ANNUAL REPORT2015-2016

Ontario Public Interest Research Group

Mission

OPIRG works to create and sustain student and community-based

engagement through research, education and action on social

justice and environmental issues; challenging oppression in all its

forms; and using consensus-based decision making in a non-

hierarchical and accessible setting.

About OPIRG

For the past 39 years, the Peterborough chapter of the Ontario For the past 39 years, the Peterborough chapter of the Ontario

Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) has been pursuing social

justice and environmental activism on the Trent campus and in

the Peterborough community. During this long history, OPIRG has

worked on a wide range of issues and has seen its alumni go on

to contribute to other social justice and environmental move-

ments after they leave Trent. Today, OPIRG continues to be a

dynamic organization where many Trent students learn the skills dynamic organization where many Trent students learn the skills

and knowledge they need to be active citizens.

Today, OPIRG continues to be a

dynamic organization where many

Trent students learn the skills and

knowledge they need to be active

citizens

OPIRG carries out this mission through

our work as a student-funded, non-prot

organization dedicated to research, edu-

cation and action on a variety of issues

including

environmentalism, human rights,

gender rights, peace, sustainability,

diversity rights and

social equity, among others.

OPIRG volunteers and staff members OPIRG volunteers and staff members

organize speakers, lms, conferences,

publications and campaigns on a wide

variety of topics that t within our

mandate.

OPIRG Peterborough is

committed to providing a

space and resources for

Peterborough and Trent

community members to

work on programs, aware-

ness-raising campaigns,

workshops and other actiworkshops and other acti-

vities focusing on social

justice issues; encouraging

a critical approach to the

institutions and systems

students are learning

about in classes, and;

facilitating skill building

that will enable students to

use their academic

knowledge for social

change.

The PIRG movement originated with consumer activist Ralph Nader

during the early seventies, as he encouraged students on university

campuses in the United States and Canada to create campus-based

organizations that would address issues of public, rather than corporate,

interest. PIRGs became a space for university students to mobilize, raise

awareness, and confront pressing problems, while learning, teaching

and using of activist skills. In 1973, the rst Ontario PIRG was established.

Today there are 21 PIRGs across the country. Today there are 21 PIRGs across the country.

OPIRG-Peterborough was founded

in 1976 by a campus-wide referen-

dum and since then it receives its

core funding from a refundable levy

that is paid by all full-time undergra-

duate students at Trent. In 1976 it

was called PeterPIRG and it was funded by a ve dollar levy. In 1986, the

levy was brought up from $5 to $7, and again in 1991, from $7 to $9. The

levy did not go up for the 20 years between 1991 and 2011, and as ina-

tion pushed up our costs, it became harder to provide the same quality

programs and opportunities each year. In 2011 we campaigned to get a

$3 raise on our levy, as well as to get all levies indexed to the cost of

ination. In 2014, we now receive a $12.78 refundable levy that allows us

to continue the wide range of programming that we do at Trent and in to continue the wide range of programming that we do at Trent and in

the Peterborough community.

OPIRG Peterborough has worked on issues of local, regional and global

concern. From the mid 70s to the mid 80s, OPIRG Peterborough publis-

hed the Birch Bark Alliance and the Nuclear Free Press, national newspa-

pers documenting and commenting on nuclear energy and the arms

race. Other issues OPIRG focused on during the 80s included opposing

drug dumping in the Third World and campus recycling.

During the 90s, OPIRG worked on promoting energy conservation, sup-

porting organic gardening, examining the food industry and education

women about the effects of disposable menstrual products. Towards the

end of the decade, OPIRG became increasingly involved in anti-capitalist

and anti-globalization movements and sent 2 bus loads of protesters to

the Summit of the Americas in Quebec City in 2000.

During the rst few years of the new millennium, OPIRG worked closely

with F.I.G (OPIRGs food issues group) to successfully lobby Aramark,

Trents former exclusive food provider, to allow a student run organic

HISTORY

OPIRG Peterborough has

worked on issues of local,

regional and global concern

caf on campus, which became the very successful and autonomous

Seasoned Spoon Caf. OPIRG research, education and action was also key in pushing Trent administration to adopt both a no-sweat and a fair trade policy to ensure garments manufactured for the University are made under human working conditions and to ensure the University cafeterias stocked fairly traded goods.

Between 2005 and 2010, OPIRG launched some of our more well-known Between 2005 and 2010, OPIRG launched some of our more well-known programs, such as the Free Market, and Green Dishes program, as well as a Weekly Wednesday Night Documentary series (2007-2010). During this period the communitys need for the OPIRG Food Cupboard expanded to accommodate 10 times more people. Over this same time period, OPIRG was editing the newest edition of the Super Market Tour publication and helping run the Alternative Resource Library at Sadleir House. Towards the end of the decade, OPIRG partnered with the House. Towards the end of the decade, OPIRG partnered with the PRCSA to submit a Trillium grant application to make Sadleir House more accessible. The grant was successful and by 2010, a wheelchair lift, automatic door openers, a ramp, and other modications had been ins-talled to make the entire rst oor of Sadleir House accessible. Moving into 2010, OPIRG was involved in community resistance to the G8/G20. We also organized our rst annual Peace Week and were involved in several campaigns including the Stop Public Transit Funding Cuts, Israeli Apartheid Week and the Stop the Enbridge Pipeline campaign. OPIRG also began running free monthly screenings of Cinema Politica lms. In 2011, Trent students voted to increase our levy by $3.

