#downtownkitchener — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #downtownkitchener, aggregated by home.social.
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PARENTHOOD AFTER LOSS: ELLIE ANGLIN’S FIRST MEMOIR
On Mar. 14, 2026, local art space and small-scale risograph print shop, Dirty Work Studio, hosted a book launch event for Kitchener artist and writer, Ellie Anglin, for her first book, Reproduction: Death, Birth & the Turkey Baster, published by Publication Studio Guelph.
The book is a graphic memoir and practical guide that traces Anglin’s pursuit of parenthood in the shadow of profound loss.
Anglin describes her attempts to conceive a child with her wife, while navigating the fertility industry, which is interrupted by overwhelming grief after losing her parents. The couple’s struggles push them away from institutional practice and toward home insemination, affectionately known as the Turkey Baster Method.
While the subject matter is heavy, Anglin emphasizes the underlying warmth of the work.
“Although death and birth are very painful and dark subjects… there’s a lot of joy and humour in it as well,” Anglin said. “All of these things are only so important to us because they’re all about love.”
Anglin is a multi-media visual artist and writer based in Kitchener. She takes inspiration from feminist and queer art traditions, and her works blend different motifs and elements such as collage, memoir and self-publishing practices that explore identity, magic, pop culture and the collective imagination.
The publication of her book marks a major milestone for Anglin, who has long been a staple of the local do-it-yourself (DIY) scene.
“I have been making zines for probably over 20 years now, and I’ve self-published 35 zines,” she said. “So, to have my first official book publication is a big honour.”
Shalaka Jadhav, Kitchener-based curator, writer, cultural strategist, co-founder of Dirty Work Studio and a long-time collaborator of Anglin’s, noted that independent spaces are crucial for first-time authors who often face significant barriers in the Canadian publishing industry.
“It can be really intimidating,” Jadhav said. “So, it’s really important to have the space where you can invite family and the general public and allow for people to mix.”
The book launch was hosted at Dirty Work Studio, which is located at 100 Park St.
“I’m so, so excited to have a studio like this in downtown Kitchener,” Anglin said. “Such an awesome arts community here, and then this studio is just like the cherry on top with so much celebration of DIY queer and women’s art.”
The event transformed the studio into an immersive gallery, featuring Anglin’s surrealistic collage work and looping video remixes of the book’s illustrations.
Jadhav explained that the goal of the night was to help the work burst out of Anglin’s book.
“We want to be a space where artists can realize all kinds of projects and to sort of experiment,” Jadhav said. “Having a DIY space where things can be a little bit more experimental and loose means that Ellie can try new things and expand her practice.”
The highlight of the evening was a live performance involving costumes and props, a project Anglin developed over the final weeks of her three-year journey to bring the book to life.
Anglin said that the visual components from the event were a natural extension of the book’s creation.
“I kind of took the collage fragments but then reassembled them into different collages to create new meanings,” she said.
The reach of the project extends far beyond Kitchener due to Publication Studio’s unique open source model. As Jadhav explained, any of the studio’s sister locations worldwide, from Guelph to Brazil, can download, print and bind Anglin’s work locally.
Ultimately, the launch served as a testament to the resilience of the local creative scene.
“This is a total labour of love,” Jadhav said, noting that the studio is a self-funded effort by its members. “The more people show up to our events, the more we see it as a show of support that this space should exist.”
#100ParkStreet #20Zines #35Zines #book #dirtyWorkStudio #diy #DowntownKitchener #ellie #ellieAnglin #gallery #Illustrations #kitchener #localArtists #localWriter #queerArtist #ShalakaJadhav #turkeyBaster -
PARENTHOOD AFTER LOSS: ELLIE ANGLIN’S FIRST MEMOIR
On Mar. 14, 2026, local art space and small-scale risograph print shop, Dirty Work Studio, hosted a book launch event for Kitchener artist and writer, Ellie Anglin, for her first book, Reproduction: Death, Birth & the Turkey Baster, published by Publication Studio Guelph.
The book is a graphic memoir and practical guide that traces Anglin’s pursuit of parenthood in the shadow of profound loss.
