The Community Edition: September 2021

FEATURE

Severin

Correction to Volume 9, Issue 3

The article, Union Co-operative, on page 5 was written by Yasmeen Al Momani, not Alyssa Di Sabatino as was stated in the article.

In the article, Beisan Zubi’s Journey from Ottawa to WR, on page 7, the second last paragraph begins, “Zubi’s family was displaced through renoviction...”. She lives alone and was renovicted, not her family.

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NEWS IN BRIEF

FORD’S VACCINE PASSPORT

Ontario’s provincial government has unveiled plans for a vaccine passport. The plan will take effect on Sept. 22. At that time, residents in Ontario will be required to present proof that they are fully vaccinated before dining indoors or attending gyms and theatres. The rules will not necessarily apply to retail. In October, a digital verification app will launch.

CAMBRIDGE ANTITRUDEAU PROTEST

Prime Minister Justin Trudeau’s stop in Cambridge turned violent when anti-Trudeau protesters disrupted the visit on Aug. 29. The protesters hurled racist and misogynistic insults at Trudeau’s security, carried a photo of Trudeau about to be executed and were heard shouting death threats. One protestor was removed but no charges were laid.

CHILD STRUCK ON OTTAWA ST. IN KW

WRPS were called to investigate a hit and run in Kitchener on Aug. 30 after a child was struck around 10:30 a.m. The child was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Police allege the child was hit by a truck that fled the scene. Anyone with information or footage of the collision has been asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.

CALLS FOR MENTAL HEALTH SUPPORT

On Aug. 18, WRPS responded to a report of a “male in distress” in Kitchener. Police allege the man struck their vehicle before approaching an officer with a weapon. At that point, the officer opened fire. The incident has resulted in more calls from the community to fund mental health and assist in de-escalating similar situations in the future.

PARK STATUE DOUSED AGAIN

For the second time this year, the statue of Queen Victoria in Kitchener’s Victoria Park was doused in red paint. The vandalism prompted calls for change including an online petition calling on the City of Kitchener to let the paint remain on the statue. However, the cleanup had already been completed.

CHICK-FIL-A MET WITH PROTESTS

It was a mixed reception on the grand opening day for Chick-Fil-A in Kitchener as the restaurant was met with long lines of customers as well as protesters. About a dozen protesters showed up in the morning to oppose the franchise which has been criticized for making donations to organizations who oppose gay marriage.

RENTAL PRICES OUTPACE INCOMES

The City of Kitchener says rental prices have been rapidly increasing to the point where it is outpacing the average local income. The 2016 census showed 28 per cent of rental households in Kitchener needed to use more than 30 per cent of their income to afford average rent.

MASSIVE STORM CAUSES FLOODING

A severe thunder storm that brought strong winds and rain on Aug. 29 left many homes in the region without power and caused localized flooding. The flooding impacted the area of Lodge St. and Weber St. N. in Waterloo and left inches of water in the business J&J Cards and Collectibles.

CAMPAIGN SIGN VANDALISM IN WR

WRPS are investigating vandalism to election campaign signs in Kitchener-Waterloo. The campaign signs of multiple parties and candidates were damaged between Erb St. and Columbia St. on Fischer-Hallman Rd. in Waterloo. Damage to the federal election signs can be seen around Waterloo Region.

EDITOR’S

I like to believe I can do anything. I like to think I have the power at least to change my world. But that is not always the case.

Try as I might, I am not all-powerful. I can’t always stop the people I love from being hurt, even if we are both in WR and their perpetrators are oceans away.

It’s not always my place to speak up. For the longest time, I felt that if you love someone, it is your duty to use your voice, to fight for and beside them.

I have so much love to give and so much will to fight. I am ready, always to take up arms against the powersthat-be—the toxic friends, the abusive partners, the heartless parents.

How, I wonder, can others not see this person I love the way I see them? How can they hurt the people I would do anything to protect? How can others not see this person as the precious, priceless, perfect blessing they’ve received?

They are oblivious. They are naïve. They are fools. They are children who accidentally caught a butterfly and are

plucking its wings. It is the butterfly that suffers.

But we cannot discipline the children because the butterfly loves them. So much so that it is willing to be scarred and maimed, or even die, as long the children can be happy.

The butterfly is Gregor Samsa choosing to wither away slowly and painfully so his family can live free from any guilt of how they mutilated him. The butterfly is my friend.

Love is a strange thing. It rarely makes sense. It must also coexist with respect.

Before, I would have walked into my friend’s house, feminist guns ablazing, ready to tear their honourable facade apart. Before, I would have forgotten any shame and burned their paperthin excuses to the ground. Before, I would have lost my friend.

I have to love her while respecting that I am not a part of her family and it is not my place to confront them.

While love can be empowering, it can also render you powerless. You can’t change everything you want to change or protect everyone you want

to protect.

What I can do is listen to her and give her space. When she tells me about the latest fight or recounts the most recent punishment, I can be sad with her. When she spends hours repeating the same stories and the same disclaimers about how those who hurt her aren’t bad people, I can reassure her that I don’t think less of her or them.

With love and joy, the more you give, the more you have and the more you can give. The same is true of hurt and anger. But when you love someone, you can take their sadness and find joy in lightening the burden on their heart. In claiming their pain and sorrow as your own, as your business, you can give a moment of respite.

Even when the butterfly loves the children that pluck its wings and even when you can’t say anything to the children, I think you can love enough to find joy in relieving its pain and trying to mend its wings. Hopefully, my friend can fly again one day.

Read about the housing protest on page 4 BEE LEE PHOTO

MAXWELL’S HAS PLANS TO REOPEN SOON

venues, then eventually they started releasing to help with the lack of options for concert venues to generate any revenue,” Maxwell said.

ALEX KINSELLA STAFF WRITER

Paul Maxwell, owner of Maxwell’s Concerts & Events, wants to return the experience of live music and concerts to the region. With Ontario in Stage 3 of reopening, live music is finally preparing for a comeback, albeit with some restrictions.

“We have a lot to look forward to in the future. I think there’s going to be a renaissance of the return to live music events where the floodgates are open, and just about anybody that’s still somewhat active as a band or [artist] will be coming out to tour,” Maxwell said.

Capacity limits and lack of guidance on vaccination requirements have delayed the reopenings of larger venues like Maxwell’s Concerts & Events, Centre in the Square and the Kitchener Auditorium for concerts. Still, Maxwell was able to keep the lights on with support from the community and government support programs.

“The government took a long time to figure out just how bad it would be on

The move to stage 3 had music fans excited to see live music again, but Maxwell said that excitement was premature. He said that the capacity restrictions and other rules, such as requiring concert attendees to be seated during performances, do not enable him to generate enough revenue from shows to cover operating costs.

“Trying to generate a revenue model that makes sense, because right now, operating at 50 per cent seated capacity — how do you make that work? How do you make that enjoyable for the customers?”

Besides the capacity issues, Maxwell said he and other venue owners are struggling to find insurance companies that will issue policies.

“There’s only a few underwriters in Canada that will even look at it, and they still don’t even have pricing available. [The reopening] is so vague and foggy right now that insurers are taking time as things adjust. I’m talking to my broker every week and asking for updates. That’s been something that’s an industry-wide issue that I think a lot of folks aren’t really privy to at this moment,” Maxwell said.

