This segment is on Renoviction and the work of locals, who step up and beyond for community welfare. We will follow progress as well via CKMS Community Connections [CCC]. Kudos to Regional Councillor, Robert Deutschmann. And thanks very much Megan!

This segment is on Renoviction and the work of locals, who step up and beyond for community welfare. We will follow progress as well via CKMS Community Connections [CCC]. Kudos to Regional Councillor, Robert Deutschmann. And thanks very much Megan!
CKMS News -2023-09-21- GREN Greenbelt Update.
By: dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
Today show features an interview with Kevin Thomason of the Grand River Environmental Network, who is working on a handful of campaigns to protect the Grand River watershed and the Waterloo moraine, and for quite a while now organising against Ontario’s conservative government’s plans to develop the ecologically important lands of the protected “Green Belt”.
Thomason spoke of the ongoing resistance to Doug Ford’s attempts to take land out of the green belt under the guise of the housing crisis, and “giving it to developers”. Calling the government “corrupt”, Thomason called for Doug Ford to “do the right job or get out of the way”. Kevin also shared hope for a better future saying “we have to succeed, or future survival depends on it”.
In a recent statement to CKMS News Kitchener-Conestoga PC MPP Mike Harris Jr. supported Ford, saying that the conservative government will continue with their plan to build homes on “non-sensitive” Green Belt lands claiming this was “requested by many municipalities”. Harris concluded: “I want to emphasize that, under the continued leadership of our Premier, our Government will prioritize addressing the housing crisis, ensuring more people have a place to call home.”
As this piece was set to air, Doug Ford held a press conference announcing he would be reversing the Green Belt land deals saying “I am very, very sorry… it was a mistake to open the Greenbelt.” He added his actions were “with the best of intentions”, and that he “prides himself on keeping his promises”. With the 2018 promises to never develop the Green Belt, in mind, Ford once again promised to “won’t make any changes to the green belt in the future”.
CKMS News will have a follow up show with analysis of Ford’s announcement.
CKMS News has asked MPP Harris for a comment on this recent decision by Ford, and will include that response in the follow up.
CKMS News -2023-09-21- Take Back The Night
MP Holmes, Kitchener
The Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region is hosting the 40th anniversary of the Take Back the Night event and march this Thursday September 21.
The event and march hopes to raise awareness of the threat of sexual violence and comes in the wake of the city of Kitchener and the Region of Waterloo declaring epidemics of intimate partner violence.
A few weeks ago, CKMS aired a show on Intimate Partner Violence and explained how this Region stands out in cross-Canada data as the least safe place for women to live in all of Canada.
From 2008 to 2019, the Waterloo Region sexual assault incidence rate has been higher than the provincial average, and that rate and numbers it represents continue to increase. This report from The Feminist Shift elaborates on those findings.
Many research studies have found that in the vast majority of sexual assaults, the accused is known to the victim. According to a report by the Department of Justice only 20% were victimized by a stranger.
However, sexual assaults are considered significantly underreported to the police. Results from the 2019 General Social Survey on Victimization show that only 6% of sexual assault experienced by Canadians aged 15 and older were reported to the police.
So, we know sexual assaults are seriously underreported, often committed by someone the victim knows, and that these assaults continue to increase. Contradicting these statistics were the conversations CKMS news had with locals on the street, who said they felt safe at night. Statistics on perception of safety are also available.
In 2020, the Statistics Canada Safe Cities Profile for Kitchener Cambridge Waterloo reported that 42% of women in the region felt very safe when walking alone after dark, while 63% of men felt very safe walking at night.
Over three quarters of Regional residents thought crime levels in their neighbourhood were lower than the rest of Canada, however the Crime Severity Index tell a different tale. The Crime Severity Index is defined by Stats Can as changes in the severity of police-reported crime by accounting for both the amount of crime and the relative seriousness of these crimes. So while three-quarters of Regional residents thought their communities had lower crime levels than the rest of the country, the Crime Severity Index for Waterloo Region in 2022 was higher than the national average and third highest in the province behind Thunder Bay and Sudbury.
There may be a discrepancy between our perceptions and reality, however as the respondents to our street survey noted increased lighting on the streets and trails, safer transit, and staying closer to built up areas all contribute to the perception of safety. Whether or not we are safer at night than we were 40 years ago, it seems the night remains beyond our reach.
Take back the Night happens at the Gaukel Block from 6-9 on Thursday September 21.