As well as continuing the campaigns begun in 2010, in the 2011- 2012 As well as continuing the campaigns begun in 2010, in the 2011- 2012 year, OPIRGs primary focuses were sustainable food policies and practi-ces. OPIRG was engaged in three major projects relating to food: OPIRG wrote the application and led the process for Trent to become recogni-zed as a Fair Trade University (while a member of CASSC Fair Trade Task Force); With Trents monopoly food service provider, Aramarks current contract expiring in 2013, OPIRG formed a Food Sovereignty Group to draft sustainable food policy recommendations to be included in Trents new food service contract, and; OPIRG Peterborough also published and launched the newest edition of The Supermarket Tour. Both the Free Market and Food Cupboard projects moved into new spacious rooms with organized and sturdy specially-built shelving. OPIRG also hung the Free Market quilt in its permanent location in the Bata foyer this year.

HISTORY

The Canadian Mining Awareness working group found a renewed vigour

as well, while the Animal Equity Society, Fair Trade Trent, and the

Guerilla Gardeners continued their activities. OPIRG Board and Staff

members organized more than three dozen public events over the year.

The Food Cupboard sustained its exponential growth, and other

projects such as the Workers Action Centre continued to develop as

well. A highlight of the summer was the We Need Better Than Food

Banks rally organized by the Food Cupboard Steering Collective and the Banks rally organized by the Food Cupboard Steering Collective and the

Free Markets pop-ups at various events in the city.

This 2015-2016, we renewed

our commitment to welcoming

alternative communities to Trent

by being large part of the

organization of DisOrientation

Week. During the week, we

co-hosted the largest Vegan

BBQ yet. Trent Radio and the

Supermarket Tours were renewed once more. This past year, OPIRG has Supermarket Tours were renewed once more. This past year, OPIRG has

worked towards educating the public on issues such as resource extrac-

tion, food security and identity empowerment. Most notably, OPIRG

provided a safe space for education, discussion and action during

Januarys Anti-Poverty Week. Over fteen events addressed localized

social justice initiatives and community development in addition to

offering letter writing, housing security, Basic Income Guarantee and

poor-bashing workshops across the city and on Trent campus. Please poor-bashing workshops across the city and on Trent campus. Please

continue reading through the following pages for more details, as well

as for a comprehensive list of activities.

OPIRG has worked towards

educating the public on issues

such as resource extraction,

food security and identity

empowerment

HISTORY

DIS-ORIENTATION

Dis-Orientation Week is an alternative to O-Week hosted this year by Dis-Orientation Week is an alternative to O-Week hosted this year by OPIRG, Community and Race Relations Committee, Centre for Gender and Social Justice, Trent Queer Collective and this years Vice President of the TCSA that introduces both incoming and returning students to activism and their possible role in the Peterborough activist community. Dis-O is a week of events and programming centered on the theme: Challenge the way you think about your university. That is, working through anti-oppression, anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, feminist, and other through anti-oppression, anti-colonial, anti-capitalist, feminist, and other frameworks of discourse to introduce students to Trent University. How does the academy as an institution reinforce dominant paradigms of neoliberalism, colonialism, and capitalism? Where do students t in anti-oppressive, radical politics? What is Trents history in this struggle? How can students get involved in on- and off-campus activities concer-ning student activism? This year, we had a variety of fun and exciting events, workshops, discussions, and orientations for any and all folks looking to get involved in activism this year or get to know a vibrant community of organizers in Peterborough.

DIS-ORIENTATION

Dis-Orientation Week is an alternative to O-Week hosted this year by

Challenge the way you think about your university

Dis-O THEME:

2015-2016: EVENTS

FREE VEGAN BBQSeptember 17, 2015

Its become a tradition. For at least a decade, OPIRG and Food Not Its become a tradition. For at least a decade, OPIRG and Food Not Bombs have welcomed Trent students back to school by hosting a massive Free Vegan BBQ at Sadleir House. This year more than 400 student and community members enjoyed a delicious feast, which was the largest turnout in recent memory!

We at OPIRG are committed to the struggle for the right to eat enough,

safe, nutritious, healthy, sustainable and culturally relevant food. In

closing the Food Cupboard in October, we have been working towards

a food justice model in lieu of food charity model. Our Food Security

Coordinator is researching food security on campuses and networking

with other food actors at Trent and in Peterborough. Our creation and

publishing of The Seedling, a zine dedicated to food issues, emphasis

on Supermarket Tours, Anti-Poverty Weeks linking of food insecurity on Supermarket Tours, Anti-Poverty Weeks linking of food insecurity

directly to poverty and AGM keynote speaker Paula Andersons work

continues to develop our communitys local food systems.

FOOD

SECUTIRY &

FOOD

JUSTICE

The Food Cupboard Steering

Collective was established in 2014

as an entity made up of volunteers,

community members, staff and

board members in order to facilitate

conversations and maintain open

communication. The Collective dis-

cusses necessary and upcoming cusses necessary and upcoming

changes and ensures that all voices

are being heard in regard to the

direction of the Food Cupboard.

The main focus of the Collective

right now is whether emergency

needs are being met as well as a

wider advocacy around the systemic wider advocacy around the systemic

issues of hunger and poverty.

