#waterlooregion — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #waterlooregion, aggregated by home.social.
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Any way you slice it, it's amore!
Local chefs turning their skills so pizza is not so humble a pie with scratchmade doughs and artisanal ingredients.
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ROAMING THE REGION: ONTARIO SUMMER GAMES TO TAKE OVER WATERLOO REGION
Oftentimes, when we think of travel, we think of physically going elsewhere. There are other types of travel too. This column aims to demonstrate the joy in hyperlocal or backyard travel. There is also a third type of travel we have not yet discussed: when the world travels to you and you become the host.
From July 30 to Aug. 2, 2026, young athletes, their families and coaches from […]
https://www.communityedition.ca/roaming-the-region-ontario-summer-games-to-take-over-waterloo-region/ -
BIRDING HOTSPOTS IN WATERLOO REGION
If there’s one thing birders enjoy, it’s listing things–including their favourite destinations for birdwatching. In that spirit, here are just a few of my personal favourites located right here in our Waterloo Region.
Laurel Creek Conservation Area
A good trek through even a portion of this regional treasure’s 300 hectares may take longer than planned for, given […]
https://www.communityedition.ca/birding-hotspots-in-waterloo-region/ -
The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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The Kitchener Public Library Must Be Protected - RobertElderSoftware #kitchener #kwawesome #kitchenerwaterloo #waterlooregion
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#BikeNite A3a: It's common practice in #WaterlooRegion to give a friendly ding on your bell when approaching pedestrians from behind. Some people acknowledge the ding by waving, or moving right, or even saying "Thanx for ringing!" But others ignore it completely, and often they have earbuds in. Don't know if the earbuds are noise cancelling, or if the noise coming out is simply too loud.
Ringing your bell for pedestrians is even on signs put up by the Region.
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#BikeNite A1: Posting from #WaterlooRegion again.
I haven't really had any cases of mistaken identity, but I'm surprised at the cases of correct identity. Even when I'm cycling in a city of 500,000 I regularly run into people I know, both cyclists and pedestrians. With that many people, what are the chances?
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The annual Vélo Canada Bikes Pedal poll is happening again!
"Canadian communities are seeing a surge in micromobility, creating both opportunities and challenges for planners, governments, industry and users. To capture a snapshot of these diverse travel modes, we are launching a new micromobility count taking place over five days between June 2nd and 7th, 2026.”
Help make this a success here in Waterloo Region!
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On today's CKMS #CommunityConnections has Larry Larson of the Grand River Jazz Society and Artistic Advisor for The Jazz Room. Listen to @[email protected] at CKMS-FM 102.7, online at radiowaterloo.ca/listen/ or YouTube Live: youtu.be/BOgy5QnHYmw #WaterlooRegion #CommunityRadio #TheJazzRoom
Listen Live | CKMS-FM 102.7 Ra... -
Tonight at 8:00pm (EDT) at @kwlug I'm giving a presentation on #LibreTime, radio scheduling and automation software we use at @radiowaterloo.ca
If all goes well, there will be a live simulcast on CKMS-FM 102.7 Radio Waterloo. Tune in!
https://radiowaterloo.ca/hyos-libretime-demonstration-at-the-kw-linux-user-group/
New location to be announced!
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#BikeNite A1: Joining a day late from #WaterlooRegion - spent Friday at the dentist, and spent BikeNite with a new hole in my head.
I have several bike lights with AA, AAA, and C batteries (and incandescent lamps!) and one LED light with a non-replaceable battery that charges through a USB port. I also have a new dynamo and front/back lights with more incandescent bulbs. I think they were gifts from my uncle decades ago. This year I'll get them mounted on my bike!
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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Kitchener Ontario Canada 8K | Breathtaking Cinematic Drone Tour 2026
This is delightfully cheeseball. Some dubious voiceover, strange choices of driving routes and ridiculous music, but there are some nice drone shots. And I don't get downtown nearly as much as I used to, so it's nice to see what's changed.
