In Conversation with Rashmi

If you are a hockey fan don't forget to check out Hockey Hall of Fame in
It's home of the Stanley Cup and the finest collection of hockey artifacts in the world. Dedicated to the history of ice hockey, it holds exhibits about players, teams, National Hockey League records, memorabilia and NHL trophies including the Stanley Cup

After a long break my 2023 began bringing out the best of me. Here's wishing you all a fabulous year ahead 🥂 🎊

Representation Matters: Making community theatre about the whole community

For the first time in its 87 years, Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre (KWLT) is staging a production written by Canadians of colour, starring Canadians of colour, and directed by a Canadian of colour.

From November 10th – 26th, KWLT will be presenting nine performances of Ali & Ali: The Deportation Hearings, written by Camyar Chai, Guillermo Verdecchia and Marcus Youssef.

Director Diana Lobb, a lecturer in the English department at St. Jerome’s University at the University of Waterloo, is no stranger to KWLT. She has directed and acted in several past productions, including a COVID lockdown radio show in conjunction with local radio station Midtown Radio KW. She is excited to add Ali & Ali: The Deportation Hearings to her repertoire, which invites the audience to laugh with the cast’s exuberant performance, while exploring some serious implications about the treatment of minorities in Canada’s political climate.

The cast brings a wide range of experience to the production. For Jeffrey Song, this is his first time taking the stage. Prashant Das is returning to the stage after a six-year hiatus. Hiyam Mahrat was seen earlier this fall in Flush Ink Production's Asphalt Jungle Shorts XIX. Oluwakayode Sodunke was in the Stratford Festival production of Wole Soyinka’s Death and the King’s Horseman.

For more information, please visit www.kwlt.org or send questions to [email protected]

(Photo credit all: Ange Clayfield)

Our community came together this morning in remembrance and to honour armed forces members who have died in the line of duty at City of Waterloo

With hope, love, light and happiness
Happy Diwali 💕

There is so much to be thankful for everyday
Happy Thanksgiving to you all

At the first-of-its-kind 'Every Child Matters' crosswalk that was unveiled in Victoria Park today. Also added were 6,321 footprints along the path leading to the crosswalk in memory of the Indigenous children killed at residential schools in Canada.
A tribute to the victims of the residential school system and the lives lost.

A powerful and beautiful ceremony followed by speeches, music and dances.

If you are headed to be sure to stop by Noah's Ark Cafe in . This cute little welcoming inside the Ark has some incredible delicious meals prepared fresh daily. Our meal was prepared by the lovely Lorraine and Robin.

I also got to chat with Lorraine who shared some insights into the Ark and it's actually her dad who built the Ark, Pastor Paul Smith.

Started in the late 1980's Pastor Paul Smith had a vision of the Ark and in 1993 the construction began along with carpenter David Lloyd who played a pivotal role in the construction.

The Ark is 300 feet long , 36 feet wide and 2 stories high comprising of 30 rooms, ministry offices and the cute little Noah's Ark Cafe.
To put the size into context the dimensions of the Ark are approximately 2/3 of the size of the Biblical Ark.

Such a fun afternoon at Southampton Marine Heritage Festival where the highlight of this festival is the 8th Annual

There were all kinds of very creative Carboard Boats. Some interesting boats made with lawn moving and other packaging cardboard boxes using tons of duck tape while a few other fun boats had some creative names like Mid-Night Glider, Dead Mans Raft, Surfer Girl Pizza, Southern Cross, Fire Wacker and many more.

Most made it to the finish line but unfortunately a few boats capsized but the kids never gave up and kept going. Prizes were awarded to the Fastest Boat and the Best Bedecked Boat for the most spectacular sinking among many other awards. 🙂

I happen to meet this adventurous duo just after our dinner. I saw them bike down the ally with all their gear and grab dinner at the same place Son of a Peach Pizzeria at
Btw the pizzas here are one of the best we have ever had that serves up hand-forged, hand-made pizza with farm-to-table ingredients.

