Fitsum Areguy
WR Record
Kitchener, ON, Canada
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Past articles by Fitsum:
‘I give them back their dignity’
KITCHENER — While many are confined to their homes under lockdown orders, people experiencing homelessness or are precariously housed struggle to survive the winter. To keep people on the streets fed and warm, Nadine Green and volunteers from Beautiful Souls KW go out every night, seven days a week, to deliver warm meals and supplies, such as blankets and winter clothes. Beautiful Souls KW is a… → Read More
St. John’s has a quiet Christmas
KITCHENER — With only two overflow shelters in Kitchener and in Cambridge, many on the streets had a cold, tough night on Christmas Eve. This year I volunteered at St. John’s Kitchen, a soup kitchen in downtown Kitchener, to serve food and provide support to those who need it the most on Christmas Day. In previous years Jeremy Horne and volunteers have given the Working Centre staff who operate… → Read More
Gates at WLU social work campus in Kitchener taken down
KITCHENER — Wilfrid Laurier University has removed barriers erected last week at their school of social work’s Kitchener campus. Dawn Buzza, dean of the faculty of social work, wrote that after much discussion with students, faculty, and the broader community, they decided to remove the recently installed gates from the building. “Moving forward, I am optimistic that by engaging our community we… → Read More
Undocumented people in Waterloo Region fall between the cracks
WATERLOO REGION — In a cold living room with just a few pieces of furniture, Francois and his family sit anxiously reading a response from Immigration Canada. After almost seven years of laying roots here, their application for permanent residency on humanitarian and compassionate grounds has been denied. As undocumented people they are not eligible for support from local immigration service… → Read More
University accused of targeting homeless with new gates at Kitchener social work campus
KITCHENER — Wilfrid Laurier University’s school of social work has installed gates blocking stairwells to an entrance at their Kitchener campus, a move that social work students and urban planners say is hostile and targets the homeless. More to come. Fitsum Areguy’s reporting is funded by the Canadian government through its Local Journalism Initiative. Email fareguy@therecord.com Twitter… → Read More
Awards honour local Indigenous leaders
WATERLOO REGION — Three local Indigenous leaders are getting recognition for their advocacy and activism. Atlohsa Family Healing Services, a not-for-profit organization that provides Indigenous-focused programming and services, has chosen O:se Kenhionhata:tie — also known as Land Back Camp — as one of eight recipients of the 2020 Atlohsa Peace Awards. Launched in 2018, the Atlohsa Peace Awards… → Read More
Anti-racism advisory group to guide Region of Waterloo
Regional Chair Karen Redman pushed for group’s formation in a timely manner so it will be able to play a role in the region’s 2021 budget talks → Read More
Toxic drug supply and COVID-19 measures increase overdose risks
WATERLOO REGION — Last week, following a string of suspected overdose deaths, public health issued an alert about new strains of fentanyl. Experts say that an unregulated toxic drug supply, compounded by COVID-19, is to blame. According to Waterloo Region’s Overdose Monitoring Alert and Response System, as of Nov. 3 there has been a nearly 30 per cent increase in overdose-related deaths since… → Read More
Spike in drug overdose deaths devastate community
WATERLOO REGION — In just one week there have been five suspected overdose deaths in Waterloo Region. Front-line community workers say three of those deaths happened within a 48-hour window. Jesse Burt was present for one of those deaths. His voice wavered as he explained how many in his community have been dealing with these losses. “This is very brutal work. These are unjust deaths, they’re… → Read More
Land Back camp moves to Waterloo Park
WATERLOO REGION — After 122 days at Victoria Park, Indigenous activists and allies from O:se Kenhionhata:tie’s Land Back camp have relocated to Waterloo Park. Only their firepit, now filled with cement, and an imprint from their teepee remain. “We felt this was the perfect time to move,” said Shawn Johnston, co-organizer of Land Back camp. “We created this beautiful space in the middle of the… → Read More
Foster parents, rarely in the limelight, are celebrated this week
‘We knew we had a good home to offer, so we got involved,’ Breslau woman says → Read More
Outreach better investment than security guards in Cambridge, agencies say
Police and security increase in Galt core while outreach workers say they remain under-resourced → Read More
Waterloo Region District School Board to vote on motion to review having police in schools
Program that placed 10 police officers in schools was put on hold in June → Read More
Banner hung over Grand River in support of Indigenous sovereignty
KITCHENER — Demonstrations and events in Waterloo Region have been organized in support of the 1492 Land Back Lane camp in Caledonia, Ontario. Members of Six Nations have been occupying the McKenzie Meadows housing development, known as 1492 Landback Lane, for over two months, defying an injunction made by an Ontario court in early August. Like Waterloo Region, the territory occupied at Land… → Read More
Race equity a priority for Family & Children Services of Waterloo region
‘We really try to keep a positive relationship with families, so the positive always outweighs the bad’ → Read More
Scholarships recognize achievements of Black students
WATERLOO REGION — This year marks the 19th annual Awards of Excellence, a scholarship program that recognizes Black students from across the African diaspora in the Waterloo Region. Run by the Congress of Black Women’s Waterloo Region chapter and the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region (CCAWR), the scholarships are valued from $1000 to $1500. Chloe Callender of the Congress of… → Read More
Cambridge rally shows anger about drug users, harm reduction
Hundreds blame government ‘inaction’ to address crime, drug addiction, mental health issues — and say consumption and treatment sites are ‘enabling’ d... → Read More
Waterloo police meet with Somali community
KITCHENER — The Somali Canadian Association of Waterloo Region convened a meeting with Waterloo Regional Police Services Thursday. Nearly fifty people were in attendance, with community members voicing concerns about over-policing and police brutality against the Somali community. The event was co-moderated by Faduma Musse, president of the Somali association and Ciann Wilson, professor at… → Read More
Kitchener’s Rohingya community marks anniversary of genocide
‘We remember all of the members of the community who have been killed, attacked, and displaced’ → Read More
University of Waterloo announces racism and equity plan
WATERLOO — The University of Waterloo has announced new racism and equity initiatives, but students and staff who raised the issues in the first place say they were not consulted. President and Vice-Chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur outlined eight initiatives on Thursday, including the creation of a Black Studies and Indigenous Studies program. The announcement mirrors much of what Equity4who… → Read More