#queenspark — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #queenspark, aggregated by home.social.
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STUDENTS PROTEST OSAP CHANGES
Ontario students across the province are protesting about the recent changes made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The Ontario government has announced that, starting this fall, OSAP grants will decrease from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent.
On Mar. 4, 2026, hundreds of students and community members from across Ontario gathered at Queen’s Park to protest the cuts. Similar protests broke out in different cities, including Waterloo and Ottawa. The OSAP changes are not only affecting post-secondary students but also secondary schools.
At the University of Waterloo, the reaction has been described as historic. Remington Aginskaya-Zhi, Vice President of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), noted that the campus is seeing a level of mobilization not seen in decades.
“This is the most engaged we’ve seen students probably ever,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “The rally that we held was one of the biggest gatherings or protests on campus in probably our entire history.”
The movement is gaining even more traction in the Greater Toronto Area, where students are framing the cuts as a systemic attack on public institutions. Trudi Kiropatwa, a third-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC), says the impact in Toronto is extreme.
“We’re essentially on a sinking ship,” Kiropatwa said. “This government and their corporate cronies see us as customers and our education as an industry that is ready to be exploited.”
The urgency stems from a lack of clarity on how these cuts will affect individual bank accounts. According to WUSA, the provincial OSAP estimator for the upcoming year has yet to be released, leaving students in a state of financial limbo.
Kiropatwa noted that for many, the breaking point is graduating into a job market with record-high youth unemployment while saddled with massive debt.
“Me, personally, I’m going to be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of student debt already without these changes,” she said. “These changes are making the issue ten times worse.”
“Students definitely are very worried,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “We are hearing stories from students telling us they’re uncertain whether they can come back to school next year, or whether they can pursue graduate studies.”
This uncertainty is already forcing students to make difficult lifestyle changes. Aginskaya reported that some students are opting for longer commutes rather than living in Waterloo to save on costs, while others are seeing their younger siblings reconsider university altogether.
Beyond the provincial level, the University of Waterloo is also grappling with internal budget crisis pressures. Aginskaya-Zhi highlighted that financial support units on campus are currently understaffed, which could complicate the processing of student aid.
“The university right now is understaffed and has lots of challenges to hire new staff…but funding should not come at the cost of giving more debt to students,” she said.
In response, organizations like WUSA and the SMC carried out a massive convergence at Queen’s Park on Mar. 24, 2026. Despite the government maintaining its argument that the 25 per cent grant limit is sustainable, the mobilizations saw hundreds of activists reiterating demands for a full reversal.
“We’re not here to demand a return to normal…which is a Band-Aid solution,” Kiropatwa said. “We’re here fighting for free, democratic, and accessible education.”
“Right now, I think students are angry, and what we are focusing on is giving students an avenue to let out their anger,” Aginskaya-Zhi said.
She emphasized that the momentum will not fade as the semester ends.
“Just because winter term is ending and it’s summer now doesn’t mean that students have forgotten this betrayal from the government.”
As Parliament returns to session, WUSA intends to keep the pressure on local MPPs to ensure the student voice is heard.
“We hear your anger, we hear your frustration,” Aginskaya-Zhi concluded as a message to the student body. “We are going to work to make sure that you can share that with us.”
#Government #greaterTorontoArea #GTA #impact #OSAP #percent #Protest #queensPark #RemingtonAginskayaZhi #sangjun #SangjunHan #smc #Toronto #TrudiKiropatwa #UniversityOfToronto #universityOfWaterloo #UofT #UW #wusa -
STUDENTS PROTEST OSAP CHANGES
Ontario students across the province are protesting about the recent changes made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The Ontario government has announced that, starting this fall, OSAP grants will decrease from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent.
On Mar. 4, 2026, hundreds of students and community members from across Ontario gathered at Queen’s Park to protest the cuts. Similar protests broke out in different cities, including Waterloo and Ottawa. The OSAP changes are not only affecting post-secondary students but also secondary schools.
