#COVID19 response from @WRNonviolence

WRN | Waterloo Region NonviolenceHello Friends: In our own efforts at social distancing, we’re cancelling our regular Tuesday night meetings until further notice.

The Viewpoints on Incarceration forum originally scheduled for 28 April 2020 is postponed; a new date will be announced later.

Planning for the Nonviolence Day In The Park continues. A new date, likely in September, will be announced soon! The date is unchanged, taking place on Saturday, 18 July 2020 from Noon to 5:00pm. Registration for exhibitors is now open!

Thank you for your continued support!

–Waterloo Region Nonviolence.

Viewpoints: Issues Facing Refugees

WRN | Waterloo Region Nonviolence Join us for an inclusive evening with a panel presentation, group discussion, and personal action to achieve nonviolent solutions for people seeking refugee status.

Viewpoints forums try to bring the perspectives of a person with lived experience, a facilitator working in the field, an academic, and a policy maker.

There will be a Question and Answer session after the panel presentation, then we will break into groups with each panelist to discuss common themes and solutions. A spokesperson from each group will then report back to everyone.

The Viewpoints forums are being recorded for release as podcasts. You can listen to previous podcast episodes and view pictures of past Viewpoints forums.

checkmarkPanel Presentations

  • Tony Van Giessen, Mennonite Coalition for Refugee Support
  • Dr. Margaret Walton-Roberts, Wilfrid Laurier University
  • …other speakers to be announced

checkmarkPublic Small-Group Discussion

checkmarkPlanning A Positive Way Forward

Everyone is invited to contribute their experiences, dreams, and unique perspectives.
When: Tuesday, 10 March 2020 from 6:30pm to 8:30pm
Where: Queen Street Commons Café
Location: 43 Queen Street South, Kitchener, Ontario Map

Wheelchair Accessible logoWRN | Waterloo Region Nonviolencehttps://wrnonviolence.org
contact@wrnonviolence.org


Download the poster (PDF document, 151.7 kBytes)

Season’s Greetings! No meetings on Holiday Eves!

WR Nonviolence wishes everyone a happy holiday, and best wishes for the season!

Our last two regular Tuesday evening meetings in 2019 fall on Christmas Eve (24 December) and New Years Eve (31 December), and so we’ll be spending the time at home with family and friends. Regular meetings resume on Tuesday, 7 January 2020!

What: Regular Meeting for @WRNonviolence
When: Every Tuesday from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Queen Street Commons Café
Location: 43 Queen Street South, Kitchener, Ontario Map

Supplemental Discussion Nights Are Back!

Five people laughing about Peace Bunnies
Supplemental Discussion
The WR Nonviolence regular Tuesday night meetings are “plenary sessions”, where we plan upcoming events like Day In The Park or IDOPAN. Although the agenda gives 15 minutes for talking about our experiences with nonviolence during the week, we invariably exceed the 15 minutes, so we need this Supplemental Discussion night to give us the time we need to talk about nonviolence without the pressure of adhering to an agenda.

The first meeting for this Supplemental Discussion series will be the first Thursday in December, the 5th. We can decide from there what the best date for future Supplemental Discussions will be.

OpenStreetMap showing location of Civic Hub entranceCivic HubWhat: WR Nonviolence Supplemental Discussion Night
When: Thursday, 5 December 2019 from 7:00pm to 9:00pm
Where: Civic Hub WR
Location: 23 Water Street North, Kitchener, Ontario Map

Come to the doors on Duke Street, and ring the bell for the Social Development Centre.

Although Discussion Night is scheduled for 7:00pm, the Civic Hub is available at 6:00pm so we could start early (and help setting up and taking down chairs is always appreciated!)

Sing for Peace and Nonviolence

Join Waterloo region in celebrating the second World March for Peace & Nonviolence.

Beginning in Madrid on October 2, 2019 (International Day of Nonviolence) the World March Team continues to travel to city after city around the world, with simultaneous events occurring in near-by communities.

The World March concludes back in Madrid on March 8, 2020 (International Women’s Day).

Waterloo Region welcomes the World March Team as they prepare to arrive in North America.