This past 6 months the Food Security Coordinator Ken Mills has taken up the position from Jesse and Reba more recently who were both dedi-cated to the work and extremely procient. The Coordinators time in the position has been a period of signicant change with the closing of the Food Cupboard. In Kens rst several weeks I helped with the nal tasks of dismantling and moving the infrastructure along with the last four biweekly days. Since that time he has been working to support, where possible, the former volunteers in their search for a new space as where possible, the former volunteers in their search for a new space as well as preparing a report on campus food insecurity across Canada titled What is to be Done?. This has taken the majority of his time along with the week to week tasks of helping to coordinate the Free Market and Green Dishes Programs. On the whole this year has been tumul-tuous and the role of OPIRG in Food Security work is somewhat uncer-tain However, many exciting opportunities may well show a new and shining path for OPIRG on this le.

We are committed to the struggle for the right to eat enough, safe, nutritious, healthy,

sustainable and culturally relevant food

ART AS ACTIVISM

NOVEMBER 2015

There are many ways to have your voice

heard. This world can be an ugly place, but

sometimes it can be beautiful. OPIRG

hosted an Art as Activism Pub Night, Featuring live poetry featuring the PeterboFeaturing live poetry featuring the Peterbo-

rough Poetry Slam Collective, an art battle

organized by the Trent Visual Arts Network,

and button making. The pub night provided

a space for our community to come

together, learn from one another, and make

art and relax.

BOOK READINGS+BOOK LAUNCHES

Yves Engler & Paula ButlerCanada in Africa: Double Book LaunchJanuary 21, 2016

In January, we welcomed authors Yves Engler (Canada in Africa:

300 Years of Aid and Exploitation) and Paula Butler (former Trent

professor, Colonial Extractions: Race and Canadian Mining in Con-

temporary Africa) to critique the colonial nature of Canada's interest

in Africa through enforced economic prescriptions and imperialism.

The Council of Canadians and Students Association for Internatio-

nal Development also helped collaborate to put on the event.

Learning the impacts of ongoing Canadian resource extraction and

the enforcement of colonial policies in Africa brought forward a new

understanding of the body of politics we have today. The night

ended in a great discussion about the ways we can get involved and

how to better support the local people who are impacted by these

corporations and government bodies.

Leah Lakshmi Piepzna-Samarasinha October 20, 2015

In October, OPIRG hosted Leah Lakshmi

Piepzna-Samarasinha, writer, poet and

activist on queer, trans people of colour and

disability justice. In her The Art and Practice

of Disability Justice workshop, presented

clips of artwork and performance from Sins

Invalid and other disabled perfomers of

color, talked about art and performance as a color, talked about art and performance as a

means of advancing disability justice, and

shared concerete tips for building accessible,

liberatory events, movements and communi-

ties. In the evening, at Curated, Leah read

from her books Bodymap and Dirty River.

The event was sponsored

by the Community and

Race Relations Committee,

Centre for Gender and Social Justice, Trent Queer Collective and the

TCSA through its Students with Disabilities Commissioner.

Author visits and book readings are popular way to educate and raise awareness on particular issues.

ANTI-POVERY WEEKJanuary 23 29, 2016

Complex and daunting issues bring community members together through sharing and problem-solving. Anti-Poverty Week included over fteen events that addressed localized social justice initiatives and community development with community cooking,

letter writing, housing security, basic income guarantee and poor-bashing workshops across the city and on Trent campus. Through sharing stories, teaching each other, and developing

skills, APWers are questioning class norms and challenging skills, APWers are questioning class norms and challenging oppression! Organized along with the Peterborough Student Housing Co-op, the week featured conversations about how

poverty has affected individuals lives and how community can be built up around tackling poverty while celebrating the resilience

and resourcefulness of being poor.

OFFICIAL POSTER:

OPIRGs summer Food Security Coordinator held multiple Free Market pop-ups at Food Not Bombs on Monday evenings and during On the Lawn events at Sadleir House on Thursday afternoons. In December, Sustainable Trent and OPIRG held a Free Market Giveaway in the Great Hall, along with a T-shirt modication workshop to remove the stigma associated with used clothing and show its benets to environmental conservation and community building.

FREE MARKETGIVEAWAYDecember 2, 2015

Reposition yourself on the

chain of consumption

Free Market Manifesto

Consensus-Based Decision Making WorkshopOctober 6 & November 23, 2015

OPIRG is an organization that makes OPIRG is an organization that makes

its decisions using consensus based

decision making methods. Each

year OPIRG offers consensus

decision making training to all

OPIRG working groups, board

members, staff and volunteers to

ensure that everyone involved with ensure that everyone involved with

the organization understands and

has the skills to operate their groups

using consensus decision making

methods. A workshop was hosted

by OPIRG staff in October and

November.

Light Your SparkActivism Skills Workshop Series

Anti-Oppression WorkshopMarch 15, July 11, Nov 26, 2015

Every year OPIRG offers at least one Every year OPIRG offers at least one

anti-oppression training session for

OPIRG staff, board, working groups

and volunteers. We often collaborate

with other organizations and invite

members of the community to take

advantage of these workshops.