The Canadian Live Music Association is lobbying for venues across Canada to help manage issues blocking them from reopening, including the lack of insurance options and confusion around vaccination requirements for staff and customers.

Beyond government programs, Maxwell said community support has been instrumental in keeping the lights on and keeping his spirits as a business owner up. Community support has also been instrumental in maintaining his staff’s morale.

“I definitely feel the level of support

has been so strong in our fundraisers. We’ve had a tremendous amount of support come through for the vinyl record decal fundraiser for the Maxwell’s Recovery Fundraiser and that’s been amazing,” Maxwell said.

“The regular messages we get from people are very uplifting. We want to deliver in the future and be able to operate.”

“It’s important for people driving down University Ave. to see that to provide some hope. I had people message me saying they had tears in their eyes when they saw that sign

and gave them hope which is super important for me that I can help people provide that in their lives right now,” Maxwell said.

As for the future, Maxwell said he’s eagerly awaiting the word for when his doors can reopen permanently.

“I think we’re going to be inundated with concert announcements in the future once we get the green light. I’d say as a positive thing. Expect once those restrictions are lifted, to see an incredible amount of concerts coming to the region,” he said.

KW RESIDENTS JOIN NATIONAL HOUSING PROTEST

HARLEEN KAUR DHILLON EDITOR IN CHIEF

Layla Morrison, like thousands of others, is waiting. She and her partner have been waiting to get into affordable housing for nearly three years now and were told they will get a place in January. Still, she cannot believe that until she is in that home.

“I’m low income, I come from a low income family. Housing [has] always been kind of rocky. I’ve been homeless and under-housed in the past,” Morrison said, adding that she has been given no reason to trust the January timeline that has been outlined.

“I would like to see improved housing, social housing, not only for my family, but for everybody else’s family. Everyone at least deserves the peace of mind that they know where they’re going to sleep that night and it’s going to be safe,” she said.

Morrison, 23, is a DJ and organized the Waterloo Region housing crisis protest which was part of the nationwide housing protest that originated from the r/canadahousingcrisis subreddit. Approximately 60 to 100 people gathered in front of Waterloo City Hall on Aug. 14 to raise awareness about the housing crisis in WR. They had three demands: build more homes, stop housing speculation and improve social housing.

“It’s easier to put people into houses and homes if they physically exist,” she said. “Right now we’re sitting at ‘you don’t have enough houses and homes, apartments, units for the people that live in the city.’”

“I think if you really want to invest that bad, there’s the stock markets... you can trade, you can invest...But it’s not your asset, it’s a house with the family. And if you sell that, or

trade that in whatever way, you’re potentially putting a family out on the street,” she said, referring to speculative investors

“To force somebody into that situation outside of their own terms. It’s kind of cruel and inhumane.”

The protesters followed COVID-19 guidelines and maintained physical distance. Still, there was room for new conversations and connections. Most importantly, the protestors were in front of Waterloo City Hall and could not be ignored by the decision makers that work there.

“We’re not politicians, it’s not our job. We have politicians that can do the job much better than us, we just need to tell them that we need this,” Morrison said.

If one wants to reach decision makers, they could write letters and emails and blog posts, but it’s a lot harder to ignore someone who is standing directly outside of your office.

“When you’re out front and you’re

on the other side of their window, and you’re yelling, and you’re shouting, and there’s a speaker going...You can’t ignore that. We need to give them something they can’t ignore,” she said.

In the eyes of Morrison, the lack of action and attention from decision makers is infuriating. The region has been aware of the inadequate level of available housing for years and not done enough to address it.

Although various numbers have been thrown around, Morrison chooses to hold decision-makers accountable to the biggest number she has heard: $250 million for 2500 units.

“We can talk about change. And you can tell me your plans, and you can tell me what you’re going to do. But I can’t believe you until I see it,” Morrison said.

“There’s currently 6000 families waiting. So over the next five years, they’re not even [reaching] a half of what is needed. And I’m sure there’s more for the 10 years, but it needs to

be significantly more to make up for the deficit,” Morrison said.

“You can see it in the charts...

Community Housing is going down and the applicant line is going up,” she said.

But we won’t see positive results until we see that those numbers are “intersecting the opposite way.”

Morrison got involved with the protest because she wanted to help however she could—she started out printing flyers, then offered her expertise as a DJ and eventually became one of the organizers.

She provided music for the protest including some general background music as well as some tracks to which everyone could relate.

She said she wanted to help in any way she could.

Change is different for each of the cities that participated in the protest and WR residents know best what they need and what they want. As such, the protest has separated from the one organized on Reddit. Morrison

said that it is easier for people to rally around a problem and so she wants to keep it simple with the three demands.

She understands what works for the community for this protest and wants to continue building support and numbers. Change does not happen overnight and Morrison is in it for the long haul.

“We want to stick to the demands, because they’re simple. It’s easier for people to come together over a problem than it is for people to come together over the solution,” she said.

“We want to build numbers. We would rather just stick to the three demands: build more homes, stop housing speculation...improve social housing.”

The next protest is happening on Sunday, Sept. 12 at Waterloo City Hall.

In response to the ongoing housing crisis, several KW residents made their way to Waterloo City Hall to raise awareness and demand action. BEE LEE PHOTO

Maxwell’s is a staple in the region and is preparing to reopen soon. BRIT KOVACS PHOTO

NEW CURATOR FOR KWAG

ALEX KINSELLA CONTRIBUTOR

On July 28, 2021, the KitchenerWaterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) announced the appointment of curator Darryn Doull.

The search for a new curator began in May after KWAG announced the departure of Crystal Mowry. Mowry left for an opportunity at the MacKenzie Art Gallery in Regina at the beginning of August.

Doull officially joined the Gallery on Aug. 23.

“Watching the work that Crystal [Mowry] has done over the last few years, and the exhibitions and the publications that the gallery has been able to produce, I’ve always been impressed,” Doull said.

The vibrant arts and culture scene in Waterloo Region has left a similar impact on Doull.

“That sort of energy is really exciting and attractive to me,” he said. “I look at the region, I see the innovation that’s happening and it’s pretty inspiring. It’s exciting to know that people are working hard to find success and to define success in new ways.”

Doull is no stranger to the area, either— he received a fine arts degree from the University of Guelph. After graduating, Doull worked in differentDarryn Doull is the new curator at the Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG). MATTHEW VIVEEN PHOTO

roles at Gallery Lampton in Tiny, Ontario, before accepting the position of assistant curator at the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery in Sarnia. He joined the gallery at the beginning of a major capital campaign to construct a brand new facility in downtown Sarnia.

“That’s an opportunity that maybe comes around once, maybe twice in your career if you’re lucky. It was the chance to think about what an art gallery, especially a regional art gallery, means and looks like and actually put those thoughts into practice,” he said.

The role came without its challenges, Doull said. He went on to spend much of his time in Sarnia discussing the value and importance of having an art gallery with community members.

“A lot of people were wondering why we need an art gallery. ‘Why do we need to build this thing? Why do we need to invest the money here when there’s other issues in the community,’” Doull said.

Despite some initial hesitation in the community, the Judith & Norman Alix Art Gallery has become a keystone of downtown revitalization in Sarnia since opening in 2012.