Sing for Peace and Nonviolence contributes Waterloo Region`s voice to the world stage, calling for an end to wars, and for the overcoming of violence in all its forms.

Performances by:

The Water Boys, King Edward Public School Choir, Twin City Harmonizers, Shout Sisters Choir, Grand Harmony Women’s Chorus

13th Annual Human Peace Sign

Presented by WR Nonviolence.

Hosted by The Liberation

contact@wrnonviolence.org

facebook.com/WRNonviolence

theworldmarch.org (world site)

What: Sing For Peace and Nonviolence
When: Sunday, 3 November 2019 from 2:00pm to 4:00pm
Where: Waterloo Public Square
Location: 75 King Street South, Waterloo, Ontario Map

Human Peace Sign with Bobcat Bartolo #PeaceWeek

A Day Of Peace
Every year since 2008 WR Nonviolence has organized a Human Peace Sign on the International Day Of Peace, the first day of the 10-day IDOPAN celebration.

Human Peace Sign, 2008
This year we’re partnering with Bobcat Bartolo and the Liberation, who will again be recognizing the International Day of Peace on 21 September as part of Peace Week, with another installment of An Evening of Peace. This year Bobcat Bartolo is teaming up with Rhythm & Brews Brewing Company, and we’ll be releasing more details as we move closer to the day.

What: Human Peace Sign at A Day of Peace
When: Saturday, 21 September 2019 from 1:00pm to 1:00am
Where: Rhythm & Brews Brewing Company
Location: 1000 Bishop Street North, Cambridge, Ontario

WR Nonviolence Day In The Park interviews on @RadioWaterloo CKMS-FM 102.7 #CommunityConnections

CKMS 102.7 FM Radio Waterloo | Community Connections | Mondays 10am to 12 Noon Jenniefer Stronge came to the Nonviolence Day In The Park on Saturday, 20 July 2019 and interviewed a performer: Bobcat Bartolo and the Liberation; a visitor: Scott Heer; an exhibitor: Mo Markham (KW Animal Save, KW Climate Save); and the organizer, our very own Matthew Albrecht!

The interview aired on Monday, 29 July 2019 on the CKMS Community Connections show. It starts at 4m20s.

Download: ckms-community-connections-2019-07-29.mp3 (165 MiBytes, 1h59m55s)

Pictures from the 15th Annual WRNonviolence Day In The Park

On Saturday, 20 July 2019 WR Nonviolence held the 15th Annual Day In The Park. There were community group exhibitors, arts and crafts vendors, kids’ games, meditation and an area for reflection, a labyrinth, and performers all day long in the Gazebo. It was sunny and hot, and everyone had a good time!

You can see more pictures from the 15th Annual Day In The Park in our Photo Gallery.

WRNonviolence Day In The Park on CTV News

Stephanie Villella from CTV News in Kitchener came to the 15th Annual WR Nonviolence Day In The Park on Saturday, 20 July 2019, and interviewed Matthew Albrecht:

CTV News Kitchener – Raising awareness about the power of peace

From the CTV News Kitchener article: Nonviolence Day in the Park spreads message of peace

CTV Kitchener
Published Saturday, July 20, 2019 7:51PM EDT

Be peaceful and polite to your neighbours.

This was the message of those attending the 15th Nonviolence Day in the Park.

“Those little times when you feel like you’re objectified are not acceptable,” said Waterloo Region Nonviolence cofounder Matthew Albrecht. “An economic system that keeps people enslaved is not acceptable.

“Anywhere I look there’s an answer of nonviolence and a solution of how things can get better.”

Organizations and initiatives from across the region gathered in Victoria Park Saturday to share these ideas and educate people how to make a change without resorting to violence.

Meditation and religious groups were just two of the options participants learned about at the event.

Albrecht says growing up being bullied in school made him realize violence wasn’t the answer.

He adds that it all comes down to the golden rule: treat others the way you want to be treated.

“It’s that dividing line between good and bad,” said Albrecht. “We want to make that clear: don’t treat others like an object.”

You can see more pictures from the 15th Annual Day In The Park in our Photo Gallery.