In March and again in July we In March and again in July we

welcomed Citln Currie of the Com-

munity and Race Relations Commit-

tee of Peterborough for a workshop

on Anti-Oppression. In November,

our Education and Resource Facilita-

tor, along with a board member, faci

litated an anti-oppression 101

workshop at Lady Eaton College

attended by students

WORKSHOPS

When OPIRG was founded in 1976, it was premised on three key compo-nents: Research, Education, and Action. Today, while Action tends to get the most attention, the tenets of Research and Education remain central to all that OPIRG does. OPIRG continuously works to compile and make accessible the research developed by individuals with lived experience of oppression, as well as by academics and public intellectuals. We do so by hosting various guest lectures, workshops, and other events, allowing researchers and practitioners the opportunity to disseminate their researchers and practitioners the opportunity to disseminate their ndings, as well as by compiling research into accessible formats, such as with our Supermarket Tour.

Every year, OPIRG also engages in research-for-credit projects, in which Trent students team up with a Trent faculty member, OPIRG and The Trent Community Research Centre (TCRC) to conduct research projects on a variety of topics. The Centre connects students and faculty with local organizations to create community-based research, service learning and experiential education opportunities that enhance the social, environmental, cultural and economic health of our communi-ties. Some of our past research projects include: OPIRG Ethical Food Sourcing Projects; OPIRGs Supermarket Tour; Public Space and Accessi-bility in Peterborough, Queer Issues in High School Curriculum, Anti-Homophobia Resources for teachers, Trent Community Gardens, a composting feasibility study for Trent and much more (this years projects are highlighted below). We always welcome new research ideas, and encourage anyone interested in doing a project to get in touch by emailing opirg@trentu.ca.

RESEARCH

Today, while Action tends to get

the most attention, the tenets of

Research and Education remain

central to all that OPIRG does

Self-Love Workshop

February 10, 2015

In celebration of Self Love Week (fostered by The Centre for Gender In celebration of Self Love Week (fostered by The Centre for Gender and Social Justice) OPIRG Peterborough hosted a Self-Love Workshop. While it is often the subject of progressive beauty workshops to shed light on the misconduct of the fashion industry and the destruction it leads to, this workshop sought to expand beyond that and focus on the art of loving oneself. We spoke of what we dislike and like about our body and personality and how to change our negative thoughts into positive ones, amongst other things. into positive ones, amongst other things.

Pop-Up Giveaways are also a common

event that the Free Market organizes.

One such Pop-Up Giveaway was hosted

on Trent campus in February 2015.

Similar to the Annual Give Away, Pop-Up Similar to the Annual Give Away, Pop-Up

Giveaways are a chance to create access

to free clothes and items through a visit to

somewhere within the community. It is a

great opportunity to tell people about the

Free Market and the ideas behind it, start

discussions about consumerism, commu-

nity building and responsibilities to the nity building and responsibilities to the

environment.

PROJECTSFree MarketOPIRGs The Free Market facilitates the redistribution of clothing and other household items. All items are donated by the community on a daily basis and everything is available for free. Everyone is welcome at the Free Market and there are big giveaways that generally happen bi-annually. The Free Market aims to provide a space for redistribution of goods to people who need them, while encouraging volunteerism and building a more generous and connected community. Clothes and other items are collected via bins which are located in every college residence at Trent University. There is also a drop off bin located at Sadleir House. The donations never run out and the Free Market has proven to be a community favourite since early 2000s!

The OPIRG Free Market Give Away is an annual event where all donated items, ranging from household goods, clothing, ofce supplies, books, small electronics and other miscellaneous items are available to community members and students. This event happens available to community members and students. This event happens throughout a full day at Sadleir House. Clothes and goods are spread about inside Sadler House as well as outside on its lawn for people to wander through and collect. The event is absolutely FREE and always guarantees a good time for people who gather for it from all over Peter-borough. The local Food Not Bombs is a wonderful close partner of both the Food Cupboard and Free Market. During the Give-Aways, Food Not Bombs provides an amazing free lunch and snacks throughout the day. Bombs provides an amazing free lunch and snacks throughout the day.

The Free Market facili-tates the redistribution of clothing and other

household items

If you are interested in

helping out, please

contact OPIRG. The

Green Dishes program

now has a dedicated

and enthusiastic team

of volunteers focused

on promoting and on promoting and

expanding this initiative

in the Peterborough

community.

Some of the organizations that have

borrowed Green Dishes from us this past

year are:

Kawartha World Issues Centre

Peterborough Folk Festival

Reframe Film Festival

Student Association for International

Development

For Our Grandchildren

Sustainable Trent

Green Dishes Program

The majority of waste produced at festivals and The majority of waste produced at festivals and

community events comes from disposable food

and beverage containers. Green Dishes is a

waste-reduction project designed to eliminate

the need for disposable dishes at community

events in Peterborough. Green Dishes is a non-

prot dish-lending program that enables organi-

zations to borrow large quantities of reusable

dishes for community events. Organizations

sign out dishes from OPIRG and return them

cleaned and washed.

Green Dishes is a creative and unique initiative

that reduces the quantity of waste generated at

Peterborough community and campus events.

A small fee and deposit are required for

borrowing. We appreciate the commitment of

those in the community to reducing event-gene-

rated waste in Peterborough, and are happy to

help out for future events! Remember: green help out for future events! Remember: green

dishes are simple, ecologically friendly and far

classier than disposables.

