Category Archives: Newsroom

Posts from the CKMS Newsroom programs, community shows, and associated news sites.

The CKMS Newsroom works to provide a deeper analysis of the issues that impact our communities, than which the mainstream news sources provide.

The CKMS Newsroom is comprised of volunteers and journalists and is organised by the Newsroom Committee:
dan kellar (@dankellar) is the current lieutenant of news with Bob Jonkman as the technical expert and newsie.

From May 2023 to January 2026 the CKMS Newsroom was receiving funding from the Community Radio Fund of Canada and Heritage Canada through the “Local Journalism Initiative” project. Check out the country-wide LJI content at https://frequencynews.ca/

The journalists for the LJI project were: Leah Gerber, dan kellar

Past newsroom journalists include: Ivan Angelovski, MP Holmes, Shalaka Jadhav, and Namish Modi.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

Public Health advises Waterloo Region residents to take caution when outdoors this summer

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Summer hiking season is back, and along with it, warnings to be on the lookout for ticks.

At Waterloo Regional Council on June 19, the Waterloo Region Public Health Department warned residents of the increased presence of black-legged ticks in the area. A black-legged tick bite can transmit Lyme disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Dr. Adele Chang, the Region’s Associate Medical Officer for Health describes the detection of these ticks in Cambridge and that three additional tick-borne diseases — anaplasmosis; babesiosis; and Powassan virus disease, have been added to the provincial list of diseases of concern.

Bolstering Dr. Chang’s warning, the eTick website reports a doubling of tick sightings in the area.

Alongside these warnings comes advice on how to prevent tick bites in the first place. Rebecca Piavison the Public Health Manager for Vector-Borne Diseases at the Region of Waterloo, provides practical tick tips, emphasizing the importance of physical barriers, insect repellents, and thorough body checks after outdoor activities.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

Waterloo Region gets to the heart of residents’ noise complaints — using a smartphone app

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Waterloo Region residents have been vindicated by a simple phone app after a complicated computer noise model failed to recognize real-life noise.

Staff used a phone app to assess the noise and determined that vehicles with modified mufflers are to blame.

At a Waterloo Region Council meeting in early June, Kitchener residents living near Highland Road West, raised concerns about noise following the expansion of Highland Road. At that time, Council requested information and staff presented their findings at the Regional Council meeting on June 19.

Doug Spooner, the Acting Commissioner of Transportation Services for the Region, reported back to Council, explaining he went to the impacted neighbourhood and tested the noise with an app on his phone.

Spooner discovered excessive noise caused by disruptive peak noises generated by vehicles with modified mufflers or exhausts and recommended regulatory measures.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2024-06-20- Pay-what-you-can food market working with community gardens for fresh produce

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CKMS News -2024-06-20- Pay-what-you-can community food market working with community gardens for fresh produce.

dan kellar

Kitchener, ON – An initiative from Community Healthcaring Kitchener Waterloo has resulted in the region’s first consistent pay-what-you-can food market. Stemming from the organization’s integrated strategy around supportive health care, the market is a part of the Community Health and Wellness program, which also includes a weekly breakfast club, cooking skill-shares, and other capacity and community building activities.

While the market has been stocking its shelves since January through donations and the Second Harvest food rescue app, as the growing season blooms, the project is teaming up with community gardens to bring in more fresh produce.  

Located in the organization’s office at 44 Frances St. in Kitchener, the market is open to everyone from 9-5 Monday through Thursday, and Friday 8-4.

This show features an interview with Megan Vander Hoek, a food program worker at Community Healthcaring Kitchener-Waterloo, discussing the pay-what-you-can food market and the organization’s efforts to support healthier communities through food.  

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Kitchener’s Willow River Centre celebrates National Indigenous Month and calls for more substantial action

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The Willow River Centre in Kitchener is advocating for more meaningful support for Indigenous people and culture instead of what they characterize as routine performative gestures from municipalities and organizations.

The Center, which serves Indigenous, racialized, Two Spirit, and LGBTQ youth, is hosting Summer Solstice Saturday on June 22nd to celebrate National Indigenous Peoples Month. The Willow River Centre co-directors Amy Smoke and Bangishimo said that their past efforts on the day have often resulted in overwork and stress.

“It’s been so many years now since the TRC calls to actions came out and still to this day for a lot of organizations and spaces, we’re still considering an afterthought where, where we get emails like the week of before June and these organizations and corporations are looking for somebody to sing and dance for them,” Bangishimo told CKMS News.

