The rental housing crisis was on full display in front of Kitchener City Council on Monday night.
A proposed 13-storey mixed-use building at 93-99 Benton Street and 39-43 St. George Street, within the Cedar Hill neighbourhood in Kitchener, would offer 96 new units but would also demolish the 13 current affordable units, evicting the current tenants.
Eric Schneider, Senior Planner at the City of Kitchener laid out what the developer is asking for and the arrangements with the current residents.
The applicant, Ideal Capital Limited from Mississauga, a self-proclaimed ‘premium’ real estate developer, answered Council’s questions and, after their request, indicated he would meet with residents.
Thirteen delegates asked Council to reject this proposal. Delegates included three representatives from a local tenants’ rights group (ACORN WR), several current residents of the townhouses, and neighbours from the Cedar Hill community.
Against several of the delegates’ wishes, City Council chose to defer their decision until the January 22, 2024 meeting.
The election of Aislinn Clancy to provincial politics leaves the Ward 10 seat empty.
At City Council on December 4, Mayor Barry Vrbanovic congratulated out-going councillor and MPP-elect Aislinn Clancy on her byelection win on November 30 and put forward the City’s options.
Once Clancy resigns and the Ward 10 seat is officially declared vacant, Kitchener city council will have 60 days to decide whether by appointment or a by-election to fill the seat.
While the cost of a by-election is a important consideration, with roughly three years still left in the mandate, some residents believe the Ward 10 seat should be decided by the electorate.
The last regular municipal election was on October 24, 2022, and the next election is scheduled for Monday, October 26, 2026, which is just under three years away.
After a couple weeks of chill vibes, we pick things back up this week, alternating between dance-pop tracks spanning decades, some rock classics, and blissful indie. Enjoy!
I could have been someone Well so could anyone You took my dreams from me When I first found you I kept them with me babe I put them with my own Can’t make it all alone I’ve built my dreams around you
Bob Jonkman chats with Margaret Walker of CFUW and Fadhilah Balogun of African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region about the upcoming Vigil for the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Margaret and Fadhilah also talk about gender-based violence, how it affects our communities, some available resources for women facing gender-based violence in Waterloo Region, how men can help as male allies. Margaret tells us about the books CFUW has published, and Fadhilah gives more background on the African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region.
Fadhilah Balogun introduces the African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region. Margaret Walker tells us the reasons for having a vigil on 6 December, and explains what gender-based violence is. Fadhilah provides some statistics on gender-based violence. The pandemic has made the issue worse — the shelters and services were shut down, women could not leave, men were staying in the house as well so there was more stress in the home. Fadhilah explains that gender-based violence crosses across all demographics: culture and race, geographic location, economic status, &c. There are some women with the financial capacity to flee violence, but that’s mostly not the case.
Margaret gives the details of the December 6th vigil. The main purpose is the remember the fourteen women. Bob can remember the name of the perpetrator, but does not know the names of the victims. Margaret says that’s common, but these days the press avoids naming the perpetrator. But Fadhilah says that the movie business still glamorizes violence and serial killers. After the victim remembrance there are speakers, including Fadhilah, Fran Pappert-Shannon of the KW Unity Mosque, and Sarah Casselman of the Sexual Assault Support Centre Waterloo Region. The vigil takes place in the sanctuary of St. Columba church. Margaret Walker is the priest at the church, so that provides her an “in”. The church provides support in a number of ways, including a food bank.
27m35s
December 6th is the actual date, the 34th anniversary of the attack. It is now the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women. Margaret reminds us that it is not just a day of remembrance, but action. The action is coming to learn about the issue of violence against women, how the violence is affecting the communities, and how to deal with it. Fadhilah says that it’s important to put faces to the issue, which helps us take action. We can localize our actions; Toronto is not the same as Waterloo Region. Even in Waterloo Region there are different needs for the rural areas than the urban areas.
