Join our team in the role of Member Engagement, Lifecycle & Experience!

About Us

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce (GKWCC) provides strong, continued service to over 1700 members in one of Canada’s marquee pioneering and entrepreneurial business communities. For the past 140 years, dating back to the Chamber’s founding as the Berlin Board of Trade, we have expanded into one of the largest and most innovative Chambers in Canada by focusing on the needs of all our members, big and small. For more information, please visit greaterkwchamber.com.

About the Role

The GKWCC is seeking an Member Engagement, Lifecycle & Experience role who is the owner of the member lifecycle experience. The role is around onboarding, activation, ongoing engagement, expansion, leadership development, retention, advocacy, referrals, personalization, revenue support, and lifecycle metrics.

With the guidance of the COO, coordinate and execute at a high level to perform the following tasks:

Member-Focused Tasks

• Design and manage the full member lifecycle experience from onboarding to renewal
• Lead the new member onboarding journey after the sale
• Ensure new members understand how to access Chamber value early
• Recommend first events, programs, introductions, and opportunities for new members
• Help new members become active within the first 30–90 days
• Identify member goals and connect them to relevant Chamber services, events, peer groups, committees, and contacts
• Build relationships with members beyond the primary contact
• Encourage members to add additional employees or department contacts to their profile
• Support contact expansion within member companies
• Monitor member engagement and identify members who may be inactive or at risk
• Conduct re-engagement outreach with inactive or low-engagement members
• Reinforce Chamber value before renewal periods
• Support retention conversations by helping members understand the value they have received
• Identify opportunities for members to participate more deeply in Chamber activities
• Connect members to committees, roundtables, Peer2Peer groups, speaking opportunities, sponsorship discussions, or leadership pathways
• Identify high-engagement members who may become ambassadors, referral sources, committee members, or future leaders
• Encourage member referrals, testimonials, case studies, and advocacy participation
• Support member recognition and success story opportunities
• Provide personalized recommendations based on member interests, industry, size, engagement level, and goals
• Ensure members feel welcomed, connected, supported, and valued throughout their membership

Operational Tasks

• Develop and maintain the member lifecycle framework
• Create onboarding workflows, checklists, scripts, and timelines
• Coordinate onboarding touchpoints with Sales, Membership Operations, Events, and Marketing
• Define engagement stages such as onboarding, activation, ongoing engagement, retention, renewal, and advocacy
• Work with Analytics to define engagement indicators, lifecycle KPIs, and at-risk member triggers
• Review engagement dashboards and member activity reports
• Use CRM/AMS (customer relationship management / association management system) data to identify inactive members, single-contact members, high-potential members, and renewal-risk members
• Maintain engagement tracking notes in the AMS/CRM
• Coordinate re-engagement campaigns with Membership Operations, Marketing, and Analytics
• Provide input into segmentation models and engagement quadrants
• Help design member communication journeys for onboarding, activation, retention, and renewal support
• Track progress against engagement KPIs, including activation rate, time to first event, repeat participation, contact expansion, and re-engagement rate
• Provide leadership with updates on member engagement trends, risks, and opportunities
• Support campaign planning by identifying member groups needing targeted outreach
• Coordinate with Membership Operations to ensure member records are updated after engagement activity
• Coordinate with Analytics to evaluate whether engagement efforts are improving participation and retention
• Coordinate with Finance on members with renewal or overdue concerns where value reinforcement may help
• Coordinate with Events to align programming with member interests and lifecycle needs
• Coordinate with Sales on handoff from new member sale to onboarding
• Coordinate with Marketing on testimonials, success stories, referrals, and member communications
• Support committee and leadership pipeline tracking
• Maintain process documentation for engagement workflows
• Recommend improvements to the member experience based on feedback, behaviour, and data
• Support AMS/CRM implementation by defining lifecycle, engagement, segmentation, and relationship-management requirements
• Identify opportunities to use automation or AI to improve onboarding, engagement tracking, and member follow-up

Other Duties as Assigned 

As you would expect, the chamber is unpredictable and requires you to adapt to many different situations. As such, there are always “other duties” that come up unexpectedly that you should be prepared for.

About You

Member Lifecycle Mindset

The applicant needs to understand that engagement is not a single event or campaign; it is a full member journey. They should bring the ability to guide members from onboarding through activation, deeper participation, renewal, referrals, and leadership opportunities.

Systems Design and Personalized Member Engagement This role requires strong systems design ability to build and execute repeatable engagement programs serving 1,500 members. The successful candidate must design practical workflows, member segmentation, CRM/AMS processes, automation, and follow-up systems that deliver measurable results. They must also connect one-on-one with individual members, understand their goals, and provide tailored support and introductions, using sound judgment to identify when personal outreach will have the greatest impact.

Relationship-Building Strength This person must be a strong connector who can build trust with members, understand their goals, and help them find value in the Chamber. They should be comfortable reaching out, listening, making introductions, and strengthening relationships over time.

Strategic Engagement Thinking The applicant should bring the ability to think beyond attendance numbers and focus on meaningful participation. They need to understand how to move members from passive to active, from active to invested, and from invested to advocates, ambassadors, or leaders.

Retention and Value Focus The role requires someone who understands that retention is built through ongoing value. The applicant should be able to identify at-risk or inactive members, reinforce the value of membership, and support renewal conversations before members disengage.

Strong Communication Skills The applicant must communicate clearly, professionally, and persuasively with members, staff, volunteers, and leadership. They should be able to write strong follow-up messages, lead welcome conversations, explain member benefits, and present engagement opportunities in a compelling way.

Data-Informed Decision Making This person does not need to be the data analyst, but they must be comfortable using data to guide action. They should be able to interpret engagement reports, identify patterns, understand member behaviour, and use dashboards or CRM information to prioritize outreach.

Program and Experience Design The applicant should bring the ability to design practical member journeys, onboarding processes, engagement pathways, and re-engagement campaigns. They need to think in terms of member experience, not just individual tasks or isolated programs.

Collaboration Across Teams The Engagement role will work closely with Membership Operations, Analytics, Sales, Events, Marketing, Finance, and senior leadership. The applicant needs to bring a collaborative mindset and the ability to coordinate across departments without duplicating or taking over other roles.

Initiative and Follow-Through This role needs someone who can proactively identify opportunities and act on them. The applicant should bring strong follow-through, persistence, and the ability to move members from interest to action through timely, consistent, and thoughtful engagement.

Professional Judgment and Diplomacy The applicant will often be dealing with members who are inactive, uncertain about value, considering cancellation, or ready for deeper involvement. They need to bring sound judgment, discretion, tact, and the ability to handle sensitive conversations with professionalism.

Growth and Revenue Awareness The applicant should understand that engagement supports growth. They should be able to identify opportunities for referrals, testimonials, additional contacts, sponsorship interest, event participation, committee involvement, and other ways members can deepen their relationship with the Chamber.

Adaptability and Continuous Improvement The applicant should be comfortable working in a changing environment where systems, data, processes, and member expectations continue to evolve. They should bring a willingness to test, learn, improve, and help build a stronger member experience model over time.

Application Process

To Apply: Please send your application to hr@greaterkwchamber.com. When applying, please provide a resume, and a cover letter.

Next Steps: We thank all those who apply, however, only those candidates who are selected to move forward in the application process will be contacted. The posting will remain open until the position is filled. The start date for the successful candidate is flexible, but preferably they will start in 2026.

The Specifics

Hours of Work: Monday – Friday, 8:30am – 4:30pm, with a 30-minute paid lunch for a total of 37.5 hours each week. Hybrid work model with 2 days a week in the office. (subject to change)

Compensation: $45,000 – $65,000 annually, plus benefits. Placement within the range and the position level will reflect the successful candidate’s relevant experience, qualifications and demonstrated skills.

Benefits:

• Healthcare including dental and vision plan, as well as an EAP program, which all starts 3 months into employment.
• RRSP matching, which starts 3 months into employment.
• 2 weeks’ vacation + stat holidays
• Monthly mental wellness half-day Friday (subject to change)
• Hybrid work model. (subject to change)
• Professional Development opportunities.
• Parking included.

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce believes that everyone is free to be their true self and receive the same respect and opportunity, regardless of ethnicity, gender, culture, identity, sexual orientation, age, beliefs, language, or disability. We have an inclusive work environment that is a safe and welcoming space for all and we encourage applications from all qualified candidates. If you require accommodation at any time during the recruitment process, please email hr@greaterkwchamber.com.

The post Job Posting: Member Engagement, Lifecycle & Experience Role appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

♦

On October 24, 550 supporters, community leaders, volunteers, partners, staff, and friends gathered at Bingemans Marshall Hall for Friendship Dinner 2026.