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#BikeNite A7: For #WaterlooRegion Cycling Superstar I'd like to nominate Mark Connolly @uxMark who has brought us @CyclingGuide
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#BikeNite A5: I don't know of any cycling shows in or near #WaterlooRegion. Last year there was a #BikeFest in June which has the potential for growing into a cycling show; I'd like to see that.
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#BikeNite A2a: In #WaterlooRegion we have #RecycleCycles *and* #RedRaccoonBikeRescue. Both recycle hardware and teach DIY, but neither has the facilities to build a frame. I took a welding class when I was still in school, and I've always wanted to build a tall bike, or a long bike, or a rail-trike or rail-quad. Still on the Bucket List.
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#BikeNite A1: Finally back in #WaterlooRegion on SaturdayNite.
I knew Wednesday was Earth Day, and did see many people out on bikes, but Correlation != Causation.
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Cycling from Toronto to Waterloo [143 km]
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HgQCR0UOKnA
"I had it in my head that Waterloo was close to Toronto for some reason. It's not."
#Waterloo #UWaterloo #WaterlooRegion -
Rally to Stop Hospital Privatization at Waterloo Public Square at Noon on Saturday, 25 April 2026
- What: Rally to Stop Hospital Privatization
- When: Noon to 1:30pm on Saturday, 25 April 2026
- Where: Waterloo Public Square
- Location: 75 King Street South Map
- Online: https://waterloohealthcoalition.org/health-outcomes/updated-rally-agenda/
- Contact: [email protected]
- Phone: Jim Stewart +1‑519‑588‑5841
Agenda
- Protest Start: 12:00 noon
- Opening Remarks and Introductions: 12:00 – 12:15, Jim Stewart, Chair WRHC
- Keynote Speaker: 12:15 – 12:30, Catherine Fife NDP MPP introduces Marit Stiles MPP and Leader of the Opposition
- Keynote Speaker: 12:30 – 12:45, Adil Shamji MPP and Liberal Health Critic
- Keynote Speaker: 12:45 – 13:00, Aislinn Clancy MPP, Green Party, Kitchener Centre
- Closing Remarks: 13:00 – 13:10, Jim Stewart
Since the inception of public hospitals in Ontario, no government has undertaken privatization like this.The Ford government has announced almost $300 million for 61 new private surgical and diagnostic clinics. By Ford’s own numbers, this will redirect 1.2 million patients away from public hospitals. This is truly unprecedented privatization of our public hospitals’ core services.
While pouring our public money into more expensive for-profit clinics and hospitals, our local public hospitals have been pushed into deficit by the Ford government.
Our hospitals are not theirs to privatize
This is the first in a series of protests across Ontario to send a clear message that we will not let them privatize our public hospitals. Experience shows, if we can mount enough pressure we can stop Ford’s privatization.
Our goal is to inspire 10,000 Ontarians to come out. Let’s make a show of opposition that is equal to the threat.
Everyone who can join in matters.
Please note that our protests against hospital privatization are separate from the Fight Ford protests that are not organized by us.
Stay tuned for dates & locations in the fall.
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We are proud of the difference we make and we hope you are too. This work is only made possible by people who care like you. Please do become a member or donate. It matters!If you can, please donate or become a member.
Ontario Health Coalition, PO Box 113, North York, Ontario, M3C 2R6 | T: +1‑416‑441‑2502
#WaterlooPublicSquare #WaterlooRegionHealthCoalition #WaterlooRegion #wrhc -
This week's column is a meet the maker with Sachin Kumar, executive chef at Uptown Waterloo's Trio. Found out more about him, his favourite places, and he answered my 10-question Proust-inspired questionnaire.
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Holy shit, they sent me a phone book.
It's very thin.
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I walked into the station and these lovely gentlemen were here, rehearsing. Love the Twin City Harmonizers! They’re celebrating their 80th anniversary!
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A little later than usual (a not lovely migraine had me in a dark room all day).
