Local Artists Exhibit!
LISA MCKAY
LISA MCKAY | Visit City Hall to view Lisa McKay’s Art Exhibit in the Berlin Tower ArtSpace.
Lisa is a local, emerging artist working in various media including encaustic, pastel and acrylic. |
IJAZ PERWEEN
IJAZ PERWEEN | Ijaz's painted works will be on display and available for purchase at the Sip and Shop event held on November 26, 2022 at the Mill Courtland Community Centre.
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CHU OYAUL
CHU OYAUL | Visit the community centre to see painted works by local artist Chu Oyaul. |
Sandhills Park: new open-air studio
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A temporary open-air studio will be erected in Sandhills Park in the near future. The project is being coordinated by the not-for-profit charitable organization Inter Arts Matrix.
The following is a message from Inter Arts Matrix about the design and development process: "With the City of Kitchener Parks Manager of Operations, we identified a 24 square foot site, just north of the cement pad at the bottom of the two paths going up the hill. This way we will not interfere with the soccer terrain or the playground, and we will be away from vulnerable trees. To respectfully engage with the land, Inter Arts Matrix has commissioned an archeological evaluation of the site – for one day there will be archeologists working in the park, looking for artifacts in a 5 x 5-foot parcel. In September [2022] an engineering company will do a soil analysis using hand driven auger, so that there is a minimum of disturbance to the park. The site will be completely remedied after these investigations. One of the projects that we have confirmed funding for is called A Hole in the Ground. We will be working with 12 artists in a serial collaboration involving a 3 x 7 trench. We are in the process of defining and funding additional projects." You can connect with Inter Arts Matrix by email info@interartsmatrix.ca, by phone 519.590.9751, or by dropping in at their offices at 141 Whitney Place, Kitchener. |
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Welcome, Kimia!
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Kimia is a longtime volunteer and community member who is passionate about her neighbourhood. She is the author of The Daughter Who Walked Away and Sister Seen, Sister Heard. These moving novels are available to borrow in the Diverse Little Library at the community centre. We are all excited for her third book to be published in fall 2024. We are fortunate to have Kimia as part of our MCCC team in her new role as the Peer Supervisor and Operations Manager of the Highland Stirling Community Group.
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MCCC Expansion
The following is an excerpt from EngageWR website:
The Mill Courtland Community Centre (MCCC) is undergoing a redesign and development process. We have contracted Jay Pitter Placemaking to lead the first phase of this work. The practice will develop a comprehensive business case with some elements of a master plan.
The scope of this work includes but is not limited to the following:
Ms. Pitter and her team are deeply invested in the community centre's distinct grassroots history. They will coordinate with:
Community members will have many opportunities to participate in the process through local walks, sharing stories about the community centre and
contributing design ideas.
The main questions guiding this process include:
The Mill Courtland Community Centre (MCCC) is undergoing a redesign and development process. We have contracted Jay Pitter Placemaking to lead the first phase of this work. The practice will develop a comprehensive business case with some elements of a master plan.
The scope of this work includes but is not limited to the following:
- Leading a series of story-based and broader community engagement initiatives
- Facilitating community design charettes [a design workshop to solve real life problems]
- Developing high-level design guidelines and concept sketches
- Conducting a site and neighbourhood analysis, and
- Developing an economic and sustainability plan to guide the expansion of the site.
Ms. Pitter and her team are deeply invested in the community centre's distinct grassroots history. They will coordinate with:
- City of Kitchener staff
- Local neighbourhood associations and community groups
- Individuals and families living in the neighbourhood, and
- Broader City of Kitchener stakeholder groups.
Community members will have many opportunities to participate in the process through local walks, sharing stories about the community centre and
contributing design ideas.
The main questions guiding this process include:
- What's most important to you about the community centre?
- How can the centre and its outdoor spaces enhance quality of life for all community members?
- What physical, social and/or economic barriers do you experience when accessing the community centre?
- How can the community centre expansion accommodate existing community members while welcoming future community members?
Dear Ward 9 Neighbours,
I am humbled by the strong expression of support I received from so many of you on October 24th. While voter turnout was embarrassingly low (20.2%), the number of votes we received was greater than in 2018. For that I am very grateful. I want to thank you for the confidence you have in me to serve another four years as Kitchener’s Ward 9 City Councillor.
There are many challenges that lie ahead, and I trust that together there is a lot we can accomplish. We must stay strong and united as we tackle homelessness, affordable housing, climate change, parkland deficits and ongoing inequities. I do not act and have never acted alone. My strength comes from my constituents. I’d like to commend David Redman, Matthew Robson, Brooklin Wallis, and Beth Warren for putting their names on the ballot and for their interest in local politics.
