News

The Build Peace annual conference brings together practitioners, activists, technologists, academics, and artists from more than 75 countries to explore emergent challenges to peace in the digital era, and the innovations in peacebuilding that seek to address them. The conference will be coming to Waterloo in 2026, the first time it has been held in Canada!

How can educators from all over the world unite for the communal goal of positive social impact? The 2025 Social Impact Educator Gathering organized by Daniela Papi-Thorton was an event filled with a diverse group of educators seeking to make positive social change.

How can local communities come together for peace within and between newcomer communities? Peace for all Canada, one of the ventures in the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement’s Grebel Peace Incubator, envisions a society of collective and prosperous communities, and displays these values through their thorough and continuous work.

How can community bonds be developed in big cities like Kitchener-Waterloo? At Grand River Friendship Society (GRFS), their mission is to develop a sense of unity, friendship, and cultural identity among community members, creating a more harmonious and just society.

How can diasporic experiences inspire and encourage different pieces of art? Last week the new Grebel Gallery exhibit, DRAFTS 6: Mapping Diasporic Identities, had its launch. With over 50 people engaging with the art and reflecting on diasporic experiences, this launch had room for everybody.

 At Mind and Educational Games Research Centre (MEGA) play is more than just fun, it’s a powerful tool for learning, connection, and peace. At MEGA, games from all over the world, both traditional and modern, are used to spark curiosity, build community, and inspire growth across generations.  

Consider all the things older adults lose access to when they need to move into supportive care. Green Care Farms, a participant in the Grebel Peace Incubator since 2021, is dedicated to promoting purpose and belonging to people with dementia through therapeutic gardening programs. For the past four years, they have piloted a day-program on a farm located in Milton, Ontario. 

The new Grebel Gallery exhibit, DRAFTS 6: Mapping Diasporic Identities, aims to build understanding of diaspora experiences through art. This exhibit features 6 contemporary artists, Wen Li, Tazeen Qayyum, Sumaira Tazeen, Paria Shahverdi, JJ Lee, and Faseeh Saleem. Their stories draw on personal histories, cultural heritage, and lived experiences in the diaspora to create works that question conventional ideas of identity and belonging.

Peace Week, which started on September 21, the International Day of Peace, and ended on September 30, the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, is an annual celebration of peace facilitated by the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, where different organizations from around Waterloo region are encouraged to host peace -centred events. This year Peace Week had a wide array of events, including public lectures, art gallery exhibits, choir performances, walks, and more! 

Peace Week 2025 has officially started! Peace Week starts on the International Day of Peace, September 21, and goes all the way to the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, September 30. Peace Week is filled with a diverse array of functions, such as community events, public lectures, art exhibits, film and theatre, and more! Although Peace Week has just started, the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement team has already attended some events, and are ready to share!