“It started a whole renaissance of the downtown core that’s continuing today,” Doull said.

“Buildings getting fixed up, all the vacant apartments and storefronts being filled, and people living there— it’s a whole new energy.”

Seeing the gallery’s impact in Sarnia has shaped how Doull views

the importance of art and how it can affect an entire community. He hopes to transfer his knowledge and skills from this experience to his new role at KWAG.

“There’s a power and potential of a public art gallery to be a catalyst that activates the community to help bring us closer to the sustainable future that we want,” he said.

“[KWAG] is the place where those things can happen...where we can meet each other and have those conversations,” Doull said.

“It’s the sort of space where we can collectively define and dismantle inequalities and shortcomings of the modern state and build those ways forward, together.”

Prior to his appointment at KWAG, Doull also worked as the curator of Canadian art at The Rooms Provincial Art Gallery in St. John’s, Newfoundland.

Citing the strict travel restrictions in Atlantic Canada as a major catalyst, Doull decided to move back to Ontario to be closer to his loved ones and began to search for local jobs.

“As soon as I saw the position at KWAG, I knew right away that it was the perfect fit,” Doull said.

“Even going back to my days in Guelph, KWAG was always a gallery that knew to punch above its weight to always exceed expectations.”

NO COST TECHNICAL AND PROFESSIONAL SKILLS

“When we explore the pathways with youth in more accessible language, give them more of a concrete sense of what the jobs look [like]... we can explore how tech can adapt to someone’s own aptitude and interests.”

and those who come from low-income backgrounds.

In the first full year of operation, NPower Canada helped 87 youth and this year has helped over 1400.

years after placement.

Andrew Reddin is passionate about helping youth begin careers in the tech industry, especially those who have not had exposure to opportunities in the tech field.

Reddin is the Chief Operating Officer of NPower, which is a charity that helps underserved youth and adults find meaningful and sustainable careers in the tech industry.

“The young people who we serve… often haven’t been provided with much exposure to what tech pathways could look like,” Reddin said.

NPower Canada offers no-cost, technical and professional skills training, industry certification and job placement support. It was founded in 2014 when there was a need for both skilled tech workers for employers and more job opportunities in the tech sector.

They prioritize working with youth who have directly faced systemic, intersectional barriers to launching careers in tech. This includes members of BIPOC communities, women, newcomers to Canada, LGBTQ+ youth, youth with disabilities

One of those people is Marco Chumacero. A 2020 alumnus of the NPower Google IT Certificate program, Chumacero is now a Bilingual Product Technician. Before taking the program, he worked for many years in the hospitality industry. During the pandemic, found himself in need of a change.

The Google IT Certificate program offered Chumacero more than just technical skills. One of his favourite aspects of the course was personal development days.

NPower program participants receive ongoing mentorship and continuing education for up to five

“[Even] though [finding a job is] such a positive and exciting development, it comes from its own stressors. It is often a massive change in their dayto-day schedule and responsibilities,” Reddin said.

“We need to continue providing counseling, coaching, and support to ensure that our young people remain successful and they’re able to maintain their employment,” he said.

After seven months with his current company, Chumacero is already training new people. In the next few months, he is hoping to transition into a team lead position. Currently, he is working through a coding course and will be continuing his education with a Java course in January.

The NPower Canada program in Ontario has been based predominantly

in the GTA, but they have had some success with job placements in Kitchener-Waterloo. Reddin explained that they are excited about making a bigger impact in KW in the future. They are hoping to address a broader range of employer demands in KW.

With two universities and a college in KW, Reddin stressed that NPower is not trying to compete with other programs.

NPower Canada hosts Wednesday webinars to help introduce young people to the NPower program. Find out more at https://npowercanada.ca/ apply.

ERIN

NPower’s primary goal is to empower young people facing systemic barriers by offering them free professional training, industry certification and helping them launch sustainable careers inside the tech sector.

MATT SMITH PHOTO

LINGGO MAKES SPEECH MORE ACCESSIBLE

and alternative communication (AAC), which are systems that help nonverbal individuals communicate.

YASMEEN AL MOMANI CONTRIBUTOR

Some people need a bit of extra help with communication. Be it through reading or speaking or any form of assistance, some folks benefit from the use of accessibility services, which advance their connections with others and increase their quality of life.

Ling Ly Tan is the founder of one such service. Tan founded Linggo, a software system which promotes sight word reading and speech for people with limited to no speech capacity. This includes people who have autism, dementia, post-stroke aphasia, developmental disabilities, or other difficulties with communication.

“[Linggo] aims to help people who have a hard time communicating [and] reach their full potential with their communicative abilities,” Tan said.

Tan has been a clinician for over 17 years and she primarily works with people with autism and children with developmental disabilities. The majority of children with whom she has interacted had limited to no speech, which often came with challenging behaviour, self-injury and aggression.

Her role as a clinician was to teach them how to communicate rather than resorting to using augmentative

“I found that a lot of [the AAC systems] came with their own limitations and I felt that the people that I work with deserve much more,” Tan said.

One of these limitations was the lack of literacy and a focus on only picturebased communication methods.

Tan wanted users to be able to learn how to read to help with their school inclusion and participation in the world, which prompted the unique transition-to-text technology in Linggo. This feature systematically fades out pictures over time so that the user uses words instead of pictures.

In AAC training, the communication partner who communicates with the user must be there to support and help them. While most systems focus exclusively on the user, Linggo is made of two apps: one for the user and one for the communication partner.

Tan has received uplifting feedback on the app from users so far. For example, a therapist using Linggo with their client reached out to Tan saying that the client was making much faster progress than initially anticipated.

Another user learned to read and speak with the system. The app advanced her ability to communicate with others and increased her family’s quality of life because she is no longer as aggressive or self-injurious.

“We’ve had one girl who used Linggo for three months, she was one of

the first users and she wasn’t able to read or speak before. After three months, she started speaking and reading over 80 words. That was huge to her mother because her daughter had been using so many different communication systems but none of them were as effective,” Tan said.

Linggo’s advanced technology is expensive; it includes data collection, machine learning and natural language processing, so funding was a large barrier when Tan started the app. She self-funded a lot of Linggo to get it off the ground.

The positive impact it has had on user’s lives has been rewarding and she hopes that it will encourage others.

“When you believe in something that needs to be done, you just do it,” she said. “I hope more women will be able to go after their dreams and make a difference in the world…I hope that [launching an app like Linggo] can inspire more women to do the same.”

Linggo is currently only available on the iOS App Store, however, Tan and her team are completing an Android app so that it can be more accessible on a variety of affordable devices.

“I would say [being able to communicate] is one of the most important things that we need as a human...communication accessibility is what we need to start promoting in our society,” Tan said.

Ling Ly Tan is the mind behind Linggo, a software system enhancing accessibility.

CONTRIBUTED PHOTO

RETURNING TO SCHOOL IN A PANDEMIC

physical education or French, will continue while students are in cohorts.

in close contact with children who are not wearing masks must use eye protection such as face shields or goggles.

KAITLYN SEVERIN STAFF WRITER

All students will be able to return to the classroom full-time this September under the Ontario government’s back-to-school plan.

