Tag Archives: Waterloo Region

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-08-13- AI Boom Raises Questions as Waterloo Region Studies Data Centre Impacts

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CKMS News -2026-08-13- AI Boom Raises Questions as Waterloo Region Studies Data Centre Impacts

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON — Waterloo Region Council has unanimously passed a motion to study the potential impacts of future data centre development in the Region, following concerns raised by residents about water use, electricity demand and infrastructure.

Regional Councillor Colleen James brought the motion during Tuesday’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee meeting. It directs Regional staff to examine the economic, environmental, infrastructure and fiscal implications of data centres, as well as community safeguards and best practices in other jurisdictions.

The council approved the motion with two amendments, including additional consideration of source water protection and impacts on traditional lands. Regional staff will report their findings back to Council by the first quarter of 2027.

The discussion comes as the rapid growth of artificial intelligence drives demand for larger and more energy-intensive data centres across Canada and beyond.

Waterloo Region already hosts data centres, including Ascent’s facility in Cambridge. James says the motion is not intended to approve or reject any specific project, but to help the Region understand how future facilities could affect its infrastructure and environment.

Residents who spoke at the meeting raised particular concerns about water consumption and the Region’s reliance on groundwater.

James says the goal is to gather information now so future councils can make informed decisions about data centre development.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-08-08- St. John’s Kitchen Opens Around the Clock as Homelessness Crisis Deepens in Waterloo Region

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CKMS News – 2026-08-08 – St. John’s Kitchen Opens Around the Clock as Homelessness Crisis Deepens in Waterloo Region

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON — St. John’s Kitchen in Kitchener has permanently expanded its services to operate around the clock, responding to growing demand from people experiencing homelessness in Waterloo Region.

The kitchen, operated by The Working Centre, began its new 24/7 schedule on July 27. It now welcomes drop-ins from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., before providing overnight support from 9 p.m. to 7:30 a.m. The facility closes briefly each morning for cleaning and setup.

The expansion comes as homelessness continues to grow across the region. The Region of Waterloo reported in 2024 that chronic homelessness had increased by an average of 28 per cent each year since 2020. Joe Mancini, director and co-founder of The Working Centre, says the growing number of people experiencing homelessness has put increasing pressure on services.

In this story, we speak with Mancini, St. John’s Kitchen staff and volunteers, and a person experiencing homelessness about the impact of the kitchen The interviews explore what the 24/7 operation means for people using the facility, how staff respond to the growing demand, and the broader housing, employment and drug-related factors contributing to homelessness in Waterloo Region.

For more information about St. John’s Kitchen, visit theworkingcentre.org.  

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-07-28- Kitchener ‘Unplugs’ King Street with First Week-long Pedestrian Event

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CKMS News -2026-07-28- Kitchener ‘Unplugs’ King Street with First Week-long Pedestrian Event

Eren Yoruk

Kitchener, ON — For the first time, King Street in downtown Kitchener has been transformed into a week-long pedestrian-only space as the City launches King Street Unplugged, a pilot project aimed at creating a more people-focused downtown.

Running from July 26 to 31, the event closes a section of King Street between College and Young Streets to vehicle traffic, replacing it with live entertainment, games, workshops, markets and family-friendly activities. Mayor Berry Vrbanovic says the initiative builds on previous car-free events but marks the city’s first attempt at a week-long pedestrian experience.

Manager of Downtown Development and Innovation Aura Hertzog says the project responds to community feedback seeking more welcoming public spaces where residents can connect while supporting local businesses. If successful, the pilot could become an annual event.

The city will evaluate the initiative by gathering feedback from businesses and visitors, monitoring attendance and measuring community engagement throughout the week.

Local businesses are already seeing positive signs. Mandy Kowitz, owner of Square Peg, says she noticed increased foot traffic on the first day and expects more customers throughout the week.

