Tell Council “I support Light Rail”

Eleanor Grant writes:

Friends and Neighbours in Waterloo Region –

The winning bid to build the LRT in Kitchener-Waterloo was announced Friday, and it comes in under budget.

It will be voted on by Regional Councillors on March 4 in committee, and ratified on March 19. There should be shovels in the ground this spring.

The official announcement: Staff recommend GrandLinq as the preferred team for ION Stage 1 LRT

The winning consortium is GrandLinq. It is not the one with ties to SNC Lavalin, we can be relieved to hear! I’ve put links to all the media coverage on it at the end of this message.

Must see video

The TriTAG group (stands for Tri-cities Transport Action Group) has produced an excellent little video explaining the ION project in 90 seconds:

Please view it and pass it on to your friends 🙂

As you know, our Councillors have been bombarded with negative messages, most of them based on pretty inaccurate information, from those who want to stop the project or tie it up in endless delays.

But I suspect that the silent majority of us see the benefits of LRT (that doesn’t mean it’s perfect), and we want to see it get started.

Councillors need to hear from us at this time.

On TriTAG‘s site please click on the link to “E-mail your Councillors”. Tell them briefly in your own words, why you think the light rail project should go ahead.

You can also register as a delegation at the meetings on 4 March 2014 at 3:00pm and 19 March 2014 at 6:00pm.

I have registered for 4 March. One thing I’ll be talking about is the confidence-building we need to do with our neighbours in Cambridge, so they can feel more reassured during the gap years between Stage 1 in KW and Stage 2 being built to Cambridge in the future.

I’ve learned some exciting facts about the project recently, that aren’t all on the web sites:

  • The next new iXpress (203) route is being introduced the end of April. It will travel from Sportsworld along Maple Grove (Loblaws warehouse and Toyota plant), into the core of Hespeler, then down Franklin Blvd and over to Cambridge Centre mall. A new terminal area for a dozen bus links is being built on Hespeler Rd near the front of the mall.
  • Starting in Sept this new iXpress will also go from Sportsworld to Conestoga College at peak hours.
  • Also starting in Sept, the original iXpress, the 200, will be stopping at Sportsworld (I wish they’d do this sooner).
  • The adapted bus rapid transit for Cambridge – aBRT – is now expected to start in early 2015. Tenders for this work should go out soon. It will assume the 200 route from Fairview on. Stops will be: Fairview; Sportsworld; Eagle/Pinebush; Cambridge Centre mall new terminal; Can-Amera (YMCA); the Delta (Babcock & Wilcox); and Ainslie St terminal. Ainslie terminal is also going to be spruced up.
  • Serious talks are underway to improve GO train service to Kitchener, and maybe even reopen the Milton rail corridor to Cambridge. It all takes time – no promises yet! But for the Province to invest in these improvements, they need to see a higher order rapid transit built here, such as LRT.

Three things must dovetail together: a good bus grid, a rapid transit “spine”, and inter-city links. That’s why it’s time for LRT now. Waterloo Region is getting out in front of the population growth mandated for our area. Failure to get ahead of the curve only leads to the wasteful gridlock we now see in the GTA.

Please go to TriTAG now and click on the link to “E-mail your Councillors”. Right now is when our Councillors need to know we’re with them, and that we appreciate their efforts to bring us this far.

Thanks All,

Eleanor

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Media coverage on LRT bid:

Kitchener Post: LRT: $593 million to build, $900 million to run

CTV (2 segments):
http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=299012
http://kitchener.ctvnews.ca/video?clipId=299314

CBC News: LRT construction bid pegged at $532M

The Record: Top LRT bid comes in under budget

570 News: GrandLinq recommended group for LRT project

The Region has also released a nice brochure (26 pages long) explaining the Why and How of Rapid Transit: The story of rapid transit in Waterloo Region (6.0 MBytes, .PDF file)

————————————–

Eleanor Grant writes a semi-regular e-mail newsletter on social justice issues. You can contact Eleanor at eleanor7000@gmail.com

@FairVoteWRC, @TransitionKW and @LeadnowCA present Connect — 8 March 2014, 1:30pm

Fair Vote Canada logo
Fair Vote Canada Waterloo Region Chapter

Leadnow logo
Leadnow.ca

TransitionKW logo
TransitionKW

The Fair Vote Canada Waterloo Region Chapter, TransitionKW and Leadnow.ca are teaming up to present Connect:

What: FairVoteWRC, TransitionKW and Leadnow.ca — Connect
When: Saturday, 8 March 2014 2014 1:30pm to 3:30pm [iCal]
Where: Queen Street Commons Cafe, 43 Queen St. S., Kitchener [map]
Register: Leadnow Connect registration page or on the Connect — Leadnow event on Facebook

Here is the message from Leadnow:

It may not feel like it yet, but the 2015 federal election is just around the corner. If we start working together now, we can help hold this government accountable at the ballot box, and elect people with a strong mandate for action on democracy, climate, and inequality. More than that — we can help build a movement strong enough to push for real changes after the election.