33m13s
Margaret points out that we need to get more men involved, having male allies tell their male colleagues what is unacceptable behaviour. Men may be reluctant to speak to violent men, but there are programs in how to be an ally; for example, the Sexual Assault Support Centre has offered courses in Bystander Training. Margaret says allies can influence others in locker room talk, objecting to sexist jokes, &c. Fadhilah says that men tie that behaviour to their masculinity. That perception needs to be broken. Keep an eye on the Groups and Workshops” page on the Sexual Assault Support Centre‘s website.
39m11s
Margaret has brought some books with her, Women of Waterloo County (now sold out, but available at the library), and a pair of other books, Proudly She Marched, two editions, one on the Canadian Women’s Army Corps, and the other on the Naval Service. These two books can be bought directly from the CFUW. The proceeds of that go towards funding scholarships for people in high schools, St. Louis Adult Learning centres, and local colleges and universities.
Margaret recaps the time, location, and purpose for the December 6th vigil, and gives information about the CFUW and the advocacy they perform. Fadhilah gives some more background information on the African Women’s Alliance of Waterloo Region.
54m04s
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.
What’s up, y’all? Mophead here, y’all know the routine by now. First and foremost, here’s what I’ve added to LibreTime since last week (note that the last 13 albums listed will be in the database shortly):
Richie Flo
Life Love & Music
Reggae
CanCon (partially)
Nathan Shubert
When You Take Off Your Shoes
New Age
CanCon
Sierra Pilot
The Lies We Sell
Rock
CanCon
Shhh!
32 Original Drawings
Alternative
NSFR (tracks four and five)
CanCon
Yessica Woahneil
Quiet Beasts
Alternative
CanCon
David Madras
Early Bird Special
Unknown
CanCon (presumed)
Les Finnigan
Counterpoint Conundrum
Other
CanCon
Various Artists
Inhale Fig 4.0
Alternative
CanCon
T. Buckley
Miles We Put Behind
Country/Folk
CanCon
Carl Lorusso Jr.
Murder Tools
Country/Folk
CanCon
Bob Sumner/Robert C Sumner/Ilyz Zalubniak
Wasted Love Songs
Rock/Country/Folk
CanCon
T. Griffin
The Proposal: Original Soundtrack
Soundtrack
No (for the most part)
Chandelle Rimmer & Tom Van Seters
Stillness Falls
Jazz
CanCon
Ken Hoyne
Sublime
Other
No
Wise Child
Idle Hands
Alternative
CanCon
Wooden Horsemen
Past Lives
Indie Rock
CanCon
Fever Feel
Fever Feel
Rock
CanCon
Friends of Foes
State of Mind
Indie Rock
CanCon
Jade Hairpins
Harmony Avenue
Indie Rock
CanCon
Plants
What You Forgot
Pop
CanCon
Area Resident
Echolette
Pop
CanCon
The Romance of Improvisation in Canada
The Romance of Improvisation in Canada: the Genius of Eldon Rathburn
Jazz
CanCon
The Lavender Scare
Buried Behind Monet
Indie Rock
No
John Macmurchy’s Art of Breath
Volume 2
Jazz
CanCon
Golden B.C.
I Don’t Want to Be This
Rock/Lo-fi
CanCon
Branded Moore
No. 2 “The Everyday EP”
Rap
NSFR
CanCon
Carly Dow
Comet
Other
CanCon
Sarah MacDougal
All the Hours I Have Left to Tell You Anything
Pop
CanCon
Branded Moore
Low Fidelity Broadcast
Rap
NSFR
CanCon
Eden
Demons & Daydreams
Pop
CanCon
Baby Cages
bitter melon
Rock
CanCon (presumed)
Cliff Grant
Life Can be a Big Struggle
Blues
No
Bowcott and the New World
Extended Play No. 1
Rock
CanCon
Hard Rubber Orchestra
Kenny Wheerler: Suite for Hard Rubber Orchestra featuring Norma Winstone
And here is tonight’s Horizon Broadening Hour, if you can’t wait until 10:00 PM:
Tracklist:
Sandro Perri – Time (You Got Me)
The Bros. Landreth – Vulture Choir
James Hill & Anne Janelle – Ah, Poor Bird
Mappe of – Icovellavna
Mark Perry – Backroad Wave
Mark Perry – West
The Dustbowl Daddies – Please Please Please
The Dustbowl Daddies – Goodbye Great Society
Norine Braun – Sleeping Buffalo
Will Chalmers – Missing You
Deni Gauthier – Silly Boy
Phil Glennie – Something Shattered
Page 38 – Mama June
The Flamingos Pink – College Crush
The Top Boost – She Will Stay
Woodhawk – Violent Nature
Chunder Buffet – Lemon Sleazy
Yes We Mystic – Felsenmeer
Motherhood – Costanza
Black Mastiff – Star Base 77
Iamtheliving & Teon Gibbs – Where Do We Go From Here?
