Developers and builders want to make money today not tomorrow and the housing gravy train has been very good to them for many decades.  Just as they prefer to talk about building overpriced and grossly out of reach homes for the unhoused we have our Regional Chair Karen Redman  jauntily advising all and sundry that "...this is not about blame, this is about building a path forward." While I disagree with much of Kitchener mayor Barry Vrbanovic's comments which appear to show his dedication to the development industry, nevertheless he did strike a chord with his wish for all to know what happened to suddenly drop the bottom out of being ready for one million people here in the Region by 2051. 

Mrs. Puopolo and Masseo, developers, both want to believe that the water shortage is an engineering problem not an environmental or sustainability issue.  Minor (to them) facts such as low water elevation readings in a major aquifer are not setting off alarms as they should. I expect that these two gentlemen would,t conced a water shortage until the day they turn on the tap and nothing but dust comes out. Clearly freezing development permits until after the problem is both clearly defined AND if required greatly improved; is the proper action. 

Proper action also includes answering the question how did this problem sneak up on us? Obviously the Region's water department does not have an accurate handle on how much water is available from the Waterloo and Wellesley Moraines  plus from other aquifers in and around the Region of Waterloo such as Bedrock Aquifers in Cambridge, the Elmira Aquifers and more. Also I wonder just how reliable the Grand River is looking these days with the effects of greater extremes in weather upon us. 

It seems to me that often those like ex Woolwich councillor Mark Bauman and Regional Chair Karen Redman who trumpet "I won't play the blame game" do exactly that while pointing the finger at others rather than themselves.  

Like many of you, I’ve been paying attention to the immigration crackdown, the protests, and the murders in Minneapolis. It’s tragic and horrific. And I’m worried about our collective coworkers — whether they live in Minneapolis or elsewhere — who may be concerned about their personal safety and that of family members and friends. And many are bringing that fear to work.

Here are some ways to help coworkers feel seen, supported, and safer:

• Check in with coworkers, and really listen. Normalize not being okay. I appreciate this mindset of not pretending everything is fine and making space for saying, “I’m not okay today.”
• Share information that helps people know their rights. One example is the Red Card from the Immigrant Legal Resource Center, which outlines how to exercise your rights in the US, regardless of immigration status.
• Ask for workplace guidance and training. If your workplace hasn’t proactively addressed how to interact with immigration agents, consider asking HR or Legal for guidance.
• Share resources thoughtfully. Share sites like How can I prepare my family for any immigration emergency in ways that allow people to access them if needed.
• Offer practical help. Send a group message like “If anyone knows someone who needs errands run this week, I’m happy to help. Just message me.” Your support could make a real difference to someone who may be afraid to leave home.
• Support organizations doing this work. Donate, and encourage matching gifts or collective giving through your workplace.

Share this action on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

Black History Month 2026 starts on February 1st, marking its 50th anniversary as a national observance in the US. In its honor, here’s a simple but powerful action to practice at work.

In Nursing while Black,” Calvin Moorley, a professor of nursing at London South Bank University, writes,

“An ethnic minority nurse in charge of a shift or clinical area is more likely to be questioned or challenged for their decision taken.”

Unfortunately, this extra scrutiny is not limited to nursing or healthcare.

Within Black communities, it’s common for people to coach each other to be “twice as good” as their white counterparts to achieve the same outcomes, and research shows that this isn’t just lore. It’s reality.

A study of the US labor market by Costas Cavounidis and Kevin Lang of Boston University found that Black workers experience greater scrutiny from their supervisors, which can lead to less favorable performance reviews, lower wages, and a higher risk of job loss.

Extra scrutiny creates a vicious cycle. Increased monitoring makes people more nervous. Nervousness leads to small mistakes. Small mistakes invite more negative feedback. Over time, those patterns widen racial gaps in pay, promotions, and retention.

One quick way to check yourself for bias is to consider, “Would I apply the same level of scrutiny to someone of a different identity or background?”

If the answer is no, or you’re not sure, take that as a cue to recalibrate.

Here’s another suggestion in honor of Black History Month.

In an article for Harvard Business Review, Laura Morgan Roberts, Ph.D., a researcher in positive psychology and diversity and inclusion, recommends several ways organizations can create the conditions for all workers to flourish.

One of her recommendations is to disrupt the praise deficit.

Roberts explains that research has shown people from marginalized groups are exposed to significantly less praise starting early in life. For example, Black and brown children receive fewer compliments and more disciplinary action in school than their white peers.

That pattern doesn’t magically disappear at work.

As Roberts notes, while managers often affirm the potential of early-career employees from majority groups, they tend to scrutinize employees from historically underrepresented groups more closely. They also recognize them less for demonstrated success.

Recognition comes in many forms. A congratulatory comment in the hallway. A supportive remark in an online forum. A peer recognition bonus. A formal recommendation letter. A simple thank you.

Consider who you have recently praised. Then reflect on who you haven’t praised.

Then ask yourself:

• Whose good work might be going unnoticed?
• Who could benefit from having their contributions named out loud?
• What recognition can I offer this week to help disrupt the praise deficit?

Remember that Dear Colleague memo the US Department of Education sent last year that told institutions to cease using race as a factor in admissions, hiring, scholarships, prizes, student support, and more?

To preserve federal funding, universities across the United States reacted swiftly. Many dissolved DEI-related departments, cancelled scholarships and programs, and scrubbed DEI terms from their websites.

Well, in August, a federal judge ruled the memo violated the law. And last week, the Trump administration dropped its appeal.

While I hope this opens the door for institutions to rethink how they support historically underestimated students, the path forward won’t be simple.

Universities may still be navigating other executive orders or directives. Some may feel bound by “deals” made under political pressure. And many leaders may understandably be wary of rapidly reinstating programs only to pull them back again.

As inclusive leadership expert Sacha Thompson wrote,

“Many institutions made rushed changes out of fear. This is a moment to slow down and get strategic.”

If you work in higher education, reflect on what the past year revealed about who lost access, support, or belonging, and what actually helped members of your community continue to do their best work and thrive.

Then consider:

• What should be thoughtfully restored?
• What should be redesigned, not just reinstated?
• And what changes do you want to advocate for moving forward?

This week’s spotlight on an ally action from the Better Allies community is from Kate Asquith, who wrote:

“I was recently on an interview panel where the interviews were held in rooms at a trendy shared workspace. Unfortunately, the chairs there were also trendy: narrow and structurally flimsy. As a fat person, those are a major red flag! It’s always important, but especially when you don’t know who will be visiting your space, to consider seating that accommodates fat visitors.”

Asquith added,

“We swapped out a few of the trendy chairs for sturdy ones without armrests, ensuring that anyone who sat down would be comfortable and supported. I’m glad we did, because an interview is stressful enough without someone having to ask for a different chair.”