We're in the final stretch of the first Taste of Maple Trail by Explore WaterlooRegion. I chatted with 4 of the 21 restaurants involved who are showcasing how this favourite local harvest can be used as more than a pancake topping.
#WaterlooRegion #MapleSyrup #Agriculture #Restaurants #Food #Drink
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A little later than usual (a not lovely migraine had me in a dark room all day).
We're in the final stretch of the first Taste of Maple Trail by Explore WaterlooRegion. I chatted with 4 of the 21 restaurants involved who are showcasing how this favourite local harvest can be used as more than a pancake topping.
#WaterlooRegion #MapleSyrup #Agriculture #Restaurants #Food #Drink
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Knox Waterloo and the Waterloo Concert Band present:
Tutti 2026: All Together Now
a short, accessible concert for everyoneSunday April 12, 2pm
Knox Waterloo (Erb and Caroline Streets)Free admission
https://waterlooband.com for details
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Knox Waterloo and the Waterloo Concert Band present:
Tutti 2026: All Together Now
a short, accessible concert for everyoneSunday April 12, 2pm
Knox Waterloo (Erb and Caroline Streets)Free admission
https://waterlooband.com for details
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Knox Waterloo and the Waterloo Concert Band present:
Tutti 2026: All Together Now
a short, accessible concert for everyoneSunday April 12, 2pm
Knox Waterloo (Erb and Caroline Streets)Free admission
https://waterlooband.com for details
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Knox Waterloo and the Waterloo Concert Band present:
Tutti 2026: All Together Now
a short, accessible concert for everyoneSunday April 12, 2pm
Knox Waterloo (Erb and Caroline Streets)Free admission
https://waterlooband.com for details
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Knox Waterloo and the Waterloo Concert Band present:
Tutti 2026: All Together Now
a short, accessible concert for everyoneSunday April 12, 2pm
Knox Waterloo (Erb and Caroline Streets)Free admission
https://waterlooband.com for details
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This past Monday, marked the 2nd anniversary of my first food column for CBC-KW! Celebrated by getting breakfast at Poppy’s after today’s column.
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FOR THE BIRDING BEGINNER
Given that birding is one of the world’s fastest-growing leisure activities, it is safe to assume that a few of you out there are toying with the idea of lacing up the Timberlands and heading to the nearest nature trail in search of our feathered friends. Like any journey into the unknown, those first few steps are often the hardest. Fortunately, as someone who recently embraced the birding […]
https://www.communityedition.ca/for-the-birding-beginner/ -
FOR THE BIRDING BEGINNER
Given that birding is one of the world’s fastest-growing leisure activities, it is safe to assume that a few of you out there are toying with the idea of lacing up the Timberlands and heading to the nearest nature trail in search of our feathered friends. Like any journey into the unknown, those first few steps are often the hardest. Fortunately, as someone who recently embraced the birding life, I am uniquely qualified to address some of the questions you may have.
What do I need to start my new life as a birder?
I began with a borrowed pair of binoculars, an old camera and a guidebook found in a used bookstore. Just be sure that, when you go looking for your first guidebook, it’s a recent edition. Our ongoing demolition of the natural world means older versions may have outdated information regarding things like migration ranges and the status of certain species—if your guidebook describes the Whooping Crane as ‘common’, for example, keep shopping. Should you eventually reach the hardcore birder stage, you can invest in a big-ass scope that lets you count the spots on a Spotted Sandpiper from a kilometre away.
Can I just use my camera for starters?
Absolutely: as long as it has a decent zoom lens. A Google search of your photo usually provides an accurate identification, though I find it much more fun and rewarding to cross-reference shots with my guidebook to solve each new mystery. Even to spot birds, I relied heavily on my idiot-proof SLR camera for the first few years while mastering the skill of seeing through my binoculars.
What about fancy tech tools?
