m.
Old Post Office -12 Water St S,
Cambridge, ON N1R 3C5

FOR INFORMATION AND REGISTRATION VISIT:
UOGUEL.PH/BRIDGING-DIVIDES
REGISTRATION IS RECOMMENDED BUT WALK-INS ARE WELCOME

Grief Walk for Palestine, at KW Farmer’s Market, every Sunday at 11am

What: Grief Walk for Palestine
When: Every Sunday at 11:00am
Where: Kitchener Farmer’s Market
Location: 300 King Street East, Kitchener Map
Online: @KWPalestine on Facebook
Additional links: https://linktr.ee/kwpalestine

Every Saturday at 11am there is a grief walk for Palestine from the Kitchener Farmer’s Market. Organized by KW Friends of Palestine

BW illustration of a First Nations man wearing a ceremonial headdress and a Palestinian man wearing a keffiyeh, both dancing on a line of barbed wire. There is a red highlight on the headdress. — From KW in support of Palestine

Waterloo Region ACORN Day of Action for Anti-Renoviction Bylaws, 1:00pm on Tuesday 27 August 2024

What: Region-Wide Day of Action for Municipal Anti-Renoviction Bylaws
When: Tuesday 27 August 2024 at 1:00pm
Where: Register on Zoom
Contact: Vonica Flear, kw@acorncanada.org Phone: +1‑226‑545‑4359
Website: https://acorncanada.org
Waterloo Region ACORN: https://acorncanada.org/locations/waterloo-acorn/

ACORN members and tenants across Waterloo region are banding together to fight for better protections from bad-faith evictions.

On Tuesday August 27th, Waterloo Region ACORN will be holding a Region-Wide action calling on Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge city councils to enact anti-renoviction bylaws similar to the one passed in Hamilton earlier this year.

On January 17th, Hamilton City Council voted unanimously in favour of the city passing a strong anti-renoviction bylaw called the “Renovations License and Relocation Bylaw.” This happened after a 5 year effort by Hamilton ACORN and several motions passed to direct the creation of a bylaw based on the success of policy from New Westminster, BC. The original bylaw in New Westminster eliminated renovictions since passing in 2019, reducing the total number of renovictions from 333 to zero. The new Hamilton bylaw will require landlords to:

Apply for a licence within 7 days of issuing a tenant a N13.
Provide tenants with a Tenant’s Rights and Entitlements Package
Provide tenants wishing to exercise their right to return to their unit (at the same rent!) with temporary accommodation OR a rental top up for the duration of the renovations.

ACORN members across the Region are ecstatic to see Hamilton pass STRONG tenant protections that will significantly reduce the number of affordable units being systematically removed by landlords taking advantage of the loopholes in Ontario’s rent control measures. Waterloo Region ACORN members will be meeting on Zoom on August 27th to review ACORN’s renoviction bylaw campaign and facilitate phone blitzes to Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge city council offices to call for similar bylaws to be passed in each city.

Maribel Jagorin, Co-Chair of the Waterloo Region chapter of ACORN and currently facing renoviction from her own apartment, says, “There is a big disconnect between the cost of living and income. There is a housing crisis out there. How am I supposed to live? I can’t afford somewhere else, and there’s nothing out there for me. I am fighting for my affordable housing and my rights because everywhere I look I can only see greed and lack of balance. Landlords are privileged!”

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