The Summer Solstice Saturday will be held on Saturday, June 22nd at the Kitchener Farmer’s Market from 8 a.m. until 2 p.m.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Local Residents Challenge Waterloo Region on Noise Data

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The recent expansion of Highland Road West in Kitchener has increased noise pollution, significantly impacting residents who live along the road between Ira Needles Boulevard and Fisher Hallman Road.

Residents raised concerns about noise pollution and how it is measured at the Regional Council Planning and Works Committee meeting in early June.

Despite residents’ complaints and self-initiated noise-blocking measures, Regional staff insist the levels in this area do not exceed thresholds. Staff have said they will continue to rely on theoretical models that predict noise levels and that live noise tests are not routine due to precedent, policy and budget constraints. The residents, on the other hand, argue that the models are flawed and real-time noise data and live noise studies would provide a more accurate reflection of the situation.

Regional Councillors asked questions of both sides, eventually agreeing to draw up a motion to conduct live measurements in the impacted neighbourhood, with further discussions planned for the next Regional Council meeting.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-06-18- Alliance For a Liveable Ontario urge Conservatives to rethink housing plans

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CKMS News -2024-06-18- Alliance For a Liveable Ontario urge Conservatives to rethink housing plans

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON –

The Alliance for a Liveable Ontario has been petitioning Ontario’s progressive conservative MPPs for months to scrap Bill-185 and some proposed changes to the Provincial Planning Statement. On May 22nd they sent a letter to the premier highlighting 10 “key problems” with the Cutting Red Tape to Build More Homes Act and the PPS.  

CKMS News spoke with founding member of the ALO, Mark Reusser. He discussed the coalition’s opposition to the government’s actions, and alternatives to address the housing availability and affordability crises, including specific effects for Waterloo Region.

While Bill-185 received Royal Assent on June 6th, Reusser told CKMS News that the ALO, which consists of 65 member organizations and over a thousand individuals, is “not giving up”, and will “continue to push for good planning.”

The provincial Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing did not respond to requests from CKMS News for comment on ALO’s analysis.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-06-07- Worker-led campaigns on injury prevention and injured worker support focus of OFL’s recent actions

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CKMS News -2024-06-07- Worker-led campaigns on injury prevention and injured worker support focus of OFL’s recent actions.

dan kellar
Waterloo, ON –
The Ontario Federation of Labour’s campaigns to protect all workers and support those who have been injured have been heating up. The OFL is collaborating with the Ontario Network of Injured Workers’ Groups on the Injured Workers Campaign Tool Kit and the “Injured Workers Bill of Rights“, are honouring workers through Injured Workers Day, and are launching the “Heat Stress” campaign.

Celebrating the passing of the second reading of the Injured Workers Day Act on May 30th, Willy Noiles, acting ONIWG President said in a press release  “We look forward to seeing West’s long overdue legislation becoming law in time for June 1, 2025.”

This show features OFL president Laura Walton, discussing the organization’s efforts supporting injured workers, and keeping workers from getting injured in the first place. Walton also discussed the government’s track record on worker rights. Requests for comment to the Conservative government from CKMS News were not answered. 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

Waterloo Region Health Coalition Calls for Public Vote on Health Care Privatization

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Waterloo Region Health Coalition has called for the Ontario government to hold a public vote on healthcare privatization in Ontario.

Jim Stewart of the Health Care Advocacy Group criticized the government’s privatization agenda, and the lack of clear communication both during the 2022 election and since, arguing privatization lacks public support and undermines the public system.

The Ontario Health Coalition highlights significant underfunding of public hospitals by the Ford administration, leading to increased wait times and operational challenges.

While Kitchener Conestoga MPP Mike Harris, Jr. defended the government’s health care spending (but provided no citations for his claims), Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy argued the government has been underfunding the system, ultimately increasing the costs for taxpayers and creating a two-tier system.

 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Waterloo City Council approves community-driven changes for affordable housing project

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MP Holmes, Kitchener, ON

After gathering community input, the City of Waterloo has modified its plan to develop vacant city land near Rim Park.

Michelle Lee, an Executive Officer at the City of Waterloo, highlighted how the idea of increasing building heights from 6 storeys to 12. The push for more commercial units came from the community.

The project aims to provide over 700 homes in a sustainable, affordable neighbourhood with commercial opportunities. The city has submitted the modified plan and now waits for approval for the Minister’s Zoning Order (MZO). An MZO authorizes the Minister of Municipal Affairs to fast track zoning changes on specific pieces of land.