I definitely notice and appreciate when offices offer inclusive seating. I recently visited a patient reception area with some wide seats, some tall, some with arms, and some without.

If your organization has a seating area for interviewees or other visitors, what chairs does it provide? And if there’s room for improvement, who will you reach out to?

If you’ve taken a step towards being a better ally, please reply to this email and tell me about it. And mention if I can quote you by name or credit you anonymously in an upcoming newsletter.

That’s all for this week. I’m glad you’re on this journey with me,

Karen Catlin (she/her), Author of the Better Allies® book series
pronounced KAIR-en KAT-lin, click to hear my name

Copyright © 2026 Karen Catlin. All rights reserved.

Being an ally is a journey. Want to join us?

• Say thanks to Karen and buy her a coffee (Need a receipt for educational reimbursement? Send us an email, and we’ll take care of it.)
• Follow @BetterAllies on Instagram, Medium, or YouTube. Or follow Karen Catlin on LinkedIn
• This content originally appeared in our newsletter. Subscribe to “5 Ally Actions” to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday
• Read the Better Allies books
• Form a Better Allies book club
• Tell someone about these resources

Together, we can — and will — make a difference with the Better Allies® approach.

Care For Each Other, and Other Actions for Allies was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The post Morning hours for Dual Members & Punch Cards appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

The post Changes to Members-Only Hours appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

We’re pleased to share the recording of our webinar ‘HydroGeoSphere Development 2025: The Year in Review’. This session, presented by Dr. Killian Miller, Numerical Analysis Specialist at Aquanty, looks back at a year of major advancements to the HydroGeoSphere platform— highlighting new features, performance improvements, and key structural updates across the HGS ecosystem.

The webinar provides a technical overview of the many new commands and capabilities introduced throughout 2025, along with important changes to binary file formats that improve memory usage and runtime performance. It also explores the evolution of HGS post-processing, including the transition from hsplot.exe to the more powerful and flexible hgs2vtu.exe.

Key Highlights:

• Review new commands and feature enhancements released throughout 2025.

• Learn how updates to binary file formats improve performance and memory efficiency.

• Understand the structural evolution of the HGS ecosystem and the move to hgs2vtu.exe.

• Gain insight into best practices for adapting workflows to the latest platform updates.

This session is especially valuable for HydroGeoSphere users, model developers, and researchers looking to stay current with the latest tools and performance improvements.

Watch the recording now to catch up on a year of HydroGeoSphere development and see how the platform continues to evolve to support advanced, fully integrated hydrologic modeling.

Watch The Recording

Your master is speaking and I sure as hell don't mean me or any other local citizens and residents.  Scott Higgins, President of Hip Developments Inc., is speaking and maybe he's forgotten the way of the world. You'd think that his company name would remind him though: Hip Developments as in "joined at the hip"  with our local powers that be i.e. regional government. Come on boys and girls democracy functions best when the ruled (us) can sort of believe that we have a small say in things. For that to happen the real powers of money and influence have to work together with our sort of democratically elected representatives. In other words Scott soften your approach when you blurt out "I think it's a reaction to the ineptitude in water management." Of course it is but far more than likely it's not professional water staff who are inept as much as it is non-professional, untrained for anything except shmoozing, talking and politiking regional politicians who are just trying to vote in line with the powerful and influential but sometimes they get confused.  Once you're no longer in the habit of  thinking for yourself but of simply following orders then you get into trouble.

I also enjoyed Mr. Higgins shot at our Regional Police Service. Of course their budgets are out of control and have been for decades. Again you have a bunch of twits rubber stamping police budgets with the financially challenged mayor Shantz as part of the Police Board. At least she appears to have learned how to properly fill out the amazingly simple and easy Financial Election Statements after several tries.

I will say that Mr. Marcolongo of Environmental Defence does make a strong argument to restore the Region's planning authority that was removed by Doug Ford's provincial Conservatives. Mr. Marcolongo's suggestions at least in my mind make much more sense than regional councillor Doug Craig's attempts. There is one point however that I agree with Mr. Craig on and that is that we the public should learn the history of how we got to this point in the water crisis without being notified . Of course this is dangerously assuming that it is indeed the truth that regional councillors had not been notified much earlier.

♦

KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of infielder Charlie Towers.

Towers is entering his second season in Kitchener, after being moved from the Toronto Maple Leafs for Spenser Ross before the 2025 campaign.

Towers had a .223 average, and played in all 42 games in 2025 for the Panthers.

He had four home runs, four doubles, both career highs, and 14 RBI. He also stole nine bases.

Before Kitchener and Toronto, Towers played the 2023 season in Hamilton.

"I am happy to have Charlie returning for his second season with us," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"He plays the game the right way, and always competed every time he steps on the diamond."

============

CHARLIE TOWERS

• Bats/Pitches: L/R
• Hometown: Toronto, ON
• Birthdate: May 14, 2001
• Pronunciation: CHAR-lee TOWERS

Todays K-W Record has another article by Terry Pender advising us of a staff report released yesterday. Repairs and changes to both the dormant Greenbrook water facility and the Mannheim water treatment plant are being proposed. The first would be completed by this coming September whereas the work at Mannheim will tale six to eighteen months to complete. There is also the suggestion to reallocate water from Wilmot Township to Kitchener and Waterloo. Gee I wonder how well that will be taken by folks in Wilmot Township firstly without the 700 acre land grab and secondly with that land grab included.

The Greenbrook wells have some industrial contamination in them from the nearby Ottawa St. Landfill. How extensive the "modifications" would be I do not know but wonder if they are primarily treatment issues. The Mannheim System may have it's disinfection system altered as part of their "changes" or not. Again our regional folks are being very cagey regarding chlorine versus chloramine disinfection between the two Systems as well as whether the AOP (Advanced Oxidation Process) treatment to remove trichloroethylene (TCE)  from the  Middleton Wellfield in Cambridge is problematic as well or not.

I find the so called water "surplus" in Cambridge very strange. Is this "surplus" counting all the contaminated wells and if so have they been "resting" until recently with K-W water making up the difference? Or have Cambridge residents been enjoying the thrills involved with drinking highly treated water that may have added toxic by-products of disinfection included?  For example is the alleged "stink" produced by mixing Mannheim water with Cambridge (Middleton wellfield) water merely the result of so much chlorine in both systems making the chlorine stink worse than we all ready know? Or is it something totally different and if so what is it? Also how exactly are the proposed new pumping station and watermains supposed to integrate these two systems? Pumps and watermains are not treatment facilities, they are parts of the distribution system whether internal distribution during treatment or external distribution from house to house or city to city. Once trust has been lost by authorities either gilding the lily or outright lying to citizens, then their word means nothing.

P.S. I particularly enjoyed the reporter's shots at the Mike Harris family who have done so much for the Conservative Party and so little for Ontario citizens.  Thank you for your service and goodbye.

