News

On Friday May 7^th, 2021, eight teams of students from across Canada competed in the Map the System Canadian Finals for the chance to present their research on a global stage. For their incredible presentation and systematic investigation of the precarious foreign labour conditions in Malaysian palm oil plantations, Leah Feor, Ewomazino Iyanu Oluwa Odhigbo and Muhammed Ahsanur Rahim will be representing the University of Waterloo as one of four Canadian teams at the Map the System Global Finals from June 9-11.

From January to April 2021, the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement’s three-time returning co-op student took on a different kind of role. Kirsten Mosey’s fourth and final co-op term with the Centre emerged through the connections she made during her previous semesters as a Communications Assistant and Incubator Fellow.

Did you know that none of the Centre’s initiatives would be possible without support from our community? Donations are a key source of income for the Centre, which never would have existed if not for the generosity and ongoing support of the Kindred Credit Union and Conrad Grebel University College.

Many of Map the System’s 2021 competitors are participating from their homes this year, however that did not prevent the University of Waterloo’s campus finalists from tackling systemic issues on local, national, and global scales. Over 200 students applied to participate this year through the University of Waterloo, representing nearly one fifth of Canadian registrations!

Sunday, April 11^th marked the end of the season for Theatre of the Beat cast members and their latest production, Unmute. After 26 performances for audiences across Canada, sparking critical reflection and discussions about domestic violence and the role played by bystanders, Theatre of the Beat co-founder Kimberlee Walker is thrilled to announce that this is only the beginning for Unmute.

For one year starting in March 2021, Emily Charron will be joining the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement as the Coordinator. It takes a special person to keep track of everything going on in the Centre’s community on top of promoting peace and personal growth. Fortunately, Charron is just the person to fill Michelle Jackett’s shoes during Jackett’s maternity leave.

On February 26^th, 2021, The Globe and Mail announced the recipients of its inaugural Report on Business Changemakers award. This new award celebrates the accomplishments of 50 entrepreneurs and academics who are working to create unique and equitable solutions to the world’s problems. The University of Waterloo and its entrepreneurial community were thrilled to see alumnus Cassie Myers recognized for her work as CEO and Founder of Lunaria Solutions.

The Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement, along with its partners, The Ripple Effect Education (TREE) and Kindred Credit Union, kicks off the next cycle of the Peace Innovators Scholarship and Mentoring Program on March 1, 2021 when the 2021-2022 application period opens. 

Despite worries that the COVID-19 pandemic might interfere with the ability of Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement participants to continue their peacebuilding efforts, transitioning to a virtual environment jump-started new innovation at established organizations and new peace start-ups alike. This February, The Ripple Effect Education (TREE) introduces a brand new virtual program: The Conflict Toolkit Cohort.

Friday, January 22^nd was a monumental day for many countries around the world as the United Nations Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons (TPNW) became international law for over 51 states in 122 nations. More work needs to be done, but as Core Collaborator at the Centre, Project Ploughshares, explains in Five things to know about the nuclear ban treaty, the TPNW is “the most consequential nuclear disarmament development in decades”.