Together, we celebrated an extraordinary moment in House of Friendship’s history: the upcoming opening of Cedar Village, the official introduction of Friendship Village as a connected housing campus, and the announcement of Phase 2, which will bring 70 new affordable housing apartments to Waterloo Region.

Throughout the evening, the message that everyone deserves a place to belong remained at the heart of every story shared from the stage.

Board Chair Alan Uffelmann reflected on a year of momentum for House of Friendship and the collective effort that has brought Friendship Village to life.

He reminded guests that home is much more than a building. It is stability, dignity, and community. While Friendship Village represents a remarkable achievement, it is also a reminder that the work of addressing homelessness and housing insecurity in Waterloo Region continues.

The evening celebrated what is possible when a community comes together with a shared commitment to creating pathways toward health, housing, and belonging.

♦

In her first Friendship Dinner as CEO, Jennifer Scott shared her own journey to leadership and reflected on the importance of connection, compassion, and community.

Jennifer spoke about the importance of creating environments where people feel safe, valued, and welcomed. Drawing inspiration from House of Friendship’s beginnings in 1939, when three women welcomed men experiencing homelessness in for a warm meal, she reminded guests that the organization’s work has always been rooted in the simple act of helping people belong.

Today, that same spirit continues through programs in housing, food insecurity, addiction challenges, and neighbourhood supports through 40 locations in Waterloo Region.

Jennifer highlighted the growing housing crisis in Waterloo Region and the urgent need for innovative solutions that support not only housing, but healing, connection, and long-term stability.

That vision is at the heart of Friendship Village.

One of the most exciting moments of the evening was the public introduction of Cedar Village, House of Friendship’s newest supportive housing building that will soon welcome 100 residents home.

Guests also learned that Cedar Village is part of something larger.

For the first time, House of Friendship shared the vision of Friendship Village as the name of the entire housing campus, bringing together:

• Cedar Village
• Charles Village
• Eby Village

♦

Together, these buildings create a connected housing continuum that supports people as they move toward greater stability and independence.

Unlike traditional housing systems that often require people to leave behind their support networks as their needs change, Friendship Village is intentionally designed to keep residents connected to their community, relationships, and supports throughout their journey.

It is a model that recognizes belonging is part of healing.

♦

Guests also heard from Jen McGuire, Cedar Village Program Development Manager, whose keynote address brought the vision of supportive housing to life through stories of resilience, courage, and hope.

Drawing on more than a decade of experience working alongside participants, Jen challenged the audience to rethink what success looks like.

Success is not one-size-fits-all.

For some people, success may mean reconnecting with family. For others, it may mean learning a new skill, building confidence, improving their health, or taking a first step toward independence.

Take a look to hear directly from participants:

At Cedar Village, residents will receive individualized support through five key program areas:

• Community & Connection
• Housing Stability & Life Skills
• Health & Wellness
• Identity & Inclusion
• Purpose & Meaning

These supports will help residents pursue goals that matter to them while building a future grounded in stability, dignity, and hope.

Jennifer Scott also shared exciting news from the Welcome Home: Friendship Village campaign.

Thanks to the generosity of donors, community groups, businesses, and supporters across the region, all 100 apartments at Cedar Village have been fully furnished.

When residents move in, they won’t walk into empty units. They will walk into homes that have been thoughtfully prepared by a community that believes everyone deserves a place to belong.

While the opening of Cedar Village represents a major milestone, guests also received a glimpse into the future.

Jennifer announced that Cedar Village is only Phase 1 of Friendship Village.

Once residents move into the new Cedar Village building, the current Charles Village building will be redeveloped as Phase 2 of the campus. In its place, House of Friendship plans to build 70 new affordable housing apartments, significantly expanding affordable housing opportunities in Waterloo Region.

♦

Friendship Village is not the finish line, it is the next step in House of Friendship’s ongoing commitment to creating innovative housing solutions that help people move from crisis toward stability, belonging, and independence.

Friendship Dinner 2026 was a celebration of community.

We are deeply grateful to our volunteers, sponsors, donors, elected officials, community partners, planning committee members, and guests who joined us for this special evening.

We extend special thanks to our Presenting Sponsor, the RBJ Schlegel Family Foundation, and to all of our Transform, Inspire, Hope, and In-Kind sponsors whose generosity helped make the evening possible.

Most importantly, thank you to everyone who continues to believe in a Waterloo Region where everyone can belong and thrive.

Because of your support, more people will soon walk through the doors of Cedar Village and hear two words that can change everything:

Welcome Home.

♦ View our event photo album: www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.1531478632337867&type=3

♦ Watch event videos:

• House of Friendship: A Place to Belong
• The Path Forward
• Friendship Village

Learn more about Friendship Village: houseoffriendship.org/friendshipvillage/

The post Friendship Dinner 2026: Welcome Home appeared first on House Of Friendship.

Kitchener, ON – On Wednesday, October 27,2026, the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2026 Small Business Awards, presented by BDC. More than 60 small businesses were nominated across 8 award categories, which culminated in an exceptional celebration during BDC Small Business Week.

Mike Farwell hosted the evening’s celebrations with nearly 200 guests, including business owners, dignitaries, and community leaders. The event was hosted at 2 local venues, with the Reception at THEMUSEUM, followed by the Formal Awards Show at Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts.

Small Businesses were not only recognized across the award categories but were also featured as Event Partners. Small businesses like The Dessert Artist, The Lord of the Tacos, Fo’Cheezy Food Trucks, Meal In A Jar, Caudle’s Catch Seafood provided food to guests throughout the evening. The Awards themselves were also handmade by a local artist, at Blown Away Glass Studio.

The evening’s final award presentation, for the “Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award”, was presented to Food4Kids Waterloo Region. This award is unique, as it’s open to public voting – showcasing the incredible impact that the business has in the community, and the respect they have from their customers and peers.

The event was presented by BDC during BDC Small Business Week – a celebration of entrepreneurship that BDC has organized for 45 years.

Service Excellence Award      

Winner: FoodZen

FoodZen is an Indigenous-owned personal chef and meal service based in Cambridge, Ontario, serving the broader Waterloo Region. The company specializes in weekly pre-made meal deliveries, in-home personal chef services, and interactive culinary workshops that emphasize fresh, locally sourced, and seasonal ingredients. With a commitment to Indigenous food sovereignty and holistic nutrition, FoodZen provides healthy, minimally processed meals tailored to various dietary preferences, while also offering artisanal spice blends and cook-along kits through its retail line, Rooted Path.

Family Business of the Year Award    

Winner: Shuh Orchards

Shuh Orchards is a fourth-generation family farm located just north of Waterloo Region in West Montrose. Spanning 50 acres with tens of thousands of modern trellis-system apple trees, the farm specializes in growing popular varieties like Honeycrisp, Gala, and Ambrosia. Operating a vibrant seasonal agritourism destination open through the late summer and fall harvest, Shuh Orchards offers pick-your-own apples, tractor-drawn wagon rides, a corn maze, an interactive petting zoo featuring farm animals, and roadside fruit sales.

Event Impact Award

Winner: Hospice Waterloo Region

Hospice Waterloo Region is a community-based, charitable organization located at 100 Solstice Way in Waterloo that provides compassionate comfort, care, and support to individuals and families impacted by life-threatening illnesses or grief. Offering comprehensive in-home and facility-based programs alongside the residential Cook Family Residence, the organization delivers professional palliative support and bereavement counseling entirely free of charge to patients and their loved ones.

Skilled Trades Award

Winner: Cross Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd.

Cross Heating & Air Conditioning Ltd. is a local HVAC contractor providing residential and commercial heating, cooling, and indoor air quality services across the Waterloo Region and surrounding communities. Operating locally from Waterloo and Kitchener, the company specializes in the installation, repair, and maintenance of furnaces, air conditioners, heat pumps, and water heaters, while also offering custom ductwork, maintenance plans, and emergency repair options.

Employer of the Year Award

Winner: Centre For Mutual Wellbeing For Racialized Communities

The Centre for Mutual Wellbeing (formerly known as the Coalition of Muslim Women of Kitchener-Waterloo) is a non-profit organization based in Kitchener that provides culturally responsive support, advocacy, and programming for racialized communities across the Waterloo Region. The organization focuses heavily on empowering racialized women and youth, offering specialized services that address gender-based violence, anti-Islamophobia, and racism, alongside operating transitional housing programs like Dar-al-Aman and community bridge-building initiatives.