The plan notes that all elementary students and secondary students can attend school in-person five days per week. However, remote learning will remain an option for those who are not comfortable with returning to the classroom.

Those attending post-secondary institutions can also return to campus this fall, but they will need to follow specific on-campus health and safety rules regulated by each school.

See elementary, secondary and postsecondary rules for Waterloo Region below. Please note that the province’s back to school plan will likely be adjusted based on key public health and health-care data.

Elementary School

All children heading back to elementary school will attend school in-person five days per week.

Students will be cohorts, or within the same group of children and will only have one teacher.

Other programming, such as

Students, including kindergarten students, must wear non-medical or cloth masks indoors, including in hallways and during classes and on school vehicles.

Students must self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before going to school.

Secondary Schools

All students heading into secondary school will attend school in-person five days per week.

School boards are ensuring student schedules have only two in-person classes.

Students within the Waterloo Region District School Board will be learning two courses each day一one in the morning and one in the afternoon.

Students must wear non-medical or cloth masks indoors, including in hallways and during classes and on school vehicles.

Students must self-screen for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before going to school.

Teachers and Staff

All staff in schools must wear masks, with reasonable exceptions for those with medical conditions. Staff working

School staff who are regularly in close contact with students will be provided with all appropriate personal protective equipment (PPE), such as medical masks and face shields.

Teachers and school staff must selfscreen for symptoms of COVID-19 every day before going to school.

Post-Secondary Institutes

Overall, most universities in Ontario are making COVID-19 vaccinations mandatory for those returning to campus.

University of Waterloo

Beginning Sept. 1, the University of Waterloo (UW) will require students and employees who are coming back to campus to anonymously self-declare their vaccination status. This includes anyone who is living on an on-campus residence, who will need to provide proof of vaccination against COVID-19.

Unvaccinated folks or those who do not declare their status will be directed to a rapid antigen screening program and will have to participate in COVID-19 screening twice a week.

For COVID-19 protocols, face coverings must be worn in accordance with the UW’s face covering

requirement. Every person must conduct self-screening for COVID-19 symptoms and record their presence through their campus check-in each day that they attend campus. All staff and students must also practice self-distancing on campus, providing a distance of at least two metres between each individual.

Wilfrid Laurier University

Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) will require all students, staff and faculty returning to campus to be fully vaccinated or have plans to be fully vaccinated with an approved COVID-19 vaccine.

As of Sept.. 7, all of WLU’s community members will be required to confirm their vaccination status in advance of attending their campuses.

Those at WLU who have not been fully vaccinated against COVID-19 will be provided with information on the province’s vaccination program and will be required to commit to regular testing and receive a negative test result before attending campus. However, those who are unable to be vaccinated due to medical reasons or other grounds protected under the Ontario Human Rights Code will be able to submit a request for accommodation and will be required to follow university testing requirements and health and safety protocols.

As for personal protocols, anyone experiencing COVID-19 symptoms

will not be permitted to attend any WLU campus. The university’s face-covering policy requires that anyone on campus must wear an approved face covering in all indoor common areas and in classrooms and laboratories. Lastly, on-site meetings are discouraged and if gathering in person individuals must follow physical distancing protocols.

Conestoga College

Conestoga College will be introducing a new vaccination policy on their campuses.

It is expected that the new policy will be fully implemented by Jan. 1, 2022, when the college plans on reopening completely to a near-normal college function and experience.

Conestoga College will require vaccination for all students living in residence, as well as all students in varsity sports for the Fall term.

Students must also complete the Conestoga Mobile Safety Application screening decision tree, at least 24-hours before entering any campus or college building. Students will be supplied with two College-issued protective masks for every entry to the college.The college is asking all staff and students to practice social distancing on campus, and no gatherings of more than 10 people are permitted on campus at any time.

STUDENTS RETURNING TO SCHOOL WILL NEED TO FOLLOW SOME NEW RULES IN ORDER TO RETURN TO SCHOOL

The impending return to school introduces new challenges after over a year of online schooling. No babies or buses were harmed in making this photo. DAVE KLASSEN PHOTO

IF STREETS COULD TALK: HURON VILLAGE

WORDS BY CARE LUCAS PHOTOS BY NICK STANLEY

If you take Huron Rd. to where it meets Woodbine Ave. in Kitchener, you’ll come to a roundabout. There, on a very pleasant looking slab of concrete surrounded by a manicured landscape, is a sign welcoming visitors to Huron Village.

The sign was actually removed by builders who had hoped to modify it amidst the pandemic, but it was returned following uproar by local residents earlier this summer.

Like many of our neighbours, my husband—and made the decision to move here because we thought it would be a great environment to start a family. Prior to that, I had never pictured myself in suburbia.

After years of living and building a sense of community in the DTK and uptown Waterloo cores, my first night in our new home was met with a deafening silence and an absence of city lights and life that I hadn’t experienced since my childhood.

It was a strange feeling, but one that would quickly embrace and find comfort in.

Surrounded by some of the regions’ most spectacular trails and minutes

away from Ayr, it’s easy to forget how close we are to the city. In the few years we’ve been here, we have had our fair share of encounters with local wildlife.一For a short time, my husband befriended a rabbit that was living under our front steps and we once had a family of skunks frequenting our backyard looking for fallen cherry tomatoes in our garden. On one occasion, my friends and I witnessed a pair of deer playing in the field on Seabrook Dr., which has recently been overrun by a new housing development that seemed to take pause for weeks when the pandemic first hit.

We are moments away from Huron Natural Area and Trussler Farms where we hand-picked a variety of pumpkins, gourds and squash for our front porch last fall.

But despite the abundance of open spaces, Huron Village still offers the convenience of the city.

The plazas on Fischer-Hallman Rd., Seabrook Dr. and Huron Rd. house a number of businesses, including a gas station, pizza parlours, salons, RMT massage, a pharmacy and a dentist.

Roti Junction & Shawarma Place on Seabrook Dr., for example, is possibly one of Kitchener’s best kept secrets. There are also a number of independent businesses that operate out of Huron Village homes including childcare providers, aestheticians, alterations and more. Those businesses also remained closed for months in and out of provincial lockdowns, with the exception of the occasional underground salon or mechanic.

The pandemic prompted a modest Halloween celebration that was quickly followed by over the top holiday decorations aimed to lift each other’s spirits.

But one of the more obvious changes to our neighbourhood during the lockdown was felt during the morning commute.

Normally, families flock to Jean Steckle Public School. There’s a sense of urgency as parents and guardians rush their little ones to class with their coffee tumblers in hand. The kids lug their backpacks and catch up with their classmates as they make their way down the street.

Sure, it’s a chaotic time of day, but it creates a specific energy—a sense of community. And when students were sent home due to provincial restrictions, that energy was sorely missed.

Our first impression of the neighbourhood was spot on. Huron Village really is a great place to raise a family. But the social distancing and safety measures COVID-19 imposed have kept our families isolated and unable to fully take advantage of the many perks Huron Village has to offer.

There are multiple playgrounds within walking distance of our house.

For months during the lockdowns we stared at the empty playgrounds, wondering when we would see kids laughing and playing there again. But now our son, who is two, could find his way to the one on Sophia Cres. with his eyes closed, if we would let him. He recently graduated from the smaller green slide to the swirly one that the big kids go on, an accomplishment of which he is very proud.