Visitors also welcomed the idea. Resident Mila Purcell says closing King Street for a full week creates a more enjoyable downtown experience and hopes the event returns next year.

For more information about King Street Unplugged, visit downtownkitchener.ca.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-07-27- Youth food markets serving fresh local produce at the neighbourhood level

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CKMS News -2026-07-27- Youth food markets serving fresh local produce at the neighbourhood level

 by: dan kellar
Waterloo, ON – Throughout the summer, youth in Waterloo region will be organizing weekly fresh produce markets with vegetables grown at 6 communities gardens and sourced from several local farms.  Dozens of youth, aged 14-19 are participating in the Youth in Food Systems program which involves innovative approaches to garden and market management.

In a press release, Grace Ihejiamaizu, the Program Manager for Youth in Food Systems wrote “This year, youth Market Leaders have also helped design different Pay What You Choose approaches for their markets, exploring how fresh, local food can be made more accessible while giving young people practical experience in leadership, teamwork and community engagement.”

The markets run every Wednesday until August 26 at Eastwood Collegiate Institute and Victoria Hills  Community Centre in Kitchener, from 4:00pm – 6:00pm, and at the Fiddlesticks Community Centre in Cambridge from 3:00pm – 5:30pm.

This show features an interview with Luma Abuarqoub, the summer Youth Program Assistant for the Youth in Food Systems program. Luma details the work of the youth, and we discuss where the program fits in larger efforts of food security, and how the hazardous air quality brought on by climate change fueled forest fires in northern Ontario have affected their operations this summer.

The YFS program, now in its 5th year, is organised by Seeds of Diversity, a Waterloo based charity focused on seed-saving and resilience in local food systems.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-07-24- Tuning into Transit: The Story Behind Cambridge’s Fife-Playing Bus Driver

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CKMS News -2026-07-24- Tuning into Transit: The Story Behind Cambridge’s Fife-Playing Bus Driver

Eren Yoruk

Cambridge, ON – A Cambridge bus driver is bringing a piece of history to local transit terminals through his passion for music. Tracy MacDonnell, a Grand River Transit (GRT) operator, uses his route breaks to step off the bus and play the fife, an 18th-century military instrument similar to a flute, for waiting passengers.

MacDonnell has been playing the fife for 36 years, after first learning the instrument while working at Toronto’s Historic Fort York. What started as a job requirement became a lifelong passion for traditional fife and folk music.

Over the past two decades as a GRT driver in Cambridge, MacDonnell has continued using music as a way to manage the stress of the job and connect with the public. Passengers have often responded positively, with some applauding his performances and sharing their appreciation.

In this CKMS News interview, MacDonnell discusses the history of the fife, how he became a bus driver, and why sharing a brief moment of happiness through music remains meaningful to him.

 

Rethink Your Retirement Show, Shows

Engineering a Self-Funding Machine with Adam Finch -Replay

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Why Elite Professionals are Failing the Science of Keeping Wealth

In this episode, Senior Wealth Strategist Sunny Kochar sits down with Adam Finch, a Project Scheduling Specialist and Real Estate Investor, to discuss the “Baby Boomer Exodus” from the construction industry and the rising tide of AI. Adam shares his “Kinetic Wealth” journey, moving from a licensed carpenter to owning a multi-property portfolio that funds his lifestyle. Learn why the “Save and Wait” model is dead and how to apply an Engineering Mindset to your personal economy to retire 3x faster. We dive into the “Five Fs” of fulfillment and the critical importance of “Money Velocity” in a high-tax environment.

The “Big Domino”: Why Your High-Demand Skill is Not Your Security

Most high-earners are winning the ‘Income Game’ but losing the ‘Science of Keeping It.’ Whether you are a PhD or a Master Tradesperson, relying on a single-income stream leaves you one corporate restructuring away from the ‘Income Cliff.’