Anglin describes her attempts to conceive a child with her wife, while navigating the fertility industry, which is interrupted by overwhelming grief after losing her parents. The couple’s struggles push them away from institutional practice and toward home insemination, affectionately known as the Turkey Baster Method.
While the subject matter is heavy, Anglin emphasizes the underlying warmth of the work.
“Although death and birth are very painful and dark subjects… there’s a lot of joy and humour in it as well,” Anglin said. “All of these things are only so important to us because they’re all about love.”
Anglin is a multi-media visual artist and writer based in Kitchener. She takes inspiration from feminist and queer art traditions, and her works blend different motifs and elements such as collage, memoir and self-publishing practices that explore identity, magic, pop culture and the collective imagination.
The publication of her book marks a major milestone for Anglin, who has long been a staple of the local do-it-yourself (DIY) scene.
“I have been making zines for probably over 20 years now, and I’ve self-published 35 zines,” she said. “So, to have my first official book publication is a big honour.”
Shalaka Jadhav, Kitchener-based curator, writer, cultural strategist, co-founder of Dirty Work Studio and a long-time collaborator of Anglin’s, noted that independent spaces are crucial for first-time authors who often face significant barriers in the Canadian publishing industry.
“It can be really intimidating,” Jadhav said. “So, it’s really important to have the space where you can invite family and the general public and allow for people to mix.”
The book launch was hosted at Dirty Work Studio, which is located at 100 Park St.
“I’m so, so excited to have a studio like this in downtown Kitchener,” Anglin said. “Such an awesome arts community here, and then this studio is just like the cherry on top with so much celebration of DIY queer and women’s art.”
The event transformed the studio into an immersive gallery, featuring Anglin’s surrealistic collage work and looping video remixes of the book’s illustrations.
Jadhav explained that the goal of the night was to help the work burst out of Anglin’s book.
“We want to be a space where artists can realize all kinds of projects and to sort of experiment,” Jadhav said. “Having a DIY space where things can be a little bit more experimental and loose means that Ellie can try new things and expand her practice.”
The highlight of the evening was a live performance involving costumes and props, a project Anglin developed over the final weeks of her three-year journey to bring the book to life.
Anglin said that the visual components from the event were a natural extension of the book’s creation.
“I kind of took the collage fragments but then reassembled them into different collages to create new meanings,” she said.
The reach of the project extends far beyond Kitchener due to Publication Studio’s unique open source model. As Jadhav explained, any of the studio’s sister locations worldwide, from Guelph to Brazil, can download, print and bind Anglin’s work locally.
Ultimately, the launch served as a testament to the resilience of the local creative scene.
“This is a total labour of love,” Jadhav said, noting that the studio is a self-funded effort by its members. “The more people show up to our events, the more we see it as a show of support that this space should exist.”
#100ParkStreet #20Zines #35Zines #book #dirtyWorkStudio #diy #DowntownKitchener #ellie #ellieAnglin #gallery #Illustrations #kitchener #localArtists #localWriter #queerArtist #ShalakaJadhav #turkeyBaster -
PARENTHOOD AFTER LOSS: ELLIE ANGLIN’S FIRST MEMOIR
On Mar. 14, 2026, local art space and small-scale risograph print shop, Dirty Work Studio, hosted a book launch event for Kitchener artist and writer, Ellie Anglin, for her first book, Reproduction: Death, Birth & the Turkey Baster, published by Publication Studio Guelph.
The book is a graphic memoir and practical guide that traces Anglin’s pursuit of parenthood in the shadow of profound loss.
Anglin describes her attempts to conceive a child with her wife, while navigating the fertility industry, which is interrupted by overwhelming grief after losing her parents. The couple’s struggles push them away from institutional practice and toward home insemination, affectionately known as the Turkey Baster Method.
While the subject matter is heavy, Anglin emphasizes the underlying warmth of the work.
“Although death and birth are very painful and dark subjects… there’s a lot of joy and humour in it as well,” Anglin said. “All of these things are only so important to us because they’re all about love.”
Anglin is a multi-media visual artist and writer based in Kitchener. She takes inspiration from feminist and queer art traditions, and her works blend different motifs and elements such as collage, memoir and self-publishing practices that explore identity, magic, pop culture and the collective imagination.