On the other side of that playground there’s a little free library and I once

again feel comfortable enough to use it.

The playground has become a safe space for parents and kids alike to connect with one another again.

When provincial restrictions were lifted following the last lockdown, we slowly emerged from our homes and garages and started to set up lawn chairs, small bonfires and socially distanced gatherings with our neighbours.

Our neighbour, Sam, has once again started spoiling us with samples of the amazing recipes she tackles. Her husband, Matt, has started blowing bubbles again with our son, who lovingly refers to him as “Bat.” Other neighbours have taken up playing badminton together in the street until the late hours of the night. You can hear kids laughing and playing on their way into Jean Steckle Public School in the morning again.

I never imagined a life in suburbia, but here we are—building a sense of community, in this place, on the edge of the city love.

BEST OF WATERLOO REGION 2021

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QUEER ACTIVISM ISN’T QUEER ACTIVISM

lifestyle: the nuclear family, but gay, with one masculine daddy top that goes out to work and a twink femboy who stays home, cooks and looks after the kids.

First, it’s essential to understand the difference between rights and freedoms. Rights are restricted by law, such as how much salary you are entitled to after working full time. Freedoms are not bound by law, such as—or what should be—who you choose to love and the ways and amounts in which it can be expressed.

on providing the same legal rights as heterosexual couples.

The end goal of Queer activism becomes the need for validation and assimilation into a heteronormative legal system that is not only founded on queerphobic principles but also racism, ableism, classism and other forms of discrimination tracing their roots back to Western colonization.

QUEER SPACE JANSHER KHAN CONTRIBUTOR

Just over a decade ago, Canada became the fourth country to legalize gay marriage.

At the time, I was just a middle school student still coming to terms with my own identity as a gay man. I was innocently unaware of the many Queer people and their loved ones then celebrating the legal acceptance of their love.

I was also unaware that this victory set Queer activism on a dangerously

one-sided legal trajectory that would never give the movement the ability to fight for the freedoms of Queer people entirely.

Queer activism has strong emphasis on seeking assimilation into the legal world which limits our ability to see alternative, more inclusive and more progressive approaches to Queer freedom and prevents us from reshaping legal institutions to better benefit everyone.

That’s not to say legal victories are unimportant or in opposition to the cause Queer activism has long fought for. What’s concerning is how Queer people are too often assimilated into a heteronormative legal system that prevent them from enjoying the freedom of being Queer.

Queer folks can only exist as long as they fit the mould of a heterosexual

“ ”

A HETERONORMATIVE LEGAL SYSTEM WILL NEVER ACCOMMODATE OR BENEFIT THE LIFESTYLES AND FREEDOMS OF QUEER PEOPLE ENTIRELY.

The general path in which Queer rights have been pursued following the decriminalization of homosexuality has taken the form of gay marriage, adoption and rights to parenthood, and further along that trajectory, rights to divorce and custody. In other words, Queer activism becomes increasingly focused

A heteronormative legal system will never accommodate or benefit the lifestyles and freedoms of Queer people entirely, but will create more opportunities for heteronormative assimilation, reinforce stereotypes and won’t benefit non-Queer people either.

Significant literature has been published investigating criticism and flaws of the human rights agenda, namely its lack of inclusivity, Westernized rhetoric, emphasis on Western ideals, generalization of values and negligence of cultural differences and lenses worldwide. But absent from much of this is a Queer lens, such as consideration of homonationalism, which is critical to developing holistic solutions to human rights that benefit everyone.

We’ve seen many marriages fail or known people whose parents divorced. Therefore, we are rightfully concerned about marrying the person(s) with whom we fall in love.

The current structure of marriage as an institution is severely outdated. It is meant to support the simple lifestyles of pre- and early-industrial livelihood, is limited to heterosexual couples and leaves little room for romantic exploration.

Queer activism reinforces heteronormative stereotypes and, by extension, discrimination towards those that don’t fit under the heternomative mould in legal and general terms. It also forces us to question how other minorities are viewed under the legal umbrella. Marriage, as an institution, is failing and unable to fully accommodate Queer people. Exploring the legal world through a Queer lens to help find solutions to the failure of legal institutions for everyone is important. It’s also worth branching out from the legal world in our approach to activism, seeking freedom through more sustainable and inclusive methods.

The Queer Space is an effort to build more queer spaces in Waterloo Region and a place for queer members of the community to share their thoughts on anything and everything.

This space is for all queer writers, regardless of experience (I’m an editor! I can help with that). In addition, if you would like to write to us but are hesitant to have your name attached to your piece, having a pen name or simply being anonymous is perfectly acceptable! If you would like to contribute or if you have name suggestions, please email harleen@ communityedition.ca. We look forward to hearing from you!

KITCHENER’S AWARD WINNING HOUSING PLAN

RACHAEL MACINTOSH STAFF WRITER

The Association of Municipalities of Ontario gives out the PJ Marshall award each year to a municipal government creating innovative solutions to local problems.

The PJ Marshall award requires community projects to display innovation, tangible benefits to the community, improved efficiency and the ability for other municipal governments to use the project’s concept.

The City of Kitchener recently won the PJ Marshall award for its 2021 affordable housing plan.

The City of Kitchener acknowledged that Canada is currently in the middle of a housing crisis due to growing financial inequality. The city has therefore formulated a strategic plan with a variety of tactics to address housing access. For example, one project involves working with Reaching Our Outdoor Friends (ROOF), an organization that supports homeless teenagers. The city will be working with ROOF to develop and build 44 units of supportive housing for unhoused youth.

Another project includes working with Young Women Kitchener Waterloo (YWKW) by providing a 50 year lease for 41 units. These units will be used as supportive housing for women experiencing homelessness.

The city will also be taking some creative steps to address affordable

housing. For example, Kitchener will invest in the construction of tiny houses, along with backyard suites and tiny homes. These housing options are not only more affordable, but have the added bonus of taking up less space and being much more environmentally sustainable.

Another branch of the city’s plan is further investment in A Better Tent City (ABTC), an initiative that sprung up at Lot 42 last year. Trying to live on the streets takes up a lot of people’s energy and time while shelters have issues many housed people may not notice, such as bag limits. ABTC provides homeless people with stable, private housing in order to ease the mental strain of just trying to survive and avoiding many issues with shelters.

The City of Kitchener has been and will continue working with The Shift, an organization that fights globally for people’s right to housing and to end homelessness, unaffordability and evictions.

The city is working with The Shift to address the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation-supported Demonstration Initiative.

This housing plan was recognized by the PJ Marshall Award for 2021. Some aspects of Kitchener’s housing plan that stood out to the award committee was that it had over 40 action items with concrete plans.

The council also noted that the housing plan states explicitly that housing is a human right. The plan, although it is currently young, has already developed over 100 units of new supportive housing, half of which will be filled by the end of 2021.

Marriage as a legal instituion needs to be reevaluated through a Queer lens. KURTIS RIDEOUT GRAPHIC

Kitchener’s

PROPOSED CTS REVEALS DIVIDED CAMBRIDGE

related overdose deaths doubled during the pandemic.

