No Fixed Address: A Talk About Homelessness and Encampments, 6:30pm on Thu 22 Feb 2024

No Fixed Address | A talk about homelessness and encampments | February 22, 2024 | 6:30pm | www.WRCommunityTownHalls.ca
What: No Fixed Address: A Talk About Homelessness and Encampments
When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm on Thursday 22 February 2024
Where: Online only, link sent with registration
Register: Tickets from Eventbrite

With the ever escalating housing crisis, a growing number of people are confronting the harsh realities of homelessness. Despite concerted efforts, community services and shelters are struggling to keep pace with surging demand, leaving many people without access to even these temporary solutions.

Faced with this stark reality, people must forge their own paths to survival, resulting in an increasing presence of makeshift shelters and tents, as residents seek safety and refuge from the often unforgiving elements.

As we grapple with the pressing need for both short-term and long-term solutions to address the root causes of homelessness, the struggle of those living outdoors remains. What can we do to better meet the basic needs, care, and well-being of these people? How can we enhance our approach to this issue, and what proactive steps are other municipalities taking to make a positive and impactful difference in the lives of those affected?

​On February 22nd, from 6:30 to 8:30 PM, join host Regional Councillor Rob Deutschmann in this first virtual town hall segment of 2024 focused on homelessness and encampments.

Featured guest speakers include:

  • Dr. Erin Dej, Associate Professor, Department of Criminology, Wilfrid Laurier University (Waterloo, ON)
  • Fiona York, CRAB Park Advocate (Vancouver BC)
  • Margaret Capes, Legal Education Coordinator, Community Law School (Sarnia-Lambton, ON)
  • Greg Nash, London Intercommunity Health Centre, Director-Complex Urban Health (London, ON)
  • Chantelle McDonald,London Cares Homeless Response Services, Director of Service (London, ON)
  • Kaite Burkholder Harris, Executive Direction, Alliance to End Homelessness Ottawa (Ottawa, ON)
  • Jaime Stief, Community Advocate (Kitchener, ON)
  • Mike Lethby, (Niagara Falls)

Additional information on our website at WR Community Town Halls.

Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women, 5:30pm on Wednesday 6 December 2023 at St. Columba Anglican Church

What: Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women
When: 5:30pm to 6:30pm, Wednesday 6 December 2023
Where: St. Columba Anglican Church
Location: 250 Lincoln Road, Waterloo Map
Website: https://www.cfuwkw.org/post/december-6-vigil-national-day-of-remembrance-and-action-on-violence-against-women

CFUW-KW (Canadian Federation of University Women) is holding a vigil in memory of the women murdered at École polytechnique de Montréal in 1989.

Please join CFUW for a night of remembrance. There will be featured speakers, and light snacks will be served.

The Saint Columba Anglican Church is at 250 Lincoln Road in Waterloo. Take Grand River Transit Bus 29 to Lincoln/Mayfield, stop 2793.

CFUW Kitchener-Waterloo | Join us for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women | December 6th (2023) vigil at | St. Columba Anglican Church | 250 Lincoln Road, Waterloo | By Grand River Transit: Bus 29 to Lincoln/Mayfield Stop 2793 | 5:30pm | Speakers and Music | Light snacks will be served | Realizing potential. For all women. (photo of a red rose and a candle on a black background; CFUW logo at the top).

See (and hear) the interview on CKMS-FM Radio Waterloo: CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo | Community Connections (black and purple lettering on a teal background)CKMS Community Connections for 4 December 2023: The CFUW December 6 vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women with Margaret Walker and Fadilah Balogun

Amnesty International Write For Rights, 11am to 4pm, Saturday 9 December 2023 at Kitchener Public Library

What: Amnesty International Write For Rights
When: 11:00am to 4:00pm on Saturday 9 December 2023
Where: Kitchener Public Library, Meeting Room D
Location: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map 1
E-mail: groupnine9@gmail.com

Write For Rights -- Amnesty International
 
Children are welcome!

Write for Rights is the world’s largest human rights event. It’s a moment when Amnesty International’s 7 million supporters around the world join together in a letter-writing blitz calling on governments to respect human rights!

Drop in and find out about the 11 cases we are highlighting this year. You can make a difference by signing letters and petitions to governments defending the rights of refugees, women, indigenous peoples, and human rights workers!

A letter from the organizers

Hello,

We hope to see you soon at our first in-person Write for Rights event since COVID!!! This year it will be held in KPL Room D Saturday December 9 from 11am to 4pm.

We will be joining together with Amnesty International’s millions of supporters around the world in a letter-writing blitz calling on governments to respect the rights of eleven selected groups and individuals at risk.

We have had many successes over the years including the release of political prisoners, the ending of torture in specific cases and in bringing human rights offenders to justice.

