Waking up an early for these events.
TL;WR for November 5 through November 11 2024
What to do.
Tuesday, November 5
For the 2024-2025 school year, the Business & Education Partnership of Waterloo Region (BEP) is introducing the free Explore Your Future Speaker Series to help youth and their caregivers navigate their career journey. The series launches with OUTreach: Cultivating Support Networks in Your Career Journey at the KPL Central Branch at 5:30 pm, featuring a panel of professionals from the queer community discussing their career journeys.
Waterloo Public Library presents a discussion with Ariel Gordon, Yvonne Blomer and Sue Sorensen in partnership with Words Worth Books at 7 pm. They’ll discuss their newest books, Fungal: Foraging in the Urban Forest (Gordon), Death of Persephone: A Murder (Blomer) and Acutely Life (Sorensen). The event will be moderated by author Mark Morton.
Wilfrid Laurier University presents Signal Fire, a 30-minute documentary film followed by a Q&A at Princess Twin Cinemas. In 2020, a group of Indigenous and non-Indigenous scholars wrote a paper outlining 10 calls to action for natural scientists. The calls were developed to facilitate reconciliation, rebalance relationships between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians, share Canadian history and create a path forward based on mutual respect.
Juno Award-nominated band Valley returns to Maxwell’s with very special guests renforshort at 7 pm.
Newly uncovered from the MT Space archives, IMPACT 09 is documentary by Azam Fouk Aladeh covering the first ever IMPACT festival and all the struggles that came with it. From the conception of the festival to opening day, come see the early days of the company as it brought theatre artists from around the world to Kitchener, Ontario for an international theatre festival like no other. 7 pm at First United Church (16 William St W, Waterloo).
Wednesday, November 6
Check out Stand Up for PCL at Maxwell’s Concerts & Events, featuring Rob Bebenek and Martha Chaves, all for an incredible cause — Parents for Community Living (PCL). The organization helps to reduce waitlists, support caregivers, and provide essential services for individuals with developmental disabilities.
Waterloo Public Library has a screening of the short documentary film A Human Picture. The doc covers Ontario’s short-lived Basic Income Pilot and the evening includes presentations and discussions with local experts about basic income programs.
Thursday, November 7
Off The Block is bring its Retro & Revival Market to Farm League Brewing on November 7 from 6 to 10 pm. It’s an evening of music, thrifted clothes, craft beverages, photo opportunities, and good times!
The Laurier Brass Ensemble is having their Fall Concert at 7:30pm ! If you enjoy brass, fanfares, ABBA and more brass (+ percussion!), come to the Laurier Faculty of Music for a fun show! Tickets are free for youth, seniors and students while general admission is sliding from $10-20!
Friday, November 8
The UW Faculty of Arts hosts The 2024 U.S. Presidential Election: A nation divided? with an expert panel of scholars discussing the 47th presidential election and what it means for US-Canada relations, Canadian domestic politics, the role of religion in politics, information on social media, and the future of liberal democracy. 4:30 pm.
Join your Kitchener Rangers on November 8 for their Remembrance Day game vs. the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Kick off your weekend with $5 pints and live music from Mud Skunks at Counterpoint Brewing starting at 5 pm.
LiftOff Launchers is an exciting evening of inspiration and empowerment as we celebrate the achievements of Black entrepreneurs at St. George’s Hall in Waterloo. You’ll hear inspiring stories from successful Black entrepreneurs, including keynote speaker Teneile Warren, who have overcome challenges and achieved remarkable success. Gain insights from their journeys, learn from their experiences, and get motivated to pursue your own entrepreneurial dreams
PickleFest is back at THEMUSEUM! Admission is $20 and includes your tasting passport, a beer tasting glass, activities, games, exhibitions, and more.
The Elmira Theatre Company presents The Birds and the Bees from November 8 to 17. “Things get a little chaotic when Gail, a beekeeper living on a farm, suddenly finds her divorcing daughter moving back home. Throw in Earl, the gruff but lovable neighbour, and Ben, a young university student studying the bees, and you’ve got the recipe for comedy. Chaos may ensue, but love always finds a way! “
Emmanuel Concerts presents the “Shantyman from Newfoundland”, Séan McCann, live at 7 pm.