♦

The Treasurer and Chair of the Finance, Audit, and Risk Committee (FARC) plays a critical leadership role on CEE’s Board of Directors. The role ensures sound financial oversight, strong risk management, and accountable governance aligned with CEE’s mission to support the advancement and economic empowerment of young Black professionals.

As a Board member, the Treasurer contributes to strategic decision-making, helps shape Board meeting agendas, and serves as a key advisor on the financial implications of organizational priorities. This is a volunteer Board position, and the Treasurer also serves in the capacity of CEE’s volunteer Treasurer, supported by the Executive Director (ED) and Director of Finance.

• Fulfill all duties outlined in CEE’s Board Member role description.
• Act in the best interests of the organization and its mission.
• Help develop Board meeting agendas related to financial, audit, or risk matters in collaboration with the Board Chair and ED.
• Participate fully in Board meetings, strategic sessions, and retreats.
• Provide governance-level oversight while partnering appropriately with staff leadership.

This position is for a working board member. Candidates should be prepared to take an active, hands-on role in supporting the organization through committee participation, project-based work, and other operational contributions as needed.

• Provide strategic financial leadership and ensure the Board receives clear, timely financial information.
• Review, interpret, and present monthly/quarterly financial statements, forecasts, and variance analyses.
• Support and advise on the development of the annual operating and capital budgets.
• Ensure appropriate internal controls, financial policies, and reporting systems are in place.
• Monitor organizational performance against approved budgets and highlight emerging risks or opportunities.
• Advise the ED and Director of Finance on financial strategy, sustainability, and trends affecting the organization.

• Act as the primary liaison between the Board and CEE’s financial leadership (Director of Finance, ED, and relevant staff).
• Maintain a partnership-based working relationship with staff while respecting operational boundaries.
• Seek clarification from staff on financial risks, pressures, forecasts, and opportunities to support Board-level decision-making.
• Ensure that the Finance team is adequately resourced and supported to meet reporting requirements.

• Ensure CEE meets all financial regulatory requirements including CRA filings, ONCA (or Canada NFP Act) reporting, and annual returns.
• Oversee the annual audit or review engagement, including auditor selection and evaluation.
• Support the timely preparation and presentation of audited financial statements to the Board.
• Monitor progress on audit recommendations and internal control enhancements.

• Lead the Finance, Audit & Risk Committee in developing annual work plans, priorities, and meeting agendas.
• Facilitate at least eight FARC meetings per year, ensuring informed discussions and clear recommendations.
• Assess organizational risks (financial, operational, legal) and ensure mitigation strategies are in place.
• Recommend investment, reserve, banking, and debt strategies within Board-approved guidelines.
• Ensure CEE maintains appropriate insurance coverage for the organization and its Directors & Officers.

• Help develop Board meeting agendas, particularly regarding financial strategy, audit oversight, or risk decisions.
• Report committee findings and recommendations to the Board in a clear and actionable format.
• Support recruitment and onboarding of new FARC members.
• Foster a transparent and collaborative culture across the committee and Board.

• CPA strongly preferred, but candidates with a CFA or other relevant financial credentials are also welcomed.
  • Minimum three years of experience serving on a Board (nonprofit or corporate) is preferred.
  • Proven experience interpreting financial statements and overseeing budgets.
  • Understanding of or willingness to learn nonprofit finance, CRA regulations, and ONCA/NFP requirements.
  • Demonstrated leadership experience in committees, financial strategy, risk management, or audit oversight.
  • Strong integrity, sound judgment, and commitment to CEE’s mission.
  • Availability to provide appropriate oversight and attend meetings (approx. 5–7 hrs/month).

• Appointed at CEE’s Annual General Meeting for a two-year term.
• Renewable up to three consecutive terms.

• Bi-monthly Board meetings.
• Minimum eight FARC meetings annually.
• Review of financial reports and audit materials before meetings.
• Regular communication with the ED and Director of Finance.
• Participation in CEE community events and stakeholder engagements.

The post CEE Centre For Young Black Professional appeared first on Capacity Canada.

♦

Join the KWMP Dance Club, a vibrant, bi-weekly dance series designed to foster community, fitness, and fun through beginner-to-advanced level dance instruction.

Beginner/Intermediate – 7:00pm to 8:00pm
Intermediate/Advanced – 8:00pm to 9:30pm

KWMP Arts Centre (14 Shaftsbury Drive, Kitchener)

Tailored to people who are new to dance or have basic training, this class is perfect for those who want to explore dance and/or hone their skills in a casual and low-pressure environment. Build confidence in movement with slower-paced instruction, a break down of technique and the introduction of basic choreography – and have fun while you’re doing it!

Class Structure: (1 hour total) Approx. 0.5hr Warm/Technique, 0.5hr Choreography

For more experienced dancers who want to challenge themselves, continue to push their skills and are comfortable picking up choreography. This class will be less focused on the basics and more about exploring musicality, style and more complex moves and combinations. It will include faster-paced choreography, transitions and a focus on performance quality. Great for audition training and taking your dance skills to the next level!

Class Structure: (1.5 Hour total) Approx. 0.5hr Warm Up, 1hr Choreography

$20 per class ($15 for KWMP Members). Sign up for a KWMP Membership.

Register Now

NO REFUNDS WILL BE PROVIDED DUE TO CANCELLATIONS.

The post KWMPs Dance Club is Back appeared first on K-W Musical Productions.

The Youth Impact Project (YIP) is a collaboration between the Children and Youth Planning Table of Waterloo Region (CYPT) and Smart Waterloo Region Innovation Lab (SWRIL). The Youth Impact Project looks to fund youth who are addressing local challenges which are identified through the 2023 Youth Impact Survey results. The funded projects include a focus on supporting youth mental and physical health, increasing feelings of belonging, and responding to climate change and food insecurity.

In 2024, over 100 youth from 15 local organisations pitched their ideas to a panel of nine youth. The Youth Decision-Making Panel (“The Dragons”) decided which projects would receive funding to make their idea a reality. In 2025, CYPT and SWRIL accepted youth applications online, and a team of three youth decided which projects received funding.

BrightSide Bags aims to help teens struggle less as they experience homelessness. These reusable bags are designed to be filled with everyday useful items for homeless teens, or teens in need. Bags will be made available at select locations (like schools, libraries, and shelters) based on which locations are easily accessible to teens in need. 

Applications for the 2025 Youth Impact Project are now closed and 17 youth projects across Waterloo Region received funding. Stay tuned in the coming weeks as we announce the final 2 projects!

Last but not least, we are grateful to our funders United Way Waterloo Region Communities and Region of Waterloo for making the Youth Impact Project possible.

Learn more about the Youth Impact Project here.