We are including a package so that you can print and sign letters in advance and bring them to the event. Then when you arrive, you can focus on creating cards of support for the individuals at risk. We will have cards and art materials available for you to use.

We are also including a young people’s activity package — so if you are a parent, teacher, grandparent and have some time to sit down with your young person — you can create a card of support for indigenous Torres Strait islanders and bring it to our event. Take a picture of your activity and send it to groupnine9@gmail.com so that we can post it to our Facebook page. The young person’s activity will also be available at the KPL event as well as a creative activity for younger children!!

At our regular meeting on Tuesday, 5 December 2023 we’ll be firming up plans for the event as well as signing letters — so if you have downloaded and printed the package, please bring your letters to the meeting.

Helpful information about the event:

  1. If you are coming to the KPL by car, you can park for free in the open-air lot to the east of the Library. If you park underground you’ll have to pay.
  2. Room D is on the lower level. Food brought from outside is not allowed. If you wish to have something you can purchase it at the café upstairs.
  3. If you are printing your own letters at home and do not want to bring them to the Library on the 9th, you can drop them off in the W4R box which will be on the front steps at 97 John Street West Map 2 from 10-17 December. In either case, please do NOT put your letters in individual envelopes. Fold each letter in half and write the country to which it is being sent on the outside. Please have all your letters in a single large envelope with your name on the outside, or held together with a rubber band and a label giving your name.

Take care,
David and Margaret

PS — If you want to edit your letters please send a request to groupnine9@gmail.com and we will send you a WORD version.

Kitchener Centre By-Election Housing Forum, 6:30pm, Thursday 23 November 2023 at St. John The Evangelist Church

What: Kitchener Centre By-Election Housing Forum
When: Doors open 6:30pm, Forum 7:00pm, Thursday 23 November 2023
Where: St. John The Evangelist Church
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Contact: Text message 519-635-8951

Come ask the candidates how they will tackle housing issues.

KItchener Centre By-Election Housing Forum | Come ask the candidates how they will tackle housing issues | Thursday, November 23rd (2023) | Doors open: 6:30pm Forum 7:00pm | St John The Evangelist | 23 Water St N Kitchener | For questions text 519-635-8951 (Black letters on white, clip art of bullhorn and ballot wiht pen, B&W logos of supporting organizations at the top, including The Council of Canadians Kitchener-Waterloo, Victoria Park Neighbourhood Association, GroundUpWR, ACORN Tenant Union Waterloo Region, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, Olde Berlin Town Neighbourhood, Beyond Housing, Basic Income Waterloo Region, WRYIMBY, GreenWR, Grand River Unitarian Church, Unsheltered Campaign, Hold The Line WR)

Rally for Gaza, 1:00pm on Sunday 19 November 2023 in Waterloo Public Square

What: Rally for Gaza
When: 1:00pm, Sunday, 19 November 2023
Where: Waterloo Public Square Map

Palestinian
Youth
Movement

(illustration of barbed wire with the Palestine colours (black, red, green) swirling inside)

حركة الشباب الفلسطيني

Lift the Siege on Gaza Now

End Canadian Complicity

Ceasefire Now

10K Rally For Gaza!

Kitchener-Waterloo

Sunday, November 19th, 2023 – 1pm
Waterloo Public Square


Lift the Seige (sic) on Gaza Now | End Canadian Complicity | Ceasefire Now | Palestinian Youth Movement | 10K Rally for Gaza ! Kitchener-Waterloo | Sun, Nov 19th - 1pm | Waterloo Public Square (photo of a man wearing a  keffiyeh holding a Palestinian flag, with another Palestinian flag behind him, and a crowd of people in the foreground. There are logos of supporting organizations along the bottom, including ACB, GroupUpWR, Land Back Camp)

Power Up! Rally, Saturday 4 November 2023 at Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener

What: Power Up! Rally
When: 1:00pm on Saturday, 4 November 2023
Where: Carl Zehr Square, Kitchener City Hall
Location: 200 King Street West, Kitchener Map

You and your family are invited to the Power Up! Rally where we’ll bring clarity not only to the anticipated near to medium term impacts and implications of climate change on Southwestern Ontario, but also explore the progress being made on Waterloo Region’s Transform WR Plan (to achieve 50% reduction of fossil fuel use in the Region by 2030). In addition, there will be brief presentations by experts in solar power,heat pumps and geothermal projects to highlight clean energy options, and a local federal Member of Parliament about federal initiatives and programming. The Rally will end with ‘what WE can do NOW’ presentations by a variety of local activists and experts.

This Rally is being organized by 350 (left-pointing arrow to the left of numbers 350, white on a blue background)350.org in partnership with 50×30, Council of Canadians, Citizens’ Climate Lobby, and Faith Climate Justice. We hope you’ll encourage your children and grandchildren to have fun creating signs, solar panels and heat pumps out of craft materials that they could bring and showcase. Also, please feel free to share this invitation and the graphic below widely through your personal and professional networks. The impacts of climate change are coming at us faster than we may have ever imagined but, together, we can work to ensure the ongoing security and quality of life of people in Waterloo Region.

