journalism – Clare Bonnyman

‘Crazy-busy already’ low-income veterinary clinic opens in Waterloo Region

Kitchener’s East Village Animal Hospital offers veterinary services low-income residents can afford

By Clare Bonnyman, CBC News Posted: Aug 28, 2017

evah1 — This cat, from the Toronto Cat Rescue, is one of dozens that will be spayed and neutered at the East Village Animal Hospital, a not-for-profit veterinary clinic, and the only in Waterloo Region. (Clare Bonnyman/CBC)

The East Village Animal Hospital is the first low-income veterinary clinic of its kind in the region, and is already high in demand after only being open a few weeks.

“We are crazy busy already,” said Ann-Marie Patkus-Cook, hospital manager.

As one of the only options for low-income pet owners, it’s not surprising that the hospital is gaining momentum fast.

Continue reading “‘Crazy-busy already’ low-income veterinary clinic opens in Waterloo Region”

Kids at Junior Peacebuilders day camp assemble aid for refugees

Youth from 7-14 assemble relief kits for refugees ‘helping the world be a better place’

CBC News Posted: Aug 24, 2017

mcc1 — Twenty-nine kids from age 7-14 packed into the Mennonite Central Committee Warehouse in Kitchener, Ont. on August 23, 2017 to fill relief kits for refugees and learn about international aid relief. (Clare Bonnyman/CBC)

The last few days of summer holidays are precious to kids. But the 29 youths who gathered in the back of a Kitchener, Ont. thrift store warehouse this week for a day camp made their holiday a humanitarian effort.

The Mennonite Central Committee (MCC)’s Peacebuilders Day Camp gathered public-spirited youngsters together to pack aid relief kits and take part in the “blanket exercise,” an education tool used to start conversations about reconciliation.

High school students at SHAD show their solutions to food security

“We kind of see relief aid as this way to have a bigger conversation around how we use our lives to help our communities be a little bit better for all of us,” said organizer Carolyn Gray.

Continue reading “Kids at Junior Peacebuilders day camp assemble aid for refugees”

Laurier establishes Indigenous Curriculum Specialist

The new position at WLU is one of few across the province, to connect culture and academic studies

CBC News Posted: Aug 24, 2017

ics1 — Wilfrid Laurier University established an Indigenous Curriculum Specialist position this year, to help support the indigenization of the campus. (GatorEG/Wikipedia)

Wilfrid Laurier University has hired an Indigenous Curriculum Specialist, to help staff and faculty progress with the continued work of reconciliation in the post-secondary environment.

Erin Hodson, is one of only a handful of other ICS across Canada, and as a result the role is very much in development.

“It’s sort of being created as we go,” she said.

//www.cbc.ca/i/caffeine/syndicate/?mediaId=1031446595773

Continue reading “Laurier establishes Indigenous Curriculum Specialist”

Guelph Food Bank: demand grows 30 per cent

Pauline Cripps says that even with a 30 per cent increase in visits, the GFB still won’t turn anyone away

CBC News Posted: Aug 23, 2017

gfb1 — The Guelph Food Bank has continued to meet the needs of its community, despite a 30 per cent rise in visits from 2015-2016. This is largely in part to a matching increase in volunteers, according to Pauline Cripps. (Guelph Food Bank/Facebook )

The Guelph Food Bank is an important part of the community; now more so than ever, says Pauline Cripps, coordinator at the GFB.

The food bank saw a rise of 30 per cent in visits from 2015-2016, with 26,896 visits growing to 35,160.

Continue reading “Guelph Food Bank: demand grows 30 per cent”

Pollution reduction work can take decades to see results

University of Waterloo professor says it can take up to 35 years to see the effect of pollution reduction

CBC News Posted: Aug 23, 2017

pollution1 — In this Aug. 3, 2014, file photo, an algae bloom covers Lake Erie near the City of Toledo water intake crib off the shore of Curtice, Ohio. Blue-green algae has been causing issues across Canada this summer, an issue that comes from pollution practices we saw in the 1970s and 80s. (The Associated Press)

A professor at the University of Waterloo reports that while efforts to reduce water pollution from fertilizers have increased, Canadians will have to wait decades to see the actual results.