The post 2025 Youth Impact Project Showcase: BrightSide Bags appeared first on Children and Youth Planning Table.

Steady state from the Bank of Canada? One might think so, with rates unchanged at 2.25% at today’s policy meeting, but the truth is a little more complex. Uncertainty rules the roost, and not just here in Canada. As our Prime Minster recently said at Davos, we have ‘a rupture in the world order…’

I heard PM Carney’s speech and it was spot on the money. What is going on is of course problematic for anyone trying to gauge the future, including the Bank of Canada. They have stayed the course on rates simply because they have little other choice. According to the Bank, inflation has subsided slightly, making a move lower on rates a future possibility.

Why that is likely is fairly obvious. At the moment, we are saddled with existing tariffs, a re-working of CUSMA, continual on again/off again threats of new tariffs, annexation, and general ill will from the 47th President. He has no respect for conventions, allies, trade agreements or anything else.

Canada has weathered this storm reasonably well but our economy likely stalled out in the last quarter. Trade uncertainty and tariffs are definitely impacting our prospects. Employment figures have risen but few businesses are considering hiring in the near future. With inflation on target, and uncertainty ahead, it makes sense to stay put on rates. Cutting rates now will leave us with fewer options in the future should conditions materially weaken. Some excerpts from the press release below:

Economic growth is projected to be modest in the near term as population growth slows and Canada adjusts to US protectionism. In the projection, consumer spending holds up and business investment strengthens gradually, with fiscal policy providing some support. The Bank projects growth of 1.1% in 2026 and 1.5% in 2027, broadly in line with the October projection. A key source of uncertainty is the upcoming review of the Canada-US-Mexico Agreement.

CPI inflation picked up in December to 2.4%, boosted by base-year effects linked to last winter’s GST/HST holiday. Excluding the effect of changes in taxes, inflation has been slowing since September. The Bank’s preferred measures of core inflation have eased from 3% in October to around 2½% in December. Inflation was 2.1% in 2025 and the Bank expects inflation to stay close to the 2% target over the projection period, with trade-related cost pressures offset by excess supply.

♦

• 1-year fixed insured 4.69%
• 2-year fixed insured 4.29%
• 3-year fixed insured 3.64%
• 4-year fixed insured 3.84%
• 5-year fixed insured 3.74%
• 5-year variable insured 3.40%

Is the mortgage stress test still a thing in 2026? Yes it is, and with the higher rates we’ve seen, it’s even harder to qualify for a mortgage. The rules require you to qualify at either 2% above the rate your lender is offering you or 5.25%, whichever is higher.

Being forced to qualify at the higher stress test rate causes the principal portion of your monthly mortgage payment to shrink, lowering the maximum amount you’ll be allowed to borrow for your mortgage. But the rate you’ll actually pay once you buy is the rate you are offered by your lender. Your monthly payments will be calculated from this lower rate, not the stress test rate. As a result your monthly mortgage bill will be smaller too.

The stress test has been quite unpopular so the federal government has rolled out several new changes to make it easier to buy a home. They are now offering a first time buyer’s credit of $5000, and an increase in withdrawals from your RRSP to $35,000.

In addition existing borrowers are no longer required to re-qualify at the stress test rate when they renew or refinance their mortgages. This will allow borrowers some flexibility if they want to choose a different lender as they are no longer under the pressure of qualifying at an additional two percentage points.

If you’re looking for mortgage info or help please reach out.

The post Mortgage Rates appeared first on Andrew Shackleton.

A UI for nvim-dap

Lua 3.3k Updated Jul 9, 2025

A DAP-compatible JavaScript debugger. Used in VS Code, VS, + more

TypeScript 1.9k Updated Jan 30

♦

Out and About Waterloo Region’s Project Volunteer brought a group to Waterloo’s Winterloo Festival this past Saturday, January 24. The volunteers braved the cold and helped out with line management and getting parents to sign up their kids for the Dog Sledding Adventure. Hana ensured kids were safe and gave them some encouragement when they were nervous to try out the sled ride. David kept things in order making sure people knew where to sign up and where to line up properly. “It was a lot of fun seeing the kids having fun and getting to pet the dogs too,” Hana described. The Winterloo organizers were great at making sure we had lots of opportunities to take a break inside and warm up. When asked why he likes to volunteer, David said, “I like to get out of the house and it’s fun.” You can learn more about Out and About Waterloo Region by clicking below.

Click here to learn more

♦♦♦

♦♦ ♦

♦Ice Cream 4 Breakfast
Saturday, February 7
10:00 AM – 4:00 PM
FREE Admission
Four All Ice Cream – 75 King St. S, Waterloo
Four All Ice Cream – 97 King St. W, Kitchener

Set your alarm, grab your comfiest pajamas, and join Four All Ice Cream for a day of breakfast-themed scoops, surprises, and community fun. They will be launching a limited-time breakfast flavoured ice cream. Come early if you want to get a gift bundle or have a chance to win an exclusive Four All duffle bag. A photobooth will be at the Kitchener location with instant photo printouts from 10 am – 12 pm. 10% of sales will be donated to the Canadian Mental Health Association to support local mental health services. This is the best excuse ever to have ice cream for breakfast!

Click here for more info

♦Valentine’s Vixens
Saturday, February 7
6:30 PM – 10:00 PM
$31.59
Ken Seiling Museum – 10 Huron Road, Kitchener

Celebrate love in all forms! Join us for drinks, snacks, crafts, and community connection, with Ontario’s hottest drag queens. Celebrate love in all forms at Valentine’s Vixens: A Drag Show! Join performers Paris Matik and Destiny, hosted by Sasha Tease, at the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum for a night of glitter, glamour, and community connection. Sip on themed drinks, make a valentine for your special someone, and enjoy the talents of Ontario’s hottest drag queens! Come early to make a vintage valentine, take a fun photo with your group, and check out local Queer community services and organizations!

Click here for more info

♦SWAY’s Ramadan Market
Saturday, February 7
12:00 PM – 8:00 PM
FREE Admission
Bingemans Conference Centre – 425 Bingemans Centre Dr. Kitchener

Get ready for an unforgettable experience as SWAY proudly presents the 5th annual Ramadan Market 2026! Embrace the spirit of Ramadan in a celebration that promises to be unique, vibrant, and filled with cultural richness. Enjoy live music, a chance to win prizes and shopping from a wide variety of items from cultural clothing to delectable treats. This market is a treasure trove of cultural delights.

Click here for more info

♦

♦Midtown Radio is Kitchener-Waterloo’s hub for local music and audio. They are a non-profit, volunteer-led, organization aimed at advancing the creative arts within our community. Midtown Radio has a 24 hours a day, 7 days a week constant stream of music from over 200 KW and regional musicians and artists, and it’s totally commercial free! You can create a local podcast and Midtown Radio will not only host it for you, but they ensure it’s available on all relevant streaming and podcasting services. Do you have a great idea for a podcast, audio book, song, radio drama or something else and just need some mics and some know-how? They will help you with tech and step by step advice.

