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Michael Mackin is/was a spokesperson for Lanxess Canada here in Elmira. I and a few others take umbrage with either blatant lies or even just disingenuous statements intentionally made to mislead the public. Sorry but that's the way I'm built and living here in Elmira unfortunately it happens far too often from various authorities (MECP), politicians and of course polluters and their consultants. In this case I'm referring to an article in the Woolwich Observer dated May 18, 2023 and written by Leah Gerber titled "  Chlorobenzene spike latest mystery for environmental watchdog". 

According to sources there has been recent increases in chlorobenzene concentrations found in observation well CH-75B. Now Lanxess would have us believe that there are other sources of chlorobenzene in the Elmira Aquifers which certainly is a realistic possibility based upon the number of local facilities using chlorobenzene and the sweetheart deal of Oct./Nov. 1991 between Uniroyal Chemical and the Ontario Ministry of Environment. Basically at that time Uniroyal accepted 100% blame and responsibility in exchange for not proceeding at the Environmental Appeal Board (EAB) to eviscerate the Ministry of Environment's credibility and integrity. Also Uniroyal received some slippery wording allowing them to escape DNAPL cleanup based upon the Ministry's biased interpretations of future reports written by Uniroyal consultants and others. Also the 1991 deals have allowed Uniroyal and successors to so far escape all downstream cleanup of the Canagagigue Creek that has been contaminated initially with solvents etc. but remains to this day as a repository of DDT, dioxins and more from Uniroyal's behaviour.

I also believe that there is likely a second source of NDMA to the Elmira Aquifers which to date has not been admitted to by any of the guilty parties. The entire "investigation" was a joke by the MOE (later MECP) and that also would have been exposed at the EAB hearing if it had been allowed to continue. Currently we have admissions that both Nutrite and Varnicolor contributed chemicals to the Elmira Aquifers with Nutrite responsible for ammonia and Varnicolor for half a dozen chlorinated solvents. 

Meanwhile both Mr. Machin, Tiffany Svensson and others are all quite willing to blame some unknown chlorobenzene contributor versus determining who the culprit is. The MECP however are sticking to their 1991 story suggesting that it's all speculation and the chlorobenzene plume is contained within the larger NDMA plume and will be remediated eventually along with the NDMA. Likely candidates for further pollution blame would include the former Borg Textiles and former Varnicolor Chemical. Sanyo has always caught my eye based upon nearby observation well CH-38 and its' results over the decades. Nobody of course mentions the small cleanup at MotiveAir (First St.) years ago that most likely was a result of their next door neighbour Varnicolor Chemical. Other nearby companies are also potential candidates.

By the way the concentration increases at CH-75B are likely due to the shutting down of pumping well W4 that was controlling the chlorobenzene  DNAPL found in observation well OW57-32R. Everyone knows this and everyone lies about it. That off-site DNAPL was an embarrassment to all the guilty parties.

Why Internet Performance Changes at Certain Times of Day

Many businesses notice that Internet performance is not consistent throughout the day. Everything may run smoothly in the morning, but during busier periods, systems can take longer to respond, video calls may become less stable, and routine tasks begin to lag.

At first, these changes can feel unpredictable. In most cases, though, they follow a pattern tied to how the network is being used. A business may notice delays during lunch hours, shift changes, customer rushes, or end-of-day processing when more systems and users are active at the same time.

Understanding what causes these changes can help businesses identify the root issue, reduce their impact, and make more informed decisions before performance issues begin affecting daily operations.

Why Internet Slowdowns During Busy Periods Are Common

Internet slowdowns during busy periods often happen when network activity increases at specific times of day. These periods may include mid-day operations, customer rushes, or times when multiple employees are accessing systems at the same time.

For example, a retail business may be processing payments, running inventory systems, and supporting guest Wi-Fi all at once. In an office setting, this could look like multiple video calls, file uploads, and cloud applications running together.

During these moments, multiple users and systems rely on the network at the same time, creating a higher level of simultaneous demand on the connection. Unlike gradual growth over time, this type of slowdown is driven by what is happening all at once.

♦

How Bandwidth Is Shared Across Your Network

Internet connections do not prioritize one device or system over another. Instead, available bandwidth is shared across everything connected to the network.

When only a few devices are active, performance typically feels stable. As more systems operate at the same time, they begin sharing that capacity. This can lead to slower response times, buffering, or delays in critical systems during busy periods.

For example, several employees may be on video calls while files are uploading and cloud systems are syncing. Each activity draws from the same pool of bandwidth. This is why performance can change quickly, even when your Internet plan has not changed.

Understanding this behaviour is an important part of planning for performance as your business grows.

♦

Common Causes of Internet Slowdowns During Busy Periods

Internet slowdowns during busy periods are often caused by overlapping activity rather than a single issue. In many cases, multiple systems are simply competing for the same bandwidth at the same time.

Common causes include:

• multiple video calls running simultaneously
• cloud applications syncing or updating in the background
• large file uploads or downloads
• payment processing systems in use
• guest Wi-Fi activity adding additional demand

Each of these activities uses bandwidth. When several happen at once, the network experiences increased pressure, which can affect performance across the business.

How to Identify Patterns in Network Performance

One of the most effective ways to understand slowdowns is to look for patterns. Instead of treating each issue as isolated, it helps to step back and look at when performance changes occur.

Ask:

• When does performance change?
• What systems are being used at that time?
• How many users are active?
• Are large uploads, updates, or guest devices contributing to the issue?

If slowdowns consistently happen during a specific part of the day, it is often a sign that multiple systems are competing for bandwidth at the same time.

Recognizing these patterns helps businesses move from reacting to issues to understanding them, which is the first step toward improving performance.

How to Prevent Internet Slowdowns During Busy Periods

While some level of shared bandwidth is expected, businesses can often reduce the impact of busy-period slowdowns by managing avoidable overlap, protecting bandwidth for critical systems, and planning around peak demand instead of average usage alone.

1. Review simultaneous usage

Look at which systems are running at the same time during your busiest periods. Identifying where overlap is happening can help reveal which tools or activities are putting the most pressure on the network.

1. Schedule non-essential activity outside peak hours

Large uploads, software updates, backups, and syncing activity can often be moved to quieter times of day. This helps ensure that important business systems have access to bandwidth when they need it most.

1. Protect business-critical traffic

Guest Wi-Fi and lower-priority activity can add unnecessary pressure during busy periods. Separating or limiting guest access can help protect performance for critical tools such as payment systems, cloud applications, and day-to-day staff operations.

1. Plan for peak demand, not just average usage

Average usage does not always reflect what happens during the busiest parts of the day. Reviewing peak usage periods can give businesses a more accurate picture of whether their current setup still fits how they operate.

1. Reassess your setup as your business changes

As more employees, devices, and cloud-based tools are added, demand on the network can increase. If slowdowns are becoming more frequent, it may be time to review whether your current Internet setup still matches the way your business works.

When Slowdowns May Indicate a Larger Issue

Occasional Internet slowdowns during busy periods are normal. However, if performance issues become consistent or begin affecting operations, it may indicate that your network is reaching its capacity limits. This can start to affect customer experience, staff productivity, and the speed of day-to-day operations.

For example, if payment systems slow down during peak hours or staff experience delays accessing critical applications, these may be signs that demand is exceeding what the network can comfortably support.

This is often when businesses begin evaluating whether their current setup still fits how they operate.

Frequently Asked Questions

Why do Internet slowdowns happen at the same time each day?

This is usually due to peak usage periods when multiple devices and systems are active at the same time and sharing bandwidth.