Financial structure and long-term affordability remain critical questions still to be resolved. Staff favour land lease models, where land remains in community ownership but is leased to developers, while Sean Campbell, the Executive Director of Union Sustainable Development Cooperative, cautioned against prioritizing land leases over other potential models, highlighting that the core objective is perpetual affordability and public benefit.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Waterloo Region Board of Health finds success updating school immunization records

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

 

As Regional schools prepare for their final month of the school year, the Waterloo Region Department of Public Health reported to Council on May 23 that over 37,000 immunization records have been updated for school students since January, preventing student suspensions.

Dr. Hsiu-Li Wang, the Chief Medical Officer of Health for the region, provided an update on the enforcement of the Immunization of School Pupils Act. While Dr Wang discussed the suspension of some students due to their outdated records, she also noted the Region’s high compliance rate, particularly for measles immunization, with no local cases reported.

A full compliance report will be provided in the fall.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-05-28- Tri-City Roller Derby ready to roll into busy summer season

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CKMS News -2024-05-28- Tri-City Roller Derby ready to roll into busy summer season

by: dan kellar

Waterloo – Tri-City Roller Derby’s premiere team, Tri-City Thunder, have returned from the North American northeast regional championships in Pennsylvania two places higher in the Women’s Flat Track Derby Association rankings, and are now readying for the “home season”.   

Tri-City skater Maggie Middleton spoke with CKMS News about the tournament, where Thunder “beat the calculator” in their loss to Boston’s “A” team, and then ended with a win against Montreal’s secondary team “Sexpo”. 

Middleton also discussed the welcoming environment in the sport, which has a “role for everybody”, and invited folks to a meet-and-greet on June 2nd ahead of the seasonal intake which starts on June 26th.

Tri-city Roller Derby has 3 teams at different levels of competition. The house league team “Storm”, the secondary team “Lightning”, and the premiere team “Tri-City Thunder”.  The opening derby matches of the summer season are on July 27th at Moses Springer arena in Waterloo.

 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-05-26- Support grows for “Gaza House” solidarity encampment at UWaterloo

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CKMSNews-2024-05-26-CKMS News -2024-05-26- Support grows for “Gaza House” solidarity encampment at UWaterloo

by: dan kellar

Waterloo – The Gaza House solidarity encampment at the University of Waterloo continues to gather support while negotiations with the school’s administration have stalled. 

First, a letter of support from faculty, staff, and librarians from UW and Wilfrid Laurier University. Secondly, a statement of solidarity from the chairman of PSAC 902 which represents graduate students and teaching assistants at WLU. Then on May 25th Gaza House hosted a rally which brought out over two hundred supporters.

This show features Sarah, a student member of the encampment’s negotiating team. Sarah has requested partial anonymity due to safety concerns. CKMS News also spoke with Law Professor Irina Ceric about students’ protest rights and reactions to encampments from administration at different universities. 

CKMS News requested comment from UW administration and was told no one was available but that they “will look to see what we can do later this week”. The University has not responded to further communication.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-05-24- Bike Rides, street parties, comedy galas and rainbow crosswalks – Spectrum is set for a busy Pride 2024.

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CKMS News -2024-05-24- Bike Rides, street parties, comedy galas and rainbow crosswalks – Spectrum is set for a busy Pride 2024.

by: dan kellar

Kitchener – Spectrum, an organization that serves local 2SLGBTQIA+ folks has been busy ahead of Pride 2024, planning many initiatives including participation in Tri-Pride Summerfest on June 1st, Pride Ride on June 7th, and Spectrum’s 3rd annual gala on June 13th.

“Kicking things off” on May 31st, Spectrum’s executive director, Scott Williams will join Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe and others to unveil a new “Rainbow Crosswalk” in uptown. Speaking about the importance of projects like the crosswalk, Williams told CKMS, “we need to be very visible in order to remind people that we have always been here and will always be here.”  Mayor McCabe also provided CKMS a statement about the crosswalk.

This show features an interview with Scott Williams on Spectrum’s activities, Pride 2024, and the new rainbow crosswalk. Williams also speaks about ongoing effects and efforts related to the June 28th 2023 hate-motivated attack in a gender studies classroom at the University of Waterloo. 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

City of Kitchener tackles sign clutter on city roads

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Kitchener City Council is addressing the issue of excessive road signs to combat clutter and visual pollution on city roads by changing its sign bylaws.

The changes are meant to discourage the use of roadways for marketing purposes. Only special event directional signs, such as signs advertising open houses and portable signs for new home developments, are allowed on city boulevards.

Key revisions to the sign bylaw include regulations on the timing and duration of sign placements, mandatory inclusion of dates on signs, the relaxation of distance requirements from buildings for certain signs, and the removal of the City’s 30-day sign hold provision.