Merkules & Young Buck – Time Goes By
Rawmny Wildcat – Heathy
Branded Moore – Everyday
Branded Moore – Where You at Now? (Exit Only Remix)
The UN International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People on Wednesday was marked with a protest outside Scotiabank in uptown Waterloo.
November 29 is the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian people, marks the passage of the United Nations Resolution 181 on November 29, 1947, which partitioned Palestine into Arab and Jewish states.
The group was protesting the bank’s involvement with Elbit Systems, which is the primary provider of drones and land-based equipment to the the Israeli military, and called on them to divest from the company.
The protest itself was peaceful and lasted for about 90 minutes during which Scotiabank locked its door and called police. Police questioned protestors but left soon after. Scotiabank refused comment, but in an email to Reuters earlier this week, the bank accused protestors of spreading misinformation and hate speech. Scotiabank stated their exposure to Elbit is via mutual funds managed by their asset management arm.That mutual fund is Scotiabank’s 1832 Asset Management mutual fund which is the third-biggest shareholder in Elbit.
In 2021, Elbit reported revenue of 5.28 billion USD.
This protest against Scotiabank follows several others in recent week, including on November 14, at the Giller Prize ceremony, which celebrates Canadian literature and which is sponsored by the bank, and on November 17 on Bay Street in Toronto.
Winter is here, and with it brings a sense of calm and peace (for some) that can overshadow even the busiest of times. At least that’s how I feel, and I’ve got a lineup this week to hopefully make you feel a bit of the same! So sit back next to a fire or a heater, close your eyes, and let the music take you away to wherever you wish you were.
In the middle of downtown Kitchener, in between City Hall and Victoria Park, is one of the last pieces of available prime real estate in downtown Kitchener. The former Charles St. bus terminal at Gaukel St and Charles St, which sits on 2.94 acres, has sat empty and for the most part unused, since 2019.
The building, which still stands, was designed by local modernist architect John Lingwood in 1989. The property, which is currently being considered for a number of projects, is owned by the Region of Waterloo (who own 88%) and the City of Kitchener (who own 12%), but regardless of who owns it, the community, including the member of provincial parliament, will be part of whatever comes next.
With the Kitchener Centre by-election this week, CKMS took the opportunity to ask the four front-runner candidates, what do they personally think would be an appropriate use of that space and how would that benefit the people of the region?
In answer to our question, Kelly Steiss focused on the importance of collaboration and how her experience will lend itself well to the development of the project.
Aislinn Clancy also focused on the importance of collaboration and in addition the need to include and manifest Kitchener and regional-specific values.
Debbie Chapman talked about the property’s split ownership and the suggestions that she has heard, including turning it into an indigenous centre with a drop in centre and affordable housing, or extending Victoria Park into the site, moving the entertainment centre, the Kitchener Aud, to the site, or building a conference centre for the space.
This is one in a series of shows about the Kitchener Centre by-election and in which we ask candidates some of the less-asked questions that are important to our community.
The Kitchener centre by-election is this week, November 30, and while the outcome is still far from clear, there is little faith that the elected representative will have any impact in the house.
