Twenty years ago Emily Mills’s father was murdered, and she found his body hanging in the backyard. Her younger sister, Madison, claims she was asleep in her room. Her older sister, Tara, claims she was out with friends. The tragedy drove their mother to suicide and Tara to leave town forever. The killer was caught. The case closed.

Ever since, Emily and Madison have tried to forget what happened that night—until an eerily similar murder brings it all back. It also brings FBI special agent Zander Wells to the Oregon logging town. As eager as he is to solve the brutal double slaying, he is just as intrigued with the mystery of Emily’s and her sisters’ past.

When more blood is shed, Zander suspects there’s a secret buried in this town no one wants unearthed. Is it something Emily and Madison don’t know? Or aren’t telling? And Tara? Maybe Emily can’t bear to find her. Because when Tara disappeared, she took a secret of her own with her.

No good deed goes unpunished. Boy that is so true and on so many fronts. This is primarily due to both amateur and professional liars defending their alleged right to have their self-serving way contrary to the public interest.

If these liars are confident that a newspaper will not even remotely fact check their claims then why wouldn't they gild the lily? Afterall a lie repeated often enough that is not questioned eventually becomes fact for most. Plus if the polluter knows that they have eliminated all opposition from alleged "citizen"  advisory committees then they are even more confident in their self-serving falsehoods.  Corporations today do not want to spend money on cleanup especially if they can spend less money on public relations, propaganda and self-serving falsehoods.

This morning I responded to an e-mail from the National NewsMedia Council. They claimed that I hadn't provided enough "specific explanation and evidence" to support a breach of journalistic standards.  Hence I sent them a full page of specific explanations and evidence. Keep in mind this is after advising me to deal directly with the K-W Record and try to resolve the various errors and issues. Of course the Record simply weren't following up seriously if at all.

Most of my complaints of inaccuracies concern data and information that is publicly available. Perhaps the K-W Record should have considered communicating with the Ontario Ministry of Environment directly and asking them a few straightforward questions. Perhaps the National NewsMedia Council believe that I should hire a detective agency and spend thousands of dollars pursuing this. I guess that I would like to see some serious questions from either the National NewsMedia Council or from the K-W Record concerning my specific complaints and whether or not I actually have documentation to back up my claims.  Of course I do but so does the Min. of Environment, Woolwich Township, Lanxess and the Region of Waterloo. Why aren't the K-W Record checking in with them to confirm my claims? I'm starting to get the idea that they really don't want to know the truth. 

One last thought. If  any of the groups I've just listed above give a contrary answer to mine, to either the K-W Record or the National NewsMedia Council (NNMC), will the Record or the NNMC ask/demand  written proof from them?   

The Child Voice Project (CVP) is a play-based project that gives children age 8 and under a chance to share about their well-being and thoughts about the community. The CYPT worked with the Toronto Metropolitan University’s International & Canadian Child Rights Partnership (ICCRP), and the Carleton University’s Landon Pearson Resource Centre for the Study of Childhood and Childhood Rights (LPC) to launch a one-day pilot event.

On April 5, 2025, 25 diverse children between the ages of 6-8 took part in the event. They shared their ideas of what a caring community looks and feels like. This report showcases the Children and Youth Planning Table’s progress in piloting an approach/a framework to hear directly from children age 6-8 about their community and their well-being. Using LPC’s “Shaking the Movers” framework, CYPT recruited 10 local youth to serve as Youth Facilitators. These youth received training on how to lead fun and meaningful data-gathering activities with children at this one-day, in-person event.

The theme of the event was “Building our Communities of Care”, with four subthemes created by the Youth Facilitators: Equity, Allyship, Face-to-Face Connections, and Community. They designed games and creative activities to help children talk about each one.On April 5, 2025, 25 diverse children between the ages of 6-8 took part in the event. They shared their ideas of what a caring community looks and feels like.

In late April, CYPT presented alongside other communities on this pilot project at a national event in Ottawa hosted by the Landon Pearson Centre. Insights from this event were used to create a message for the G7 Leaders’ Summit in June 2025.

Starting in August 2025 we visited partner organizations for the Child Voice Project.We’re grateful to these organizations for inviting us into your space to hold one-day CVP events:

• Adventure4Change
• Camino Wellbeing + Mental Health
• City of Kitchener
• Greenway-Chaplin Community Centre
• RisingOaks Early Learning

Here are some statistics about what we accomplished after this scale up period:

• Children Engaged:  50
• Partner Organizations: 5
• Youth Facilitators: 24
• Youth Hours: 82.5

We’re working on individual summary reports for each of the CVP events. We will share those reports with each of the host organizations for internal use. Then, once we compile all the aggregate data of what we heard from children across Waterloo Region, we will share that data via CYPT communications channels.

