February 2015 Community Update

Feb 16 2015

Social Planning Council Kitchener-Waterloo has received transitional funding to maintain the Waterloo Region Community Information Database for the first half of 2015. This database is the foundation of our work and connects users to the resources and services in the community. For over 35 years, the Region has provided an annual grant to support our data management work, and this relationship will be changing later this year as the Region moves through a new request for proposal process. Read more about the work at the Social Planning Council and find new ways to connect, such as subscribing to our RSS news feed! 

Family Day Events- 2015

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Feb 12 2015

Family Day 2015Need something to do with the family this Family Day weekend? Check out our list of stuff to do across the Waterloo Region and beyond this Family Day weekend (February 14-16th, 2015)  If we've missed an event, please feel free to email us the details at info@waterlooregion.org. 

CLICK HERE: FAMILY DAY EVENTS LIST  - 2015 

2015 Call for Membership

Jan 29 2015

SPC KW logo

Do you want to find solutions to social issues? Be informed and get involved: become a member of the Social Planning Council of K-W. As a member, you will be kept informed of our activities and about what is happening in the community.  Members are invited to provide input and take leadership on issues. Members can vote at our Annual General Meeting and sit on our Board of Directors to guide the future of the organization. Fees vary for individuals and organizations.  Complete the membership form here.

Continue reading to find out what residents of Waterloo Region said about the role of a non-government organization such as ours that helps people work on social issues in our community (2014 Omnibus Survey Preliminary Results, PMG Intelligence).

Poverty Free KW at Ontario Pre-Budget Consultation

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Jan 21 2015

Laura Lee Roberts PFKW & Sandy Ellis WR Retired Union Worker

"We applaud the change of language used in the second Ontario Poverty Reduction Strategy that acknowledges the potential of all citizens to prosper. However, neither the 2nd Poverty Reduction 
Strategy nor the Fall Economic Update Backgrounder, Supporting A Fair Society, go far enough to articulate the holistic vision and approach needed to eliminate poverty and guide successful social assistance reform in Ontario." Read the whole Poverty Free Kitchener-Waterloo submission to the Ontario pre-budget consultations and make sure to follow updates on our Ontario Budget 2015 page with more submissions to be published. 

Access Waterloo Region Needs Survey (by February 17)

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Jan 14 2015
Access Waterloo Region LogoAre you an individual with a disability living in Waterloo Region, or a parent/caregiver/family member of someone with a disability? Help improve how information is provided to you. Please complete a brief survey at https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/AWR2015. The survey will be open until Tuesday, February 17, 2015.   Please share the survey link with others in your network. 
Visit our Access and Inclusion page to find out more about our access and inclusion work such as the searchable online directory of services and resource booklet in support of Access Waterloo Region (AWR), a group of agencies that provide services to persons with disabilities and their families. 
 

Growing Traditions in Kitchener

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Jan 12 2015

Colin`s Toy Drive 2014This year we encourage you to come together with your neighbours to connect with each other and to grow your own traditions. In the January E-Neighbour you can read about neighbourhoods tha come together each year, month or week and the impact those activities have on their families and their communtiy. We hope you will jump on the "traditions bandwagon" and register all activities and events. The first Early Bird registrations deadline is January 13th! 

Ontario Budget 2015 - Have Your Say

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Jan 9 2015

Ontario ParliamentThe budget process is underway across Ontario. Since January, delegations presented before the Minister of Finance and before the Standing Committee on Finance and Economic Affairs. The Government has set up an online consultation tool to gather even more input on how to deliver on the announced priorities. You can have your say through written submission, by phone, by fax, on the online forum and through social media. We have published some useful documents to help you prepare, and we are sharing submissions other organizations have made. Be informed and be involved!

Warming Centres Open in Waterloo Region

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Jan 6 2015

Staying warm and safe is important during the winter season.  It is essential to understand how to avoid the serious effects of extreme cold weather. The Region of Waterloo Public Health website shares a guide to identifying and dealing with symptoms of extreme cold exposure. If an extreme cold warning is issued for the Region of Waterloo by Environment Canada, warming centres will open throughout the City of Kitchener, City of Waterloo, and City of Cambridge. Rural centres serving North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich will also be operating. Overnight emergency shelters are available across the region as well. Keep warm!

Holiday Meals in Waterloo Region - 2014

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Dec 17 2014

Happy HolidaysHere is a list of Holiday Meals in Kitchener-Waterloo that are open to anyone in need of a hot meal this holiday season. Thanks to various community groups for this information. Please share widely! If you come across any dinners in Kitchener, Waterloo or Cambridge that aren't on our list, please contact info@waterlooregion.org. 

We have also created a document "Holiday Emergency Information" that lists emergency services across the Waterloo Region in case you find yourself in need this holiday season. 

Giving This Holiday Season - 2014

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Dec 3 2014

Giving this Holiday Season

Our enquiry counsellors have prepared a list of ways to give and get involved this holiday season across the Waterloo Region called "Giving this Holiday Season".  Find opportunities to volunteer your time, donate in-kind, give food, make monetary donations and how  to help and support your community after the holidays are over. Contact info@waterlooregion.org or call 519-579-3800 to have an item added to this list.