More than 75 people came out to an early morning meeting at Cambridge City hall on Friday, October 24 to express there support for “Now is the Time to Reduce Poverty in Ontario”.

Sponsored by Opportunities Waterloo, the Social Planning Council of Kitchener-Waterloo and the Social Planning Council of Cambridge & North Dumfries, the event featured Cambridge Mayor Doug Craig, who read a resolution endorsing the 25 in 5 Declaration passed by the Regional Municipality of Waterloo on October 8.
Guest speaker Peter Clutterbuck of SPNO and the 25 in 5 Network reviewed the progress in the cross-Ontario campaign to build support for a poverty reduction strategy. Several community members shared their knowledge about the seriousness of the poverty issue in waterloo Region from both a community, professional and personal perspectives:

• Ann Tinker, a leader in the homelessness and affordable housing movement in Waterloo, spoke to the rapidly rising demand for shelter services in the community among both individuals and families. It is critical that affordable housing and housing allowances be a significant part of a poverty reduction strategy.
• Len Carter, community activist and local labour leader, raised the issue of major job losses in the region and the substitution of bad jobs for the previous good jobs with decent wages and benefits and working conditions. A good jobs strategy is an essential component of a poverty reduction strategy
• Deb Schlicter of the Home and Friendship Centre also expressed her concern about deteriorating living conditions for Waterloos’ low income people and support for the 25 in Declaration.
• Melanie Faith-Hope, who introduced her self as the “face of poverty” in Waterloo told of her own personal struggles to be recognized as a whole person with a contribution to make to the community since a disability plunged her into poverty and put her at the mercy of unfair and dehumanizing bureaucratic rules that impede rather than support her community involvement.

The gathering ended with a Stand Up of those who had endorsed the Declaration, both organizations and individuals, and those how indicated that they would be doing so. Computers with an Internet connection to the 25 in 5 web site were set up and available in the meeting room to give people a chance to endorse the Declaration before leaving the meeting.

On October 24, more than 75 community members gathered at the Meet You at The Square event organized by the Community Development Council of Quinte (CDCQ) for a “Taste of Poverty”. About thirty people held empty plates to symbolize hunger and poverty in the community.

Low income mothers did a short skit on poverty. Scotty Lalonde from Rock 107 radio read out the Quinte Covenant on Poverty, which was made available for all assembled to sign. A framed copy of the covenant was presented to two city councillors, Pat Culhane and Garnet Thompson;

Councillor Pat Culhane spoke of living as a single mother on social assistance and knowing what that was like. She assured the crowd that she would be presenting the “Quinte Covenant on Poverty” to the entire council and it would be signed by them. She also said the council would go on-line and support the 25 in 5 Poverty Reduction Declaration.

Scotty Lalonde also relayed that he, too, was living in poverty and dealing with depression only a few short years ago. He urged anyone currently living in poverty to stay positive and to be assured there was community support for them.

Ruth Ingersoll of CDCQ urged everyone to go on-line or call the 1-800 number to endorse the 25 in Declaration. She also urged people to assist in lifting the oppression of poverty by being aware of their neighbour’s situation (if they just lost their job, fallen on hard times, etc.) and lend a helping hand… it begins with us taking steps in our own community to reduce poverty as well as the local, provincial and federal governments.

The Belleville Intelligencer, the local daily newspaper, and The Community Press, a weekly newspaper, covered the event.

Submitted by Ruth Ingersoll, Community Development Council of Quinte

Over 75 people filled the Workers’ Arts and Heritage Centre on Tuesday, October 21 to view the quilt that formed the basis of a postcard campaign conducted over the last several months in Hamilton.

The Hamilton 25 in 5 group (Hamilton working Group on Ontario’s Poverty Reduction Strategy) hosted the event and co-chairs Brooke Camplin and Deirdre Pike moderated the speakers. Speakers included staff of the Arrell Youth Detention Centre where the quilt was created; Don Fraser, president of the Hamilton District Labour Council; Jane Aronson, Director of McMaster’s School of Social Work; Marv Friesen, minister, Welcome Inn; Peter Graefe, member of the Hamilton Working Group and McMaster professor; Debbie Wilke, Director on the board of the Hamilton Social Planning and Research Council; Rosemarie Chapman, member of the Campaign for Adequate Welfare and Disability Benefits; two leaders of ROCK – Raising Our Children’s Kids; Tom Cooper, Roundtable for Poverty Reduction; Barb Miller, Liberal riding association president.

These local leaders spoke about why they endorse the 25 in 5 declaration. They talked about why a poverty reduction strategy for Ontario is so important for Hamilton. Local stories illustrated the three prongs of the strategy (sustaining employment, livable incomes and strong and supportive communities).

Thousands of signed postcards were on display and the group was told the cards would be presented to Deb Matthews on Monday, Oct. 27.

Local print and broadcast media covered the event. The concept of a Living wage was picked up by one of the local radio stations.

There was so much energy in the place – everyone wants to participate in helping this get implemented. More and more people are joining the local effort to fight poverty. There was much enthusiasm for the arts aspect of the efforts with regard to the quilt. People were moved to tears by some of the stories that were shared by the speakers.

Prepared from information submitted by Deirdre Pike, Hamilton Social Planning and Research Council

About 50 low income people and social justice advocates gathered at the Dorothy O’Connell Monument on October 17 in Ottawa to commemorate the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty. The event was organized quickly following the federal election, since many had been caught up in the election campaign.

Speakers were:

• Michael Creek, Voices from the Street/NAPO
• Kat Fortin, ACORN Canada member
• Karri Munn-Venn, Citizens for Public Justice
• Sean McKenny, Ottawa District Labour Council
• Dennis Howlett, Make Poverty History

Main messages delivered focused on the impact of poverty on the poor; the need for a national poverty action strategy; the importance of labour market reforms.

This was another Stand Up event to add numbers to the international total representing global support for ending poverty.

Report prepared from information submitted by Rob Rainer, National Anti-Poverty Organization

About 250 people rallied in front of Sarnia City Hall on Friday, October 17 to mark the International Day for the Eradication of Poverty.

The gathering included low-income people, municipal officials, high school students and students from the Adult Learning Centre and Lambton College, members of the faith community, teachers and social service agency and community legal clinic workers.

Speakers included:

• Ruth Guerts, Faculty Professor at Lambton College, who talked about child poverty in Canada and the world.
• Mayor Mike Bradley who talked about local grassroots solutions to poverty.
• Christine McDonald, a single parent mom who talked about having a college diploma and a job but still can’t adequately feed and clothe her children.

A main message delivered was that the Federal Government needs to do its share to fight poverty.

The Sarnia Observer covered the event. It was noted that this year’s rally to fight poverty was much larger than the one held last year.

Report prepared from information provided by Karen Mathewson of Community Legal Assistance Sarnia