New Kitchener Neighbourhoods Grant!

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May 8 2014

The Safe and Healthy Community Advisory Committee is making one year cash grants for one time projects, initiatives or events that support inclusion and/or belonging within Kitchener neighbourhoods. Maximum of $2,000 per proposal for one time initiatives with ties to established community organizations and $500 for individuals or informal group! Read more on eligibility and criteria. April 1st deadline has been extended and grants are accepted on an ongoing basis in the first year!

Julia Spencer receives Social Action and Justice Award

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May 7 2014

Julia SpencerWe have sponsored the Social Action and Justice Award again this year! Malcolm Waisman, our Board Director, presented the Award to Julia Spencer who has already made great impact on life in her community. We are proud to share her story and inspire youth and adults!

Message to the Candidates in Provincial Elections

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May 5 2014

​Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo and its partners in Poverty Free Kitchener-Waterloo have been participating in multiple pre-budget consultations from January to March 2014 and have carefully reviewed the proposed government Budget. We have found that some of the suggestions made by our local and province wide anti-poverty networks have been heard and reflected in the budget proposal:

- Austerity is not to way to provide prosperity and security for Ontarians
- Recognition that investment in social assistance contributes to economic growth
- Income inequality needs to be addressed in Ontario
- Development of the new Poverty Reduction Strategy in partnership with local organizations and local communities

Reduction of poverty for children and adults and the trend of increase in social assistance rates and minimum wage are among the gains in dialogue with MPPs of different political stripes all around the province and we would expect all parties to support these directions.

May Edition of thE-Neighbour is out!

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Apr 30 2014

Neighbourhood Improvement Grants are making difference in Kitchener Neighbourhoods! You can make a difference too with the increased investment of $21,000! Mark you calender for the Festival Finale on November 2nd in the Kitchener City Hall and be there to have a chance to win. Choosing among 19 Jane's Walks this weekend, you might get many ideas how to improve your neighbourhood! Don't forget to register all your Earth Month Clean-ups and huge thank you all for the shiny green spaces you uncovered this spring in Kitchener!

Changes to the Fair Elections Act Proposal

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Apr 27 2014

Changes to the Fair Elections Act proposal arrive as a major back-down on vouching, closing the fundraising loophole and Elections Canada appointing poll supervisors. There are still important concerns, such as ID still being needed with vouching and voter information cards would be accepted as ID,Panel Elections Act the gap in Elections Canada investigative powers and the Elections Canada commissioner still moving over to the office of the Public Prosecution. We wish to thank Peggy Nash, Mathieu Doucet and Sharon Sommerville for their participation in the educational panel on April 23rd. See the photos from the event and the report from Fair Vote Waterloo Region Chapter.

Disability and Human Rights Group meeting

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Apr 17 2014

The next Disability and Human Rights meeting will be Wednesday May 7, 2014 from 3:00-5:00pm at the Community Information Resource Centre - 3rd floor 151 Frederick St.

Our agenda items will include:

Feedback on the AODA customer service standard
Discussion of transition funding for young adults with development challenges
VisitAble Housing Project
Update on Poverty Free KW activities

Please let us know if there are items you want to include on the agenda by emailing Trudy at spckw@waterlooregion.org . You are welcome to bring along anyone who might be interested in the group discussions.

Youth Political Engagement and Impact Forum

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Apr 15 2014

youth and electionsDo you participate in a group for youth 15 years and older? Does your group want to give voice to the issues youth face today and their concerns about how the future will unfold for them? This forum will provide space to talk about what is important to you and others your age: understanding local youth issues, motivating youth in practicing democracy, encouraging youth to raise their issues in upcoming elections, engaging a planning group to organize election activities, be it municipal, provincial or federal. You are welcome Thursday May 1, 2014 6 - 8 pm at the Family Centre Auditorium, 65 Hanson Avenue in Kitchener.

Join Poverty Free KW or Sponsor a Forum!

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Apr 14 2014

Poverty Free Kitchener-WaterlooCentre for Community Knowledge has published a profile of the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo. It showcases its poverty elimination work through the Poverty Free Kitchener-Waterloo Action Group and its engagement on social policies. "When you see how it impacts the real world, it stops being boring," are the words of Charles Nichols, Homelessness Awareness Week coordinator, as he responds to those who say that analyzing budgets or policies can be scary or dry. See more what the group members had to say and let us know about the ways in which you can contribute.

Festival of Neighbourhoods Grant Increase

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Apr 8 2014

The Festival of Neighbourhoods (FON) grant got a long-overdue increase in yesterday’s community and infrastructure services committee meeting. Pending ratification by council on April 14, the $10,000 grant, which started 20 years ago and has never had an increase, will now be $21,000.

Is Fair Elections Act Fair?

Apr 4 2014

Despite widespread opposition, the process moves onwards with the Bill C-23 called the "Fair Elections Act". End of March, it passed second reading in the House of Commons by a vote of 149 to 131 – with all opposition parties and independent MPs voting against it. If passed into the Fair Elections Act, it would: eliminate vouching, disallowing voter ID cards as valid identification of residence, change regulations surrounding campaign financing, limit the ability of Canada’s chief electoral officer to speak publicly, and more.

April 23rd at 7 p.m. at W-K United Mennonite Church in Waterloo, we are hosting "Is Fair Elections Act Fair?" Awareness Panel to talk about the impact of the proposed changes for low-income people, seniors and youth, Aboriginal population, people with disabilities, homeless.