The publication of her book marks a major milestone for Anglin, who has long been a staple of the local do-it-yourself (DIY) scene.
“I have been making zines for probably over 20 years now, and I’ve self-published 35 zines,” she said. “So, to have my first official book publication is a big honour.”
Shalaka Jadhav, Kitchener-based curator, writer, cultural strategist, co-founder of Dirty Work Studio and a long-time collaborator of Anglin’s, noted that independent spaces are crucial for first-time authors who often face significant barriers in the Canadian publishing industry.
“It can be really intimidating,” Jadhav said. “So, it’s really important to have the space where you can invite family and the general public and allow for people to mix.”
The book launch was hosted at Dirty Work Studio, which is located at 100 Park St.
“I’m so, so excited to have a studio like this in downtown Kitchener,” Anglin said. “Such an awesome arts community here, and then this studio is just like the cherry on top with so much celebration of DIY queer and women’s art.”
The event transformed the studio into an immersive gallery, featuring Anglin’s surrealistic collage work and looping video remixes of the book’s illustrations.
Jadhav explained that the goal of the night was to help the work burst out of Anglin’s book.
“We want to be a space where artists can realize all kinds of projects and to sort of experiment,” Jadhav said. “Having a DIY space where things can be a little bit more experimental and loose means that Ellie can try new things and expand her practice.”
The highlight of the evening was a live performance involving costumes and props, a project Anglin developed over the final weeks of her three-year journey to bring the book to life.
Anglin said that the visual components from the event were a natural extension of the book’s creation.
“I kind of took the collage fragments but then reassembled them into different collages to create new meanings,” she said.
The reach of the project extends far beyond Kitchener due to Publication Studio’s unique open source model. As Jadhav explained, any of the studio’s sister locations worldwide, from Guelph to Brazil, can download, print and bind Anglin’s work locally.
Ultimately, the launch served as a testament to the resilience of the local creative scene.
“This is a total labour of love,” Jadhav said, noting that the studio is a self-funded effort by its members. “The more people show up to our events, the more we see it as a show of support that this space should exist.”
#100ParkStreet #20Zines #35Zines #book #dirtyWorkStudio #diy #DowntownKitchener #ellie #ellieAnglin #gallery #Illustrations #kitchener #localArtists #localWriter #queerArtist #ShalakaJadhav #turkeyBaster -
PARENTHOOD AFTER LOSS: ELLIE ANGLIN’S FIRST MEMOIR
On Mar. 14, 2026, local art space and small-scale risograph print shop, Dirty Work Studio, hosted a book launch event for Kitchener artist and writer, Ellie Anglin, for her first book, Reproduction: Death, Birth & the Turkey Baster, published by Publication Studio Guelph.
The book is a graphic memoir and practical guide that traces Anglin’s pursuit of parenthood in the shadow of profound loss.
Anglin describes her attempts to conceive a child with her wife, while navigating the fertility industry, which is interrupted by overwhelming grief after losing her parents. The couple’s struggles push them away from institutional practice and toward home insemination, affectionately known as the Turkey Baster Method.
While the subject matter is heavy, Anglin emphasizes the underlying warmth of the work.
“Although death and birth are very painful and dark subjects… there’s a lot of joy and humour in it as well,” Anglin said. “All of these things are only so important to us because they’re all about love.”
Anglin is a multi-media visual artist and writer based in Kitchener. She takes inspiration from feminist and queer art traditions, and her works blend different motifs and elements such as collage, memoir and self-publishing practices that explore identity, magic, pop culture and the collective imagination.
The publication of her book marks a major milestone for Anglin, who has long been a staple of the local do-it-yourself (DIY) scene.
“I have been making zines for probably over 20 years now, and I’ve self-published 35 zines,” she said. “So, to have my first official book publication is a big honour.”
Shalaka Jadhav, Kitchener-based curator, writer, cultural strategist, co-founder of Dirty Work Studio and a long-time collaborator of Anglin’s, noted that independent spaces are crucial for first-time authors who often face significant barriers in the Canadian publishing industry.
“It can be really intimidating,” Jadhav said. “So, it’s really important to have the space where you can invite family and the general public and allow for people to mix.”
The book launch was hosted at Dirty Work Studio, which is located at 100 Park St.
“I’m so, so excited to have a studio like this in downtown Kitchener,” Anglin said. “Such an awesome arts community here, and then this studio is just like the cherry on top with so much celebration of DIY queer and women’s art.”
The event transformed the studio into an immersive gallery, featuring Anglin’s surrealistic collage work and looping video remixes of the book’s illustrations.
Jadhav explained that the goal of the night was to help the work burst out of Anglin’s book.
“We want to be a space where artists can realize all kinds of projects and to sort of experiment,” Jadhav said. “Having a DIY space where things can be a little bit more experimental and loose means that Ellie can try new things and expand her practice.”
The highlight of the evening was a live performance involving costumes and props, a project Anglin developed over the final weeks of her three-year journey to bring the book to life.
Anglin said that the visual components from the event were a natural extension of the book’s creation.
“I kind of took the collage fragments but then reassembled them into different collages to create new meanings,” she said.
The reach of the project extends far beyond Kitchener due to Publication Studio’s unique open source model. As Jadhav explained, any of the studio’s sister locations worldwide, from Guelph to Brazil, can download, print and bind Anglin’s work locally.
Ultimately, the launch served as a testament to the resilience of the local creative scene.
“This is a total labour of love,” Jadhav said, noting that the studio is a self-funded effort by its members. “The more people show up to our events, the more we see it as a show of support that this space should exist.”
#100ParkStreet #20Zines #35Zines #book #dirtyWorkStudio #diy #DowntownKitchener #ellie #ellieAnglin #gallery #Illustrations #kitchener #localArtists #localWriter #queerArtist #ShalakaJadhav #turkeyBaster -
PARENTHOOD AFTER LOSS: ELLIE ANGLIN’S FIRST MEMOIR
On Mar. 14, 2026, local art space and small-scale risograph print shop, Dirty Work Studio, hosted a book launch event for Kitchener artist and writer, Ellie Anglin, for her first book, Reproduction: Death, Birth & the Turkey Baster, published by Publication Studio Guelph.
The book is a graphic memoir and practical guide that traces Anglin’s pursuit of parenthood in the shadow of profound loss.
Anglin describes her attempts to conceive a child with her wife, while navigating the fertility industry, which is interrupted by overwhelming grief after losing her parents. The couple’s struggles push them away from institutional practice and toward home insemination, affectionately known as the Turkey Baster Method.
While the subject matter is heavy, Anglin emphasizes the underlying warmth of the work.
“Although death and birth are very painful and dark subjects… there’s a lot of joy and humour in it as well,” Anglin said. “All of these things are only so important to us because they’re all about love.”
Anglin is a multi-media visual artist and writer based in Kitchener. She takes inspiration from feminist and queer art traditions, and her works blend different motifs and elements such as collage, memoir and self-publishing practices that explore identity, magic, pop culture and the collective imagination.
The publication of her book marks a major milestone for Anglin, who has long been a staple of the local do-it-yourself (DIY) scene.
“I have been making zines for probably over 20 years now, and I’ve self-published 35 zines,” she said. “So, to have my first official book publication is a big honour.”
Shalaka Jadhav, Kitchener-based curator, writer, cultural strategist, co-founder of Dirty Work Studio and a long-time collaborator of Anglin’s, noted that independent spaces are crucial for first-time authors who often face significant barriers in the Canadian publishing industry.
“It can be really intimidating,” Jadhav said. “So, it’s really important to have the space where you can invite family and the general public and allow for people to mix.”
The book launch was hosted at Dirty Work Studio, which is located at 100 Park St.
“I’m so, so excited to have a studio like this in downtown Kitchener,” Anglin said. “Such an awesome arts community here, and then this studio is just like the cherry on top with so much celebration of DIY queer and women’s art.”
The event transformed the studio into an immersive gallery, featuring Anglin’s surrealistic collage work and looping video remixes of the book’s illustrations.
