33rd Annual Mayors’ Dinner with special host Frances Westley Catastrophe and Resilience Pathways To A New World The Mayors’ Dinner recognizes citizens who have made outstanding public contributions and encourages commitment and dedication to our community In support of The Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen Community building since 1948 With much to The Working Centre for serving our community gratitude for over 30 years. The 33rd Annual Mayors’ Dinner Friday April 24th 2020 Hosts: Mayor Berry Vrbanovic Master of Ceremonies: City of Kitchener Neil Aitchison Mayor Dave Jaworsky Welcome from the Working Centre: City of Waterloo Joe Mancini Mayor Kathryn McGarry Presentation: City of Cambridge Frances Westley The Working Centre thanks those who made exceptional contributions to help make this event possible! Mayor Berry Vrbanovic, Mayor Dave Jaworsky, Mayor Kathryn McGarry, Neil Aitchison, Murray Haase, Hulene Montgomery, Jim Erb, Jim Hallman, Margaret Motz, JP Smola, Andy Macpherson, Sarah Fitzpatrick, Karen Pepper, Nichole Matthews, Clarence Cachagee, Joyce Stankiewicz, Margaret Nally, Chloe Callander, Lawrence Bingeman, Mark Bingeman, Spiro Dracopoulo, Danielle Mosser, the individuals and businesses who contributed to the auction, and many others. The Waterloo Regional Police Service would like to thank the sta and volunteers at the Working Centre and St. John’s Kitchen for their unwavering commitment to helping people in our community. You oer an invaluable service to our Region and, through your care and compassion, are able to ensure people in need nd hope for a better future. Thank you for all you do. You are, truly, People Helping People. WATERLOO REGIONAL POLICE People Helping People GREETINGS FROM THE MAYORS On behalf of our city councils and the residents of Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo, we welcome you to the 33rd Annual Mayors’ Dinner - with a virtual twist. During these unprecedented times, we are all learning to do things a little differently and to be creative. This event is no exception. We did not want to postpone this event as now, more than ever, it is important that all three municipalities come together. There is no doubt that we will be stronger for it in the end. We know that many of you are worried about the future and feeling isolated from loved ones but we will collectively get through this together, yet apart. We have been inspired by so many examples of people in the community stepping up during the COVID-19 pandemic. So many of you are checking in on neighbours, family, and friends over the phone or video to make sure they have support, or dropping off care packages on doorsteps to those who can’t leave their homes. There has been an outpouring of thanks to our essential workers who are working so hard to keep things going in our community. These are simple things that help propel us forward though all the uncertainty. We are honoured this year to have as our host Frances Westley, J.W. McConnell Emeritus Professor of Social Innovations from the University of Waterloo. Frances has led an exemplary life with four decades of research and community organizing around social innovation, sustainable development, strategic change, visionary leadership and inter-organizational collaboration. We would like to express our gratitude to Frances for being a truly inspiring leader in our communities. We would also like to extend a big “Thank You” to the sponsors and supporters of the Mayors’ Dinner, both for your efforts in bringing together this virtual event and for your work throughout the year. Many volunteers, donors and individuals throughout our cities have actively contributed to this evening. We truly appreciate your exceptional work, and hope you enjoy our virtual event! Be kind and stay safe everyone. Kathryn McGarry Berry Vrbanovic Dave Jaworsky Mayor, City of Cambridge Mayor, City of Kitchener Mayor, City of Waterloo CATASTROPHE AND RESILIENCE PATHWAYS TO A NEW WORLD Originally we invited Frances Westley to present at The Mayors’ Dinner on the topic of Climate Change and Sustainability. Frances brings four decades of research and community organizing into questions of social innovation and sustainable development. The main question she set out to answer was what is the role of civil society to meet the challenge of climate change? With the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic we agreed that the best way forward would be to revamp the presentation to focus on the general questions of how civil society can react to change. The kind of change that we are seeing all around us today. What are the implications behind our actions and what are the best ways of acting that strengthen community? This presentation uses the best up-to-date research on resiliency helping us all generate a wider understanding of cultural resilience in a complex world. ABOUT OUR SPECIAL HOST Frances Westley is Professor Emeritus and Founder of the Waterloo Institute of Social Innovation and Resilience at the University of Waterloo. Until her retirement in 2017 she held the J.W. McConnell Chair in Social Innovation. She is a renowned scholar