What You Will Learn

  • [08:00] The 91% Paradox: Why elite professionals are “Income Rich” but “Structure Poor.”
  • [17:00] Kinetic vs. Static Wealth: Moving money from “Dead Equity” in your drywall into a self-funding machine.
  • [25:00] The Baby Boomer Exodus: How the skilled trades shortage and AI are shifting the Canadian economy.
  • [32:00] Money Velocity: Why money must stay in motion to create true fulfillment.
  • [41:00] The 5 Fs: Auditing your life for Faith, Family, Fitness, and Fun—not just Finance.

🎧 READ THE DIRECTOR’S CUT: Want to see the mathematical proof and visual charts discussed in this episode?
Click here to read “Tax Deductible Mortgage Canada: The 2026 Executive Blueprint” on the Hexavision Blog.

Reference the Money Compass Framework discussed in this episode to see how Adam Finch applied construction logic to personal wealth.

Ready to Engineer Your Wealth?

We offer a complimentary 15-Minute “Dead Equity” Analysis to calculate your potential tax refund and borrowing capacity.


BOOK YOUR “DEAD EQUITY” ANALYSIS

Disclaimer: This content is for educational purposes only and does not constitute financial, tax, or legal advice. Strategies discussed involve risk and may not be suitable for everyone. Insurance products and Segregated Funds are provided through Carte Risk Management Inc. Consult with a qualified professional before making decisions.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-01-27- Water woes in Waterloo Region

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CKMS News -2026-01-27- Water woes in Waterloo Region dan kellar Kitchener, ON – After several years in a row that the aquifers in Waterloo Region have been drawn down more than they have recharged, the municipal government has announced serious water capacity issues and have put a stop fully approving any new developments which require their approval. The water issues were first publicly disclosed in December 2025, and on January 13th the regional council held a lengthy discussion with staff, residents, and land developers regarding the immediate actions and effects regarding the water issue, and some short and medium term actions the regions will be taking to address the water woes. This show features an interview with Kevin Thomason, Vice-Chair of the Grand River Environmental Network.  Kevin has been following water related issues in Waterloo Region for years and has reviewed the staff report which describes in detail what the problems are. Additionally, this show features a clip of Sam Nabi of Hold The Line WR delegating at regional council on January 13th.
CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2026-01-14- One Million Neighbours WR launches their Neighbourhood services map

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CKMS News -2026-01-14- One Million Neighbours launches their Neighbourhood services map

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – A new tool for assessing how levels of various services differ between neighbourhoods across Waterloo Region has launched by the One Million Neighbours WR coalition.  The first version of its Neighbourhood Services Map ranks each neighbourhood for access levels based on availability of transit, amount of green space, number of schools, libraries, and healthcare infrastructure, and how many community spaces exist.

A key feature of the map is that the calculations account for population, and as the number of residents that call Waterloo Region  home grows to over 1,000,000 in the coming decades, keeping track of the equity of resource distribution across communities as they grow will be key to understanding a neighbourhood’s needs.

This show features an interview with KW local Sam Nabi, the project coordinator of One Million Neighbours W, and a board member of Hold the Line WR. The map was created with open source data by Civic Tech WR volunteers who will update the data on the map “at least annually”. You can access the map from Connected KW‘s webpage.

Rethink Your Retirement Show, Shows

The Tax-Funded Multiplier: How to Create Artificial Capacity in Your RRSP

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The Big Domino: Most Canadians view their tax refund as a “bonus” found money to fund a vacation. The Wealth Strategist views a refund as a failure of planning. It represents “Artificial Capacity”—capital that should have been compounding in your account all year, but was instead loaned interest-free to the CRA.

In this episode, Sunny Kochar reveals the math behind the Tax-Funded Multiplier. You will learn how to stop being a passive passenger in your financial life and how to legally use the government’s money to expand your wealth foundation.

