All posts by dan kellar

journalist and co-editor of CKMS News. host AW@L Radio. grilled cheese chef, anarchist, blockade enthusiast, "best papa ever", systems geographer, he/him. on rex's ignoramus list https://radiowaterloo.ca/news https://radiowaterloo.ca/awl-radio/

CKMS News -2025-02-13- Delegates warn of increased precarity and homelessness due to continued inaction on renoviction bylaw

CKMS News -2025-02-13- Delegates warn of increased precarity and homelessness due to continued inaction on renoviction bylaw.

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – With hundreds of tenants in the city of Kitchener currently facing renoviction, local residents and housing advocates were pleading to city council on Monday night to fast-track by-laws to protect renters from “bad actor” landlords who use renovations as an excuse to evict tenants and increase rental prices. 

While Kitchener council has previously asked city staff to report back in June on the feasibility and jurisdictional issues of a renoviction by-law, 11 delegates, all in favour of stronger protections, argued that the city already has enough information to create new rules. Toronto, London, and Hamilton have all approved renoviction by-laws with Hamilton’s being enacted at the start of this year.

Several delegates at the meeting are members of the grassroots advocacy group Waterloo Region ACORN, who has been organizing renters facing renoviction at several buildings including 250 Frederick St and 141 Borden Ave. 

In the end, councillors voted for the status quo, and staff will still have until June to gather more information.

This show features audio from the February 10th council meeting, including delegates, city staff, and councillors.  

CKMS News -2025-02-05- Waterloo council endorses “sobering” homelessness report

CKMS News -2025-02-05- Waterloo council endorses “sobering” homelessness report

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON –
Waterloo city council voted unanimously to endorse the recent report from the
Association of Municipalities of Ontario which found that more than 80,000 people were homes in Ontario in 2024, a rise of more than 25% since 2022.  

The report, titled “Municipalities Under Pressure: The Growing Human and Financial Cost of Ontario’s Homelessness Crisis” was released on January 9th of this year.

Beyond the numbers, the report offers ideas to address homelessness by focusing on long-term housing instead of the go-to actions of creating temporary emergency shelters and promoting police backed enforcement of property laws. 

This show features audio from the January 27th meeting where councillor Vasic and mayor McCabe spoke about the findings in the report, and heard from staff member Sandy Little who created a summary of the report for council.  Little notes that the conclusions and recommendations from the report are being investigated at the city and region.

CKMS News -2025-01-25- City staff share progression on parking space reductions for developments with designated affordable units

CKMS News -2025-01-25- City staff share progression on parking space reductions for developments with designated affordable units

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON – During the
city council meeting on January 27th, Waterloo policy planner Adam Zufferli presented an update on the city’s plan to reduce the number of parking spaces required for housing developments which include at least 25% affordable housing units.

Fewer parking spaces translates into a smaller footprint of each unit and a lower cost of development.  The parking space reduction initiative fits into the city’s affordable housing strategy and is a part of the city’s Housing Accelerator Fund plan that was approved by the federal government in April 2024. 

Council voted to receive the report and to instruct staff to “finalize the process, legal agreement template, and monitoring framework for reviewing parking reduction requests for affordable housing units”.  Public comments on the plan were due on the day of the presentation and Zufferli mentioned they will be included in the final presentation in a month’s time.

CKMS News 2025-01-24- A deep connection to place brings new classical composer back to Waterloo to launch debut album.

CKMS News -2025-01-24- A deep connection to place brings new classical composer back to Waterloo to launch debut album.

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON –
The Icarus Album, which is the debut work of new classical composer Erik Lankin, is being released today with a listening party and discussion at the Waterloo North Mennonite Church, a place with deep connection to his family. Lankin, who “grew up slowly in Kitchener-Waterloo” and is now based in Montreal, has reinterpreted the myth of Icarus and Daedalus for this album, as a metaphor for losing his father to mental illness.