Jadhav explained that the goal of the night was to help the work burst out of Anglin’s book.
“We want to be a space where artists can realize all kinds of projects and to sort of experiment,” Jadhav said. “Having a DIY space where things can be a little bit more experimental and loose means that Ellie can try new things and expand her practice.”
The highlight of the evening was a live performance involving costumes and props, a project Anglin developed over the final weeks of her three-year journey to bring the book to life.
Anglin said that the visual components from the event were a natural extension of the book’s creation.
“I kind of took the collage fragments but then reassembled them into different collages to create new meanings,” she said.
The reach of the project extends far beyond Kitchener due to Publication Studio’s unique open source model. As Jadhav explained, any of the studio’s sister locations worldwide, from Guelph to Brazil, can download, print and bind Anglin’s work locally.
Ultimately, the launch served as a testament to the resilience of the local creative scene.
“This is a total labour of love,” Jadhav said, noting that the studio is a self-funded effort by its members. “The more people show up to our events, the more we see it as a show of support that this space should exist.”
#100ParkStreet #20Zines #35Zines #book #dirtyWorkStudio #diy #DowntownKitchener #ellie #ellieAnglin #gallery #Illustrations #kitchener #localArtists #localWriter #queerArtist #ShalakaJadhav #turkeyBaster -
QUEEN STREET COMMONS SET TO RE-OPEN
The Working Centre’s Queen Street Commons Café in downtown Kitchener is set to reopen this spring after a six-year hiatus. The cafe closed its doors in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and has remained shuttered as the non-profit organization focused on changing priorities for the communities it serves.
In 2024, The Working Centre began planning for the reopening, including upgrades and a layout change. Cassandra Polyzou, community tools and enterprise hub lead at The Working Centre, said that, as with any renovation, there were unexpected challenges that pushed the reopening into 2026.
“Anyone who is working on renovating a small business knows that we all face challenges. Everyone is trying to do their best. But it has meant that the process has been slow,” she said.
Queen Street Commons opened in 2006 as a third space for the community, regardless of income. Polyzou said the goal is to be that third space again and bring the community together.
“The space is going to look different…We’ll be able to do things like film screenings and concerts in the space,” she said. “It’s refreshed, but it certainly still is going to feel like the Queen Street Commons that we’ve all known and loved.”
There is no set opening date yet, but Polyzou said the cafe has two concerts scheduled in March to welcome people back to the space.
The Queen Street Commons is hosting The Boo Radley Project on Mar. 6, 2026 and I, the Mountain on Mar. 7, 2026. The cafe is hoping these big launch events show people the new space and what can be done with it.
Downtown Kitchener has changed in the six years since Queen Street Commons closed. Conestoga College’s two downtown campuses opened and closed, multiple new condominium and apartment buildings have opened, and many major employers have opted to continue with remote work instead of renewing their office leases.
There has also been a significant increase in the people experiencing homelessness across Waterloo Region, including the 100 Victoria St. encampment across from The Working Centre’s recently opened Making Home space at 97 Victoria St. Polyzou said the changes are a motivator to bring back the spirit of “radical hospitality” that Queen Street Commons was known for.
“Queen Street Commons was always a place for everyone. Things have changed, and the need is very much there. We hear it from people all the time who say they miss this kind of space that is really a bridge across communities that brings diverse people to sit at tables beside each other and share food and coffee,” she said.
When it opens, the cafe will continue to offer affordable and vegetarian menu items, including coffee, baked goods, and soups. Polyzou added that volunteering opportunities will also return to the cafe.
“We know that people have missed that opportunity. It’s such a gift. Or maybe they’ll just come for a bowl of veggie chilli and a cup of coffee, and that’s great,” she said.
#AlexKinsella #bakedGoods #cassandraPolyzou #Coffee #DowntownKitchener #Food #pandemic #QueenStreetCommons #queenStreetCommonsCafe #soups #veggieChili #volunteeringOpportunities #WorkingCentre -
THE COMMUNITY EDTION GUIDE TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS
From the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) to the Downtown Cambridge BIA and everywhere in between, BIAs support business communities in city cores with networking and events that bring more people to dine, drink and shop.
