Communities Unite-Take Back the Nigh

Take Back the Night is an internationally held march and rally intended as a protest and direct action against rape and other forms of sexual violence. 

The Niagara Regional Sexual Assault Centre (CARSA) has been organizing 

TakeBack the Night in St. Catharines for over 30 years now, empowering those 

to take a stand and break the silence that so many of us share. 


We will march to take back the night to end violence in our community-will you?

The candlelight vigil and march will take place Thurs, Sept. 20 @ 6:30 p.m. at 

the St. Catharines Public Library, James St., St. Catharines

There will also be a food drive for the YWCA collecting non-perishables, 

bedding, towels, wash clothes and other toiletries.

Niagara Action for Animals' Community Potluck Series

OPIRG welcomes Niagara Action for Animals' monthly potluck series starting Sept. 14 at 7 p.m. at the Unitarian Congregation of Niagara, 223 Church Street (Beside Delta Bingo), St. Catharines. There will also be a presentation from a group of parents discussing issues they have encountered as veggie parents.

The potlucks encourage people to come enjoy delicious vegan foods, meet new people and hear interesting speakers. All you have to do is bring a vegan dish that typically can serve 8-10 people, and perhaps bring a friend! If you don't know what to bring or make, non-alcoholic beverages such as flavoured soy milk, juice, etc. will do just fine. 

Food donations are also accepted and cycled through a vegan food serving program with Food Not Bombs such as non-perishable food items like Pasta, Beans, Veggie Stock, etc. 

More details here

Hope to see you there!

Urban Forestry in Niagara

Climate Action Niagara Series: The Urban Forest

Please join members of Climate Action Niagara for what promises to be another interesting and informative series of discussions on environmental issues, this time related to urban forestry within the region of Niagara.  All events will reference climate impact on tree species.

Heritage Trees

Edith George has been hailed across Canada and beyond as a ‘champion for heritage trees’.  An advisor to the Ontario Urban Forestry Council, Edith is recognized by Nature Canada, Inside Toronto, Canadian Trees and numerous heritage councils.  Edith provides a presentation on the preservation of heritage trees in Niagara, and will introduce Niagara’s Heritage Tree Hunt.  Discussion to follow.  

When: Tuesday, September 11 – 7:00 pm

Where: St Catharines Public Library (Mills Room)

Cost: Free

Part Time Position Available - Chief Returning Officer for OPIRG-Brock

The Returning Officer is responsible for ensuring that a fair and impartial

election is conducted for the Board of Directors of OPIRG-Brock.

This position will report to the Elections Committee of OPIRG-Brock. 

To apply email Elections@OPIRGBrock.org

~3-5hrs per week and 6 hours on the day of our Annual General Meeting

Work period September 4th, 2012 through October 15, 2012 with a Honorarium - $500

Role – Key Activities

• Execute all plans and preparations for an enumeration and election for the Annual General Meeting
• Maintain a thorough, up-to-date awareness of the requirements of all relevant policies and by-laws
• Review enumeration and election practices and procedures as requested by the Elections Committee
• Manage and control financial material for election 
• Communicate information to the public, candidates, volunteers, and out-going OPIRG-Brock Board

Eligibility / Restrictions

Conditions of Appointment/Employment

No person who has been appointed or is acting as a returning officer may

(a) be a current or out-going member of the 2012 OPIRG-Brock Board of Directors

(b) be running for a position on the OPIRG-Brock Board of Directors for 2012-2013 term

Qualifications and Competencies

• Organized events at the local or community level while displaying excellent time management skills
• Proven management skills in a team-based environment
• Developed planning and organizational skills through work/volunteer involvement
• Excelled at a task or employment while under pressure and with clear deadlines
• Interest in and connection with their community or municipality
• Outstanding interpersonal skills
• Effective communication skills that employ a variety of media
• Diplomacy, good judgment, reliability, and discretion in handling confidential information
• Flexibility:
• Availability to manage electoral events, sometimes on short notice
• Ability to learn new skills
•  Adaptability to changing timelines
• Proficiency with computers and technology:
• Competency with Windows and Internet Explorer
• Competency with Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, Outlook)

Additional Qualifications that may be used in candidate selection:

• Management and/or administrative experience with electoral processes

• Awareness of the mandate, role and responsibilities of OPIRG-Brock

Closing Date - August 26th, 2012 4pm

Send resume and brief cover letter to Elections@OPIRGBrock.org

Week 7 / Day 7 - Group workstation upgrade & another satisfied customer!

Today marked the seventh week of Free C.P.U. (Computers, People, and Unity) out of the O.P.I.R.G.-Brock Info-shop. There was discussion and a list made to do with purchases for a new workstation, as well as storage. Also, a customer came in with 2 systems that needed maintenance, one system was a laptop which needed Windows removed and Xbuntu installed, the other system will more then likely get another flavour of Linux installed in the coming week, possibly ArtistXwhich is a full multimedia production studio version of Linux.

Big blue was having some problems, a diagnostic of the optical drives, motherboard and hard drive were done, the issue was actually a couple of faulty PCI cards installed which sporadically halted the system on start up, Big blue will now be used in the Info-shop temporarily until more systems are available for the public.

Also, the five Dell systems which were recently donated are soon to be available to the public with Xubuntu installed on them (including a keyboard & mouse, monitor not included) free of charge, so come by and keep your eyes open, Free C.P.U. is constantly upgrading!

Week 6 - Hard Drive Diagnostic, RAM + Ubuntu upgrade, minor drop in for repairs

Week 6  -

We had to test a faulty Hard Drive, installed more RAM + upgraded from xUbuntu to Ubuntu, and helped someone who dropped in with their desktop to repair a broken fan and wifi card.

New Community Garden in the Heart of Downtown St Catharines

Tomatoes from Food not Bombs garden plot - 2012

OPIRG's been given the wonderful opportunity to start a small community garden in the courtyard of 21 King Street in the heart of downtown St Catharines.
We have about 50 square feet to work with to grow some food for Food Not Bombs and demonstrate to that even a little space can grow quite a bit of food.
We're asking around to see if anyone might be able to help us populate it with some seedlings so its ready to engage new students in September.


If you want to help plant the garden over the next couple of weeks email OPIRG@AtBrock.org

If you have any ideas on what we should transplant in for this year, comment below!

The intersections between human and animals

Grass roots organizing is fundamental to services that directly affect peoples' lives by addressing the most basic needs in our communities. Organizations that do not rely on government funding typically spend time fundraising rather then doing the work they are skilled at doing, so we should support efforts to keep important initiatives going!  

Community Animal Allies of Niagara provides services that help animals as well as humans. They are driven by the philosophy that kindness to animals helps build a better world for us all. This fall C.A.A.N is participating in the Ride for Refuge, a non-competitive bicycling fundraiser whose goal is $4,000 for the Pet Retention program they run. 

C.A.A.N's Pet Retention program assists people who are temporarily unable to care for their pets when the most vulnerable members of our community cannot, due to homelessness, sickness or injury. Providing an alternative to the city pound is important for the well being of animals and their human friends. 

To get involved by donating or riding, e-mail caan-catmobile@hotmail.com or phone 289-362-3344 asking for Barb. You can also look up C.A.A.N on http://rideforrefuge.org/