Lankin says the musicians involved in the project are some of canada’s top classical soloists and neoclassical producers.

In an early review of The Icarus Album, Robin B. James of Igloo Magazine wrote “This amazing work of Erik Lankin creates a new triumph, which I would place high in the pantheon of significant human musical expressions.”

This show features an interview with The Icarus Album composer Erik Lankin. The listening party is a free event which starts at 7pm.

CKMS News -2025-01-22- Extreme cold threatens lives while regional government initiates action.

CKMS News -2025-01-22- Extreme cold elicits advocate pressure and forces regional government action

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
As daytime temperatures dipped below -20 degrees this week in Waterloo Region, anti-poverty advocates in Waterloo Region demanded action from municipal governments to open more indoor space for homeless community members. In response, the region teamed with local service providers to open a new
20 person emergency overnight warming space in Kitchener. A second emergency overnight warming space will open early next week in Cambridge.

This show features interviews with anti-poverty and housing advocate Regan Sunshine Brussé and councillor Jim Erb of the regional government. 

Brussé discusses the human rights approach to housing which the regional government adopted in the 2024 Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and offers her thoughts on how to address the extreme cold this winter.  Councillor Erb says the regional government and staff are working diligently to address the extreme cold, and he responds to ideas advocates have brought forward such as using Grand River Transit’s bus fleet or regional properties for emergency warming sites.

CKMS News -2025-01-17- MT Space hosting “Works-in-Progress” mini festival this weekend

CKMS News – 2025-01-17- MT Space hosting “Works-in-Progress” Mini Festival this weekend.

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – Theatre lovers in Waterloo Region will have a chance this week to peek behind the curtain and experience some of the creative process involved in creating a play, as MT Space hosts their first ever “Works-in-Progress” mini-festival, part of their 20th year celebrations.

Patrons are invited to the Registry theatre for presentations of plays which are still being worked on by their creators.  Putting the “process over the product” each play will give audiences a glimpse into the creative process, and provide them the opportunity to give feedback to the playwrights.

This show features an interview with MT Space artistic director Pam Patel. Patel discusses the themes of the plays being presented and speaks about the value of developing a piece of theatre with audience feedback. Visit MTSpace.ca for more information about the festival.  Tickets for shows on January 17th and 18th are still available and are pay-what-you-can. 

CKMS News -2025-01-17- Art exhibition brings Palestinian culture and heritage to Kitchener’s city hall

CKMS News -2025-01-17- Art exhibition brings Palestinian culture and heritage to Kitchener’s city hall

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
The second annual Palestinian Art Exhibition will take place at Kitchener’s city hall this weekend and will feature poetry, music, dancing, visual artworks, and several interactive workshops.  Organised by grassroots groups Sporas Scattered, the exhibition is “celebrating Palestinian culture, heritage, and resistance”.

This year, organisers have added an art camp to the exhibition geared for youth and have included workshops on Tatreez embroidery and Dabka dancing.

Organisers are also hoping folks will come out and celebrate the tentative ceasefire that has been announced in Palestine after 15 months of devastating violence.

This show features an interview with Malak Sameh an organiser with Sporas Scattered. The exhibition runs from 9am to 9pm on Friday January 17th through the 19th and is free to attend. For a full schedule of events, check out the Sporas Scattered instagram page and look for the pinned post.

CKMS News -2025-01-15- Exploring Indigenous futurisms at WPL’s Indigenous reading circle

CKMS News -2025-01-15- Exploring Indigenous futurisms at WPL’s first Indigenous reading circle.

dan kellar
Waterloo – 
A new Indigenous reading circle at the Waterloo public library will explore a variety of short stories, essays, and poetry by Indigenous writers.  Amy Smoke, a co-facilitator of the reading circle, told CKMS News “people think we are stuck in the past and only write about ceremony or history”, however, she noted “we write sci-fi, we write all kinds of things”.  Smoke added “we are so much more than our trauma”.

