#alexkinsella — Public Fediverse posts

CIVIC PUNKS-REIMAGINING GOVERNMENT

Over the last two decades, Baden resident Derek Alton has worked as a researcher, facilitator and storyteller focused on one question: how do we make governments work better? 

Alton founded Civic Punks in 2025 with a mission to speak to as many people as possible who are improving how governments deliver services to their citizens. Before launching Civic Punks, Alton worked for the Canadian […]

CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF BELMONT VILLAGE BESTIVAL

The Belmont Village Bestival celebrated its 10th year of bringing its “European-style street festival” to Belmont Ave. in Kitchener. This year’s festival took place on Friday, Sept. 11 and Saturday, Sept. 12 and featured a main stage, an artist and maker market and family-friendly music and activities. 

The volunteer-led festival was founded by Tim Moher, a retired educator and local […]

BEAST PIZZA TO OPEN KITCHENER LOCATION

The owners of Toronto’s Beast Pizza are opening their second location in the Civic 66 building at 66 Weber St. E. this October. Beast Pizza has built a strong following since co-owners Scott Vivian and Nathan Middleton opened its doors in Toronto’s Queen West neighbourhood in 2010. Originally known for its tapas, the restaurant pivoted to pizza during the pandemic and has grown a cult […]

EXCAVATOR COLLECTIVE CURATES A SENSORY-ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCE

Live music events bring people together, but the use of amplifiers and lights can make these events inaccessible for people living with sensory-related conditions. It was a challenge that Cam Kochut experienced first-hand. Kochut has chronic migraines and said he would often have to leave an event early or not attend at all. After speaking with his partner, Kochut launched the Excavator Arts […]

BLUEBIRD BUILDS SKILLS ON DECK

Skateboarding is known for its community as much as it is for kickflips. That sense of community is something Chantel McDougall has experienced as a longtime skateboarder and certified coach. 

She is also a crisis and addiction nurse who has seen the physical and mental health benefits that activities like skateboarding bring to patients. Seeing that impact inspired McDougall to launch […]

PEACE OF MIND WORKAROUNDS FOR AI

Artificial intelligence (AI) is everywhere, even when we do not want it. From AI-generated slop posters that all look the same to AI-powered summaries of two-line emails, it can feel like the technology is inescapable. It does not help that the companies that develop the apps we use to get our work done (or doomscroll) are in a ‘keeping up with the Joneses’ race to add AI features that […]

NO RIGHT TURN ON RED PILOT PROJECT APPROVED

On June 17, 2026, the Region of Waterloo council passed a motion to implement a year-long pilot project to test right-turn-on-red (RTOR) prohibitions at 12 intersections across the region. During the pilot project, transportation staff will monitor the intersections and report to council on the impact of the RTOR prohibitions.  

The intersections were selected by regional transportation […]

A LOOK AT KWAG’S PERMANENT COLLECTION

The Kitchener-Waterloo Art Gallery (KWAG) is celebrating its 70th anniversary this year with a series of events and exhibitions. The gallery has one of the largest permanent collections of contemporary art in Canada, and its staff have curated Sharing the Passion: 70 Years of Building the Collection to celebrate the gallery’s anniversary.   

The exhibition, which opened on Mar. 14 and […]

PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO REPAIR

The first computer in my house was a Tandy 1000. It was made by RadioShack and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Sure, it was not much to look at with its light brown plastic case and monochrome screen. I am pretty sure my calculator from middle school has more processing power. The laptop I am typing on right now is basically a supercomputer when put up against that Tandy, but it […]

KITCHENER RANGERS BRING HOME MEMORIAL CUP FROM B.C.

Kitchener Rangers won the 2026 Memorial Cup in Kelowna, British Columbia on May 31, with a 6-2 victory over the Everett Silvertips.  

After remaining undefeated in Kelowna with a 4-0 run, the Rangers claimed the title again for the first time in 23 years. This win marks the third Memorial Cup title in franchise history.   

“This has been a season beyond my wildest imagination, and I […]

J&J CELEBRATES 35 YEARS

A childhood love of collecting and trading sports cards inspired Jason Schill and his brother Jim Schill to turn their hobby into a business. This month, they are celebrating 35 years of operating J&J Cards & Collectibles in Waterloo. The business has grown from sports cards to become the region’s go-to spot for everything from board games and Dungeons & Dragons to puzzles and card […]

KWARTZLAB PROVIDES MEMBERS ACCESS TO INVALUABLE TOOLS

Hobbies can quickly become expensive, especially if it’s one that requires specialized tools like a laser cutter or full-size floor loom. But what if you did not have to buy those tools or find space in your basement for them?  

That is the mission of Kwartzlab, a volunteer-led maker space located at 145 Bedford Rd. in Kitchener. Kwartzlab offers monthly memberships for $59 plus HST, which provides 24/7 access to the space’s wood, metal, textile, and pottery shops and tools.  

Kwartzlab opened in 2009 inside the Boehmer Box building on Duke St., before moving to a space near Kent St. and Charles St. 

Sarah Jones, Kwartzlab’s president, said the idea for the space came from a group of people who wanted to get together and build things. 

“It was very much a hacker type of place, and some of those people are still members today,” Jones said. 

“I used to have to tape every wooden corner because they would catch my sweater. Our metal, wood and welding shops would fit into one room here,” she said. 

Kwartzlab moved the space on Bedford Rd. in 2019, and has taken over additional space since to add a textile area with looms and knitting machines. Today, it offers 9,000 square feet of space to its 230 members.  

The membership base includes individuals and some small businesses. Jones said they have chosen to offer a single membership rate rather than a tier-based system. 

“There’s a fundamental belief [that] we don’t want businesses to pay more and then suddenly feel like they have more privileges. We often get asked about student rates and things like that, but honestly, our rates are so much lower than any other maker space that it’s kind of hard to lower it any more,” Jones said. 

In addition to memberships, Kwartzlab does offer rental spaces for members who need to store items onsite or for private workspaces. 

“Membership pays for the lights on, and then studios end up paying for all the extra tools that we want to buy,” she said. 

The general public can experience the Kwartzlab space at its Tuesday Open Nights, monthly mending and repair drop-ins, or at member-led workshops. At the Tuesday Open Nights, non-members can come to Kwartzlab and use general tools like sewing machines or hand drills. Specialized tools like the laser cutter or CNC machine are reserved for members. 

“So, if you have something to sew and you want to just borrow a sewing machine, you could come in and do that. We’ve had in the past somebody who came in every Tuesday for two months and sewed a shirt,” Jones said. 

As the space approaches its 20th anniversary and begins planning for its next chapter, Jones said accessibility is the top priority, whether that means staying on Bedford Rd. or finding somewhere new. 

“That last move was chaotic. We lost members, we burned out the rest. We’re already planning ahead for how we manage it better this time,” Jones said. 

Regardless of the space or the tools, Jones said what makes Kwartzlab work is the people and a willingness to try something new. 

“Here it’s okay to not know everything. You can say, ‘I’ve never rewired an outlet, could somebody show me?’ And somebody will. I joke that we’re all weird around here. You just want the right kind of weird,” she said. 

KWLOT: NEIGHBOURS WORKING TOGETHER

When people think of a library, they largely think of books. But the KW Library of Things (KWLoT), offers tents, sewing machines, mitre saws and more.  

Launched as a partnership with Extend-a-Family Waterloo Region (EAFWR) in 2018 by Wilfrid Laurier University graduate student Devon Fernandes, KWLoT’s catalogue has grown from 350 items to over 1,000 available to its 350 members. 

KWLoT has four membership tiers that offer different options for the number of items that can be checked out and the length of the loan. Annual memberships range from $50 for the base to $500 for the community builder membership, which covers the cost of three base memberships for other community members. 

The library was started as a school project by Fernandes, a community psychology student at Laurier working under Felix Munger in the psychology department. Fernandes was researching other community-based lending libraries and was searching for a host partner when they approached the team at EAFWR. 

EAFWR supports individuals with disabilities and others who face barriers by fostering connection and inclusion throughout the community. Al Mills, executive director at EAFWR, said the organization was a willing partner for the program. 

Mills said the program serves three purposes for the organization; promoting a sharing economy, providing paid and volunteer opportunities for people living with disabilities and leading a mission to be environmental stewards by keeping excess waste out of landfills.  

“For many of our members, we’re giving them access to things that they either don’t have the money to afford; they don’t have a space to store it, or maybe they only need it once a year,” Mills said. 

The KWLoT is managed by paid staff and volunteers, many of whom are supported by EAFWR and its programs. 

