Peace Week

The Urgency of Social Justice

free

The Gender and Social Justice Program (GSJ) at the University of Waterloo invites faculty, staff, and students to join The Urgency of Social Justice Event on September 20, 2023.  This event will highlight the significance of spreading awareness and supporting various programs, activities, and services related to social justice. The Urgency of Social Justice event is free to sign up for and includes a variety of performances, speeches, displays, groups, and refreshments.

Transformative Mediation Training

$641

This workshop emphasizes the development of practical skills to resolve interpersonal conflict and to facilitate mediation. The workshop explores skills and develops strategies that enhance effective communication and are essential when facilitating conflict resolution. Conrad Grebel University College and Community Justice Initiatives certificates will be awarded to each participant upon successful completion of the workshop.

Speak Your Peace: Exploring Questions of Justice and Peace Together

In celebration of Peace Week 2023, the PACS Department invites you to share your thoughts in response to a set of questions displayed in Grebel's Upper Atrium. One question will be displayed on each of the dates from 9:00am - 4:00pm, inviting participants to visually and creatively represent their responses. Be part of our shared exploration of justice and peace by adding your voice.

Grebel Gallery Exhibit: Trinity, Then and Now

free

Nearly eighty years after the detonation of the world’s first atomic bomb, the global threat dealt by nuclear weapons lurches perilously forward. Trinity, Then and Now brings into focus and proximity the grave impact of what is considered the first significant radiological event– the Trinity atomic bomb test on July 16, 1945 in the desert of New Mexico–with reflections on its continued ecological, physiological and psychological toll.

MPACS Thursday Talk: Research Series | From the Cuban Missile Crisis to Today: Nuclear Weapons 60 Years On

free

Join Executive Director at Project Ploughsares, Cesar Jaramillo, as he delves into the current state of nuclear weapons and non-proliferation 60 years after the Cuban Missile Crisis, which heightened the threat of nuclear war near North American shores, leading to increased weapons testing by various states. Cesar's expertise covers areas such as nuclear disarmament, civilian protection in armed conflicts, emerging military technologies, and conventional weapons control.

The discussion will take place at the Grebel Gallery, where attendees are invited to view the current exhibit, Trinity, Then and Now, by Mary Kavanagh.

SDGtalks: Peace, Justice, and Strong Institutions

free

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDG) Idea Factory in downtown Kitchener will spotlight a panel discussion surrounding peace, justice, and strong institutions, facilitated by Paul Heidebrecht with community guest panellists.

Ska’nikòn:ra: Indigenous Governance and the Future of Leadership

*This image is credited to Benny Skinner/University of Waterloo.

Benny Skinner, a Mi'kmaw/Kapampangan scholar and Indigenous Research Advisor at the University of Waterloo, is organizing a full-day event on Indigenous governance in collaboration with the Balsillie School of International Affairs. Ska’nikòn:ra roughly translates to "Coming Together with One Mind" in Haudenosaunee, signifying unity and consensus.

This event aims to bring together Indigenous knowledge keepers, elders, scholars, and community members to discuss contemporary Indigenous governance and its complexities, contributing to reconciliation and decolonization efforts. Opening ceremonies, engaging sessions, wellness breaks, and a catered lunch are also part of the day.

The event will be hosted at the CIGI Auditorium in Waterloo.

20th Annual Pow Wow

$5

This September 23, in collaboration with the Waterloo Indigenous Student Centre (WISC) and the University of Waterloo Office of Indigenous Relations (OIR), United College will be celebrating the 20th anniversary of their annual Pow Wow inside the Columbia Icefield Fieldhouse (CIF)! Join the University of Waterloo in celebrating Indigenous culture and tradition in a safe and welcoming environment, where all are invited to gather and enjoy the day's events. The day will feature dancers, singers, and food, alongside a variety of vendors and artwork.

General admission is $5, but students are able to attend for free with a valid student card. Non-perishable food donations are also accepted in lieu of payment.