Three attempts over 10 days were made to contact the Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Elliot, but we did not hear back from the PCs in time for broadcast.
The last provincial election was held in 2022 and of the 124 seats in Queen’s Park, the PC have 80 seats, NDP have 28, Liberals have 9 and the Greens have 1. So unless Rob Elliott is elected, the MPP will be in the minority. So given that the Kitchener Centre by-election this week, CKMS took the opportunity to ask the four front-runner candidates, how will you participate in the process when you are not a decision-maker but rather as a member of a minority party. In what areas do you see yourself contributing? What committees do you want to focus on?
NDP is the only other party in the house, and they are the official opposition. Debbie Chapman attributes the Ford government’s reversal on the Greenbelt to Marit Stiles. Chapman believes the NDP can win the next election.
Kelly Steiss of the Liberals noted that because the Liberals don’t have official party status, it requires MPPs to be very well connected with and to listen to constituents for when the party does have the opportunity to speak, she will be ready.
Aislinn Clancy of the Greens used the example of how Mike Morrice has been effective in Federal parliament, working collaboratively and across party lines. She focuses on putting the needs of people ahead of partisan politics.
This is one in a series of shows about the Kitchener Centre by-election in which we ask candidates some of the lesser-asked questions that are important to our community.
Residents of Kitchener Centre provincial election will choose their new MPP this week, in a by-election influenced as much by party politics as much as local politics.
The former MPP, Laura Mae Lindo, resigned the seat she held for the NDP in July.
The NDP candidate is Debbie Chapman who has served on Kitchener City Council for almost five years as councillor for Ward 9, and she teaches political science at Wilfrid Laurier University.
The Liberal Party candidate is Kelly Steiss, who has worked in municipal government for over two decades. She has volunteered in different capacities to help social inclusion, including as a member of the Mayor’s Task Force for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion. Steiss has also been the president for the Waterloo Rotary Club.
Aislinn Clancy is running for the Green Party of Ontario. Clancy is currently the Ward 10 councillor for the City of Kitchener and is also the deputy leader of the Ontario Greens. Previously, Clancy worked as a social worker for the Waterloo Catholic District School Board.
Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Elliott has experience in the transportation and government sectors and a former PC party vice-president and regional organizer. Mr. Elliott does not live in Kitchener. He lives in Keswick, north of Toronto.
We spoke to University of Waterloo Political Science Professor Emeritus Robert J. Williams. During his 35 year career at Waterloo, Professor Williams taught courses on provincial, Ontario and municipal government and politics.From 1994 until 2003 he was Academic Director of the Ontario Legislature Internship Programme at Queen’s Park. He has conducted or advised on ward boundary and electoral system reviews in more than twenty-five Ontario municipalities, and testified as an expert witness before the Ontario Municipal Board in several cases involving electoral arrangements. Professor Williams has also served as President of Municipal Cultural Planning Inc., a not-for-profit organization created in late 2009 to advance the practice of municipal cultural planning in communities across Ontario.
Professor Williams provided some history of the Kitchener Centre riding and context for the by-election. He noted that the riding had voted liberal for fifteen years before the previous MPP Laura Mae Lindo and the NDP took the seat in 2018.
Professor Williams noted the fact that Rob Elliott does not live in the constituency is telling and questions why the PCs could not find anyone in the riding to run.
While the PC party casts a long shadow on this byelection, the larger political parties may also influence voters. Professor Williams talks about these wider influences and their possible impact in the Kitchener by-election.The Liberals are currently without a leader and will be holding a leadership convention on December 2. The Green party has one MPP, but the positive reputation of the Green MP Mike Morrice, may also influence voters. And while the NDP have managed to survive a controversy, Professor Williams wondered if it would cause any repercussions at the voting booth.
