Earth Day Celebration — Special Screening of Beyond Crisis at KPL, Tuesday 22 April 2025 at 5:30pm

What: Film Screening: Beyond Crisis
a story of hope for a rapidly changing world
(Movie poster showing a man sitting on the roof of a barn, with water nearly up to the peak of the roof. There are several award logos at the bottom of the poster, and credits below that (both too small to make out at this resolution) Beyond Crisis
When: 5:30pm to 7:30pm on Tuesday 22 April 2025
Where: Kitchener Public Library, Main Branch, Auditorium
Location: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Register:Eventbrite Tickets

In honour of this year’s Earth Day, Kai Reimer-Watts has arranged a special screening of his 2018 documentary Beyond Crisis. You and your friends are warmly invited to this rare, free public screening of a powerful Canadian documentary on climate! Please register in advance so we can keep track of numbers, and share widely.

The event hosted by our local MPP Aislinn Clancy, and held in the film theatre at Kitchener Public Library (Main Branch, 85 Queen Street North). The one-hour documentary will be followed by a Q&A with the filmmaker (Kai) and MPP Aislinn Clancy. There will also be light food and refreshments. It is a non-partisan event for the broader community, to draw attention to climate change at this crucial time here in Canada, and while we are in a federal election.

Also, if you haven’t yet, please check out the Vote for Climate campaign led by the Waterloo Region Climate Collaborative! Non-partisan lawn and window signs are still available this election.

About the film

Beyond Crisis was a three-year filmmaking adventure led by Canadian climate activists, seeking to capture growing movements for change here in Canada and around the world advocating for bold climate action and a just response to the climate crisis. It launched at Princess Twin Cinema in Waterloo in 2018, and has since been screened in festivals, theatres, classrooms and community venues around the world, as a galvanizing story of our current ‘climate moment’ and the many possibilities we have for collective response. While it remains honest about the gravity of climate change, it is ultimately an uplifting and inspiring film about people, and the power of people to transform our realities and together forge brighter futures. It is highly artistic, creative and meditative in sections, and packed with insights from over 50 changemakers – many of whom are Canadian.

The film is only one hour long, split into five connected chapters: The Language of Change; A Dangerous Addiction; Feelings of Change; A Brighter Future; and Building a Movement. Each chapter has its own areas of focus, and together, they tell the story of many thousands of people all over the world working to change our current climate reality for the better. The film was designed in this way to keep chapters short, and to better stimulate ongoing audience engagement and community dialogue after each screening. Kai has received many positive responses by viewers on the film, its emotional/intellectual impact, and unique structure. You can check out the trailer on YouTube to see if it resonates with you.

Thank you for your ongoing support for Divest WaterlooDivest 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.

International Palestinian Children’s Day, 11:00am, Saturday 5 April 2025 at the Kitchener Market

What: International Palestinian Children’s Day Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine (B&W woodcut of an olive tree)
When: 11:00am on Saturday 5 April 2025
Where: Kitchener Market
Location: 300 King Street East, Kitchener, OntarioMap
Contact: wrfriendsofpalestine@gmail.com

Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine writes:

Dear Friends of Palestine,

Always amongst the debris are hidden gems that call for celebration. This week amongst the ongoing carnage of Israeli’s maniacal genocide, we have a moment of brightness, a key to Palestinian liberation that will be the prize of Palestinians. International Palestinian Children’s Day is on Saturday 5 April 2025, it is a mouthful that is easily missed, but, the children of Palestine need to be celebrated and it will be a joy this weekend to shine the spotlight on them, as we also remember their suffering.

A young Palestinian child wearing a lab coat with a stethescope around his neck smiles at the camera. The background shows apartment buildings blasted to rubble.
Future health care worker
We will be celebrating their spiritual fortitude, their cultural strength and their physical and mental courage. They have been born into a world of chaos and genocidal occupation and still, like a tree growing out of a rock, the children have thrived, learned, loved and played, they have dreams and visions for the future. These children are the future leaders of Palestine and they will liberate Palestine and the world one day. It is in the eyes of this future health care worker that leadership to a better place is the vision and the focus, he and his peers will arrive at a place of justice, dignity and liberation for all.

This Saturday, join the Walk with Grief to lift your spirits, in addition, come to the table for International Palestinian Children’s Day that is just inside the market (Upper level), bring your children, they can colour pictures, write notes to the children of Gaza, share in the candies and other treats available for children.

Do not miss the moment, International Palestinian Children’s Day (IPCD), bring yourself, bring your children to celebrate the future leaders of Palestine.