The Supermarket Tour is designed as an edu-cational manual discussing the issues within our current food system. It provides an extensive review of issues surrounding consumer manipulation, pesticides, labour, loss of biodiversity, biotechnologies and genetic engineering, animal welfare, environ-ment impacts, and corporate control. Tours given in supermarkets, facilitated by those who have done a tour, give a hand-on setting in which being in a grocery store setting allows for greater comprehension of the information discussed, activities prove to deepen the understanding of complex issues, and participants leave inspired to issues, and participants leave inspired to make informed decisions and alternative choices in their dietary and consumer habits.

Supermarket Tours were conducted during Fall 2015 through facilitators from class placements. Students also

did research on identifying updates to be done on the Supermarket Tours.

Supermarket Tours

Space and Equipment

OPIRGs ofce is located in Sadleir House at OPIRGs ofce is located in Sadleir House at 751 George Street North on stolen Anishi-

naabe territory. Housed in a former kitchen, the ofce is full of resources, chairs, tables, computers, printers, and many art supplies

you can use for OPIRG purposes! The room has inspiring posters and a history of resis-

tance. Its also where youll nd our staff and most of our board meetings!

Zine ResourceThrough our connections to the provincial Ontario PIRG network and other resources and donations, we receive informative, entertaining and radical zines and other magazine resources from time to time. These include Upping the Anti: A Journal of Theory and Action, and the peak: environmental justice. Come into our ofce to nd these to peruse!

OPIRG Radio

This 2015-16 season, OPIRG radio took ight on the airwaves of Trent This 2015-16 season, OPIRG radio took ight on the airwaves of Trent Radio, 92.7 CFFFfm. Broadcasting a live half-hour show every week at 7pm on Tuesdays, hosts and co-conspirators Annette Pedlar and Tree Chomko did their best to bring OPIRGs mandate of education and outreach on social justice and environmental issues. Each show begins with a Land Acknowledgement and check-ins, grounding the show in where we are and where were at. Often, the show would start with us urging listeners to turn off the radio! Stop sitting back and go out there urging listeners to turn off the radio! Stop sitting back and go out there and get involved! Here are the details of an activist happening tonight OPIRGs programming this year provided fodder for many shows, inclu-ding DisOrientation Week, Anti-Poverty Week and so on. OPIRG radio broke down an explanation of consensus-based decision making at the same time that a consensus workshop ran through OPIRG at Sadleir House. As well as talking about it on air, Annette co-facilitated an antioppression workshop. Through OPIRG radio, we strive to connect themes of social justice with local movements and to bring together Trent student with the broader Peterborough community.

Were seriously joking about exten-ding it to a whole hour next year!

Stop sitting back and go out there

and get involved!

Our media channels:

@OPIRGptboOPIRG Peterborough

Newsletters

We reached almost We reached almost 2,000 subscri-bers in our email newsletter that we strive to send out once every two

weeks. It informs the community of

upcoming OPIRG, campus and com-

munity events, ways to get involved

with OPIRG tidbits to keep in touch.

Sign up to our newsleter on out

website: www. opirgptbo.ca

OUTREACH

Helping Volunteers Find Us Volunteers are at the very core of the organization

and without them, OPIRG would be completely

unrecognizable. Volunteers work with staff as

important decision-makers and leaders of cam-

paigns and events.

To help get new members informed and interes-

ted in volunteering opportunities, OPIRG holds

regular outreach events and orientation meetings.

At these events we are often lucky enough to

meet students who become board members, staff

and volunteers.

Volunteers and Staff at OPIRG try to get out into

the community as much as possible to recruit

volunteers and raise awareness about the organi-

zation, its campaigns and its working groups.

Whenever we have an opportunity, OPIRG volun-

teers and staff like to set up information tables

and speak with people at campus and community

events. Such opportunities allowed us to reach

hundreds of students and community members a

year who may not have otherwise heard about the

services and opportunities available at OPIRG.

This year OPIRG is excited to have teamed

up with several new working groups and is

happy to see continued collaboration with

working groups from previous years. New

members to working groups are always

welcome, so please contact the group or

OPIRG if you are interested in getting

involved. If you have a proposal for a new involved. If you have a proposal for a new

working group, contact OPIRG at

opirg@trentu.ca.

WORKING GROUPS

One of the ways that OPIRG sustains research, education and action

around social and environmental justice issues is through support for the

creation and maintenance of Working Groups. Working Groups are

central to the functioning of OPIRG. They consist of a group of volun-

teers who work on specic issues pertaining to anti-oppressive, anti-

colonial, social justice, and environmental issues, and they are dedicated

to enacting change on campus and in the broader community.

Working Groups receive funding, support, and other resources from

OPIRG. People can choose to form new Working Groups or to join

The Working Group model allows OPIRG to diversify our focus on diffe-

rent issues, and to increase ideas, energy and hope in order to achieve

greater impacts. Furthermore, it generates a more organized, concerted

challenge towards unjust structures of power.

Today a great deal of power is concentrated in the hands of the well-

organized individuals and corporations who make decisions based on

prot margins decisions that end up affecting all of our lives. The best

way to challenge this imbalance of power and to foster a more demo-

cratic society is for each of us to learn how to recreate our culture based

on ideals of equality and cooperation. This is exemplied within the

working groups!

existing ones. Working Groups

can vary with time (in terms of

membership and goals) in order

to adequately reect interests

and relevance.

The Working Group model generates a more organized, concerted challenge towards unjust structures of power.