There are plenty of online resources and apps available to accelerate your birding learning curve. Being somewhat old school, however, the only two I use are the eBird website and the Merlin app. The former allows you to save lists and check out what others are spotting at countless birding ‘hotspots’. The Merlin app makes identifying species far easier with tools like sound ID that instantly identifies all the birds within earshot. I’ve always used Merlin sparingly, however, as I enjoy putting in the hard work of learning how to identify species without any shortcuts.
What’s been your most valuable birding resource?
That one’s easy: other, smarter birders. And when you’re a novice, every other birder is smarter. Fortunately, you won’t find a nicer, more helpful community than the bird crowd. My opening line when approaching other birders has always been ‘Seen anything interesting?’ It gets the conversation started, while also allowing me to gather valuable information without sounding like a moron.
Do I need a Tilley hat?
My filthy Blue Jay cap worked fine until I upgraded to my cheap Tilley rip-off. The key is to slather sunblock on all your exposed skin like you’re buttering toast. A good pair of water-resistant hiking boots and a few UV-resistant shirts are also worth looking into.
Is Waterloo Region good for birding?
While not necessarily the sexiest of Ontario’s birding destinations—that would be Point Pelee in May—our own backyard has plenty to offer. In just the last few years of poking about natural escapes within the Tri-Cities, I’ve spotted 145 different species. Next month I’ll be sharing some of my favourite local birding haunts. Until then, I urge you to set up your free eBird account, click the ‘Explore’ button, type in ‘Waterloo Region’ and voila! You’ll have lots of local hotspots to check out now.
What can I expect to see?
The list is too long to cover here, but our region’s combination of forested trails and wetlands makes it ideal for a wide variety of species that stay here year-round or migrate through during spring and fall. In a brief visit to Columbia Lake last June, I spotted two Bald Eagles, a Great Egret and a Great Blue Heron, a Solitary Sandpiper, a Belted Kingfisher hunting for its breakfast, several Red-winged Blackbirds, plus an entire assortment of sparrows, flycatchers and other smaller birds.
Now that I’ve answered enough of your questions to get you started on that first birding adventure, it’s all up to you. So, get off your butt, pull on your boots and go find yourself a Pileated! (Look it up; it’s in the woodpecker section of your almost-new guidebook.)
#bird #birding #BrianSmith #fancy #Hobbies #kitchener #Nature #photography #tech #timberlands #Tools #trail #Walking #waterloo #waterlooRegion -
Film Screening: My Friend Omar at KW Little Theatre at 6:30pm Thursday 9 April 2026
- What: Film Screening: My Friend Omar: The Struggles of a Seasonal Worker
- Presented by: Amnesty Canada Group Nine
- When: 6:30pm to 8:30pm, Thursday 9 April 2026
- Where: KW Little Theatre
- Location: 9 Princess Street East, Waterloo, Ontario Map
- Online: https://www.amnestywaterlooregion.org/2026/03/film-screening-discussion-my-friend.html
- Contact: [email protected]
On Thursday 9 April 2026 Amnesty Group 9 will be screening the documentary film My Friend Omar: The Struggles of a Seasonal Worker at KW Little Theatre. The event will begin at 6:30pm and will include a discussion of the film’s topic: Canada’s Temporary Foreign Worker Program. The film is 60 minutes long. The screening will be free to attend and snacks will be provided.
Following the screening there will be an opportunity to sign a relevant petition and letter to your local MP.
Synopsis of the film: “My Friend Omar: The struggles of a Seasonal Worker” follows Québécois-Chilean actor Christian de la Cortina, who, while preparing for his role as Sandro in “5e rang,” forms a friendship with Omar, a seasonal Guatemalan worker. This documentary unveils the persistent abuses some workers experience, exposing the shortcomings of the system. It also highlights Omar’s solidarity and fight for justice, representing the voice of often invisible workers.
Please share this event with your networks and join us Thursday April 9 for the screening of My Friend Omar. There are two posters attached below to assist in promoting the event. Any questions regarding the event should be sent to [email protected].
