You have the right to be involved in decisions about what kind of art the city should purchase and promote. Read this page and fill out the survey. Hurry!

                                      
Activities:

• We will reflect on the past, share our story, recall a funny incident, and share our lessons, success stories and vision for the future.
• We will discuss our immigration stories and experiences to learn from one another in a supportive group.
• We will develop support in the group to help one another to deal with our integration challenges.
• Each one of us will take turn to bake a cake to go with our tea.
• We will have a self-care party at our last session.

When: Starting once a week meetings for 6 weeks any time or date based on request 
Where: K-W Multicultural Centre at 102 King St West

To Join Us: Call Asmaa (BSW, RSW, MSW) at (519)-745-2531 ext.128.

asmaa@kwmc-on.com

**Bring a Friend** 

If you click on this link, you will be transported to the City of Kitchener’s website where they list all the community rinks you can skate on. This is all about having fun in the cool weather.

The excitement of speed dating but with the warm fuzzy knowledge you are working towards good things for the whole community.

This even occurs outside our area, but will include organizations that work inside it.

Volunteer Action Centre is hosting a Volunteer Speed Matching event on

February 16th from 5.30 pm – 8:00 pm at the Flying Dog Restaurant on Marsland Drive in Waterloo.

Volunteer Speed Matching works exactly like speed dating where volunteer daters and community organizations have about 4 minutes to impress one another. Second dates are optional. There will also be an opportunity to network with representatives from over 25 organizations in the community.

Limited spaces are available and hence it’s important to register ASAP.
For more information and to register online please click on the following link:

http://volunteerkw.ca/index.php?MenuItemID=185

Here is the schedule for programs offered at the Breithaupt Centre for the 2009 – 2010 season.

Clicking the title of this article will take you to the City of Kitchener Website. Leisure Magazine is available online there.

Click on the image below to get a larger view of the programs we offer.

The Record has published two stories recently concerning the Schippling’s Bicycle Service store on Duke Street West. It has been closed for over a year after its owner, John Burhatsky, became ill and passed away at 92. This store is certainly a landmark in the area. My wife and I bought our son a bike there years ago and I still use my Norco saddlebags I bought from John. This recent article brings the good news that Braun bicycle has purchased the Schippling name and inventory. So some of the history will be preserved.


It is still not clear what will happen to the building. According to this earlier article, the area is now zoned residential (since 1994) so it can only be sold as a residence or a business with a bike shop. We already have Brauns and Ziggys in downtown Kitchener, so it is unlikely another bike shop will open there. The building is unsuitable as a residence in its present condition. From a neighbourhood perspective, it would seem to make most sense for another small business to open there with an opportunity for an apartment or two. This would need some kind of zoning variance and the earlier article discusses how getting any variance is problematic. 


It now seems likely that with the name and inventory sold, the building itself could be sold to a developer who could renovate or level it altogether and build apartments. 


I think this shows it is tricky to use zoning regulations to build a neighbourhood the way we want.  Without the regulations, a small business could have more easily continued in the building and the area could have kept a building with a lot of history and nice memories. On the other hand, it could have been bought by a business we did not like who might have erected a garish sign. It is difficult to enforce taste and restraint.


Whatever happens I hope the existing building can be preserved. Whenever I drive, walk or cycle past I think of John Burhatsky sitting in the store dispensing advice and fixing a flat tire or two.


Ted Parkinson

Take the Waterloo Region’s Crime prevention Survey. Tell them what you think about topics like crime, victimization etc. You could win prizes as well. 


Visit their website at www.preventingcrime.ca 

The MHBPNA had our annual meeting on October 28th at the Breithaupt Centre. Three very important things happened: