UPstream Speaker Series
UPstream Speaker Series
A series of events discussing upstream prevention concepts and strategies from various perspectives. Together let’s (re)think our community.
The Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council has focused for many years on identifying and offsetting the root causes of crime. Moving forward we want to address the more foundational structures and harms under those root causes, moving upstream to the source, instead of treating the subsequent results farther downstream.
What we mean when we talk about harm: harm encompasses social, economic, psychological and environmental injury or damage inflicted on individuals, communities and society either intentionally or unintentionally.
All events were virtual and free.
Upcoming Events
This series has ended. Thank you to everyone who attended these events. Most of these events were recorded and the videos have been uploaded to our YouTube, scroll down to find the links to these recordings.
Upstream approaches to community safety and wellbeing are about more than just the absence of crime; they are about creating a place where everyone has a range of opportunities to grow, learn, work, play, connect, love, and be loved. Together we can start upstream and stop problems before they start.
Past Events and Recordings
(Re)Think Prohibition
Reducing Criminalization and Advancing Equity in Canadian Drug Policy
Canada’s prohibitionist narcotic laws are 114 years old and are actively criminalizing certain substances and certain people, disproportionately. Decades of evidence indicates that criminalization via prohibition is expensive and harmful – and a clear barrier to eliminating Canada’s chronic drug poisoning crisis that kills 19 people every day.
- 7:00-9:30pm Tuesday, February 1st 2022
Join esteemed leaders from civil society and municipal government in a discussion of their upstream efforts to improve everyone’s health, safety and well-being with drug laws and policies grounded in equity, and built for the 21st century.
Featuring guests from the Canadian HIV/Aids Legal Network, the Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs and more! Moderated by Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council’s Michael Parkinson, join panellists Sandra Ka Hon Chu (Canadian HIV/Aids Legal Network), Natasha Touesnard (Canadian Association of People Who Use Drugs), and Alicia Neufeld (City of Toronto Public).
The Allyship Journey with Indigenous Peoples
First Steps and Considerations
What does it mean to be an ally of Indigenous peoples? Come and explore this question with us.
- 7:00-9:30pm Wednesday, December 8th 2022
- 7:00-9:30pm Wednesday, March 23rd 2022
Being an Indigenous Ally is a complicated concept. It requires background knowledge of terms and names; local Indigenous histories and current realities; as well as an understanding of the word ‘ally.’ Please join Allyship Facilitators, Nicole Robinson and Ken Whytock as they explore all aspects of allyship in an engaging and thoughtful way with personal examples and prompts for participants to consider for their own lives.
Through this event participants will learn what it means to be an authentic ally. The journey to allyship is filled with missteps. We strive to navigate through them with compassion and grace, which can include “calling in” instead of “calling out”. What can you do in your every day life to be an ally?
(Re)Think “Crime”
because it’s not real
We all have a role to play in creating a world where everyone has the supports, resources, and opportunities they need to thrive. Let’s begin by asking ourselves some tough questions. Together, let’s (Re)Think “Crime”.
- 6:30-8:30pm Thursday, June 10th 2021
Join Jessica Hutchison for a provocative and challenging presentation that turns our concept of “crime” upside-down. What is “crime” and why are certain people seen as “criminal”? How can we move away from a punishment mentality to one based in care, compassion, and support? How can we prevent and reduce harm by shifting the focus from individuals to systems and structures? What can we do, as individuals and as a collective, to build a society that is equitable, fair, and just? Jessica will discuss how crime and criminalization are social constructs and how we can move away from operating from carceral (control and punishment) mentality in many aspects of society to upstream approaches that address social harms.
(Re)Think Our Stories
the reality of structural violence
“Structural violence refers to systematic ways in which social structures harm or otherwise disadvantage individuals. Structural violence is subtle, often invisible, and often has no one specific person who can be held responsible.” Structural violence, including the concept of “crime and criminalization” plays out in all of our institutions and fundamentally impacts the trajectory of people’s lives.
- 6:30-8:30pm Tuesday, June 15th 2021
We invite you to join us in a conversation where panelists share their stories of how they are impacted by structural violence. We will critically explore how societal systems, institutions and organizations can enforce harmful stereotypes, biases, rhetoric which dehumanizes racialized and marginalized communities. In examining how punitive approaches play out in our day-to-day lives beyond the justice system we can learn how and why we need to prioritize and center the voices and experiences of racialized and marginalized community members.
(Re)Think Our Organizations
how we harm when we mean to help
How do our social organizations and systems cause harm? We will discuss how to move away from punitive thinking to approaches based in care, compassion, and support.
- 2:30-4:30pm Thursday, June 17th 2021
Join 3 community leaders as they explore open and authentic self reflection and dialogue. You may be surprised to learn how “criminalization”, or carceral logics, exists in many of our systems in unexpected ways! Join us in shifting focus from individuals to systems and structures as we build a fair, just, and equitable society.
(Re)Think “Crime” Prevention
through and upstream lens
What is “upstream”? Learn how to make systemic changes that help prevent harm before it happens. We will discuss how to advance upstream ideas and approaches that address the root causes of social and structural harms.
- 6:30-8:30pm Monday, June 21st 2021
Upstream prevention focuses on changes to systems that are at the root of suffering while preventing the harms from occurring in the first place. Investing in upstream can save money to the overall system by preventing more costly reactive services. The more upstream we go, the more downstream harms we can avoid.
More information:
Upstream approaches to community safety and wellbeing are about more than just the absence of crime; they are about creating a place where everyone has a range of opportunities to grow, learn, work, play, connect, love and be loved.
Take a look at the UPstream Media Release Summer 2021, feel free to save and share with your networks.
For more information about UPstream check out the resources on our #StartUPstream page.
#UPstream | #WRCPC | #JoinUsUPstream
Email Julie if you have any questions.
Events are supported by the Waterloo Region Crime Prevention Council
Why is UPstream important?
Together we can start upstream and stop problems before they start. We can create a community where everyone has a range of opportunities to grow, learn, work, play, connect, love, and be loved through open and authentic self-reflection as system leaders.