Professor Williams mentioned the Sarah Jama controversy, which happened when Sarah Jama a NDP MPP from Hamilton expressed sympathy for the current situation in Palestine. Marit Stiles, the leader of the NDP, kicked Jama out of the NDP caucus saying Jama had broken the trust of her colleagues. Then the Kitchener Centre NDP riding issued a statement alleging Stiles was “out of touch with the one million Muslims in Ontario.” The journalist Sabrina Nanji of the Queens Park Observer interviewed Chapman about the situation and she replied she had no knowledge of the letter. She was not aware of the letter and was not involved in its publication, in fact she said the letter blindsided her. Chapman noted three members who were involved in writing the letter resigned, and she stands by Stiles.
Professor Williams was not entirely optimisitic that the new MPP will have a lot of influence, “You are not determining who will be the premier but you are choosing someone who will … contribute as a member of a party to deliberations.”
The former MPP, Laura Mae Lindo, resigned the seat she held for the NDP in July. The Kitchener Centre riding has a population of about 105,260 and is about 42 km2. The person who does win the riding could have approximately 3 years in the job before the next election. The surrounding constituencies – Kitchener South Hespeler and Kitchener Conestoga are both held by PC MPPs, while the Waterloo riding is currently held by the NDP.
This is one in a series of shows about the Kitchener Centre by-election in which we ask candidates some of the lesser-asked questions that are important to our community.
The reason the Kitchener Centre by-election was called is because the previous MPP, Laura Mae Lindo, stepped down and one of the challenges she cited was the difficulty of obtaining childcare.
With the Kitchener Centre by-election this week, CKMS took the opportunity to ask the four front-runner candidates what they think about the state of childcare in the region, the pay rise and, how if elected MPP, they will be able to influence staff hiring and retention?
The four main candidates are Rob Elliott of the Progressive Conservatives, Debbie Chapman of the NDP, Kelly Steiss of the Ontario Liberal party, and Aislinn Clancy of the Ontario Greens. Three attempts over 10 days were made to contact the Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Elliot, but we did not hear back from the PCs in time for broadcast.
In response to our question, Aislinn Clancy focused on space and labour. She said that parts of the riding are a childcare desert, and Clancy believes more can be done to incentivise underused buildings such as community centres and churches, to develop childcare centres. Clancy also focused on bringing more respect to the profession of early childhood education and in doing so, continue to increase their pay.
Debbie Chapman said that she would like to see free childcare. She also noted that ten dollar a day care is great, but the waiting lists are very long and that puts parents in difficult situations.
Kelly Steiss noted that even though there is 10$ /day childcare, there aren’t enough workers to keep the system going. She was disappointed it took the Ontario government so long to sign on to the federal agreement. Steiss said early childhood educators do important work and paying them well is an investment in our future. She also noted that $23.86 is a good place to start in relations with these workers.
This is one in a series of shows about the Kitchener Centre by-election in which we ask candidates some of the lesser-asked questions that are important to our community.
Whether you believe the Ford government is helping or hurting the healthcare system in Ontario, there is no question that the system is struggling with demand and labour shortages, among others. Earlier this year, the Region of Waterloo announced plans for a new hospital to meet the demands of a growing population.
However, as the Ontario College of Family Physicians recently noted that in September 2022, there were almost 79 000 people in the Region who did not have a family doctor. The College predicted that in a little over three years’ time, this number could double to 150,000, or about one-third of the local population.
With the Kitchener Centre by-election happening this week on November 30, CKMS took the opportunity to ask the four front-runner candidates that with these serious shortages and rapidly increasing population, what will they do to ensure the Region can attract these health professionals to the area to meet our current and future needs?
Three attempts over 10 days were made to contact the Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Elliot, but we did not hear back from the PCs in time for broadcast.
First up is Debbie Chapman of the NDP, invoking the name of Tommy Douglas to establish the NDP’s credentials in public healthcare. Chapman is against privatization and notes that it extracts resources from public system. She notes there is a clear shortage of doctors, and much of that responsibility lies with the College of Physicians and Surgeons, who, she believes, need to admit more doctors into the profession. Ms. Chapman said we need to do more to encourage bridging programs for foreign doctors, and that we need to be concerned about nurses and their health so they don’t encounter working conditions like what transpired during the pandemic. Chapman says that private nursing agencies will destroy the public health care system.