City of Kitchener Councillor Paul Singh and the city’s Coordinator for Planning and Zoning Services, Joanne McCallum, emphasized that in addition to cleaning up the roadsides, the new regulations will help city staff police these nuisance signs.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Garlic Mustard poses a threat to the Grand River Watershed

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

People out for their daily walks in the Waterloo Region may have noticed a tall plant with the clusters of white flowers. It’s the garlic mustard plant — and it’s invasive, destructive, and spreading.

Garlic mustard may not be the most egregious of the invasive species, but it is the most widespread. The plant spreads quickly through seed dispersal  and dense stands of garlic mustard can produce more than 60,000 seeds per square meter and can double in size every four years.

National Invasive Species Awareness Week runs from May 12th to the 18th to encourage Canadians to take action to stop the spread of invasive species.

Ron Wu Winter of the Grand River Conservation Authority describes Garlic mustard’s spread, the challenges it poses for removal and control, and its ability to release chemicals that inhibit the growth of native plants.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Vision Zero 2024 update addresses road safety

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Pedestrians and cyclists in Kitchener are at a disproportionately high risk of serious injury or fatality due to aggressive and inattentive driving, according to the latest City of Kitchener Vision Zero Annual Update Report.

This year’s report update was presented at the City of Kitchener’s Community and Infrastructure Services Committee meeting on Monday, May 13th. Adopted in 2021, the Vision Zero strategy aims to eliminate severe injuries and fatalities on Kitchener’s roads, with the 2024 report outlining over 40 action items for street safety improvements. The report highlights the problems of aggressive driving behaviours and the inadequacy of road designs to ensure the safety of vulnerable road users.

Delegates to Council discussed lowering speed limits, increasing the number of traffic cameras, and implementing infrastructure changes as potential solutions. Other delegates detailed the successes they have found in educating young students on road safety and encouraging alternative modes of transport.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-05-14- Gaza solidarity encampment launched at the University of Waterloo

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CKMS News -2024-05-14- Gaza Solidarity Encampment Launched At the University of Waterloo

by: dan kellar

Waterloo – Dozens of people converged at the University of Waterloo’s main campus on Monday morning to launch a Gaza solidarity encampment. The group’s “OccupyUWaterloo” Instagram page calls the encampment “Gaza House”

The group says the university is complicit in the current siege on Palestinians by the Israeli military, which has resulted in over 35,000 people dead, tens of thousands more injured or missing, and the majority destruction of Gazan infrastructure, including all universities and hospitals. The group is calling for divestment from weapons manufacturers and institutions which support the occupation of Palestine, and “an end to UW’s financial and academic ties to the genocidal and apartheid state of Israel.”

These demands share similarities from the demands from encampments set up at over a dozen other universities in Canada.

This show features an interview with Gaza House encampment spokesperson Nick Joseph. Also included is the statement UW provided, and Waterloo mayor Dorothy McCabe reacting to the encampment.

 

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Wordsworthy Literary Award marks 40 years of independent bookselling in Waterloo

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MP Holmes
Waterloo, ON

To commemorate its 40th anniversary, the only independent bookstore in Waterloo, Wordsworth Books, has revived the Wordsworthy Literary Award. The award, presented for the first time in several years, recognizes outstanding literary contributions from Canadian authors and is intertwined with the bookstore’s history.

One of the owners of Wordsworth Books, Mandy Brouse, explains why the award has been revived and how it connects with the store’s history. Over the past 40 years, Wordsworth Books has weathered the challenges to its business, including recessions, the ION LRT construction, and the COVID-19 pandemic, thanks to the loyalty of its customer base.

The winner of the 2024 Wordsworthy Literary Award will be announced at 1 p.m. on Saturday, May 11 at the store’s Uptown Waterloo location.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2024-05-08- Waterloo mayor McCabe delivers “State of the City” address

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2024-05-08- Mayor McCabe delivers Waterloo ‘State of the City’ address

by: dan kellar

Waterloo – Waterloo’s annual State of the City was delivered on May 2nd by mayor Dorthy McCabe at Wilfrid Laurier University, and was full of celebration of the current work the city is doing, and enthusiasm for the future.

The mayor focused significantly on the work the city is doing on housing, climate action, community building, infrastructure, service delivery, and affordability and she noted the interconnectedness of these topics throughout her speech. 

McCabe also celebrated the youth of the city and the students of the region’s high schools, post-secondary institutions throughout the speech, saying of the “council for the day” students “Waterloo’s future looks very very bright”.