Professional of the Year Award

Winner: Shriaa Sheth (Accelerator Centre)

Shriaa Sheth is the Events Manager at the Accelerator Centre, where she helps entrepreneurs across the Waterloo Region build and grow technology companies by transforming events into a structured, measurable function that connects founders with mentors, investors, partners, and peers. In less than two years, she expanded event delivery past target goals, increased founder attendance to over 51% through data-driven programming, and streamlined operations using monday.com templates and automations. Beyond her core role, she led the growth of Battle of the Bands – Tech Edition to raise funds for the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington and established a regional peer group uniting event professionals across Communitech, Velocity, MIX, Catalyst Commons, SPUR Innovation, and the AC. With a lifelong passion for event planning that began at age 16 and a background running her own South Asian cultural events business and earning her MBA, she was promoted this fall to Events Manager in recognition of her impact on the regional startup ecosystem.

Entrepreneur of the Year Award       

Winner: Ravenwood Tabletop

Ravenwood Tabletop is a premier tabletop social club and immersive gaming space located at 28 Weber Street West in Downtown Kitchener. The venue specializes in tabletop role-playing games (TTRPGs) like Dungeons & Dragons, offering private, highly customizable gaming rooms equipped with adjustable lighting and sound. Alongside self-led and hosted campaign adventures, they provide learn-to-play sessions, youth programs and camps, artisan miniature-painting workshops, and a specialized pro shop for gaming supplies.

Exceptional Small Business of the Year Award         

Winner: Food4Kids Waterloo Region

Food4Kids Waterloo Region is dedicated to setting the standard for exceptional service in addressing childhood hunger in Waterloo Region. Founded in 2016, the organization has grown from delivering just 17 food packages to now supporting over 1,300 children each week, providing three meals a day and snacks during weekends and school breaks.

Food4Kids Waterloo Region is driven by a small but mighty team of just five staff members, supported by a dedicated network of volunteers. Their work is hands-on and multi-faceted: fundraising, organizing events, coordinating with schools and social workers, advocating for children in need, and delivering food directly to homes and backpacks.

Through their tireless efforts, Food4Kids Waterloo Region exemplifies service excellence, operational efficiency, and an unwavering commitment to one of the most vulnerable members of our community.

The winner of this category was determined solely on public voting, acknowledging the devotion that they have to their customers, and the appreciation their customers have for them.

The post 3rd Annual Small Business Awards Highlight Achievements of the Local Business Community appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

Firstly do we address both at once or one at a time? Right now we have a sort of unanimous understanding of the facts. Unfortunately the unanimity comes from the guiltiest parties (MECP, Lanxess), the less guilty parties (Woolwich Twn., RMOW), and the least guilty parties (TRAC, media). Unanimity however certainly does not equate truth anymore than a majority does. Remember Hitler actually won an election to initially gain power in Germany. The yoyo to the south of us, Mr. Trump, has been elected twice, three times if you believe his drivel. 

Based upon the knowledge and facts that I have and the current control and direction of those listed above I would say that the chances of either Elmira's drinking waters being restored to drinking water standards or the downstream Canagagigue Creek having the bulk of DDT, dioxins, mercury and PCBs removed is likely nil. The parties above all believe in blatantly lying to the public as they have for the last 37 years. Despite it now being public knowledge that Uniroyal, Crompton, Chemtura, M.O.E., MECP have been lying about restoring Elmira's drinking water aquifers by 2028, where is the outrage? Why are local residents and citizens not attending public TRAC meetings and screaming at all those lying bustards? 

Currently these parties are pointing TRAC in the direction of some alleged enhanced bioremediation of chlorobenzene. This should buy them at least another three or four years while they come up with their next red herring. If magic bullets won't work then perhaps lazer beams bounced off of satellites using special technology is next. I hear tell that if Trump annexes Canada as the 51st state he will immediately clean our Creek and groundwater the following weekend. You heard it here first!

Tell us the truth! If 10 billion dollars and ten years is required then spit it out. If the cost is too high then tell us if natural attenuation may take another 150 years. Of course who are informed citizens going to believe? Certainly absolutely zero of the swine who have been lying to us have any credibility left. How about religious leaders, scientists, famous environmentalists; who will be both most informed and most honest? This is what becomes of our elected leaders lying to us for so long on so many matters. I expect that the truth will only come to us after all the guilty parties are removed from the remediation equation.  

Short answer: look for a marketing strategist who starts with your business, not your channels: someone who asks about your customers, numbers and sales process before recommending tactics, has experience with companies like yours, and can show how their past strategies turned into results. Be wary of anyone who leads with a channel, a guarantee or a template.

"Marketing strategist" is one of the loosest titles in business. It can mean a senior leader who reshapes how a company grows, or someone who mostly schedules social posts. Here's how to tell the difference before you sign anything.

A strategist decides what to do and why, before anyone decides how. In practice that means:

• Defining who your best customers are and why they buy

• Clarifying your positioning: what you're known for and why you win

• Choosing the few channels and offers worth investing in, and the ones to stop

• Setting goals and metrics tied to revenue

• Making sure the team, freelancers or agency execute against the plan

1. They ask before they answer. In the first conversation, a good strategist asks more questions than they answer: about your customers, margins, sales cycle and what's been tried before.

2. Relevant experience. They've worked with businesses at your stage and in your model. SaaS, eCommerce and service businesses need different playbooks.

3. Proof, not adjectives. Ask for specific examples: what the situation was, what they changed and what happened. Anonymized is fine; vague isn't.

4. Channel-agnostic thinking. If every problem looks like a paid social problem (or an SEO problem, or a content problem), you're talking to a specialist, not a strategist.

5. Comfort with numbers. They should talk easily about customer acquisition cost, conversion rates, lifetime value and pipeline.

6. A bias toward execution. A strategy that never leaves the slide deck is worth very little. Ask how they make sure the plan actually happens.

7. Honesty. The best strategists will tell you when something isn't worth doing, including hiring them.

• Guaranteed results. Nobody can promise rankings, leads or revenue numbers before understanding your business.

• A template plan. If the proposal could have been written for any company, it was.

• All tactics, no priorities. A long list of things to do is not a strategy. Strategy is choosing.

• No interest in sales. Marketing that ignores how deals actually close rarely moves revenue.

• Vanity metrics. Followers, impressions and "engagement" without a link to pipeline or sales.

These overlap, so it helps to be clear about what you're buying:

• A marketing strategist or consultant usually delivers a plan or advice, often for a defined project.

• An agency executes in specific channels and is accountable for its deliverables.

• A fractional CMO owns your marketing function part-time: strategy, leadership and results.

If you need a plan, a strategist may be enough. If you need someone accountable for making the plan work over time, look at a fractional CMO. For a sense of the investment, see how much a fractional CMO costs in Canada.

1. What would you need to know about our business before making recommendations?

2. Walk me through a strategy you built that didn't work. What did you learn?

3. How do you decide which channels to prioritize?

4. What will we have at the end of the first 30, 60 and 90 days?

5. How will we measure whether this is working?

Do I need a strategist if I already have an agency? Often, yes. Agencies execute well inside their scope, but someone still needs to own the overall plan.

Should a strategist have industry experience? Experience with your business model and stage matters more than your exact industry.

How long before strategy shows results? Early wins often come from fixing what's broken in the first few months; compounding results take longer.

If you're trying to figure out what kind of marketing help you need, book a strategy call. I'll tell you what I'd do in your seat.

The post Halloween appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

A few weeks ago, I went to the cinema with my partner to watch the brand-new movie, Spider-Man: Brand New Day.

We were both excited to see it. Well, to be honest, my partner was way more excited than I was. He’s a real Spider-Man fan. You know, the kind who actually owns a Spider-Man hoodie. 🕷️

As for me? I wasn’t expecting that much.

But by the end of the movie, I had to admit it was worth every minute. Even the slight back pain from sitting in that cinema chair for almost three hours🍿

For sure, you start wondering what Spider-Man, the cinema chair, and my back pain have to do with our SQL.

Fair enough, and somehow you caught me. I wanna cry out a bit of my back pain 😅 BUT while I was thinking about that movie night, I realized that a cinema hall is actually a pretty good place to explain one of SQL’s simplest-looking, but pretty overlooked, differences COUNT(*) vs COUNT(COLUMN).

Somehow, the pain was worth it and helped me shoot 2 rabbits with one bullet: I enjoyed the movies, and the analogy for this article jumped out in my mind. 🐇🐇 (no bunny was hurt while writing this article 😉)

Now back to the good part 😁

Imagine you’re the manager of the cinema where the movie is going to be screened, and while you sell the ticket for the movie, someone asks you 2 simple questions:

→ How many seats are there in the cinema hall where the film will be shown?

AND

→ How many seats have already been booked?

It’s all about the same cinema, same seats, and yet 2 different questions, and how you already guessed we will use COUNT() to answer both of them.