At the University of Waterloo, the reaction has been described as historic. Remington Aginskaya-Zhi, Vice President of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), noted that the campus is seeing a level of mobilization not seen in decades.
“This is the most engaged we’ve seen students probably ever,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “The rally that we held was one of the biggest gatherings or protests on campus in probably our entire history.”
The movement is gaining even more traction in the Greater Toronto Area, where students are framing the cuts as a systemic attack on public institutions. Trudi Kiropatwa, a third-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC), says the impact in Toronto is extreme.
“We’re essentially on a sinking ship,” Kiropatwa said. “This government and their corporate cronies see us as customers and our education as an industry that is ready to be exploited.”
The urgency stems from a lack of clarity on how these cuts will affect individual bank accounts. According to WUSA, the provincial OSAP estimator for the upcoming year has yet to be released, leaving students in a state of financial limbo.
Kiropatwa noted that for many, the breaking point is graduating into a job market with record-high youth unemployment while saddled with massive debt.
“Me, personally, I’m going to be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of student debt already without these changes,” she said. “These changes are making the issue ten times worse.”
“Students definitely are very worried,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “We are hearing stories from students telling us they’re uncertain whether they can come back to school next year, or whether they can pursue graduate studies.”
This uncertainty is already forcing students to make difficult lifestyle changes. Aginskaya reported that some students are opting for longer commutes rather than living in Waterloo to save on costs, while others are seeing their younger siblings reconsider university altogether.
Beyond the provincial level, the University of Waterloo is also grappling with internal budget crisis pressures. Aginskaya-Zhi highlighted that financial support units on campus are currently understaffed, which could complicate the processing of student aid.
“The university right now is understaffed and has lots of challenges to hire new staff…but funding should not come at the cost of giving more debt to students,” she said.
In response, organizations like WUSA and the SMC carried out a massive convergence at Queen’s Park on Mar. 24, 2026. Despite the government maintaining its argument that the 25 per cent grant limit is sustainable, the mobilizations saw hundreds of activists reiterating demands for a full reversal.
“We’re not here to demand a return to normal…which is a Band-Aid solution,” Kiropatwa said. “We’re here fighting for free, democratic, and accessible education.”
“Right now, I think students are angry, and what we are focusing on is giving students an avenue to let out their anger,” Aginskaya-Zhi said.
She emphasized that the momentum will not fade as the semester ends.
“Just because winter term is ending and it’s summer now doesn’t mean that students have forgotten this betrayal from the government.”
As Parliament returns to session, WUSA intends to keep the pressure on local MPPs to ensure the student voice is heard.
“We hear your anger, we hear your frustration,” Aginskaya-Zhi concluded as a message to the student body. “We are going to work to make sure that you can share that with us.”
#Government #greaterTorontoArea #GTA #impact #OSAP #percent #Protest #queensPark #RemingtonAginskayaZhi #sangjun #SangjunHan #smc #Toronto #TrudiKiropatwa #UniversityOfToronto #universityOfWaterloo #UofT #UW #wusa -
STUDENTS PROTEST OSAP CHANGES
Ontario students across the province are protesting about the recent changes made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The Ontario government has announced that, starting this fall, OSAP grants will decrease from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent.
On Mar. 4, 2026, hundreds of students and community members from across Ontario gathered at Queen’s Park to protest the cuts. Similar protests broke out in different cities, including Waterloo and Ottawa. The OSAP changes are not only affecting post-secondary students but also secondary schools.
At the University of Waterloo, the reaction has been described as historic. Remington Aginskaya-Zhi, Vice President of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), noted that the campus is seeing a level of mobilization not seen in decades.
“This is the most engaged we’ve seen students probably ever,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “The rally that we held was one of the biggest gatherings or protests on campus in probably our entire history.”
The movement is gaining even more traction in the Greater Toronto Area, where students are framing the cuts as a systemic attack on public institutions. Trudi Kiropatwa, a third-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC), says the impact in Toronto is extreme.
