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The CKMS Newsroom works to provide a deeper analysis of the issues that affect our communities, than that which the mainstream news sources provide. Read the most current stories at CKMS Community News. Contact the newsroom at news@radiowaterloo.ca
CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Local organization connects people to land so they can grow food and increase their food security

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Host: Leah Gerber

Food prices are top of mind for many people at the moment. Public Health Ontario describes food insecurity as not having enough income to afford healthy and adequate food. The Waterloo Region Community Garden Network is an organization that connects people with land so they can grow their own food and help stretch their dollars at the store. 

Radio Waterloo spoke with Doug Jones, the chair of the Network to talk about how people can increase their own food security, as well as how food security can be increased at a community level. Radio Waterloo also spoke with Gladys Rosana who gardens a quarter-acre plot at the Petersburg Community Garden with her husband about the reality of what it takes to grow much of the food they eat for the year themselves, and how this has impacted their food security. 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Dom Vallie, Kitchener native, nominated for the second time at the Juno Awards

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Host: Leah Gerber

Kitchener-raised rap artist, Dom Vallie, whose real name is Dominic Turton, has been nominated for the second time at the Canadian Juno Awards. This year, he’s been nominated for rap album of the year for his album, “See You When I See You.” Radio Waterloo spoke with Turton, who still resides in Kitchener, to hear more about how the city has influenced his music, how he came up with his stage name, what he’d be doing if it wasn’t music, and where he’s going next. Turton spoke about how the Kitchener-Waterloo community has been behind him from the start, and how his childhood experiences have influenced his music. 

Music sampled from single, “Show Me,” courtesy of Dom Vallie/Dominic Turton

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Police confirm human trafficking is on the rise in Waterloo Region

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Host: Leah Gerber

Waterloo Region is a hub for human trafficking, confirm police. The number of cases that the Waterloo Region Police Service Human Trafficking Unit investigate is growing each year, as well as the number of victims and people seeking help at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region’s Anti-Human Trafficking Program.

Radio Waterloo spoke with Detective Sergeant Jeff Merrigan with the WRPS Human Trafficking Unit and Lyndsey Butcher the director of care at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region to talk about the numbers they are seeing and what human trafficking looks like in Waterloo Region. Both say the community needs to come to terms with the reality of human trafficking in the Region, and that the problem needs to be confronted.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Region of Waterloo Public Health urging people and children to get vaccinated for measles as measles outbreak continues in Ontario

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Host: Leah Gerber

While no cases have been reported in Waterloo Region yet, a measles outbreak that started in October continues in Ontario. So far, over 200 cases have been reported in the province, double the number reported between 2013 and 2023 combined. This comes at the same time Waterloo Region Public Health staff released a notice stating that nearly 9,000 children in the region need to get their vaccination records up to date or face suspension in early April. 

Radio Waterloo spoke with David Aoki, the director of infectious disease and chief nursing officer for Region of Waterloo public health as well as Zahid Butt, assistant professor in the school of public health sciences at the university of waterloo and canada research chair in interdisciplinary research for pandemic preparedness to learn more about measles, and why people might be hesitant to vaccinate their children.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Many religions practice fasting, and a local Muslim group is hosting an event to talk about it

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Host: Leah Gerber

Fasting is the topic up for discussion at an upcoming multi-faith celebration at the Kitchener City Hall Rotunda this coming Sunday, March 9. The InterFaith and Multicultural Flavours of Iftar event includes a panel discussion on the role of fasting in various faiths featuring leaders from Muslim, Hindu, Christian and Jewish traditions. There will also be a discussion about how fasting and Iftar a celebrated during Ramadan around the world, the keynote speaker Imam Aizaz Khan of the Baitul Islam Mosque in Vaughan. The event is capped with a meal featuring local caterers showcasing food from cultures around the world. 

Radio Waterloo spoke with organizer Nabeel Rana and local Imam Fatir Mahmood Ahmad who is speaking on the panel, both of the local Ahmadiyya Muslim community that is hosting the event. They spoke about the importance of fasting for physical, moral and spiritual health, as well as their hopes the event will bring the community together. 