So just as we were leaving I heard one of them say, let's head to our home on wheels & that got me curious to find out about their adventure.
The duo had arrived to from and will be biking almost 2,050 kms over the next few days all the way to to explore and experience the beauty as they cycle to their destination.
They had basic essentials, tents & cooking supplies.
One of the cyclists Jessie is capturing their adventure and experience in real time and you can follow Jessie on Instagram

A georgeous summer afternoon at the 55th Annual Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Festival at and KW Pow Wow on Roo's Island
The event is on June 25th & 26th, 2022

Kitchener Waterloo Multicultural Centre - KWMC

when Elvis and Scarlett hung out together 😉

ELVIS the big screen biopic is coming out and the incredible actor Austin Butler's portrayal of Elvis Presley looks mesmerizing.
Apparently Austin Butler actually sings himself in the first half during the early Elvis era , then replaced by tracks of the real Elvis in the later years.
Recently at the Cannes Film Festival ELVIS got a 12 minute standing ovation, the longest ovation ever received for a film.

Can't wait to watch ELVIS on the big screen 📽

On the bus at Victoria Park tri-Pride event today. A great event to learn, educate and remind ourselves to embrace and celebrate our diversity rather than discriminate based on s*xual orientation and gender identity.

✔
If you haven't yet, get out and vote 🇨🇦


🇨🇦

Looking to enjoy some fireworks for Victoria Day check out City of Waterloo new firework bylaw in effect this long weekend.

With the revised bylaw, fireworks are now only permitted:
- on private property
- from dusk until 11:00 p.m.
- on Sunday, Monday and Tuesday of Victoria Day

Click below for further information 👇

https://www.waterloo.ca/en/living/bylaws-and-enforcement.aspx #

Bylaws and enforcement Find out how to make a complaint or request support with enforcement. Descriptions and links to our most asked-about bylaws.

CreateWaterloo

Join us this Friday, May 6th for our first Movies in the Park in 2️⃣ years!

To kick off the season, we’ll be playing an all time classic, JUMANJI (1995)🦏🎲🐒

We encourage you to bring chairs, blankets, your favourite snacks and dress for the weather! Recommended arrival is between 8pm & 8:30pm as movies will begin after sunset.

Movies in the Park are free and located in front of the Waterloo Park Banshell. Registration is not required for this event.

Natallia Kurhan who survived the Ukraine War made it here to KW and is now fundraising to help others stuck there.
Read here story below and there is a link to the GoFundMe page if you would like to donate.

https://kitchener.citynews.ca/local-news/after-finding-safe-haven-in-kitchener-ukrainian-woman-now-fundraising-to-help-those-who-stayed-behind-5313882

After finding safe haven in Kitchener, Ukrainian woman now fundraising to help those who stayed behind Nataliia Kurhan says she packed up and left home with her two kids and their cat the day after Russia invaded

At the Zonta Film Festival tonight

A Special International Women's Day Film Event this evening supporting this year’s theme of featuring the film POWER MERI
The film follows Papua New Guinea's first national women's rugby league team, the PNG Orchids, on their journey to the 2017 World Cup in Australia.

The Zonta Film Festival (ZFF) showcases inspiring, powerful and thought-provoking films made by women. The Festival is on from April 27th to April 30, 2022 at the Princess Twin Cinema
All proceeds will be donated to support local and global initiatives improving the lives of women and girls. In 2019 ZFF was able contribute over $22,000 to local organizations and in 2021 our IWD event contributed over $20,000 to Zonta International projects.

Thank you YoureWelcomeCharcuterie for the amazing charcuterie box.

Zonta Club of Kitchener - Waterloo

Bicycle Film Festival 2022 is coming to the Princess Twin, May 5 - 7!

The Bicycle Film Festival is an all-new selection of the best short films from around the world celebrating bicycling and bicycle culture.
The BFF offers an international point of view of the cycling movement. The stories appeal to a wide audience from film connoisseurs to avid cyclists and everything in between. The Bicycle Film Festival plays an important role in creating an eco-friendly society and bringing diverse communities together.