“We’re essentially on a sinking ship,” Kiropatwa said. “This government and their corporate cronies see us as customers and our education as an industry that is ready to be exploited.”
The urgency stems from a lack of clarity on how these cuts will affect individual bank accounts. According to WUSA, the provincial OSAP estimator for the upcoming year has yet to be released, leaving students in a state of financial limbo.
Kiropatwa noted that for many, the breaking point is graduating into a job market with record-high youth unemployment while saddled with massive debt.
“Me, personally, I’m going to be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of student debt already without these changes,” she said. “These changes are making the issue ten times worse.”
“Students definitely are very worried,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “We are hearing stories from students telling us they’re uncertain whether they can come back to school next year, or whether they can pursue graduate studies.”
This uncertainty is already forcing students to make difficult lifestyle changes. Aginskaya reported that some students are opting for longer commutes rather than living in Waterloo to save on costs, while others are seeing their younger siblings reconsider university altogether.
Beyond the provincial level, the University of Waterloo is also grappling with internal budget crisis pressures. Aginskaya-Zhi highlighted that financial support units on campus are currently understaffed, which could complicate the processing of student aid.
“The university right now is understaffed and has lots of challenges to hire new staff…but funding should not come at the cost of giving more debt to students,” she said.
In response, organizations like WUSA and the SMC carried out a massive convergence at Queen’s Park on Mar. 24, 2026. Despite the government maintaining its argument that the 25 per cent grant limit is sustainable, the mobilizations saw hundreds of activists reiterating demands for a full reversal.
“We’re not here to demand a return to normal…which is a Band-Aid solution,” Kiropatwa said. “We’re here fighting for free, democratic, and accessible education.”
“Right now, I think students are angry, and what we are focusing on is giving students an avenue to let out their anger,” Aginskaya-Zhi said.
She emphasized that the momentum will not fade as the semester ends.
“Just because winter term is ending and it’s summer now doesn’t mean that students have forgotten this betrayal from the government.”
As Parliament returns to session, WUSA intends to keep the pressure on local MPPs to ensure the student voice is heard.
“We hear your anger, we hear your frustration,” Aginskaya-Zhi concluded as a message to the student body. “We are going to work to make sure that you can share that with us.”
#Government #greaterTorontoArea #GTA #impact #OSAP #percent #Protest #queensPark #RemingtonAginskayaZhi #sangjun #SangjunHan #smc #Toronto #TrudiKiropatwa #UniversityOfToronto #universityOfWaterloo #UofT #UW #wusa -
STUDENTS PROTEST OSAP CHANGES
Ontario students across the province are protesting about the recent changes made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The Ontario government has announced that, starting this fall, OSAP grants will decrease from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent.
On Mar. 4, 2026, hundreds of students and community members from across Ontario gathered at Queen’s Park to protest the cuts. Similar protests broke out in different cities, including Waterloo and Ottawa. The OSAP changes are not only affecting post-secondary students but also secondary schools.
At the University of Waterloo, the reaction has been described as historic. Remington Aginskaya-Zhi, Vice President of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), noted that the campus is seeing a level of mobilization not seen in decades.
“This is the most engaged we’ve seen students probably ever,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “The rally that we held was one of the biggest gatherings or protests on campus in probably our entire history.”
The movement is gaining even more traction in the Greater Toronto Area, where students are framing the cuts as a systemic attack on public institutions. Trudi Kiropatwa, a third-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC), says the impact in Toronto is extreme.
“We’re essentially on a sinking ship,” Kiropatwa said. “This government and their corporate cronies see us as customers and our education as an industry that is ready to be exploited.”
The urgency stems from a lack of clarity on how these cuts will affect individual bank accounts. According to WUSA, the provincial OSAP estimator for the upcoming year has yet to be released, leaving students in a state of financial limbo.
Kiropatwa noted that for many, the breaking point is graduating into a job market with record-high youth unemployment while saddled with massive debt.
“Me, personally, I’m going to be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of student debt already without these changes,” she said. “These changes are making the issue ten times worse.”