Before going deeper, you, as the manager of the cinema, must know your cinema hall, and for that, before answering these 2 question, let’s take a look at the hall:

As you can see, your system shows you what seats were booked and how many are available for future movie fans. All these details are found in your database in a table called cinema_hall_1_seats that have the following structure and data:

So, as we can see, we have the seat_id and ticket_id that was assigned to the seat. Keep in mind the ticket_idcolumn because they will help us do the trick 😋

Let’s take our seats and inviteCOUNT(*) on the stage 👏 . As we saw above, our table has a seat_id column that contains, as you guessed (somehow I heard you say out loud, do not ask further 😂), the identifier of each seat of this hall.

But, let’s not go deeper with the uniques and identifiers because it’s not our scope for now (if you’re really curious, you can read more about it 👉here👈).

Going back to our business, it’s time to answer our first question:

How many seats are there in the cinema hall where the film will be shown?

Nothing is easier than this, because our COUNT(*) is present tonight to help us.

SELECT COUNT(*) AS total_seats
FROM cinema_hall_1_seats;

The result?

15 seats! (At least in our little scenario, cuz’ I doubt there’s a cinema hall that small😂)

Did it matter whether those seats were booked or not?

Not at all! And that’s because COUNT(*) counts every row in your table, regardless of its state (booked or not).

So as long as the seat is in a row in that table, it gets its moment in the spotlight when the counting begins 🎥

But wait… what if our cinema manager doesn’t care about the total number of seats?

What if they only want to know how many seats have already been booked?

Well, that’s another question to answer to. 👀

That’s the most interesting part for a manager, ‘cuz money talks after all. So, for this, somehow we have to change our tactic, but not our main actor, the COUNT() .

What column tells us that a seat is booked? That’s right, the one we promised to keep in mind, ticket_id .

SELECT COUNT(ticket_id) AS booked_seats
FROM cinema_hall_1_seats;

As we saw above, our ticket_id column also contains NULL values, but what do you think? Will COUNT(ticket_id) count those NULL values, or will it simply ignore them?

It will ignore them completely! 😎 That’s the beauty of: it counts only the values that are not NULL.

The result?

As you already thought, it is 8 seats that have a ticket associated with them, so COUNT(ticket_id) returns 8.

Did it matter that we have NULLs in our columns?

Of course not! And that’s because COUNT(column_name) it counts every not null values in the column that you specified.

So, let’s have a short recap of what we have learned for our little Spider-Man movie night️🕷️

Remember: SQL doesn’t know that you’re counting cinema seats or booked tickets. It only goes after what you’ve asked it to count.

Now I’m sure that the next time you see COUNT(*) or COUNT(column_name)you won't have to wonder what you're actually counting. 😉

Below is the script with the data I used for the examples above:

CREATE TABLE cinema_hall_1_seats (
    seat_id INT PRIMARY KEY,
    seat_number VARCHAR(5),
    ticket_id VARCHAR(10)
);

INSERT INTO cinema_hall_1_seats
    (seat_id, seat_number, ticket_id)
VALUES
    (1,  'A1', 'T001'),
    (2,  'A2', 'T002'),
    (3,  'A3', NULL),
    (4,  'A4', 'T003'),
    (5,  'A5', NULL),
    (6,  'B1', 'T004'),
    (7,  'B2', NULL),
    (8,  'B3', 'T005'),
    (9,  'B4', NULL),
    (10, 'B5', NULL),
    (11, 'C1', 'T006'),
    (12, 'C2', 'T007'),
    (13, 'C3', NULL),
    (14, 'C4', NULL),
    (15, 'C5', 'T008');

P.S: I used Microsoft SQL Server Management Studio as my IDE 😄

So…Until next time, happy querying! 🧑 💻💓

🍿 Our data journey doesn’t end today,
There’s always more to learn along the way!

Explore more data stories on Medium and see what you might find,
And if you enjoy my articles, buy me a coffee — that’s incredibly kind! ☕

Thanks for stopping by and reading along,
Until next time, data friends — keep curiosity by your side! 💛

COUNT(*) vs COUNT(column): What Are You Actually Counting? was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

♦

In the wide world of flatbreads — Persian, Indian, Salvadoran — surely the focaccia is among the tastiest, especially with its rosemary accenting.

The pizza-like dough, thick and airy, gets a good dose of olive oil and salt that settle into rows of finger-made depressions before it gets baked.

Liguria, whose coast is the Italian Riviera in the northwest of the country, is a strong contender for where the bread originated; it’s also a place where pizza might be also called focaccia.

This now artisanal and “crafted” bread was once considered quite humble and has been described as one of “the nourishing basic dishes of a poor and isolated population.” But that is harsh.

It might be classified as a “hearth cake” — the word focaccia likely deriving from the Latin word “focus” or “hearth.”

It’s likely related to the wonderful fougasse of Provencal. Try it with whipped ricotta.

Check out my latest post Focaccia: fun to say; great to eat from AndrewCoppolino.com.

We’re celebrating our Club’s 70th anniversary this season and what better way to celebrate than to get our members and past members together to curl!

We’re planning:

• Two draws with three six-end games each
• Lunch, dinner, prizes, and entertainment
• Those who aren’t curling will be able to join us for dinner and entertainment
• Register as a pair with a preference for front-end or back-end positions – you and your partner will be randomly teamed up with another pair each game – we’ll find you a partner if you register as an individual

We welcome past members to join in the fun! Come on out to curl with us, get to know some of our new members and reminisce with some of our more experienced ones. Past members can sign up with a current member or as an individual and we'll pair them up with a current member. 

The deadline for registering is Thursday, November 5.

 In today's K-W Record reporter Luisa D'Amato suggests that incumbents have a serious advantage, that being name recognition. Generally speaking both I and history agree with her.  Luisa suggests that the reason why every Mayor but one in Waterloo Region got the boot was that voters are unhappy. I agree with that as well but I wish to expand upon it. I do not have a very high opinion of our citizens political awareness. Generally speaking I find them uninformed both generally as to who and how government interacts with each other political body to deliver various services. Specifically I also find that citizens really have no idea who their own councillors are much less who their neighbours councillors are. For example I expect that at best 1% of Waterloo Region citizens and residents could name all sixteen (including the Chair) regional councillors prior to Monday's election. Now while I have a reason to have memorized all sixteen of those names please, please do not ask me to name councillors names for example of the Townships (Wilmot, Wellesley, North Dumfries) other than my own (Woolwich). That said I do indeed know the names of all the Mayors of each Township and city (Waterloo, Kitchener, Cambridge) because all the mayors are also regional councillors. Since approximately last December and the start of the Waterloo Region Water Crisis I have been sending all sixteen councillors (including Chair K. Redman) my Blog posts from this Blog (Elmira Advocate) five or six times per week and have thus memorized all the names and e-mail addresses. I understand how easy it would be to do group e-mailing but where's the fun or mental exercise in that?

Getting back to unhappy voters and name recognition I suggest that what has occurred is that unhappy voters did recognize their own mayor's name and that person became the scapegoat for all the ills making voters unhappy. Maybe they blame the one at the top (i.e. mayor) and only vote against them and consciously or not spare most of the rest of the municipal councillors. Conversely they might not even recognize the names of the other councillors on the ballot and revert back to unconsciously voting for the name that rings a bell (hence name recognition). 

Removing most of the incumbent mayors from regional council is a good thing but what a damning indictment that voters did not clean out many of the others who are responsible along with the Chair (Redman) for the disasters in Wilmot (770 acre removed as farmland, well interference due to increased regional pumping) and the overall Water Crisis in the Region that despite falsehoods and inaccuracies has not even begun to find new water sources to replace all the contaminated wells both by industry (TCE, benzene, NDMA etc.) and by agriculture (nitrates).  

♦

A breakfast favourite, Eggs Benedict is one of those food phrases with a dubious origin and namesake. They are, of course, delicious, but how did the name evolve? The story is as good as the eating.

Essentially eggs with an egg sauce, you make eggs Benedict with an English muffin, some Canadian back bacon and a French sauce, so it’s a sort of Canuck-Anglo-French breakfast or brunch.

The poached eggs in the dish are given a generous blanketing of Hollandaise sauce, traditionally made in a double-boiler — butter, egg yolks and lemon juice.

As for the name, it may have all started at the famous Delmonico’s in Manhattan.

A couple of spoiled-rich patrons whined that there was nothing new on the lunch menu, so staff whipped up the eggs with the classic French sauce to assuage them.

Alternatively, it was a chef Charles Ranhofer and Waldorf Hotel creation in about 1860.