Do Internet slowdowns always mean I need more speed?

Not always. Slowdowns are often caused by how bandwidth is being shared, not just the total speed available.

Can internal network activity affect performance?

Yes. The number of connected devices and how they are used has a direct impact on performance, especially during busy periods.

How can I tell if my network is reaching capacity?

If slowdowns happen consistently at the same time, during specific activities, or when several systems are active together, it may indicate that your network is approaching its limits.

Internet performance is not only about speed. It is also about how that speed is shared across devices, systems, and peak periods of activity. By understanding what causes Internet slowdowns during busy periods and taking practical steps to reduce avoidable strain, businesses can better identify patterns, reduce disruptions, and make more informed decisions about their connectivity as operations evolve.

If your business is experiencing Internet slowdowns during busy periods, explore solutions that better support peak demand.

The post Execulink: What Causes Internet Slowdowns during busy periods (and how to prevent them) appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

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Tajima, S., Therrien, R., & Brunner, P. (2026). Climate Change Alters Post‐Surge Recovery of Coastal Aquifers. Water Resources Research, 62(3). doi.org/10.1029/2025wr042142

“This framework offers a straightforward tool for the preliminary assessment of climate-change impacts on coastal groundwater systems, particularly for small islands with limited and vulnerable freshwater resources, thereby supporting proactive water security strategies against climate change.”

Fig. 1. Schematic of storm–surge impacts on the coastal surface–subsurface continuum. Rising sea levels during a storm surge often lead to wave overwash, resulting in seawater inundation of the land surface and vertical seawater intrusion (SWI) into the subsurface. The elevated sea level also increases the hydraulic head in the sea, driving landward lateral SWI. In addition, the groundwater table rises in response to the higher sea head, sometimes causing groundwater flooding.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

This publication co-authored by Satoshi Tajima, René Therrien and Philip Brunner investigates how climate change influences the recovery of coastal aquifers following storm surge events. This study leverages HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to simulate coupled groundwater flow and variable-density salt transport, addressing long-standing challenges in understanding how coastal aquifers respond to storm-driven seawater intrusion and how recovery dynamics may change under future climatic conditions.

Traditional studies of coastal aquifer salinization often focus on the immediate impacts of storm surges or long-term sea-level rise, while treating post-surge freshwater recovery as a relatively simple flushing process. However, the recovery of coastal groundwater systems involves complex interactions between density-driven flow, freshwater recharge, and subsurface heterogeneity. By using HGS to simulate fully integrated surface–subsurface hydrologic processes together with salt transport, this research provides a physically consistent framework to evaluate how storm surge intrusion propagates through aquifers and how freshwater systems gradually recover.

Fig. 2. Model domain and boundary conditions for baseline case (L = 1000 m), with quasi‐steady‐state salinitydistribution for baseline value of hydraulic conductivity (K = 10 m d-1). Vertical exaggeration x 10.

The study applied the HGS model to a coastal aquifer system subjected to storm surge events under both present-day and future climate scenarios. Simulations showed that storm surges can rapidly introduce saline water into coastal aquifers, generating density-driven circulation that persists long after surface waters recede. Recovery of freshwater conditions was strongly controlled by recharge rates, aquifer permeability, and the extent of the initial saltwater intrusion. Under projected climate scenarios, reduced recharge and changing precipitation patterns significantly slowed aquifer recovery times.

Key findings demonstrated that climate change can substantially alter post-surge recovery dynamics by modifying the hydrologic conditions that flush saline water from aquifers. In many scenarios, recovery times increased considerably, indicating that coastal groundwater systems may remain vulnerable to salinization for longer periods following extreme coastal flooding events.

HydroGeoSphere proved essential in enabling this work due to its ability to simulate three-dimensional groundwater flow and density-dependent salt transport within a single physics-based modelling framework. By resolving the interactions between recharge, buoyancy-driven flow, and subsurface heterogeneity, HGS allowed the researchers to quantify how storm surge intrusion evolves and dissipates within coastal aquifers over time.

Fig. 6. Snapshots of salinity distributions for (a) baseline scenario with Hmax = 2 m and (b) scenario with higher Hmax = 4 m. Values of other parameters are identical: K = 10 m d-1 and L = 1000 m. White lines denote water tables, and red lines are isolines at c = 0.014 , which corresponds to 0.5 mg L-1 (Environmental Protection Agency, 2002) if the seawater concentration is 35 mg L-1. Note that salinity contours are different from those in Fig. 2.

This research provides critical insights for coastal hydrogeology and groundwater management, demonstrating that advanced modelling approaches like HydroGeoSphere are essential for assessing the long-term impacts of extreme coastal flooding under climate change. By linking storm surge dynamics with aquifer recovery processes, the study helps inform strategies to protect freshwater resources in vulnerable coastal environments.

Abstract:

Climate change is expected to increase storm-surge intensity while reducing its frequency, posing complex challenges for the recovery of coastal aquifers subject to recurrent wave overwash events. This study quantifies the combined effects of these opposing trends using surface–subsurface integrated numerical simulations of a generalized island aquifer across 12 scenarios with varying storm-surge frequency and intensity. Here, we show that two distinct long-term regimes emerge: (a) full recovery, where the aquifer returns to pre-surge conditions if storm intensity and frequency remain below critical thresholds, and (b) shifted equilibrium, characterized by persistent salt accumulation and depleted fresh groundwater availability if these thresholds are exceeded. Higher hydraulic conductivity and smaller island width exacerbate salt accumulation, the former by increasing the salt load introduced during each storm-surge event, and the latter by decelerating subsequent flushing. The transition between recovery and shifted-equilibrium regimes can be represented with a dimensionless number, E, that integrates the effect of storm-surge intensity and frequency on salt load. In a shifted equilibrium regime, the excess salt load at new dynamic equilibria is effectively approximated by linear functions of E. This framework offers a straightforward tool for the preliminary assessment of climate-change impacts on coastal groundwater systems, particularly for small islands with limited and vulnerable freshwater resources, thereby supporting proactive water security strategies against climate change.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

A GPU-rendered terminal emulator with inline 3D graphics 🐀🧀

Rust 1.3k Updated May 12

Oh my but that's a tough one. Which corruption are we talking about? What kind of corruption are we talking about? Are we talking about brown paper bags filled with cash or "merely" corruption defined as "riddled with errors"? Are we talking government corruption as in the Ontario Ministry of Environment or rather as bilateral deals between Uniroyal Chemical and Ontario or Uniroyal Chemical and the Region of Waterloo or Uniroyal Chemical and Woolwich Township? How about lower key corruption whereby Uniroyal has an understanding with one or two local councillors to keep them in the loop ahead of time?

Finally how about local citizens with connections to Uniroyal Chemical in the old days. Did those cheerleaders change their tune as Uniroyal's complicity and negligence become more obvious over time? How about local citizens representing a larger group who are persuaded to change teams? APTE under Susan Rupert was a force to be reckoned with and it amazed me when I heard how accommodating a certain mayor and real estate agents were in assisting Ms. Rupert's move from Elmira to Waterloo to attend the University of Waterloo.  It's one thing to be happy when you are losing a harsh critic but did they know who her replacement was going to be?

Clearly there had been a certain amount of corruption at the municipal,  regional and provincial levels for decades in allowing Uniroyal Chemical free rein to pollute, destroy and degrade our air, soil, Creek (Canagagigue) and groundwater. There were pollution laws which simply weren't enforced. The Ontario Ministry of Environment viewed their job as squelching complaints, misrepresenting critics and defending corporations inalienable rights to make money off the backs of their hired labour, the environment and unfortunate local residents. The residents rights to clean air, water, soil and food were way down the list of priorities.   