End Immigration Detention

Currently, our top priority is raising funds to put towards the EIDN TRAPP line, which allows immigrant detainees

being held at the Lindsay detention center to keep in touch with their families and

supporters, and actively push supporters, and actively push forward and be a part of the End Immigration Detention

campaign.

It is our role to educate the greater public, empower the political, nancial and legal

struggles of detainees...

End Immigration Detention Peterborough is part of a larger network of migrant detainees, their families, their communities and their allies, who work and struggle together for the rights of all migrants to live with dignity and respect, and to be accorded status. We work to oppose the policies that marginalize and criminalize migrants, as well as the international economic policies that create the conditions of poverty, war and environmental devastation that force migration. We ght for freedom for the wrongly jailed, an end to indenite detenght for freedom for the wrongly jailed, an end to indenite deten-tions, an end to maximum-security holds for immigration detainees, and an overhaul of the adjudication process to allow detainees fair access to legal aid, bail programs and pro bono representation. It is our role to educate the greater public, empower the political, nancial and legal struggles of detainees and to explore, articulate and inte-grate these matters into a greater global movement for freedom and justice for all, and a world without borders and without prisons.

EID Peterborough's outreach and edu-cation branch primarily focuses on edu-cating the greater public, and on fundraising to ensure the sustainability of the broader campaign. Because of our proximity to the Central East Correc-tional Centre in Lindsay, where a large number of migrants are detained, EID Peterborough has the unique opportu-nity, and the responsibility, to engage the public in this area; it is important that the injustice that is happening in our backyards remains at the forefront of the public's attention.

We carry out our mandate by holding regular public information sessions, fun-draisers, letter writing cafes, guest speakers, and actions which capture the attention of local media.

Animal Equity Society

The Animal Equity Society is a small The Animal Equity Society is a small group in the Peterborough and surroun-

ding area interested in ethics and the well-fare of animals. This blog is a way to let people know what is going on and for others who may be interested to nd out

about the group! This year we ran a workshop on how to eat as a vegan on workshop on how to eat as a vegan on

campus as part of DisOrientation Week. We followed it up with several meetings

and a lm screening of Vegucated. We are planning events and potlucks

regularly so it is a great way to meet new people. Everyone is welcome to attend. If

you would like to be on the email list then just send us an email at

animalequity@gmail.com

To educate on and create awareness of poverty and the causes of poverty, as well

as stimulate action toward poverty reduction, both locally and globally

Anti-Poverty ActivismAnti-Poverty activism was formed in the fall of 2014 as a way to help Anti-Poverty activism was formed in the fall of 2014 as a way to help connect Trent with anti-poverty initiatives in the larger Peterborough com-munity. Additionally, we believed that it was important that our students be educated about poverty issues. Our mission statement is to educate on and create awareness of poverty and the causes of poverty, as well as sti-mulate action toward poverty reduction, both locally and globally. We did this and will continue to do this by organizing events around the topic of poverty, working in partnership with other poverty groups to ght poverty and encouraging Trent students and staff to participate in anti-poverty ini-tiatives.

This year we held a bakesale for the YWCA women's shelter. We raised over $140 for the shelter. We also played a large role in developing anti-poverty week and also held our own event- How to get involved in Anti-Poverty Activism with speaker Diane Therrien. We also met weekly in the library at various times according to the schedule of our group members.

Group members: Laura Crump, Sabrina Colageracos, Reuben Noteboom, Amy Mason

We have given endorsements to the growing

climate activism community in the city. Speci-

cally, we have endorsed events such as the

Action for Climate Justice in July 2015 and the

Citizens Climate Action Forum localizing the

Leap Manifesto held in February 2016. We

have also endorsed the All Federal Candida-

tes Debate on Social Issues in September tes Debate on Social Issues in September

2015. We have also endorsed the $15 and

Fairness Campaign via work through the

Peterborough Workers Action Centre.

Endorsements

--------------------------

OPIRG is careful to pick the best projects that ts our mandate.

This year, we have sponsored projects such as:

OPIRG McMasters Brown Black Red Lives Matter Events

Revolutionary Student Movement VOTEs

Beehive Collectives Art of Resistance tour

ReFrame Film FestivalReFrame Film Festival

Community Movements Conference

Green Team Sustainability Conference

--------------------------Sponsorships

Through sponsoring local initiatives,

events and projects, OPIRG knows that

its funds can do a lot more work than it

can alone.

Subversion ZineThe OPIRG Subversion Zine consists of

several students who are committed to

making a zine about social justice issues

both in our community and around the

world. Our group's rst Zine, which was

released before OPIRG's Annual General

Meeting in 2015, contained many articles

as well as pieces of art and we hope to as well as pieces of art and we hope to

continue to produce similar work. Our

third edition of the revitalized Subversion

Zine came out in September.

Responsibilities of the Board

The Board of Directors requires a time commitment, which sometimes varies from week to week, but generally includes: Minimum of 2-3 hours/week in service of the organization; 1-2 years on the Board (or 4 month term over the 1-2 years on the Board (or 4 month term over the summer); Attend board retreat, board trainings & biweekly 2 hour meetings; Participation in committees and board portfolios.Committees are part of the ongoing work of each Board Committees are part of the ongoing work of each Board Member. Some examples of committees are: budget, hiring, specic events, policy review, contract negotiations, volunteer coordination, outreach, etc.environment.

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

What is the Board of Directors?