Listen to today’s show above with Karley Doucette of the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region and hits the streets to ask people if they feel safe walking in their community at night.
Special episode with Katie Munshaw of Dizzy, in anticipation of their fall tour (stopping in Waterloo on October 19!) following the release of Dizzy’s third self-titled studio album! Listen for stories, laughs, and of course, music!
Welcome to Episode #64 of From the Void
Tonight I’m playing Josh Homme! Kyuss, Queens of the Stone Age, Desert Session and Post Pop Depression…I’ll have to do another show again soon!
My new podcast with Co – Host Peri Urban is on YouTube, it’s called The Listening Eyebrow and its about deep listening to good music.
ALSO!!! I released a new album. Everything, Vol. 3 Spotify, You Tube and Bandcamp or where ever you stream your music!
See you in the Void!
David Alton of the Lived Expertise Working Group talks to Bob Jonkman about the work of LEWG, what is “lived expertise”, working with the City of Kitchener, the principles of human rights in housing, homelessness, and using contributions of people with lived expertise. David tells us of some upcoming events for the members of the Lived Expertise Working Group and the public.
David was previously interviewed on CKMS Community News on 14 August 2023.
The interview starts at 7m35s.
Download: ckms-community-connections-2023-09-18-episode140-David-Alton-of-the-Lived-Expertise-Working-Group.mp3 (55 MB, 57m11s, episode 140)
Time | Title | Album | Artist |
---|---|---|---|
0m00s | Theme for CKMS Community Connections ccc |
![]() CKMS Community Connections |
Steve Todd |
0m58s | Simcoe Mud |
![]() Ordinary Sunrise |
Jay Linden |
4m15s | Mississipi Mud |
![]() Lovesick Broke & Driftin’ |
Hank Williams III |
7m35s | David explains the purpose of the Lived Expertise Working Group, twelve folks with housing marginalization experience and advocacy experience. “Expertise” rather than “Experience”, so that the contributions are seen with the same value as academic expertise. They are presenting a report to the City of Kitchener council as part of a staff report from the Planning Department. Pointing out the different areas of responsibility for City departments, and different levels of government. The work LEWG is doing with the City of Kitchener is influencing decisions made in other municipalities (City of Cambrige, City of Waterloo, the Region of Waterloo). But a large part of the work is helping the mutual aid groups in the area, creating a bridge between these groups and the municipalities. Talking about the role and perceived role of by-law enforcement, part care-giving, part criminalizing. David’s message to all organizations is to remove the barriers to care. They recognize the difficult role that municipalities have. A good news story: The Region of Waterloo modified a by-law on hate speech to include income status and housing status. | ||
22m09s | Can You See Me? |
![]() (single) |
Courtney Wolfe |
24m45s | David talks about the report that will be presented to council: A list of principles; what it means to include lived expertise in the planning process. The people working in the Lived Expertise Working Group are being compensated, just as experts from other areas would be. There are stipends for transportation, child care, &c. Not just the people in LEWG are at capacity, but councillors and city staff feel overwhelmed by all the pressures and logistics, but the community understands that. There was some friction at the June council meeting, David recaps. David discusses the different sources of funding for their position and the Lived Expertise Working Group. David tells us about the Ride For Refuge, this Saturday. Covering some of the eight principles of lived expertise engagement, for example “the value of bridges”, “the value of paid work”, “navigating around conflict.” | ||
40m57s | Jillian |
![]() (YouTube) |
I, the Mountain |
44m05s | Talking about David’s participation in the Jillian video, with their partner Aashay. Talking about David’s participation in Ground Up WR, working to counter the “Parents’ Rights” movement that restricts youth from self-expression. There is a rally at City Hall on Wednesday, everyone who wants to be an ally is invited. Ground Up is well connected with the community, it’s a good place to start if you’re looking to help. David encourages people to pay close attention to what’s going on in housing and homelessness — winter is coming. Follow organizations like Unsheltered Campaign or ACCKWA. The Lived Expertise Working Group is sending some members to Halifax for the Canadian Alliance to End Homelessness conference in November, donations are gratefully accepted to enable LEWG to help send another member to the conference. Connect with the Social Development Centre or the Civic Hub Waterloo Region to get involved. Talking about the photographic exhibition, which was a conference fundraiser. | ||
56m46s | Bob gives the end credits. |
CKMS Community Connections Hour One airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 on Monday from 11:00am to Noon, and Hour Two airs alternate Fridays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at ccc@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.
Subscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!
See all CKMS Community Connections shows!
YouTube: CKMS Community Connections for Monday 18 September 2023
Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2023 by the participants, and released under a Creative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and derivative works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders.
Download: https://soundfm.s3.amazonaws.com/RadioNowhere230917Episode28.mp3, 59m01s, 81.0 MBytes
Ball & Chain | Janis Joplin |
Mozambique | Bob Dylan |
All I Want | Joni Mitchell |
What About Me | Quicksilver Messenger Service |
Sympathy for the Devil | Jonathan Round |
Bridge of Sighs & In this Place | Robin Trower |
Pictures Of Matchstick Men | The KVB |
Army of Me | Björk |
Red Rain | Peter Gabriel |
I Looked Away | Derek And The Dominos |
Some Say (I Got Devil) | Melanie |
Come On Children, Let’s Sing | Mahalia Jackson |
CKMS News – 2023-08-17 – Greenbelt accountability, “Ford Fest”, and byelection campaigning: Interviews with Debbie Chapman and Aislinn Clancy
By: dan kellar
Since Mid-January of 2023, following the resignation of NDP MPP Laura Mae Lindo, the riding of Kitchener Centre has been without representation in the Ontario legislature. While not disrupting the balance of power in government, the conservatives deemed the by-election will occur in January 2024, the maximum time allowed by the Elections Act for the seat to remain empty.
Currently, there is no candidate for the Conservative Party in the byelection, while the NDP are running Debbie Chapman, and the Liberal Party is represented by Kelly Steiss. On September 8th, in the adjacent Waterloo riding, which is held by the NDP’s Catherine Fife, Doug Ford held the political outreach and fundraising event “Ford Fest” at Bingemans.
Bingemans also borders the Kitchener Conestoga riding which is held by PC MPP Mike Harris Jr., who welcomed Ford Fest into the Region, telling CKMS News in a statement:
“Ford Fest is a free, non-partisan community event hosted by Ontario’s Ford family.”, and, Harris added “Ford Fest offers a unique opportunity for attendees to connect with their elected representatives.”
In a piece released by CKMS News on September 8th, Waterloo Regional Labour Council president Jeff Pelich spoke about why folks were heading to protest at Ford Fest. You can listen to that whole interview at radiowaterloo.ca/news
Today’s show will feature interviews with Clancy and Chapman about Ford Fest and the conservative government, the upcoming by-election and what issues their campaigns are focusing on, and the growing calls for accountability around the Green Belt scandal. Both the NDP and Green Party candidates said the lands removed from Greenbelt protection should be immediately returned to their protected status. The liberals have also called for the Green Belt lands to be returned and for accountability for the actions of the conservatives..
Since the interviews, the conservatives have announced the sites will be “re-evaluated”.
In response to calls for Ford to step down over the Green Belt scandal MPP Harris told CKMS News that the conservative government will continue with their plan to build homes on “non-sensitive” Green Belt lands claiming this was “requested by many municipalities”. Harris concluded: “I want to emphasize that, under the continued leadership of our Premier, our Government will prioritize addressing the housing crisis, ensuring more people have a place to call home.”.
Hey hey hey! Through the Static is excited to announce that this week’s episode will feature special guests Dizzy in anticipation of their show at Maxwell’s this October! Join me for a live interview, stories, and of course music!
This is the first of it’s kind in the KW area. It is starting up after the recent success of The Modulation Club events that were held at the KPL library which featured techniques on synthesis exploration.
Now it is time to check out the music of the region!
Sign up to perform or just show up and see what cool electronics people in the KW region are making music with.
The Robot might even make an appearance at a future open mic!
It’s another music show, with local bands from Kitchener-Waterloo-Cambridge (and a few from outside the region). Several have upcoming concerts, check their websites for more information.
Time | Title | Album | Artist |
---|---|---|---|
0m00s | Theme for CKMS Community Connections ccc |
![]() CKMS Community Connections |
Steve Todd |
1m13s | Run |
![]() Night Talks |
Lost In Japan |
4m09s | Night Talks | ||
8m04s | Can You See Me? |
![]() (single) |
Courtney Wolfe |
11m16s | Gravity |
![]() (single) |
Charm of Finches |
16m16s | Hand Your Heart to the Wind |
![]() Ordinary Sunrise |
Jay Linden |
20m21s | They’re Sending a Crew to the Moon | ||
25m29s | Snow Came Falling |
![]() (single) |
Carla Muller |
29m25s | Another Morning After | ||
38m45s | Never Be Apart |
![]() (single) |
Codename Justine |
43m34s | Hiding | ||
48m37s | Cardinal Red | ||
53m18s | Let’s Go |
![]() Electric Love |
Miss Tammy Darling |
55m28s | Bob gives the end credits, then plays Boogie Into The Night | ||
58m46s | Pretty Little Dress |
CKMS Community Connections Hour One airs on CKMS-FM 102.7 on Monday from 11:00am to Noon, and Hour Two airs alternate Fridays from 3:00pm to 4:00pm.