The team and the youth who participated, planned, and facilitated are also working on reflections. We hope that our learnings can carry forward so we can continue to make the Child Voice Project better and better!

We’re also still working on what the Child Voice Project cycle will look like. Similar to the Youth Impact Survey cycle, we’re exploring what a multi-year process would look like for engaging with children. To get the latest updates about the CVP and other CYPT work, please subscribe to the CYPT monthly email bulletin.

The post Child Voice Project: 2025 in Review appeared first on Children and Youth Planning Table.

Hello ALL members of the CYPT! Are you a fan of the work of the CYPT and where the work is headed? Would you like to play a bigger role in helping guide the work forward in a good way? If so, please read on!

Our 2024-2027 Strategic Plan outlines how our work over the next two years is aligned with these five pillars (all in service of belonging for children and youth):

• Research

• Knowledge Mobilization

• Influence

• Community Coordination

• Organizational Excellence

We’re working to align all the CYPT structures with our Strategic Plan, and up next is our Steering Committee. 

Historically, the Steering Committee has been made up of Chairs of active Working Groups, Nested Groups, and Voting Members at Large. Going forward, we’re looking for representatives with expertise in one of the five areas listed above (particularly, if you have experience with this work utilizing an equity lens).

We will have two seats available for each of the five pillars. In addition to knowledge in these pillars, we’re also looking for:

• Some folks with skills to help steward the current strategic plan

• Some folks who have skills to support future planning and orientation of the work

• A diverse mix of folks, including:

  • Where and what work they do with children/youth in our community

  • Personal identities

• Those who are passionate about the work of the CYPT

• Those who can commit for two years to their role at Steering Committee (on average, about a half to a full day per month, most often during the 8am-5pm window of time Monday – Friday).

We are taking applications through the month of December (with the role commencing late January 2026). Applications are open until December 31, 2025. Successful applicants will be notified by January 15, 2026.

Here’s a video from Alison Pearson (CYPT Manager) speaking about this invitation. She is happy to answer any questions you might have about the opportunity (apearson@regionofwaterloo.ca).

APPLY HERE

The post Apply to join our Steering Committee! appeared first on Children and Youth Planning Table.

♦

♦YEP Skills Winter 2026
Thursdays January 8 to February 12
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
$200 for 6 weeks
KW Habilitation – 99 Ottawa St. S, Kitchener

Youth Exploring Possibilities is running their Winter Skills Session on Conflict Resolution and Communication. Learn to manage conflicts and cope effectively with disagreements and misunderstandings. Dive into active listening and learn how it closely relates to conflict resolution. Learners will strengthen their skills through role playing scenarios with their peers. Register today!

Note: The shop is currently under construction. Hoping to be done Friday, December 12.

Click here for more info

♦♦ ♦

♦Holiday Songfest
Wednesday, December 17
7:00 PM – 8:00 PM
FREE
Waterloo Public Square – 75 King St. S, Waterloo

Come sing your heart out with neighbours and friends. There will be hot chocolate, snacks and lots of songs to celebrate the season. Be eco-friendly by remembering to bring a reusable mug for the hot chocolate!

Click here for more info

♦Ugly Sweater Dance
Tuesday, December 16
1:00 PM – 2:00 PM
$17
Sunbeam Centre – 2749 Kingsway Dr. Kitchener

Dig through your closet for that ugly old Holiday Sweater. Then join your friends at Sunbeam for some festive fun. There will be lots of holiday spirit to go around!

Click here for more info

♦The Grinch (2019) Outdoor Screening
Saturday, December 20
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
FREE
The Gaslight District – 64 Grand Ave. S, Cambridge

Come watch the heartwarming holiday favorite The Grinch (2019) on the big outdoor screen. Bring your blankets and lawn chairs and enjoy the magic of Christmas in the heart of the District. Outdoors — so bundle up and get cozy! Don’t miss a visit with The Grinch and Cindy Lou Who in person at Foundry Tavern from 12PM–2PM! It’ll be a festive afternoon filled with Christmas magic.