Aislinn Clancy of the Green Party says that the government flushed money away by taking the nurses to court. She talked about how agency nurses are very expensive and undermining the public system. She said to deal with staff shortages, we need more spaces for doctors to be trained, encourage more people to take the training, find better opportunities for bridging programs, and provide support for doctors by encouraging them to work in multidisciplinary teams that would relieve their workload.
The Liberals have placed healthcare at the centre of their platform. The liberal candidate for Kitchener Centre, Kelly Steiss, said municipalities need to build infrastructure and support arts and culture to create a thriving city. Liberals support public funding and believe the government is putting the health care system risk.
Chapman and Clancy noted they want to find ways to enable foreign trained medical professionals to work in the riding in their chosen profession. While Chapman and Clancy focused entirely on the system, increasing medical school admissions and restricting private nursing agencies, among other ideas, Steiss also talked about improving the riding through increasing things like infrastructure and arts and culture to increase the desire to live here. The three parties we talked to all disagree with privatization.
This is one in a series of shows about the Kitchener Centre by-election in which we ask candidates some of the lesser-asked questions that are important to our community.
In early November the NDP leader Marit Stiles introduced a motion called on the government to provide a timeline and funding commitment for the Kitchener GO Line expansion, which was then promptly voted down by the Conservatives (66 to 30).
With the Kitchener Centre by-election this week, CKMS took the opportunity to ask the four front-runner candidates if, after all the effort that has been applied, the government still won’t budge, what can they add to this effort?
CKMS News made three attempts over 10 days to contact the Progressive Conservative candidate Rob Elliot, but did not hear back from the PCs in time for broadcast of this story. The other three candidates responded and spoke to CKMS News about GO train service in Kitchener Waterloo.
First up is Debbie Chapman of the NDP who says two-way, all-day GO service is a top priority for her and her party, and despite the Conservatives voted down the motion, the fight continues.
The Liberals have also called for all-day and all weekend train service to Toronto. Kelly Steiss, the Liberal candidate explains how people have been pushing for more GO trains and acknowledges the frustration riders feel.
Aislinn Clancy of the Ontario Greens noted how the PCs have said they are supportive of the idea of increased GO service, but then vote against it. Clancy has called on focusing on financial elements of the decision to appeal to the Conservatives. All levels of government to speed up the process to secure increased GO service.
CKMS asked the candidates who agreed to speak about their familiarity with local transit is and if they actually use it, asking them “When was the last time you went to Toronto on the GO train?” and “When was the last time you took the GRT (Grand River Transit buses) and Ion Rapid Transit Service (light rail)?”
Debbie Chapman of the NDP had not taken the GO transit to Toronto recently, but does take local public transport
Aislinn Clancy of the Greens has had recent experience on GO transit and the GRT and highlighted the problems that she has experienced and heard.
While Kelly Steiss of the Liberals has not had recent experience with GO Transit, her campaign staff have. She also has recent positive experience with the Ion.
This is one in a series of shows about the Kitchener Centre by-election and in which we ask candidates some of the less-asked questions that are important to our community.
What’s up, y’all? Mophead here. You know the routine by now. First, new music I’ve added to LibreTime since last week.