Either way, someone named Benedict, it could have been LeGrand or Lemuel, and his wife who were likely the snooty whiners asking for something new.

As always, the lore of the kitchen and food history is murky and sometimes confused — but interesting nevertheless.

Check out my latest post Eggs [by LeGrand] Benedict from AndrewCoppolino.com.

WATERLOO, ON, October 28, 2026 — The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery invites the public to celebrate the launch of Remembrance Every Day, a special publication commemorating the sacrifices of soldiers and peacekeepers through the work of Canadian clay and glass artists, on Saturday, November 8, 2026, from 2 to 3:30 p.m. The event will take place in the Gallery’s exhibition space. Admission is free, and light refreshments will be served.

Lead authors John Short and Denis Longchamps, the Gallery’s former Executive Director & Chief Curator, will be in attendance to sign copies of the book and participate in a conversation with the Gallery’s current Executive Director & Chief Curator, Sarah Stanners.

Beautifully designed by Christine Goucher, Remembrance Every Day brings together art, personal reflections, and stories that honour the service and sacrifice of those who have served. The publication opens with contributions from notable Waterloo Region public figures, including the Honourable Bardish Chagger, P.C.; MPP Catherine Fife; Chair Karen Redman; and City of Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe.

The book features full-page colour illustrations of works inspired by Remembrance Day, alongside reflections on the contributions of 25 artists who participated in the Gallery’s Remembrance Every Day exhibition in 2025. It also documents artist-led workshops and installations presented across Canada, extending the project’s spirit of remembrance beyond the Gallery and into communities nationwide.

A dedicated chapter, “Veterans’ Stories,” offers a more personal perspective through rare photographs and testimonials from individuals with military and public service backgrounds. Contributors include retired RCMP Staff Sergeant Major John A. Buis, M.O.M., B.G.S.; Owen Lackenbauer, CD, retired Army Major and former Honorary Colonel of the RHFC; Major Kent Griffiths; and retired Canadian Armed Forces Corporal A.J. Mullett, CD.

Together, these contributions make Remembrance Every Day a lasting tribute to the people whose service and sacrifice deserve recognition—not only on Remembrance Day, but every day.

Remembrance Every Day is available in hardcover for $75 and softcover for $55 at the Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery Shop.

• What: Remembrance Every Day book launch and author conversation
• When: November 8, 2026, 2–3:30 p.m.
• Where: Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery, Waterloo, Ontario
• Admission: Free; light refreshments will be served
• Registration: Register your attendance on Eventbrite
• Books: Hardcover $75; softcover $55, available at the Gallery Shop and online

-30-

ABOUT THE CANADIAN CLAY & GLASS GALLERY
The Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery is an award-winning national institution based in Waterloo Region celebrating the art and craft of clay, glass, and enamel. As a dynamic cultural organization, they continue to amplify diverse stories — opening dialogue and inspiring social change. Through exhibitions that address issues relevant to our times, an impressive selection of works in our Gallery Shop, and public programs that engage, educate, and excite — the Gallery is accessible to all. For more information, visit: www.theclayandglass.ca

CONTACT
To schedule a media interview or for more information, contact Peter Flannery, Senior Curator & Collections Manager, at 519-746-1882 ext. 235 or peter@theclayandglass.ca

The post Canadian Clay & Glass Gallery to Host Book Launch for Remembrance Every Day first appeared on The Canadian Clay and Glass Gallery.

Now despite the title above in fact the removal of the mayors of Waterloo, Cambridge, Wilmot, Wellesley will replace four regional councillors as well with the newly elected mayors. Also both the mayors of Woolwich and North Dumfries did not run again hence there are two new regional councillors there as well. Finally if we take the risk of assuming that Regional Chair Karen Redman is toast then seven out of 16 regionl councillors are gone which is good albeit nowhere good enough. 

That insipid, incompetent if not corrupt council needed a whole scale flushing. True I expect that some of the newer regional councillors over the last four years carried less weight and influence than the more experienced ones. Firstly there was and is the Region of Waterloo Water Shortage. Despite the K-W Record hopping on board the bandwagon and agreeing that emergency and interim actions have solved a crisis that has been building for decades; it is not remotely resolved. Secondly there is the 770 acre land acquisition removing productive farmland that we need. Thirdly we just found out this morning that our regional council has managed to seriously upset our major transit partners GrandLinq to the point of a major lawsuit. How utterly convenient for the incumbent twits oops I mean councillors that the Record delayed publishing this story until the day AFTER the election!  

I have serious concerns about the independence and integrity behind the Record these days. Has that paper mostly become a mouthpiece for the status quo or has it always been so? I still see occasional good things from the Record but I also see way too much of the opposite.

There’s something special about the holiday season in Waterloo Region. From twinkling lights and festive markets to cozy cafés, family-friendly traditions, and neighbourhoods that feel a little more magical this time of year, there are so many ways to make the most of the season close to home.

Whether you’re planning a weekend outing with the kids, looking for a festive date night, or hoping to start a few new holiday traditions, Kitchener-Waterloo has plenty to offer. And the best part? You don’t have to travel far to find a little holiday magic.

To help you make the most of the season, we’ve rounded up 15 things to add to your Kitchener-Waterloo holiday bucket list.

Keep reading to get more details about each idea (plus a few extra tips or ways to make the activity even more fun!)

Nothing says the holidays quite like an evening spent admiring sparkling lights. Bundle up, grab a hot chocolate, and explore local light displays throughout Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the surrounding communities.

Keep an eye out for seasonal displays at local parks, public spaces, and neighbourhood homes. You can even turn it into a family tradition by choosing a new route each year or letter everyone vote on their favourite display.

Make it a little more fun: Bring along a thermos of hot chocolate and create a holiday lights svaenger hunt.

Lights to look out for:

• Wonders of Winter in Waterloo Park (November 28 – January 2)
• Gift of Lights at Bingemans (November 20 – January 2)
• St. Jacobs Sparkles in the Village of St. Jacobs (November 12-15, 19-22)

If you love the atmosphere of a traditional European Christmas market, the annual Christkindl Market is a must-add to your holiday calendar. Isnpirated by German Christmas markets, this festival event brings the downtown core to lfie with seasonal decorations, artisan vendors, holiday treats, and plenty of opportunities to get into the spirit of the season.

Browse the vendor stalls for unique gifts, enjoy something delicious, and soak up the festive atmosphere with freinds or family.

Did you know: This year, the Christkindl Market is celebrating its 30th anniversary by expanding to 10 days of festive fun!

Skip the crowded big-box stores for an afternoon and discover some of the incredible independent shops throughout Waterloo Region.

From handmade ceramics and locally crafted jewellery to specality foods, home decor, and thoughful gifts, shoping local is a great way to find something unique while supporting the businesses that make our community special.

Explore independent shops in Downtown Kitchener, Uptown Waterloo, Belmont Village, and the surrounding neighbourhoods. You might even dsicvoer a new favourite store to visit all year long.

Make it a challenge: Try to find a gift for everyone on your list from a local business this year. You could even turn it into a family-wide rule this year!

Show even more support: One way you can support local businesses for free is by giving them some love on social media. If you find a shop you love, give them a follow and share some of their posts!

We’ve already included it as a holiday lights destination. A short drive from Kitchener-Waterloo, St. Jacobs is a wonderful destination for a festive day trip. With its charming village atmosphere, independent shops, and nearby market, it’s a great place to slow down and enjoy the season.

Pick up seasonal goodies, find great gifts, and enjoy a leisurely afternoon exploring the village. Depending on the timing of your visit, you may also find special holiday events and seasonal activities.

Our tip: Take a look at the St. Jacobs Sparkles event schedule to find out when certain festivities are taking place. That way you won’t miss out on free horse-drawn wagon rides, carollers, or the big man himself.

Few winter activities feel as nostalgic as skating outdoors. WHen weather and ice conditions allow, head to a lcoal outdoor rink for an afternoon or evening on the ice.

Kitchener and Waterloo have a variety of indoor and outdoor skating options, making it easy to find something for beginners, experienced skaters, and families alike.

A few tips:

• Dress in warm layers
• Check municipal rink schedules and outdoor ice conditions before leaving home (Outdoor skting availability depends on the weather).
• Ice skates are available to borrow from the Waterloo Public Library’s Eastside Branch year-round, and seaonally fromt he McCormick Branch.
• Finish your skate with a cozy drink

Sometimes, the best holiday activity is simply getting out and exploring your own community.

Spend an afternoon walking through Downtown Kitchener or Uptown Waterloo to admire seasonal decorations, browse storefronts, and discover local restaurants and cafés. Stop for a coffee, pop into a shop you’ve never visited, or enjoy a meal somewhere new.