Please join us at the Walk for Grief, this Saturday at 11am at Kitchener Market. Also, join us inside the market (upper level near front door) 7:00am to 2:00pm.

irene and WRFP

Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine
Instagram: @wrfriendsofpalestine

Cutting Through Elections Noise, Friday 21 February 2025 at SDCWR

What: SDC Pre-Election Event To Focus On Community Power
When: 7:00pm to 9:00pm on Friday 21 February 2025
Where: Social Development Centre Waterloo Region (enter from Duke Street)
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map
Online: https://waterlooregion.org/sdc-pre-election-event-to-focus-on-community-power
Register: on Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/cutting-through-elections-noise-a-forum-for-building-community-power-tickets-1248691492869
Contact: Phone: +1‑519‑579‑3800, E-mail: sdcwr@waterlooregion.org

The last-minute announcement of a provincial election has left many of us reeling. And there’s a growing sense that our governments and political processes don’t work for us.

But what if we can turn our collective anxiety into something productive? That is our hope with “Cutting Through the Noise: A Forum for Building Community Power.” Happening Friday 21 February 2025 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm, the event will create a space for us all to catch our breath, acknowledge our worries, and practise building local collective power in the face of systems that fail us.

Only together can we create the futures we want. Grassroots organizers, community groups, and residents from across Waterloo Region are welcome. Please RSVP today and share widely.

Cutting Through Elections Noise: A Forum for Building Community Power Feb. 21 2025 | 7PM - 9PM (line drawing of two people sitting and talking) Facilitated by David Alton Lived Expertise Program Facilitator, Social Development Centre WR (picture of a smiling bearded man)

Things are not okay, and we can all feel it.

Mass layoffs seem imminent in the face of a looming tariff war. Housing costs are eating up an ever-increasing share of our incomes. Our schools are under-funded. Our hospitals are inundated. And homeless encampments have become entrenched, as more people are pushed into poverty. All of this against a backdrop of dizzying political announcements – new legislation, new funding, new election timelines – and yet, no improvement in the realities we see around us.

But history has shown us that social change is possible.

The rejection of encampment evictions at 100 Victoria St. in Kitchener. The overturning of land swaps at the heart of Ontario’s Greenbelt scandal. The change in a 13-year stance when Canada condemned Israeli settlements in occupied-Palestine. Time and again, we’ve seen deep-seated political forces fall apart in the face of sustained community action.

Let’s turn our collective anxiety into something productive.

Join us on Feb. 21 and together, we can combat the feeling that we’re on our own. We can listen and care for one another, even as our systems fail us. And in the midst of so much noise, we can practise building local, collective power to create the future we want.

Some Resources Your May Find Helpful in The Lead Up to Election Day

With the provincial election announced a mere 28 days before Election Day, we understand many voters don’t feel like they have enough time to get to know their candidates or the platforms of their respective parties. Here are some of the resources we’ve come across that you might find helpful:

  1. A primer of questions about decent work and cost of living (Justice for Workers)
  2. Candidate responses to questions compiled locally by One Millions Neighbours Waterloo Region
  3. Resources for voters who care about Good Food for All (Sustain Ontario)
  4. Search for your candidate’s campaign page (Elections Ontario)
  5. Promises made by each of the 4 parties (Global News)
  6. How to cast your vote on or before Election Day (Elections Ontario)

 

Cutting Through Election Noise
A forum for building community power
(logo for Social Development Centre Waterloo Region)

Things are not okay. And we can feel it.
A looming tariff war. A crumbling safety net. And a political process that doesn't work for most of us.

But history has taught us that social change is possible. Time and again, we've seen entrenched political forces fall apart in the face of sustained community action.

Let's turn our collective anxiety into something productive. Let's come together on Feb. 21 and combat the feeling that we're on our own. Let's listen and care for one another, even as our systems fail us. And in the midst of so much noise, let's practise building our collective power to create the future we want.

(line art illustration of two people talking)
FEB. 21, 2025
7PM-9PM

23 Water St. N,
Kitchener, ON
(entrance on Duke St.)
Free and open to the public. A light meal will be provided.
Registration is required: (a QR code without a printed URL)

(Photo of a bearded smiling man)
Facilitated by David Alton
Lived Expertise Program Facilitator,
Social Development Centre WR

ACORN Town Hall at 2:30pm on Saturday 25 January 2025 at Kitchener Public Library

What: ACORN Region-Wide Town Hall meeting ACORN Tenant Union Ontario (BW line drawing of an acorn in a circle, surrounded by text
When: 2:30pm on Saturday 25 January 2025
Where: Kitchener Public Library Main Branch, Room E
Location: 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener Map
Contact: Vonica Flear +1‑226‑545‑4359
E-mail: kw@acorncanada.org
Online: https://acorncanada.org/locations/waterloo-acorn/

ACORN is Holding a Region-Wide Town Hall to Identify Community Issues and Launch New Survey for Low-Income Residents

(Kitchener, ON) – ACORN is organizing a Town Hall on Saturday, 25 January 1025 at 2:30pm at the Kitchener Public Library for all residents of Waterloo Region to meet and discuss issues they’re struggling with, how the community can organize against these issues, and what they think ACORN should prioritize in 2025.