“Some time frames that we saw here ranged from 10 years to 30 or 35,” said Nandita Basu, associate professor of science and engineering at UW.

Continue reading “Pollution reduction work can take decades to see results”

Waterloo wins pair of 2017 Ontario municipalities awards

City wins both of year’s awards, for innovation and asset management

CBC News Posted: Aug 22, 2017

waterloo1 — The City of Waterloo cleaned up at the 2017 Association of Municipalities of Ontario conference, where the city won both awards for innovation and asset management. (City of Waterloo)

The City of Waterloo won awards in both categories recognized at this year’s Association of Municipalities of Ontario Conference in Ottawa, where the province’s 444 municipalities gathered to tackle issues and celebrate achievements.

“I really think this is what shows we have a lot of smart-city technology here in the Waterloo Region,” Mayor Dave Jaworsky told CBC News.

Continue reading “Waterloo wins pair of 2017 Ontario municipalities awards”

Tent City: The voices of Kitchener’s protest camp

Young people camping in Victoria Park want a downtown drop-in centre for homeless youth

By Clare Bonnyman, Danielle Kappele, CBC News Posted: Aug 22, 2017

tent1 — Devon Roussell (left) lost his partner, house and job in one week he said, and is camping out in tent city to try and raise awareness of the struggles of homeless youth in Kitchener. He stands with a man who identified himself as Jonathan. (Flora Pan/CBC)

A tent city has been set up in Victoria Park by people who want to see a drop-in centre for homeless youth in downtown Kitchener.

The group, which is located in the back corner of the park, started small but is quickly growing, organizers said.

Continue reading “Tent City: The voices of Kitchener’s protest camp”

Queen Street redesign to tackle laneways, green spaces

The suggested design would enhance ‘lingering spaces’ in the city

CBC News Posted: Aug 21, 2017

redesign1 — The ‘showpiece’ of the project, is Vogelsang Green, which would include an amphitheatre, green lawn, and enhanced space for performances and festivals. (City of Kitchener)

The Queen Street Placemaking plan is set to give downtown Kitchener a facelift.

“Placemaking is about turning those unutilized spaces into great memorable places for people,” said Brandon Sloan, Manager of long range and policy planning with the City of Kitchener.

The new and improved plan has four main components on Queen between Duke and Charles Streets, and will be reviewed by city council August 21, with the work planned for 2019.

Continue reading “Queen Street redesign to tackle laneways, green spaces”

Rise in food bank use hints at larger issue across region

The truth about food insecurity, is it’s not about food, says Public Health nutritionist

By Clare Bonnyman, CBC News Posted: Aug 21, 2017

food 1 — Food banks across the country, such as this one in Toronto, are reporting increases in users. The Guelph food bank reported an increase in visits of 30 per cent from 2015-2016. (CBC)

Food security is not a food issue.

That’s a message that Lisa Needham, a Public Health Nutritionist in the Waterloo Region, struggles to get across.

Continue reading “Rise in food bank use hints at larger issue across region”

Quantum physics for babies — a different bedtime story

Chris Ferrie writes ‘Baby University’ series, to teach big ideas to little ones

CBC News Posted: Aug 21, 2017

ferrie 1 — Chris Ferrie writes books on science for babies, covering subjects like quantum physics, general relativity, and rocket science. (Chris Ferrie/Twitter)

Chris Ferrie writes books about rocket science for babies.

The quantum theorist and alumnus of the Institute for Quantum Computing at the University of Waterloo describes himself as a “theorist by day, father by night.”

//www.cbc.ca/i/caffeine/syndicate/?mediaId=1029089347794

Continue reading “Quantum physics for babies — a different bedtime story”