“Students definitely are very worried,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “We are hearing stories from students telling us they’re uncertain whether they can come back to school next year, or whether they can pursue graduate studies.”
This uncertainty is already forcing students to make difficult lifestyle changes. Aginskaya reported that some students are opting for longer commutes rather than living in Waterloo to save on costs, while others are seeing their younger siblings reconsider university altogether.
Beyond the provincial level, the University of Waterloo is also grappling with internal budget crisis pressures. Aginskaya-Zhi highlighted that financial support units on campus are currently understaffed, which could complicate the processing of student aid.
“The university right now is understaffed and has lots of challenges to hire new staff…but funding should not come at the cost of giving more debt to students,” she said.
In response, organizations like WUSA and the SMC carried out a massive convergence at Queen’s Park on Mar. 24, 2026. Despite the government maintaining its argument that the 25 per cent grant limit is sustainable, the mobilizations saw hundreds of activists reiterating demands for a full reversal.
“We’re not here to demand a return to normal…which is a Band-Aid solution,” Kiropatwa said. “We’re here fighting for free, democratic, and accessible education.”
“Right now, I think students are angry, and what we are focusing on is giving students an avenue to let out their anger,” Aginskaya-Zhi said.
She emphasized that the momentum will not fade as the semester ends.
“Just because winter term is ending and it’s summer now doesn’t mean that students have forgotten this betrayal from the government.”
As Parliament returns to session, WUSA intends to keep the pressure on local MPPs to ensure the student voice is heard.
“We hear your anger, we hear your frustration,” Aginskaya-Zhi concluded as a message to the student body. “We are going to work to make sure that you can share that with us.”
#Government #greaterTorontoArea #GTA #impact #OSAP #percent #Protest #queensPark #RemingtonAginskayaZhi #sangjun #SangjunHan #smc #Toronto #TrudiKiropatwa #UniversityOfToronto #universityOfWaterloo #UofT #UW #wusa -
STUDENTS PROTEST OSAP CHANGES
Ontario students across the province are protesting about the recent changes made to the Ontario Student Assistance Program (OSAP). The Ontario government has announced that, starting this fall, OSAP grants will decrease from a maximum of 85 per cent to 25 per cent.
On Mar. 4, 2026, hundreds of students and community members from across Ontario gathered at Queen’s Park to protest the cuts. Similar protests broke out in different cities, including Waterloo and Ottawa. The OSAP changes are not only affecting post-secondary students but also secondary schools.
At the University of Waterloo, the reaction has been described as historic. Remington Aginskaya-Zhi, Vice President of the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA), noted that the campus is seeing a level of mobilization not seen in decades.
“This is the most engaged we’ve seen students probably ever,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “The rally that we held was one of the biggest gatherings or protests on campus in probably our entire history.”
The movement is gaining even more traction in the Greater Toronto Area, where students are framing the cuts as a systemic attack on public institutions. Trudi Kiropatwa, a third-year student at Toronto Metropolitan University and a member of the Student Mobilization Committee (SMC), says the impact in Toronto is extreme.
“We’re essentially on a sinking ship,” Kiropatwa said. “This government and their corporate cronies see us as customers and our education as an industry that is ready to be exploited.”
The urgency stems from a lack of clarity on how these cuts will affect individual bank accounts. According to WUSA, the provincial OSAP estimator for the upcoming year has yet to be released, leaving students in a state of financial limbo.
Kiropatwa noted that for many, the breaking point is graduating into a job market with record-high youth unemployment while saddled with massive debt.
“Me, personally, I’m going to be graduating with tens of thousands of dollars of student debt already without these changes,” she said. “These changes are making the issue ten times worse.”
“Students definitely are very worried,” Aginskaya-Zhi said. “We are hearing stories from students telling us they’re uncertain whether they can come back to school next year, or whether they can pursue graduate studies.”