At the town hall, ACORN leaders will review ACORN’s campaign work on the local, provincial, and national level, and how ACORN members organize on various community issues like bad faith evictions, skyrocketing grocery prices, low social assistance rates, and more. We will also be joined by guest speakers including a Hamilton ACORN Organizer who will be sharing how ACORN members fought for and WON a strong anti-renoviction bylaw in Hamilton, and the importance of perseverance when fighting for change. To close the meeting, ACORN members will be launching our new tenant survey to shed light on the sheer scale of struggles low-income residents face across the Region.

We welcome all tenants and other low-income residents across Waterloo Region to join us and share their experiences during our break out discussion sections, following which ACORN leaders will hold an exercise to illustrate how to organize for change.

To speak with an ACORN leader about this event or discuss ACORN’s campaigns, please contact ACORN staff Organizer Vonica Flear at kw@acorncanada.org or +1‑226‑545‑4359.

Community Christmas Lunch, Kitchener City Hall, 1pm on Wednesday 25 December 2024

What: No Crib for a Bed: Community Christmas Lunch
When: 1:00pm to 4:00pm, Carl Zehr Square in front of Williams Fresh Cafe
Location: at Kitchener City Hall, 200 King Street West, Kitchener, Ontario Map

David Alton writes:

Several lived expertise consultants have come together to organize two events over the next two weeks to highlight the urgent crises facing unsheltered community members and drug users.

On December 25th (Poster attached) from 1-4pm in Carl Zehr Square (Kitchener City Hall) there will be a ‘christmas dinner’ to discuss the need for 24/hr drop in/warming spaces. This event is informed by the intentional communities prototype in the Plan to End Chronic Homelessness, where lived expertise consultants have been helping the region understand the importance of sovereignty and unsheltered community leadership.

No Crib for a Bed

Community Christmas Lunch

You’re invited to join us for food and refreshments while we discuss the need for a 24hr peer-led drop-in space.

Why City Hall?

Because city hall is for everyone, including the homeless community.

New provincial legislation will criminalize the poor and the homeless and we want to address this.

No Crib for a Bed 

Community Christmas Lunch

You're invited to join us for food and refreshments while we discuss the need for a 24hr peer-led drop-in space.

Where: Carl Zehr Square in front of Williams Fresh Cafe

Why City Hall?

Because city hall is for everyone, including the homeless community.

New provincial legislation will criminalize the poor and the homeless and we want to address this.

Civic Hub Exchange Lunch: Dialogue on Transgender Day of Remembrance, Noon on Wednesday 20 November 2024

What: Learning and Solidarity: A Dialogue on Transgender Day of Remembrance.
When: Noon to 1:00pm, Wednesday 20 November 2024.
Where: civic hubCivic Hub Waterloo Region
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener (but use the Duke Street entrance). Map
Register: Zoom: https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tZApduuuqzkjHNLN65C-tyc8RoVV6S-_kGvV
Contact: Dr. Ritika Shrimali (She/Her) civichub@waterlooregion.org

Join us for an afternoon of Learning and Solidarity: A Dialogue on Transgender Day of Remembrance at our next Civic Hub exchange lunch on November 20th.

Our guest speaker for that day is Milo Tia Hansen (they/them). They are a transgender, queer, disabled, advocate for solutions to homelessness, Indigenous sovereignty, and queer liberation, with lived experience and knowledge in activism of being homeless intergenerationally, extreme poverty, queerness, and disability.

Milo will talk about a few definitions and the history of the day (Starting 1999 honouring Rita Hester’s death in 1998), bring it into contemporary issues (current state of affairs in Canada, critical lens in regards to race) and why we need to continue commemorating those who have been lost to gendered violence. They also hope to share experiences they have had with losing loved ones to all kinds of violence in the wake of election results, considering our current political climate, as well as hold space for those lost in the last year. They will then open the floor to questions.

If you are planning to attend the lunch in person, or online, please register on Zoom for the event.

This is a hybrid event. Light meal provided.

Join us for an afternoon of...
Learning & Solidarity
A Dialogue on Trans Day of Remembrance
November 20, 2024
12pm - 1pm
Social Development Centre
23 Water St. N (enter off Duke St.)
Social Development Centre and CivicHub Waterloo Region, in partnership with queer, transgender, and disability rights advocate Milo Tia Hansen (them/them), invite you to a discussion of the history an significance of Trans day of Remembrance. Join us as we learn, remember, and commemorate those lost to gendered violence.
Hybrid event | Light meal provided.