Midtown Radio is proud to host live local music showcases in different venues around KW. They always need support putting on these events from volunteers that are interested in supporting local music. If you are a current or aspiring audio artist, musician, broadcaster, podcaster, or technician or just want a cool volunteer job in the community they would love to work with you!

Contact Midtown Radio

Listen to Midtown Radio

The post January 28, 2026: What’s Happening in Your Neighbourhood? appeared first on KW Habilitation.

Despite the dustiness of this blog, KW Awesome has been running approximately every two months without interruption! Sometimes summers slow down, sometimes we postpone a month. But we haven’t stopped. This year, we’ll try to keep this blog up to date!

But more importantly, you haven’t stopped either. Amazing people all over Waterloo Region continue to show up for the community in creative, thoughtful, and delightful ways. Funding from the Awesome Foundation is just a tiny part of the whole picture, and we only manage to help a small number of the amazing projects happening in our community.

But late 2025, we figured… maybe we could be a slightly less tiny help to you. $1000 has been the prize for well over a decade. But a few things have changed:

1. Things are more expensive now
2. The number of trustees we have can consistently sustain a larger prize

So we’ve agreed that our prize is now $1500.

What is this again?

The Awesome Foundation has chapters world wide that all roughly do the same thing, though each chapter develops its own character and norms. We think ours is pretty cool. Every two months, KW Awesome invites ordinary people to pitch projects that might ‘make Waterloo Region more awesome’. We award one project $1500 in cash (usually by e-transfer). There’s no reporting or follow up required.

Who are you?

We’re just a group of ordinary people who agree to each donate $100 each pitch night. Our donations are modest compared to the magnitude of work the pitchers are doing. And we hate paperwork.

How often do pitch nights occur?

Roughly every two months, we invite people from our community to pitch ideas that would make the community more Awesome! It could be a specific event, a community group, a workshop, a festival, a social initiative, a community garden, etc, etc.

How do I apply?

Go here. It’s a very short form! We’ll get in touch with you if you’re invited to the pitch night.

I just missed the deadline

Apply anyway – sometimes we pull in late applications. Otherwise we’ll look at your application for the next round in two months.

How do you pick who to invite?

Conversations and some judgment. To maximize your chances of getting selected:

1. You should have a pretty clear idea of what you want to do. What is your overall project, and what would you use $1500 for
2. You should be able to explain how it makes Waterloo Region More Awesome.

We’re pretty sentimental about grassroots projects, but we have awarded grants to established local organizations, too. There are lots of ways to do cool stuff.

We typically but not always shy away from projects surrounding private businesses. We also typically but not always shy away from funding personal art projects that don’t have a community programming aspect to them. If you’re invited to apply, we’ll send you more details.

I don’t like public speaking

That sounds pretty normal, and you’re not really going to let that stop you from doing something cool in our community, are you??? Many trustees don’t like public speaking either!

We try to make things pretty relaxed – just do your best and communicate in whatever way feels comfortable to you… except for using slides. And we have a nice friendly Q&A afterwards if there are any additional things we’re curious about. The whole thing only takes a few minutes.

How do you choose who wins?

Choosing who to award the grant to takes a lot of conversation and is often really difficult. We use a ranked ballot system. We aren’t generally judging presentation polish – we really try to think about the actual projects being done.

What if I don’t win?

Do your thing anyway, we’re not important enough to stop you. We really really wish we could help everyone, but we can’t (…yet). One of our favourite things about pitch nights is that the people behind different projects get to meet each other, and trustees also like making personal connections. It’s really wonderful to see ideas getting swapped, schemes being hatched, people volunteering on the spot, or offering to make introductions.

What about Cambridge?

Ok, ok. Our name is a misnomer. But we’ve had it for a long time and we don’t like paperwork, remember? We welcome pitches from anywhere in Waterloo Region. That means: Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge, and the townships (North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich)!

I don’t have a pitch. Can I watch a pitch night?

Yes! We typically host pitch nights at Together We’re Bitter Co-operative Brewing. Watch our home page for details!

How do you know a winner will use the money properly?

Trust is a beautiful thing.

-Mohan

The post 2026! first appeared on KW Awesome Foundation.

Setting environment variables from a file

TypeScript 1.8k Updated Jan 30

Organization: FACS Foundation

Position: Volunteer Board Member (Legal and Accounting)

Job Description: Since 1991, FACS Foundation has raised funds for programs that prevent child abuse and neglect and keep children with their families in their communities. The Foundation helps to address the root causes of harm, which have profound effects on family welfare and our community. The Foundation funds programs and services delivered by Family & Children’s Services of the Waterloo Region, grassroots organizations, and other community partners focused on early intervention and prevention for the safety and well-being of children, youth, and families.

The Foundation Board is recruiting for several new members with law and/or accounting experience, as well as minimum three years of governance experience on a board of directors. We are seeking a Board composition that reflects the diversity of our community and represents the populations served by FACS.

We are committed to anti-racism, equity, and inclusion, and we encourage individuals of diverse age, gender, sexual orientation or are from the First Nation, Inuit, Metis or Black community to self-identify and apply. In addition to diverse lived experiences we are looking for differing perspectives and skills to govern that support an ever-changing environment focused on creating innovation and excellence. Change-makers with an entrepreneurial mindset who can help transform our vision to purposeful action are welcome to apply.

The Board of Directors provides governance oversight and leadership to the operations and performance of the Foundation, based on its charitable purposes. This is a voluntary position with a time commitment of approximately 2- 4 hours per month. Board members are additionally encouraged to participate in committees of the Board. Board members discharge a fiduciary duty related to the position of trust and obligation to act in good faith to uphold the best interests of FACS Foundation as a Board. FACS Foundation Board members play an important advocacy role on behalf of our region and are called upon to raise funds and support decisions that serve the best interests of our community.

We welcome applications and will review them until the position has been filled. If you are interested in being helping children, youth and families thrive in Waterloo Region, please send your resume and cover letter to Jill.stoddart@facsfoundation.org.

*We appreciate all interest, however, only applicants chosen for an interview will be contacted*

The post FACS Foundation appeared first on Capacity Canada.

We live in Artificial Intelligence Times. Futurist Times! Nowadays, everything IS math, computer systems and geometry for energy-efficient and humane algorithms…

Spatial Relations. Focus & Flows.

This is an article focusing systems change and systems design on an actual urgent Dutch racism and citizen-debt problem and the SYNERGY systems solutions that are INSIDE the problem.

Dance dance dancing an abundance with paradoxes and more. It is the feminine way of dealing with life’s sh*tties and designing new systems with AI (scenarios) and blockchains (smart contracts).

