COMMUNITY CALENDAR
GRAND HARMONY CHORUS DEAR SANTA CHRISTMAS CONCERT - Grand Harmony Chorus’s annual Christmas concert is back and in-person! The award-winning, all-women’s chorus invites you to experience Dear Santa, a choral holiday concert on Sunday, November 27 at 3 pm at the St. Agatha Community Centre, 1791 Erbs Rd., St Agatha. You’ll be greeted at the door by a life-sized animated Santa Claus statue then sit back and enjoy the four-part harmony concert featuring traditional Christmas songs as well as some fun new holiday music. Enjoy a special guest presentation by the popular Mixology A Cappella Chorus, and performances by small ensembles, Key of She, Rezonation and Vocal Vitality.There will also be a themed basket raffle. See Christmas through the eyes of a child again and get into the spirit of the season. An event you don’t want to miss! Tickets are $25 and available online at https://dear-santa-ghc.eventbrite.ca Banquet style seating (8 people to a round table) - no reserved seating will be available.
HOLLY AND IVY CHRISTMAS SALE - The Garden Club of Kitchener-Waterloo presents the Holly and Ivy Christmas Sale on Saturday, November 19 from 10am to 2pm at the First United Church, 16 William St. W. Waterloo (corner of King and William). Sale includes fresh planters and floral designs, hand crafted Christmas items and a tea room. Cash or cheque only. For more information email gayanderson@bell.net
HANDBELL MUSIC AT TRILLIUM LUTHERAN - The Christmas and pre-Christmas seasons have long been accompanied by the mellow peal of bells, a sound sorely missed in many community spaces over the past two years when COVID-19 made singing and playing together difficult. Unlike brass and wind instruments, massed bells can fill large spaces with rich sound, minus the risk of dispersing viral moisture into the air. On December 4 at 3:30pm, Trillium Lutheran Church along with guest musicians from St. Luke’s Lutheran, Kitchener; St. Matthews Lutheran, Kitchener; and Trinity Lutheran, New Hamburg will present a special Advent Lessons and Carols non-denominational service built around the mellow resonance of handbell harmony. Trillium Church (22 Willow Street, Waterloo) welcomes people of all ages, backgrounds and faiths to this free event.
CHRISTMAS MARKET – A Christmas Market will be held November 19, from 9am – 12pm at St. George’s of Forest Hill Anglican Church (321 Fischer Hallman Road, Kitchener). Bottle pull, bake table, used books, crafts, original artwork cards, floral arrangements, café and a silent auction of a quilt and original artwork are all available for your shopping pleasure.
GALAXY OF GIFTS – the Galaxy of Gifts Christmas Craft Show will be held Sat. Dec. 3 from 10am to 3pm at Lions Hall, 31 Parkside Dr. St. Jacobs (Beside Picard’s Peanuts). Over 30 tables. Free admission. Proceeds go towards the Kitchener Stray Cat Rescue.
COMMUNITY MAPPING WORKSHOP – Join Reep Green Solutions for a Free Community Mapping and Design Workshop for residents of the Victoria Park Neighbourhood on November 17 from 6:30 to 8:30pm at the Downtown Community Centre, 35 Weber St. W. in Kitchener. To reserve a spot for this event visit reepgreen.ca and go to eventbrite.ca
YOUTH CUTTING CARBON PROGRAM - Climate change can feel like an overwhelming and even impossible problem sometimes. When we learn more about the ways we can contribute to positive change, it can become much less scary and much more manageable. During this virtual, interactive workshop, you will learn about the basics of climate change, calculate your own carbon impact, and discover ways you can start to take meaningful climate action. The workshop is designed for youth aged 13-25. Delivered through Reep Green Solutions, the workshops will be held November 14 and November 21. Visit reepgreen.ca to register and for more information.
THE LAST 15 SECONDS PERFORMANCE AND DINNER - MT Space’s milestone production, The Last 15 Seconds, returns home for one night only at The Registry Theatre on December 1, at 7pm to honour the late Majdi Bou-Matar. This past June 2022, tragedy hit MT Space with the sudden passing of its director and founder, Majdi Bou-Matar. To honour the legacy he leaves behind, the theatre company will present The Last 15 Seconds in a final performance. The Last 15 Seconds was inspired by the life and death of Moustapha Akkad, a great artist that Majdi looked up to. This month, MT Space is also launching a Giving Tuesday campaign to raise funds to establish a bursary in Majdi Bou-Matar’s name. This bursary will be dedicated to offering financial support as well as mentorship from MT Space to a newcomer, immigrant, and emerging artist each year. MT Space is seeking potential partners, ongoing fundraising efforts, and establishing an endowment fund to secure the longevity of the bursary. Experience The Last 15 Seconds and share a meal following the performance at The Registry Theatre, 122 Frederick Street, Kitchener. Tickets are available through Ticketscene for $100 each or 2 for $175. Tax receipts will be provided for a portion of the ticket. For anyone interested in making an additional contribution to the bursary fund, MT Space is accepting larger contributions through CanadaHelps.
VOLUNTEERS URGENTLY NEEDED TO DELIVER MEALS - Volunteers who delivered meals to local seniors throughout the pandemic are starting to return to work, leaving a gap for local agency Community Support Connections (Meals on Wheels) to fill. When the pandemic first hit, the charity lost the majority of its meal delivery volunteers who were being instructed to stay safe at home as older adults themselves. Routes in Kitchener and Cambridge are in great need of delivery volunteers. If you can help or for more information please contact Meals on Wheels at (519) 772-8787.