Got music, spoken word, or other interesting stuff? Let us know at ccc@radiowaterloo.ca or leave a comment on our “About” page.
Subscribe to the CKMS Community Connections podcast!
See all CKMS Community Connections shows!
Show notes and podcast interview content is Copyright © 2023 by the participants, and released under a Creative Commons Attribution Only license. Copy, re-use, and derivative works are allowed with attribution to Radio Waterloo and a link to this page. Music selections are copyright by the respective rights holders.
After broadcast on SoundCloud
[https://soundcloud.com/user-163878073/sets/quinte-jazz]
Kim Scott Magic City SINGLE2023 kimscottmusic.com/music
Adam Hawley Uptop SINGLE 2023 www.adamhawley.com
Jonny Tobin Neon Afterglow TOGETHER 2022 www.jonnytobin.com
Jay Danley The Lost Get Back Boogie ROBICHEAUX 2023
www.allaboutjazz.com/robicheaux-jay-danley-jay-danley-records
Terrie Rimson Undeniable SINGLE 2023 www.terrierimsonmusic.org/bio
Anthony Fung The Upside Down FOU(R)TH 2023 www.anthonyfungmusic.com
Measha Brueggergrosman-Lee Woke Up This Morning MEASHA JAZZ 2020 www.measha.com
Measha Brueggergrosman-Lee Sinnerman MEASHA JAZZ 2020 www.measha.com
Rubim de Toledo Out From Under THE DRIP 2023 www.rubim.com
Ellis Hamilton My Heart To Yours SINGLE 2023 ww.linkedin.com/in/ellishamiltonmusic
Alex Hamburger Gone Too Soon WHAT IF? 2023 alexhamburger.com
Sean U U Groove SINGLE 2023 www.seanumusic.com
Good Spells Lost Ones SINGLE 2022 goodspells.com
You’ve done it all You’ve broken every code And pulled the rebel to the floor You spoiled the game No matter what you say For only metal, what a bore
Our first episode in the new timeslot, we are now on Wednesday evenings from 9 – 10PM! A good mix of tunes to bring you into the nighttime (there was a small technical difficulty and the first 5 minutes or so of the show was unfortunately not recorded).
Maranda Klaver and Larry Braiden are the guests of The Agriculture Show. Amanda and Larry are part of the team bringing IPM 2023 to the public. Maranda, as reigning Ontario Queen of the Furrow, will pass along that responsibility to the 2023-2024 Queen, to be announced at the match. Larry is the chairperson of the Plowing Committee for this years match in Dufferin County. Our playlist:
Right click here to save the recording
58 minutes
Welcome to Episode #63 of From the Void
Tonight I’m playing The Porn Crumpets, Ty Segall, Deaf by Design, Squid, Black Midi, Squarepusher, etc.!
My new podcast with Co – Host Peri Urban is on YouTube, it’s called The Listening Eyebrow and its about deep listening to good music.
ALSO!!! I released a new album. Everything, Vol. 3 Spotify, You Tube and Bandcamp or where ever you stream your music!
See you in the Void!
Download: https://soundfm.s3.amazonaws.com/RadioNowhere230910Episode27.mp3, 59m01s, 81.0 MBytes
Function at the Junction | Shorty Long |
Hats off To (Roy) Harper (Remaster) | Led Zeppelin |
If I Needed Someone | The Beatles |
New Ways/Train Train | Jeff Beck Group |
You Left the Water Running | Otis Redding |
Sweet Black Angel | The Rolling Stones |
Till I Am Myself Again | Blue Rodeo |
Far from Any Road | The Handsome Family |
Jack Fig | Leo Kottke |
Wishbone | Alex Seel |
Dear Mr. Fantasy | Traffic |
Going Down The Road Feeling Bad | Delaney and Bonnie and Friends |
Don’t Waste My Time | John Mayall |
Wooden Spoon | Poets |
Everybody’s Everything | Santana |
On All Things Palestinian Rafeef, Tayla and Tom from CJPME dive into the realm of what it means to be Palestinian. They explore all aspects of Palestinian culture and art as well as history and politics to encourage Palestinian pride and engagement. They are frequently joined by Palestinian guests to shed insight and perspective on new and thought-provoking topics.