With decades of corruption under their belts it really wasn't that difficult to manipulate both the public and the public's representatives, voted or otherwise. This is what democracy has become. The dishonest leading the disinterested . Those that do step up are either co-opted or squelched one way or the other. That is the huge advantage of governmental corruption. You are on the inside protecting the guilty who are also on the inside.

♦

TORONTO - The Panthers had the go-ahead run at the dish with nobody out in the ninth, but weren't able to get the bounces needed in the team's first-ever fully professional game.

Former MLB all-star Yasiel Puig hit two home runs, including a three-run shot in the second inning, as the Toronto Maple Leafs downed Kitchener 8-6 Sunday at Christie Pits.

Trent Lawson hit his first home run of the season in the loss. 

Dennis Dei Baning also went yard for the Leafs.

Yosvani Penalver had a productive day in the leadoff spot, going three-for-five with a walk and an RBI.

Owen MacNeil gave up four runs on five hits in three innings in the start. He struck out four and walked two.

Former Panther Yadian Martinez struck out three for the Leafs. He went five innings, giving up three runs on three hits, walked one and hit two batters.

Kitchener drops to 0-1, while Toronto moves to 1-0 to start the 2026 season.

The Panthers host Chatham-Kent for a school day exhibition game on Wednesday at 11 a.m.

Kitchener then hit the road against Hamilton Friday at 7:35 p.m., before welcoming the Barnstormers once again on Sunday for the official home opener at Jack Couch Park. First pitch is at 2:05 p.m.

♦KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of pitcher Ben Hewitt.

The big 6'5" hurler is coming off his senior season with Ottawa University (NAIA) in Kansas. There, he racked up 36 strikeouts and four saves in 16 appearances and 22.1 innings. 

Batters hit just .173 against Hewitt.

He spent last summer with the Victoria HarbourCats of the West Coast League, where he had 11 strikeouts in 21 innings of work, 10 appearances and a 5.14 ERA.

"Ben's coming off a great season as the closer for a nationally ranked program," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"His experience in high leverage situations will be a big addition to our bullpen."

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

BEN HEWITT

• Bats/Pitches: R/R
• Hometown: New Westminster, BC
• Birthdate: November 17, 2004
• Pronunciation: Ben HEW-it

I know, I know we have lots of Conservatives locally who have always toed the provincial line. Heck we've got a number of Conservative M.P.s (federal) such as Connie Cody and Kelly Deritter and Matt Strauss. Apologies if I've lumped in a provincial Tory (Conservative ) here along with the federal ones but that just makes my point more that Doug Ford really shouldn't be gunning for anybody in Waterloo Region. Heck both Ken Seiling and Sandy Shantz are both Conservatives as well.

The Waterloo Region District School Board frankly are a bunch of idiots and whatever their political leanings have long been an embarrassment locally.  Whether it was the Caroline Burjowski fiasco in which the Chair made the initial errors only to be followed by the rest of the Board leaping in with both feet and treating her savagely; they actually got their comeuppance by the courts which just goes to prove that they at least are not corrupt all the time.  Or maybe it's been the treatment of their own trustees when one has dared not to follow the company/Board line on all things stupid. The Mike Ramsay affair makes a complete sham of the Board's commonsense and decency. Suspending publicly elected trustees based upon a few hurt feelings on the Board is jus so sad and pathetic.

Yes I can certainly see our premier being fed up with the WRDSB's nonsense and taking hard action. But what about a municipality (Woolwich) that has let one of the most heavily contaminated chemical sites in the country continue to fester? Instead of redoubling their efforts years ago they are merely preparing excuses and rewriting the narrative. What about a Region (Waterloo) that  seems hell bent on infuriating its' citizens through secret land grabs (Wilmot) as well as a local Elmira Water Crisis that is now a Region wide Water Crisis? Plus don't forget speed cameras removed by Doug Ford only to be replaced by surveillance cameras.  You know I'm not a Conservative voter but I could get behind the province saying enough is enough here in Waterloo Region. Call it amalgamation, call it sending in a superviser but whatever it's time for a major shakeup. 

Oh thank goodness for involved and keen citizens. Despite decades of reading technical hydrogeological reports and understanding them and then providing informed advice which was generally ignored if it cost 25 cents more than another option; this time I will be a tad frivolous in my advice. In today's K-W Record Luisa D'Amato warns us that lawsuits are on the way. Her article on page A3 is titled "Region is running out of time to avoid legal action on water supply".  My suggestion is this: Embrace the judicial system sticking their noses in, their supercilious attitudes, user unfriendly processes and procedures all combined with occasional ignorant judges and go for it. Sort of. Here's what you have to do. It's called judge shopping and the fact that it has a name indicates that it is a thing. 

Pick Justice Craig Parry to be the sole jurist. No jury involved to dilute the pool of common sense that he has recently displayed. Based upon his obvious displeasure with the public as represented by 48 adult women versus one male doctor (we'll call him Dr. "hands") a lawsuit made up of mostly male plaintiffs aimed against a mixed bunch of regional councilors should be a slam dunk in favour of the developers and house builders at the expense of the public interest. This sounds to me right up this Judge's alley don't you think?

Now on the other hand if you were to pick judge Robert Reilly instead you could likely tailer the legal decision differently. If as I was told, after the fact, he favours females over males then by putting all the female regional councillors in the front row to emphasize regional council's femininity versus the masculinity of rough/tough home builders and construction guys; then the decision would be a slam dunk in favour of the public interest (politicians) over wealthy, influential, monied interests.

There is yet another legal term involved. It's called "home cooking". Basically courts who rely somewhat on the good will of the people they terrorize.... oops I mean tenderize, prefer to make decisions that the public can get behind no matter their legal merits. Hence each party needs to do a small, subtle con job on the judge alone (possibly favoured by Reilly & Parry?) which is much easier than winning over a jury of citizens based upon evidence. The party that the Judge feels represents more people should generally win court decisions to avoid controversy and worse such as bringing the administration of justice into disrepute. 

So who really is in charge in Waterloo Region? Is it the behind the scenes movers and shakers or is it the pack of dummies that get elected every four years? Those politicians may get elected on the lies they tell the public during the election but it's the truth they tell the movers and shakers privately beforehand that gets them money and organization to run in the elections. 

Exactly how rigged is the system? Can you believe the coincidence that speed cameras are being torn down in Waterloo Region literally at the same time as surveillance cameras are being put up? Who masterminded that Orwellian nonsense without public input? Waterloo Region still refuses to divulge what should be public knowledge regarding the 770 acre land grab in Wilmot Township. They also still haven't come clean as to the quantity of contaminated groundwater combined with incredibly dirty Grand River surface water requiring massively expensive treatment. 

My personal view is that we are watching a bruhaha between the greedy and the incompetent. There will ne no winners but I can guarantee you who the losers will be! We can't vote out the movers and shakers but come this October we can vote out every single regional councillor plus incumbent mayors on regional council.

♦

Two games, two days, two wins.

They may have been preseason games, but the Kitchener Panthers will take the boost in confidence going into this Sunday's 2026 season opener in Toronto.

On Thursday, the Panthers battled back from a 6-0 deficit to take down London 9-7 in front of a school day crowd.

After picking up three in the fourth inning, Yosvani Penalver hit a two-run double in the fifth.