Time flies, I work already 35+ years among men in technology. I truly love my male colleagues but oh oh oh… women colleagues have often more sense… Because, WHAT do you use all those sciences and technologies for if not for healthy humanities?

And while many of us just surf the electromagnetic leyline grids of our fast-spinning planet with our superficial intuition just like migrant birds, dolphins and whales do, I founded an Abundance Academy in 2012 full of life-sciences, humanities, and design solutions to urgent human system problems…

SYNERGY & biomimicry patterns.

The problem often holds the solutions INSIDE.

Our easy method of ESG analysis (environmental and social governance, blue-green economy) involves PLACE ~ TIME | SPACE in the rhythms.

TIMING is how our planet works for real. it has nothing to do with time-management like the top-picture, since our Old Greeks, the language we speak in technology and Pythagoras math, have 2 words for time.

• Kairos = cosmological grids, weather, FEELING time go slow or fast
• Chronos = measured time. Not real time of course, but a figment of French imagination and Swiss clocks 400 years ago.

Old-fashioned, since Newton is now being replaced by Einstein and there will be more megalomaniac men trying to give us “truths”. You can go to Mother Moon and Venus or Father Mars with it, but that’s about all.

It has little to do with actual LIFE or SOLUTIONS to real-life problems. Or does it? Give us in the comments YOUR opinions.

Strands of accumulated wisdom matter for Education 4 ALL…

Our easy method of ESG involves PLACE ~ TIME | SPACE in the rhythms. Be Here & Now. Analyze. Design Solutions.

Quantum is just Time=Space and the direction of math strands is inversely related. But it’s what you DO with your quantum biology brain cells that matters most… The cosmology-AI teams are making the REALTIME AI-SYNERGY systems right now and I’m part of their rhythm-teams.

Exciting women-in-tech work for Healthy & Humanity.

In 2026, the Einstein Telescope will most probably be built in my Dutch area Limburg, which is also Max Verstappen’s area of minimum materials for maximum speed and maximum noise. Hahahahahaha…

Men and their loud combustion engines…

Quantum explained simply? If TIME goes bigger, SPACE goes smaller. A mirror. They don’t know how exactly yet, do they? Read our cosmology and biology-math-professor Johan Gielis and you might make sense of it all…

Helical Heartmath 💓 Nature Rhythms. Algorithms. The Heart as a rope model in a Unified Field of Moebius Math. And whales hunting without nets with sonar bubbles “Tuned for Attraction” in a Fibonacci Spiral.

So, how do we make all that math simple with ESG — environmental and social governance? Institutional toxicity???

Here is a suggestion I give my students and my own Dutch government. Systems Change on 2 levels:

• compassionate leadership
• computer systems

You take an urgent, BIG, institutional ESG problem. Like our Dutch childcare benefit scandal in 2021. It’s still not solved. Suicides. Child-abuse. Racism. And the aftermath is still wrecking lives and children’s futures.

It’s a huge shame! What does our government DO about it? Nothing! They debate and talk about left and right and whatever more…

What would be a better Dutch Design of Systems Change?

Step 1: You distill the urgent problem to its 2 or 3 root causes. What are those in the case of the childcare benefit scandal?

🔥 INSTITUTIONAL RACISM — people were called fraudsters based on non-Dutch sounding names. My son-in-law was one of them! I got angry! And then I turned my anger into education for young designers.

🌀 TIME-MATH — people had to pay back what they had spent on costs for childcare. You can’t UNDO the childcare. So why UNDO the benefits? Gaia Theory = Exponential Growth, tipping points, turning points: a fault of 500 euro became an exponential 90,000 euro by the TIME officials found out how their system had failed.

It wasn’t the fault of parents. But they paid the price. Not the officials. Officials stayed on board with their safe salaries. And even if they would have been fired they would have gotten benefits — paid for by — citizens and simple working-class people who take risks as well and never have a safety net.… White-collar “criminals” make laws that suit them, not their bosses, the “normal” entrepreneurial working-class people…

🤢 SUICIDE — in the end, some parents killed themselves over being called “racist names” and over these huge debts. Children were taken from their parents because their companies went bankrupt, they lost their houses, they became homeless, and marriages did not survive the huge debt and blame-stress.

Never blame. Never shame…

Or put the “blame” between brackets… hahahahahaha. I do have to explain the bias of officials with a bit of passion, don’t I? I’m utterly angry at our government for making a mess and then… not solving this mess quicker…

My Abundance Academy students have to be aware that if they choose government jobs, they will be chosen and paid by working-class citizens and should make healthy systems for ALL, not just for themselves and their safe salaries…

The problems hold their solutions INSIDE. So, while you unravel the problem, the solutions appear in your mind’s eye. That’s called The Journey. The TAO. Unravel, experience, and you understand more…

… solutions…

It’s a huge shame! What does our government DO about it? Nothing! They debate left and right…

😭 maybe we can start with a Japanese solution of showing urgency and CARE - the responsible technologists can go on his/her/their knees and apologize from the depths of their hearts. 💞 Show real remorse.

Public blame taken by government officials who are in our citizen service and should be bowing to our needs and our safety instead of debating about left or right “being right”. What form should that apology take? I don’t know, that’s YOUR leadership style…

The Math = Gaia Theory = Exponential Growth: a fault of 500 euro became an exponential 90,000 euro by the TIME officials found out how THEIR system had failed.

The Humanity = Show you are responsible for your team that made a mistake and that you CARE. Promise to solve it ALL for prevention. And make your promise come true by perseverance.

The computer-systems itself should be repaired too of course.

❤️‍🩹 Repair for prevention: 1st root cause — racism — is easy to solve: anonymous systems. A number instead of a name. No picture. No gender. No age. Just anonymous.

❤️‍🩹 The 2nd root cause is about TIME, SPEED & DEBTS accumulating. Accumulation is the biggest problem in our systems always. Accumulation gives toxicity, accumulation gives exponential growth of toxicity…

AI now can solve it all without accumulative debts. In this case, NEVER EVER EVER ask for money back when institutional system fail.

• Quicker decisions! SUPER-FAST like a cheetah.
• Do NOT repair benefit-mistakes. Get the money from somewhere else in the system. And repair the math in the system immediately too, MISTAKE PREVENTION! Not repair.
• Get these victims new homes and give children immediately back to their parents. The longer it takes, the more the parents go down in self-pity. The longer it takes, the more children get used to their foster parents. They don’t want to go back to poverty and reality. Both are “biology of mind”.

Do you understand now why TIME (together with PLACE & SPACE) is crucial for ESG systems redesigns? TIME, TIMING, SPEED.

The Math = Gaia Theory = Exponential Growth: a fault of 500 euro became an exponential 90,000 euro by the TIME officials found out how their system had failed.