Between February 27th and March 9th, people are going to gather in communities across the country to talk about a plan to organize for and beyond the 2015 election. Join TransitionKW on Facebook and Fair Vote Waterloo for Connect!

You can register and learn more at the Leadnow Connect registration page or on the Connect — Leadnow event on Facebook

Please join us there, we need to work together to ensure positive change for Canada in 2015!

Hosted By:
Sylvie Spraakman
Refreshments:
This event is a potluck. You are invited to bring food to share with other guests.
Note:
Food and drinks will be available for purchase from the Commons Cafe. Food is very reasonably priced, and you’re not required to make a purchase.

Book Launch – Harsha Walia: Undoing Border Imperialism — 19 January 2014, 6:30pm

Found on the WPIRG events calendar:

Undoing Border Imperialism Book Launch w/ Harsha Walia and the End Immigration Detention Campaign!

VENUE : Kitchener Downtown Community Centre, Multipurpose Room – 35-B Weber St W, Kitchener, ON N2G 4V6

CITY: Kitchener, Six Nations of the Grand River Territory

Join us for the book launch of Undoing Border Imperialism with the End Indefinite Immigration Detention Campaign, who will be speaking about the continued struggle of immigration detainees.

Undoing Border Imperialism is an exciting new book that situates immigrant rights movements within a transnational analysis of capitalism, labor exploitation, settler colonialism, state building, and racialized empire. By providing the alternative conceptual frameworks of border imperialism and decolonization, this work offers relevant insights for all grassroots and social movement organizers on effective strategies to overcome the barriers and borders within our movements in order to cultivate fierce, loving, and sustainable communities of resistance striving toward liberation. (Visit: https://www.facebook.com/undoingborderimperialism )

Books will be available for sale at this event (cash-only). The author and local contributors will be available for a book-signing following the event.

This is a free event, although we welcome any donations to support ongoing local struggles.
[…]
Organized by Grand River Indigenous Solidarity (GRIS)

For more information, contact GRIS : decolonizethegrandriver@gmail.com
[…]
For more information on the book, including ordering information:

AK Press | Undoing Border Imperialism

goodreads – Undoing Border Imperialism

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:

Harsha Walia is a South Asian author and activist who resides in Vancouver, on the lands of the Indigenous Coast Salish people. Over the past decade, Harsha has organized in a number of social justice movements, particularly within anti-racist, feminist, anti-capitalist and anti-imperialist movements. Currently she is active in the migrant justice group No One Is Illegal, the February 14th Women’s Memorial March Committee for Missing and Murdered Women, the South Asian Network for Secularism and Democracy, the provincial Social Housing Coalition, as well as regular support for communities in the Indigenous Assembly Against Mining and Pipelines. Harsha is also a youth mentor for Check Your Head and an editorial collective member at Feminist Wire. Harsha has been named one of the most influential South Asians in BC by the Vancouver Sun and one of the ten most popular left-wing journalists by the Georgia Straight in 2010. She is the winner of the Canadian Center for Policy Alternatives “Power of Youth” award.

Social Justice Workshops for Teachers — Friday, 17 January 2014

Found this on Eventbrite:

A Day of Professional Development
Waterloo Region Occasional Teachers Local
Friday, January 17, 2014 from 10:00 AM to 3:30 PM (EST)
Kitchener, ON

The Equity and Social Justice Committee for the Waterloo Occasional Teachers Local is pleased to present a Day of Professional Development. We are pleased to provide two workshops; you may choose to attend either workshop or both! If you choose to attend both workshops, lunch will be provided.

Workshop #1 (10:00am to 12:00pm): An Arts and Literacy Approach to Address Bullying presented by Larry Schwartz. This interactive workshop will invite K-8 teachers to explore and integrate the Arts into literacy approaches to address bullying issues. Participants will be offered drama and arts strategies that help students to respond reflect and consider healthy relationships while recognizing that everyone is capable of showing positive actions.

Workshop #2 (12:30pm to 3:30pm): Social Justice Begins With Me presented by Jeffrey Wilkin. This workshop introduces members to the Social Justice Begins with Me resource kit, designed to help teachers address issues of equity and social justice in their classroom and assist students in developing awareness and understanding of these issues. Lesson plans for K to grade 8 are linked to Ontario’s curriculum. The workshop will show teachers how to engage diverse learners and create classroom environments that are safe and inclusive.

Have questions about A Day of Professional Development? Contact Waterloo Region Occasional Teachers Local on Eventbrite

Stand with the Philippines — vigil near you – Thursday, 21 November 2013 at 5:00pm

Thursday at 5:00pm at Waterloo Square [map]

———- Forwarded message ———-
From: “Jamie Henn – 350.org” <350@350.org>
Date: Nov 20, 2013 1:58 PM
Subject: Stand with the Philippines — vigil near you.
To: “Eleanor Grant” <eleanor7000@gmail.com>

Friends,

All across the world this Thursday and Friday, people will be lighting candles to call for climate action that honors the memory of the lives lost to Typhoon Haiyan in the Philippines.