The Jump Off
Concrete
Other
CanCon
Kitty and the Rooster
One Gig Hard Drive
Alt Rock
CanCon
Axminister
The Crucible of Sin
Metal
CanCon
Floes
Passionals
Pop
CanCon
Appleby Ram
Don’t Be an Asshole/It’s Rock and Roll – Single
Rock
CanCon
Andre Akinyele
Telegram Mews
Funk/R&B
CanCon
Justin Wright
Music for Staying Warm
Classical
CanCon
The Fizzgigs
Weeeeeeeeeeee… are the Fizzgigs
Pop Punk
CanCon
Hydramental
Synergize, Vol. 1
Metal
CanCon
Trampoline
Happy Crimes
Indie Rock/Progressive Rock/Punk
CanCon
Busty and the Bass
Live From London
R&B
CanCon
Various Artists
CKXU’s Cosmic Frequencies
Alternative
CanCon
Safia Nolan
Dans le Noir
Pop
CanCon
Tragedy Ann
Matches
Other
CanCon
Tim Baker
Forever Overhead
Indie Rock
CanCon
David Kaufman
Second Promise
Other
CanCon
The Sturgeons
Black and White
Country/Folk
CanCon
The Hearts
Sunshine
Other
CanCon
Wellbad
Heartbeast
Rock
CanCon
Moby
Everything Was Beautiful and Nothing Hurt
Electronica
CanCon
Hush Hush Noise
Hush Hush Noise
Experimental Pop
CanCon
Troll Dolly
Heaven’s Mini Mart
Folk
CanCon
ursidae
almost closer
Folk
CanCon (presumed)
Whitebeard
Plaid is the New Black
Rock
CanCon (partially)
Andrew Vivona
Enough Nuance
Pop/Folk/Electronic
CanCon
Jon Brooks
No One Travels Alone
Country/Folk
CanCon
Luke Maynard
Desolation Sound
Country/Folk
CanCon
Crybaby
Still
Indie Rock
CanCon
Touching God
Touching God
Punk
CanCon
Mark Perry
Recollections
Rock
CanCon
JV’s Boogaloo Squad
Going to Market
Jazz
CanCon
I.R. Idiot
Spore
Punk
CanCon
Dave Chose
Dave Chose
Rock
CanCon
Defend the Rhino
Glisten
Alternative
CanCon (presumed)
Rachelle Van Zanten
It’s Christmas in These Parts
Christmas Slide Guitar
CanCon
Cares
Regular Unconcious
Experimental Electronic
CanCon
Stephanie Boulay
Ce Que Je Te Donne Ne Disparait Pas
Traditional
CanCon
Lutra Lutra
Psychopath and the Philosopher
Alternative
CanCon
Brian Holden
Drivin
Blues
CanCon
Ariel Posen
How Long
Rock
CanCon
Grimskunk
Unreason in the Age of Madness
Rock
CanCon
The Brighton Project
When it Rains/New Orleans is Sinking – Single
Rock
CanCon (partially)
The Castor Troys
Legends Never Die
Rock
CanCon
Marker Starling
Trust an Amateur
Indie Rock
CanCon
Braden Gates
Pictures of Us
Country
CanCon
Exdreams
Physical Contact
Pop
No
The Heartaches Stringband
Mrs. Johnson & Mr. Brown
Waltz
CanCon
Rawmny Wildcat
True Colors EP
Rap
CanCon
Ominous Eclipse
Sinister
Metal
CanCon
Efrim Manuel Menuck & Kevin Doria
are SING SINCK, SING (EP)
Indie Rock
CanCon
Strange Breed
Closer EP
Punk
CanCon
Icicle
Silence
Electronic
CanCon
And here is this week’s Horizon Broadening Hour, if you can’t wait until 10:
Tracklist:
Anyma – All My Relations
Ashter Dawn – Shadow Slip
Highly Distorted – Here’s to the Ride
Cares – Collapse Emulator
Moby – Falling Rain and Light
Pallas Athene – The Wall
The Sweet Lowdown – Low Clouds in the Morning
Natalie MacMaster – Fill ‘Er Up For a Set
Zach Kleisinger – Song for TS Eliott
Friends from Church – The Line Is Set
Hinterlandband – Plutononmy
The Montreal Rock Band – Unknown Track
Danko Jones – Lipstick City
Don Brownrigg – Tom’s Diner
Julis Sumner Miller – Hockey, Girls, and Disappointment
Hey Major – Flying Freak Flags
A-sirr – Time Machine
Fly Pan Am – Bleeding Decay
Salt Horse – Sequence 35
The Neutral States – More Stoner Rock!