In the sixth, Trent Lawson launched a two-run home run to take the lead. Raffi Gross followed that up with a two-run shot of his own in the same inning.

Samuel Quintana and Evan Elliott each saw three innings of work on the hill.

Bawin Colon finished things off in the seventh for the save.

Saturday night, Mateo Zeppieri played hero with a go-ahead two-run home run as Kitchener beat the Barnstormers 7-5 in Chatham-Kent.

Kitchener had a 4-0 lead, but the Barnstormers slowly chipped away and got a 5-4 lead.

Zeppieri's bomb to right field made it 6-5. Charlie Towers' groundout in the ninth brought in an insurance run from third to round out the scoring.

Jake Liberta got the first three innings on the bump. Cory Lawson saw the next two, followed by Brett Reid in the sixth, seventh and eighth. Colon worked a scoreless ninth to lock in his second preseason save.

Kitchener begins its 2026 regular season in Toronto at 2 p.m. Sunday.

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is seeking a Member Services & Operations Coordinator to support the day-to-day administration of member services, member data, front-office operations, and internal coordination. Serving more than 1,700 members in one of Canada’s leading business communities, the Chamber is looking for a highly organized, service-focused individual who can help ensure members receive timely, accurate, and professional support.

This role will act as an operational hub for membership administration, including member inquiries, AMS updates, new member setup, renewals, profile changes, event registration support, online directory updates, Peer2Peer logistics, document certifications, and member letters in good standing. The Coordinator will also support office operations, including phone coverage, admin mailbox routing, walk-ins, office supplies, meeting room readiness, vendor coordination, and general administrative support across departments.

The ideal candidate brings a strong member-service mindset, excellent attention to detail, administrative strength, comfort with technology, and the ability to manage multiple priorities in a busy office environment. They should be professional, dependable, discreet, collaborative, and willing to learn membership systems, AI tools, and new processes as the Chamber continues to modernize its operations.

This is a full-time role, Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., with a hybrid work model. Compensation is expected to be $42,000–$49,000 annually, plus benefits, RRSP matching, vacation, professional development opportunities, and parking. Interested applicants are invited to submit a resume and cover letter to hr@greaterkwchamber.com. The posting will remain open until filled.

Download the full job description here.

The post job post: Member Services & Operations Coordinator appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

Written by: Ashley Close, Chamber Young Professionals Committee & Realtor.

May is Mental Health Awareness Month — a reminder that mental health is just as important as physical health.

So many people are balancing careers, family responsibilities, financial pressures, and the everyday challenges of life — often without talking about the weight they’re carrying.

Mental health isn’t something that only matters when things feel overwhelming. It’s something we should care for every day through support, connection, rest, and open conversations.

One perspective I often come back to is this: life is happening for me, not to me. It doesn’t mean things are always easy, but it helps me pause, reflect, and look for meaning or growth—even in the harder moments.

Checking in on yourself matters.
Checking in on others matters too.

A simple message, a coffee with a friend, or asking someone “How are you really doing?” can go further than we realize. Let’s continue to normalize these conversations, support one another, and create communities where people feel safe to speak up and seek help.

You are not alone. ♦

#MentalHealthAwareness #MentalHealthMatters #EndTheStigma #CommunitySupport #Wellbeing

The post Chamber Young Professionals: Mental Health Awareness Month appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

♦It's been a bit chaotic here at home, which has kept me away from this blog, but I do want to thank Miss Liz for a fantastic podcast "teatime" back on April 23rd at 7 p.m. wherein we talked about The Night Girl, my development as a writer, the perks and challenges of storywriting, and about the benefits of fan fiction in building yourself as a writer. You can check out the stream on YouTube here, and the episode is also available on Spotify. Thanks again, Miss Liz, for a wonderful teatime!

After a particularly lengthy and harsh winter, spring has finally sprung. Good news: we now have green after what seems like forever. Bad news: this means it's allergy season. Oh, well.

I have to admit that I feel like I've been struggling creatively at the moment. Intellectually, I would like to work on finishing my latest draft of The Cloud Riders, but practice has not matched the theory. My creativity has instead focused a lot on my Transit Toronto videos (see one of my favourites here). This is frustrating to me, as I'd hoped to have a draft of The Cloud Riders done by July of last year, and I'm still only about two-thirds done.

But I can't deny that my video work on Transit Toronto hasn't been a creative outlet. It's just a different medium and a different subject. I've produced things ranging from vintage footage of streetcars on Kingston Road in east Toronto in 1969, to a ride-along featuring a lengthy commentary on the history of commuter rail in Montreal. For the past six months, I've been helping my team shift our YouTube operations onto a new channel that's more stable and prepped for succession, and I've been downloading, updating and uploading hundreds of older videos onto the new channel, in the hopes of getting the new one monetized as quickly as possible.

This has taken up a lot of my creative energy but also provided a lot of creative satisfaction. Except it's happening at the expense of my writing, and I'm starting to feel the withdrawal.

The Bible quote goes "No one can serve two masters. Either you will hate the one and love the other, or you will be devoted to the one and despite the other." (Matthew 6:24). But there aren't just two masters here. There's three; possibly more.

I write because I love to write. In this economy, this has to be the primary reason most writers write. I am very fortunate to be able to write for my dayjob, but that's separate from what I like to write. I can write press releases, business proposals, technical reports, or educational books for kids, but my passion is in young adult writing, science fiction and fantasy. And in transit history and videos therein.

You see my problem: I have a day job. And I have a passion. And my passion is divided, which divides everything about my passions.

As a science fiction/fantasy/young adult writer, my passion brings me in contact with a community of people who are also passionate about science fiction/fantasy, young adult literature and writing. And as a rail and transit fan, my passion here brings me in contact with a community of people who are also passionate about rail and transit and who create content based on that. There is rarely any crossover between the two communities (though I know of one or two individuals who cross the boundaries with me).

I'm forced to wonder whether having my passions divided makes me less able to commit to each one individually. I have two passionate communities to engage with, but possibly not as deeply as if I only had one. Right now, I've been pumping out a lot of transit-related content and contributing a lot to the Transit Toronto YouTube channel, but will that last? Or will I end up stepping back and letting others take up the slack and, if so, am I letting those people down?

On the other hand, I have said that having two book projects on the go is a good way to avoid writers' block. If you encounter frustrations with one project, you can move onto the other in order to maintain momentum, while you work on your first project's issues at the back of your mind. The best chefs are able to use their back burners to great effect, though I think this might end up being stressful if one project was under a deadline, and the second project was calling to you.

I don't see an easy solution other than to keep pursuing my passions in whatever direction they take me, and to try to nudge progress forward on The Cloud Riders as best I can, in the hopes that something snags my interest again. And, maybe by saying this out loud, I'll reach others who are experiencing similar issues. This is not an issue to fix, but it is an issue that is easier to handle when you know you're not alone, as I suspect I'm not.

Professional networks shape who gets opportunities. And they’re often less diverse than we think.

A new study highlighted that while women make up about a third of academic researchers globally, their representation drops significantly within scientific organizations. One reason: nominations often come from existing members who are mostly male and tend to recommend people like themselves.

As Amy Diehl, PhD, noted about the study, even “merit-based” systems can reinforce imbalance when networks drive nominations.

This pattern isn’t unique to academic settings. Homogeneous networks form because we like spending time with people with whom we have something in common. Herminia Ibarra, PhD, describes this phenomenon by saying, “Left to our own devices, we produce networks that are ‘just like me’.”

And those networks shape who we refer, recommend, and advocate for.