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 Spectrum
Waterloo Region's Rainbow Community Space (the word "Spectrum" ends in a rainbow)
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.

Festival of Neighbourhoods Summit, Noon on Sunday 24 November 2024 at Kitchener City Hall

What: Festival of Neighbourhoods SummitFestival of Neighbourhoods Kitchener (child's stick figure drawing of two people on either side of a house painted to look like a green arrow pointing up)
When: Noon to 3:00pm on Sunday 24 November 2024
Where: Kitchener City Hall Rotunda
Location: 100 King Street West, Kitchener Map
Online: https://festivalofneighbourhoods.ca
Contact/RSVP: Heather Majaury heather@waterlooregion.org
Register: https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/2024-community-summit-connect-the-dots-tickets-1067786049819 (Free!)

Trends in rapid neighbourhood change across Kitchener. Greater vulnerability of residents in underserved areas. The rise of homelessness. Intensification and infills with the high pace of developments. All of this has called for a thoughtful response from our Festival and we have been learning a lot. We are taking careful consideration about our role in our civic future. Now it’s time to hear from you.

Connect the dots Community Summit
(in dots): Belonging, Inclusion, Wellbeing, Kindness, Propinquity
November 24 (2024)
City Hall Rotunda
12-3pm
RSVP heather@waterlooregion.org
Noon-1pm
Registration
Meet & Greet
Light Refreshments
1pm-3pm
Welcome
Opening Remarks
Presentations
Interactive Roundtable Discussions
(Sponsor logos:)
City of Kitchener
Social Development Centre Waterloo Region
John MacDonald Architect
(background photo of many people looking up and waving at the camera, as well as several other pictures of people in the neighbourhood)

Agenda

Noon to 1:00pm

  • Registration
  • Meet & Greet
  • Light Refreshments

1:00pm to 3:00pm

  • Welcome
  • Opening Remarks
  • Presentations
  • Interactive Roundtable Discussions

Rally Against F-35, 24 Cherry Blossom Road, Cambridge, Ontario at 1pm on Saturday 16 November 2024

What: Rally Against F-35 Palestine Solidarity KW (illustration of a bullhorn with white and red lettering on a red background)
When: 1:00pm on Saturday 16 November 2024
Where: PCC Aerostructures’ Centra
Location: 24 Cherry Blossom Road, Cambridge, Ontario Map
Online: https://armsembargonow.ca/F35

PCC Aerostructures’ Centra in Cambridge makes parts for F-35 fighter jets used by Israel to bomb Gaza and Lebanon.

Come protest outside this factory, stand against building weapons components in our community, and demand an ARMS EMBARGO NOW!

🕐 November 16, 1:00pm
📍 24 Cherry Blossom Road, Cambridge (near Sportsworld Crossing, Kitchener)
🧑‍🧑‍🧒‍🧒 Bring your family, friends and signs

More info at Action Network.

Arms Embargo Now
armsembargonow.ca/F35
Rally Against F-35
Sat. Nov 16, 1:00pm
24 Cherry Blossom Rd, Cambridge
PCC Aerostructures' Centra Industries makes parts for F-35 fighter jets used to bomb Gaza and Lebanon.
Come protest outside this factory and demand an arms embargo now!
(many logos of sponsors and affiliated organizations)

Arms Embargo Now
Dr. Yipeng Ge to speak a the Rally Against F-35
Sat. Nov 16 1:00pm
24 Cherry Blossom Rd, Cambridge
Dr. Yipeng Ge is an Ottawa-based physician who witnessed the effects of F-35 fighter jets firsthand while treating children and civilians in Rafah earlier this year.
(logos for Palestinian Youth Movement,
Come out Saturday, 16 November 2024 at 1:00pm to hear from Dr. Yipeng Ge at the Rally Against F-35!

Raised in the Waterloo region, Dr. Ge is a physician based in Ottawa. He spent time in Gaza earlier this year working in primary care clinics in Rafah, and has seen firsthand the impact of F-35s:

“These fighter jets have contributed to the killing and maiming of innocent children and civilians, some of whom were the patients I looked after when I was in Gaza.”

Weapons components used to build F-35s, which are then used by Israel to bomb Gaza and Lebanon, are being built right here in our community. On Saturday we’ll let our MPs know we won’t tolerate Canada’s complicity in Israel’s ongoing genocide.

Join us to hear from Dr. Ge as we stand together on this national day of action. Together we can make our voices heard.

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

B&W silhouette map of Palestine, with 90° rotated letters "KWPALESTINE"
What: Grief Walk for Palestine
When: Every Saturday 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

(Edit: Saturday, not Sunday)