1990
WPIRG presented Ralph Nader and his talk “Citizen Action for the 90s” on March 7th at the Humanities Theatre. WPIRG co-sponsored a talk by Mary Laronde on October 24th on native determinism, sustainability and native rights in Northern Ontario. Projects for the fall included pesticides, eco-destruction, junk mail, popular theatre, Greenstorming, supermarket tours, WPIRG radio, and the Erb Street landfill.
1991
The Imprint continued to run a regular WPIRG feature. WPIRG began working on updating and reprinting the Tenant’s Guide. WPIRG hosted the Grand River Ecological Network’s Congress on campus on July 21, as a way to bring focus to the Region-wide concern about water issues. WPIRG began working with Harry Pal, local zoning activist, to present to the Ontario Municipal Board an argument opposing a proposed new regional mall to be built near University of Waterloo. James Bay work group emerged from the screening of the Grand Council of the Cree film and “the work group is quite lively.” The group began studying the social and environmental impacts of a huge hydroelectric project proposed for James Bay. New and existing work groups included Supermarket tours, James Bay II, Electric Green, Cycling, Media Awareness, Bio-regionalism, New Economics, Municipal Election Issues, Men’s Caucus, and the Salon work group.
1992
The James Bay work group changed its focus to address energy issues. WPIRG was featured in the February 1992 edition of Exchange magazine, a local publication serving business in Waterloo Region and Guelph. In the article, research director Linda Vieregge highlighted the group’s history and ongoing activities. “What does Hydro-Quebec’s plan to flood entire northern communities for its James Bay power project and Ontario Hydro’s continuing expensive problems at nuclear power plants have to do with changing light bulbs in local homes?” The answer, as asserted by Vieregge was the “common thread, which goes through each of our hands. It’s called waste.” At the Annual General Meeting, group members noted that last year’s major accomplishments which included: Earth Day, Environment Week, the Urban House of Horrors, Co-sponsorship of Jim Mason, Sacred Earth Presentation, Green Week, and the Tenant’s Guide. The 500 Year Resistance to Colonialism work group created a display along with the K-W ad hoc committee.
1993
The Economic Justice work group held a series of events culminating with “a well attended debate” between pro-NAFTA supporters, MP Pat Sobeski and RIM Chair Jim Balsillie, and anti-free trade supporters Ron Cooper and Mary Ann Cooper. As part of its 20th anniversary, WPIRG set up a Research Fellowship for UW undergraduates for projects dealing with environmental and social justice concerns. A celebratory 20th anniversary dinner was held at the University Club for people who were involved in WPIRG over the past 20 years. Work groups proved to be very popular with 12 groups forming for fall term. Popular Theatre continued with a performance scheduled every week. In reaction to cuts in government transfers to the province and universities, WPIRG formed a committee to look at education as a right.
1994
Recycle Cycles obtained work room in the Old Button Factory and Canada Trust donated $1,500 for tools. WPIRG began to stress the importance of “empowerment through training.” WPIRG ran a contest for the design of a new logo; the winning logo design depicted a globe graphic encircled by people holding hands. A new working group was formed to look into the proposal to build a new highway between Kitchener and Guelph, parallel but north of Highway 7. Anti-racism workshops began this month in accordance with WPIRG’s goal to provide anti-racism workshops for all volunteers.
1995
WPIRG and the Anti-Cuts Action Committee organised a protest on campus for the National Day of Action on January 25th in response to the federal government’s cuts to social programs. WPIRG worked actively to encourage faculty to include public interest in their curriculum as well endeavoured to integrate public interest research into WPIRG activities by having working groups conduct research. Recycle Cycles received a $250 Peggy McKay volunteer recognition award. WPIRG and UW Amnesty Group presented “The Human Price of Mining: Corporate and Government Responsibility in Areas of Armed Conflcit,” an awareness raising event.
1996
Staff worked on a response to the proposed provincial Omnibus bill, especially its impacts on health care. WPIRG discussed with Federation of Students their plans for a resource library which seemed to duplicate WPIRG’s resource centre. On October 4th WPIRG launched its “salon” series, featuring Friday afternoon discussins on various issues. Joe Mancini, co-founder of the Working Centre, kicked off the series with a discussion on the activities of the centre. On October 10th the film “Sisters in the Struggle” addressed Canadian black women active in community organising, electoral politics and labour organising. A local group called “Food not Bombs” started up in the area; they fed 100 people at the Homelessness Conference on November 30th for their first event, with plans to become a WPIRG working group. WPIRG had been actively objecting to the province’s new Ontario Works Program (workfare) and the Region’s agreement to work with the program.
1997
WPIRG organised the “Doin’ Democracy” conference held February 1st with 10 workshops attended by approximately 80 people. In March WPIRG, along with the Student Society for Mechanical Engineers (SSME), presented a symposium, “The Lost Opportunity and Future Promise of Renewable Energy.” WPIRG sponsored Native People’s Awareness Week, March 3-7. Canadians For Animal Rights and the Environment (CARE) reported that its “issue is receiving unprecedented attention.” STIR (Students for Indigenous Rights) was active in watching the Stony Point trial. The Board passed a resolution to pledge to defeat provincial Bill 136, which would create a temporary Labour Relations Tribunal with the authority to suspend the right to strike. WPIRG worked to develop an Indigenous peoples section for the office library/resource centre. UW Amnesty International folded, so WPIRG incorporated the group under its umbrella. WPIRG endorsed a coalition of Indigenous groups, churches, unions and community groups calling for an inquiry into the death of Dudley George.
1998
Two conferences were being planned for winter term, “UW and the Public Interest” on March 14th, and “Activists’ Conference” on March 28th. WPIRG began holding mandatory training for board members and staff on anti-racism and strongly recommended training for volunteers. Action group People Against Corporate Power (PACP) undertook research and education on the issue of SLC management distinct from the direct action strategies practiced by SUPA (Student Unity Power Action).
1999
As part of an ongoing outreach effort, staff approached each faculty to see what sorts of things they might like to do and how WPIRG could help. The Highway 7 action group was active in opposing the proposed expressway between Guelph and Kitchener and WPIRG looked at forming a coalition of community groups to help in their work of stopping the expressway. The group did a survey of commuters and 82% of the commuters polled did not support the proposed expressway. Radio PIRG continued to run on Monday nights. Action groups Propaganda Watch and People Against Corporate Power are organized to oppose the redevelopment plans for Uptown Waterloo. A WPIRG film festival “The Meek are Getting Ready” was held in the Davis Centre September 13-16.