Anyone interested in learning more or attending the event is encouraged to connect with baitul.kareem.mosque@gmail.com

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

More affordable housing slated for downtown Kitchener, along with a new fire station

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Host: Leah Gerber

A new project is in the beginning stages to build a dual-purpose project in downtown Kitchener. The site at 450 and 470 King Street East is slated to be developed with both an affordable housing site and the city’s eighth fire station. 

Radio Waterloo spoke with Rosa Bustamante, director of planning and housing policy with the city, and Lori Trumper executive director of Kitchener Housing Inc, which will oversee the project, about some of the details 

While the project is still in it’s very early stages, Bustamante and Trumper say there will be about 150 units of mixed size and affordability. Bustamante says city staff are hopeful the project will begin construction in late 2026 or early 2027.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

A chat with Catherine Fife, NDP candidate and current seat holder for Waterloo’s riding

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Host: Leah Gerber

Radio Waterloo spoke with the candidates for the Waterloo riding as the 2025 Ontario provincial election, scheduled for February 27 draws closer. 

We’ll be releasing a series of four pieces, each highlighting our interview with one of the candidates. We’ve included the Ontario Liberal, NDP, Green and New Blue parties. The Ontario Progressive Conservative party did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. 

Today’s piece features the NDP candidate for the Waterloo riding, Catherine Fife. Fife has held Waterloo’s seat since 2012 and is in her fourth term as MPP.

Fife shared her thoughts on what she feels are the top issues in Waterloo, how she and her party plan to address them. She also spoke about what the tariff threats coming from the United States could mean for this community and her party’s stance on addressing them.

Other posts in the series:

Meet Shafaza Esmail, Green Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo’s provincial riding

Clayton Moore, Ontario Liberal Party Candidate for Waterloo Region wants less talk and more results for average Ontarians

Suja Biber, New Blue Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo Riding says she’s ready to deal with the root causes of Ontario’s problems, rather than scratching the surface

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

Suja Biber, New Blue Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo Riding says she’s ready to deal with the root causes of Ontario’s problems, rather than scratching the surface

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Host: Leah Gerber

Radio Waterloo spoke with the candidates for the Waterloo riding as the 2025 Ontario provincial election, scheduled for February 27 draws closer. 

We’ll be releasing a series of four pieces, each highlighting our interview with one of the candidates. We’ve included the Ontario Liberal, NDP, Green and New Blue parties. The Ontario Progressive Conservative party did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. 

Today’s piece features the New Blue Party of Ontario candidate for the Waterloo riding, Suja Biber. 

Biber has a background in physiotherapy, massage therapy and public administration, and previously served on the board of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. She values balancing professional work with giving back to her community.

Note: In her discussion of the local doctor shortage, Biber said there are about 40,000 to 60,000 people in Waterloo without access to a family doctor, but this number more closely corresponds to the rough statistic for Waterloo Region, which is 60,000 to 70,000. 

Note: The audio in this piece was edited to remove a portion saying Biber currently serves on the board of the College of Massage Therapists of Ontario. She no longer serves on this board.

Other pieces in the series:

A chat with Catherine Fife, NDP candidate and current seat holder for Waterloo’s riding

Clayton Moore, Ontario Liberal Party Candidate for Waterloo Region wants less talk and more results for average Ontarians

Meet Shefaza Esmail, Green Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo’s provincial riding

 

 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Clayton Moore, Ontario Liberal Party Candidate for Waterloo Region wants less talk and more results for average Ontarians

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Host: Leah Gerber

Radio Waterloo spoke with the candidates for the Waterloo riding as the 2025 Ontario provincial election, scheduled for February 27 draws closer. 

We’ll be releasing a series of four pieces, each highlighting our interview with one of the candidates. We’ve included the Ontario Liberal, NDP, Green and New Blue parties. The Ontario Progressive Conservative party did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. 

Today’s piece features the Ontario Liberal Party candidate for the Waterloo riding, Clayton Moore. Moore is a scientist and business professional focused on science communications and start-ups. 

