In May 2010, OPIRG Peterborough accepted a new working group to start tackling the issues relating to the harmful effects of Canadian mining companies. The name of the group is still being decided on but if you are interested in joining this group, please contact us:
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We hope that the next year will bring awareness to the citizens of Peterborough of current situation on this topic and what we can do to make an impact on the industry. Stay tuned for more details.
Over the years, OPIRG has provided support to a wide variety of working groups targeting issues that have varied with time and context. If you are interested in reviving or reorganizing a group similar to one listed below, OPIRG may already have plenty of resources from past groups available to get you started. Please contact
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for more information.
2007-2008
Peterborough
Animal Collective
With 50 billion animals killed for food worldwide in a year,
the choice to reduce or eliminate the consumption of animal products is the
most important choice we can make in our daily lives, if our goal is to reduce
animal suffering (and the exploitation, abuse, and oppression of other
non-human animals). The group distributed pamphlets entitled “Even if you Like
Meat, You Can Help End This Suffering,” “Go Vegan,” and “Vegan Outreach,” which
generated great responses from the Trent
community.The group also distributed
leaflets in downtown Peterborough as part of Canada’s
National Anti-Fur Day and again the responses were inspiring.Before leafleting, the group visited two fur
stores in the downtown area to discuss the issues with the owners.It is important for people to know that the
majority of fur is “factory farmed,” with animals confined in small cages and
then killed using anal execution so that there fur is preserved.
The Peterborough Animal Collective organized educational and
action-related events on animal-related issues.During the 2007-08 school year, the group hosted 3 film screenings: Dr.
Suess’s the Lorax, Bacon: The Film, and Your Mommy Kills Animals.
2006-2007
Anti-War/Anti-Occupation Group
The Anti-War/Anti-Occupation working group operated with a
mandate to raise awareness about issues of war, occupation and
self-determination for all peoples in Canada and internationally. They
conducted outreach tabling throughout the year, attended a Toronto conference on ending Israeli
Apartheid and provided alternative media sources for members of the community
to learn about war and occupation.They
also brought a speaker to Trent to discuss the
Israeli war on Lebanon, and
organized a benefit concert for war resisters in Canada.
Animal Rights
The Animal Rights group worked on various animal issues,
raising money for the Peterborough Humane Society and conducted a presentation
with the Council of Canadians on the harms of factory farming in Canada. Members
of the group also wrote several articles that were published in Peterborough and Toronto.
The Radical Performance Troupe
The Radical Performance Troupe planned to incorporate themes
of activism and social justice into art, theater, dance and circus
performance.The group aimed to provide
ideas, support, and entertainment at activist events and protests.
2004-2005
Books for Trent
This group was started to work on the creation of a
non-profit cooperative bookstore to service the TrentUniversity
community.The goal was to provide TrentUniversity
students with access to a non-profit alternative when purchasing educational
materials, such as required texts.The
main purpose was to promote education over profit.
Trent
Students with Disabilities (TSDA)
TSDA was a group focused on encouraging the administration
of TrentUniversity
to attain higher levels of accessibility for everyone at Trent with physical, mental and learning
disabilities.TSDA also offered
information and support to anyone seeking assistance regarding issues of
accessibility.With the ongoing changes
to the Ontario Disability Act, TSDA worked to lobby the province of Ontario
to ensure more accessibility in the general public.
2003-2004
Students and Community Reacting Against the Parkway (SCRAP)
Redwash
2002-2003
Students Against Sweatshops
Peace Working Group
Friends of All Creatures Everywhere (FACE)
Students for Ad-Free Education (SAFE)
Association of Autonomous Astronauts
2001-2002
Food Issues Group and Stone Soup Project
This year the OPIRG Peterborough Food Issues Group won the
Peggy McKay award. This award is given to volunteers who have done valuable
work to preserve the environment.The
group won the award for the Stone Soup project.The group worked with local farmers to promote organic, locally sourced
food.They held soup days on campus
fortnightly where students, staff and faculty could purchase great organic soup
by donation.The group also passed out
educational materials to promote this environmental alternative
Working Group Archives 