The next time you’re in the breakroom at work or attending an event, in person or virtually, actively broaden your network. Introduce yourself to someone of a different gender, race, age, or other visible difference. Get to know them and stay in touch.

Perhaps you’ll be able to learn from them or introduce them to an opportunity down the road.

Share this action on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube.

This week’s Better Allies content is sponsored by:

As our industry evolves, Femgineer is here to help you stand out as a technical leader who can communicate and influence — not just build. We do that through coaching, courses, and content. Visit femgineer.com and subscribe to our newsletter to learn more!

During the Q&A session of a recent talk I gave, an audience member I’ll call Ann shared a disturbing story. She had raised her hand to speak at a webinar, and when the instructor called on her, twisted her last name into a racial slur and laughed.

Afterward, another participant reached out privately to express support, saying that they couldn’t believe the instructor did that.

What could have helped even more? Interrupting the behavior in real time.

A simple comment in the chat could have helped. For example:

• “Did I just hear the instructor make fun of a last name? Not cool.”
• “Did I just hear that correctly? That didn’t sound appropriate.”
• “We don’t make fun of people’s names here.”

If the above story has you squirming, you’re not alone. New research from Meg Warren PhD, et al. finds that only 3–5% of people are comfortable being extremely courageous when it comes to standing up as an ally.

That’s why it can help to start with actions that align with your personality and strengths, says Warren.

If you like giving people shoutouts for a job well done, do more of that for people who are typically overlooked. If you’re someone who enjoys connecting people to opportunities, lean into that.

This approach aligns with something I wrote in The Better Allies® Way: A Workbook for Being More Inclusive at Work, where I explore seven ally archetypes. “Double down on the ones that feel most like you, since you’ll most likely have the biggest impact there.”

And over time, stretch yourself. Try actions that feel less comfortable, too. By doing so with allyship, you’ll help create a better workplace where everyone can perform their best work and thrive.

To learn more about the seven roles allies can play, check out this infographic. And then get a copy of The Better Allies® Way to explore the exercises for each type.

While reading my book Belonging in Healthcare, Dr. Nolan Kagetsu noticed my use of the phrase “death by a thousand cuts” to describe ongoing, subtle slights and insults that slowly wear a person down over time. He told me it refers to a form of torture and execution that was done in China.

I have to admit I wasn’t aware of its origin, nor had I ever thought of looking into it.

It reminded me of something linguist Dr. Suzanne Wertheim has said: we should be mindful about casually using phrases that reference painful parts of history.

Now that I know, I’ll shift away from using the phrase.

This week’s spotlight on an ally action from the Better Allies community is from a higher education project manager who told me how they are making the unseen work of a team visible and valued.

As part of a newly restructured administration division, their team is redefining performance metrics for roles like project managers, executive assistants, and administrative staff.

One idea from a previous newsletter resonated with them: ensure fair access to promotable work. They forwarded it to their vice president, and it helped shape their approach.

As a result, their division will now explicitly recognize “social glue” and organizational well-being work, including:

• Planning retreats and team events.
• Organizing celebrations and milestones.
• Supporting informal onboarding.

They’ve now included this work in their performance metrics, rather than treating it as invisible or incidental.

Thank you 🙏. These contributions are often essential to how teams function, but are frequently overlooked in promotion criteria.

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

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

Broaden Your Professional Orbit, 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.

For Ayse, the Digital Skills for Employment class at House of Friendship’s Sunnydale Community Centre is a lifesaver.

Ayse has been in Canada for three years, after leaving her native Türkiye (formerly known as Turkey) behind. There, she was a teacher.

Meghety and Ayse work hard on improving their computer skills at Sunnydale Community Centre.

Today, she has found part-time work as an online English tutor, and relies on the skills she’s learning at her weekly class to help her with the technology.

It has also helped her in other ways.

“This class helped me improve my English, too,” said Ayse. “Before last year, I couldn’t speak much English. Now I can.”

This program, offered in partnership with Focus for Ethnic Women, is geared towards supporting immigrant women with the practical skills they need in today’s tech-driven world.

Hajira, the course facilitator, said that the curriculum of the program is adapted to meet the participants where they are at – for some students, they need help with the most basic steps of sending an email; for others, they need help with more complex tasks.

“The first four classes are very basic,” said Hajira. “But the next four classes focus on employment – cover letters, resumes, and so on.”

The goal of the Digital Skills program is to help community members build the skills they need to get jobs, but they can also get support outside of regular class time on specific things they’d like to learn.

Ayse has also found a community of support at Sunnydale Community Centre through this program.

“I was always at home, not knowing what to do,” said Ayse. “Coming here makes me so happy. Everyone is so good, so encouraging. I am confident here. When I have problems, Hajira helps solve them for me. She has opened doors for me.”

Hajira said that she loves the passion of the students who come to her class.

“I love to see their dedication to learning,” said Hajira. “They don’t waste a moment. They all want to learn.”

Neighbourhoods programs like the Digital Skills for Employment offer fresh starts for newcomers to Canada, and support for others who are struggling. Your faithful, generous support of these programs helps transform lives like Ayse’s every day – thank you!

The post Building a Digital Pathway to Employment appeared first on House Of Friendship.

Share your ideas to help improve the HydroGeoSphere user experience. Your feedback plays an important role in guiding future development— whether it’s new commands, workflow enhancements, or usability improvements that support more efficient integrated hydrologic modelling.

The HydroGeoSphere May 2026 release is now available for download.

This month’s update focuses on improving evapotranspiration stability, runtime performance, and boundary condition flexibility, while also adding several useful new commands for segment selection and Tecplot visualization. Together, these updates improve reliability, speed up preprocessing and post-processing workflows, and provide more control when working with surface boundary conditions in HydroGeoSphere (HGS).

New boundary condition commands (see hydrosphere_ref.pdf)

• bound time-file table

• bound time-file table to surface elevation offset

These commands allow users to cap head values defined in a time-file table when applying head or pressure head boundary conditions.

New segment selection command
The new command choose segments polyline no diagonals works similarly to choose segments polyline but restricts selected segments to mesh edges only, avoiding diagonal connections.

New Tecplot export command
The new command chosen segments to tecplot exports the current segment selection directly to a Tecplot ASCII file, simplifying visualization and debugging of selected segment sets.

Performance improvements

• Improved the performance of computing output times in hgs2vtu when processing binary output files.

• Improved the performance of the regional model command when reading porous medium mesh files.

• Improved grok I/O performance through the use of buffered I/O.

Improved Linux compatibility for verification layouts
Fixed broken layout files in the verification folder and updated them to be more Linux friendly.

Improved snowmelt boundary condition error checking
Added validation to ensure that the snowmelt boundary condition can only be specified once within a model setup.

Updated reporting of simulation times
Refined reporting of target times and output times in the .eco file so that nonzero initial simulation times are handled correctly.

Fix for ET subsurface wetness factor computation
Resolved a bug in the evapotranspiration calculation that caused a division by zero when the minimum evaporation limiting saturation was equal to the maximum evaporation limiting saturation. This improves stability when working with customized ET parameter definitions.

As business leaders from across the province gathered for the 2026 Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) AGM and Convention under the theme “Ontario Connected: Business Without Barriers,” a clear message emerged: the recent expansion of U.S. Section 232 tariffs is putting jobs, investment, and integrated supply chains at risk in Ontario, and across the binational Great Lakes region.

The recent expansion of U.S. duties to the entire value of steel, aluminum, copper and derivative products – not just the metal content – poses an immediate risk to 15,000 jobs in southwestern Ontario alone, and thousands more in manufacturing supply chains across the province and in U.S. states.