and has published widely in the areas of social innovation, strategies for sustainable development, strategic change, visionary leadership and inter-organizational collaboration. In the last 20 years she has devoted herself to designing and delivering high level programs for mid-career professionals in government, business, and the NGO sector engaged in sustainability and social innovation initiatives. Dr. Westley serves on numerous advisory and editorial boards. She is the recipient of the McGill Teaching Award, Phi Beta Capa Award/Middlebury College, Ulysses S. Seal Award for Innovation in Conservation, the Corporate Knights Award, and the Schwab Thought Leader in Social Innovation Award (2019). She received her Ph.D. in Sociology from McGill University (1978), her M.A. in Sociology from McGill University (1975), and her B.A. in English Literature from Middlebury College (1970). She holds an Honorary Doctorate from Stockholm University (2019). In her spare time Frances likes to paint, hike, swim, camp, and spend time with her family, including her 7 grandsons. THANK YOU TO ALL OUR AUCTION DONORS Akke Stretch Four All Ice Cream Nicola Martin Allheart&hands Full Circle Foods Princess Twin Cafe and Cinema Angie’s Kitchen Hauser Company Store Queen Street Yoga Anonymous Hillside Festival Recycle Cycles Arabesque Restaurant Homewood Suites by Hilton REEP Green Solutions Art Gallery of Ontario Cambridge-Waterloo Sister Soulace Artefacts Inn of Waterloo Strassburger Windows & Doors Belgian Nursery Jacob’s Custom Chairs TA Appliance Ben Fields Jo Davis Coaching The Green Door Bill Schwarz Ken Seiling Waterloo THEMUSEUM Regional Museum Carole Boucher, Architect Thorn Glass Studio Kevin Pepper Photography Centre in the Square Together We’re Bitter Kitchener Crossfit Channer’s Men’s Wear and Apparel Tupperware Myrtle / Costco City of Cambridge KWarterly Webster Pottery City of Kitchener Little City Farm Westmount Golf & Country Club City of Waterloo Mark Miller Words Worth Books Creative Sisters Quilt Studio Michelle Purchase Worth A Second Look Descendants Beer & Beverage Co. Neal Stretch We are deeply appreciative for this wonderful list of donors who have supported The Mayors’ Dinner auction. We acknowledge that many individuals, small businesses and organizations have reflected their concern and support for the vulnerable in our community. We may have missed or chosen not to include some donations out of a concern for many issues arising from the COVID-19 shutdown. For 33 years, we have been supported by 1000’s of businesses, organizations and individuals who have donated quality items to support this auction. Please visit our online auction platform to place your bid on a selection of great items! THANK YOU TO OUR CONTRIBUTORS George Berrigan & Janet Speight Robert & Nancy Mann Mary Cardillo Nicole Martin & David Shaftoe Dr. Blair Egerdie & Catherine Kelly Norma McAuliffe Kae Elgie & Phil Eslworthy James & Norma Mosgrove Pat & Noreen Flynn Mary Jane Patterson Doris Gascho Joy Roberts & Douglas McMullen Dr. Ross & Maureen Grant Marcia Smellie Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region Joyce & Bill Stankiewicz Dieter & Rosalind Kays Mike & Carolyn Strathdee John Kokko & Sue Andersen Ruby & Amsey Weber Anthony Mancini During these challenging times, we extend our thanks and gratitude to all those who work at and support the mission of The Working Centre Thank you for helping to care for some of the most vulnerable people in our community. Stay well. E • CONNE AT CT BR • E C L R E 1945 - 2020 E • C A R T E O C C O K M W M A Y U N M I T E Y N N O • N IT TE E COLLEGIA Building Community Together! “Rockway is a friendly and welcoming community where I developed relationships across the grades and formed close friendships that I anticipate lasting a lifetime. I am full of gratitude for my 4 years at Rockway!” Jonathan Cressman – Class of 2019 University of Guelph, Landscape Architecture – Class of 2023 www.rockway.ca Charitable #: 119122091RR0001 Rockway Mennonite Collegiate | 110 Doon Road | Kitchener | ON | N2G 3C8 www.rockway.ca | 519.743.5209 A Special Thank You to Our Generous Patrons The Shantz Family Margaret Motz COMMUNITY TABLES Bingemans Sanguen Health Centre City of Kitchener St. Mary’s Parish Country Gardens RV Park Strassburger Windows & Doors Ron & Suzanne Doyle Tamarack Institute Ewert Family Brenda Weber House of Friendship Wilfred Laurier University Kitchener Downtown Jeff Willmer Community Health Centre Waterloo Catholic District Kitchener Rangers Hockey Club School Board Margaret & Bob Nally AN INTERCONNECTED COMMUNITY As neighbourhoods are in a city, The Working Centre’s projects are distinct yet connected through various programs, services, and people 35+ 500+ 300+ Projects Volunteers Meals served daily 60 1500+ 3000+ Supportive Daily visitors at Job seekers housing units our projects helped annually PAST MAYORS’ DINNER HONOUREES 1988 Dominic Cardillo 2000 Peter Hallman 2012 Bob & Margaret Nally 1989 Jonas Bingeman 2001 Chloe Callender 2013 Ron Schlegel 1990 Betty Thompson 2002 Walter Hachborn 2014 Alex Mustakas 1991 Milo Shantz 2003 Edna Staebler 2015 Murray Haase 1992 Sr.