#AmnestyInternationalCanada #Group9 #GroupNine #WaterlooRegion -
Yup, https://kitchener.ca/ is broken for me in exactly the same way.
Note that I'm running #uBlockOrigin (adblocker). I'm not about to turn it off for the likes of them.
And I know of no #Fediverse presence for any local municipality.
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Hello everyone at #CoSocial (and beyond)! Time for an #introduction as we’ve migrated here.
We're a cycling advocacy group in Waterloo Region, Ontario.
In addition to our advocacy work, we're proud to have worked on the initial release of the @CyclingGuide mobile app to get it working for Waterloo people.
We're in the Fediverse to let our community know what we're up to, but also to connect with like-minded groups elsewhere!
Posts/toots here are by @uxMark
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I find myself at a point where I'm encountering irreconcilable differences between my moral, ethical, and technical objections to the use of LLMs, and my employer's leadership's desire to force the use of LLMs into every aspect of day to day operations. As a result, I find myself #OpenToWork .
I have decades of experience in the #SysAdmin / #SRE / #DevOps / #CICD / #CloudComputing range of skills. Currently acting as a subject matter expert on #Kubernetes , #Terraform , and #Observability . Mostly supporting #GCP platforms these days, but I am comfortable pivoting to other #cloud platforms like #AWS or even #OnPrem . Can do #ProjectManagement and #TeamLeadership. Experienced in #DevSecOps and #FedRAMP processes.
I would strongly prefer to deal with no LLM tooling at all, but will settle for having to use it less than in the current environment.
Location: #Canada (remote), #WaterlooRegion (Ontario) (hybrid).
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Stopped off at Kitchener’s ForeQuarter to snap a pic for this week’s column. They’re doing food three or four days/week. Today’s is the smashburger with cheese.
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I hope you'll be enwraped by the deliciousness found in these local sandwich shops
The lowly sandwich gets elevated as local chefs putting some mighty fine twists on what goes between the slices.
Local ingredients, house-cured meats, and globally-inspired flavour pairings are sure to make these heroes for breakfast, lunch and supper.
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Waterloo Region Health Coalition Rally at The Hon. Bardish Chagger’s Office at 1pm on Monday 16 March 2026
- What: Day of Action for Public Health Care
- When: 1:00pm on Monday 16 March 2026
- Where: Outside the Hon. Bardish Chagger’s office
- Location: 100 Regina Street, Waterloo, Ontario Map
- Online: https://waterloohealthcoalition.org/quality-of-health-care/march-16-day-of-action-for-public-health-care/
- Contact: [email protected]
- Phone: Jim Stewart +1‑519‑588‑5841
DAY OF ACTION
Dear Public Health Care defenders:
On Monday, 16 March 2026, people across Canada will rally outside the offices of their local Liberal Members of Parliament. The nationwide Day of Action warns public health care for all in Canada is under unprecedented threat and calls on the federal government to enforce the Canada Health Act. Health Coalitions have invited the Liberal MPs to join the event, speak to participants, support the fightback against privatization, and commit to bring this issue back to their caucus in Ottawa as a priority. The rally is outside the office of the Hon. Bardish Chagger, Liberal MP.
1:00pm on Monday, 16 March 2026 at 100 Regina Street, Waterloo, Ontario
Who: Jim Stewart, Chair, Waterloo Region Health Coalition
Invited Speakers:
- Bardish Chagger MP
- Tim Louis MP
- Aislinn Clancy MPP
- Catherine Fife MPP
Bring highly visible banners and signs!
Alberta’s Danielle Smith government has launched an unprecedented frontal assault on the Canada Health Act to end single tier Public Medicare & bring in U.S. private health care. The law brings in private for-profit health insurance, direct billing of patients, queue jumping for those who can afford it pushing everyone else back in line, workplace private health insurance plans and more. It is not “like” U.S. style health care. It is U.S. private health care, and for-profit health care interests are lined up to cash in.
