We think you meant "snow day".
TL;WR for Feb 23-Mar 1
Before we get started this week, I wanted to share this video from friend of the newsletter David Yoon. We’re almost at the one year mark of the pandemic and the weight of Zoom calls, doom scrolling, and just missing people is taking its toll on everyone in different ways. David says it in a way that really hit me and I wanted to share it.
What to do.
Tuesday, February 23
The Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery is re-opening to the public on February 23. If you haven’t had a chance yet, it’s a good time to grab a mask and expand your mind with Deanna Bowen's Black Drones in the Hive for its extended run that ends May 23. There’s the final weeks of By Your Own Stars in their Corridor Gallery too, which closes on March 21.
Wednesday, February 24
The Business and Education Partnership of Waterloo Region is hosting Builders, Makers and Designers - Careers in Tech and Trades, part of their Explore Your Future speaker events series. Join the one-hour virtual sessions where industry professionals share insight into various career paths that help youth clarify their next steps.
Kitchener Public Library’s Winter Stories series continues with Clarence Cachagee this Wednesday.
Waterloo Public Library has Kat from Short Finger Brewing hosting Books and Beers at 7pm. Kat pairs books and beers together to give you something new to try.
Thursday, February 25
Join the Kitchener Waterloo Community Foundation on Thursday, February 25 from 1-2 pm for the third conversation in their Anti-Racism Series: The Intersectionality between Affordable Housing and Race.
Terminal presents Equity in Technology at 6pm. In this Terminal Tech Talk, hear from Nudge’s co-founder and CTO, Dessy Daskalov, Technovation’s founder and CEO, Tara Chklovski, and Wealthsimple’s VP of Engineering, Dominique Simoneau-Ritchie about innovation taking many forms and using it as a tool to empower girls and women.
Laurier Alumni’s Black History Month events continue with Inspiring Conversations: Being Black In Canada at 11:30am. Join Ann Marie Beals and Barrington Walker as they discuss the current experiences of Black-Indigenous and Black people in Canada recognizing the historical contexts that directly impact our present realities, and uplifting voices through stories of strength, self-assertion, and consciousness-raising resonating within those communities.
Midtown Radio, the KW Community Foundation, and Arts Build Ontario present KW Stays Home at 7:30pm featuring music from I, The Mountain, JP Sunga, Joni Nehrita, Paige Warner, and Mandippal.
Friday, February 26
Novelist, essayist, screenwriter, University of Guelph professor, and Laurier Honorary Degree recipient Lawrence Hill is sharing his experiences encouraging teenage boys to read while incarcerated at Reading and Writing to Free the Mind with Lawrence Hill on Friday, February 26 at 11:30am.
Kitchener Chef Andrew Beckford shares some of his favourite stories and recipes gained from traveling from coast to coast across Canada with Cooking Across Canada, part of Laurier Alumni’s Black History Month event series at 1pm.
The WOKE WO/MEN speaking events are TEDTalk-Style evenings focused on sharing stories of racialized individuals in our community who have overcome adversity and who continue to inspire hope and possibility. Hosted and co-created by Carla Beharry and Selam Debs, their 7th event, and first virtual experience is happening on Friday, February 26 from 6:30-9:30pm. In honour of Black History Month this event features music, dance, and speakers spanning generations who embody excellence and mentorship sharing stories about the Black experience.
Saturday, February 27
We can’t get back into movie theatres yet…but you can still support you local cinemas. The Apollo has their Mystery Movie Night #2 on Saturday, February 27.
Sunday, February 28
Live @ 44 Gaukel presents Jaguar Sun + Ahmri Vandeborne at 8pm. This event pairs a live musical performance with visual artwork from a different local designer each month. The visual set created for the show is unique to the artist's interpretation of the band's music, making for a truly joint showcase of music and art, together.
Coming up in March…
Femme Folks Fest 2021 At Home is coming to a laptop near year this March 8 to 20. It’s an all virtual festival dedicated and in celebration of Women identified or presenting occurring during International Women’s Month. Femme Folks Fest is an opportunity to create spaces for community members - both artists and audience members alike - to come together and watch performances, engage in conversation, and celebrate the incredible work of femme-identifying artists everywhere.
Celebrated in March worldwide, International Women’s month is a focal point for the championing of women’s rights and gender equality. At present there is no consistent large-scale programming dedicated to Women in Waterloo Region to coincide with International Women’s Month. Femme Folks Fest aims to be the change-maker. All events are provided at no cost to the public or if able, by suggested donation. The decision to provide a mix of barrier-free events is intentional and created to invite as many local folks to the Festival as possible during these still unprecedented times.
For more, including how to access your Festival Pass check out femmefolksfest.ca.
Ways to support local.
The Princess Cinema’s online auction and sale ends on February 28!
Congratulations Counterpoint Brewing Co. friends on your second anniversary!!
RunWaterloo has a new physically-distant event series to help you have fun while enjoying the outdoors.
What to read.
No packing snow? No problem. Matt Morris has a quick video up on how to turn non-packing snow into something you can sculpt.
We all know housing prices are just stupid right now. There’s lots of factors involved - but one big one is family units in new developments. Read more from Jackie Sharkey on the CBC - How the 'missing middle' is pushing K-W housing prices higher and higher.