What You Will Learn in This Episode:

  • [02:00] The Tax Refund Fallacy: Why getting a cheque in April means you gave the government an interest-free loan for 12 months.
  • [15:00] The “Factory Rebate” Parable: A masterclass in leverage—how a CEO buys a $1M factory using only $600k of cash.
  • [25:00] Violating Universal Law #3: How “Tax Drag” acts as a silent wealth killer in high-net-worth portfolios.
  • [30:00] The Gross-Up Strategy (The Math): A step-by-step technical breakdown of how to turn $20,000 of cash into over $35,000 of working assets immediately.
  • [42:00] The “Red Zone” Warning: The critical discipline required to ensure leverage creates kinetic wealth, not compound fractures.

Reference the “Factory Rebate Diagram” discussed in this episode.

Ready to Engineer Your Wealth?

If you are tired of the “Save and Wait” model and want to see the specific math for your marginal tax rate, download our strategy guide or book a direct consultation.

Ready to execute? Stop guessing and start engineering. Book a Breakthrough Meeting with the Hexavision Team.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom, Shows

CKMS News -2025-09-09- A delicious month of local eats as townships set to host events celebrating local food.

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CKMS News -2025-09-09- A delicious month of local eats as townships set to host events celebrating local food

dan kellar
Woolwich, ON – The Region of Waterloo’s four rural townships are hosting their 5th annual Taste The Countryside initiative, launching on September 15th with the Countryside Harvest Meal.  Along with the fundraising dinner, the other main event is a 10-day “Dining Trail”, which begins on September 25th, has been organised to highlight restaurants throughout the townships.

While the overall initiative seeks to support farm-to-table dining in the region, this year’s organizers are also putting a focus on local food security with a portion of the Harvest Meal’s ticket sales going to support local food banks. Taste the Countryside’s support for local food banks is very timely; according to the The Food Bank of Waterloo Region, 1 in 8 households across the region access food from support organizations.

This show features an interview with Kurtis Wells, the Economic Development and Tourism Officer for the  Township of Woolwich.

Background restaurant noise was pulled from WikiCommons and is public domain.

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

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, Shows

CKMS News -2025-01-22- Extreme cold threatens lives while regional government initiates action.

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CKMS News -2025-01-22- Extreme cold elicits advocate pressure and forces regional government action

dan kellar
Kitchener, ON – As daytime temperatures dipped below -20 degrees this week in Waterloo Region, anti-poverty advocates in Waterloo Region demanded action from municipal governments to open more indoor space for homeless community members. In response, the region teamed with local service providers to open a new 20 person emergency overnight warming space in Kitchener. A second emergency overnight warming space will open early next week in Cambridge.

This show features interviews with anti-poverty and housing advocate Regan Sunshine Brussé and councillor Jim Erb of the regional government. 

Brussé discusses the human rights approach to housing which the regional government adopted in the 2024 Plan to End Chronic Homelessness and offers her thoughts on how to address the extreme cold this winter.  Councillor Erb says the regional government and staff are working diligently to address the extreme cold, and he responds to ideas advocates have brought forward such as using Grand River Transit’s bus fleet or regional properties for emergency warming sites.

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

Public is supportive of new Benton/Frederick Street bike corridor despite concerns

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

Region of Waterloo community members expressed strong support for new bike lanes on Benton and Frederick streets at the Region of Waterloo’s Sustainability, Infrastructure and Development Committee meeting on August 14, 2024.

Despite concerns about emergency vehicle access and pedestrian safety, the proposal to reduce car lanes and add bike lanes received broad support. The project’s first phase will include painted bike lanes. Phase 2 includes long-term plans for physically separated lanes to be completed by 2031.

Even with these phased-in plans, community members asked council to forgo Phase 1 and immediately start with separate bike lanes. They highlighted the benefits of safer, physically separated cycling paths connecting major areas in Kitchener. However, the delegates also discussed concerns about service vehicle access and suggestions for immediate safety improvements like precast concrete barriers.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Waterloo Region Approves New Shelter for Women and Non-Binary People

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

The Region of Waterloo has endorsed a new 66-bed shelter in Kitchener will serve women, gender diverse, and non-binary adults exclusively. The decision came after a lengthy debate at the Region of Waterloo’s Community and Health Services Committee on April 13th.

Public pressure has been mounting since the closure of the previous women’s shelter at the end of June, which has left no dedicated shelter beds for women in the region. At the meeting, community members and delegates, including those with lived experiences, highlighted the importance and urgency of dedicated shelter spaces for women and gender-diverse individuals for their safety and well-being.

The new shelter at 84 Frederick Street plans to offer a different operating model than the previous shelter, which was operated by the YWCA. The new model will focus on housing outcomes and additional wraparound supports, with an increase in employees with lived expertise.

This announcement came just days after the region secured a location for a temporary emergency shelter for women with 20 beds operated by the Cambridge YWCA.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

Time’s up for the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative in Waterloo Region

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

As of July 31st, the Ontario government will discontinue the Wastewater Surveillance Initiative. Unlike situations in Peterborough and Ottawa, funding for the program has not materialized from the Region of Waterloo. Councillor Colleen James updated CKMS News on the situation locally stating the Region is seeking federal support to keep the regional surveillance programs operational.

Wastewater surveillance data has fueled numerous research projects and imparted information that health authorities could rely on to accurately predict and prepare for illness outbreaks.

The cancellation has had its critics, including Professor Trevor Charles, director of the Waterloo Centre for Microbial Research.

Professor Charles discusses the potential for negative impact on public health preparedness and the loss of a world-leading research community in Ontario. The Ottawa Science Policy Network highlights that 95 researchers will be affected, potentially leading to a brain drain.

Despite government assurances of continued efforts, the Public Health Agency of Canada has not disclosed any plans to take over the initiative.

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 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

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

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

After a mild winter, get ready for a hot summer in the city

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MP Holmes
Kitchener, ON

 

The weather last winter in Waterloo Region was mild and unstable, just as predicted. This variable weather is expected to continue into a hot, dry summer with potential serious repercussions on our community.

These predictions follow an unusual year of weather, complicated by global weather disturbances, including El Niño. According to the University of Waterloo weather station, the winter snowfall amount as of the end of March was at less than half of the average of the typical season.

Milder winter temperatures are causing other concerns as well. With the U. S. National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration reported that in 2023 24, the ice cover on the Great Lakes reached a record low of less than 3 percent ice cover basin wide.

Dr. Annabella Bonata, research associate and manager of the Intact Center for Climate Adaptation at the University of Waterloo explains the dynamics responsible for our changing weather patterns, emphasizing the potential consequences and highlighting the need for adaptation.

CKMS Community News, Newsroom

CKMS News -2024-04-19- Lawyer contracted by Waterloo Police Services fired as a result of charges in Thunder Bay

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CKMS News -2024-04-19- Police Lawyer Fired After Being Charged With Obstruction And Breach Of Trust

by: dan kellar
Kitchener – On April 9th 2024, an external counsel for the Waterloo Regional police and the former internal legal counsel for the Thunder Bay police, Holly Walbourne was arrested by the OPP and charged for actions which they say took place while she was still working for the police force in the northern Ontario Town. 

Walbourne was retained by the WRPS for her legal services in May 2023, however, police spokesperson Cherri Greeno wrote to CKMS News that “As a result of allegations that are currently before the courts, WRPS has discontinued this contractual agreement.” 

Walbourne has been charged alongside former Thunder Bay police chief Sylvie Hauth. The two are charged with obstructing a public or peace officer, breach of trust, and multiple counts of obstruction of justice. 

This show features an interview with Patrick Watson, an assistant professor of criminology at the University of Toronto, who researches policing and police oversight.  He explains how communication works between police forces, and why the hiring of Walbourne may have happened despite the issues in Thunder Bay.