It’s an easy, low-cost way to enjoy the season without having to plan an entire day around a major event.

Try this: Pick a neighbourhood, park the car, and see how many local businesses you can discover on foot.

The holidays are made for sweet treats, and Waterloo Region has plenty of bakeries and cafés worth exploring.

Make a morning of it by visiting a local bakery for gingerbread cookies, festive pastries, butter tarts, shortbread, or another seasonal favourite. You could even create your own holiday treat tour and visit a few spots across the region.

Looking for a new family tradition? Pick up a selection of treats to enjoy at home while decorating the tree or watching a favourite holiday movie.

Bonus points: Once you’ve tasted a few treats, support a local bakery by ordering your holiday desserts ahead of time for a big family event.

A trip to the Kitchener Market is a great way to shop for fresh ingredients, discover local vendors, and find inspiration for your holiday table.

Browse seasonal produce, baked goods, specialty foods, and locally made products. It’s also a great place to pick up ingredients for a festive brunch, put together a thoughtful host gift, or find something delicious to bring to a holiday gathering.

If you’re hosting thie year, shopping at the market is a simple way to add a lcoal touch to your celebration.

Our favourite idea: Build a holiday snack board using ingredients sources from local vendors.

When the holiday hustle starts to feel a little overwhelming, a quiet winter walk can be the perfect reset.

Waterloo Region has plenty of trails and natural spaces to explore, including scenic sections along the Grand River. Bundle up and enjoy the peaceful winter scenery, crisp air, and a little time away from busy shopping centres and packed schedules.

Choose a route that suits your group’s comfort level, and remember that snow and ice can make some trails more challenging during the winter months.

Make it a tradition: Take a family photo in the same spot every December and watch how the seasons (and your family) change over the years.

Who says holiday activities have to be all about the kids? The season is also a great excuse to plan a special night out.

Book dinner at a local restaurant, catch a live performance, explore a festive event, or enjoy an evening walk through a decorated downtown. You could also make a night of trying a new restaurant followed by dessert or coffee at a neighbourhood café.

The goal is to step away from the holiday to-do list and spend some quality time together.

Date-night challenge: Plan the entire evening around businesses and activities you haven’t tried before.

If you’re looking for gifts with a little more personality, add a local craft market to your holiday bucket list.

Seasonal artisan markets throughout Waterloo Region often feature handmade goods, artwork, jewellery, home décor, and specialty food products. They’re a great way to discover local makers while finding gifts that feel more personal than something picked up off a shelf.

Keep an eye on community event listings, like the Etsy Waterloo Region Holiday Market, as the holidays approach to find markets happening near you.

Why we love it: You get to support local creators while checking a few names off your shopping list.

Few things capture the excitement of the holiday season quite like a Santa Claus parade! Make it a family tradition to bundle up, find a spot along the parade route, and enjoy the festive floats, marching bands, community groups, and, of course, a special appearance from Santa himself.

The Kitchener-Waterloo area is home to beloved seasonal parade traditions, making this a wonderful way to get out into the community and celebrate with neighbours. Bring the kids, pack some warm drinks, and arrive early to find a good viewing spot.

This year’s parade will take place on November 21.

Don’t forget:

• Bring food donations or money to donate to the Food Bank of Waterloo Region.
• Pack your letters to Santa for Canada Post to deliver.

Waterloo Region offers plenty of opportunities to make the holidays exciting for little ones. Depending on the year’s programming, you may find seasonal workshops, family events, holiday performances, and special activities at local attractions.

Check the event calendars for places such as THEMUSEUM, local libraries, community centres, and nearby family attractions to see what’s happening during the school break.

You can also create your own adventure with a holiday scavenger hunt, a neighbourhood lights tour, or a day spent exploring somewhere new.

Parent tip: Choose one or two activities rather than filling every day. Leaving room for unplanned fun can make the holiday break feel much more relaxing.

Sometimes, a change of scenery is exactly what you need to get into the holiday spirit. Fortunately, Kitchener-Waterloo is surrounded by charming communities and outdoor destinations that make excellent winter day trips.

Consider exploring Elmira, St. Jacobs, Elora, or other nearby towns for independent shopping, scenic walks, local cafés, and seasonal events.

Depending on the weather, you could also plan a winter hike or visit a nearby conservation area for a little outdoor adventure.

Idea: The Elora Santa Claus parade is a great evening parade. The parade travels through the beautifully lit-up downtown. It’s a sight to see!

Planning tip: Check opening hours, event schedules, road conditions, and trail advisories before setting out, especially during the winter months.

Our final bucket-list item is one you can enjoy without buying a ticket, making a reservation, or driving anywhere.

The holidays are a wonderful time to create traditions that make your house feel like home. Whether you bake cookies every December, host an annual holiday brunch, decorate the tree together, or invite friends over for a festive potluck, small rituals can become the memories everyone looks forward to year after year.

If you have children, let them choose one activity to add to the calendar. If you’re hosting friends or extended family, consider starting a tradition that brings everyone together.

And if this is your first holiday season in a new home, it’s the perfect opportunity to make the space your own and create traditions that will grow with you.

From exploring festive markets and discovering local businesses to enjoying winter walks and creating cozy traditions at home, there are so many ways to enjoy the holiday season in Kitchener-Waterloo.

You don’t need to check off all 15 activities to make the most of the holidays. Choose a few that suit your family’s interests, try something new, and leave plenty of room for the little moments that make this time of year special.

After all, one of the best things about living in Waterloo Region is having so many wonderful experiences right in our own backyard.

The holiday season has a funny way of making us feel like we need to bring home more: more decorations, more tableware, more throw pillows, more seasonal everything.

But a festive home doesn’t have to mean a shopping trip.

In fact, some of the best holiday decorating comes from using what you already have, and bringing back the pieces you look forward to seeing every year. Because traditions are often what make a home feel the most festive.

Here are a few ways to make your home feel holiday-ready without buying anything new.

Before you browse the holiday aisles, take a look at what you already have tucked away in storage.

Maybe you have a box of ornaments, a favourite garland, a collection of holiday mugs, or decorations that have been part of your family’s celebrations for years. Bring them back out and give them a fresh spot in your home.

And remember: you don’t have to use everything every year. Choosing a few favourite pieces can make them feel more special and keep your home from feeling overcrowded.

There’s something comforting about seeing the same decorations year after year.

The same wreath on the door. The same ornaments on the tree. The same stockings by the fireplace. Maybe even the same holiday tablecloth that has somehow survived years of Christmas dinners.

We often think of decorating as an opportunity to create something new, but repeating the same decor can be a tradition in itself.

Those familiar pieces become part of the holiday experience and over time, they can carry memories of people, places and celebrations from years past.

So don’t feel like you need a completely different look every December. Sometimes, familiar is festive.

You don’t necessarily need new decor. You may just need a new arrangement.

Move a few existing pieces to a different room. Group decorations together on a console table or bookshelf. Bring a favourite piece into a more visible spot.

A few simple changes can make your home feel different without adding anything to it.

You can also try decorating in unexpected places. A small collection of ornaments in a bowl, a string of lights around a mirror, or a favourite holiday piece on an entryway table can add a seasonal touch without requiring a whole-room makeover.

The pressure to keep up with decor trends stems from a number of things, but you don’t always have to have a fully decorated home each holiday season. If you talk to your friends, they’re probably feeling similar.

Want to switch things up without spending a dollar? Invite a few friends over for a holiday decoration swap.

Everyone can bring a few decorations they’re no longer using, then trade pieces with each other. That wreath you’ve had for years might be exactly what someone else is looking for, and you could discover a “new-to-you” favourite without adding anything new to the shopping cart.

This also comes in handy if you or a friend have recently moved. Someone who has recently downsized may not have the same spaces to decorate, whereas someone looking to buy a house for their growing family may have room for a few more decorations.

Look around your home (and outside it) for simple, seasonal elements you can use.

Waterloo Region has a lot of beautiful nature to offer. Pine branches, evergreen clippings, pinecones, branches and dried flowers can all add texture and a wintery feel to your space. Even a simple arrangement in a vase can make an entryway, dining table or mantel feel festive.

If you have a backyard, garden or nearby green space where gathering natural materials is permitted, you may already have the makings of a beautiful seasonal display.

Sometimes making your home feel festive has less to do with what you put out and more to do with how the space feels.

Turn on the warm lamps instead of overhead lights. Light a candle. Put on your favourite holiday playlist. Bring out the mugs you only use this time of year. Make a batch of your favourite holiday recipe.

These small rituals can completely change the feeling of a room without changing the room itself.

Holiday decor doesn’t have to come from a store.