OPIRG-Peterboroughs Board of Directors is made up of at least seven

dedicated students and community members, who volunteer as direc-

tors for a two-year term. Elections are held in the spring of each year at

the Annual General Meeting.

The Board oversees all nancial, programming and administrative ope-

rations, helps with running OPIRG events, and participates in OPIRG pro-

vincial programming. Board members gain professional experience, as

well as the satisfaction of working for social justice and the fun of

working with like-minded people!

The Board also supports OPIRGs projects and supports the work of the

Working Groups; facilitates the planning, visioning and setting of priori-

ties for the organization; is responsible for the organization as dened

by the Corporations Act, OPIRG bylaws and policies, and Board

Contract; and also takes the role of employer as dened by the Collec-

tive Agreement with CUPE 1281.

OPIRG is working towards diversifying its membership at all levels parti-

cularly the Board. We encourage people from under-represented

groups, as well as people with a strong anti-oppression analysis, to put

forth a nomination. These include, but are not limited to, women, people

of colour, people with disabilities, queer and trans* folk, and others who

face systemic barriers to full participation in society at large.

Ysabel TuasonHi! I started working with OPIRG PTBO in December 2013 during a Canada Hi! I started working with OPIRG PTBO in December 2013 during a Canada World Youth exchange with 9 Canadian Women and 9 Ukrainian. My Canadian phase had me placed in Peterborough and after 3 months of working with the OPIRG team and living in this town I decided to continue my undergrad here. Im now studying International Development at Trent and hoping to do a lot of social justice and solidarity work with OPIRG.

Sabrina CalogeracosHi there! I'm a third year Biology/Chemistry major also in Concurrent Hi there! I'm a third year Biology/Chemistry major also in Concurrent Education at Trent University! I have always been a socially and environ-mentally conscious person. From trying to raise funds for shelters as a kid to running my high school's Awareness group where we planned tons of engaging events for good causes, to odd jobs around the activist community. I was in the Environmental Living Learning Learning Community at Trent in rst year, and became more interested in OPIRG as I discovered more about it. It is a great place to meet cool people as I discovered more about it. It is a great place to meet cool people and provides so many opportunities for involvement. I specically hope to help pump up the Anti-Poverty & Animal Equity working groups as well as the many Environmental campaigns at Trent & OPIRG have to offer. I also believe it essential to promote a healthy minimalist life, to be able to think critically about everything, and to be self-aware. Through awareness campaigns and cool events I hope we can educate the people out there who are oblivious of the impact their actions have the people out there who are oblivious of the impact their actions have on all aspects of the community.

Annette PedlarIm a third year student at Trent, pursuing a double major in political Im a third year student at Trent, pursuing a double major in political

science and Indigenous studies. Id rst like to acknowledge what an honour it is to be able to work and live on the land of the Mississaugas.

Im very excited to become part of the OPIRG Board, and Im looking forward to working on issues surrounding race, Indigenous solidarity and LGBTQ2. I try and look at all cases of injustice through a lens of intersectionality, and question systems of power to ensure abuse of that power isnt occurring. Understanding how seemingly different that power isnt occurring. Understanding how seemingly different

cases of oppression are interlinked I believe is key in learning how to dismantle the systematic causes of power imbalance. While in high

school I was the President of the Students and Athletic council. This opportunity made it clear to me how strong a voice we have when we

stand united. I also had the privilege to represent Trent as a varsity athlete in 2014-2015 on the womens volleyball team. Im looking

forward to collaborating with many other groups, not just on campus, forward to collaborating with many other groups, not just on campus, but also within the community.

Laura CrumpMy rst experience with OPIRG was in my degree at McMaster UniverMy rst experience with OPIRG was in my degree at McMaster Univer-sity when I joined a working group Community Volunteer Action. This sparked my interest in social justice action in the Hamilton area and my continued involvement with OPIRG allowed me to be involved in many projects throughout my four years. I believe OPIRG is a place of educa-tion and action, where students and community members can learn more about social justice and environmental issues, consensus-based decision making, activism and more, as well as take action regarding decision making, activism and more, as well as take action regarding issues they are most passionate about. Ive loved my time with OPIRG so far and hope I can continue to make OPIRG a safe and inviting space for members throughout my term on the Board.

Calla Durose-Moya (Ex-Ofcio)Im a third year Cultural Studies and Philosophy major at Trent. Im very Im a third year Cultural Studies and Philosophy major at Trent. Im very

interested in critical theory, as both an academic duty and a hobby. I work in anti-oppressive framework in my everyday life and in my

academic work. I feel like my board membership to OPIRG is a really great way to put my theory into political action by helping out within

the community and helping to foster spaces that allow others to do the same. Being on the board is also a really great way to help me to learn and grow in my understanding of the community, both at Trent and in and grow in my understanding of the community, both at Trent and in

Peterborough, and meet really great members of the community.

STAFF

Kay Ma // Coordinator

This year, I got an introduction to the PeterThis year, I got an introduction to the Peter-

borough community through DisOrientation

and organized around issues pertinent to the

OPIRG board and the community. Whether

its entering nancial transactions in accoun-

ting software, scheduling Doodle polls or

attending meetings to support working

groups, thank you to I was part of an intersecgroups, thank you to I was part of an intersec-

tional, analytical, critical and fun organization

that couldnt otherwise run without the effort

of all the students, community members and

volunteers that are involved with OPIRG in

both a day-to-day and tangential way.