The BIA concept started on Bloor St. W. in Toronto. As foot traffic shifted to suburban malls in the late 1960s, shopkeepers banded together and convinced City Hall and Queen’s Park to let every business contribute to streetscape upgrades and joint promotions. Their experiment became the Bloor West Village BIA in 1970, a model soon copied across Ontario and around the world.
Since then, BIAs have spread across the province. Today, there are over 300 BIAs in Ontario and more than 500 across Canada. The Uptown Waterloo BIA was the second to be incorporated in 1972.
Waterloo Region now has eight BIAs, each anchoring its own main street with a distinct mix of shops, streetscape touches and marquee events. Here is a snapshot of who they are, where they sit and what they do.
Uptown Waterloo BIA
With King St. S. at its core, the Uptown Waterloo BIA represents businesses from Avondale Ave. to Willow St., and Union St. to Elgin St. The Uptown Waterloo BIA runs several events throughout the year, including Winterloo, the LUMEN Festival and nighttime art markets throughout the summer.
Downtown Kitchener BIA
The Downtown Kitchener BIA is the largest of the local BIAs and is bounded by Victoria St. on the west, Cedar St. on the east, Joseph St. to the south and Weber and Duke St. to the north. Its events include Palette x Palate, Día de Los Muertos, Sunset Sessions and more.
Downtown Cambridge BIA
Main, Water and Ainslie streets shape Galt’s heritage grid between Concession St. and Park Hill Rd. Summer events include Latin Music on Main and Friday Night Twilight Markets. In the spring, the Downtown Cambridge BIA is a partner in Cambridge Wedding Week, one of the region’s largest wedding events.
Preston Towne Centre BIA
King Street runs the length of the Preston Towne Centre BIA from Waterloo St. to Dolph St., with Central Park as its green heart. Wednesday Preston Towne Market (June-Sept.) anchors the summer, and the autumn Preston Lantern Project lights up the park after dusk.
Hespeler Village BIA
Queen St. hugs the Speed River between Guelph Ave. and Tannery St., backed by converted mill buildings. #WalkQueen closes the street to cars every weekend throughout the summer, and the Friday-night Hespeler Village Market features a mix of produce, artisans and live music.
Downtown Elmira BIA
Arthur St. and Church St. frame this small-town core, with most storefronts grouped around the Gore Park intersection. The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival draws tens of thousands each April, and the self-guided Elmira Art Walk exhibits murals and sculptures throughout the year.
St. Jacob’s Village BIA
The St. Jacobs Village BIA follows King St. N. and Front St. between Cedar St. and Henry St. Tourists and locals alike flock to the twinkling St. Jacobs Sparkles nights in November and return for the village-wide Sidewalk Sale every June.
Belmont Village BIA
The unofficial BIA of midtown, the Belmont Village BIA runs down Belmont Ave. from Union Boulevard to Glasgow St. The Belmont Village Bestival turns the street into a two-day art-and-music fair each September, and A Holly Jolly Village decks the avenue for holiday shopping in late November.
From St. Jacobs’ Sparkles nights to Uptown’s light-art takeover, every BIA shares the same goal: to turn a quick errand into a reason to linger.
#AlexKinsella #belmontVillageBia #BIA #bloorStreetWest #downtownCambridge #downtownCambridgeBia #downtownElmira #DowntownKitchener #hespelerVillage #Ontario #PrestonTowneCentre #queensPark #stJacobsVillageBia #uptownWaterlooBusinessImprovementArea #WalkQueen #waterlooRegion
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The humble beginnings on the adventurers guild in #downtownkitchener #dtk #kichener #ontario #canada #dnd #pathfinder #BoardGames #dice #retrogaming #pretzelpizza #pretzel #bretzel #spielen #spielerclub
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Hey, my community garden made the news!
...not for good reasons though. Wish this would stop happening every year. Glad we're finally getting some coverage of it though; you'd think after the arson last year there would've been at least some attention.
#CommunityGarden #ComeUnityRoots #DowntownKitchener #DTK @waterlooregion #plantstodon #GardenersOfMastodon #gardening #vandalism