Systems change can be done with all kinds of modern math, energy-efficient algorithms, Web3.0 and heart-math-rhythms too.

• Blockchains — seems logical in this case, since accumulating debt IS a money system and crypto is the new way of DeFi. Decentralized finance and trust in a system. Smart contracts. Trustful interconnections.
• AI is the Artificial Intelligence with which you make predictions and solve the matter of never asking money back. You can IMMERSE future scenarios into your system and this is what most modern governments and modern companies are doing these days.

For me, in my biological mind, part masculine, part feminine, Blockchains and AI are like Life-Sciences. Paradoxes of male and female.

Seeming opposites but you need them both.

In a systems picture, blockchain and Artificial Intelligence (AI) represent two opposing but complementary forces — decentralized, immutable, and deterministic validation (Blockchain) versus centralized, probabilistic, and adaptive intelligence (AI).

Blockchain serves as the decentralized foundation for truth and trust, while AI serves as the engine for futurist insights and automation.

Happy Code like a Girl, dear women and girls in tech.

Make sure your codes are always used to solve a real & urgent human problem! Boris Lavrov wrote an old (2017) but insightful piece in the Toggle Tds Archive for The Medium Newsletter. The deeper HOW.

BLOCKCHAIN VS. ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE

And for the real scholars, here is an insightful PDF about how blockchains and AI can be used like complementary opposites.

Love from the leadership world of Abundance 4 ALL

Desiree — Woman in Nature... *by Nature *by Design

What Can AI Technology Do for Future Healthy Humanity? was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Last Thursday Julian Gavaghan and the Woolwich Observer published the following story titled "Region left scrambling after water shortage poses development challenges".  Overall it is an excellent article and I say this despite recent criticism from myself aimed towards both the Observer and particularly the K-W Record. In the Record's case it had to do with multiple errors in a November 15/25 Record article describing the Elmira Water Crisis and the failed 2028 cleanup. Last Thursday's Observer article delineates the sensitive jurisdictional areas shared between the Region and the Townships and cities in regards to development growth. 

I am somewhat concerned when mayor Shantz suggests that "We will have to work with our development community to ensure new neighbourhoods have the services they need." Woolwich's priority right now should be sustaining services including water and sewage to our established neighbourhoods who have been paying the freight through taxes for many decades. Secondly at least mayor Shantz suggested that Woolwich is working "with" not "for" the development community because it often looks like that. 

The Region of Waterloo has approximately 100 groundwater wells however lots of them are contaminated with industrial pollution including Trichloroethylene, benzene and NDMA. The Region have always found it politic NOT to discuss those MAJOR boo boos. Besides the industrial pollution there is also agricultural pollution from nitrates and Glyphosate as well as salt from our roads. Gravel pits are also a threat to our groundwater although they are rarely denied permits to either expand or dig new ones even closer to potential markets saving transportation costs to the aggregates industry.  

The Observer article also points out the very negative effects our current Conservative Premier has had upon our water sources with less oversight and Ministerial Zoning Orders. There was also discussion of the huge costs of building a pipeline from Lake Erie to Waterloo Region. I might suggest that perhaps further discussion around the alleged impossibility of mixing the two water systems with their different disinfection systems (chlorine vs. chloaramines)  would be appropriate.

The luxury real estate market is stepping into 2026 with confidence, clarity, and a noticeable shift in buyer behaviour. While North America’s luxury sector closed 2025 with resilience and renewed momentum, Waterloo Region is mirroring that strength in a way that’s especially relevant for local luxury homeowners.

Here’s what the latest data reveals and what it actually means if you’re buying or selling luxury real estate in Waterloo Region.

December 2025 delivered an unexpectedly strong finish for luxury real estate across North America. Instead of the usual seasonal slowdown, luxury sales increased month-over-month for both single-family and attached properties. Single-family luxury sales rose 9.4% from November, while attached luxury properties surged nearly 16%.

Median prices remained stable overall, reinforcing that this is not a hype-driven rebound. This is a strategic, demand-supported market shift.
Inventory expanded across most luxury segments, giving buyers more choice, while sellers remained disciplined and intentional. The result is a healthier, more balanced luxury environment heading into 2026, driven less by speculation and more by lifestyle priorities, financial planning, and long-term value.

Luxury buyers today are more informed, more selective, and more purposeful. Design quality, lifestyle functionality, wellness features, and location relevance are now just as influential as price.

While global luxury trends matter, real estate is always local. And Waterloo Region’s luxury market is quietly outperforming expectations.

Waterloo Region’s single-family luxury market closed December in seller-favoured territory, supported by strong absorption and stable pricing.

Key highlights:

• Luxury benchmark price: $1,100,000
• Total luxury inventory: 134 homes
• Total luxury sales: 28 homes
• Sales ratio: 21% (Seller’s Market)
• Median luxury sale price: $1,297,500
• Median days on market: 56 days
• Sale-to-list price ratio: 95.92%

The most active price band was $1.3M–$1.399M, confirming where serious luxury demand is currently concentrated.

This data signals a market where well-positioned, properly marketed luxury homes are still moving, but buyers are more analytical, and execution matters more than ever.

The attached luxury segment in Waterloo Region is trending more balanced, offering opportunity on both sides of the transaction.

Key highlights:

• Luxury benchmark price: $700,000
• Total inventory: 70 homes
• Total sales: 9 homes
• Sales ratio: 13% (Balanced Market)
• Median luxury sale price: $735,000
• Median days on market: 45 days
• Sale-to-list price ratio: 95.07%

The most active attached luxury price range was $740K–$759K, showing where lifestyle-driven buyers are stepping in.

This balanced environment gives buyers more negotiating room, while sellers who price and present strategically are still achieving strong results.

Across North America, luxury real estate has evolved beyond status and square footage.

Today’s high-end buyers are prioritizing:

• Lifestyle functionality
• Wellness and home performance
• Long-term adaptability
• Location-based value
• Design and move-in readiness
• Smart and energy-efficient features

Luxury homes are being evaluated as life assets, not just properties.

This same behaviour is now clearly showing up in Waterloo Region. Buyers are slower to act, but quicker to commit when a home aligns with their lifestyle, values, and future plans.

Sellers, meanwhile, are entering the market more selectively. Pricing is becoming increasingly data-driven, presentation is non-negotiable, and marketing quality is a defining success factor.

This is not a market for testing prices or relying on generic marketing.

Luxury sellers in 2026 win when they focus on:

• Precision pricing
• Lifestyle-forward presentation
• Strategic exposure
• Elevated branding and storytelling
• Data-backed positioning

Waterloo Region remains one of Ontario’s most resilient and quietly competitive luxury markets. But buyers are sophisticated, and homes that don’t align with expectations are sitting longer and negotiating harder.

The opportunity is strong. The margin for error is not.

Luxury buyers now have more leverage than they did a year ago, without losing market stability.