Closer to home, Ontario’s Premier Doug Ford is privatizing public hospitals and is allowing private clinics to charge patients thousands for needed care. By the government’s own numbers, their latest set of private clinics (some of which are essentially hospitals, a number of which are chain owned) aim to redirect 1.2 million patients away from public hospitals. While the government is giving hundreds of millions more to private clinics, it has pushed the majority of public hospitals into deficit in a direct transfer of public resources. Patients are already being charged more than $4,000 per eye in the private cataract surgery clinics that Ford brought in, in violation of our medicare protection laws.
The Health Coalitions are calling on the federal government to:
- Tell Alberta’s Danielle Smith government that its health care privatization scheme contravenes the Canada Health Act and they will face a dollar-for-dollar clawback of federal health care funding if they proceed.
- Require that Ontario stop private clinics from charging patients for medically needed care. The Canada Health Act prohibits user fees and extra-billing of patients, including direct and indirect charges. Thus, no private clinic can require payment for medically unnecessary things (such as extra lenses that do not have anything to do with cataracts) in order to get the medically needed service (such as cataract surgery). Selling queue-jumping for those who have the thousands of dollars available to pay contravenes the requirement that all Canadians have access to health care based on medical need not wealth.
- Ensure that the carve-out of public health care in Canada under trade agreements will protect the rest of the country if Alberta contravenes the Act. Right now, we all risk losing public health care to U.S.for-profit insurance corporations if Alberta persists.
For more information: Jim Stewart +1‑519‑588‑5841 or [email protected]
#WaterlooRegion #WaterlooRegionHealthCoalition #wrhc -
Ah! The Adventurers Guild has Synth Night on Mondays. I hope to be hanging out there a few times with local duo R&D who will be broadcasting their set live on @radiowaterloo.ca
https://radiowaterloo.ca/rd-live-from-the-adventurers-guild/
Don't know if they'll be broadcasting this Monday, tho.
#AdventurersGuild #RadioWaterloo #CommunityRadio #WaterlooRegion
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REGION INVESTS $15.1 MILLION TOWARD WATER CAPACITY ISSUE
The Region of Waterloo is hurrying to install a $15.1 million temporary plug into a water capacity crisis that effectively hung a “Closed for Business” sign over one of Canada’s fastest-growing tech hubs.
The Region of Waterloo council has approved using more than $15 million in capital funding to pay for a project that could offer a short-term solution to the ongoing water capacity issues. The project involves H2O Innovation Inc., a water and wastewater treatment company based in Oakville, installing three temporary ultrafiltration containers, each with an estimated flow rate of 50 litres per second, at the Mannheim Water Treatment Plant.
The Region of Waterloo relies heavily on groundwater for its municipal drinking water supply and regularly monitors for contaminants, including per- and polyfluoroalkyl (PFAS) such as perfluorooctanesulfonic acid (PFOS) and perfluorooctanoic acid (PFOA). These “forever chemicals” have been detected in water systems across Canada and are subject to Health Canada drinking water guidelines.
As regulatory standards evolve and monitoring continues, the Region evaluates treatment options to ensure drinking water remains safe and meets provincial and federal requirements. Granular activated carbon (GAC) filtration is a recognized method for reducing PFAS concentrations and is one of the technologies commonly considered by water utilities when addressing these compounds.
The urgency of the situation was discussed during a recent community meeting. Kevin Thomason, vice-chair of the Grand River Environmental Network, warned that the system is running on a razor-thin margin.
“If there’s a water main break or something that may take out five per cent or ten per cent of our supply…that suddenly means taps are going dry and people aren’t getting service or a hospital isn’t getting water or a fire hydrant isn’t getting water,” Thomason said.
“So, we certainly don’t want to be running so close to our capacity,” he said.
The Waterloo Region staff members explain that any delays in approval could result in significant subsequent delays to project completion, which looks to regain lost capacity at that plant. They are seeking approvals before a detailed design gets completed.
The project costs will be included in the 2026 capital budget and funded through the Water Capital Reserve Fund.