While the main benefit to members is reducing the need for multiple people to purchase the same items, Kim Sproul, KWLoT program manager, said that is only part of the program’s role in environmental stewardship. KWLoT offers volunteer-led repair clinics and workshops for people in the community who want to extend the life of an item, from electronics to clothing. 

“We have a local beauty of a human being named Murray Zink who works with the University of Waterloo’s UWRepairHub. He started bringing his volunteers, and you don’t just drop off your items. You sit with them as they repair it, and they’ll talk you through it and ask about the item and what it means to you,” she said. 

KWLoT received a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation in 2025 to hire additional staff as it expands its catalogue and workshops. Mills said the organization is also looking for environmentally motivated partners who can help support their work to reduce waste. 

As the organization enters its eighth year, Mills said they are still guided by their belief that “we’re better off together.” 

“Our goal is to be a community of belonging. KWLoT is a demonstration project of what it can be like when neighbours work together and share what they have,” Mills said. 

SHAWERMA PLUS: HOMEGROWN, WORLD FAMOUS

Waterloo’s Shawerma Plus is growing its fanbase across Ontario with the opening of two restaurants in Mississauga and one in Port Elgin.  

Founded in 2012 by Asem Ghabra and Baraat Khudeir, Shawerma Plus started with a space on King St. N. before moving to its current 1,000 square foot space in University Plaza in 2019. The family opened its second location at 1111 Westmount Rd. E. in 2016.  

While other shawarma chains have pursued aggressive provincial and national expansions, Jawad Ghabra, co-founder and partner at Shawerma Plus, said the brand is taking time to make sure each new restaurant meets their standards.   

“We opened a few locations, and then we pulled the brake a bit to see what needs to be fixed or changed. The more locations we open, there is always a chance that we’re going to miss something with the quality, experience or culture that we bring,” Jawad said.  

The idea of planning the expansion of his family’s business is something Jawad said he never thought he would be doing when his father first told him about the idea for a shawarma restaurant in 2010. Jawad was living in Dubai, newly married and expecting his first child when he received a call from his father who was living in Waterloo.   

“He’s always been passionate about food and catered on the side. He and my mom are amazing cooks. But I told him I didn’t recommend it because the success rate is very low. Restaurants are risky. They didn’t have the network either. But he wasn’t going to listen to any of us telling him to slow down or stop,” he said.  

Jawad said his father was set on opening a shawarma restaurant and spent months perfecting his recipe and looking for a space. The family is originally from Syria, and Jawad said his father had lost much of his savings when the family fled the country.  

“He put all his remaining savings into the building and opening of the restaurant. That was a crazy risk, because that’s everything. There’s nothing left on the table,” Jawad said.  

Ghabra flew to Waterloo to help with the branding, website and the build-out of the restaurant. After returning to Dubai, the restaurant opened and, while sales were good, Asem told Jawad that he was quickly running out of capital and did not see the restaurant being open for more than a few months.  

With a young family and growing career in Dubai, Jawad knew that he could not let his father’s dream fail. Without being asked, he sent his father most of his savings.   

“He asked why I did it, and I told him that I could tell from his voice that he didn’t want to give up. Six months down the line, he called back and said that money was gone. I genuinely remember this moment. I didn’t want them to close. I didn’t want to get into the food business. But I told my wife, ‘I’m going to quit my job and we’re gonna go to Canada’,” he said.  

Jawad and his family landed in Waterloo in 2013, and he quickly got to work at the restaurant, just not in the way he thought he would.  

“We arrived at the restaurant and he said, ‘Jawad, go do the dishes and clean the washrooms’,” Jawad said.  

After giving up his life in Dubai, Jawad was stunned and asked why. His father gave him a lesson that would shape how Jawad would lead the restaurant from its original location to the growing franchise it is today.  

“He said, ‘Let me ask you this, do you know how to make a shawarma? Do you know how to handle the register? Why are we even debating? Just go.’ I went. That’s how I started,” he said.   

“It’s been a crazy journey, and the journey is just not mine. This is the journey myself, my family, a lot of our employees, and partners have taken,” Jawad said. 

RETRO ROLLERS ROLLS INTO KITCHENER

Waterloo Region’s first roller rink in over a decade celebrated its grand opening on Feb. 28, 2026. Retro Rollers, located at 563 Highland Rd. W. in Kitchener, offers roller skating, fitness classes, and party rooms for birthdays and company events.  

Retro Rollers is the culmination of almost a decade of work for co-owners Elaine Beck and Phil Morris. The partners started the business in Wellesley in 2017, renting out the Wellesley Arena during the summer and hosting events. Shortly after, the City of London issued a request for proposals to take over management of its roller skate program.  

“We got accepted and we’re still there today. We’ve done all kinds of pop-ups, private events, fundraisers and worked with roller derby teams like Tri City, Forest City and Royal City,” Beck said.  

The original plan was to open a permanent roller rink, but that was delayed by the pandemic. Beck added that, while they would have liked to open sooner, the delay gave them time to build the right experience to open the Retro Rollers roller rink.  

“When we look back at our original business plan, it was always to open a roller rink. Back then, the banks laughed, and they still do,” she laughed.  

Saving the capital needed to open the roller rink was one thing, finding the space was another.  

“We had to find a space that was big enough and the right price. We didn’t want to charge people $50 to come and roller skate,” Morris said.  

The location first came up during an internet search in 2018. At first, Morris said Beck was not sold on the idea of a basement. When they restarted their search after the pandemic, the space was still available. Once she visited the space in person, Beck said she saw a vision for what it could be.  

“As soon as we came down here, I saw a way to take advantage of a layout that would foster both beginner skaters that are just learning and those that are really experienced,” she said.  

Beck and Morris added that the landlord was great to work with and the rent made it possible to offer pricing that is accessible to as many people as possible. Retro Rollers offers three-hour sessions for $15, with skate rentals for $5. The venue is alcohol-free, a choice Beck said is for liability and for the experience.  

“Roller skating releases natural dopamine, and you can burn 400 to 600 calories every hour on roller skates,” she added.  

The space is nostalgic, with pinball machines, a snack bar, a DJ booth and retro-inspired murals painted by Beck and her daughter.  

“We see a lot of people that turn into a kid when they put their skates on. They’re screaming and laughing—it’s amazing,” Beck said.  

Morris and Beck said seeing the impact Retro Rollers is already having in the community is validation for pursuing their dream.   

“We saw what was going on around us with social media and the way it was sucking everybody in. We wanted to bring people out. We’re not here to make a lot of money, but for us, the biggest paycheck at the end of the day is seeing people smile, have a good time and enjoy their lives,” Morris said. 

CINDY WARD: ENTREPRENEUR EXTRAORDINAIRE

In a community that celebrates its innovators and business leaders, Cindy Ward’s story is one that stands out from the crowd. Ward is the founder and CEO of Dr. Ward’s Fresh Mists, a line of all-natural air, fabric and body refresher mists. The company is Ward’s first time building a consumer product brand, but it is far from the first business for the Kitchener born-and-raised entrepreneur. 

Her career has included stints as an auditor, stockbroker, restaurateur, behavioural economics researcher and competitor on CBC’s Dragon’s Den and CTV’s Master Chef Canada. 

“I think I have a real knack for grassroots business and invention. I love finding an idea that you want to pursue and then finding every possible creative way to get it done,” Ward said. 

Ward’s first experience with entrepreneurship was in high school as part of the Junior Achievement Program. She said while most Junior Achievement companies do not earn a profit, her company did. That experience was the first taste of success that inspired her to pursue new opportunities. 

“I’m just a glutton for experience and knowledge,” she said. 

Ward began her career as an auditor for Revenue Canada before becoming a licensed assistant for a broker at ScotiaMcLeod Wealth Management. Her next change was becoming a small business owner with the opening of The Art Forum on Queen St. in Kitchener. 

After the art store, Ward pivoted again to launch an office canteen service. While it was successful, getting up at five in the morning to prepare meals was not for her, and she sold the business. Over the next 10 years, Ward worked on a number of businesses, all while driving a taxi. It was during this period when her next opportunity presented itself. 

“I’ve always wanted to own a restaurant, and then I saw that the City of Kitchener was accepting applications for the Boathouse property in Victoria Park,” she said. 

Ward put together a business plan and proposal and shared it with her brother. Impressed with the plan, her brother offered her a loan to get started.  

“Once my proposal was accepted by the city, I was able to open the Boathouse for less than $13,000,” Ward said.  

