Posted: Apr 23, 2021 10:50 AM ET | Last Updated: April 23
More than 8,000 people attended the Black Lives Matter march in Guelph in June, 2020. (Submitted by: Ward1studios)
Black community leaders in Waterloo region say they continue to have concerns about policing powers in the province under the current stay-at-home order and want to help people understand their rights going forward.
Last week, Premier Doug Ford announced stricter COVID-19 restrictions which included new police powers to stop pedestrians on the street or in vehicles if they appear to be violating COVID-19 protocols. This sparked backlash from many people.
Community development coordinator at the African, Caribbean Black Network of Waterloo Region. (Submitted by Lang Ncube.)
Posted: Mar 10, 2021 6:00 AM ET | Last Updated: March 10
A pilot of body-worn and in-car video systems will run from June to December this year.(Monty Kruger/CBC)
The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) will start using body-worn and in-car cameras in June this year as a pilot project.
The service s Neighbourhood Policing - North Division has been tapped to test the cameras, according to a report that will go before the police services board Wednesday.
The division has been split into four groups: one that will use body-worn cameras only, one that will use in-car cameras only, one that will use both and one that will use neither.
Posted: Jan 27, 2021 6:01 AM ET | Last Updated: January 27
People wait for a bus in Toronto in September. Data from Waterloo region suggests the COVID-19 pandemic is disproportionately affecting Black people, visible minorities, lower income earners and people whose first language is not English or French. (Evan Mitsui/CBC)
Waterloo region s board of health wants the province to give it a high-priority designation so it can access pandemic funding to help marginalized communities.
The decision on Tuesday comes after two delegates shared concerns regarding a lack of support for people disproportionately impacted by the pandemic, including Black and racialized community members.
The region said it s introduced a safe COVID-19 isolation site and mobile testing to help community members.