Fair Ontario still a faint hope for people in deep poverty

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Feb 19 2013

For Immediate Release:
4 pm, Tuesday, February 19, 2013

Community leaders and groups across Ontario calling on the new Premier for action on a social justice agenda to improve the living conditions of more than 1.6 million Ontarians living in poverty were offered faint hope in today’s Speech from the Throne. Reference to recommendations for social assistance reform by Commissioners Frances Lankin and Munir Sheikh did not even make the Summary of Highlights posted at the front end of the speech.

Trudy Beaulne Receives Queen's Diamond Jubilee Medal

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Feb 11 2013

The Executive Director of the SocialPlanning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo is one of the recipients of the medal for the outstanding contribution to Canada, particularly as a community builder and a member of the non-profit sector organization in Ontario. The recognition came through a Waterloo Award 2012 recipient, Narine Sookram, who is awarding a number of Medals to those who are making a difference in Ontario.

What Drives your Community Action?

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Feb 6 2013

Come out for the panel presentation and a discovery session about values and principles guiding community action with Fair Vote Canada, TransitionKW, and Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo. February 20th, at 7 pm at the First United Church, 16 William St. Waterloo

Discover the connections between economic inclusion and fairness, environmental stewardship, and electoral reform.

Meet your Neighbours this Winter

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Feb 5 2013

It is simple... Just get started with an invitation. Bringing your neighbours together can be quite simple.
Decide if it will be the neighbours on your street, or a larger area, and invite them all. Check out this useful invitation card in PDF & Word document. It is full of ideas for winter activities. Fill it out and deliver it to everyone in your neighbourhood!

News from the Homelessness and Housing Umbrella Group (HHUG)

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Feb 3 2013

Get all the most important news from HHUG Quarterly Newsletter January 2013: Homelessness to Housing Stability Strategy for Waterloo Region, Ending Family Homelessness, Community Homelessness Prevention Initiative (CHPI), and the Coldest Night of the Year Walk, a family-friendly winter fundraising event for Kitchener/Waterloo.

Our Commitment to Social Assistance Reform

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Jan 25 2013

Poverty-Free Kitchener Waterloo has shared the following letter after the community forum "Resolution for 2013 - A Poverty Free Ontario" with candidates for Ontario Liberal leadership. We will be using it to set the tone of future conversations with partners and allies, in order to ensure a successful social assistance system transformation.

Resolution for 2013 Forum Panel Presentations

Jan 23 2013

Peter Clutterbuck - A Measure of Adequate Rates, A Measure of Inclusion
Social Planning Network of Ontario

Resolution for 2013 – A Poverty Free Ontario

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Jan 19 2013

The Social Planning Council of Kitchener Waterloo and partners in the Poverty Free Kitchener-Waterloo Action Group hosted a Community Forum on Ontario’s Social Assistance Reform on Saturday, January 19th, 2013.

First reactions after the forum: We need more of these and we need to keep the conversation ongoing! - Engage and promote to encourage wider participation. - Great number of actions to be taken. Don't lose the momentum!

Technology Training Workshops

Jan 18 2013

Whether you have never touched a computer before or you would like to learn more, we can help! Beginner's workshops are held Monday & Saturday mornings. Intermediate workshops are held Tuesday evenings and Saturday afternoons. One-on-one training also available.

FREE to all. Registration required.

Regional Municipality of Waterloo to Save CSUMB

Dec 20 2012

The Regional Council requests that the Province reverse its decision to terminate the Community Start Up and Maintenance Benefit, or at minimum provide transitional funding for at least two years during which the program and policy alternatives may be developed that will help address the termination of the CSUMB. This is an example of initiatives happening across Ontario. The Ontario Communities Uniting have endorsed a Joint Statement on December 14th in Hamilton, and mobilize a common response to government cuts to critical programs for individuals on social assistance.