“After a year in which tariffs devastated manufacturing in both Canada and the U.S., this new measure throws another wrench in the engine of the North American economy,” said Daniel Tisch, President and CEO of the Ontario Chamber of Commerce. “These tariffs are not well-understood, and that’s why Ontario businesses are sounding the alarm. Without swift relief, orders will vanish, investments will be shelved, and good jobs will be lost.”

For many businesses, the strain is already visible. Companies report absorbing sudden cost increases, losing long-standing U.S. customers, and delaying or cancelling expansion plans. Some are scaling back production or pausing hiring decisions.

“Businesses need two things from governments right now: relief and resolution,” Tisch added. “In the short term, that means reinstating remissions and providing targeted cash-flow support. But we also need a durable fix, one that’s negotiated between the two nations. If we get this wrong, we’re not just hurting Ontario, we’re undermining North America’s competitive edge.”

As Canada and the United States prepare for the upcoming CUSMA review, Ontario’s business community is united in its message: protect what works, fix what doesn’t, and remove barriers that put jobs and communities at risk.

“Our Chamber supports the call from the federal and provincial governments to support business sectors that are being impacted unfairly targeted by Trump’s ridiculous tariffs. Support is needed now to help these sectors and their businesses get through this period of crisis before the CUSMA negotiations start. We cannot wait for the US midterm elections or a return to sanity in the White House. Action is required now, and we have full confidence that Canada and Ontario will step up again.”

— Ian McLean, President and CEO, The Greater KW Chamber of Commerce

The post Businesses Call for Urgent Action on Expanded U.S. Tariffs at Ontario Chamber AGM appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

May 4th, 2026

Minister Harris,

We noted your recent letter related to the Region of Waterloo’s water crisis and agree immediate action is needed.

The business and investment community continues to be deeply concerned about the holding provisions on approved development applications, as well as the freeze on processing new applications. This uncertainty is effectively freezing investment decisions, resulting in capital and labour shifting to other jurisdictions.

At its core, businesses need certainty. They need to know when Waterloo Region will once again be “open for business.” As of today, it is not.

There is no question that this issue must be addressed, and we recognize that the Region has approved a range of immediate and medium-term infrastructure projects related to water. However, there is no immediate risk that justifies the complete shutdown currently in place.

The Region’s own timelines indicate that infrastructure renewal efforts will take 12 to 24 months to restore full development capacity. This timeline is unacceptable.

The following questions are on the top of mind of many in the Region:

– What is the timeline for lifting holding provisions on approved applications?
– When will new development applications be received and processed without delay?

The clarity to these critical questions cannot come months from now. Rather they must be made clear in a matter of weeks. Investment, financing, and skilled labour depend on confidence that Waterloo Region is a place for business and growth.

Once again, we agree the time is now for all of the relevant ministries and the Region to bring clarity and a clear timeline, so the Region is open for business.

Respectfully,

Ian McLean
President & CEO
Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce

Greg Durocher
President & CEO
Cambridge Chamber of Commerce

The post Time for Action: Business Leaders Warn of Investment Freeze in Waterloo Region appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

The Waterloo Region real estate market continued to show signs of stabilization in April 2026 as we moved further into the spring market. While overall activity remains steady, the pace of the market has changed. Buyers are still active, but they are being more selective, taking more time to compare options, and placing a stronger focus on value.

This is not a slow market. It is a more selective one.

For homeowners thinking about selling in Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, or the surrounding area, the key takeaway is simple: the opportunity is still there, but strategy matters more than ever.

April brought a modest shift in overall market activity. Sales were down 7.6% year-over-year, while new listings remained relatively flat, down just 0.9%. Inventory also decreased 5.0% compared to April 2025, leaving the market with 3.6 months of supply.

While 3.6 months of inventory is in line with this time last year, it is still higher than what we have historically seen in more competitive seller’s markets. This means buyers have more choice than they did during the high-pressure markets of previous years, but demand has not disappeared.

From a pricing perspective, values remain modestly lower year-over-year, but there are signs of improved stability month-over-month. Prices have shown modest gains across several property types as the spring market has progressed, including single-family homes, townhomes, and condos.

Across Kitchener-Waterloo and Cambridge, prices remain down approximately 4% to 7% year-over-year, but the month-over-month improvement suggests the market is continuing to find its footing.

In April 2026, Waterloo Region saw:

• 561 homes sold, down 7.6% year-over-year
• Average sale price of $754,877, down 3.8% year-over-year
• 1,386 new listings, down 0.9% year-over-year
• 3.6 months of inventory, in line with last year
• Average days on market of 25 days, up 4.2%

These numbers point to a more balanced real estate market in Waterloo Region. Homes are still selling, but buyers are no longer rushing into offers with the same level of urgency we saw in previous years.

Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®

While the year-over-year numbers still reflect softer pricing and slightly longer selling times, the more important takeaway is how the market is functioning today.

Inventory levels have improved, which gives buyers more options. Buyers remain active, but they are taking more time to compare homes, review pricing, and make decisions. Well-priced homes are still selling, but the market is more measured and price-sensitive.

We are also continuing to see strong showing activity and buyer engagement across Waterloo Region. However, offers are becoming more value-driven. Buyers are doing their homework, watching comparable sales closely, and responding more cautiously to homes they feel are overpriced.
This means pricing is playing a major role in how a home performs.

A home that is priced accurately from the beginning can still attract strong interest. A home that is priced too high may sit longer, require a price adjustment, or lose momentum during its most important first few weeks on the market.

Source: Cornerstone Association of REALTORS®

One of the clearest trends in the April 2026 Waterloo Region housing market is the difference between property types.

Single-family homes have remained relatively stable, with sales holding flat month-over-month and only moderate price adjustments. Detached homes in strong neighbourhoods continue to attract serious buyer interest, especially when they are well-prepared, well-marketed, and priced in line with current market conditions.

Townhomes and condos, however, are experiencing softer demand. Sales in this segment are down 18.7% year-over-year, with longer days on market and higher inventory levels.

This divide matters.

While the overall Waterloo Region market remains active, not every property type is performing the same way. Condo and townhome sellers may need to be more strategic with pricing and presentation, especially as buyers compare more options and take longer to make decisions.

Homes are taking slightly longer to sell overall, particularly in the condo segment, but timelines remain reasonable when properties are positioned properly.

For sellers, the April 2026 market is not a “list it and wait for multiple offers” environment. The market has shifted, and buyers have become more careful.

That does not mean sellers are out of luck. It means the right strategy is essential.

Buyers are more informed. They are comparing neighbourhoods, property condition, recent sales, and asking prices before making a move. Overpriced homes are sitting longer, while well-prepared and well-positioned homes are still attracting strong interest.

With more inventory available, sellers are facing more competition. That makes pricing, presentation, and exposure more important than ever.
Before listing your home, it is important to understand:

• How your property compares to similar active listings
• What has recently sold in your neighbourhood
• How buyers are responding to your price point
• Whether your home is positioned properly for current demand
• How your marketing will help your property stand out

In this type of market, success comes down to more than simply putting a sign on the lawn. Sellers need a clear pricing strategy, strong listing preparation, professional marketing, and an understanding of how buyers are behaving right now.

Waterloo Region is in a more balanced spring real estate market.

This is not the high-pressure, multiple-offer market of past years, but it is still an active market where the right homes are selling. Buyers are out there, but they are more selective, more cautious, and more focused on value.