Moore spoke about his take on the top issues in Waterloo, how he and the Ontario Liberals’ plan to address them. He also spoke about what the impact of potential tariffs coming from the United States could mean for Waterloo, and how his party would address these threats. 

Other pieces in the Series:

Suja Biber, New Blue Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo Riding says she’s ready to deal with the root causes of Ontario’s problems, rather than scratching the surface

 

A chat with Catherine Fife, NDP candidate and current seat holder for Waterloo’s riding

Meet Shefaza Esmail, Green Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo’s provincial riding

 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Meet Shefaza Esmail, Green Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo’s provincial riding

3 Comments

Host: Leah Gerber

Radio Waterloo spoke with the candidates for the Waterloo riding as the 2025 Ontario provincial election, scheduled for February 27 draws closer. 

We’ll be releasing a series of four pieces, each highlighting our interview with one of the candidates. We’ve included the Ontario Liberal, NDP, Green and New Blue parties. The Ontario Progressive Conservative party did not respond to repeated requests for an interview. 

Today’s piece features the Green Party of Ontario candidate for the Waterloo riding, Shefaza Esmail.

Esmail shared her thoughts on the top issues in Waterloo, how she and her party plan to address them, what the tariff threats coming from the United States could mean for this community and her party’s stance on addressing the tariffs.

Other posts in the series:

Suja Biber, New Blue Party of Ontario candidate for Waterloo Riding says she’s ready to deal with the root causes of Ontario’s problems, rather than scratching the surface

 

A chat with Catherine Fife, NDP candidate and current seat holder for Waterloo’s riding

Clayton Moore, Ontario Liberal Party Candidate for Waterloo Region wants less talk and more results for average Ontarians

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Cricket is so popular now in Waterloo Region, the cities are making a strategy to accommodate all the new players

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Host: Leah Gerber

Cricket has exploded in popularity in Waterloo Region in the last few years. So much so, staff with the cities of Cambridge, Waterloo and Kitchener are working together to create a regional cricket strategy so they can accommodate the needs of the booming cricket community. 

Cricket community members have responded saying they need more space to play, indoor facilities and lighting so they can get as many players playing as possible in the area. 

Radio Waterloo spoke with Giridhar Bannaravuri, the president of the Southern Ontario Cricket Association, an organization which facilitates cricket in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Stratford and Guelph, as well as Lisa Collins, the manager of sport development and golf for the city of Kitchener to hear more about the upcoming strategy and the needs of the cricket community. 

Excerpt from “SOCA 2024 Season _ KWC Cricket _ SOCA Gala 2024” used with permission from SOCA.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

A commercial meat cannery is opening in New Hamburg to ship tens of thousands of pounds of meat around the world

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Host: Leah Gerber

Food insecurity is a major issue around the world, and made worse by conflicts and natural disasters. The Mennonite Central Committee is an organization that provides relief for people impacted by these disasters. Part of that work is to send canned meat. To this end, the organization has opted to open a commercial grade meat cannery in New Hamburg with the aim to produce 50,000 cans, or about 90,000 pounds of meat in its first year. 

Radio Waterloo spoke with Michelle Brenneman, the Executive Director of MCC Ontario as well as volunteer Doug Wagner to hear more about the new cannery and what will be involved with its operation. 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

Airbnbs and Vrbo rentals are now limited in Waterloo

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Host: Leah Gerber

Short term rentals such as Airbnb or Vrbo rentals will now be limited to an owner’s principal residence in Waterloo. Waterloo city council voted unanimously earlier this month to this change as a response to complaints from neighbours about the rental units as well as to the ongoing housing crisis.

Radio Waterloo spoke with Waterloo mayor Dorothy McCabe for the reasoning for this change, as well as City of Kitchener Manager of Licensing Kristin VanDerGeld to ask if Kitchener staff and council are planning a similar move. 

Mayor McCabe said that city staff and council understand that people use short term rentals to supplement their income. She said that she still supports people doing this, but they need to do it in their primary residence, and that this move is an effort to find a balance so that other residents are not negatively impacted by someone’s rental property.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Seniors – a lot of them – are meeting up in Waterloo to talk about travel

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Host: Leah Gerber

Every other Friday afternoon anywhere from 120 to 180 people gather together at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex Community Pavilion to listen to a presentation about someone’s travel story.

