Towards “A Civil Conversation”: Talk by Martin de Groot
Nov 17, 6:00 PM–6:45 PM
Queen Street Commons Cafe
43 Queen St S, Kitchener, ON N2G 1V8, Canada
Free
Organized by Marinus de Groot
The election is over. Our newly elected Mayor and Council will be sworn in on Monday, November 16. Speaker Martin de Groot presents a short talk proposing:
- that because we’re at the beginning of a new four-year cycle in our local/regional municipal order, there’s an opportunity to set the tone of public discourse for the rest of the decade;
- that the best way to set out in a positive direction is with a civil conversation involving the broadest possible range of interests and concerns, grounded in what actually exists, immediately and presently around us;
- and that from the perspective of the neighbourhoods within and around Kitchener’s original civic, commercial, industrial and cultural centre, the future of 16-20 Queen Street North is an ideal focal point for such a conversation.
The plan is to try to start the new year on the right foot by calling on all parties (developers, civil servants, elected representatives, YIMBYs, NIMBYs, housing advocates, architectural heritage folks, arts folks, culture folks, entertainment folks, tech folks, business folks, downtowners, out of towners and engaged citizens of all varieties) to put our heads together and begin that civil discussion.
The talk will be brief, 30 minutes or so. Arrive anytime: the café closes at 6; food and beverages will be on sale until then. Discussion can continue at the Walper Pub across the street afterwards. Everyone welcome.