Statistics Canada recently released a report that showed in 2020, there were 5,142 opioid-related offences in Canada, a 34 per cent increase compared to 2019. Drug violations include possession, trafficking, production and importation or exportation offences.

There were anxious and indignant faces all over the protest against proposals for a Consumption and Treatment Services (CTS) site in Cambridge in July.

The opioid crisis has devastated the region and is especially divisive in Cambridge. CTS sites offer a supervised location for people to use substances and access holistic support. The two proposed locations for CTS sites in Cambridge are on 8 Oxford St., where the anti-CTS rally began, and 15 Easton St.

James Dover took responsibility for organizing the anti-CTS rally, which saw nearly a hundred attendees. Dover runs the social media for the newly formed Facebook group, No to CTS site. He and two other founding members, Clifford Vanclief and Rick Heidenreich, all spoke at the event.

Vanclief told protesters at the rally that it wasn’t the homeless or even people who use substances who he was concerned about, but the supposed criminals who infiltrate those groups.

“This neighbourhood has been experiencing crime for far too long. We have all been targets of theft from our porches, sheds and our garages. We’ve had break and enters, and home invasions. We’ve witnessed drug deals, stolen property and coming and going from various drug houses, which makes us all uneasy and feeling unsafe,” he said.

Communities across North America have been grappling with the devastating rise of opioid-related overdose deaths and COVID-19 has aggravated overdose fatalities—in Waterloo Region, the rate of opioid-

Investigations into Canada’s failed war on drugs from the early 1900s and onward show that severe laws and enforcement—which especially targeted Chinese and Black populations—did little to stop the flow of drugs and crime in communities.

“Canada’s first narcotic law was passed in 1908, and firmly rooted not in evidence but in selective racism. One hundred and twelve years of doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results in 2021 is delusional,” Parksinon wrote. “It’s a tremendous waste of public dollars and guaranteed to kill and injure thousands of people across Canada.”

Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council’s (Un)Safe report found that participants who consumed unregulated drugs and lacked stable housing had been incarcerated an average of 12 times each.

“That’s millions of public dollars devoted to an intervention that survey participants neither desired nor experienced as a deterrent,” Parkinson wrote.

“More effective interventions exist for both individual and community health and safety, but they are difficult to fund, or are subject to a level of political scrutiny we would never invoke for other important but less common forms of death and injury.”

There is some evidence that a safer supply, a long-term medical approach that involves giving people who use drugs access to a legal prescription and places like CTS sites where drug use can be supervised in a safe environment will lead to a decrease in crime. Despite the data and research that addresses many of the concerns

raised at the anti-CTS rally, the issue remains contentious.

The system to support people who use substances has been bending under pressure. Local shelters that have been running over capacity for years see 12 to 24 overdoses every week and have limited resources. On top of this emotionally taxing and underpaid labour, outreach workers also use their time off to advocate for those who they support.

Samantha Porte, a social support worker with the Kitchener CTS, was a co-organizer of the pro-CTS rally. She worked with other direct service workers and community members to show support for the proposed CTS sites in Cambridge.

“There are a lot of misconceptions about how CTS sites work,” Porte wrote in an email. “I think there are also a lot of misconceptions about people who use drugs in the first place. It’s important to do the work and acknowledge that what we learn or are exposed to is not always an accurate portrayal of what’s really going on.”

Porte wrote that the plans to protest

ALCOHOL EDUCATION AND HARM REDUCTION

increase drinking, but it could help people make informed decisions about what they drink, how much they drink, when they drink, etc. With proper education, they could possibly avoid things such as getting sick, blacking out, passing out and having a shitty time.

I think we all have the right to make our own decisions about our own bodies, and that includes whether we drink alcohol. I also think it is our right to make educated decisions. That is why I am a sexual health educator.

I think it is a human right that we are provided with the information and knowledge to make the best sex and relationship decisions we can. So why are we not provided with the information and knowledge to make informed decisions about drinking alcohol?

Alcohol is a large part of our culture and social landscape, yet the only advice we get is, “drink responsibly.”

This is not helpful or informative. Sex education does not increase sexual activity and alcohol education will not

We know that ‘Just Say No’ campaigns do not work. People, especially young people, don’t just say no to sex, drugs and drinking, and may potentially say yes because they were told ‘no’, having sparked their curiosity and rebellious streak. We know that setting a legal drinking age does not prevent underage drinking, but it does prevent people under the age of 19 from reaching out for support for fear of getting into trouble for drinking or using other substances.

Drinking education should of course include discussions and activities about peer pressure, consent and supporting friends一just like sex education. It should be pleasure positive, inclusive and age appropriate like comprehensive sex education, and it should include helpful tips, resources and promote safer drinking.

Common information about

tolerance, how much alcohol is in various drinks and how alcohol metabolizes in bodies should be shared. Less common information should also be shared一your tolerance changes depending on where you are in your menstrual cycle, how other substances such as prescription medication, cannabis and caffeine will interact with alcohol, and the effects of chugging, funneling and shots.

Aftercare and reducing hangovers could be included, as well as how to prepare for a night out of drinking.

Fun lessons in making good tasting drinks will be balanced with more serious topics such as alcohol being the number one date rape drug.

And of course, young people will be taught how to set boundaries, keep boundaries and respect other people’s boundaries around what they drink, when they drink and how much they drink. Discussions of choosing not to drink will be important, as well as how to be an active bystander when you see problematic behaviour.

So there you have it,my proposal and argument for drinking education I wish I was given when I was young.

against the proposed CTS sites in Cambridge made her stomach turn. She wrote that the hatred she sees in those groups weighs on her. Part of the reason there were only a handful of pro-CTS protesters this year was because many were not able to take the time off.

Heidi Morrison is not an outreach worker, but she attended the counterrally anyway. She wanted to attend because she does not want her or anybody else’s child to suffer because of the opioid epidemic. She held a sign that read, “dear son, don’t use alone.

Love, Mom”.

“There’s moms worrying about their children dying and these people are trying to help and save them. How that’s a bad thing, I can’t comprehend it,” she said.

Christina Resendes was attending the anti-CTS rally. She has been sober for 16 years and advocates for other solutions, such as increasing access to appropriate mental health care.

“Does it have to be a CTS site? Like why can’t we get proper therapy, or like some kind of rehabilitation?”

Resendes said. “Because at the end of the day these are sick human beings. They’re sick and they need help….It’s just a matter of seeing things from other people’s perspectives, because when you open your eyes to that, then it kind of opens up more solutions. You can try to fight to make that change, but you gotta try to do it with love.”

The speed of change can be disquieting and scary, and the easiest targets for hatred or discrimination are those deemed undesirable. There will be no consensus on these CTS sites anytime soon, but Porte is holding out hope.

“We have enough fact-based, personcentred, and trauma-informed work experience to know that this will speak for itself, and the reason behind the support will shine through,” Porte wrote.

This article was originally published in insideWaterloo and has been edited for the Community Edition. For the full version, visit insidewaterloo.ca.

STACEY

Drinking education makes alcohol consumption more enjoyable and hoppier.

PHOTO

Above are some CTS site supporters, with Heidi Morrison on extreme right.

FITSUM AREGUY PHOTO

MORE THAN GETTING BY THE SIDE HUSTLE

University of Waterloo (UW) and kept up with her freelance writing projects through it all.