The first book to be discussed is Love After the End, an  anthology of queer Indigenous speculative fiction edited by Joshua Whitehead.

The casual reading circle at the WPL’s main branch is a collaboration with the Willow River Centre.

This show features an interview with self-described “book fanatic” Amy Smoke, an IndigiQueer, two-spirit parent, teacher, and community organizer, and a co-director of the Willow River centre. 

Two dates are booked, January 16th and February 13th from 7-8pm, register at wpl.ca.

CKMS News -2025-01-09- New mental health tool accessible for youth in Ontario

CKMS News -2025-01-09- New accessible mental health tool for youth in Ontario

dan kellar
Ontario – 
A recent report highlights that the COVID-19 pandemic has exacerbated a decline in mental health in Canada. The Canadian Mental Health Association’s State of Mental Health in Canada 2024 report shows 26% of people reported “poor” or “fair” mental health in 2021, up from 8.9% in 2019. 

The report, which was released in November 2024 revealed that “2.5 million people with mental health needs in Canada reported that they weren’t getting adequate care”.

One initiative to help address mental health care is “One Stop Talk”, which “provides immediate access to mental health services, when they’re needed, wherever they’re needed.” The service, which launched in the fall of 2024, and is funded by the Ontario Ministry of Health, is free to access and is available for youth up to 18 years of age. 

In Waterloo Region, Camino Wellbeing and Mental-health are One Stop Talk partners, but were unavailable for an interview. 

This show features an interview with Robert Royer, the Vice President of strategy for Strides Toronto, a mental health and development support organization and a leading partner of the One Stop Talk initiative.

CKMS News – 2024-11-18- Understanding the process for the “Strong Mayor Budget” in Cambridge

CKMS News -2024-11-18- Understanding the process for the “Strong Mayor Budget” in Cambridge

dan kellar
Cambridge, ON – Cambridge Mayor Jan Liggett has used the “strong mayor” powers granted to her in 2023, to present her own “strong mayor budget” for the first time on October 28th. While Liggett had the power ahead of the 2024 budget, she directed staff to prepare that budget. 

Strong Mayor powers were introduced in 2022 by the provincial government for Toronto and Ottawa and expanded in 2023 to include Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener.  The provincial government argued the new powers would help alleviate the ongoing housing crisis by allowing mayors to gain by-law approvals with only 1/3rd of council support, grant veto powers to mayors in the budget process, and require a 2/3rds majority for councillors to override any vetoes.

The budget presentation in cambrdige initiated a 50 day approval process which includes 30 days for public delegations and amendments, 10 days for the Mayor to veto the amendments, and a further 10 days where city council can override any vetoes with a 2/3rds majority vote. 

On November 7th public delegations responded to the budget, and staff is still accepting written comments to present to city council on November 21st.

This show features an interview with Danielle Manton, Cambridge’s city clerk.  Manton speaks about the “Strong Mayor” powers, how the process for the budget will proceed, and how residents can still take part. Mayor Liggett was not available to discuss the budget.

 

CKMS News -2024-11-15- Cambridge manufacturer to be protested in Canada-wide day of action targeting war plane supply chain

CKMS News -2024-11-14- Cambridge manufacturer to be protested in Canada-wide day of action targeting war plane supply chain.

dan kellar
Cambridge, ON – On November 16th, a “F-35 day-of-action” will be held across the country, to highlight Canadian complicity in the ongoing violence in Palestine and Lebanon by the Israeli military, and to demand a full two-way arms embargo involving Israel. 

Arms Embargo Now, the network organizing the protests have focused on the supply chain for the F-35 war plane, which is tied to the death of thousands of civilians and widespread destruction of civilian infrastructure including shelters, schools, and hospitals. In Waterloo Region at least 6 manufacturing facilities are linked to the F-35, including local protest target, the PCC Aerostructures’ Centra plant in Cambridge.