As the UN climate negotiations draw to a close, we’ll show that a united global movement for change can be the real light of hope in our warming world. We’re responding to a call for solidarity from the Philippines, and shining a light for the people who are feeling the impacts of climate change — even though they’ve done little to cause it.

There’s a vigil near you — can you be there to honor and remember the lives lost to this climate disaster?

Here are the details:
——————————

What: We Stand With You Vigil for Climate Justice in the Philippines
Where: In the public space outside of the Value Mart mall near Beer Town
Location: Waterloo
When: Thursday, November 21, 5:00 PM

You can RSVP here: #WeStandWithYou Vigil – 350

If you attend, remember to bring a candle (plus one for a friend!)

Government corruption and indifference has left many people without the assistance they need. 350 organizers have been on the ground in heavily impacted areas pulling together a grassroots-led relief effort to help fill in the gaps — but they’ll need your help to pull it off.

At the vigils we will be raising money for Brigada Kalikasan, the relief effort that our friends are organizing — even as we send a message to the government of the Philippines that the world expects better.

In a sane world, this work would be undertaken by our supposed leaders, the kinds of people meeting in Warsaw for the UN talks right now. But in a world still ruled by fossil fuel interests, it’s up to us to be the leaders.

These are tough times, but as always hope can be found in our work together.

Jamie

350.org is building a global movement to solve the climate crisis. Connect with us on Facebook and Twitter, and sign up for email alerts.

You can help power our work by getting involved locally, sharing your story, and donating here.

Peace and Justice Studies Association Student Conference – Thu-Sat, 17-19 October 2013

The University of Waterloo Calendar tells me:

PEACE & JUSTICE STUDIES ASSOCIATION STUDENT CONFERENCE 2013

Thursday, October 17, 2013 – 8:00 pm to Saturday, October 19, 2013 – 7:00 pm

What is PJSA?

The PJSA (Peace and Justice Studies Association) is a non-profit organization formed in 2001. It is a professional association for scholars in the field of peace and conflict resolution studies. It is the North American affiliate of the International Peace Research Association. This year, the PJSA Conference is co-hosted by Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) and Conrad Grebel University College (CGUC, UW). The conference starts on Thursday Oct 17th, 8:00 pm, ends on Saturday Oct 19th, at 7:00pm

The conference will take place at both Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) and Conrad Grebel University College (CGUC).

Fair Vote Waterloo Region Chapter: Walk, Rally, Talk and Pub Night – Monday, 16 September 2013

Fair Vote Canada logo
Fair Vote Canada
Sunday is International Day of Democracy, but on Monday, 16 September 2013 the Waterloo Region Chapter of Fair Vote Canada is celebrating by holding a Walk, Rally, Talk and Pub Night.

Meet at Kitchener City Hall at 6:00pm to walk to Waterloo Square. Banners, placards, whistles, pots & pans are all welcome to make a lot of noise for electoral reform!

At 6:45 Craig Scott, MP for Toronto Danforth and NDP electoral reform critic and Anita Nickerson, FVC’s Executive Director will address a short rally at Waterloo Square. At 7:00pm Craig will speak at First United Church, 16 William North about the the NDP’s policy on electoral reform and listen to our concerns about electoral reform.

This is a great opportunity to share with the NDP the need to make electoral reform a major election issue in 2015 & highlight the need for electoral reform to our community.

Following the Walk, Rally, and Talk the Waterloo Region Fair Voters, Friends, and Relations will retire to The Duke of Wellington Pub to continue the conversation.

Dan Burton Presents: In Between Spaces, An Art Show – Friday, 23 August 2013

Cathy MacLellan writes:

Hello Friends:

Next weekend I’ll be celebrating yet another birthday – by attending an art show in Kitchener! On Friday, August 23rd, I’ll be at the Opus Lounge, supporting our local artists and ROOF. Just as Waterloo Region has become a hub for hi tech entrepreneurial enterprises so too the number of new and promising artists has grown exponentially, full disclosure – my daughter is one of them! This event marks the professional curatorial debut of Daniel Burton. Look for the posters around town and check it out here:

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/events/484702944951652/
Buying Tickets: http://inbetweenspaces.eventbrite.ca/

“It’s not what you look at that matters, it’s what you see.”
Henry David Thoreau

Enjoy your weekend!

Cathy MacLellan

And Happy Birthday, Cathy!

Pictures of a Day in the Park — Nonviolence Festival, Saturday 13 July 2013

Nonviolence Festival logoSaturday, 13 July 2013 was a wonderful Day in the Park, an event of the Nonviolence Festival.


The Welcome booth, showing banner "The Non-Violence Festival Day in the Park WELCOME"
Welcome to A Day in the Park

Booths at the Nonviolence Festival
Booths at the Nonviolence Festival

The Gazebo showing banner "Concert for Non-Violence"
The Gazebo

Nonviolence Festival - the alley
The alley on the island