Display your kids’ handmade ornaments. Bring out old family photos. Use handwritten recipe cards as part of your kitchen decor. Put a collection of well-loved holiday books somewhere everyone can reach them.

The things that have a story behind them often make the best decorations.

And if something has been part of your family’s holiday celebrations for years, that’s a pretty good reason to keep bringing it back out.

There can be a lot of pressure to make your home look perfectly festive during the holidays. But your home doesn’t need to look like a catalogue to feel special.

Maybe the tree has mismatched ornaments. Maybe your decorations have been collected over 15 years. Maybe the same garland comes out every December.

That’s okay.

Before buying something new, take a look around your home and ask: What do I already have that could make this space feel festive?

You might find that you have everything you need.

Because the best holiday traditions aren’t always about what we add. Sometimes, they’re about what we bring back year after year.

Happy decorating!

Check out:

Preparing your home for holiday guests and gatherings
Money-saving tips for the holiday season
Decorate your Christmas tree like a pro

We’re pleased to share the recording of the Ontario Water Consortium’s (OWC) Innovation Showcase Fall 2026 webinar, Forecasting a Changing Climate: AI, Flood Resilience and the Future of Ontario’s Watersheds. This panel discussion, featuring Dr. Andre R. Erler alongside experts from Conservation Ontario, Maitland Valley Conservation Authority, and Western University, explores how artificial intelligence, advanced forecasting technologies, and operational expertise can strengthen flood preparedness and watershed resilience across Ontario.

The webinar highlights HydroSphereAI and its ongoing pilot with Conservation Ontario across 10 Ontario watersheds. By integrating machine learning models, weather forecasts, and real-time monitoring data, HydroSphereAI generates daily streamflow forecasts to support water management decisions. The discussion also examines the opportunities and challenges of implementing AI-driven forecasting in operational workflows, emphasizing the importance of combining emerging technologies with physical models and local expertise.

Key Highlights:

• Learn how AI-driven hydrological forecasting can improve flood preparedness and watershed resilience.

• Discover how HydroSphereAI is being piloted across 10 Ontario watersheds in collaboration with Conservation Ontario.

• Understand the challenges of forecasting extreme events, managing weather uncertainty, and adapting to changing climate conditions.

• Explore how AI, physics-based models, and operational expertise can support more informed water management decisions.

This session is especially valuable for conservation authorities, watershed managers, hydrologists, researchers, and water resource professionals interested in applying emerging forecasting technologies to improve flood risk management and climate resilience.

Watch the recording now to learn how HydroSphereAI and collaborative innovation are advancing flood forecasting and supporting more resilient watershed management across Ontario.

Watch The Recording

There is an old joke about a young boy advising his father that when he grows up he wants a career in organized crime. His father then asks him whether he means Private or Government Organized Crime. Oh my but I suspect many of our citizens, especially the younger ones, would not get it. Or would not believe it.

Our governments at all levels are subject to laws just as we individual citizens are. Unfortunately most of the laws governing their actions and behaviours, one appear to have very few personal consequences unlike ours and two seem to be greatly underused. Yes we hear about the odd case of government overreach making it's way through the courts all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada. Examples would be whether or not the Federal Liberal government invoked the War Measures Act inappropriately or not during the truckers' occupation and strike  in Ottawa a few years back. Another is the upcoming Supreme Court of Canada case to decide the legality and constitutionality of the so called gun Buyback Program in Canada. From a few rifles with some characteristics, but not all, of military assault rifles the (shi#) list of naughty rifles has expanded to about 2,500 makes and models. Again some of these share visual characteristics with real military weapons although many do not.

As a general rule it might be either likely or wishful thinking that some or many of the illegalities that our various levels of government have indulged in are less due to malfeasance or misfeasance versus what organized crime may be involved in. Now of course illegalities such as Watergate, toppling of foreign governments, possible hits on members of foreign governments; all are extremely serious and can and should not be excused. 

Other illegal behaviour however can also be chalked up to politics. Gerrymandering or altering of electoral boundaries in order to artificially change the voting electorate in a particular riding happens at all levels. Failure to properly or honestly fill out election Financial Statements is another one. This has occurred here locally in Woolwich Township and was an embarrassment  to both the individuals involved as well as to the whole Township. Lobbying rules and norms are often under attack along with rules and laws around Party donations, campaign donations etc. 

Political corruption is a more obvious and bigger deal in some third world countries and non democratic locales. If the levers of government are applied unevenly or contrary to law then action may be required. That said there is no reason for smugness either in Canada or the United States as just about every possible form of political and governmental corruption has been undertaken both successfully or otherwise over the history of both countries.

♦

I have had some excellent calamari fritti at various restaurants over many years, as I’m sure you have. When done properly — which is actually quite rarely — the resulting morsel can be exquisite if the light breading is very crisp and the squid rings perfectly cooked with the slightest “toothsomeness” inside. You might also enjoy a mildly spicy aioli and some greens with Asian spicing to accompany.

But when not fried and crispy, a mouthful of squid in a seafood salad is quite unsatisfactory. It got me thinking about the technique to prepare the ingredient and dish and the hoary old myth that I’ve heard, and which literally bobs around, about plopping a wine cork into the pot of boiling water in which the squid is being cooked. Have you heard it?

It has seemed to hold some truth among a number of different kitchens of the world that as they prepare calamari dishes a cork in the water prevents the squid from becoming “rubbery,” the term usually applied to squid that has been overcooked. There is little rationale for the myth other than someone proclaiming, “My Nonna did it in her cucina.”

But just so you know, I have done an experiment to test the myth. Using real and man-made corks, and trying to keep it as “scientific” as possible, I boiled off a few batches of squid.

I then sampled each batch of squid—including one that was cooked sans cork—and found no difference in the tenderness of the calamari at all.

So, here’s what I simply suggest: drink the wine while you’re cooking your squid — toss the cork to recycling. It is, however, a fun so-called kitchen hack and culinary myth to think about. But remember: always, always toss a bit of salt over your left shoulder if you knock over the salt shaker.

Check out my latest post The “cork-in-the-squid-water” myth from AndrewCoppolino.com.

Well I'm wrong. Just like I mentioned here on Thursday that I'm apparently not Presidential material it also seems that I'm neither polluter material nor fit to work for the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Decades ago shortly after I lost my job with that pillar of the community and self-professed protector of the environment, Severin Argenton, owner of Varnicolor Chemical, I thought that I would like to work with the Min. of Environment (M.O.E.) preferably in their enforcement section. I had visions of myself stepping in either undercover or in uniform and enforcing pollution laws prohibiting illegal dumping, discharges and so forth. Instead I slowly realized that the job of their inspectors was to coach, whine, beg and plead recalcitrant, dirty pigs into seeing the light. If that failed then they were to make friends with them such that they would only have good things to say about our impoverished, impotent and incompetent M.O.E..

So what do I mean by expecting to see a "push" from Lanxess and the now named MECP? They've been bragging and touting their pump & treat system for decades now so silly me I expected that they'd up significantly both their off-site pumping and as we've been often told over the decades also their on-site pumping to ensure hydraulic containment of their gross contamination was maintained on their site. Not a chance. Yes their total off-site pumping here in Elmira has the last several years risen from around 53 litres per second to closer to 60 or 63 litres per second. At the same time however they've reduced their on-site pumping both in the Municipal drinking water aquifers as well as in their shallow Upper Aquifer that is supposed to stop contaminated discharge to the Canagagigue Creek. What the hell are they doing?

It appears to me that they've either thrown in the towel or they've gotten permission from our corrupt MECP to go ahead and increase the slow leakage from their site into the rest of Elmira. Can it be as blatant as it appears? Are Lanxess trying to speed up the cleanup of their property via letting their crap accelerate its' off-site mobilization? Meanwhile I never hear a word from TRAC at the public meetings four or five times a year asking any of these questions. Not a peep from them about reduced pumping in the Municipal Upper Aquifer (MU) on-site from pumping wells PW4 and now PW6 compared to the past pumping by PW4 and PW5. Similarly the number of wells allegedly containing the Upper Aquifer (UA) discharge to the "Gig" has been reduced and more importantly the volumes of water.   

Sandy's intervention in public consultation in 2015 has done exactly what was expected of it and  Lanxess and the corrupt MECP thank her for it. Expect laurels and awards down the line rewarding her for her corporate homage and obedience although it will be worded grandly as "Environmental warrior of the decade" or some such drivel. 

The Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing (GHC), the largest conference for women in tech, was cancelled last week just two weeks before it was scheduled to take place. Individual ticket registrations and corporate sponsorships fell significantly below expectations, to the point that the event was no longer financially viable.