While federal liberals have put a stop to some weapons exports. CKMS News asked Liberal MPs in Cambridge Valerie Bradford and Brian May for comment but did not receive any response. CKMS News’ requests to PCC Aerostructures’ Centra for comment also went unanswered.

This show features an interview with Aamina Parkar, an organiser with the grassroots group Neighbours for Palestine Waterloo Region. Parkar discusses the day-of-action and other tactics that are being used to pressure the Canadian government.

Waterloo proposing “gentle density” zoning changes

CKMS News -2024-11-12- Waterloo proposing “gentle density” zoning changes.

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON –
Aiming to add housing units while “gently” densifying low-rise residential neighbourhoods, the city of Waterloo is
proposing changes to its zoning bylaws and official plan, allowing 4 units and buildings of up to 4 stories on every plot of residential land in the city.  Parking minimums will also be reduced under the plan while maximum building height will increase.

City officials are requesting residents provide feedback on the proposals through the EngageWR web portal ahead of a vote in city council in December.  Kitchener city council enacted similar changes in March of 2024.

This show features interviews with City of Waterloo planner Tristin Deveau, and Meg Walker, an eviction prevention worker at the Social Development Council of Waterloo Region. Deveau speaks on the details and motivations for the changes, and concerns some residents have brought forward. Walker responds to the proposals and discusses other measures the city could take to reduce housing costs. 

 

CKMS News -2024-10-30- Senior Women Living Together matches housemates to counter rising costs of living

CKMS News -2024-10-30- Senior Women Living Together matches housemates to counter rising costs of living.

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
As landlords continue to raise rental prices across the country, many are being left behind. According to
rentals.ca, average rent in Canada has been increased by 25% since 2021. For some, the result is homelessness, and Waterloo Region is no exception – a recent report shows at least a 129% rise in chronic homelessness here since 2020.

“I knew I was going to be homeless at some point if I did not do something” says Pat Dunn, a widowed retiree now living in Peterborough. Dunn is the founder and the executive director of the non-profit organization Senior Women Living Together. Through subscriber generated profiles on their website, the organization finds matches for senior women, who then meet up to discuss living as housemates.  

This show features an interview with Pat Dunn who discusses her own brush with homelessness and rising rent led her to helping others in the same situation. The organization is currently promoting their free service in Waterloo Region.

CKMS News -2024-10-25- New sanitary master plan aims to keep the sewage flowing through Kitchener

CKMS News -2024-10-25- New sanitary master plan aims to keep the sewage flowing through Kitchener

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – The city of Kitchener’s new
integrated sanitary master plan has been officially implemented and with over 800km of sewers, 23 pumping stations, 1300 maintenance holes, and a growing population, the city is reminding residents to watch what they put down the drains. 

In a recent press release, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic said “the integrated sanitary master plan ensures that we can reliably meet the needs of Kitchener residents today and in the future. I encourage everyone to help us keep maintenance costs as low as possible and disruptions infrequent by only flushing or pouring suitable material down our pipes.”

This show features an interview with Nick Gollan, the Manager of Planning and Programs for Sanitary and Stormwater Utilities in the city of Kitchener. Gollan discusses the new sanitary master plan, the “3 p’s” for flushing, and the maintenance required to keep the system, which includes some infrastructure nearing 100 years old, flowing.

CKMS News -2024-10-25- New public health clinic opens in downtown Kitchener

CKMS News -2024-10-25- New public health clinic opens in downtown Kitchener

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
A new public health clinic in downtown Kitchener is offering services to regional residents.  The new location at 20 Weber St E, is one of several regional services that has moved into the former courthouse building, adding to an emerging regional services hub in a central and accessible location. According to
Region of Waterloo Public Health, appointments at the new location have been booking up daily.

The new site offers vaccines and sexual health services and will be adding other services, such as a breastfeeding clinic through November and into the winter. Residents can book an appointment through an online portal or by contacting the site by phone at 519-575-4400. 

