Brenda Slomka

yesterday (Sun Feb 9) cross country check up was speaking about pedestrian safety. It was informative and such a reminder of how there’s much we can do to help make streets safe. There was data on the fact that almost all pedestrian accidents are NOT the fault of the walker but the driver. here’s two small examples that Jen spoke about on this segment around how we can design smart, safe streets.

30 years ago, a man walked into a class, separated the women and men, told the men to leave and then murdered 14 woman, because they were... women. today I consider more profoundly what it means to engage myself in working to end violence against women. today I remember 14 women who in 1989 were murdered because they were woman; women studying engineering. today I choose to work in my community with men & women who desire to stand against the gender based violence. today I remember. today I give my voice to say we have to do this as a community. today I ask you to commit to doing your part to make it safe for women to live in their communities. oh hope, oh peace, may we find you this season! #montreal #endviolenceagainstwomen #ecolepolytechnique

today, on 'Orange Shirt' day for our Nations, I wanted to share this film from the National Film Board. It's a powerful, honest portrayal based on personal testimony from some survivors. I would encourage you to watch it. It's important for our collective understanding of the history of what we know as Canada and history of Residential Schools. #truthandreconcilation

Just saw this article posted. A couple thoughts on this, cognisant that there are some details in the article that one might suggest I missed based on what I'm about to detail below. It's easy to put a bunch of words down, but it's another thing to make sure those words are deeply planted in values and foundation that will make a lasting difference. 1. While I appreciate advocacy groups, this really is what City Council should be for, in that, council should be seeking inpu...t from the community and then representing the best ideas based on policy and research around city planning, and there is such good research available, not to mention the School of Planning at Queen's 2. I hope that ideas this group puts forward would always evaluate their decisions/suggestions through an Indigenous lens as we support and commit to the calls to action within the Truth and Reconciliation final paper. Even before this, I hope that they invite Indigenous leaders to sit on the advocacy committee. 3. I hope this group makes a commitment to consider all the good work done with the Poverty Reduction Strategy, and some of the conversations that need to continue as it pertains to how we can grow our city for all. 4. I hope that the ideas put forward also factor in an environmental lens, considering seven generations, and considers the potential devastating impacts of decisions for growth that does not respect the natural environment, even if this isn't popular or what the business community wants. I'm curious to watch and engage with this group as it grows and forms.

Did you Kingston is one of two Ontario municipalities having a referendum for ranked ballot voting? Take a moment to visit YES Kingston on FB to gather information and to hear about the upcoming concert with the one and only Sarah Harmer on Oct 2! Let’s make some history in the province of Ontario.

note: this was posted on my personal page yesterday and I wanted to share it here as well~ This painting is entitled Still Dancing by Jon Labillois who donated it to the Native Women’s Shelter of Montreal. He writes: The idea for the title came from my little sister: Dancers dance for those who cannot, the sick, the elders, and those who are gone. It’s like all those women are still dancing thru her Today on National Indigenous Day, I remember all the Missing and Murdered... Aboriginal women and acknowledge a structural system that devalued and harmed these women, these precious souls. This post is just that, a post, but it’s one way I acknowledged and one way I use my voice. There is still much work to be done and I commit again to continue to be part of this journey of reconciliation.