For sellers, that means the homes getting the strongest results are the ones that are priced accurately, presented well, and marketed strategically from day 1.

The opportunity is still there, but the margin for error is smaller.

Broader housing trends across Ontario and Canada continue to influence buyer behaviour in Waterloo Region.

The Bank of Canada has held its overnight rate steady at 2.25%, which has helped create a more stable borrowing environment for buyers. At the same time, elevated bond yields continue to place upward pressure on fixed mortgage rates. This is influencing how buyers approach affordability, monthly payments, and timing.

Affordability has improved slightly compared to last year, which is helping support ongoing buyer activity. However, buyers are still being careful. Many are watching rates, comparing options, and waiting for the right home at the right price.

Despite broader market uncertainty, Waterloo Region continues to show relative stability. The region remains supported by consistent demand, strong local employment, respected post-secondary institutions, and long-term buyer interest in communities such as Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge.

Compared to many surrounding markets, Waterloo Region continues to perform steadily.

Buyers now have more choice and more negotiating power, but the market remains active, especially for well-priced homes in strong neighbourhoods. The biggest difference from previous years is buyer urgency.

Instead of rushing into offers, buyers are moving more thoughtfully. They are looking for value, reviewing comparable sales, and taking time to make confident decisions.

For sellers, this means your pricing and marketing strategy need to reflect the market we are in today, not the market we saw 2 or 3 years ago.

The Waterloo Region real estate market is continuing to find its footing as we move through the spring season. Conditions have become more balanced, and there are clear differences in how various property types are performing.

Single-family homes remain relatively steady, while condos and townhomes are facing more pressure from softer demand, longer timelines, and increased competition.

Buyers remain active, but they are approaching decisions more thoughtfully. They are focused on value, options, and whether a home is priced appropriately for today’s market.

The key takeaway is this: in today’s Waterloo Region real estate market, success comes down to a tailored approach. Understanding the competition, reading buyer behaviour in real time, and positioning your home strategically can directly impact your result.

If you are considering making a move this year, we would be happy to walk you through what these numbers mean for your home, your goals, and your specific situation.

The post Waterloo Region Real Estate Market Update: May 2026 appeared first on Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent - The Deutschmann Team.

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Recently dropped was the list of Canada’s 100 Best restaurants and best bars. It’s a sparkling annual compilation that has appeared for about a decade, and the selections from across Canada are presented with an informative and engaging elan — plus it’s really fun just to dip in and, vicariously, “explore” some excellent restaurants from coast to coast.

Previous to the new May list being announced, I wrote a short introduction to Antheia, on Somerset West in Ottawa, for the C100B magazine: that story is here (available for purchase).

Otherwise, Pearl Morrisette, in Jordan Station, is numero uno on the list, while the inimitable Langdon Hall (which I recently very happily visited) checked in at 18: both are simply superb.

After only a few month open, and after quite a significant time as a work-in-progress for chef-owner Briana Kim, Antheia took its spot as C100B #76. Congrats to the staff and best wishes with what is probably one of Canada’s most unique venues.

And … it was terrific to also see a couple of other Ottawa restaurants make the list: Atelier (on my list to visit) registered #54, while Arlo Wine Bar — an absolute favourite spot of mine — took #77.

Photo/Jamie Kronick

Check out my latest post Ottawa and Canada’s 100 Best Restaurants from AndrewCoppolino.com.

The 2026 Ontario Provincial Budget introduces a series of measures aimed at supporting business investment and improving competitiveness, with a particular focus on small and medium-sized enterprises. The most notable change is a reduction in the small business corporate income tax rate, alongside additional incentives intended to encourage capital investment and business growth.

The central feature of the budget is a reduction in Ontario’s small business corporate income tax rate, which will fall from 3.2% to 2.2% beginning July 1, 2026. This change applies to Canadian-controlled private corporations (CCPCs) on the first $500,000 of active business income.

For many small businesses, this change is expected to result in annual savings of several thousand dollars, depending on income levels and business structure. The intent of this measure is to improve after-tax profitability, strengthen cash flow, and support reinvestment within the small business sector.

The government estimates that a significant number of businesses across the province will benefit from the lower tax rate. Taken together with other business-related tax measures, the budget outlines multi-billion-dollar levels of total tax relief over the coming years. Overall, the direction of the policy reflects a continued effort to enhance Ontario’s competitiveness and support businesses operating in a high-cost and high-pressure economic environment.

The reduced tax rate applies specifically to Canadian-controlled private corporations earning active business income. The lower rate applies only to income up to $500,000 annually, with standard corporate tax rates continuing to apply beyond that threshold. As a result, the benefit is primarily concentrated among small and mid-sized businesses, while larger or rapidly growing firms will see the benefit taper as income increases beyond the eligibility limit.

In addition to the corporate tax reduction, the budget includes measures intended to support business investment and productivity. These include enhanced provisions that allow businesses to deduct eligible capital investments more quickly, including equipment, machinery, and technology-related assets. This change is intended to improve near-term cash flow by accelerating tax deductions.

The budget also strengthens support for manufacturing and industrial investment through an enhanced investment tax credit for qualifying capital expenditures. These measures are particularly relevant for capital-intensive sectors where reinvestment and modernization are key drivers of growth.

Important Trade-Offs and Longer-Term Considerations

While the budget introduces measures that reduce corporate tax liability, business owners should also consider the broader tax environment when planning. The benefit of the reduced corporate tax rate is limited to retained earnings within the business and applies only up to the specified income threshold. Federal corporate tax rates remain unchanged, meaning overall corporate taxation continues to be a combination of federal and provincial components.

In addition, as with any tax policy change, the overall impact for individual businesses will vary depending on their structure, income levels, and how profits are allocated between reinvestment and owner compensation.

What This Means for Business Owners

For many businesses, the most immediate impact will be improved cash flow at the corporate level and increased retained earnings. This may provide additional capacity for reinvestment in operations, staffing, and capital upgrades.

Businesses that prioritize growth and reinvestment are likely to benefit most directly from the combination of lower tax rates and enhanced capital investment incentives.

At the same time, owner-operated businesses should ensure they consider the full tax picture when planning compensation strategies, as corporate-level savings do not automatically translate into lower personal tax liability.

Overall, the 2026 Ontario Budget introduces a targeted reduction in small business taxation alongside measures intended to support investment and business growth. The reduction in the small business tax rate from 3.2% to 2.2% represents the most significant direct change for eligible businesses, improving after-tax cash flow and supporting reinvestment capacity.

The full impact of these changes will vary by business type and structure, making proactive financial and tax planning an important consideration as businesses assess how best to respond to the evolving policy environment.

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce will continue to support our members through advocacy with all levels of government to assist Waterloo Region employers in maintaining and expanding their operations amidst our current economic uncertainties. We will ensure that relevant information is provided when available.

The post Ontario Provincial Budget 2026: What Small Businesses Need to Know appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

Justice Parry through his recent, courageous and forward seeking decision to put 48 female whiners and complainers in their place can only be given the due he deserves. With full knowledge that all the lefties, some righties, men and women of all shapes and colours would find fault with his independent, long thought out and incredibly humourous exaggerations that he used in order to calm the ever complaining masses. This award has of course been named after another giant of jurisprudence, Robert Reilly, who pioneered the advanced technique of dismissing witness credibility based upon zero evidence presented on the matter. Now of course Robert Reilly was a mere piker compared to Justice Craig Parry but innovators sometimes have to begin small. Both gentlemen have surmounted the tightly constrained and impeded bounds of logic, fact and reason with their obviously male talent of foresight, psychic vision and mind reading capabilities far in advance of their peers, their critics, and humanity in general.