This uncertainty is already forcing students to make difficult lifestyle changes. Aginskaya reported that some students are opting for longer commutes rather than living in Waterloo to save on costs, while others are seeing their younger siblings reconsider university altogether.
Beyond the provincial level, the University of Waterloo is also grappling with internal budget crisis pressures. Aginskaya-Zhi highlighted that financial support units on campus are currently understaffed, which could complicate the processing of student aid.
“The university right now is understaffed and has lots of challenges to hire new staff…but funding should not come at the cost of giving more debt to students,” she said.
In response, organizations like WUSA and the SMC carried out a massive convergence at Queen’s Park on Mar. 24, 2026. Despite the government maintaining its argument that the 25 per cent grant limit is sustainable, the mobilizations saw hundreds of activists reiterating demands for a full reversal.
“We’re not here to demand a return to normal…which is a Band-Aid solution,” Kiropatwa said. “We’re here fighting for free, democratic, and accessible education.”
“Right now, I think students are angry, and what we are focusing on is giving students an avenue to let out their anger,” Aginskaya-Zhi said.
She emphasized that the momentum will not fade as the semester ends.
“Just because winter term is ending and it’s summer now doesn’t mean that students have forgotten this betrayal from the government.”
As Parliament returns to session, WUSA intends to keep the pressure on local MPPs to ensure the student voice is heard.
“We hear your anger, we hear your frustration,” Aginskaya-Zhi concluded as a message to the student body. “We are going to work to make sure that you can share that with us.”
#Government #greaterTorontoArea #GTA #impact #OSAP #percent #Protest #queensPark #RemingtonAginskayaZhi #sangjun #SangjunHan #smc #Toronto #TrudiKiropatwa #UniversityOfToronto #universityOfWaterloo #UofT #UW #wusa -
This #liberal line of questioning is just weird: https://youtu.be/c8lSUvHGUKA?t=636
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I do find it odd how Liberal Party leader John Fraser keeps hounding Caroline Mulroney specifically for the Skills Development Scandal and not the Minister of Finance, Minister of Labour, or Premier who are all white dudes: https://youtu.be/Ez0palMkJDw
#onpoli #QP #questionPeriod #queensPark #Liberal #LiberalParty #OLP #SDK #skillsDevelopmentFund
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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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Older white guy rants to me and a fem colleague about how the Ford government lets private long-term care coorprations/condo boards and landlords grift the living hell out of regular people, but prefaces his rant with, "and beleive me, I'm no socialist." I couldn't get a word in edge-wise, but I'd love to a have asked, "why not? And what do you want then?" I'm so glad that generally folks seem much more willing to use socialism and identify as a socialist (at least in the Anglo-Americas I experience) than they were even just 10 years ago, but encounters like these are bizzare. If you have a problem with private ownership of land, you really ought to have a problem with a socio-economic system that privileges just such an arrangement and trends, pretty well inevitability, towards (neo)liberalism and then the slide to fascism. Socialism (/anarchism/communism/communalism, etc.) is the alternative, friend.
#OnPoli #CanPoli #TheFords #Ford #QueensPark #WagTheDoug #PoliticalEconomics #Socialism #Housing #CostOfLiving #HousingCrisis #Socialism #Communism #Communalism #Anarchism #DegrowthCommunism #Degrowth #TheCommons #ABetterWorldIsPossible
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Queen Elizabeth statue coming to Ontario legislature after delay, province fronts $1.5M | CBC News https://bit.ly/47iLA4K #QueensPark #ElizabethII #Statues #onpoli @ontariogreens @onpoli
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Matthew Cameron aka #DragName #ScarlettBoBo went to the #LegislativeAssembly of #Ontario earlier this month w/same sass they bring to any stage: “Bet you didn’t think it would take a #DragQueen to sashay down to #QueensPark to stomp out this very #ImportantIssue - did you?” Flanked by members of their family, Ontario #NDP #MPs #fellow #DragPerformers, Cameron was there to help announce a new PrivateMembersBill that would #prohibit acts of #intimidation near #DragVenues