This is a window where buyers can:

• Be more selective
• Negotiate intelligently
• Target long-term value
• Secure lifestyle-driven properties
• Enter the market without speculative pressure

Balanced conditions in the attached segment and seller-favoured momentum in detached luxury homes mean strategy matters. The right property, priced properly, still attracts competition. The wrong one creates opportunity.

Waterloo Region’s luxury market is entering 2026 aligned with the strongest North American luxury trends: stability, strategic demand, expanding choice, and lifestyle-driven value.

For sellers, this is a market that rewards preparation and professional execution.
For buyers, this is a market that rewards patience, clarity, and local expertise.

Luxury real estate is no longer about timing hype. It’s about positioning assets correctly in a smarter, more intentional marketplace.

The post Waterloo Region Luxury Real Estate Market Update – January 2026 appeared first on Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent - The Deutschmann Team.

Thank God they are because politicians who don't fear the public unfortunately often hold them in contempt. In a perfect world there would be a constant level of mutual respect but that world if it ever was, no longer is. Our local papers here include the Woolwich Observer and the Waterloo Region Record (K-W Record).  I think Cambridge still have a weekly newspaper (Cambridge Times?) and Waterloo (the Chronicle). Certainly the papers here in Elmira have been all over the Region for their missteps from kicking homeless people out of their tents, to amassing a 700 acre industrial site from agricultural lands in Wilmot to screwing up assessing our water supply.  There are lots more including too much money to local police and too little to social agencies and mental health supports for the population. 

According to Luisa D'Amato's Opinion piece in today's Record there will be further answers provided at this Wednesday's Regional council meeting. Luisa is also advising that an Open Town Hall meeting is needed to regain and restore public trust. It would certainly help if it is done properly versus otherwise. A couple of points I must raise from Terry Pender's article in last Saturday's Record: Why is the Greenbrook wellfield still shut down after the ammonia/chlorine explosion there a few years back? If it is simple failure to purchase or repair damaged equipment then shame on the Region. On the other hand if it is due to the long known contamination plume being drawn from the Ottawa St. Landfill to the west, contaminating the wellfield, then fess up. Both Uniroyal and Varnicolor and God knows how many other industries dumped their toxic wastes into that landfill whether legally or illegally. Varnicolor got caught at least once illegally dumping liquid solvents  in drums into that landfill. Secondly we are advised that the aquifer that the Region found last summer to have low water levels was AFB2. Now if that is accurate that is a huge problem. Just look at the conceptual drawing included in Mr. Pender's article.  If AFB2 water levels are low then according to that drawing probably so are AFB1 located above it with only a partial aquitard between them.  This makes AFB2 a semi-confined aquifer versus a fully confined aquifer. Having two aquifers with a direct hydraulic connection would indicate that low water levels in the lower one probably also means the same with the one above. Unless... the Region are back playing games just like CRA did here in Elmira for decades picking and choosing inappropriate monitoring locations in order to fudge groundwater elevations.

A skeptic might also suggest that giving answers to most regional politicians is a waste of time based upon their past useage of data and information supplied to them by staff. Perhaps in the current critical climate they might focus their attention a little better. 

A vulnerability scanner for container images and filesystems

Go 11.5k Updated Jan 29

CLI tool and library for generating a Software Bill of Materials from container images and filesystems

Go 8.3k Updated Jan 30

Agent Skills to help developers using AI agents with Supabase

TypeScript 943 Updated Jan 30

A drop-in, 5-20x faster, experimental Homebrew alternative

Rust 4.5k Updated Jan 30

♦

KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of pitcher Evan Elliott.

Elliott was a key piece to the Kitchener rotation in 2025, making 12 starts on the season.

The former Texas Rangers and Toronto Blue Jays farmhand had a 6.86 ERA in 60.1 innings of work. He had 68 strikeouts to 35 walks, and finished with a 2-4 record.

He was a 15th round pick to Texas in 2021 and spent four seasons in the Arizona and Florida Complex leagues with the Rangers and Jays.

"I am excited to have Evan returning to our pitching staff," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"Evan's high powered fastball and plus breaking ball make him an uncomfortable at bat for opposing hitters. His versatility to be able to start or come out of the bullpen will also be extremely valuable."

============

EVAN ELLIOTT

• Bats/Pitches: R/R
• Hometown: Toronto, ON
• Birthdate: January 10, 2001
• Pronunciation: EV-in ELL-ee-uht

It’s a reality that millions of professionals face in Corporate.

It was 2015. The summer night was heavy, and the office air was stagnant. I was nursing my 10th cup of coffee, staring at a vending machine that seemed to judge me for how often I pressed the button. It was 10 PM.

The next morning, the clients arrived. I sat there, heart racing, data ready. But they didn’t even look at it. They detoured to a completely different topic.

Later at lunch, I asked my manager about the data I’d sacrificed my sleep for. She shrugged. “I didn’t think they’d ask for it, but I wanted us to be prepared just in case.”

My jaw dropped. I thought about the 10 PM cab I almost missed. I thought about the 10 other times when this had happened in the last 6 months. I realized that while I was busy being “available” for these “just-in-case” tasks, my actual KRAs (Key Responsibility Areas) were gathering dust.

A train of thoughts engulfed me, “Is my career growth getting a massive hit because of this Fake Urgency ?”

Years went by, and here I am.

Through years of experience and mentoring from senior leaders, I developed a 4-step framework to protect my time and my career.

1. The art of saying No
2. Verify the deadline
3. Protect your deep work
4. Fear of Layoff

Don’t say ‘No’ immediately. Instead, ask for the trade-off. When a new ‘urgent’ task hits your desk, use this script:

‘I understand this is a priority. To ensure I give this the focus it needs, which of my current high-priority tasks should I move to the back burner to make room for this?”

This forces your manager to acknowledge your workload and take responsibility for the prioritization.

Often, “urgent” is just a default setting for a manager.

“Ask them: ‘What is the impact if this is delivered tomorrow morning instead of tonight?’”

You will be surprised how your manager can relieve you from the stress.

Your value as an engineer is the quality of the systems that you build, not how fast you reply to Slack messages.
Block two hours a day where your status is ‘Away.’ Use that for the heavy lifting work.

This is a bitter truth. Layoffs hardly depend on how good or bad you were. It’s a strategic decision taken by the company. Do not let fear of layoff overshadow your growth as a professional.

If you find yourself in the cycle of fake urgency, remember: Availability is not a skill; understanding when to say NO is. The most respected professionals aren’t the ones who do everything — they are the ones who know exactly what not to do.

Thank you for joining my journey

If you enjoy corporate stories and want me to help you grow in the industry, then click ‘Follow’ to get my latest deep dives delivered to your feed.

Is “Fake Urgency” Sabotaging Your Career Growth? was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.