I was surprised and saddened by the news. Since 1994, GHC has been the premier event for women in tech, giving many women the opportunity to deliver technical talks, build connections, and meet recruiters looking for talented engineers.

My first GHC in 2006 changed my life. Seriously. As a senior engineering leader at Adobe, I returned determined to better support women. I founded Adobe’s women’s employee resource group, mentored more women, and advocated for greater gender representation in engineering.

That passion eventually led me to leave tech, become a leadership coach, and write Better Allies.

Now, I hope you’ll be inspired to do something in the wake of this cancellation. Whether you work in tech or another field, give often-underestimated coworkers a platform to share their expertise. Here are a few ideas:

• Share the spotlight. Invite colleagues who are less visible in your organization to deliver project updates at team meetings.
• Create opportunities. Start a lunch-and-learn series and invite them to present.
• Make introductions. Connect them with conference organizers seeking speakers or panelists.
• Pass the mic. When you’re invited to speak at an event, consider recommending a qualified colleague who gets fewer such opportunities.
• Support them as they prepare. Offer to attend a practice run. Ask whether they’d like feedback and what kind would be most useful.

And here’s one more idea specifically about GHC: If a team member was scheduled to speak at this year’s conference, offer to host an event so they can still share their work. Or encourage them to post a video clip or carousel of some key points from their talk online and to tag Reshma Saujani on Instagram, LinkedIn, or Threads. Saujani, the founder of Girls Who Code, wants to amplify the expertise of the would-be GHC speakers to her hundreds of thousands of followers.

Share this action on Instagram or LinkedIn.

Sponsor 5 Ally Actions and put your brand or business in front of 40,000 caring individuals in business, healthcare, education, and non-profits.

Or, say thanks to Karen and buy her a coffee ☕.

The cancellation of GHC amid a lack of corporate support is a reminder that events promoting greater representation in a field need sponsors willing to invest in them.

Take a look at what your organization is doing to sponsor such events. If support has been scaled back in the last year or two, ask why. And let decision-makers know you’ve noticed and how it affects you and your coworkers.

If the explanation is that events focused on representation constitute “unlawful DEI” under President Trump’s executive orders, consider pointing to a recent example that raises a question about consistency: Melania Trump’s Imperia. It’s an invite-only network and forum for female CEOs, executives, and founders.

After all, if initiatives supporting women in leadership are worth celebrating in one context, why should supporting women in other professional fields be off the table?

Should educators encourage or discourage students to use AI?

Someone asked this question last week during a talk by Paula Goldman about her new book Manage the Machine: How to Harness Human-AI Collaboration at Work.

Goldman made a compelling point: Future employers will be looking for people skilled at working with AI, so educators need to prepare students for that demand. I found myself nodding in agreement.

On my drive home, though, I started thinking about a potential downside. Could celebrating the skills of AI natives inadvertently reinforce ageism at work?

I revisited a 2022 Harvard Business Review article, I Was a Manager in an Ageist Workplace, in which Nicole D. Smith described ageist behaviors that had become normalized in her organization. Older workers resisted collaborating with younger colleagues, while younger employees disparaged older colleagues’ skills and willingness to learn.

These assumptions hurt everyone. As Smith explained, ageism can limit contributions, devalue employees, and undermine job satisfaction and engagement.

One recommendation she offered for disrupting ageism: Equally laud the skills of digital natives and the knowledge of older workers.

For 2026, I’d update that advice to include AI skills. Recognize colleagues who are adept at using AI, regardless of their age. And recognize the experience, judgment, and institutional knowledge that colleagues of all ages bring to their work.

Consider who you endorse publicly. Review the recommendations you make for promotions and awards. Think about the kudos you give casually.

If you haven’t been valuing and praising the skills of both younger and older colleagues, you’ve got some work to do.

After reading last week’s newsletter, Cindy Poore-Pariseau wished I’d included a caveat acknowledging that some people are not ready to disclose their pronouns, are gender-fluid, or may be in the “questioning” category.

I agree. We don’t want to pressure anyone to share their pronouns if they don’t want to.

I bet we’ve all filled out forms that require us to share our pronouns. And participated in icebreakers where the meeting leader says, “Now everyone, introduce yourself and tell us your pronouns.”

As I learned from Jeannie Gainsburg, author of The Savvy Ally, the best way to gather pronouns is to create systems or practices that allow everyone to share them if they want to. This avoids singling anyone out whose pronouns are unknown, while signaling that your workplace or conference is an LGBTQ+ welcoming and inclusive place.

When gathering pronouns on forms, providing pronoun stickers at conferences, creating name tags, or asking about pronouns in any other setting, make sure people know that sharing is optional.

And as Poore-Pariseau pointed out to me, if we don’t know someone’s pronouns, we can simply use their name.

This week’s action from the Better Allies community comes from Melissa Segal.

A few years after moving into her neighborhood, Segal discovered that it had originally been named “__ Plantation.” Although the name had been changed to “__ Manor” before her phase was built, the original name remained attached to some properties and appeared in electronic records and real estate listings.

Segal was appalled. So she got to work.

She gathered information from a neighbor who was a real estate attorney, repeatedly contacted city and county officials, tracked down owners of outdated websites, and worked with local real estate agents to get the old name removed from listings and digital records. She then encouraged neighbors to make sure the updated name would appear on future property deeds, too.

As Segal told me,

“While it was a lot of work, it was worth it to finally have the old name fully gone and ensure that the neighborhood feels inclusive throughout!”

Thank you for your persistence and for reminding us that making a community more inclusive sometimes means tackling the outdated systems and records that keep a harmful legacy alive. ❤️

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

100% written by me. I use AI for researching a personal archive of my books and past newsletters, and for light editing.

Copyright © 2026 Karen Catlin. All rights reserved.

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

• Say thanks to Karen and buy her a coffee ☕ (Need a receipt for educational reimbursement? Reply to this email, and we’ll take care of it.)
• Sponsor an edition of this newsletter
• Follow @BetterAllies on Instagram, Medium, or YouTube. Or follow Karen Catlin on LinkedIn
• Read the Better Allies books
• Tell someone about these resources

Give Someone A Platform To Share Their Expertise, 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.

Chemtura several years back as part of the untruthful claim that they were going to triple off-site pumping via adding more wells added wells W8, W9, W6A & W6B. They also shut down pumping well W4 beside the Howard St. Water Tower, likely prematurely, as diffused chlorobenzene from the DNAPL pool at the bottom of OW57-32R is still back diffusing into the aquifer there beside the Water Tower. Well W3 on Industrial Dr. was replaced by pumping well W3R beside it. W5A/B remained just off-site at the south end of the former Uniroyal Chemical and pumping well E7 way down at the south end of town has continued pumping although on an odd schedule in what they call "pulse" pumping. The new wells W6A & W6B along with W8 are pumping at extremely low rates for the purpose of containing and slowly removing off-site sources of chlorobenzene along with accompanying tinier amounts of NDMA. W6A and W6B are located at the south end of the former Borg Textile property along Oriole Parkway. Pumping wells W8 and W9 are both screened in the Municipal Lower Aquifer to the west off-site of Uniroyal/Lanxess where they intercept the known DNAPL that flowed over to the Nutrite/Yara site decades ago. W9 also pumps some NDMA whether from the former textile factory beside it or from Uniroyal Chemical.

So what is the big deal above and beyond Chemtura lying about tripling the volume of off-site pumping back in November 2012? Well it's about the Ontario MECP (Environment, Conservation & Parks) and Lanxess still lying about other sources of NDMA, chlorobenzene and more to the Elmira Aquifers. O.K. we get it! Uniroyal are bad! They took a sweetheart deal from the Ministry of Environment back in 1991 to accept full blame for all contamination in exchange for a lighter sentence (i.e. less cleanup particularly DNAPL $$$$$$$$$). 

Lanxess went so far as to finger some anonymous "other" sources of chlorobenzene along First St. a couple of years ago at a TRAC meeting in order to quell speculation about the "excess" 1,900 kg. of chlorobenzene discovered by Dr. Neil Thompson (U. of Waterloo) around 2018. Lanxess and the MECP were looking stupid after that denying my claims of other sources including Varnicolor Chemical, Borg Textile and westward gravity flowing chlorobenzene DNAPL from Uniroyal Chemical without providing an alternative for the "excess" 1,900 kg.. 

Apparently the last thing they ever want to do is give credit to a citizen scientist who has exposed the many lies that their inadequate and ineffective pump & treat remediation is based upon. They don't want to admit that I, Rich Clausi and Esther Thur were right in 1994 and since about DNAPLS. They don't want to admit  that the Ontario Ministry of Environment makes sweetheart deals with polluters, not in the public interest, but to avoid being exposed as incompetent or worse.