Common Holly – Joshua Snakes
Clinton Edgebank – Unknown Song
Daniel Monte – Play Your Cards Right
Look Vibrant – God Graced Man Machine
Richard Thompson – The Dog in You
Britt AM – Chicken Suit
Jom Comyn – The Swamp
Moondle – Porb
City of Kitchener Councillor Bil Ioannidis said that we have gone way too far with cycling infrastructure. The Councillor made the comments at the Finance and Corporate Services committee meeting on Monday, November 20. The committee was reviewing the city of Kitchener’s 2024 draft operating budget that is to go to the mayor for approval in early December. The budget includes approximately $5.5 million to advance the strategic priorities, which were determined in the 2023-2026 Strategic Plan. Some of these areas, and the funding given to them in this budget include:
$700,000 for downtown cycling grid and infrastructure;
$424,000 in traffic calming;
$300,000 trail improvements for the Active Transport plan;
$1.2 million for the Housing for all Strategy;
$117,000 for the Creative Hub;
$173,000 to expand community centre hours; and
$240,000 to launch additional special events, including one new major festival in 2024.
Councillors raised a series of questions about different strategic priority funding options, but it was the competing interests of cycling, trails, and traffic calming that occupied most of the meeting. In addition to Councillor Ioannidis’s remarks, other councillors balked at both the $700,000 given to the downtown cycling grid and infrastructure and the $300,000 for additional cycling and trail connections, while traffic calming, a much more important issue in many of the councillors’ opinions, was afforded only $424,000.
City staff tried in various ways to address the concern about too much attention paid to cycling which came from at least 3 of the councillors attending. Councillor Paul Singh asked where the $700k for the cycling infrastructure came from, and why it had been applied to the cycling infrastructure. First Jonathon Lautenbach, city of Kitchener CFO explained the city’s position and then Justin Readman,· General Manager, Development Services at city of Kitchener, elaborated the funds are the final phase of a long-term capital investment that the city agreed to undertake years ago.
Councillor Christine Michaud also noted that she’s not hearing complaints about cycling but rather about the speed that people drive their cars and the need for traffic calming. City staff said that traffic calming has been funded in the past and what is in the budget reflects what Council has previously agreed to, based on what each area needs. But Michaud reinforced her concerns, and desire for more funding, to contend with traffic calming and reducing drivers’ speed.
Councillors Dave Schnider and Jason Deneault expressed strong interest in improving signage in parks for trails and cyclists. Councillor Schnider noted you can get on a trail and go all the way around the city but there are no signs informing people they can do so. City staff assured Council a comprehensive wayfinding strategy is going to be revealed soon.
Councillors Ioannidis and Margaret Johnston asked about lighting on trails and parks, but were informed that lighting beyond the major trails (namely the Iron Horse Trail and the Spurline Trail) is too expensive.
The Kitchener City operating budget also included funding for new and continuing services and infrastructure. Kitchener City Chief Financial Officer, Jonathan Lautenbach summarised the tax increases for services and infrastructure, which include a 3.9% per year rise in property tax (that’s a $47 rise over last year) and 6.3% increase in utilities (a $77 increase).
Next week is the final week for any changes to the budget. Public are reminded next Monday, November 27, is public consultation night and the Council will also examine the Capital budget on that same evening. For more information on the 2024 operating budget, the city of Kitchener has a detailed description on their website here.
A chill and laid-back evening with laid-back tunes spanning decades and genres. Whether you want neo-psychedelia, classic hip-hop, or indie deep dives we’ve got it here for you! Grab something cozy and check it out.
The River – King Gizzard and the Lizard Wizard
On the Run – Fat Night
Doo Wop (That Thing) – Ms Lauryn Hill
Uncle Albert/Admiral Halsey (Medley) – Paul McCartney
Touring artist, singer/songwriter: Great Canadian! First Nations corraborator and advocate. Shot a documentary from horseback to support the Xeni Gw’etin First Nations people in British Columbia [posted on YouTube: Cayuse: In The Valley Of The Wild Horses – Drew Rouse 2005].
Proudly She Marched
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