On Tuesday November 19th, 2024 at 6:00pm at the Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener 2051 hosted their first ever Speaker Series on Ability and Mobility. With 172 attendees registered, the event marked an inspiring start to this initiative, spotlighting local voices and innovative ideas for the city’s future. This opportunity to participate in this meaningful discussion on issues that matter to each individual was made available to all people supported by KW Habilitation who live in Kitchener. Among the panelists was Simon Garcia, who accesses services from KW Habilitation, who shared his lived experiences and vision for a more inclusive Kitchener. Click here to hear Simon’s conversation.
Kitchener 2051 is a groundbreaking project inviting residents in Kitchener to be a part of the official plan of what Kitchener will look like in 2051. Through a series of speaker events, including moderated panel discussions, experts and local residents collaborate to envision a thriving, connected, and caring community. This discussion focused on two key themes of the Kitchener 2051 official plan project: A Connected City and A Caring City.
When Simon was asked how the experience was he said, “ Awesome. When I was at the Kitchener 2051 there was a lot of people, like 200 people in our theatre and I was in the front with Stacey and Sara. I did enjoy it. I was on first and when they gave me the microphone I was a bit shy because it took some energy. It was just the first question that I was feeling shy but once halfway through, than I feel much more better because they are now talking and also I was talking, but only I got much better when it was the halfway point.”
During the panel, Simon spoke about how it takes a long time for him to make every day trips like going to work because of the lack of good transit. He hopes for more direct routes, with fewer stops. He also spoke about how this is even harder in the winter because of snow and delays, so people don’t tend to go out as much. He spoke about trails in his neighbourhood as well, and how important it is that trails are cleared so people can get out of the house in the colder months.
Simon shared ideas around staying connected through Wi-Fi on all transit and in public space. He shared his worry about how big and busy the city is growing and had ideas about how as the city grows, it should try and keep some spaces and places still feeling small so it’s not so overwhelming. He also suggested installing similar cross walks in Kitchener as found in Toronto that stops all ways of traffic.
The evening showcased Simon and other panelists discussing how Kitchener can balance its rapid growth while ensuring inclusivity for all residents. Simon’s firsthand accounts of navigating the city sparked meaningful dialogue about community well-being, equity, and accessibility. His suggestions, including streamlined transit routes, accessible infrastructure, and smaller, community-oriented spaces, resonated deeply with attendees. Simon was quite excited that some people in the crowd recognized him in the panel.
KW Habilitation is proud to be part of the Kitchener 2051 initiative and is committed to amplifying voices like Simon’s in future discussions. Events like this Speaker Series demonstrate the power of collaboration in building a city that is not only larger but also more compassionate and connected.
Want to hear more about how we are actively building a community where everyone belongs and participates? KW Habilitation will be launching our new podcast called Belonging Matters featuring a segment with Simon Garcia called “Simon Says,” you can read more about this initiative here.