The program has been meeting for well over ten years, and in the last few years has really begun to pick up steam with 2400 attendees in 2024.

Radio Waterloo spoke with Sarah Kelly, who organizes the program for the City of Waterloo, as well as long-time participant, volunteer host and presenter Rick Chambers to speak about the program and what exactly is drawing all these people together.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Gutsy farmers are taking on the challenge of re-invigorating the Canadian wool market

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Host: Leah Gerber

These days, most Canadians source their sweaters, socks, hats, mitts, blankets, and all the other things we use yarn and cloth for, from abroad. The textile industry was once a major part of Waterloo Region and across Canada, but it’s been globalized away. For many farmers, selling their fleece isn’t worth the cost of transporting it, so much of Canada’s fleece is thrown away or burned. 

But, there is a small contingent of people in Ontario joining in a movement to make their living in a local textile industry. This includes raising sheep or other fibre-bearing animals, processing their fleece, and selling new products.

Radio Waterloo spoke with Romy Schill, Lindsay Webber and Donna Hancock, all women who keep fibre animals and have blazed new trails to make products from Canadian wool.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

What Waterloo Region’s home buyers, sellers and renters need to know going in to 2025

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Host: Leah Gerber

Heading into 2025, the Region’s potential home buyers, sellers and renters are anxious to know what the outlook is for this year’s real estate market. Experts including Christal Moura of Cornerstone Association of Realtors and Anthony Passarelli of the Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation say the Bank of Canada’s recent decrease in interest rates means more buyers will be entering the market – hopefully helping the backlog of potential buyers who have been sharing homes or staying at home longer than intended finally buy a home. For renters, the recent federal cap on the number of international student permits will mean a decrease in demand for rental units. This, coupled with the increase of for-purpose rental units completed this year in the region will mean more choice, though not necessarily lower prices, for the region’s renters.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

No library? No problem. Kitchener Public Library and city staff co-launch a new library locker pilot

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Host: Leah Gerber

Starting this week, people can access the Kitchener Public Library’s resources through a library locker pilot program, with lockers located at Victoria Hills and Chandler Mowat community centres. The lockers function like mini library vending machines, with resources accessible for anyone with a library card number. If you residents don’t have a library card, they can sign up for one online – even through the community centre’s public computers – and instantly start using the library lockers with their new card number. The whole purpose is to bring libraries closer to neighbourhoods that are relatively further away from actual library branch locations, and make accessing library resources easier for everyone.

This episode features an interview with Megan Clare, Division Manager of Resources and Membership Services at Kitchener Public Library.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News 2025-01-07: City of Waterloo staff and council release the 2025 budget, announce 6.34 percent tax increase

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Host: Leah Gerber

The City of Waterloo staff published a press release last week announcing the confirmation of the 2025 budget and a 6.34 percent property tax increase. Waterloo staff and council determine the budget in three year increments, so this was a confirmation of a budget and tax increase that had been predetermined last year, says councillor and finance liaison Diane Freeman. Director of financial planning and asset management for the city, Brad Witzel explained how the average annual increase to each household is determined, as well as the city’s infrastructure funding gap of 39 million dollars.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Compelled to craft: more people turning to arts programming after the pandemic

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Host: Leah Gerber

Since the pandemic, recreation managers across Kitchener-Waterloo are noticing a sustained increase in the number of people participating consistently in arts and crafts programming. Radio Waterloo spoke with programming managers for the City of Waterloo, City of Kitchener and the Kitchener market, who all had similar observations: Whether it’s for seniors during the day, the general public in the evenings, or the delivery of solo crafting kits to peoples’ homes, more and more people across both cities seem drawn to taking up a craft in the last two years since programs started opening up after the pandemic. While some thought an interest in crafting might be temporary, the trend seems to be growing, not shrinking. 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Rink volunteers are needed at the City of Kitchener. If you can brave the cold, it might be for you.