Tickets: Adults ($20); Children ($15); Family ($50)

CO-PRESENTED AND SPONSORED BY King Street Cycles with support from Uptown Waterloo BIA Business Community Group , Waterloo Sports Medicine Clinic & City of Waterloo

https://www.eventbrite.ca/e/bicycle-film-festival-2022-waterloo-tickets-308881672397?aff=odeccpebemailcampaigns&utm_source=eventbrite&utm_medium=ebcampaigns&utm_campaign=5618869&utm_term=ctabutton&mipa=ABIdvVuB6DQkrM7OEzvSVrJv6iGpZUhFA8_1BoTbVvDZoceyn6TzmokzQANS8ziT3W7SBKm22T-GHlN1y8IOqmYEBFIkyn_-Eh_mnvfHLmfw-RTTC1KOgSlZsMbSK5AXURvn_ue_o6hKKS6geIPPDp0CovryEgSpWCp576ljPgjwLCV2hhEWvyY9gNq8QHnBm1CIab2Sd3Nk1bLYgeSYBh4ZnLzcG6IcLf21ISXzIEC7idk5E5aQ0eCENWKex_mgbF6DgLe_GU55VaELw394TA88bXzqXmLZqw

Bicycle Film Festival 2022 - Waterloo Bicycle Film Festival - 2022. ALL NEW! A celebration of the bicycle through a festival program of curated short films.

Are you excited for Spring as much as I am ?
Don't forget to set your clocks ahead one hour at 2:00 am Sunday

This International Women's Day, I had the pleasure of chatting with the amazing Sowmya Rajasekaran from
Sowmya Rajasekaran is a champion and an outspoken advocate for & with a key focus on social impact. When COVID-19 hit, Sowmya was laid off and began reaching out to her community to check in. These conversations inspired her to launch Buildupwomen series , an online community created to inspire, learn from, share, support, engage and build up women during and post-COVID-19.

So far, the series has launched over 12 live series discussions on key subject matters including LEAD-HER-SHIP, Economic Abuse, Job Loss & Creating Opportunity, Anti-Racism & Inclusion, Accessibility, Education, Allyship, Miscarriage, Motherhood & Everything in between, Post-Pandemic support for Women Entrepreneurs and several more. The series included over 40+ inspiring female disruptors, change-makers, influencers, advocates & community leaders across Canada with a core focus on diversity & inclusion. This year, Buildupwomen series was named Canada's Top 100 Recovery Projects in 2020 by Future of Good. Sowmya has also launched a brand new series as part of BuildUpWomen called BuildUp series!

Click on the link below👇

https://youtu.be/1gkMb38bwj4

Raise a cup (of tea) to the wonderful women around you this !
Coalition of Muslim Women is holding a High Tea and Tales with Muslim Women event for all those that want to learn about Muslim women's roles, traditions, and cultures.
Tickets (free or donate as you can):
http://tinyurl.com/TnTalesMarch8

Tuesday, March 8th
5:30 pm to 7:30 pm

Fauzia Mazhar Coalition of Muslim Women - KW

High Tea and Tales with Muslim Women Heart conversations with our diverse hosts and an assortment of delicious multicultural treats.

Amazing Work 👏 Kitchener Public Library

In 2019, we took our first step towards and began offering free menstrual products in all our washrooms at Central Library. ⁠
⁠
Today, we're excited to announce that this program is expanding to all our community library locations. All washrooms, at all KPL locations, now have free menstrual products. ⁠
⁠
You are welcome to take what you need ❤️

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PS: This project is led by our Community Connections team, which currently has an opening for Senior Library Assistant, Community Health and Wellness. Join the team and be part of impactful initiatives like this. Apply here: http://kpl.org/jobs

Shari Goldstein has been a member and volunteer, with the 100+ Women Who Care Waterloo Region since inception 8yrs ago.
100 Women Who Care Waterloo Region is a chapter of women all wanting to give back in the community. This chapter was born in 2013 and not only has 100 Women but closer to over 200 Women now who get together for a great cause.