Edit:
Our first Speaker is Kathryn Bakos from the Intact Centre on Climate Adaptation. She will talk about the expected climate impacts for Southern Ontario, the urgency for transition off of fossil fuels, and steps we can take to enhance energy efficiency, flood and fire protection, while saving money on energy and home insurance premiums.

A variety of speakers will highlight local or nearby climate solutions, such as West 5, which is Ontario’s first mixed-use Net Zero community, and Heather McDiarmid about the potential of Air Source Heat Pumps. We will also have Aislinn Clancy and Deb Chapman give their perspectives on local initiatives, and Mike Morrice, MP, will talk about Federal initiatives.

The rally will end with “What We Can Do Now” to support local initiatives and join local groups. One action is to sign a petition calling on the Federal Government to apply a 15% windfall profit tax on fossil fuel companies operating in Canada, and directing that revenue to support further action on climate change and improve affordability for Canadians, such as investments in public transit, retrofitting buildings and greening the electricity grid.

November 04, 2023 | Join us at Carl Zehr Square, 200 King St W at 1:00pm | Be part of a global day of action calling on our leaders to speed up the shift to renewable energy | Power Up for Climate Solutions! | Find out more at globalpowerup.org/canada

Queer Youth Defence, 11am on Saturday 21 October 2023 in the Gaukel Block

UWSN (five queer-coloured fists in the power salute entering the frame from all angles)GroundUpWR (green, yellow, and black letters beside three yellow up-pointing arrows with green roots)
What: Queer Youth Defence | Second Assembly
When: 11:00am to 3:00pm on Saturday 21 October 2023
Where: Gaukel Block, 44 Gaukel Street, Kitchener Map
Who: GroundUpWR and UW Solidarity Network

What's Happening?

A hate group “Hands Off Our Kids” is using anti-queer rhetoric to take away the rights of youth in determining their own identities. This is the second such “Million March” they have planned. We are denying them a space to spew their bigotry and queerphobia, and protecting the rights of youth to safety and privacy.

What's at the event?

  • Drag performances
  • Music and Art
  • Spoken Word
  • Allies
  • Community Organizations
  • Resources

What to bring?

  • A Face Mask (some masks will be available)
  • Anti-Hate Banners / Signs
  • Water / Snacks
  • First Aid Supplies
  • Earplugs and/or Sunglasses

Queer Youth Defence | Second Assembly | Saturday October 21st (2023) | Gaukel Block (44 Gaukel St) 11am - 3pm | What's Happening? | A hate group "Hands Off Our Kids" is using anti-queer rhetoric to take away the rights of youth in determining their own identities. This is the second such "Million March" they have planned. We are denying them a space to spew their bigotry and queerphobia, and protecting the rights of youth to safety and privacy. | What's at the event? | Drag performances | Music and Art | Spoken Word | Allies | Community Organizations | Resources || What to bring? | A Face Mask (some masks will be available) | Anti-Hate Banners / Signs | Water / Snacks | First Aid Supplies | Earplugs and/or Sunglasses || #NoSpaceForHate | (logos of UWSN and GroundUpWR)

Instagram: groundupwr Join the Second Queer Youth Defence!

Vigil for Gaza, 5pm Thursday 19 October 2023 at CBC on King St, Kitchener

What: Vigil for Gaza
When: 5:00pm, Thursday 19 October 2023
Where: In front of the CBC building
Location: 117 King Street West, Kitchener Map
Online: Vigil for Gaza (KW in support of Palestine on Facebook)

Join KW in support of Palestine for a vigil this Thursday, 19 October 2023 at 5:00 pm in front of the CBC building to honor all those murdered in Gaza by the ongoing Israeli bombing campaign and call out the media for their role in manufacturing consent for this ongoing genocide.

Since Tuesday, the Israeli regime has bombed more than one hospital filled with civilians seeking shelter. The death toll of just that attack is 800+. This is GENOCIDE.

In just the past 9 days we’ve seen the death toll rise to more than 4000, with more than 1000 of them being children. Entire neighborhoods have been wiped out and entire families. More than 47 families have been entirely removed from the Gaza civil registry. They’ve targeted and murdered medics, nurses and journalists. They’ve bombed schools, hospitals, ambulances, and residential buildings. There more than a million and a half Palestinians now internally displaced. This is genocide.

Come out and demand the end of media complicity, the end of the brutal bombing campaign and an end to the 17 year siege on Gaza while we honor those murdered by the Israeli regime.