JENNA AQUINO COLUMNIST

Emerging local musician Rachel Hickey has been “dreaming and scheming” her debut EP, Getting By since October 2020 and it’s finally ready to be heard.

That quote is one of many clever, catchy lyrics you’ll soon have stuck in your head from the raw and vulnerable tracks she’s laid down, which will be available on all streaming platforms in early October 2021.

“The inspiration behind [Getting By] came from an old song I discovered right at the beginning of the pandemic called “I’ll Get By” by Nick Lucas. It was written right before the Great Depression and it was really popular because it had this weird, optimistic sound that still felt melancholic and fitting for the times,” Hickey said.

“To me, it just really expresses that feeling of you know, ‘despite it all, I’ll get by’. I decided I wanted to write a song like that, because a global pandemic had just hit...and yet, I still wanted to be optimistic. It’s who I am,” she said.

The project quickly became something of a saving grace for Hickey during the year’s challenging times as she navigated her new full-time job as an events coordinator for the

NEW

“Music has always been a huge part of my life...I’ve turned to it as a coping mechanism ever since I was a kid. I started singing in church and in choirs pretty much as soon as I could talk. I’ve always had that passion,” Hickey said.

“It’s finally coming to fruition now at 24 and it feels so natural. Like [releasing original music] was always in the back of my mind, this was always going to happen, it was just a matter of time.”

Brimming with energy and creative ideas, she often found it hard to focus on one passion at a time. But music was the thing that always stayed; it really fulfills her.

“I’m a person who is always doing a million things at once. Playing music is the one thing that just makes the clock disappear. I can get so fixated on a tune that I can’t stop until I finish it. In those moments, nothing else matters and that feeling is really rare for me,” said Hickey.

While she’s always had an incredible voice and unique talent, it was during her final years of university that Hickey found herself really tuned in to her work as a solo musician.

During that time she sang with and led multiple acapella groups, and became a top eight finalist in a Canadian singer-songwriter competition called The Shot, while also writing and performing with her band, Midnight Shift.

“I’ve always loved to entertain people

REVIEW

and perform. When I first started exploring my style, I tried doing this jazz-pop kind of thing. At the same time, I was playing alternative progrock with my band. None of it really fit me exactly as a solo artist, but when the pandemic hit, I had all the time in the world to really lean in and figure out my own sound,” Hickey said.

Today, she would classify her sound as folk-focused, undercut by indie, pop and rock. Some of her biggest influences are artists like Laura Marling, Phoebe Bridgers and Andy Shauf those who write songs that tell lyrical stories. As a natural born storyteller, that style of songwriting is one of Hickey’s favourite avenues of self expression.

“It’s really important to me that my music comes across as very genuine and authentic to who I am as an artist. I want people to know that you can feel sad and you can feel shame, but you can also be true to who you are and be so powerful within that. It’s okay to show that side of you it’s a strength,” she said.

Now that she’s ready to spill her guts to the world, as she has phrased it in her bio online, she has a lot of great advice to share with other artists and creatives, starting with the fact that you shouldn’t push away the encouragement people give you. She added that it’s essential to give yourself compassion throughout your process and trust in it to believe in your ‘why’ and the fact that no one else is creative in the same way that you’re creative. That said, it’s equally important to

work with other artists and expose your creative vision to new heights.

“Creativity feels good. It’s both a way to find a sense of accomplishment on a personal level and a way to connect with the outside world in a really meaningful way. That’s my ‘why’,” she said.

To support Rachel, follow her on Instagram @racheljhickey and visit her website to subscribe to her newsletter and stay up to date on the release and all the exciting announcements to come about her music.

Co-presented by Grand River Rocks

MAGICAL MUSIC

I kind of get the vibe that Magical Music Moments is a project that will live only on Bandcamp, but I think that fits the vibe really well. Described as a “collection of recordings take over two jam sessions” this set of seven numerically titled tracks is intimate and emotionally complex.

I’m not square on all of the details, but the contributors listed include Dan Prjct, Aneeq, Ley, Ash, Keebay and Frankie. I am familiar with both Dan Prjct and Keebay through their work in the community as artists as well as their existence as genuine, all-around cool and nice people. To that end I am also very intrigued to hear more from the other people listed.

From the description on Bandcamp: “While we never really went away from the two, three, or four chords we started with, these pieces somehow still evolve. I love how we all played together, giving everyone space to be heard.”

These tunes will hit you the deepest

if you let your guard down. My suggestion is to put some time aside one evening in the next month and just sit down and let the freeform, jam-style recording take you where it wants you to go.

Thank you to Dan Prjct, Keebay and everyone else involved. I look forward to hearing more from all of you collectively and/or individually, and I’m certain that our readers will share the same excitement once they give the impromptu recording a listen or two.

— Kurtis Rideout, local musician, producer and ad manager for WLUSP

SONG: “5” by Dan Prjct + friends LINK: Streaming on Bandcamp exclusively

Rachel Hickey’s debut EP Getting By is set to drop in early October.

LISTINGS EVENT

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4

PURPLETONES

RHYTHM & BREWS

Are you a music lover? Looking forward to hitting some in-person gigs with the crew? Head over to Rhythm & Brews in Cambridge to hear live music and grab a couple pints. Check back with them online regularly and see what kind of gigs they have going on throughout the month!

THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 9

WATERLOO GARDENERS

MEMORIAL GARDEN

Want to connect with other gardeners in the community? come out to Waterloo Gardeners Together Again for a chance to connect with others, and enjoy the beautiful memorial garden. Pick up some useful gardening tips from others! Don’t be that person who grows tomato plants in all different directions.

Community • Free • 6:00pm–6:45pm

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 4 HOT AND COLD WATERLOO REGION MUSEUM

Enjoy learning about the daily routine of a blacksmith and making handmade ice cream with friends and family. Seriously though, can you think of a better pair than blacksmith and ice cream? Just playing, but imagine making ice cream and then making a spoon to eat the ice cream with. Do blacksmiths make spoons?

10:30am–11:30am

$56.50

History

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 5 BLOOM AND LOOM WATERLOO REGION MUSEUM

Take a tour through the beautiful Heritage Gardens. Apparently they have over 200 different kinds of plants! Stick around after the garden tour and enjoy a weaving lesson. Probably lots of great spots to snap selfies and whatever. All that fancy stuff!

History $56.50 10:30am–11:45am

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 6

WAT’S TOTS HOMER WATSON HOUSE

Join Wat’s Tots for a morning of drawing, painting, singing and dancing with you and your child. This is a great opportunity to develop your child’s fine motor skills and sense of creativity. It’s also a pretty easy way to burn off some of that extra energy that tends to build up pretty quick.

Family $88.98 10:00am–12:00pm

WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 8

NEURONICWORKS OPEN HOUSE CATALYST 137

Looking for a new opportunity? Join NeuronicWorks for an open house at Catalyst 137. Network with staff members, people from the community and learn more about the organization. Flex your conversational skills and practice that firm handshake. Just kidding, no one shakes hands anymore.