During her run at the Boathouse, Ward became pregnant. She said that, while people have raised children in the business, it was not right for her. A lifelong student of psychology, Ward decided to return to university and pursue a degree. That turned into a nine-year journey where she earned her PhD in social psychology from Wilfrid Laurier University. 

“I loved it so much, so I just kept going. You’re always learning as you go,” she said. 

After graduating, Ward worked as a business consultant at a behavioural science company in Toronto advising large enterprises including Canadian Tire and the Royal Bank of Canada. She ran experiments about everything from button placement on a banking website to how to present point totals for a rewards program.  

“It was an exciting time. I’d been gaining [knowledge] over the years, and then I was learning about large scale consumer demographics. I decided that I wanted to build a multinational brand, something I’d always wanted to do,” she said. 

Ward started with an idea for a wooden hair stick brand but was soon inspired to take on an entirely different challenge due to her experiences wearing a mask during the pandemic. 

“My mask used to stink—whose mask didn’t? Then one day I was chewing gum and needed to put it somewhere. I stuck it in the corner of my face mask, and then when I put my mask back on—it smelled minty fresh,” she said. 

Ward went to work to develop a product for people to spray on their masks. She added that she has always preferred natural products, so instead of a harsh chemical-based scent, Ward investigated using essential oils. 

“They’re nature’s oldest medicines. They’re sustainable. They don’t just clean, they’re good for you,” she added. 

Fast forward six years and Dr. Ward’s Fresh Mists include products designed for freshening up cars, shoes, athletic equipment and, of course, washrooms. 

“One of the biggest challenges of my business is how to describe it. Do I describe it as a natural cleaning product that’s also good for you, or do I describe it as aromatherapy that also cleans?” she said. 

Ward pitched the business to the world on CBC’s Dragon’s Den in 2024. While she did not walk away with a deal, she did leave with new inspiration to build Waterloo Region’s small business support network. Ward noted that the pandemic showed the fragility of the local supply chain and presented an opportunity to build something stronger. 

“There are no pitch opportunities for non-tech companies. We need every type of business to build a healthy economy that can take a future blow,” she said.  

For Ward, the goal is bigger than selling more units of Fresh Mist. She wants to prove that physical manufacturing and small-scale entrepreneurship are just as vital to Waterloo Region as the next big app. 

A SLICE OF PERFECTION

Even an extreme cold warning on a blustery January afternoon could not keep pizza lovers from grabbing a slice at Willibald Pizza in downtown Galt. The restaurant has been earning positive reviews for its food and atmosphere from residents across Waterloo Region and beyond since opening in November 2025. For head chef Brian McCourt, the warm welcome is based on more than great pizza.  

The new restaurant at 135 George St. N. in Cambridge is the second location for the Willibald team. 

“There’s a lot of creativity around Galt, but there wasn’t a community spot where you could come and get a few slices. We just wanted to have that neighborhood spot…it just gives that great community vibe of different generations all eating the same thing and enjoying it,” McCourt said. 

Owners Cam Formica, Jordan van der Heyden and Nolan Jordan van der Heyden opened the original Willibald Farm Distillery in Ayr in 2017 and added a restaurant in 2018. 

McCourt joined the restaurant as head chef after working across the Waterloo Region culinary scene. A self-described “lifelong pizza head” from his earliest memories of a pizza being delivered by motorcycle in his native Dublin, Ireland, McCourt developed his pizza skills working at Wildcraft, Bauer Kitchen, The Rich Uncle and Graffiti Market. 

After working more management roles, McCourt wanted to get back into the kitchen. 

“I wanted to get back in there, and when the Willibald opportunity came up, I put my name in the hat and that was that,” McCourt said. 

As word of mouth spread for the pizza at the Willibald Farm, McCourt said they found themselves turning more and more guests away.  

“The farm was bursting at the seams. Then I heard that the previous tenant of this space wasn’t renewing their lease. As a joke, I said, ‘We should open a pizza shop.’ Then two weeks later, they came back and asked if I was serious. I was, and that’s how Willibald Pizza was formed,” McCourt said.  

Opening a second location also presented a branding dilemma for the Willibald team. Formica worked with Toronto-based graphic designer Joel Malkin to create the brand and called upon Malkin to help adapt it for Willibald Pizza. 

“It’s challenging to balance how modern and clean the current Willibald branding is with something a bit more nostalgic feeling. We wanted it to feel like somewhere you’ve been before,” Formica said.  

Malkin incorporated influences from classic pizza shops—handwritten cursive lettering, checkerboard patterns and a Willibald-twist on one of Formica’s favourites.  

“Even the light shades—I used to go to Pizza Hut as a kid, and I just love the old Tiffany’s stained-glass lights,” Formica added.   

With the look and feel locked down, McCourt set to work on the kitchen. Willibald Pizza dough ferments for up to six days before it sees the oven. The restaurant serves up to 250 pizzas on Fridays and Saturdays. McCourt said word of mouth demand has helped the restaurant sell out pizzas on a few nights already this year.  

“We’re looking at expanding over the next few weeks to make our walk-in a little bigger so we can keep up with the demand,” McCourt added.  

But even with gourmet ingredients and a labour-intensive process, McCourt said they want to make food that is affordable as well as comforting.   

“We’re using premium ingredients. We’re giving a great product with everything sourced from Ontario, and it’s still in that price range where it’s quality. You can come here, have a quality meal in a comfortable setting and still feel satisfied,” McCourt said. 

QUEEN STREET COMMONS SET TO RE-OPEN

The Working Centre’s Queen Street Commons Café in downtown Kitchener is set to reopen this spring after a six-year hiatus. The cafe closed its doors in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and has remained shuttered as the non-profit organization focused on changing priorities for the communities it serves.  

In 2024, The Working Centre began planning for the reopening, including upgrades and a layout change. Cassandra Polyzou, community tools and enterprise hub lead at The Working Centre, said that, as with any renovation, there were unexpected challenges that pushed the reopening into 2026. 

“Anyone who is working on renovating a small business knows that we all face challenges. Everyone is trying to do their best. But it has meant that the process has been slow,” she said. 

Queen Street Commons opened in 2006 as a third space for the community, regardless of income. Polyzou said the goal is to be that third space again and bring the community together. 

“The space is going to look different…We’ll be able to do things like film screenings and concerts in the space,” she said. “It’s refreshed, but it certainly still is going to feel like the Queen Street Commons that we’ve all known and loved.” 

There is no set opening date yet, but Polyzou said the cafe has two concerts scheduled in March to welcome people back to the space. 

 The Queen Street Commons is hosting The Boo Radley Project on Mar. 6, 2026 and I, the Mountain on Mar. 7, 2026. The cafe is hoping these big launch events show people the new space and what can be done with it. 

Downtown Kitchener has changed in the six years since Queen Street Commons closed. Conestoga College’s two downtown campuses opened and closed, multiple new condominium and apartment buildings have opened, and many major employers have opted to continue with remote work instead of renewing their office leases.  

There has also been a significant increase in the people experiencing homelessness across Waterloo Region, including the 100 Victoria St. encampment across from The Working Centre’s recently opened Making Home space at 97 Victoria St. Polyzou said the changes are a motivator to bring back the spirit of “radical hospitality” that Queen Street Commons was known for. 

“Queen Street Commons was always a place for everyone. Things have changed, and the need is very much there. We hear it from people all the time who say they miss this kind of space that is really a bridge across communities that brings diverse people to sit at tables beside each other and share food and coffee,” she said. 

When it opens, the cafe will continue to offer affordable and vegetarian menu items, including coffee, baked goods, and soups. Polyzou added that volunteering opportunities will also return to the cafe. 

“We know that people have missed that opportunity. It’s such a gift. Or maybe they’ll just come for a bowl of veggie chilli and a cup of coffee, and that’s great,” she said. 

MINI-DOSES OF AWE AND WONDER

A staycation is a vacation you can take in your home country, rather than abroad. For the sake of this piece and my wallet, I’ll be focusing on staying in your own city or, better yet, your own home.   

These mini vacations are useful because they’re easier on the budget but also help you learn about your own community.  

As you explore your city, you can create more relationships that flow into your everyday life and deepen your connection to the place that you live. Staycations are also much easier to plan, considering you don’t have to worry about accommodations, flights, trains, packing, etc.   

Like all vacations, a staycation requires deviation from your regularly scheduled programming. If you can, empty your schedule in advance—take a couple days off work or have a weekend where you have no other plans. I will sit down with a monthly and weekly calendar to help me visualize. I also try to set aside at least three days because I tend to be restless the first day that I deviate from my regular work, so I need some time to get into a more relaxed mindset.   

