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2 MOPINION ‘SYSTEMIC BIAS IS WHERE GOOD INTENTIONS GO TO DIE’ Hy Continued from page 9 joo Chronicle | Thursday, March 9, 2023 division playing out. The Region attempted to distance its own yulace from encamp- ments by removing them; the Te) although well- inten- tioned, reinforced this group dif- ference ° by legalizing the segmen- the divi- sions S between the unhoused and housed. Systemic bias is where good in- tentions go to die. And we are re. plete with them concerning 01 understanding and treatment "of encampments. If we wish to make real change, the first place to start is by under- standing the systemic conceptual biases we hold that allow us — consciously and unconsciously — to perceive the homeless as "oth- ers" that are different, and not as our friends, neighbours and com- munity members. We need this messaging to be adopted by the media, our politi- cians and ourselves: we are all the same, and there is no "them" and re. ondly, we must naturalize ins desire for human belonging- ness in a community into our le- gal and political systems. Once the answer to homelessness and encampments is not decreed by HB NEWS ALBERT MCCORMICK COMMUNITY CENTRE TO SEE MORE UPGRADES BILL JACKSON police, from the province, municipalities and residents welcoming differ- ing forms of housing into their neighbourhood(s), then social stigmas will lessen. e eliminate the difference between "us" and "them," then en- campments, and the jhreats they appear to pose, will dissipat We of empathy, ‘bat tt that transcends all forms of segre- gation, difference and othering. Dr. Aaron Barth is the found- er and president of Dialectic in Guelph. City of Waterloo council has approved $158,000 to hire a consul- fant to Resign upgrades to the Al- Cormick Community Centre in in Waterloo. “There is a need for improved accessibility and jnengased space utilization at AMCC," according to a staff report. ‘Travel f between various areas of the building have eel iencies, lack Bill Jackson/ Metroland The Albert McCormick Community Centre in Waterloo. cludes reconfiguration of the north and east entranceways as er construction for fost -effective- ness and to disrup- tion to facility pro; Council has also approved ap- plications under Phase 2 of the federal grant program for retrofit projects valued at close to $35 mil- lion that would result in HVAC and accessibility upgrades at the If approved, the city wi fund about $10 million of the work from reserves, meaning that dis- cussion would likely be needed at budget time to determine how ~e well as upgrades to ty centre and area between the li- brary and arena. The feasibility study process will involve consul- tation with key groups, it says. The city has been awarded a $2.4-million federal grant from the Green and Inclusive Commu- nity Buildings Program to make another $3 million worth of im- lity and presence and can be made better to meet the needs of the community, it says. The cit has budgeted $1,561,000 in 2024 and $886,000 in 2025 to complete the work that in- including the instal- lation of a universal washroom, conversion of the gas-fired water heating system to electric, and various arena upgrades including dehumidification and lighting. The work will be aligned with oth- apply. WATERLOO REGION ‘e Community Foundation Applications now open for WRCF’s Community Grants! Annually, Waterloo Region Community Foundation (WRCF) distributes Community Grants to organizations that are located anywhere in Waterloo Region, and provide support to our local residents. Visit wref.ca/communitygrants for more information on areas of focus, eligibility requirements and how to waterloochronicle.ca Thriving C WRCF.CA pay for other e return on. investment would be significant, however, and the proposed upgrades would go a long way to reducing green- house gas emissions and achiev- ing the city's climate targets, not- ed Mayor Dorothy McCabe. RIM Park contributes about a quarter of total city-owned build- r house gas reduction, according to city staff. ‘The Albert McCormick Com- munity Centre is at 500 Parkside Dr. in Waterloo