Community FREE 1:00pm–7:00pm

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

CLIENT APPRECIATION EVENT BINGEMANS

Come out with your friends and family to watch Mulan and The Lion King under the stars, while celebrating Keller Williams Innovation’s Client appreciation Event. Maybe even drop the kids off and check out the event listed below for a couple brews and some ribs to boot.

Community • FREE • 7:45pm–10:45 PM

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 10

NORTHERN HEAT RIB SERIES

WATERLOO BREWING

Waterloo Brewing is hosting this dope rib & craft beer fest at their store on Bingemans Centre Drive. Go for the craft beer, stay for the ribs and enjoy some free entertainment as well. You may not know this about me but I personally dig their IPA and you know I’ll be having a couple if I swing by. Radler season is about to wrap up, too.

TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 14

EXPLORE MEXICO

1909 CULINARY ACADEMY

Enjoy this cooking class led by Chef Murray Zehr and learn recipes that will amaze your friends and family. I’m low key hoping that Chef Zehr will help some of y’all put some spice into your life. If we know anything about Mexican food, we know that they’ve got it figured out. Chances are you need some more habanero in your life.

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 17

CRAZY COMEDY FEST WEEKEND THE CRAZY CANUCK

Rusty Nail is hosting their first comedy festival over the weekend in mid-September. Tickets can be purchased online at Eventbrite. Featuring comedy from Laurie Elliot, Courtney Gilmour and America’s Got Talent finalst John Hastings.

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

THE BRUNCH CLUB

THE PROHIBITION WAREHOUSE

Excited about meeting other students at your post-secondary school? Come to the brunch club for unlimited food and drinks. There will also be a DJ and they even have a flower wall so you can grab that perfect, low quality, front camera selfie.

SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 18

GARDEN TILE PROJECT CANADIAN CLAY & GLASS GALLERY

Work with glass artist Kat Looby to decorate beautiful tiles. Hang them in the community garden or bring them home to show the family. Make sure that you check out the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery in general if you haven’t, as well.

Art FREE 2:00pm–4:00pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 19

WOMB TO WALKING BINGEMANS

About to be a parent? Come to this event to meet other parents and learn about businesses and services that will help you on your journey. Get some support from those who appreciate your situation. Make sure you vent about your fears and frustrations before you take on the vital role of the impervious parental guardian.

Food

1:00pm–4:00pm

SUNDAY, SEPTEMBER 12

HOMER WATSON ART FAIR HOMER WATSON HOUSE

Are you an art lover or someone looking for beautiful art pieces to place in your home? Come to the outdoor art fair, meet artists and see their featured work. Artists deserve your attention, your appreciation and at least some of your hard earned cash. This is not up for debate!

Art FREE 12:00pm–4:00pm

Family FREE 10:00am–4:00pm

MONDAY, SEPTEMBER 20

SLOWRIDE RIVER PADDLE LOCAL RIVERS

Join an adventure guide on a relaxing paddle trip down a local river. You won’t want to miss the beautiful scenery and animals. This also includes a dispensary or pub stop after the tour for your relaxation needs. The pub thing doesn’t trip me out as much as the dispensary thing to be honest. That’s so awesome. Cue laughter.

IN SEARCH OF REAL, PRACTICAL PURPOSE

COSMIC RELIEF

ELFIE KALFAKIS COLUMNIST

The end of summer brings the sun into Virgo and with that comes a lot of practical and dedicated energy. This time of year Virgo highlights the parts of our lives that bring a sense of duty. Its energy begs us to be the best version of ourselves in order to help make the world better and help us understand how we can be of service to this world.

With Mars moving into the peacemaking sign of Libra on Sept. 15, we will also be motivated by harmony and artful beauty. The planet that rules over our sense of pleasure, Venus, will be moving into the deep and dark sign of Scorpio as well this month. Expect a lot of intense, sexy and profound feelings.

To increase the complexity of September, we will be experiencing our final Mercury retrograde season of 2021.

To help you navigate, here are your horoscopes for the month along with another cosmic playlist to put a spell on September for you.

Virgo

It’s time to get down to business, Virgo. You’ve been tired of the frivolous chatter of the last few months and you’re ready to make some big changes. Now is the time to get the tools you need to move forward in the right place.

Libra

You’ve been feeling some nervous energy over the last month and it’s likely that it will move into September for you. Things are pretty intense around you right now, so just take this month to recalibrate before you’re up to bat next month.

Scorpio

You’re having a hard time hiding your mischievous intensity, Scorpio, and although that may not be everyone’s cup of tea, people are digging it this month. Relish being in your element for the next little while.

Sagittarius

You’re having a hard time focusing your energy, Sagittarius. You may be overwhelmed by what you want to accomplish this month, and you’re likely meeting a lot of roadblocks. Just hold on a little longer, things are going to align and become a little easier in a month or so.

Capricorn

You’re a little over some of the frivolity that came with summer. You’re happy to start getting serious about some new ideas and projects that you’re planning for the next year. Try opening the softer parts of yourself to some trusted folks and lighten up a bit.

Aquarius

You’re feeling a little bit of social burnout, Aquarius. Things are starting to slow down around you and you’re welcoming this new pace. Take some time to get lost in your latest investigation this month.

Pisces

You feel like you’ve been treading water for a while now but things are feeling a little more stable for you these days. It’s time to rest and get some serious self-care this month. Obligations are slowing down and boy, are you happy about that.

Aries

You’re starting to feel a little bored, Aries. This month is asking you to bite your tongue a bit and move that willpower of yours inwards. Take this time to focus on working through that angst with some physical activity.

Taurus

You want to settle into a new routine. You’ve likely checked out of any unnecessary obligations this month and are looking forward to some serious homebody vibes. Get out the self-pampering paraphernalia and go to town.

Gemini

You’ve been feeling a little foggy the last few months, Gemini. You’re starting to gain some clarity and are feeling a little more motivated. This month will likely stir up feelings for you so make sure to stay grounded and keep your momentum.

Cancer

You’re feeling a reprieve from your ‘taking care of others’ approach. It feels a little too good to be true, but perhaps this month you can really relish in some self-indulgent fun. Enjoy the things you want to enjoy without guilt.

Leo

You’re pretty spent, Leo. You had a lot going on these last couple of months and you generally feel you’ve made the most of your time. Take this month to create space for a new routine that’s sprinkled with your joyful dose of fun.

“We Are All Made of Stars” by Moby

“Spirit In The Sky” by Norman Greenbaum

“Solar Power” by Lorde

“Hey, Soul Sister” by Train

“Free Fallin’” by Tom Petty

“The Joker” by Steve Miller Band

“Where Is My Mind?” by Pixies

“Undone - The Sweater Song” by Weezer

“Zombie” by The Cranberries

“North American Scum” by LCD Soundsystem

“Going Down” by Freddie King

“Colors” by Black Pumas

“The Beat Goes On” by Sonny & Cher

“Love Is All Around” by The Troggs

“Archie, Marry Me” by Alvvays

“I Love My Boyfriend” by Princess Chelsea

“Getting Older” by Billie Chelsea

“Give Me the Beat” by Ghostland Observatory

Find September’s Cosmic Mixtape playlist on Spotify by searching “Cosmic Mixtape: September 2021” or visit us at communityedition.ca to find Cosmic Mixtape playlists from previous issues.

ELFIE KALFAKIS ILLUSTRATION