Click here for more info

♦

♦Circle’s Cafe
Fridays
1:00 PM – 3:00 PM
FREE
Karis Disability Services Atrium – 26 Peppler St. Waterloo

Circles Cafe is a great place to connect with friends or expand your friend circle further. Every Friday 1:00 PM – 3:00 PM The Atrium at Karis Disability Services is opened for coffee, snacks and fun! On Friday, December 19th they will be singing Christmas Carols with everyone. Sometimes there is live music, crafts or other activities. This past Friday people were helping make decorations for the upcoming Winter Dance at Karis Disability Services.

All of the snacks and drinks are provided by the people that come to the cafe. Everyone is invited and everything is free. If you want you can contribute, but you don’t have to. You are simply invited to come, socialize and have a good time. That’s what Circle’s Cafe is all about!

The post December 10, 2025: What’s Happening in Your Neighbourhood? appeared first on KW Habilitation.

As the year comes to an end, I find myself looking back on some of the habits that quietly made my work easier. Not the big technical milestones or the new tools I learned, but the small shifts that reduced stress, created clarity, and made my work easier for others to understand.

Documentation is one of those shifts. Not the long, formal documentation that lives in forgotten folders. The simple notes help you remember why you made a decision, explain your logic clearly, and make your work reproducible long after you have moved on to the next task.

But here is the truth, many analysts discover late:
“Documentation does not slow you down. It prevents you from being slowed down”.

It protects your credibility when someone asks, “How did you get this number?” It eliminates unnecessary back-and-forth questions. And it helps future you, who will not remember half the decisions you made.

So I wanted to share the practical documentation habits that helped me keep my work clean, clear, and scalable over the years.

Documentation written at the end becomes a story you are trying to reconstruct. While documentation written during the work becomes accurate, honest, and useful.

The easiest way to start is to keep a running note open in Notion, OneNote, or even a plain-text file (my go-to). Capture the things you would normally forget:

• Why did you choose a filter
• What business rule changed
• A small assumption you made
• Something unusual you noticed in the data

These tiny decisions are exactly what someone will ask about later.

Once you get used to capturing notes in the moment, you can shape them into a simple structure. You do not need paragraphs of documentation. You only need to cover the essentials:

What problem were you solving
Example: “Build AHT metric using call-level timestamps.”

Where the data came from
Specific tables, fields, systems, or endpoints.

The logic you applied
Joins, filters, calculations, and assumptions.

Known limitations
Gaps in the data, unusual business processes, or historical inconsistencies.

Why certain decisions were made
The part most people skip, and the part most stakeholders ask about.

If your documentation is buried in a random folder, it does not exist.
Keep it close to the work:

• For dbt, write docs in .yml
• For SQL, add comments in your queries, and use Git commit messages
• For Power BI, I create a Notes page inside the report
• For Excel, add a “Logic” sheet.

Documentation feels heavy when you have to start from scratch each time. It feels light when you use templates. Here is a simple structure that works for me with almost any task:

Title:
Task:
Source Data:
Logic Applied:
Metrics Defined:
Edge Cases:
Limitations:
Final Output:
Where it lives:

To make this even more practical, I created a public repository with some of the templates I use in my daily work.

Documentation is not for compliance. It is for clarity.

• It helps the next person who inherits your model.
• It helps the stakeholder who needs trust in your numbers.
• And it helps your future self, who will not remember why a decision was made.

Most importantly, documentation turns individual work into shared knowledge. That is how we scale impact and build trust.

As we wrap up another year, this is a habit worth carrying into the next one.

How Documentation Made My Job Easier was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Key Takeaways

• Winter weather in the Waterloo Region can affect staff mobility, customer communication and day-to-day operations.
• Keeping contact information, phone routing and remote access tools updated reduces disruptions.
• Small steps like protecting equipment and sharing clear updates can improve customer experience.
• Preparing ahead helps teams stay productive and reachable during unpredictable conditions.

Winter in Kitchener-Waterloo often brings snow, ice and fast-changing conditions that can impact travel, staff availability and customer expectations. When this happens, businesses rely on strong communication to keep operations moving smoothly.

The good news is that a few practical adjustments can make your business more resilient. By updating your contact information, fine-tuning your phone setup, supporting remote work, protecting key equipment and communicating proactively, you can stay ready for whatever winter brings.

♦

1. Keep your hours and contact information consistent

Winter storms and shifting conditions can affect your schedule. Consistency across platforms helps customers easily find accurate information without having to call.