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Host: Leah Gerber

There are about 25 neighbourhood rinks throughout Kitchener, and they are all run by volunteers who go out in the darkest and coldest time of night to keep the rinks clear and flooded. It’s not a glamorous job, but Chris Letizi, a volunteer rink coordinator for the rink at the Stanley Park Community Centre, says the role a rink plays in fostering community by providing a place for kids and families to get out and skate or for groups to play hockey, is worth it. He says finding volunteers willing to come out and do the work to keep the rinks operating is a problem all across the city and hopes more people will pitch in to share the load. Josh Joseph runs the Love My Hood program with the city and says the outdoor rink program is a decades-old program that could not run without volunteers.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Local student meal program and school sound alarm on inadequate budget for feeding hungry kids

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Host: Leah Gerber

Nutrition for Learning has been serving food to kids in Waterloo Region for about 30 years. This school year was the first they were unable to fill all the food needs of their schools. CEO Erin Moraghan says they need about twice the budget they have to meet the demand. 

Vanessa Haffner, an educational assistant and the volunteer coordinator for the program at Centennial Public School in Waterloo, speaks about her first-hand experience trying to stretch the budget to meet the need. She and principal Stephen Sherlock speak about the difference the food makes for the students and the program’s importance. 

Haffner says food insecurity in schools is a real issue that can go unseen by the larger community. “If you’re not within the school walls and seeing every day what our students are coming with for lunch, it’s easy to miss. And I think sometimes our community doesn’t realise how many students are coming to school feeling hungry.”

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Aberfoyle water bottling plant set to sell. Water advocates call it a win, mayor says its not

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Host: Leah Gerber

Staff with Blue Triton, a multi-national water bottling company, confirmed earlier this month their Ontario operations will close by the end of January. This includes the controversial plant in Aberfoyle, Puslinch township. 

Advocates with the Wellington Water Watchers are calling this a major win for their cause, as they’ve sought the closure of all water bottling activity at this well for about 18 years, beginning when it was owned by Nestle. 

Township mayor James Seeley says the sale of the plant is a loss for the township, as it was the third-highest tax payer. He also estimates the loss of about 200 jobs.

Water advocates with the Six Nations of the Grand River also lay claim on the well, saying the water rightfully belongs to their community. They believe the Six Nations community should have the final say on what happens to the water, especially as the community continues to endure a long-term water crisis. 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Pining for clarity: Gauging the environmental impact of the Region’s large Christmas trees

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Host: Leah Gerber

In many communities, the Christmas season is kicked off with a city tree-lighting ceremony, where a large bedecked Christmas tree is lit up for all to see – in fact, Waterloo Region’s three cities are all lighting their Christmas trees this coming Friday. But in today’s environmentally tough times, some may be wondering if cutting down 30-foot giants is the best choice for a city’s Christmas tree. Radio Waterloo takes a look.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Local politicians say they’re working to keep All Day Kitchener Go train service on track

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Host: Leah Gerber

It’s been over seven years since the federal government committed over 750 million dollars to Kitchener’s two-way-all-day Go Train service, and ten since the provincial government originally committed to the project – so why the long wait?

Radio Waterloo spoke with conservative member of provincial parliament for Kitchener-Conestoga Mike Harris about what the hold up is, and when riders can expect to see this service, as well as Kitchener-Centre MP Mike Morrice who has been advocating for the project for two years. Radio Waterloo also communicated with Metrolinx to hear about the progress on the Kitchener portion of the line. MPP Harris outlined the challenges faced when implementing the project and says he is optimistic about the progress he expects to see this coming year.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News – 2024-12-02 – KW Symphony members speak about their experiences with the symphony’s tumultuous year

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Leah Gerber

Miriam Stewart-Kroeker, a cellist with the KW Symphony was devastated when she heard the news of the symphony’s bankruptcy last year, wondering if she would have to move her family away from KW so she could continue working. She and her fellow musicians decided to take a stand and fight for the symphony, and last month the debts were annulled. The symphony is back on its feet, but it can never be the same. Stewart-Kroeker and board chair Bill Poole speak about their experiences with the bankruptcy and their thoughts on how they can move forward in a new way that’s more inclusive than ever.