Then, consider what you need. Are you tired of monotony and want to add something interesting to your life? Or are you just tired and need some rest. Pay attention to your body and your thoughts in the days leading up to your time off.   

The answer is usually not so complicated. For example, if you find yourself bored at mealtimes, you might want to explore more food options either at home or outside. If you keep wishing that everyone would leave you alone, then you probably need some rest and alone time.   

Doing a brain dump of all the thoughts you have (especially all your complaints) can help with understanding the stressors of your life, which might change the type of staycation you choose to take.   

Now, you can decide what it is that you need in a staycation. Do you need more time with friends or time alone? Do you want to meet new people or deepen the connections you may have been neglecting? Does exploration and social time rejuvenate or exhaust you?   

Considering these questions can help you decide whether you want to spend your staycation exploring your city or exploring your home.   

If you choose the former, it is possible to explore your surroundings spontaneously. Choose a starting point—e.g. downtown Kitchener or brunch at your favourite cafe—then let the day take you where it will. I especially like doing this with friends, since I am not very adventurous.   

Another method is to make a list of all the places you either never get a chance to go back to, or that you wanted to explore, but never got a chance. This could be cute cafes (cafe-hopping!), bookstores, parks, trails or any number of places. What has caught your attention before, but you weren’t able to go back to it?  

Other people’s houses can also be on that list. So many social plans rely on us going out, but visiting a friend in their own space can be just as fun. It also means another way of learning more about them, especially if this is a new friend.   

Finally, a staycation can happen in the confines of your own home. This is my personal favourite and is the most versatile type of staycation.   

I like to start by deep cleaning my spaces, doing my laundry and dusting, maybe even rearranging some furniture. Freshening up your space also helps refresh your mind.   

Now, I know that most people are not like me. Where I would include cleaning and reorganizing as part of my vacation, but for others, it would be considered work. If you’re in the latter group, I would suggest doing all the cleaning and chores as preparation for your staycation.   

Then, the world (or your house or your room) is your oyster. Exploring your home can take many forms—you can go through all those old photos and clothes and declutter, or just bask in the nostalgia. Go shopping in different rooms to change things around, create new outfits from all your clothes, bust out the puzzle you never got to do or the art supplies you haven’t used in the two years since you bought them.   

The goal is to rest, but also to see your own space in a new light. What is your house like when you’re usually not home? For example, over quarantine, I discovered that the leaves of the tree in our backyard cast shadows on my wall during sunset and to this day, that is one of my favourite aspects of my room. It is incredibly calming to watch the shadows of those leaves swaying while I’m not doing anything in particular.   

Some other things I like finding are hiding places, places to sit that you haven’t thought of before, what space is the most relaxing, what seat is the most comfortable. Forget about everything you know about your space, and rediscover how charming a place you live in.   

If that’s too much work, just lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. That’s super fun.   

My favourite thing about staycations is that they don’t have to end. That new cafe you liked, you can revisit as often as you like. You can keep making the new dish you discovered, you can go back to the bookstore you fell in love with, you can spend 10 minutes lying there and watching the leaves swaying on the wall when you need to.   

A staycation is a reminder to take a step back, look at your life and your space from a fresh perspective, and maintain a sense of awe in the regular, the common and the everyday. 

KITCHENER GETS NEW ARTS LEADERS

The City of Kitchener’s arts and entertainment department has added two local arts leaders to its team to support the launch of the recently announced Kitchener LIVE destination marketing brand. Green Light Arts’ co-founder and managing director Carin Lowerison will be taking on the role of Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues and music industry veteran Will Muir will become the city’s Music Officer.  

Kitchener LIVE was first announced at Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City address on Oct. 21, 2025 at Centre in the Square. In his address, Vrbanovic said Kitchener LIVE will be a centralized platform for residents to discover events, purchase tickets, and learn how to host an event at a city-owned facility.   

The new brand is a small part of the city’s growing Arts and Entertainment Department. Led by Director of Arts and Entertainment Jeremy Dueck, the department includes three divisions: Arts and Creative Industries, Special Events and Arts and Entertainment Venues.  

Arts and Creative Industries is managed by Andrea Hallam and includes calls for public arts, the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, and the city’s film and music offices. Special Events is led by Steve Roth and includes the city’s Canada Day celebration, Way Back Festival, and the Christkindl Market. Music Officer Will Muir will work with the Special Events team to integrate local talent into events like the Roos Island Music Series.  

Lowerison will lead the third division as the Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues which oversees the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, the Victoria Park Pavilion, the City Hall Rotunda and Carl Zehr Square.   

The Arts and Entertainment Venues team is also responsible for the Kitchener LIVE platform. Dueck said the platform’s vision of “Your City. Your Stage.” is designed to help audiences and artists connect across all of the city’s venues, from Centre in the Square and The Aud to Roos Island and Carl Zehr Square. Kitchener LIVE will also include information on public art calls that are coming up and camp opportunities at THEMUSEUM and Centre in the Square.  

“How many times have you talked to people and they say they didn’t know that an event or concert was happening? We think all these events are common knowledge, but it’s not. Our community is growing so quickly that even for the people who’ve been here for a long time, they may not always know what’s happening,” Dueck said.  

For audiences, Kitchener LIVE will be the brand for its existing KW Tickets website and will include events at all city-owned venues and spaces. The new platform will also include information and tools for event hosts and producers to help book venue space.  

“There’s never been an easy entry point if you want to organize an event in one of the major event spaces. That’s what Kitchener LIVE will introduce,” he added.  

In addition to Kitchener LIVE, Dueck said the new department structure will help improve communication across the city’s owned and operated venues.   

“When the Mayor and Council created this division, one of the visions they had was, we need our venues to talk more. Now we meet monthly where we can share what’s coming up. Through those conversations, we get more insight as to what the other venues are doing,” Dueck said.  

While the new platform helps guide the public and event organizers, Dueck said the overarching goal is to present a cohesive brand to potential event hosts. The new structure can potentially help the city to attract major destination events, such as national award shows.  

“Down the road, if we’re trying to attract a major destination event, the Canadian Country Music Awards or the Junos, if we’re trying to go after an event brand, Kitchener LIVE helps us package and present our experience in the arts and entertainment scene here in Kitchener,” he said.  

DOUG EARLE APPOINTED CEO OF WRHN

After a 30-year career in fundraising Doug Earle has taken the role as the first CEO of the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) Foundation as it begins to fundraise for the new hospital campus scheduled to open in 2035.   

The WRHN Foundation was established in May 2025 following the merger of St. Mary’s Hospital and Grand River Hospital and their respective foundations.  

Earle was announced as CEO on Oct. 29, 2025, and will lead the foundation’s fundraising efforts for its three existing facilities and the new hospital campus located in the David Johnston Research + Technology Park at the University of Waterloo’s North Campus.  

Before joining the WRHN Foundation, Earle was the CEO of the West Park Healthcare Centre Foundation in Toronto where he led fundraising for the hospital’s new building that opened in 2023. It was the tenth building that Earle had led the fundraising effort, but he joked that he still had the itch to work on another project.  

“I’m not a maintainer, I’m a builder. I was looking for a new challenge, and this new hospital building is quite exciting to be a part of,” he said.  

While it is not his first hospital project, it does hold a special meaning.  

“I’ve never actually been at the beginning of a new building project. That’s my goal this time. To be here while we’re just starting the design, and I hope to be there when the staff move in,” Earle said.  

The initial planning and application phase of the new hospital was completed this year with a $15 million contribution from the province. The WRHN is now actively working with the province to receive approval to move into the design phase, which will take two years to finalize.  

The province funds 100 per cent of the design and planning phase, and 90 per cent of the construction costs. The WRHN Foundation and local governments are responsible for the construction phase’s remaining 10 per cent and all required equipment and infrastructure.   

“If we get the go ahead in the spring budget, it’ll be about three years before the walls go up. Then it takes about two years for all the electrical work and quality testing. That’s when we would take possession, probably 2031, and our first payment would be due,” he said.  

The second payment would be due in 2034, but before that, the WRHN Foundation will need to start fundraising for equipment in 2030.  

“That’s about $30 million a year; it’s a lot of dollars,” he said.  

Fundraising for the new hospital does not mean that new equipment and programs are on hold at WRHN’s Midtown, Queen St., and Chicopee campuses. One of the campaigns Earle is working on is to bring neurosurgery back to the Waterloo Region.  