Make sure your winter hours and contact details match across:

• Your website
• Your Google Business Profile
• Social media channels
• Voicemail and on-hold recordings

Clear and consistent details reduce unnecessary calls and confusion on busy days.

♦

1. Tune up your phone setup for seasonal needs

December and January often bring higher call volumes and changing staff availability. A few simple phone-system adjustments can help:

• Update your auto-attendant greeting
• Add a short holiday or weather message
• Turn on voicemail-to-email for quicker follow-ups
• Use overflow rules or team ringing so more than one person can answer calls

These updates make it easier for callers to reach someone who can help, even when your team is juggling higher demand.

♦

1. Make remote and flexible work easier

Snow days and icy roads can make commuting difficult. When staff work from home or switch locations, they still need to be reachable and connected to your tools.

Test these basics ahead of time:

• Can staff answer business calls from a laptop or mobile app?
• Do shared files and cloud tools work smoothly offsite?
• Are messaging and email apps syncing across devices?

A short test now can prevent delays and downtime later.

♦

1. Protect must-stay-online equipment

Winter storms can cause brief power dips or outages that interrupt your internet and Wi-Fi. Preparing key equipment helps your business avoid unnecessary downtime.

• Use a small battery backup for your modem and router
• Confirm POS systems reconnect smoothly after a disruption
• Check Wi-Fi coverage in your busiest areas

These small precautions support daily operations and reduce interruptions for both customer-facing and back-office teams.

♦

1. Communicate proactively during winter changes

Clear communication helps customers and partners plan around weather and schedule changes.

Consider:

• Posting updates early on your website
• Sharing changes on social media
• Using a temporary banner on your homepage
• Sending reminders or confirmations during stormy periods

When customers know what to expect, they can plan their day and trust that your business is prepared.

FAQs for Kitchener-Waterloo Businesses

What winter issues cause the most communication problems?
The most common issues are unexpected closures, staff delays, short power interruptions and changing hours. All of these can affect how and when customers reach you.

Should smaller businesses use backup power?
A small battery backup for your modem and router can keep your internet and Wi-Fi online during brief outages. This can be helpful for payment terminals, cloud tools and VoIP phones.

How often should we update our phone greeting?
Update your greeting anytime your hours or availability change for more than a day, especially around holidays or major storms.

What’s the easiest way to keep customers informed in winter?
Update your website, Google Business Profile and voicemail greeting. When all three match, most customers will find accurate information quickly.

About the Author

Execulink Telecom has been serving Southwestern Ontario for over 120 years. We provide Internet, Phone, Network, TV, and Mobility solutions for local businesses, with support teams based in the communities we serve. Learn more at execulink.ca/business.

The post Execulink: 5 Ways KW Businesses can stay connected during the Winter Season appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

The Waterloo Region real estate market continued to cool in November, providing important insights for homeowners, buyers, and investors planning for 2026. A total of 465 homes sold through the MLS System of the Cornerstone Association of REALTORS — a 14.8% drop from the previous year and nearly 25% below the 10-year November average.

While seasonal slowdowns are typical, this year’s cooling trend is amplified by broader economic conditions, including affordability constraints, cautious consumer sentiment, and shifting borrowing conditions. Despite this cooling, Kitchener-Waterloo remains one of Ontario’s strongest long-term real estate markets, supported by a growing population, strong academic institutions, and a resilient tech and innovation ecosystem.

With interest rates trending downward and inventory rising, industry experts anticipate renewed buyer activity heading into 2026.

• 274 sales (down 18%)
• Prices down 4.3% YoY; down 1.8% from October
• Average price: $827,617

Detached homes continue to experience the largest decline in sales volume, reflecting affordability challenges and buyer caution in the higher-price segments.

• 91 sales (down 20.9%)
• Average price: $595,337
• Prices down 3.1% YoY; slightly up from October

Townhouses remain attractive for move-up buyers and young families, but demand softened amid rising inventory.

• 59 sales (up 11.3%)
• Average price: $422,056
• Prices down 6.3% YoY; down 2.2% from October

Condos were the only segment with a sales increase — signalling a shift toward affordability as buyers look for lower-price entry points.

• 41 sales (down 6.8%)
• Average price: $635,375
• Prices down 1.4% YoY; up 10.8% from October

Semi-detached properties remain popular with both first-time and move-up buyers due to their mix of affordability and space.

The average sale price across all residential property types was $713,751, down 5.4% year-over-year and 2.7% from October.