CKMS News spoke with Amber White, the manager of clinical services with Region of Waterloo Public Health.  White discussed the services offered, the impetus for the new location and she mentioned the “grand opening” event for the new location in January.

CKMS News -2024-10-23- The Kitchen KW serving up fresh support for local musicians

CKMS News -2024-10-23- The Kitchen KW serving up fresh support for local musicians

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
The Kitchen KW has been busy since opening their new studio and creators space in downtown Kitchener on October 1st.  While the company has been organising hip-hop shows since March 2024, the new space will further integrate the organization with local music scenes through a dedicated studio, low-cost artistic development and production assistance, and monthly workshops.

The new studio is located at 44 Gaukel, a city of Kitchener owned space which is operated by ArtsBuild Ontario. For the Kitchen KW, the new space gives more options for local hip-hop artists to emerge in a city which is often dominated by singer-song-writer and rock acts. 

This show features an interview with The Kitchen KW CEO Aiden Rusten, who is known in the locally as AJ.  AJ speaks about the company he co-founded, the first month in the new studio, and how The Kitchen KW is working to expand the local hip-hop scene.

Three people standing in front of a black and white checkerboard wall in The Kitchen KW's studio at 44 Gaukel. On the wall there is a framed record picture and and the word "billboard". AJ is on the right of the picture wearing a black spyder touque, a camo sweater, a white shirt, and a gold necklace. Beside him is a man in a black touque and a grey sweatshirt, and his hands covering most of his face. Beside him a man with flowing brown hair and a red sweatshirt. Behind the three on a desk, there is some musical equipment including a speaker and a piano keyboard.
Photo: Courtesy of the The Kitchen KW
A picture of a person at a laptop, beside a mixing board and infront of a speaker. In the background there is a checkerboard wall with white paint and black noise chillers. The person at the desk is in a black sweater and a black hat.
Photo: Courtesy of the The Kitchen KW

CKMS News -2024-10-16- MT Space screens recently rediscovered documentary following capacity boost from resiliency fund

CKMS News -2024-10-16- MT Space screens recently rediscovered documentary following capacity boost from resiliency fund.

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON – 
The rediscovery and presentation of a piece of local theatre history are the latest results of a resiliency grant for the MT Space theater company.  The 2022 grant from the Ontario Trillium Fund, added 3 apprenticeship positions to the group. This boost to organizational capacity led to the rediscovery of a documentary which was filmed during the first IMPACT festival that MT Space organized in 2009.

On October 4th, at the First United church in Waterloo, MT Space presented the documentary, which invited viewers to “See the vision that our Founding Artistic Director Majdi Bou-Matar had laid out for MT Space”. Waterloo MPP Catherine Fife spoke at the event which also celebrated the organization’s 20th year of producing theater.

This show features an interview with Yazan Maarouf, MT Space’s Associate Producer. Maarouf speaks about the funding’s effects, the documentary screening, the fundraising events which run until November, and upcoming projects from MT Space.

A black and white near-profile headshot photograph of Yazan Maarouf who has short hair and a beard and is wearing a dark shirt. The background is black.
Photo courtesy of Yazan Maarouf

CKMS News -2024-10-09- Resident and local government pushback continues against CTS closure in Kitchener

CKMS News -2024-10-09- Resident and local government pushback continues against CTS closure in Kitchener

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – In late August the provincial government announced new rules around Consumption and Treatment Services sites which will force the closure of ten of these health service programs across the province, including the CTS in Kitchener.

Since the announcement, site advocates, service users, community members, health care workers, and politicians have organised support for the CTS. Meanwhile, the provincial government has opened-up applications for funding for Homelessness and Addiction Recovery Treatment (HART) hubs to replace the affected CTS sites. Harm reduction such as supervised drug consumption will not be permitted at the new hubs.

On September 10th the regional government voted overwhelmingly to request that the province reverse its decision and maintain funding for the CTS while also funding a HART hub for the region. In the meeting, Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, Waterloo Region’s Medical Officer of Health said that the ideal model for treatment is a HART hub that would also allow harm reduction.

In a council meeting on September 30th, city of Kitchener councillors passed a motion to request that the province continue funding and allow operation of the CTS past the March 2025 deadline.

This show features interviews with Julie Kalbfleisch from Sanguen Health Centre, operator of Kitchener’s CTS, and Dr. Geoff Bardwell, an assistant professor in the School of Public Health Sciences at the UW, and member of the grassroots Waterloo Region Drug Action Team.

A slightly shorter version of this piece is available at: https://www.frequencynews.ca/news/resident-and-local-government-pushback-continues-against-cts-closure-in-kitchener/

CKMS News -2024-10-08- Municipal-lands development partnership proposal deadline passed

CKMS News -2024-10-08- Municipal-lands development partnership proposal deadline passed.

dan kellar
Waterloo – During Monday’s council meeting, Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe said that she is “excited to see that there were a number of applications that came in” to develop city owned land near RIM park in Waterloo.  McCabe also called the project at 2025 University Ave E, “a significant opportunity for the city”. 

In June, CKMS News reported that “the project aims to provide over 700 homes in a sustainable, affordable neighbourhood with commercial opportunities”.  

The project is partially funded by the federal Housing Accelerator fund and is awaiting a provincial Ministerial Zoning Order (MZO) which will fast track development. 

This show features Ron Ormson, the Commissioner of  Integrated planning and public works for the city of Waterloo speaking at the October 7th council meeting. After discussing other housing and development plans the city is working on, Ormson outlined the next steps on the 2025 University Ave project.

 

CKMS News -2024-10-04- Kitchener’s Community Canopy tree planting program celebrating 1st year

CKMS News -2024-10-04- Kitchener’s Community Canopy tree planting program celebrates 1st year

dan kellar
Kitchener – The Community Canopy tree planting program will see over 100 new trees planted in the Chandler-Mowat neighbourhood this year. Some of the trees have been planted already with more going into the ground over the fall.  The initiative is a partnership between the City of Kitchener and Reep Green Solutions, and builds on efforts to have 30% of the city covered with tree canopy by 2050

This program targets “deserving neighbourhoods” based on metrics which measure socio-economic factors as well as the current tree canopy cover.  

On Thursday October 10th, from 3-5pm, a community event will take place at Laurentian Park to celebrate the accomplishments of the pilot program, and to announce the transformation of the Community Canopy program into an annual initiative. 

This show features interviews with Hajnal Kovacs, the forestry project manager for the city of Kitchener, and Taylor Ross the community engagement coordinator for Reep Green Solutions.  

 

CKMS News -2024-09-30- A province-wide doubling of hospital patients exposed to hallway medicine since 2018.

CKMS News -2024-09-30-A doubling of patients exposed to hallway medicine since 2018

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – 
A recent exposé by The Trillium newsroom has revealed that the practice of hallway medicine in Ontario’s hospitals has on average, doubled from 2018 when Doug Ford’s conservatives were elected to government. Hallway medicine or hallway healthcare, is the practice of patient beds being placed in “unconventional spaces” or areas that are not designed for the purpose, such as hallways, closests, or staff rooms. 

The data, which was obtained through the freedom of information process, reveals that Waterloo Region’s two hospitals mirror the provincial data while Guelph’s hospital experienced a 6-fold increase in hallway medicine. 

This show features interviews with RN Erin Ariss, the President of the Ontario Nurses Association, and Jim Stewart of the Waterloo Region Health Coalition, a non-partisan advocacy group. Both Erin Ariss and Jim Stewart live in Waterloo Region.  

CKMS News received a statement from the office of the minister of Health Sylvia Jones, some of which is included.

CKMS News -2024-09-19- Protest planned for “Hands off our kids” demonstration.

CKMS News -2024-09-19- Protest planned for “Hands off our kids” demonstration.

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – On September 20th, the 2nd annual #1MiillionMarchForChildren will be at Kitchener city hall for a planned day-long rally. Uniting under the banner Hands Off Our Kids, the rally organizers say they are concerned about parental rights and how sexual orientation and gender identity are being taught in public schools.

Also planning to be at city hall is the group Queer Youth Defense, who have organised a 2nd annual counter demonstration to “drown out hate with a little bit of light”.

This show features an interview with Acer Bonaparte of Queer Youth Defense along with statements CKMS News received from trustee Cindy Watson of the Waterloo Region District School Board, from jeewan chanicka, the Director of Education at the WRDSB, and from Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic. CKMS News tried to contact local organizers from Hands off Our Kids, but did not receive a response, however, material from the group’s website is referenced. 

CKMS News -2024-09-19- Documentary screening “one in a stream” of local Palestinian solidarity events.

CKMS News – 2024-09-19- Documentary screening “one in a stream” of local Palestinian solidarity events.

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON –
In the evening on September 19th, the Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine are hosting a screening of the documentary film
Where Olive Trees Weep, which is described as offering “a window into the struggles and resilience of the Palestinian people under Israeli occupation. It explores themes of loss, trauma, and the quest for justice.”

The film’s website continues   “We follow, among others, Palestinian journalist and therapist Ashira Darwish, grassroots activist Ahed Tamimi, and Israeli journalist Amira Hass. We also witness Dr. Gabor Maté offer trauma-healing work to a group of women who were tortured in Israeli prisons”. 

Before the screening, CKMS News spoke with Robert Massoud of Waterloo Region Friends for Palestine. Massoud spoke about the new documentary, the ongoing Palestinian solidarity actions from several local organizations, how injustice in Palestine is decades old, and how Canada is still “active and complicit in arming Israel” after a year of “genocidal” violence.

CKMS News – 2024-09-17 – Grassroots group hosting the “People’s Conference for Palestinian Solidarity” at the University of Guelph

CKMS News -2024-09-17- Grassroots group hosting the People’s Conference for Palestinian Solidarity at the University of Guelph

dan kellar
Guelph, ON – 
While Palestinian solidarity encampments at universities across the country have been dismantled, strategizing to keep up the pressure hasn’t stopped. The grassroots organization Guelph 4 Palestine is hosting the People’s Conference for Palestinian Solidarity at the University of Guelph on September 21st and 22nd.   The conference’s website says participants “will engage in meaningful conversations, learn and share lessons and resources, and continue to propel efforts to support a free Palestine”. 

Representatives from several Palestinian solidarity student encampments will share their experiences along with health care workers, labour organizers, Independent Jewish Voices, and others. Organizers from the “Gaza House” encampment which was set up at the University of Waterloo will be presenting.
The event will feature workshops and speakers, discussion and resource sharing spaces and programming for kids.  Registration is available online or in person at the event.

This show features an interview with Shabina Lafleur-Gangji of Guelph 4 Palestine.

CKMS News -2024-09-12- Kitchener reminds drivers to slow down as students return to school

CKMS News -2024-09-12- Kitchener reminds drivers to slow down as students return to school

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – With students returning to schools across the region, the city of Kitchener is reminding drivers to slow down on the roads and pay special attention in school zones, at pedestrian crossings,  and where crossing guards are on duty.

In a press release sent by the city, Kitchener Mayor Berry Vbranovic expressed “I encourage all of us grownups to take a bit of extra care, slow down and exercise some extra caution on area roads.” These efforts are tied into the city’s Vision Zero strategy, which was adopted in 2021.

This show features interviews with Aaron McCrimmon-Jones, the manager of transportation safety and policy at the city of Kitchener and Margaret Johnston, the Ward 8 councilor for Kitchener and the chair of the city’s Community & Infrastructure Services Committee.  Visit kitchener.ca/visionzero for more on the City’s plans to eliminate traffic related injuries.