Working Centre Philosophy

Read the articles below to learn about the philosophical roots of The Working Centre.

• Building Relationships Where People are Real
• Using Tools for the Common Good - Revisting the Ideas of Ivan Illich
• Work as Gift: The Path of Cooperation and Sharing
• Work as Gift: Part 2
• Developing a Philosophy for Community Tools
• How Sharing In Common Is Like Forest Ecology

• Transforming 58 Queen St. S. and the Process of Revitalization
• 20 Years at The Working Centre
• Looking Forward to Sustainable Growth
• Alternatives to the Overdeveloped Society
• Ideas and Influences: Descriptions of people and groups that have inspired our work.
• What are Community Tools?

Much more can be learned about The Working Centre by reading issues of our quarterly newsletter, Good Work News, that describe our activities and philosophies.

Places

Below are links to some interesting Working Centre projects that you can freely visit, learn about, and/or volunteer at.

• St. John's Kitchen
  St. John's Kitchen is a community kitchen that serves up to 300 meals each day and offers a range of outreach services.
  Location: 97 Victoria Street North. Hours: 8:00am to 2:00pm, Monday to Friday.
• Job Search Resource Centre
  This resource centre offers employment counselling, resume/cover letter assistance, public computers, and supports for small business, New Canadians, and computer training.
  Location: 58 Queen Street South. Hours: 9:00am to 4:00pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays, and open from 9:00am to 7:00pm on Wednesdays.
• Recycle Cycles
  Recycle Cycles offers affordable refurbished bicycles, facilities to repair your own bike, and skill building.
  Location: 43 Queen Street South, second floor (entrance at the back of the building). Hours: 10:00am to 5:00pm Tuesday to Friday, and 10:00am to 2:00pm on Saturdays.
• Computer Recycling
  Computer Recycling offers affordable refurbished computers and opportunities to learn about computers through volunteering.
  Location: 66 Queen Street South Basement (Entrance on Charles St.) Hours: Tuesday to Friday from 10:00am to 6:00pm, and Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
• The Commons Market
  This project helps connect people to local farmers through this CSA (Community Supported Agriculture) project.
  Location: 43 Queen Street South. Hours: Wednesdays from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.

• Queen Street Commons Café
  Our volunteer-supported café serves affordable vegetarian meals and fair-trade coffe, and hosts a range of events from live music to movie screenings to political meetings.
  Location: 43 Queen Street South. Hours: Monday to Friday from 8:30am-9:00pm, Saturdays from 10:00am to 4:00pm.
• Maurita's Kitchen
  Maurita's Kitchen is where food for Queen Street Commons is prepared with volunteer support.
  Location: 66 Queen Street South. Hours: Monday to Friday, from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
• Worth a Second Look Furniture and Housewares
  This volunteer-run thrift shop is Kitchener's largest furniture and housewares recycling centre.
  Location: 97 Victoria Street North. Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm, and Saturdays from 9:00am to 4:00pm.
• The Multicultual Cinema Club
  This venture in community filmmaking produces documentaries, organizes film festivals and filmmaking workshops, offers videography services, and rents out film equipment at affordable rates.
  Location: 43 Queen Street South, second floor. Hours: Monday to Friday from 9:00am to 5:00pm.

Volunteering

Please visit our volunteering page to get a list of projects that you can contribute time to. We really encourage people not to visit the Working Centre as a tourist, but to participate usefully by helping out at St. John's Kitchen, Computer Recycling, Queen Street Commons Cafe, or any of our other project. Call Margaret at 519-743-1151 ext. 134 if you would like to volunteer for any Working Centre projects.