Jaemy MitchellEducation & Resource

Facilitator

Jaemy worked with a Jaemy worked with a

board member to

develop an anti-oppres-

sion workshop which was

attended by students at

the LEC Pit

Kenneth Mills // Food Security Coordinator

I am a second year Biology Student at I am a second year Biology Student at

Trent University. Food Security and food

politics has been a keen interest of mine

for a long while dating back to my familys

15+ year involvement with the National

Farmers Union. I grew up on a small 100

acre farm in Southwestern Ontario where

we raised pigs and cattle along with we raised pigs and cattle along with

several acres of gardens and a mixed grain

rotation. For me the solution to food inse-

curity has always been in systematic social

change along with short term hunger alle-

viation. Therefore the work of OPIRG and

anti-capitalist action broadly has more and

more become a passion and a calling. This

work allows me room to dig into the roots

of food insecurity without sacricing short

term action.

>>

Placement Students

Canadian Food Systems: Community Perspectives and Experiences course placementsSavanna Talbot, Colleen Stratford-Kurus, Andrea Monos

Eugenia Ochoa //

Outreach Coordinator

My name is Eugenia, Im an international My name is Eugenia, Im an international student from El Salvador doing Internatio-

nal Development and Gender Studies at Trent. I am interested in social change

through community development and the ways in which we all play a role in advoca-

ting for a better and more just system. I have come to admire the Peterborough community for its active engagement in

social justice issues and activism and Im happy I get to be a tiny part of it through

this role, and by collaborating with the many actors in this community.

Samantha Medeiros //

Special Events Coordinator

Social and environmental justice are very closely connected. After studying Fine Arts in Dawson City, Yukon, I became aware that the overproduction of throw away items requires a lot of space, resources and energy. Since then, I of space, resources and energy. Since then, I have been writing a blog called ARISETOTRASH that is meant to be a community space for anti-consumerism and anti-capitalist discussions as well as encouraging free thinking and creativity.

I transferred to Trent University and am majoring in Indigenous Environmental Studies, specicallyin Indigenous Environmental Studies, specicallyfocusing on the way people interact with the environment and one another through classism, identity and waste culture. Born and raised a Kensington Kid in downtown Toronto, I love new and fun things to do. When it comes to creating events, Im a DIY kind of gal. If something hasnt been done yet, or it seems like (too?) big of a job,Dr. Frank N. Furters voice chimes in to motivate and remind me: Dr. Frank N. Furters voice chimes in to motivate and remind me: Dont dream it, be it.

Ontario PIRG Network

The Ontario PIRG Network is comprised of 11 autonomous and 1 afThe Ontario PIRG Network is comprised of 11 autonomous and 1 af-

liate, non-prot, university student-funded and student-directed organi-

zations that conduct research, education and action on social and

environmental justice issues. The Provincial Network meet several times

a year and frequently exchange ideas, share resources and work

together on campaigns. While each PIRG is independent and grass-

roots based, with the local board responsible for decision-making, net

working opportunities include: trainings, Public Interest Schools, board

and staff meetings, and collaborative projects.

PIRGs in

CANADA

PIRGs in Canada

Ontario: Carleton, Guelph,

Kingston, Toronto, Waterloo,

Laurier, Windsor, McMaster, York,

Brock, Ottawa, Peterborough

Alberta: APIRG, LPIRG

Saskatchewan:Saskatchewan: RPIRG

Nova Scotia: NSPIRG

Quebec: McGill, Concordia,

lUQUAM

British Columbia: VIPIRG, SFPIRG, PGPIRG

OPIRG EVENTS 2015 2016

Fall 2015November 22 Non-Violent Com-munication Training Part 2November 22 Board MeetingNovember 23 Consensus-Based Decisions Making WorkshopNovember 24 Supermarket TourNovember 26 Anti-Oppression WorkshopNovember 26 EIDN: Peterbo-rough Poetry Slam Presents: November Slam ft. Prufrock Sha-dowrunner FundraiserDecember 1 EIDN: Letter-Writing Drop-In DayDecember 2 Anti-Poverty Activism BakesaleDecember 2 Free Market Giveaway on CampusDecember 3 Anti-Poverty Week December 3 Anti-Poverty Week MeetingDecember 11 Board MeetingDecember 16 Anti-Poverty Week Meeting

Winter 2016January 13 Clubs and Groups DayJanuary 17 Board MeetingJanuary 21 Double Book Launch: January 21 Double Book Launch: Criticism of Canadas Mining Interest and Aid in Africa with Yves Engler and Paula ButlerJanuary 22 AES: Vegucated Film ScreeningJanuary 23-29 Anti-Poverty WeekJanuary 25 Mental Health and January 25 Mental Health and Poverty PanelJanuary 25 Why Food Banks Arent the SolutionJanuary 26 Cooking On A Dime Sharing StoriesJanuary 27 Campus Food January 27 Campus Food Security Report LaunchJanuary 27 How to Do Anti-Poverty Activism with Diane TherrienJanuary 28 Fighting Poverty in Free Market FashionJanuary 29 Letter Writing to Politi-cians Using Your Voice to Inuence ChangeJanuary 31 Board MeetingJanuary 29 ReFrame Film Festival Presentation of Sponsored Film A Dangerous GameJanuary 30 ReFrame Film Festival Presentation of Sponsored Film After the Last RiverFebruary 6-7 OPIRG Provincial Board Meeting