All Things Palestinian is syndicated on CKMS-FM and airs every fourth Wednesday from 1:00pm to 2:00pm.
CKMS News – 2023-09-08 – Protest to meet Ford Fest
By: dan kellar
Ford Fest, usually a once a year political outreach event, hosted by the Ford family and primarily held in Etobicoke, has had its reach expanded this summer after Doug Ford took the BBQ on the road to Scarborough, Windsor, and in the evening on Friday September 8th, to Bingemans, a park in Kitchener. There was a by-election in the Scarborough—Guildwood riding shortly after the Scarborough event and there will be a by-election in Kitchener-Centre in January of 2024.
Protests are planned at the entrances and outside the venue where Ford Fest is to take place. Bingemans is in the Waterloo riding, which is held by the NDP’s Catherine Fife, and the property borders the Kitchener-Centre riding, and the Kitchener Conestoga riding which is held by PC MPP Mike Harris Jr. One of the groups organising a protest at Ford Fest is the Waterloo Regional Labour Council. CKMS News spoke with Jeff Pelich, the president of the Labour Council about the many grievances Ford will face from the public at Ford Fest, including the anger over the Green Belt development plans, the cost of food and housing crises, and the underfunding of public services such as education and health care.
CKMS recently spoke with both Clancy and Chapman about Ford Fest and the Conservatives, and both have called Ford Fest a distraction from the growing Green Belt scandal and for Ford to take accountability, return the Green Belt lands, and step down.
For the full interviews with Chapman and Clancy, visit radiowaterloo.ca/news
When contacted by CKMS News for comment on Ford Fest in Kitchener, the office for MPP Harris sent a statement from Harris which included “Ford Fest is a free, non-partisan community event hosted by Ontario’s Ford family.”, and Harris added “Ford Fest offers a unique opportunity for attendees to connect with their elected representatives.”. Harris then reminded folks that the event is free, and will include food, concluding “so bring the kids and come hungry!”. No comment was given before this piece first went to air on the calls for Ford to call a full public Inquiry or to resign over the Green Belt land deals..
—
This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, Heritage Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.
Check out the archived versions of this program on radiowaterloo.ca/news, and listen to all the LJI content at canada-info.ca.
If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca
In this episode of the podcast I feature all the past episode feature artists and a bit of the modular journey that I have experienced since the last episode. If your on your journey, I hope you have a good one and can learn from some of my mistakes.
FREE Coffee #4:
The Free coffee can be found at this location. This video was just released today!
The Coffee is located on a bench at this location. If you are unfamiliar with the location this next video has the Google Maps location:
Note: The park might be hard to find but the free coffee is not if you check around the benches. If it is not there it might be gone. Thanks for playing and maybe I will do it again next summer.
Here I stand in a daze, axe in my hand
Another fool on the stage with a traveling band There’s a space in my heart … permanent flame Just give me your body and I’ll give you my brain It’s a fair exchangeby MP Holmes
The Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory is hosting it’s 15th annual Monarch butterfly tagging event this weekend.
It is the local conservatory’s contribution to international conservation efforts to save a species at risk. At the annual event, migratory butterflies are caught, tagged and released before their southward journey that will take them 2,500 km to central Mexico.
Monarch butterfly numbers have plummeted in the last 30 years. Habitat destruction, herbicides and pesticide use, deforestation, unseasonable temperatures, and destructive storms that are much more frequent because of climate change have all taken their toll on the monarch. The US Fish and Wildlife Service found that since the early 1990s, the population of the eastern migratory butterfly has plummeted 90 %, and the United States Geological survey released a report in 2016 that predicted an 11–57 % probability that this population will go almost extinct over the next 20 years.
The tagging event has been organized by Andalyne Tofflemire, a naturalist and conservatory manager at the Cambridge Butterfly Conservatory.
Andalyne talked with CKMS about the event, how butterfly tagging works and why it is needed, and the data that has been collected. The conservatory manager also spoke about Monarch Watch (the volunteer-based citizen science organization that organizes the data collection) and what the future holds for migratory monarch butterflies.