Vigil for Gaza | Thursday, October 19 (2023) 5pm | CBC Building, 117 King St W, Kitchener (white and yellow letters over a background photo of a war-torn city, with two candles at the bottom. A number of organizations' logos are at the top)

Waterloo Regional Labour Council host a Movie Night, Thursday 2 November 2023 at the Apollo Cinema

What: Labour Movie Night in Waterloo Region — CLiFF 15
When: 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Thursday 2 November 2023
Where: Apollo Cinema
Location: 141 Ontario Street North, Kitchener Map
Register: https://waterloolabour.ca/events/labour-movie-night-in-waterloo-region-cliff-15/

Join the Waterloo Region Labour Council for an evening of Labour Films from the Canadian Labour International Film Festival.

Included in the evening will be seven short films:

Bergie (film poster of a man lying under a pink blanket; credits are illegible) Bergie: The term “bergie” is a South Africanism that refers to people that are homeless. This short film presents the view with a problem — a law enforcement officer has to remove homeless people sleeping on a path in the city in order to make way for a 10km fun-run. To do this, he has to wrestle with fundamental questions about the dignity of human life.



When We Fight | Inside the 2018 L.A. Teachhrs' strike (Film poster: B&W photo of people protesting on an orange background. There's a film award badge, illegible) When We Fight: In the second largest school district in the United States, in Los Angeles, California, 98% of the teachers vote to authorize a strike. Watch as one of the largest educator strikes in modern U.S. history unfolds in real-time, highlighting the stories and leadership of some of the women who led it, from union leaders to classsroom teachers. When We Fight goes behind picket lines, documenting how and why teachers strike.



Not Another Ballet Story (film poster: photo of four women against a black background, two ballet dancers in another photo; other film credits illegible) Not Another Ballet Story: Choreography is traditionally a male dominated occupation. In this inspiring documentary, a small contemporary dance company in San Francisco provides dancers, many of them female, with the unique opportunity to choreograph modern ballet productions. The hope is that this experience will give rise to more female creators, leaders, and choreographers.



Where Are You From? (Film poster: photo of a Black woman in a pink dress; award badges and other credits illegible) Where Are You From? This film depicts a true story based on the producer’s life. A young woman goes to an interview and is asked a simple question — one commonly asked in Canada. Her not so simple answer gives us a personalized glimpse into the often complicated histories, experiences, and identities of refugees, migrants, and immigrants.



Box Fox (film poster: illustration of a fox climbed atop a pine tree, looking out at something. Other credits are illegible) Box Fox: In this exciting animated film, a intrepid fox-adventurer travels through a dangerous fantasy world to find a enigmatic girl whose face appears in a a mysterious token. Is this really an adventure, or is this just a job?



(Film poster, no text. Photo of two men in an alcove looking out at brightly coloured clouds) We Are The Earth: A powerful short animated poem that takes us from anxiety and fear about the current state of our world to empowerment and hope for the future. It is is call to collective action.



Whitewash | A film by Golzar Taravati (gray and white letters on a light gray background, the film title is reflected upside down below the credit) Whitewash: Whitewash looks at the pressure felt amongst Iranian immigrants tin Canada to change their given names to Western names to increase their chance of getting a job, and the consequences that develop due to this act of cultural and identity erasure.

Rally for Peace to End the War in Ukraine, 5:30pm Tuesday 3 October 2023 at Waterloo Public Square

Global Days of Action to End War in Ukraine

1 to 8 October 2023

What: Rally for Peace to End the War in Ukraine
When: 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday 3 October 2023
Where: Waterloo Public Square Map
Location: 75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario
Organizer: Canadian Voice of Women for Peace https://vowpeace.org/
More Info: info@vowpeace.org

No NATO No War (person holding a black sign with red letters)

Peace Now!
Stop The War!
Stop NATO!

  • Fund Peace, Not War
  • Canada Out of NATO
  • Negotiations, not Escalation
  • Water Bombers, not Fighter Jets
  • Yes to Climate Justice & Peace, No to NATO

Waterloo action organized by Canadian Voice of Women for Peace
More Info: info@vowpeace.org

Coordinated Cross-Canada by:
Canada-Wide Peace & Justice Network

https://peaceandjusticenetwork.ca

Global Days of Action to End War in Ukraine | 1 to 8 October 2023 | Rally for Peace to End the War in Ukraine | 5:30pm to 6:00pm, Tuesday 3 October 2023 | Waterloo Public Square, 75 King Street South | Peace Now! | Stop The War! | Stop NATO! |  Fund Peace, Not War |  Canada Out of NATO |  Negotiations, not Escalation |  Water Bombers, not Fighter Jets |  Yes to Climate Justice & Peace, No to NATO | Waterloo action organized by Canadian Voice of Women for Peace | More Info: info@vowpeace.org | Coordinated Cross-Canada by: | Canada-Wide Peace & Justice Network | https://peaceandjusticenetwork.ca