This award known as the RR DUMBASS could easily have been mistaken for the name of their joint pleasure yacht the SS DUMBASS but for the foresight of  Mr. Reilly's parents' naming abilities. It is rumoured that they too were giants in their fields as well. Clearly the apple does not fall far from the tree and Mr. Reilly's legal exploits are as equally balanced as his bicycle riding we are advised. Further praise and public recognition may be forthcoming for both gentlemen at the planned festivities outside the Elmira Waste Water Treatment Plant this Saturday at 11 am.  All are welcome although sore losers and complainers will be met with Waterloo Region's finest batons and pepper spray.

Register: Online at our KWality Talk Page, the attendance link will be included in an email the day of the event.

Location: Online. Please ensure that your onscreen name matches your registration name.

Time: The meeting starts between 11:55 am and 12:00 pm, a waiting room might be enabled if you arrive prior to this time. Meeting ends at approximately 1:00 pm.

Speaker: Tina Fletcher

Topic:

When I started my career twenty years ago, software quality basically meant “no bugs,” and testing meant executing a finite set of cases. Since then, I’ve watched the concept evolve alongside significant shifts in technology and industry practices. Because these changes have been largely additive, we face an ever-expanding horizon of what “good” software looks like.

In this talk, I offer a definition of modern software quality that incorporates the many expectations accumulated from technological and process trends such as Agile, automated testing, cloud hosting, DevOps, and AI. Drawing on my own painful experiences with neglecting or misunderstanding the evolving dimensions of quality, I’ll share examples of what I’ve learned from them and what effective practices can look like.

To help organize and categorize this laundry list of quality-related things to be responsible for, we will break them down into four key pillars:

• User Value: Building the Right Thing (strategic alignment, risk assessment, measurable impact)
• Product Health: Testing the Things We Can Predict (enabling and executing solid testing strategies)
• Operational Health: Dealing with the Unexpected (observability, recovery, non-deterministic behaviour)
• Sustainability: Holistic Stewardship (security, cost, performance, accessibility, maintainability)

We’ll cover a series of questions to help you explore and audit your team’s practices in each area, followed by a set of prompts to help you determine where the next quality evolution is likely to come from in your context.

While the field may have been simpler when I began, the constant transformation is what has kept it exciting. Fortunately, today it’s easier than ever to learn a new skill that can bring more value to your users and your business. As a final thought, I hope to leave you with the realization that the most important software quality strategy is the willingness to adapt, evolve, and stay curious in an ever-changing landscape.

Bio: 

Tina Fletcher is an Engineering leader who brings a software quality-focused mindset to the teams and projects she leads. She’s also a Director on the KWSQA Board, an occasional conference speaker, and a bit obsessed with her vegetable garden. Find her online at tinafletcher.ca.

• ♦ 0b7f62e

  Should be using smart case insensitive searching

Dear Friend,

This spring, we’re sharing a difficult truth. For many children and youth who have experienced abuse or crime, the impact doesn’t end when the harm stops.

It can live on in anxiety, in fear, in sleepless nights and overwhelming thoughts.

Children like Jenna.* When Jenna first came to us, she was quiet and withdrawn. She stayed close to her caregiver, unsure who she could trust.

But with the right support, something powerful can begin to change.

At Child Witness Centre, children and youth are met with compassionate, trauma-informed care that helps them begin to feel safe again.

• They begin to understand what they’ve experienced.
• They learn ways to cope with difficult thoughts and emotions.
• They rebuild confidence, connection, and a sense of control.

Right now, your gift will be matched – doubling your impact. All donations will be matched up to $5,000, thanks to Badge of Hope.

That means twice the support, twice the care, and twice the opportunity for a child like Jenna to begin healing.

Warmest regards,
Robin Heald | Executive Director

*Name changed to respect confidentiality. This child’s story reflects countless clients we support on a regular basis.

Giving options include: on our website, by phone (519-744-0904) with your credit card, by e-transfer, or by mailing/delivering a cheque payable to Child Witness Centre to our office (111 Duke St E, Kitchener, ON N2H 1A4). Thank you!

The post Spring Appeal: Make a Powerful Difference for Local Kids first appeared on Child Witness Centre.

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KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of outfielder Mateo Zeppieri.

The 23-year-old hit .289 with the Panthers last season, primarily slotted in as the lead off hitter.

He had 24 hits, including 11 for extra bases. Six of those were home runs.

He is coming off his final year at Richmond, where he saw limited action.

Previously, he was with Mount St. Mary's University (NCAA D1), where he hit .231 in spring 2025. He had 12 home runs and 40 RBI in 48 games with the Mountaineers.

"I'm excited to have Mateo start the season with us this year," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"As soon as he joined our team midway through last season, he flashed his elite power, but also helped solidify our outfield defence. His all around game complements our lineup really well."

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

MATEO ZEPPIERI

• Bats/Pitches: L/R
• Hometown: Newcastle, ON
• Birthdate: April 8, 2003
• Pronunciation: muh-TAY-oh ZEP-ee-AIR-ee

We hope you will join us on Monday, June 8, at 6:00 p.m. to learn about our collective impact in the community! This hybrid meeting will take place in person inside the Hampton Hospitality Room at Hampton Inn & Suites – Waterloo St. Jacobs (55 Benjamin Road, Waterloo) and virtually on Microsoft Teams.

Please RSVP (for free) on this Eventbrite page. If you’re planning to attend virtually, please also send an email to admin@childwitness.com by 12:00pm on Monday, June 8. The link will be emailed out shortly before the meeting start time.

In our 2025-26 fiscal year, we supported 975 children and youth, and 770 caregivers, in Waterloo Region, Guelph, and Wellington County. These young victims and their families experienced healing and empowerment for brighter futures. It will be wonderful for us to share more at our Annual Meeting!

The post 2026 Annual Meeting first appeared on Child Witness Centre.

You’re invited to a Health and Wellness Fair at KW Habilitation, a free, fun, and inclusive event focused on promoting well-being for everyone in our community!

Location: 99 Ottawa Street South, Kitchener
Date & Time: June 4, 2026 from 6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
Cost: Free!
Who’s Welcome: Everyone!
RAFFLE PRIZES TOO!

This event brings together a wide range of local vendors and wellness activities designed to support your mind, body, and community connections. Whether you’re looking to explore new wellness services, learn about community resources, or just enjoy a relaxing evening, there’s something here for you.

Vendor Highlights Include:

• Medical Device and Supply Providers: Westmount Place Pharmacy, Silver Cross, Adaptive Clothing
• Community Activities and Groups: Special Olympics, Sports for Special Athletes, Red Line Fitness
• Health and Aging: Arnold Hearing Centre, Hospice Waterloo Region, St. Mary’s Health @ Home

Crescendo Choir Performance
6:00 PM – 6:20 PM in the Parking Lot
Enjoy a live performance from Crescendo Choir, WRDSBs Special Education Choir that will lift your spirits and celebrate our community’s talent.

Tae Kwon Do Demonstration
6:30 PM – 7:00 PM in the Parking Lot
Be inspired by a high-energy martial arts demo showcasing strength, focus, and discipline.

Please note: There is no parking available at 99 Ottawa Street South.
Free parking is available nearby at:

• 124 Sydney Street
• 85 Ottawa Street South

Come connect with local organizations, learn about healthy living options, and enjoy activities that focus on wellness in all forms. We can’t wait to see you there!

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