The tagging event runs Sept. 9 and 10.
Listen to the radio program above:
The music on today’s show is called “Maple Music” by Godmode courtesy of by Expectantly Maple Music on YouTube.
This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, Heritage Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.
Check out the archived versions of this program on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and listen to all the LJI content at canada-info.ca.
If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca
After broadcast on SoundCloud
[https://soundcloud.com/user-163878073/sets/quinte-jazz]
Bob Andy A Symphony LEGENDS OF JAMAICA 2023 jamaicans.com/jamaican-history-bob-andy
Derek Belmar Jupiter Moon ipluggers.com/dbelmar 2023
Pat Metheny Beat 70 LETTER FROM HOME 1989 www.patmetheny.com
Jonny Tobin Vivid Dreams TOGETHER 2022 www.jonnytobin.com
Joy Lapps Morning Sun GIRL IN THE YARD 2023 ww.joylapps.com
Abe LaMarca It Depends On Who You Ask SINGLE 2023 abelamarca.com
Jeff Beck Love Is Green WIRED 1976 en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jeff_Beck
Adrian Dennis Arvantis MOON RISING 2023 www.adriandennis.ca
Michael Cates New Lives SINGLE 2023 michaelcates.com
Mahmet Ali Sanlikol & What’s Next The Fire TURKISH HIPSTER TALES FROM SWING TO PSYCHADELIC 2023 www.sanlikol.com
The Ostara Project Storms and Oceans THE OSTARA PROJECT 2023 jodiproznick.com/the-ostara-project
Good Spells Beyond SINGLE 2023 ipluggers.com/spells
CKMS News – 2023-09-08 – Literacy in WR
MP Holmes
World Literacy Day on September 8 coincides with the first week of school under the Ontario provincial government’s new Better Schools and Student Outcomes Act, which was passed in June of this year. This new education act overhauls what came before. It broadens the minister’s powers and among other things increases reporting requirements, provides more supports for literacy education, and allows for major changes to the language curriculum
Literacy is more complex than just knowing how to read and write, The Organization of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) defines literacy as “the ability to understand, evaluate, use and engage with written texts to participate in society.”
Statistics Canada defines it as “the ability to use and understand information that is fundamental to daily life at work, at home, and in the community.”
In Canada, literacy is measured with a 5-level scale, 5 being the highest and 1 being the lowest. If a person functions only at lower levels, they may be considered to have problems with literacy.
In the International Assessment of Adult Competencies survey, the OECD found that 49% of Canadians (aged 25 to 65), scored at or below level 2 for literacy and 55% also scored at or below level 2 for numeracy on the 5-level scale. Level 3 is the threshold required to compete in a knowledge-based economy.
In February 2022, the Ontario Human Rights Commission released the ‘Right to Read‘ report, which found, among other problems that one-third of students graduate school without attaining the level of literacy that the OECD deems necessary to function fully in today’s economy.
The Waterloo Region District School Board serves more than 64,000 students in more than 121 schools. In 2018 to 2019, only 70 per cent of WRDSB students were meeting the provincial standards for reading proficiency, according to data from the Education Quality and Accountability Office (EQAO). There are explanations for this. Historically, local students have typically lagged when compared to students in other areas of Ontario. In a November 2022 article about dropout rates, Jeff Outhit in the Record noted that in times past in this Region, people used to be able to support families by relying on good-paying factory jobs that did not need much education. Outhit notes that more than 10,000 of these factory jobs have disappeared since 2006.
In the fall of the 2021, WRDSB released a multi-year structured literacy plan. Within a year, in October 2022, local grade 10 students taking the Ontario literacy test beat the provincial average by three percentage points with 85 percent of students in the wrdsb meeting or surpassing the provincial standard. Literacy levels in the Region have risen a full 15 points to 85%. Scott Miller, assistant director of the WRDSB explains how this was achieved.
But what about those people who left school before the recent focus on increasing literacy? They may have left school 2 years ago or forty years ago.
Jane Teur of Project Read Literacy Network explains what this looks like, misconceptions about the people who fall below the literacy line, the Ontario government’s return to phonics in language curriculum, and the gaps in the system.
Regardless, WRDSB says they are ready and explain how they’ve prepared.
The music on today’s show is called “Maple Music” by Godmode courtesy of by Expectantly Maple Music on YouTube.
This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, Heritage Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.
Check out the archived versions of this program on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and listen to all the LJI content at canada-info.ca.
If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca