Tag Archives: Black Lives Matter

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2021-02-25 – Declaration to divest from policing and prisons gains traction across Canada

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Host: Ivan Angelovski

Over 250 organizations and over 3,000 individuals have signed onto “Choosing Real Safety: A Historic Declaration to Divest from Policing and Prisons and Build Safer Communities for All.”

Signatories include UNIFOR, and a wide array of human rights and racial justice organizations across Canada who talked at the recent online conference, presenting the declaration.

In this episode, we’re listening from Christin Macklin from UNIFOR, Robyn Maynard of Abolition Coalition, Ravyn Wyngs, of Black Lives Matter -Toronto, Molly Swain of the indigenous led organization Free Lands Free People, Nanky Rai of Doctors for Defunding Police, Souheil Benslima of the Criminalization and Punishment Education Project (CPEP), and Harsha Walia of British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, Canada’s oldest civil liberties organization.

The website sharing information about the declaration and facilitating individuals and organisations can sign on to declaration is www.choosingrealsafety.com.

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

Check out the archived versions of  this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news. You can  follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. And you can email news@radiowaterloo.ca to get in touch with comments or ideas about stories to cover.

The music was Blackroom by Moby, courtesy of mobygratis.com

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2020-12-24 – Reflecting on 2020 in Kitchener-Centre with MPP Laura Mae Lindo

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Host: Shalaka Jadhav

Adapting, evolving, and bringing attention to the importance of rebuilding, Member of Provincial Parliament Laura Mae Lindo, representing Kitchener Centre as a member of the Ontario New Democratic Party, spoke to key moments in 2020. 

She speaks to the year’s accomplishments for her office, including forwarding Bill 196, Seniors’ Advocate Act, 2020, which would move to establish a seniors’ advocate as an independent, non-partisan officer of the Ontario legislature, “fueled by the amazing work of frontline healthcare workers… and on a personal note… how important it is to me to care for our elders, who brought us everything, are holders of such wisdom”. 

Laura Mae is also proud of the End Police Violence policy paper, the importance of which was echoed by the marching of over 20 thousand community members in support for the movement for Black lives. Laura Mae notes the challenges with navigating the pandemic as a new politician, reflecting on key turning points for Kitchener-Centre, including how the pandemic has allowed for emergent conversations around equity, particularly anti-Black and anti-Indigenous racism.

Her message to constituents includes reflecting on how we may have grown through this year, and to build gratefulness amongst the chaos.

 

From the Office of Laura Mae Lindo, MPP Kitchener Centre:

“Laura Mae Lindo, Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener Centre, is a respected activist and educator who holds both a Masters and PhD in Education. Her commitment to building inclusive communities both within and outside of educational environments is grounded in her knowledge of how to put anti-oppression theories into practice.

Laura Mae is a knowledgeable advocate for the rights of women and girls, a respected ally to marginalized community members, and, most importantly, a courageous public speaker on issues often left unaddressed in the mainstream. Laura Mae is the Official Opposition Critic for Anti-Racism, and Citizenship and Immigration.

The Leader of the Official Opposition appointed her as Chair of Official Opposition’s first Black Caucus, to collaborate with Black communities and allies to address systemic anti-Black racism in Ontario.”  

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

Check out the archived versions of  this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.

You can  follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca.

Music for this episode was courtesy of Dylan Prowse.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2020-12-17 – Waterloo Region Weekly Roundup

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Host: Melissa Bowman

On this week’s show I start with the discussion Wilmot council is once again having regarding Wilmot Mayor Les Armstrong’s Facebook Post that suggested that the Black Lives Matter movement is a hoax. 

I’ll share details about that meeting and Council’s reaction to the Integrity Commissioner’s report based on his actions. Kitchener is one step closer to having a downtown cycling grid and I’ll outline some highlights from that committee discussion. 

Lastly, I’ll dive into the details of Waterloo council’s recent decisions on equity, diversity, and anti-racism initiatives.

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

Check out the archived versions of  this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.

You can  follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2020-11-30 – KWAG curator Crystal Mowry on new exhibit “Black Drones in the Hive” – Part Two

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Host: Shalaka Jadhav

On the centenary of the first-ever exhibition of the Group of Seven painters, KWAG is premiering Deanna Bowen’s “Black Drones in the Hive” as the cornerstone of fall programming.  This curatorial choice serves to break up with the narrative that the Group of Seven has served around terra nullius, and bring visibility to the narratives and intersections between Indigenous, Black, and settler stories.

This interview serves as part two of two with Crystal Mowry, senior curator at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, uncovering Deanna Bowen’s “Black Drones in the Hive”.  In part two, Crystal will dive into some of the curatorial choices that bring the exhibit to life, the unlikely patternicity that links some of Kitchener’s historical characters to themes in the exhibit, and the evolving role of art spaces in supporting collective movements beyond the gallery.

Black Drones in the Hive is on view at KWAG until 28 February 2021.

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

Check out the archived versions of  this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.

You can  follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca.

Music for this episode was courtesy of Dylan Prowse.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2020-11-19 – KWAG curator Crystal Mowry on new exhibit “Black Drones in the Hive”

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Host: Shalaka Jadhav

On the centenary of the first-ever exhibition of the Group of Seven painters, the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) is premiering Deanna Bowen’s “Black Drones in the Hive” as the cornerstone of fall programming.  This curatorial choice serves to break up with the narrative that the Group of Seven has served around terra nullius, and bring visibility to the narratives and intersections between Indigenous, Black, and settler stories.

This interview serves as part one of two with Crystal Mowry, senior curator at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery, uncovering Deanna Bowen’s “Black Drones in the Hive”.  In part one, Crystal will talk about her role as a curator slash co-conspirator, share some of the themes of this timely exhibit, and reveal some behind the scenes stories that illustrate the journey of bringing these works together.

You can learn more about the exhibit from the artist herself, on Nov 26.  KWAG is hosting Montreal-based artist Deanna Bowen discussing her solo exhibition, Black Drones in the Hive, in conversation with Crystal Mowry herself.

Black Drones in the Hive is on view at KWAG until 28 February 2021.

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

Check out the archived versions of  this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news., and other stories commissioned under the Local Journalism Initiative at canada-info.ca.

You can  follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. If you want to get in touch with comments, or ideas about stories to cover, email us at news@radiowaterloo.ca.

Music for this episode was courtesy of Dylan Prowse.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News – 2020-10-15 – Police target a Black PhD candidate for arrest

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Host: Ivan Angelovski

Black Lives Matter of Waterloo Region, along with other Black and African organizations in the Region, started a petition for the police to drop the charges against Irene Ekweozoh, a Waterloo based PhD candidate in law.

Ekweozoh was arrested on September 20th, after problems with her White neighbour in their apartment building.

The issues began in February, when, according to Ekweozoh and the police report, after an argument, her neighbour unleashed a dog on her and her 13 year old daughter.  The police told Ekweozoh that charges were not warranted against her neighbour in that incident.

In this episode you will hear from:
Irene Ekweozoh, PhD student targeted for arrest by Waterloo regional police, Fanis Juma an organizer with Black Lives Matter of Waterloo Region, Tapiwa Jabhama from the African Canadian Association, as well as Fidelia Otokhina and Promise O Williams from the Nigerians in the Region of Waterloo.

In a statement from the regional police service’s public relations department it was noted that “anyone with concerns about police conduct or professionalism can call to speak to a supervisor to relay their concerns or issue a formal complaint at 519-570-9777 (WRPS). Complaints about police conduct can also be filed with the Ontario Independent Police Review Director (OIPRD) here: www.oiprd.on.ca.”

The Black Lives Matter Waterloo Region statement in support of Irene can be found here:
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLScYirGQ8tOYyTppvBskF8fi3EBOyaWgpOcLC-PnhL-s3byoyQ/viewform

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

Check out the archived versions of  this program and other episodes on radiowaterloo.ca/news. You can  follow us on twitter @RadioWaterloo. And you can email news@radiowaterloo.ca to get in touch with comments or ideas about stories to cover.

The music was Blackroom by Moby, courtesy of mobygratis.com

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2020-10-08 – What will happen with the calls to defund the police in Waterloo Region?

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Host: Ivan Angelovski

In June this year, tens of thousands of people marched the streets of Kitchener in support for the Black Lives Matter movement, asking for change. Their most important demand was to defund the police.

With similar calls across Canada that were unsuccessful, what will happen with the police budget in Waterloo region?

In this episode we talk with Teneile Warren, local organiser and anti-racism activist, and Karen Redman, Regional Chair and chair of the Waterloo Region Police Service board.

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2020-09-07 – Doctors for Defunding Police

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Host: Ivan Angelovski

On May 27, 2020, in the High Park neighbourhood in Toronto, Regis Korchinski-Paquet, a 29-year-old black-indigenous woman, ended up dead after an encounter with Toronto police. The police were originally called by her mother to try to de-escalate an unsafe mental health situation.

All of this is under several investigations, so I’m very careful with words.

One of those investigations – the one by the Special Investigations Unit, the SIU – unit that’s supposed to investigate police misconduct in Ontario, cleared all the police officers that were at the scene.

The decision sparked a new set of anti-racism protests across Canada, a series of protests started after the murder of George Floyd in the States.

Whatever the truth is, and probably only people who were in that apartment know what it is, the case goes to the list of cases in which people with mental problems ended up dead after coming across police officers in Ontario, like Ejaz Choudry, Ian Pryce, and Andrew Loku, among others.

In Toronto, an organization Doctors for defunding police started a petition, now signed by 622 Canadian doctors and health professionals, warning that policing in this country is a public health crisis and calling for a change on how this society is reacting to mental health, and other issues.

In this program, we’re talking with doctor Suzanne Shoush and medical student Semir Bulle, from the University of Toronto who started the organization.

Background:
The letter and signatories can be found here: https://doctorsfordefundingpolice.com/ and oyu can find Doctors for Defunding the Police on twitter: @DrsDefundPolice

Download audio: https://storage.radiowaterloo.ca/CKMSNews-202-09-07-DoctorsForDefundingThePolice.mp3

White text in all capitals on a black background reading "Wellness checks should never be a death sentence." @drsdefundpolice"
White text in all capitals on a black background reading “Wellness checks should never be a death sentence.” @drsdefundpolice”. Image courtesy of Doctors For Defunding Polcie

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News – 2020-06-06 – Black Lives Matter KW Solidarity March

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Host: Ivan Angelovski

On June 3rd 2020, 11,000 people gathered in Kitchener for the KW Solidarity March for Black Lives Matter. Demonstrators demanded justice for for Regis Korchinski-Paquet, George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and Tony McDade, and so many other Black and Indigenous people killed by police in Canada, the US, and around the world. The demonstrators also demanded a defunding of the regional police force and an end to police officers in schools and “community policing” programs.

In this episode, you’ll hear the voices of Black people who marched, speaking about being Black in Canada.

You’ll also hear from, Selam Debs, Funke Oba from African Canadian Association, Fanis Juma, from Black Lives Matter KW, Laura Mae Lindo, MPP for Kitchener Center, Lannois Carrol-Woolery of The Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region and Ruth Cameron from The AIDS Committee of Cambridge, Kitchener, Waterloo and Area, who spoke at the rally.

Download Audio: https://radiowaterloo.ca/wp-content/uploads/2020/06/2020-06-05-CKMSNews-BLMDemoJune3-BlackInCanada.mp3

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This program is a part of the “Local Journalism Initiative” grant program and is funded by the Community Radio Fund of Canada, the Government of Canada, and the CKMS Newsroom.