“We have not had a neurosurgeon for well over a decade. If you’re having an aneurysm and you’re in the ER, you know time is short. Right now, you have to go to McMaster, which is another hour of not getting treatment. We’ve submitted a plan to the Ministry of Health and we’re waiting to hear back,” Earle said.  

Once approved, the WRHN Foundation will fund renovations at WRHN Midtown to support neurosurgery.  

“We can run neurosurgery at Midtown for another ten years and then move all the equipment to the new hospital when it opens.”  

Whether it is one-time or monthly donations, Earle said this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make an investment in healthcare.   

“We’re the fastest growing region in the country and will be over a million people in ten years. The one thing that’s been consistent is the care and passion of our staff and the delivery of quality care. Now we have an opportunity to give them a building that is designed for them to deliver the best quality care possible,” Earle said. 

RIDE ON: BIKING THROUGH THE WINTER

Driving and walking are not the only ways to get around town in the winter. Cycling through the slush, snow and ice is an option that many locals are opting for both commuting and recreation.   

Krystal Li, a year-round bicycling commuter, said she chooses to ride through every season because she never felt motivated to own a car after moving to Kitchener.  

“I figured cycling would be easier than walking to a lot of places,” she said.  

In the winter, Li uses a commuter bike with winter tires. The commuter bike is a step-through model that allows riders to easily mount the bicycle verses stepping over a crossbar.  

“It’s more upright, so I feel safer when I’m cycling on snow,” she said.  

As with any winter sport, dressing for winter cycling is specific to each individual. Li said she wears a ski jacket and pants and brings a change of clothes for her workplace. Keeping dry is not only restricted to her clothing. Commuting to work means bringing her laptop, which she transports in a water-proof backpack.  

Li uses the Iron Horse and Spurline Trails in the summer and winter for her commute. She said the trails are maintained well, making it easy and safe to get to and from work.  

“I would go out of my way if that means I can stay on the trail for as long as possible. I hope more people try winter cycling to help encourage the city to maintain the trails,” she said.   

Fellow cyclist Rober Haskett is also an avid recreational winter cyclist. Like Li, Haskett has different bicycles for the summer and winter seasons, including a fat bike. These bicycles have extra-wide tires that run at low pressure to provide better traction and stability on snow and ice. He said the fat bike is his preferred choice for riding in deep snow.  

“As long as you’re paying attention to what you’re doing, riding in the winter is as easy as riding in the summertime. The biggest concern is figuring out what works for you to keep warm,” Haskett said.  

He said one of his friends could never keep his hands warm while cycling in the winter. That was until he discovered pogies, which are water and wind-resistant pockets that fit over a bicycle’s grips, gear shifters, and brake handles.   

“They’re basically an insulated bag that goes on top of your handlebars where your hands go. For me, I find that a pair of lobster claw style gloves work perfectly for me because my hands run hot,” he said.  

Beyond keeping warm and dry, maintaining your bicycle in the winter is another area cyclists need to keep in mind. Ryan McDonough, sales manager at McPhail’s Cycle and Sports, said he advises people to keep their main bicycle in storage for the winter and ride a bicycle that you do not mind getting damaged by water and road salt.  

“Winter is going to put wear and tear on your bike. The great thing about the Region is that they clear the trails. But they salt them heavily, so that will ruin anything that’s metal on the bike,” McDonough said.   

While Haskett said he prefers a fat-tire bike for winter riding, McDonough said a thin tire is his choice in slushy conditions. He said fat bikes were designed to be buoyant on surfaces like sand and dirt.  

“When it comes to slush, you end up sliding on it versus staying buoyant. A narrower tire will cut through the slush and get you down to the cement, which is where you want to be,” McDonough said.  

Whether you choose to ride a fat bike or an older bicycle with winter tires, Haskett said winter cycling can change your outlook on the season.  

“It’s so much fun, especially when you get a fresh snowfall in the evening. The snow is coming down and the trails are quiet. It’s a serene thing to experience,” Haskett said.

#AlexKinsella #Biking #crossbar #driving #dry #ironHorse #KrystalLi #laptop #mcphailsCycleAndSports #mount #roadSalt #RyanMcDonough #spurlineTrails #Summer #transport #Transportation #Walking #winter #Work

ONTARIO WASTE COLLECTION CHANGES

On Nov. 4, 2025, Circular Materials released new details on the changes to curbside recycling in Waterloo Region. Circular Materials is the national not-for-profit which took over responsibility for managing recycling in the province in March 2024.  

The changes are part of Ontario’s new recycling regulation that moves recycling programs to an extended producer responsibility (EPR) model. The new recycling program officially starts on Jan. 1, 2026 and is funded and operated by producers of packaging and paper products.  

“The program takes the costs of and operational responsibility for blue box recycling away from taxpayers and municipalities. This means that residents will no longer be paying for recycling services as this cost will be borne by producers,” Jennifer Kerr, Director of Community and Media Relations at Circular Materials, said.  

Under current recycling programs, each municipality decides what materials can be placed in blue bins. The change introduces a unified materials list that is the same across the province.   

The new list includes previously unaccepted items, including hot and cold beverage cups, toothpaste tubes, black plastic containers and frozen juice containers. The complete list of materials is available on the Circular Materials website.   

“The unified material list and new materials included are a great example of how extended producer responsibility advances innovation and improves environmental outcomes,” Kerr said.  

March 2026 brings additional changes to curbside recycling. Recycling collection will shift to a bi-weekly, four-day schedule running Tuesday to Friday. To accommodate the change, Circular Materials is delivering two additional blue boxes to residents starting in January 2026.  

“The new bi-weekly recycling schedule will alternate with the new bi-weekly garbage and organics collection schedule which is managed by the Region of Waterloo,” Kerr said.   

While Circular Materials manages the program, each community is serviced by a different collection contractor. Miller Waste currently provides curbside collection in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo.   

Starting on Mar. 3, 2026, Miller Waste will provide collection service across all Waterloo Region communities, including North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Contact information for local collection services, along with the most up-to-date recycling details, is available at circularmaterials.ca/waterlooregion.  

The move from municipally operated programs to a province-wide program is a major change. Kerr said the feedback from residents has mainly been on clarifying what the changes are.   

“We appreciate residents’ and communities’ continued engagement and participation in recycling through this transition. Resident participation is vital to increasing recycling rates and advancing a more sustainable future,” Kerr said. 

#AlexKinsella #Cambridge #CircularMaterials #jenniferKerr #kitchener #millerWaste #NorthDumfries #recycling #RegionOfWaterloo #waterloo #waterlooRegion #Wellesley #Wilmot #Woolwich

THE RISE OF THE RUN CLUB

The days are getting shorter, and the weather is getting colder, but that does not mean it is time to hang up your running shoes. There are runners of all skill and experience levels running on trails, paths and sidewalks across the Waterloo Region throughout the winter. Regardless of skill level, running groups is a great way to meet new people, improve skills and explore the community. 

Runner’s Choice Waterloo has hosted run groups for over 20 years. Today, it hosts two weekly run groups from its storefront at 55 Erb St. E. in Waterloo. The Beginners Group is on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and is a social run or walk ranging from two to five kilometers. Experienced runners can join the Fun Run Group, also on Mondays and Thursday at 6:00 p.m. 

Andrew Aguanno is a co-owner of Runner’s Choice Waterloo. He said there is often a stigma attached to running groups where people may not think they fit in, but the reality is much different. 

“Some people hear ‘running club’ and think everyone’s going to be 100 pounds soaking wet and in amazing shape. But when you actually come to a running club, you see that runners come in every shape, size and age. I think that’s really encouraging and motivating for a lot of people to come out and see someone who looks just like you,” he said. 

Aguanno added that going to a run group by yourself can be intimidating, so the store’s run group leaders work to make everyone feel welcome and included. He said he has dropped into running groups in Toronto and Vancouver, where he felt like an outsider, but that is not the case in Runner’s Choice running groups. 

“Our groups are super friendly. Everyone is here to support each other. We want to be in that community hub where everyone is welcome and supported. We just want to share our love of the sport with everyone else and get as many people into it as we can,” he said. 

Looking for a way to find a community was how Isabeau Glebe discovered the run groups at Runner’s Choice. Glebe took up running in the summer of 2024 as a way to connect with new people in the area. 

“I was wondering, ‘How do adults make friends?’ That was what got me into running, and then I got absolutely hooked,” she said. 

As Glebe made new friendships in the community, she said a few people suggested that there was a need for a women-centred run group. After researching, she realized it was something that did not exist at the time and started a women’s run group at Runner’s Choice. She quickly realized the group had potential to become a strong community and decided to launch Women Run Waterloo. The group hosts run throughout the week, including social and trail runs. 