Rusty Nail’s exclusive comedy series at DEN1880 is back this week with headliner Efthimios Nasiopoulos, who you would have seen on Caroline’s On Broadway, JFL Northwest, The Hubcap Comedy Festival, Winnipeg Comedy Festival and CBC’s LOL.
Maxwell’s has a AC/DC & Guns N Roses Tribute Night starting at 8 pm.
Saturday, November 9
Kitchener Public Library is back with Cosmic Sci-Fi Fest from 10 to 1 pm followed by a free screening of the best Star Wars film, Rogue One: a Star Wars Story at 1 pm in the Central Branch theatre. Best Start Wars film? You bet. I woke up this morning and chose violence.
Browse gifts, wares, and more from over 20 local and small businesses at the Willibald Winter Market from 10 to 4 pm. Enjoy drinks from the Willibald bar, including gingerbread gin apple cider, and Fat Rabbit will be serving up food from their outdoor fire table. Entry is free, with donations encouraged for the Willibald Community Fund.
Together We're Boisterous is the must-experience comedy variety show featuring stand up, improv, musical comedy and burlesque from Pinch! A smorgasbord of different approaches to laughter! Saturday Nov 9 - 7 pm, TWB Brewing Co-Op in Kitchener. Sliding scale tickets start at $11.
Pop-folk musician Coraline James plays the Emmanuel Concerts at 7 pm.
Rusty Nail Saturday is going down at Morty’s Pub with headliner Dan Duvall, seen on Just For Laughs Vancouver, CBC’s LOL, Rifflandia Festival and more.
The Duncan Hopkins Quartet plays the KW Jazz Room at 8 pm.
Counterpoint Brewing has a Songwriters Night featuring Neil Little, Andrew Bentham Riley, and Echo Theory Project starting at 7 pm.
The Rabbid Fox has Hopper live starting at 7:30 pm.
The Stuck in the 90s Band plays Edelweiss starting at 8:30 pm.
LAUGHSQUATCH! is back at the Yeti Cafe with comedians comedians Chris Locke, Jackie Pirico and Michael Balazo at 7:30 pm.
Sunday, November 10
The Society of Freethinkers (SOFREE) is organizing the first inaugural humanist conference on Nov 16, 2024 and registrations are due by Nov 10 because it is a catered event.
Tailgate for the Bills game without driving to Buffalo. The Gaslight District has a free Buffalo Bills Tailgate for the Bills vs. Colts and Eagles vs. Cowboys on their GIANT screen. It's "Bring Your Own"...food, drinks, grills, decorations, and game day vibes! If you are bringing your own grill, the Gaslight team asks that you please lay cardboard underneath to protect the pavement from oil spills.
Shocked & Appealed Comedy presents Midnight Run Comedy at Midnight Run with headliner DK Phan. They’ve got two shows: 7 pm and 9 pm.
Monday, November 11
Bring your kids to KPL to learn about a new sea creature each week at Little Zoologists at 11 am. Registration required.
Waterloo Public Library invites kids between 8 and 12 to celebrate Guinness World Records Day by taking part in some record-breaking at the library. Some of the activities include hopping on one foot, keeping a balloon up in the air, and bouncing ping-pong balls into egg cartons. Who knows - you may just be a Main Library Record Breaker! 4 to 5 pm.
Ways to get involved.
Join KidsAbility on November 12 and November 13 from 4 to 9 pm at the Kitchener location of State & Main! During these special evenings, 10% of all sales will be donated directly to KidsAbility, helping us support children and youth with disabilities and developmental delays in our community.
What to read.
Chef Nick’s Blog: Kidding around with Cookies (Explore Waterloo Region)
‘Community gem’: Kitchener looks to grow Conrad Centre into ‘vibrant cultural hub’ (Brent Davis, The Record)
Tasty twists on the classic breakfast sandwich (Jasmine Mangalaseril, CBC KW)
Hi,
COMPASS Refugee Centre would like to share something in your newsletter. Could you please contact me? 519-571-1912, compass@compassrefugee.ca
Thank you!
Warmly,
Josi