The current-year costs of this project are significantly higher in the report presented to regional council at the Special Regional Council Meeting held on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026, compared to the projections detailed in a report from late January 2026. At that time, when the council was presented with a variety of potential options, the current-year impact on the capital budget was $2 million.
Projections for the total project cost remained around $16 million. The $2 million price for engineering services and $2.5 million for electrical work are preliminary estimates.
Beyond the immediate infrastructure bottleneck, a sedimentation capacity constraint at the Mannheim plant has choked the water supply by 300 litres per second, which revealed deeper concerns regarding the Waterloo Moraine.
Regional Councillor Joe Nowak plans to introduce a blue belt motion to provide permanent provincial protection for the Moraine’s high volume recharge areas (HVRAs). These specific, porous sections of land are the primary sponges that refill the region’s aquifers and the motion aims to shield them from urban sprawl to prevent long-term water depletion.
“We really need to look at this in conjunction with solving the capacity issue,” Nowak said. “Advocacy doesn’t have to be negative…we have this issue, we’re probably not going to be the only groundwater source community that has this issue.”
As the region pivots to this emergency implementation, Kenneth Brothers officially joined the Region on Feb. 23, 2026, as the Interim Commissioner of Water Services and Wastewater Operations. An internationally recognized professional engineer and a Fellow of the International Water Association, Brothers is tasked with overseeing the immediate repairs and fast-tracking the infrastructure upgrades needed to restore development capacity.
“Yes, we had a plan… but as with a lot of things, I think what we’re all seeing is there’s no holistic infrastructure plan that accompanies all of these things,” Brothers said.
During a Grand River Watershed community meeting on Feb. 6, 2026 regarding the impacts of Bill 23, experts discussed whether the region could simply tap into deep bedrock aquifers, which are water-bearing rock layers found deeply buried below the surface, to solve the water capacity issue.
Hydrogeologist Michael Friend and aquatic ecologist Jack Imhoff cautioned that this water is fundamentally different from the fresh, rain-fed “sponge” of the Waterloo Moraine.
Because this deep water resides in the Salina Formation, a prehistoric underground rock layer composed of ancient sea salt and gypsum, it absorbed extreme levels of salt over millennia. While technically fixable through desalination, the process is prohibitively expensive and produces a massive amount of toxic brine waste that the Region has no safe way to dispose of without damaging the watershed the meeting sought to protect.
“I look forward to joining the Region of Waterloo as we navigate through this pivotal moment,” Brothers said, emphasizing his commitment to “long-term water sustainability” for a population projected to reach one million by 2051.
#closedForBusiness #grandRiverWatershed #kennethBrothers #michaelFriend #PFAS #PFOA #PFOS #RegionOfWaterloo #SangjunHan #temporary #urgency #waterCapitalResearveFund #waterlooRegion -
#BikeNite A1: Posting from #WaterlooRegion, a nice mix of an urban core (the cities of #Kitchener, #Waterloo, and #Cambridge), surrounded by four rural townships, #Woolwich, #Wellesley, #Wilmot, and #NorthDumfries.
Some of the best cycle paths (the #TransCanadaTrail f'rinstance) pass right by, or through, farmland.
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#BikeNite A1: Posting from #WaterlooRegion, a nice mix of an urban core (the cities of #Kitchener, #Waterloo, and #Cambridge), surrounded by four rural townships, #Woolwich, #Wellesley, #Wilmot, and #NorthDumfries.
Some of the best cycle paths (the #TransCanadaTrail f'rinstance) pass right by, or through, farmland.
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#BikeNite A1: Posting from #WaterlooRegion, a nice mix of an urban core (the cities of #Kitchener, #Waterloo, and #Cambridge), surrounded by four rural townships, #Woolwich, #Wellesley, #Wilmot, and #NorthDumfries.
Some of the best cycle paths (the #TransCanadaTrail f'rinstance) pass right by, or through, farmland.