24th Festival of Neighbourhoods Celebration

Oct 28 2017

We have been supporting neighbours in Kitchener for 24 years now! We invite everyone to this year's Celebration to mark the finale of another successful year and to recognizes everyone who hosted inclusive neighbourhood gatherings. We will welcome eleven neighbourhoods who registered this year for the first time and learn from those who have been registering for the five last years or longer! Join us on November 19th, at Kitchener City Hall from 1pm-3pm. Together, we will REACH! into the new year and bring our neighbours closer together. 2017 Celebration Sponsors

Pedestrian Crossing Project at a Standstill

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Oct 11 2017

Traynor Fairway Fence October 2017This October, the residents in Traynor-Vanier woke up seeing the Fairway side of the tracks completely fenced off. The fence opening on the Traynor side will be closed as well as the LRT testing starts in November. After the consultation in January, the residents did not receive any follow up information about the joint city-region plan to install a pedestrian crossing.

Community Groups Networking

Oct 1 2017

Networking MeetingTogether with the Fair Vote Wateloo Region, we are calling on citizen/volunteer led groups interested in networking and mutual support to come together on November 1st: civic, neighbourhood, environmental, professional, social justice, ethnocultural groups!

Equity and Inclusion in Education

Sep 26 2017

SPNO LogoSocial Planning Network of Ontario is opening up a discussion about equity and inclusion in education across 14 communities. In Waterloo Region, we invite students, parents and community members as equity advocates to join teachers, administrators and researchers to create strategies and share resources to improve student well-being. We would like to hear from you as we move towards a unique response that resonates with our community. If you wish to join the exploration and action, get in touch with us sdcwr@waterlooregion.org / 519-579-3800.

Traynor Park is Back

Sep 20 2017

Traynor Park DesignThe work of Traynor-Vanier tenants and management, together with Social Development Centre staff and volunteers made a neighbourhood dream come true! Traynor Park has been removed at the end of 2013 and after advocacy and community consultations in 2017, it is being rebuilt after the ideas brought forward by the residents.

Festival of Neighbourhoods 2017 Celebration

Sep 14 2017

September E-NeighbourJoin us at the 2017 Celebration at Kitchener City Hall on November 19th from 1pm to 3pm to find out how neighbours came together this year, to learn from each other’s experience and be inspired by those who take action to improve their neighbourhoods. Remember to register your inclusive neighbourhood gatherings for a ballot at the Festival Celebration draw for one of two $20,000 neighbourhood improvement grants from the City of Kitchener. Find out more in September E-Neighbour edition

Perspectives on Peace

Sep 7 2017

Perspectives on Peace Join us for an evening of discussion and networking. We will look into diverse perspectives and actions on peace building in Kitchener-Waterloo. Program includes a panel discussion, dinner (by donation), and a chance to speak with organizers of the various Peace and Social Justice organizations in Waterloo Region. Our Executive Director, Trudy Beaulne will be speaking on a panel for this event.

Call Out: Pedestrian Feedback on ION

Aug 30 2017

LocationDescriptionWe are asking for your feedback about specific pedestrian access points along the ION Light Rail Transit (LRT) route. We will compile your feedback and share it with the community and local decision makers.  The Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, in collaboration with members of the Disabilities and Human Rights Group, has developed this map showing all locations where tracks cross pedestrian access. The intention is to better understand pedestrians’ experience (on foot or wheels) of this new infrastructure. You can either give your general input throug this short survey, or open the map we created and give feedback on specific crossings along the ION route. If you have questions about this project or difficulties accessing the map and/or feedback form contact Grace Scheele, Social Development Centre Waterloo Region at 519-579-3800 or grace@waterlooregion.org.

Downtown Kitchener Change Photovoice

Aug 29 2017

Photovoice ProjectThe Disabilities and Human Rights Group recently submitted a contribution to "Collaborative Solutions to Inequitable Urban Change – Photovoice Exercise", a research project organized by a University of Waterloo team. This study, which focuses on experiences of urban change in downtown Kitchener, aligns well with the current work being done by the Disabilities and Human Rights Group that is exploring impact of the new ION Light Rail Transit on pedestrian access along the route.

Bill 148: the Fair Workplaces

Jul 22 2017

The Government of Ontario needs to establish clearly and firmly that Ontario needs businesses that are about more than profit. If companies and institutions can’t sustain fair and decent pay levels and workplaces, they should not be doing what they are doing. Exploitive business practice is not an adequate foundation for sustaining our society. We have long passed the point of everyone pitching in and making things work to a tipping point of exploitation creating a seductive situation that few employers can ignore. Bill 148 should be legislation that will require we stop “the race to bottom”. Our submission addresses the proposed legislation through gaps to be addressed, concerns about the burden on employees and integration with other legislation and provincial government programs.