Ride for Refuge 2023

On Saturday, September 23, 2023, Ride for Refuge is hosting their annual fundraising ride/walk in various locations across Canada. Each location is hosted by a different RIDE charity and all are invited to register for the event closest to them through the Ride for Refuge website. The website highlights the charity hosting the event in your chosen location, and provides you with a schedule, map route, and chance to fundraise. If you aren't able to make it (or are able to come out and want to find other ways to get involved), the RIDE charities are accepting donations to support their work towards ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to live a life of freedom and hope. 

Green Care Farms Harvest Dinner

free

Green Care Farms is nearing the end of their second season! It has been another bountiful season and Green Care Farms wants to share the harvest with the community again this year. Come enjoy with Green Care Farms and try some of their delicious veggies and giant pumpkins in a simple harvest soup they are cooking in their garden! 

Guided Meditation on Peace

free

Director of Campus Ministry at St. Jerome's University (SJU), Sean Hayes, will be leading a guided meditation on peace in time for Peace Week. The meditation will be held in the Notre Dame Chapel at SJU. Those interested in learning more about Campus Ministry at SJU are invited to visit their website.

Sandhills Parlour: "Peace - Prosperity"

Home Range recently launched the Sandhills Parlour project, a sequence of "purposeful talk circles" in various downtown Kitchener locations. A parlor is a place to talk; the word comes from the same root as "parliament." The aim is to prepare the way towards concrete action. Talking in itself is not doing, but to get anything done, you have to deliberate first—imagine possibilities, set objectives, organize, make plans, and determine the first steps. On Tuesday, September 26, in conjunction with Peace Week, the Sandhills Parlour session will focus on "Peace and Prosperity" at the Inter Arts Matrix Courtyard "Collaboratory" at Globe Studios in Kitchener. After a round of introductions, Home Range founder Martin de Groot will present a brief introduction to the "Peace and Prosperity" theme and announce a set of talks related to the topic planned for the fall.

If this event interests you and you want to learn more, reach out to Martin at mdg131@gmail.com or check out the Facebook page linked to this posting. All are welcome to join the parlor's weekly gatherings on Tuesdays from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

Lectures in Catholic Experience Presents Archbishop Donald Bolen on “The Wounds of the Past, Truth-telling and a Future of Hope: The Doctrine of Discovery and the Path of Reconciliation”

free

Join Bishop Donald Bolen as he reflects on the Church's present response to 15th-century papal moral justifications for colonization and claims over land inhabited by Indigenous populations, specifically in the context of dealing well with the sinful historical actions of the Church. Bishop Donald Bolen will delve into the recent Vatican statement on the Doctrine of Discovery and explore its reception, larger efforts toward reconciliation, and the challenge of proclaiming the Gospel while also recognizing its harmful past contexts. Registration is free, and the lecture will be held in the Notre Dame Chapel at St. Jerome's University.

UWaterloo's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Events for this year's National Day for Truth and Reconciliation will be taking place at B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH) Green on campus. The day will begin with a Sunrise Ceremony at 7:00 a.m. A Commitment Polishing Ceremony will shortly follow at 10 a.m. Other plans for the day include a walk around Ring Road, a feast, and drumming and round dancing. All are invited to join and wear orange to show solidarity, acknowledge the painful legacy of residential schools, and encourage reconciliation and healing. The event is free, but registration is required through the link.

If you do not have an orange shirt, they can be purchased through the W store. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to the Indigenous Student Success Fund on campus.

Premiere of "I Love You and It Hurts"

Theatre of the Beat has developed three short plays that reflect lived experiences of elder abuse, healthy masculinity, and intimate partner violence in youth relationships, with a focus on how to recognize the subtle early signs of abuse. The topics chosen were identified by our community partners (experts at Assaulted Women’s Helpline and Women’s Crisis Services of Waterloo Region) as topics that need to be immediately addressed. Tickets are by donation. These plays are not recommended for audiences under the age of 13.

Location: Kitchener Public Library Theatre, 85 Queen Street North, Kitchener

Event website: theatreofthebeat.ca/i-love-you-and-it-hurts