I hope to work with you over the next four years to make the city a great place for all. I’d like to thank my family and friends for the incredible support I received over the past 4 years and throughout the campaign. My husband Peter has been my rock. He has picked up and helped as needed and stood by me throughout. I could not do what I do without his support. Thank you so much to everyone and now, back to the trail, the Iron Horse Trail that is!
Contact me with your ideas or concerns at debbie.chapman@kitchener.ca or call me at 226-752-7104. I am always happy for the opportunity to assist the residents of my ward.
Councillor Debbie Chapman―Ward 9
I am humbled by the strong expression of support I received from so many of you on October 24th. While voter turnout was embarrassingly low (20.2%), the number of votes we received was greater than in 2018. For that I am very grateful. I want to thank you for the confidence you have in me to serve another four years as Kitchener’s Ward 9 City Councillor.
There are many challenges that lie ahead, and I trust that together there is a lot we can accomplish. We must stay strong and united as we tackle homelessness, affordable housing, climate change, parkland deficits and ongoing inequities. I do not act and have never acted alone. My strength comes from my constituents. I’d like to commend David Redman, Matthew Robson, Brooklin Wallis, and Beth Warren for putting their names on the ballot and for their interest in local politics.
I hope to work with you over the next four years to make the city a great place for all. I’d like to thank my family and friends for the incredible support I received over the past 4 years and throughout the campaign. My husband Peter has been my rock. He has picked up and helped as needed and stood by me throughout. I could not do what I do without his support. Thank you so much to everyone and now, back to the trail, the Iron Horse Trail that is!
Contact me with your ideas or concerns at debbie.chapman@kitchener.ca or call me at 226-752-7104. I am always happy for the opportunity to assist the residents of my ward.
Councillor Debbie Chapman―Ward 9
The following excerpts were originally published in Ward 9 Councilor Debbie Chapman’s regular newsletter. To subscribe to her newsletter, visit www.debbiechapman.ca.
On May 27, 2022, the City announced its partnership with Conestoga College. The College plans to build a New School of Creative Industries downtown. The program will expand to include the following programs: Illustration, Digital Product Design, Game-Art, AI in Design, Visual Design, Special Effects, VR Merchandising, Motion Graphics and e-sport. Although the project is at a very early stage, it will be great to welcome more young people to downtown in the future. This new program will complement the already existing creative industries found downtown like 44 Gaukel St, the Registry Theatre, the Conrad Centre and the Centre in the Square.
I brought a motion forward at the May 9th council meeting titled "Build it Right the First Time" calling on the Provincial Government to include energy performance tiers and timelines for increasing minimum energy performance standards. This would include adopting a more ambitious energy performance tier of the draft National Model Building Code. It passed unanimously. The wording of the motion can be found here: https://bit.ly/38n3o5a
In case you missed it, the Record's editorial on May 4, 2022, titled "Kitchener Must Rethink its Downtown Growth Plans", highlighted some of my concerns with the direction we are taking with new development downtown. The editorial can be found here: https://bit.ly/3FNGRek
DTK Newsletter | To receive the DTK Newsletter, click here https://bit.ly/3y9vED6 and subscribe. It is a great resource!
Book Free Space | Please be reminded that if you would like to book a gym or room for FREE at a local community centre, you can find the application form here: https://bit.ly/3Ceoxt6
Development | Here are some developments in Ward 9 that are under review:
- 84-108 Queen Street S. - 1-3 Charles St. W , 44 storeys, 566 units, 259 one-bedroom units, 308 two-bedroom units, 175 parking spaces
- 368-382 Ottawa St. S. - 99-115 Pattandon Ave, 8 storeys, 152 units, 152 parking spaces
- 22-26 Charles St. S., 44 storeys, 455 units, 141 parking spaces
- 130-142 Victoria St. S., 25 storeys, 249 units, 4 retail units on ground floor
The 146-162 Victoria St. S., 92-110 Park St. development proposal will be coming to the Planning and Strategic Initiatives meeting in June. Here is a brief overview of what is being proposed: 3 towers - 26, 36 and 38 storeys, 1,150 units, 1,770 m of commercial space, 667 parking spaces. If you would like to sign-up as a delegation the instructions can be found here: https://bit.ly/3t2yHcQ. I am happy to answer any questions you may have about these developments.
Stay healthy and I hope to see you around. I'm here and happy to hear from you if you have any questions or concerns.