Shari shares the amazing work this chapter has been doing for many years and the idea behind the 3 nominated non profit organizations in the community that get picked and voted for the winning charity. To date, they have raised $625,500.00 dollars in just 35hrs.

Click on the link below 👇 to listen and watch Shari Goldstein share the fantastic work of 100+ Women Who Care Waterloo Region

https://youtu.be/pRzdrxM04BM

Living in one of the fastest growing communities in Canada in , I sit down with Shari Goldstein to talk about the incredible work at 100 Women Who Care Waterloo Region and its impact in the community.

Stay Tuned !!!!!

It was an absolute pleasure to chat with Sarah Bester. Thank you Sarah for having me on your podcast.
Sarah and I spoke about my show, the power of storytelling, my riveting story and how it changed me as a person. The pre-diagnosis and the post-diagnosis Rashmi and the power of letting go.

**********
Reposted from Shine Mama Podcast

How would you feel if the plans you had for your life came crashing down in an instant?

That’s exactly what happened to when she received a shocking medical diagnosis that changed her life forever. But not in the way you might expect.

In her words: "I now hear, see, feel the world so differently.” And you will too after listening to her story of hope and resilience in the face of challenge.

You’ll also be inspired by what (and more importantly who) she let go of as a result of this life-changing experience.

For anyone feeling burdened and overwhelmed by life right now, this episode is the boost of positivity and gratitude you need to see things from a different perspective. 💗

Thanks Rashmi for sharing your experience!

Check out our conversation in the link below 👇
https://www.shinemama.ca/

Only way to help is to spread awareness to kids and everyone around.

Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council

She's back!
CHELSEA'S STORY | Feb 22-26, 2022
Click to register 👇 https://mtspace.ca/productions/chelseas-story/

In this live virtual play by MT Space Chelsea is returning to the screen on National Day 2022. Join the conversation after the show in a talk back facilitated by Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region (all performances are open to the public, Q&As will be geared to specific audiences).

Chelsea's Story is based on a true story and centres on a group of three students who discover the diary of a 15-year-old girl named Chelsea, who is targeted and groomed by a man posing as her boyfriend to be trafficked for s*x. The play and talk back discuss how to understand and recognize s*xual exploitation and trafficking.

Appropriate for ages 12 and above.

Today on World Cancer Day I would like to share my conversation with this incredible Viji Venkatesh who brings with her 35 years of professional experience in cancer patient care & support in her role as Regional Head, India & South Asia at The Max Foundation.

Viji began with The Max Foundation in 2001 by leading the administration of the Glivec International Patient Assistance Program (GIPAP) in India. Today, in addition to GIPAP, she has a key role in the management of The Max Foundation's Max Access Solutions programs in the region. During the last 15 years alongside these access programs, she has developed the Friends of Max (FOM) patient support group, which began in & now has fifteen local chapters throughout India with over 250 core group volunteer leaders representing more than 18,000 members.

Through the years, Viji has served many community leadership roles in the arena; including her time as the Asia Coordinator for the International Union Against Cancer (UICC) where she developed & led symposiums, workshops & learning programs. She was also instrumental in help setting up the Preventive Oncology Department at Tata Memorial Hospital in 1991, where she has contributed to the renowned institute as an active member of its Ethics Committee.
She is also one of the Executive Committee members of the Marrow Donor Registry India & the Terry Fox Run India Committee. She is a Trustee of Salman KHAN-The Being Human Foundation as well as the Friends of Max Charitable Trust.

In 2009, Viji was awarded the Scroll of Honor for her outstanding contribution in the field of Social Service from the Health Minister of Bihar at the World Cancer Day Celebration in Patna, India.
In 2016 she was awarded the Max Patient Advocacy Award for her relentless efforts in convincing the Government of India to reinstate the Customs Duty waiver on the drug that was the Gift of Life to thousands of CML & GIST patients in India.

Click on the link below to watch and listen 👇
https://youtu.be/QO6LdBGe8j4

Chai for Cancer Friends of Max The Max Foundation