#sangjiun-han — Public Fediverse posts

RIDE FOR REFUGE RAISES MONEY FOR LOCAL CHARITIES

On Oct. 4, the Waterloo Region hosted the Ride for Refuge event in various parts of the region, including Waterloo and Kitchener.  

Ride for Refuge is a non-competitive cycling event and annual campaign that partners with approximately 175 independent charities, while raising awareness and funds for vulnerable, exploited or displaced individuals in Canada and the United States.   

There were three teams total: the first team in Kitchener Central started from Red Raccoon Bike Rescue at 79 Joseph St., the second team in Waterloo began at 190 Westmount Rd. and the third team began at the Doon Valley Golf Course.   

As of late October 2025, the Ride for Refuge campaign has raised over $1.43 million of its $1.5 million national goal, with 674 teams participating across 55 regions in Canada. The Waterloo Region teams contributed to this nationwide effort. Participants could choose from 2, 5, 10 or 20-kilometer cycling routes, accommodating all skill levels.   

Since its inception, Ride for Refuge has raised more than $5 million for its charitable partners. Participating teams can choose to fundraise for any of the approved charities. Teams can fundraise to support orphans, refugees, the homeless, victims of human trafficking and other displaced people.   

The Kitchener Central team rode to raise funds for the Social Development Centre Waterloo Region, and the Waterloo team raised money for Reception House Waterloo Region. The Kitchener Grand River team rode for the COMPASS Refugee Centre in Kitchener.  

Shelley Campagnola, the Executive Director of COMPASS Refugee Centre, said that the organization is a registered charity in Kitchener-Waterloo assisting and advocating for refugee claimants across Canada.  

“The purpose of COMPASS Refugee Centre is to bring access to justice for people seeking protection at Canada’s border,” Campagnola said.  

“We thank everyone who participated in Ride for Refuge and helped us with our cause.”  

Jim MacMillan, captain of Waterloo Mennonite Brethren (WMB) on the Move from Kitchener-Grand River, said he had supported refugees for many years, beginning in Toronto. He learned about Ride for Refuge 20 years ago through a church he attended and decided to take part, as it is one of the easiest ways to support refugees.  

“I participate in the Ride for those who don’t have a safe and secure place to live every day,” MacMillan said. “I ride because I’ve seen and heard stories about newcomers escaping horrible circumstances, and with the help of COMPASS, they are now living fulfilling lives in Canada.”  

This year, WMB on the Move raised over $87,000 for COMPASS, surpassing their goal of $75,000. Nationwide, the Ride had reached 95 per cent of its $1.5 million target as of early October.  

The team’s goals include raising funds for COMPASS Refugee Centre to support refugees navigating a complex asylum system, raising awareness about refugee issues among their community and enjoying a fun outdoor event with like-minded participants.  

MacMillan emphasized that events like Ride for Refuge not only raise funds but also raise awareness about the challenges refugees face.  

“Waterloo residents, regardless of age, can make a real difference,” he said. “It feels great to help out, and it’s a lot of fun. We hope more students and community members get involved next year.”  

With greater participation, Ride for Refuge promises to expand its impact, bringing communities together to support vulnerable populations across Canada. 

#Biking #charity #compass #COMPASSRefugeeCentre #Cycling #doonValleyGolfCentre #JimMacMillan #kitchener #mennoniteBrethren #redRacoonBike #refugeeCentre #rideForRefuge #SangjiunHan #SangjunHan #SDCWR #ShelleyCampagnola #SocialDevelopmentCentreWaterlooREgion #theKitchenerCentralTeam #waterloo #waterlooRegion

POETRY IN PLACE

Poetry in Place is an anthology written by immigrants, settlers and Indigenous writers who live between Lake Ontario and the Grand River. Each poem explores how modernization, colonial history, politics and economics have transformed Indigenous culture and relationships with the land both physically and metaphorically. The anthology advocates for environmental preservation and demonstrates how poetry can effectively communicate this message. 

The anthology is divided into multiple sections, each representing different themes related to Indigenous culture: Land, Water, Trees, Birds and Wild Creatures. It is intriguing to see the various perspectives of the writers who submitted their poems to this book. Poetry in Place begins with a vivid poem by Elizabeth Tessier, “Deeds.” 

The poem is about loyalists who came to Canada and exploited the land. Tessier uses vivid words such as “Felled and Burnt” and “choking out the native life” to describe the destruction and exploitation of Indigenous land. Not only do her words paint a vivid picture in the reader’s mind, but the way she uses her creativity in other poems further in the book leave an impressionable impact. 

The writers’ word choices are powerful, and the imagery brings each theme to life in a unique way. While some poems feel fragmented or abstract, they generally succeed in conveying their intended message. 

Although some of the poems are easy to understand and express interesting themes, there are also very complex poems. “Looming,” is about Jerusha Currie and John Solomon Hager, who find a place called Middleport. After Hager’s death from a fever contracted while travelling through a swamp, the poem’s narrative becomes harder to follow. Still, the emotional tone and historical context remain compelling. 

Finally, the book does an excellent job emphasizing the importance of Indigenous land and land preservation using various interviews with the writers of the poems. Although they use similar questions for each interview, they still do a good job of supporting the overarching theme of the book: reflecting on the importance of Indigenous land and gaining recognition. 

The interviews ask questions like “How would you describe your relationship to the land?”, “How long have you called a particular physical place ‘home’?”, and “Is your relationship to the land affected by any particular religious or spiritual grounding, or does it come from a specific worldview of any kind?” 

The responses not only deepen our understanding of each writer’s relationship with nature but also offer insight into the personal perspectives behind their poems. 

I would highly recommend Poetry in Place as a compelling anthology that showcases the talented voices from Southern Ontario. It invites us to reflect on our relationship with land, history, and identity through poetry. 

#Anthology #deeds #felledAndBurnt #grandRiver #immigrants #indigenousWriters #lakeOntario #looming #middleport #poem #Poetry #poetryInPlace #SangjiunHan #Settlers