The State of the City was organised by the Rotary Club of Waterloo and raised over 15,000$ for Supportive Housing of Waterloo, an organisation which helps people who have experienced long periods homelessness with housing and other support services.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Pedestrian collisions adding up in Waterloo Region

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

A recent hit-and-run incident in North Waterloo is the third such occurrence in Waterloo Region since the beginning of 2024. Thus far, in 2024 alone, the WRPS has publicly reported 22 pedestrian-related collisions locally. Various factors contribute to these incidents, including distracted drivers and distracted pedestrians.

The impacts of being hit by a car can be serious and the increased size of vehicles can contribute to more severe injuries. While attempts to increase driver accountability have so far failed at Queen’s Park, police have trained their focus on preventative measures and awareness to improve road safety.

The show features an interview with Waterloo Regional Police Services staff sergeant Scott Griffiths and insights from Janice Jim, the chair of the City of Waterloo Active Transportation Committee and vice president of CycleWR.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2024-05-03- Kitchener donates land for not-for-profit housing project, as MPP urges province to do the same.

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CKMS News -2024-05-03- Kitchener donates land for not-for-profit housing project, as MPP urges province to do the same.

by: dan kellar

Kitchener – On April 29th, Kitchener city council approved a land donation to a not-for-profit to build affordable housing.  Habitat for Humanity will receive the land and have most development fees waived, and in return they will build more than 60 homes, including larger three and four-bedroom units, and smaller studio, one, and two-bedroom units”.

As of January 2024, more than 8000 people remain on the affordable housing waitlist in Waterloo Region alone, waiting years for assistance. However, Kitchener Centre Green Party MPP Aislinn Clancy’s new motion may address waitlists across the province as it calls on the provincial government to use provincial land to build affordable housing. 

This show features interviews with Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic and MPP Clancy, who is also a former Kitchener city councilor. Mayor Vrbanovic focuses on how projects like this are helping to meet the city’s housing goals, while MPP Clancy discusses her new motion.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Kitchener City Council approves $250 Million Plan for Net Zero Emissions by 2050

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

At its April 29 Council meeting, Kitchener City Council approved a $250 million capital grant over 25 years ($10 million per year) to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

This decision, part of the city’s second corporate climate action plan named Pivot Net Zero, aims to significantly reduce emissions primarily from city facilities and the city vehicular fleet. In an earlier show this week, CKMS spoke to city staff about these changes.

These goals come amidst various challenges including technological uncertainties and financial constraints. Despite these hurdles, the plan has garnered unanimous support from the council, emphasizing the need to set a positive example for the community and act urgently in the face of the climate emergency declared by the city in June 2019.

The plan aligns with the city’s broader strategic goals of cultivating a green city.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News – 2024-04-27 – “Pivot Net Zero” to continue energy transition and electrification of Kitchener’s fleet as part of updated climate action plan.

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CKMS News -2024-04-27- “Pivot Net Zero” to continue energy transition and electrification of Kitchener’s fleet as part of updated climate action plan.


by: dan kellar
Kitchener – Kitchener’s Corporate Climate Action Plan, has been guiding the city’s to transition away from carbon intensive energy sources, with version 2.0 prominently featuring “Pivot Net Zero”. The electrification of cars, light utility vehicles, and hand tools is already well underway, and staff continue to explore new avenues of reducing carbon emissions with larger trucks and equipment.

The city has reported a “payoff” in staff experience due to electrification, citing a reduction in exposure to fumes, noise, and the weight of equipment. Economic savings have also been noticed through maintenance costs and energy efficiency. 

This show features interviews with Kitchener’s director of Fleet, Matthew Lynch, and the city’s corporate sustainability officer, Anna Marie Cipriani, who speak about the city’s ongoing efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions for both their fleet and buildings. Kitchener city council will vote on April 29th endorse the updated Corporate Climate Action Plan.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Transit desert shrinks with restored late-nite bus service in Waterloo

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Waterloo Region Council agreed to restore a late night bus three nights a week, which will help deal with the “transit desert” that has impacted late-night GO bus riders.

The last transit bus of the night leaves the University of Waterloo Station by 12:20 am but still four more GO buses arrive after that time each night without connecting GRT services.

The motion, which passed at the meeting on Wednesday, April 25th, will restore Route 91, the late night bus service between the University of Waterloo, Laurier and Uptown Waterloo.

Grand River Transit will reintroduce Route 91 in early September and the bus will run from 12. 30am until 2am Thursday to Saturday.

In this program, two delegates who were present at the meeting describe their relief and concerns about future late night transit.