“Running itself leads to some awesome community building. But when you intersect that with the space of women in sport and exercise, it becomes this interesting community,” Glebe said. 

In addition to building a community for women runners, Women Run Waterloo also supports women-owned businesses. Those businesses include LenJo Bakes, the Crumby Cookie Co, Camellia Bake Shop, and Glebe’s personal favourite: Four All Ice Cream.  

“I’m a big fan of all things local, and we have awesome businesses in the area that are run by women. Once a month, we go and support a local women-run business to help raise awareness and have some really yummy treats,” she said. 

There are run groups hosted throughout the Waterloo Region.  

Here are a few to check out: 

• Beechwood Runners 

• WHYNOT Run Club 

• Farm League Running Club 

• Running Room Waterloo 

• KW Trail Runners 

• Run Waterloo 

• Cambridge Harriers 

• River Rats Run Club 

• KW Run Club 

#alexKinsella #andrewAguanno #beechwoodRunners #cambridgeHarriers #farmLeagueRunningClub #kitchenerWaterlooRunClub #kwTrailRunners #runWaterloo #runnersChoiceWaterloo #runningRoomWaterloo #waterlooRegion #whynotRunClub

LILA BRUYERE ON RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCES IN NEW DOCUMENTARY

On Sept. 9, 2025, Bangishimo launched a GoFundMe campaign to support completion of the documentary I Am Water. Co-directed by Bangishimo and Erik O’Neill, co-founder of Astro Dog Media, the documentary tells the story of Lila Bruyere, who is Bangishimo’s mother and a survivor of the residential school system. 

Educator and public speaker Bruyere wrote her memoir of surviving the residential school system until an issue with her computer changed her plans. Losing months of work would be a blow to anyone, but Bruyere took it as a sign to tell her story in a different medium.  

“I had five chapters written, and I swore I saved it, but when I went back to continue, I couldn’t find it. Thankfully, my oldest son was able to find it, but then my computer ate it again. I take things as a sign, and then a friend of mine asked me if I had thought about doing a documentary,” she said.  

Bruyere was new to the documentary world and sought help from a friend with experience in filmmaking. She was approved for a grant to begin work on the documentary, but the project stalled after a friend who helped them apply for the funds failed to pass the money along. While there was no fraud involved, Bruyere’s son and photographer, and community leader Bangishimo said the experience was a major setback.  

“We did call him out on social media. He claimed that he never spent the money, so he didn’t steal it. He ended up giving it back to the Arts Fund, but then we had to start from square one,” Bangishimo said.  

Bruyere was frustrated, and Bangishimo offered to help introduce her to Erik O’Neill, co-founder of Astrodog Media.  

“I have already made two short documentaries with Erik, Stories from Land Back Camp and Recollections and Imaginings. I introduced the two of them, and they hit it off immediately. They’re like besties now, which is hilarious,” they said. 

Bruyere tells the story slightly differently.  

“I met Erik and I didn’t want him to do it. I told Bangishimo that he’s too miserable. But then I went over to his studio, and this was the first time he ever videotaped me, and we were talking and laughing. I thought, oh my gosh, like this guy does laugh. Now, we’re the best of friends,” she said.  

With a new crew onboard, the team travelled to Bruyere’s home reserve on Couchiching First Nation near Fort Frances, Ont. for a 10-day shoot in June 2025.   

“I told the crew I didn’t want this to be all doom and gloom, even though it is a sad story. This is not your ordinary documentary. This is a spiritual experience. I told them I hoped they were open to learning things about our culture, and they were amazing,” Bruyere said.  

The documentary trip was also the first extended trip home for Bangishimo. While they had passed through over the years, they said their experiences growing up as a queer person on a small reserve were not positive.  

“I didn’t have a lot of great memories in my community. Growing up on my reserve and in a small town was not always a safe place for queer kids, especially in the 80s. But once I got there, my whole perception had changed. My therapist told me the community that I grew up in is no longer that community and I am not that same person,” they said.  

The trip was a chance to run into relatives they had not seen since they were children and meet new ones they had not met before.  

“It was so nice to be with my people and on my people’s land. It was the highlight of 2025 for me, and it made me actually really miss home. We’re now hoping to go home again next summer just because we had such a great experience,” Bangishimo said. 

Bruyere hopes the documentary will change the conversation on residential schools to one of moving forward while not forgetting the atrocities committed. She added that she spent five years working with a therapist and attending counselling to deal with the trauma she experienced.  

“I know what happened to me, but I don’t live there 24/7. I don’t let it cripple me like it used to. I shouldn’t even be here because I went through so much drama. Sometimes, I don’t know where I got the strength from, but then I always give my credit to my mom. She was a really strong person, and I want people to know that there is life after residential school.” Bruyere said.  

For more information or to donate, visit the I Am Water GoFundMe.

#alexKinsella #astrodogMedia #bangishimo #documentary #educator #erikOneill #gofundme #lilaBruyere #localFilm #localHistory #memoir #nationalSurvivors #nationalSurvivorsCircle #queerHistory #residentialSchoolSurvivors #residentialSchools #truthAndReconciliation

KWFAMOUS LAUNCHES THE CREATIVE CAFE IN DTK

Artists, creatives and neighbours celebrated the opening of The Creative Café at a soft launch event on Sept. 26. The 3,500 square-foot space is located inside the Bright Building condominiums at 741 King St. W. in Kitchener. It features a dedicated gallery and event space alongside a small cafe that can be used as a pop-up space for local food entrepreneurs.   

The Creative Café is the latest project from the team behind KWFamous, a non-profit group that hosts meetups, workshops, and events across the region. Robin Lindner, founder of KWFamous, said she pitched the idea to the building’s developer, Scott Higgins of HIP Developments, after reading his book The Joy Experiments.  

“Their whole mantra is bringing people together. So instead of creating an amenity space like a gym that no one would use, they advocated for creating a space that welcomes the community in,” Lindner said.  

The opening of The Creative Café comes three months after a similar concept failed to gain support in Waterloo. ArtsBuild Ontario had asked the City of Waterloo for a three-year lease for the former St. Columba Anglican Church site which the city had purchased in February 2025.   

Lindner said she was disappointed when she learned of the decision.  

“I don’t think there’s a lack of space. I think there’s a lack of willingness to give that space up and give up control,” she said.  

Lindner credited Higgins and HIP Developments for taking a risk to create a new type of amenity space for building residents and the neighbouring community. Higgins said arts play a critical role in making a community a great place to live, but, as a neighbourbood gentrifies, the artists who made it great can no longer afford to live and work there.  

“We’ve been building these backyards in the sky that no one uses, and then we’re building for-lease space on the ground floor that no small business can afford. We’re sterilizing our community,” Higgins said.  

The answer for Higgins was to work with the residents of the Bright Building and the City of Kitchener to change how amenity space was used. Instead of a gym or bowling alley on an upper level, the building has street-level amenity space and Higgins put out a call for a creative group to run it. The space is rent-free, but KWFamous is responsible for utilities and upkeep.  

“Working with the city and the residents allowed us to put amenities on the ground floor so that they can be amenities for the neighborhood, not just the residents,” he said.   

Lindner said Higgin’s vision is sustainable and has the potential to work for artists and the community.   

“I’m excited to prove the concept and build this with other creatives in the community. This is a space that residents can invite people in and be proud of, whether that’s having a coffee or checking out a cool film being played. It’s an extra bonus for people who live in the building,” Lindner said.  

KWFamous has also started discussions with the Waterloo Region District School Board about potentially offering workshops for students at the neighbouring Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute.  

“They have really great vocational and co-op programs, and we want to test out what we could offer them, whether that’s making patties with The Dessert Artist’s Rochelle Williams or pastries with Casey Ng from Nibble & Nosh,” she said.  

Beyond culinary opportunities, Lindner wants to create artistic outlets for high school students. She credits similar opportunities during her high school years for giving her the confidence to pursue her art.  

“There’s not a lot of outlets for people to be creative, especially for the high school students. It can be a tough time and having that creative outlet or being shown the possibility of doing a craft can be inspiring,” Lindner said.  

“There are so many things that can happen here if we keep this space as modular and open as possible. I’m excited for people to come together and learn something,” Lindner said. 

#AlexKinsella #brightBuilding #caseyNg #HIPDevelopments #KWFamous #nibbleAndNosh #robertLindner #scottHiggins #theCreativeCafe #theDessertArtistsRochelleWilliams #theJoyExperiments

SERVING GOOD FOOD AND GOOD KARMA

Tiny Home Takeout, located at 56 Duke St. in Kitchener, has been serving the community since they opened four years ago.   

“Father Toby, the head pastor [at St. Mary’s] he was thinking about ways in which we could support the community, especially during the pandemic,” Jie-Soo Park, program assistant at Tiny Home Takeout, said.    

The restaurant works on a pay-what-you-can model to feed as many people as possible.   

“We want everyone to be welcome, whether it’s the mayor or somebody who’s sleeping on the street, to feel like they can come and grab food,” Park said.  

Originally the restaurant served pizzas, but a few years ago the menu switched to serving four different calzone varieties as well as a rotating flavour of the month. The stall also offers bites, smaller snacks that change every day.  

“We started off by serving between 10 and 100 people a day, and now we’re up to 300 sometimes 400 people” said Fr. Toby Collins one of the founders of Tiny Home Takeout.  

“[W]e want to eliminate the stigma behind accessing a great meal, and so even though we are really accessible to those who may not be able to afford take out or a restaurant quality meal, that doesn’t mean that that’s the only demographic we serve,” Park said.  

Many of the ingredients used by Tiny Home Takeout are grown in their own garden located at Resurrection College.   

“We also seek to build community through food, and we find that calmer environment and a respectful environment where people have just a delicious meal that they really appreciate day in and day out,” Collins said.   

On Sept. 14, Tiny Home Takeout will be running their Hunger No More event at St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church at 56 Duke Street, Kitchener.   

“We’re going to have lots of food vendors come in and offer small free samples of whatever they serve. And there will also be a Kid Zone, live entertainment and there is a massive silent auction that is always really interesting and a great way to contribute to the community,” Park said.   

For those who are looking to get involved with Tiny Home Takeout, the restaurant takes donations on their site. They are also looking for volunteers in both their restaurant location and garden.   

“It really is changing this part of the downtown and when everybody pitches in and works together trying to deal with the issue of food insecurity in a new and creative way, it truly changes lives for the better,” Collins said.   

“We want everyone from the community to be in line, and we always make enough food so that regardless of who you are, you can come by and you can grab dinner with your family,” he said.  

More information can be found on their website as well as X, Instagram and Facebook at @TinyHomeTakeout. 

#AlexKinsella #charity #community #fatherToby #kitchener #localBusiness #payWhatYouCan #RachaelMacIntosh #sevenSorrowsRomanCatholicChurch #stMaryS #TinyHomeTakeout

THE GREAT WORK FROM HOME DEBATE

In July, TD Bank announced that its employees would be required to work from the office four days a week beginning on Oct. 6, 2025. The financial institution joins Google, Amazon, the Royal Bank of Canada and other businesses that have mandated a return-to-office policy for their employees.   

According to a survey by Benefits Canada, 76 per cent of Canadian employers have already mandated a partial or full return to the office. Improving productivity and collaboration are often cited as goals for the mandates.   

Dave Whiteside, Director of Insights at YMCA Work Well, stated that while companies and workers have presented arguments for and against return-to-office mandates, many of these arguments are not grounded in research or data.   

“Many companies have a building that they’re paying for and they don’t want it empty. They’re using the argument that getting people back in person will create connections again, and I think they’re harnessing this argument that people at home are lonely and they want them connected again,” Whiteside said.  

While discussions on loneliness and the loneliness epidemic focus on post-COVID 19 experiences, Whiteside said our society has been struggling with the issue for decades.   

“There’s this idea that the loneliness epidemic only began once everyone was working at home. It’s not really true. People were lonely in a crowded office. The issue with loneliness is that it is invisible. You never really know who’s feeling it and who’s not,” he said.  

Respondents to the Gallup 2024 State of the Global Workplace survey support Whiteside’s views, with one in five respondents reporting feeling lonely at work. Whiteside said the increase in awareness and discussions about loneliness in the workplace is driven by people who felt connected before working from home.  

“These people were typically well-connected when they were in the office. Now they’re feeling alone and are talking about it. It’s shone a big light on the issue,” he said.  

While more employees are sharing their feelings of loneliness, many return-to-office mandates have been met with challenges from employees who are affected by the mandates.   

In May 2024, the Treasury Board of Canada amended its policies to increase the number of days employees were required to be in the office from two to three days a week. The employees’ union, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), filed a court challenge against the change.   

The PSAC said that the government lacked evidence to support the change. In August 2024, the court ruled that the government had to provide full justification for its return-to-office policy.  

One of the justifications Whiteside hears from leaders for return-to-office mandates is that it improves connections between their employees. He said that leaders looking to change their current policies or issue a return-to-office policy should be intentional about what outcomes they want to see and how the change could affect their employees.  

“Our approach at WorkWell is to view your office as a tool, not a location. Just because people are going to be back in the office, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be connected again. Leaders need to think about how they are going to create opportunities for employees to connect,” Whiteside said.

Through his research, Whiteside has observed organizations adopting an intentional approach that has made the return to the office beneficial for their employees.   

“The ones who do it well are the ones who make in-office time worth it. They’re coming together around a whiteboard and solving problems. They’re not just coming into an office to join a video call with colleagues across the room,” he said.  

In addition to making in-office time valuable, Whiteside said leaders should also remember that the flexibility from hybrid and remote work is a significant driver of employee satisfaction.  

“Naturally, people are pushing back on losing that flexibility they had, and that’s why you see people changing jobs and saying they would rather get paid a little bit less and have an opportunity choose how they work,” Whiteside said. 

#AlexKinsella #Amazon #benefitsCanada #Column #daveWhiteside #financialInstitution #Google #publicServiceAllianceOfCanada #royalBankOfCanada #TDBANK #workwell #YMCA

THE COMMUNITY EDTION GUIDE TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS

From the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) to the Downtown Cambridge BIA and everywhere in between, BIAs support business communities in city cores with networking and events that bring more people to dine, drink and shop.   

The BIA concept started on Bloor St. W. in Toronto. As foot traffic shifted to suburban malls in the late 1960s, shopkeepers banded together and convinced City Hall and Queen’s Park to let every business contribute to streetscape upgrades and joint promotions. Their experiment became the Bloor West Village BIA in 1970, a model soon copied across Ontario and around the world.  

Since then, BIAs have spread across the province. Today, there are over 300 BIAs in Ontario and more than 500 across Canada. The Uptown Waterloo BIA was the second to be incorporated in 1972.   

Waterloo Region now has eight BIAs, each anchoring its own main street with a distinct mix of shops, streetscape touches and marquee events. Here is a snapshot of who they are, where they sit and what they do.  

Uptown Waterloo BIA  

With King St. S. at its core, the Uptown Waterloo BIA represents businesses from Avondale Ave. to Willow St., and Union St. to Elgin St. The Uptown Waterloo BIA runs several events throughout the year, including Winterloo, the LUMEN Festival and nighttime art markets throughout the summer.    

Downtown Kitchener BIA   

The Downtown Kitchener BIA is the largest of the local BIAs and is bounded by Victoria St. on the west, Cedar St. on the east, Joseph St. to the south and Weber and Duke St. to the north. Its events include Palette x Palate, Día de Los Muertos, Sunset Sessions and more.  

Downtown Cambridge BIA  

Main, Water and Ainslie streets shape Galt’s heritage grid between Concession St. and Park Hill Rd. Summer events include Latin Music on Main and Friday Night Twilight Markets. In the spring, the Downtown Cambridge BIA is a partner in Cambridge Wedding Week, one of the region’s largest wedding events.   

Preston Towne Centre BIA   

King Street runs the length of the Preston Towne Centre BIA from Waterloo St. to Dolph St., with Central Park as its green heart. Wednesday Preston Towne Market (June-Sept.) anchors the summer, and the autumn Preston Lantern Project lights up the park after dusk.  

Hespeler Village BIA   

Queen St. hugs the Speed River between Guelph Ave. and Tannery St., backed by converted mill buildings. #WalkQueen closes the street to cars every weekend throughout the summer, and the Friday-night Hespeler Village Market features a mix of produce, artisans and live music.    

Downtown Elmira BIA   

Arthur St. and Church St. frame this small-town core, with most storefronts grouped around the Gore Park intersection. The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival draws tens of thousands each April, and the self-guided Elmira Art Walk exhibits murals and sculptures throughout the year.    

St. Jacob’s Village BIA   

The St. Jacobs Village BIA follows King St. N. and Front St. between Cedar St. and Henry St. Tourists and locals alike flock to the twinkling St. Jacobs Sparkles nights in November and return for the village-wide Sidewalk Sale every June.   

Belmont Village BIA  

The unofficial BIA of midtown, the Belmont Village BIA runs down Belmont Ave. from Union Boulevard to Glasgow St. The Belmont Village Bestival turns the street into a two-day art-and-music fair each September, and A Holly Jolly Village decks the avenue for holiday shopping in late November.  

From St. Jacobs’ Sparkles nights to Uptown’s light-art takeover, every BIA shares the same goal: to turn a quick errand into a reason to linger.   

#AlexKinsella #belmontVillageBia #BIA #bloorStreetWest #downtownCambridge #downtownCambridgeBia #downtownElmira #DowntownKitchener #hespelerVillage #Ontario #PrestonTowneCentre #queensPark #stJacobsVillageBia #uptownWaterlooBusinessImprovementArea #WalkQueen #waterlooRegion

Kitchener Celebrate Erick Traplin Day

The City of Kitchener is recognizing 35 years of music and memories the first Erick Traplin Day on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The free event at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener celebrates the contributions of one of Waterloo Region’s favourite children’s entertainers, featuring live performances, special guests and games.  

Having a day named after him was not something Traplin ever expected when he began his musical career 35 years ago. Originally from Owen Sound, Traplin and his family moved to Kitchener in 1961. Traplin grew up in a musical family and played guitar and sang from an early age.  

After graduating from school, Traplin worked as a sewing machine mechanic at the La-Z-Boy factory in Waterloo. He said while it was a good job, he knew his life had more purpose.  

“I worked in construction and factory work for many years, but then I finally took a Tony Robbins course and realized what I really wanted to do was be an entertainer. It was a very deep epiphany. That’s what I wanted to do, and, by golly, within three months, I was doing it,” he said. 

While a career as a musician was the goal, Traplin said he had not planned on becoming a children’s and family entertainer. 

“I was gonna do the pub set. I joined the musician’s union, and when they called me, they said, ‘We got you a Christmas show for kids.’ You don’t get anywhere by saying no. So, I said yes and did the show, and I loved it,” Traplin said. 

With a career spanning over 35 years, Traplin said he sees familiar faces in the crowd. 

“I see more moms and dads getting up and dancing with their kids now because I played for them when they were kids,” he said.  

One of those kids who has grown into an adult fan is Merrin Manser, an event coordinator with the City of Kitchener.  

“My mom used to bring me to events like KidsPark and out to the Blue Moon. I’d sit there and eat my chicken fingers and wait for him to pay ‘Bubbles.’ Erick even played at one of my birthday parties,” Manser said. 

The opportunity to help plan out the day is something Manser is excited about taking on. 

“Erick is the first person that comes up every single time we start talking about family entertainment. He is a staple of the community, and this is a chance to celebrate the legacy of everything he’s done over the last 36 years,” she said. 

Manser planned the event with Traplin’s wife, Ruth, as a surprise for the musician. 

“I was overwhelmed. I’ve been playing for almost 36 years in the community and didn’t expect it,” Traplin said. 

In addition to planning the event with Ruth Traplin, Manser noted that the event also received assistance from other municipalities in the Waterloo Region. The partners include City of Cambridge, City of Waterloo, Kitchener Blues Festival, Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, Sherwood Systems and the Township of Wilmot. 

“This is one of the first events where we’re coming together with all these groups that have worked with Erick over the years. From a planning perspective, it’s been great to work together with all our partners to make this day possible,” Manser said. 

Erick Traplin Day may be a celebration of music, but, for Traplin, the magic is in the lives that his music has changed. 

“I always take joy in watching the kids. I say I’ve got the best seat in the house because I get to see the kids’ faces, and I see them jumping up and down and having a good time. It’s joyful,” Traplin said. 

#AlexKinsella #CarlZehrSquare #Christmas #CityOfCambridge #CityOfKitchener #erickTraplin #erickTraplinDay #factory #MerrinManser #multiculturalCentre #music #musician #owenSound #ruthTraplin #spanning #tonyRobbins #waterlooRegion

WATERLOO’S COMEDY STAR, ASHWYN SINGH

Ashwyn Singh’s Oct.19, 2024 show at Den 1880 in Uptown Waterloo was a bit of a homecoming for the Toronto based comedian. 

Originally from New Delhi, India, Singh attended the University of Waterloo, where he earned a degree in computer science before switching careers to comedy.

Singh came from New Delhi India to attend the University of Waterloo. He earned a degree in computer science before making a switch to comedy. Singh has received praise across Canada for his Audacity comedy tour, including that of fellow Canadian comic Howie Mandel. 

“You deserve a huge career beyond being a local Canadian comic. I think you’re next,” said the Canada’s Got Talent judge after Singh’s audition on the show’s Apr. 27, 2024, episode. 

Singh’s tour wraps up later this year, but he is not taking time off. His next tour starts in Toronto on Nov. 22, 2024, and across Canada, Europe and India in 2025. 

“I start with a show in Toronto before I go on tour, and then I end with one in Toronto when the tour ends because it feels like home. Then December is a big experiment. So, I’m going to go to London, Amsterdam and Dubai,” he said. 

Singh builds his comedy around his experiences of immigrating to Canada, attending university and becoming a permanent resident. He does not change the material based on where he is performing. Instead, he likes to see how different people react to his comedy.  

“I feel like we are all one people. We all have the same sensibility. Of course, there will be just a few things because the cultures differ,” Singh said. 

While Singh calls Toronto home now, he said his experiences in Waterloo significantly shaped his comedy. His friends here included future Good Co. Productions founder Amit Mehta and Jazz Room sound engineer Jeremy Bernard. 

“I used to sneak into the Jazz Room because Jeremy was usually doing sound. I would sit next to him at the sound board, and when I graduated three years later, the Jazz Room was the first place I headlined a show,” he said. 

A career change from computer science to comedy might seem dramatic for most people. But for Singh, computer science and comedy both require a core understanding of how logic works, whether in a computer processor or a comedy club. 

“Everything you do prepares you for everything you’re going to do. Computer science is essentially the study of logic and mathematics. It’s very A plus B. That math is reflected in art as well. Comedy has a rhythm. It might not have a melody, it might not have harmony, but there is a rhythm. There is a beat,” he said. 

For Singh, that logical flow of comedy writing helps him reflect on what he experienced. He said each show follows the same evolution from raw experiences to laugh-inducing stories with twists, turns, and humor for his audiences.  

Singh compared joke writing to keeping a journal where you make an entry the moment something annoying or angering happens to you. He said writing at that moment captures pure emotion, but it often does not make sense when you reread it later. 

“You have something raw and truthful but don’t know exactly what you were trying to say. Then you read it again,” he said.    “[…] slowly, the idea becomes more complete. You get to edit out the parts of your emotion that are too incendiary and add humour. You get to zoom out a little bit, so the finished sculpted product often has a very different feeling or says something very different than what you began with,” Singh said.

Building his sets this way can often change the intention of the original joke.  

“Sometimes it’s true to the initial intention, and then sometimes it has changed into something so drastically different from what you began with that you don’t even like it anymore. One thing I know for sure is that at the end, the hour is far funnier than it was at the beginning, and that is the one of the goals of the tour.” 

You can experience Singh’s comedy when he returns to Waterloo in March 2025. Visit www.ashwyn.me to sign up for tour updates.

#AlexKinsella #AshwynSingh #CanadaSGotTalent #comedy #ComedyTour #Delhi #HowieMandel #India #LocalArtist #localComedian #RamyArida #universityOfWaterloo #UniversityOfWaterlooAlumni

ROOKIE + ACE OPENS AS NEW MULTI-SPORT FACILITY FOR PLAYERS OF ALL LEVELS  

https://communityedition.ca/rookie-ace-opens-as-new-multi-sport-facility-for-players-of-all-levels/

#AlexKinsella #athletics #CindyEadie #DaveKlassen #DerekObermeyer #multiSport #padel #pickleball #RookieAce #sports #TheZoneTraining

WORDS WORTH BOOKS CELEBRATES 40TH ANNIVERSARY

https://communityedition.ca/words-worth-books-celebrates-40th-anniversary/

#AlexKinsella #Anniversary #Books #ChuckErion #DavidWorsley #independentBookstore #JoanDidion #KatarinaWex #localBusiness #localBusinesses #MandyBrouse #smallBusiness #TheWhiteAlbum #TikTok #TriciaSiemens #uptown #uptownWaterloo #waterloo #waterlooRegion #WordsWorthBooks