• 764 new listings (down 14.4% YoY)
• 1,757 active listings — the highest November inventory in over a decade

Inventory growth is giving buyers more leverage, easing competition and helping move the market toward balanced conditions.

• 3.4 months of supply across the market
• Condos lead with 6.4 months of supply, indicating slower absorption

Homes took 39 days on average to sell — up from 31 days in October

The RE/MAX Canada Housing Outlook for Kitchener-Waterloo predicts a balanced and stable market heading into 2026.
(Full report here)

• Average sale price down 6% YoY
• Sales transactions down 2.8%
• Listings increased 13.8%

Economic uncertainty, job restructuring, and inflation have influenced local housing trends. Several large employers relocating out of the region have also contributed to shifting demand.

Prices are expected to remain flat through early 2026, with a potential slight decrease of up to 3%. Stable interest rates and steady inventory should prevent sharp fluctuations.

Most Desirable Neighbourhoods

• Beechwood
• Westmount
• Colonial Acres

These neighbourhoods continue to attract strong buyer demand due to established communities, greenery, larger lots, and long-term value.

Most In-Demand Property Types

Single-detached homes remain the leading choice, followed by townhomes and condos among budget-conscious buyers.

Buyer Demographics & Budgets

• First-time buyers: $500K–$600K
• Move-up buyers: $750K–$950K
• Downsizers: Around $600K

New Construction & Development

New subdivisions and walkable “six-minute neighbourhoods” will expand, though condo developments may face delays due to construction costs and financing timelines.

Interest Rates

Easing rates should boost affordability and encourage more buyers to re-engage in 2026.

Rising Rental Prices

High rents are making it difficult for renters to save for down payments — a trend likely to continue into 2026.

Investor Behaviour

Due to ongoing challenges with the Landlord and Tenant Board, many investors are choosing to exit the market, opening opportunities for end users.

• More choice
• Less competition
• Stable borrowing conditions
• Better negotiating leverage

2026 may be an ideal time to enter the Kitchener-Waterloo real estate market, especially for those previously priced out.

• Pricing accuracy is essential
• Professional staging and marketing matter
• Homes in top neighbourhoods continue to perform well

Well-prepared listings will stand out in a balanced market.

• Long-term strategies remain favourable
• Tenant management challenges persist
• Inventory growth may create buying opportunities

• November home sales dropped 14.8% YoY
• Average sale price: $713,751
• Inventory reached a 10-year high
• Market shifted firmly into balanced conditions
• 2026 outlook predicts stable pricing & gradual activity growth
• Rising rents and interest rate changes shaping buyer behaviour
• Top neighbourhoods: Beechwood, Westmount, Colonial Acres

Is 2026 a good time to buy in Kitchener-Waterloo?

Yes. Increased inventory, stable pricing, and improving borrowing conditions create strong opportunities for buyers.

Will housing prices go down further in 2026?

Prices are expected to stay mostly flat, with a slight potential decrease of up to 3%.

What neighbourhoods hold the strongest value?

Beechwood, Westmount, Colonial Acres, and other mature neighbourhoods continue to outperform due to lot size, schools, and community appeal.

Are investors leaving the market?

Some are, due to LTB challenges — but this creates opportunities for buyers and long-term investors.

What property type will be most popular in 2026?

Single-detached homes remain the most sought-after, followed by townhomes and entry-level condos.

Overall, 2026 is shaping up to be a strategic year for real estate decisions across Waterloo Region. Balanced conditions, easing interest rates, and expanded inventory offer opportunities for buyers, sellers, and investors alike. Understanding neighbourhood trends and leveraging local expertise will be key to navigating this evolving market.

If you’d like a personalized discussion about your real estate plans, we’re always here to help.

The post Waterloo Region Real Estate Market Update – November 2025 Stats & 2026 Kitchener-Waterloo Housing Forecast appeared first on Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent - The Deutschmann Team.

♦

KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of veteran catcher and fan favourite Yunior Ibarra.

Ibarra is heading into his fourth season as a Panther after having a career year in 2025.

He posted a career high .313 batting average, 46 hits and 30 RBI. He also hit three home runs.

He was also named the MVP of the 2025 All-Star Showdown in Hamilton, and earned a Rawlings Gold Glove award after posting a .989 fielding percentage and 29 fielding assists.

"We are happy to announce Yunior will be returning for his fourth season with us," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"He provides us with elite defence behind the plate, and his bat has continued to improve every season. His work ethic and leadership are exactly what we look for in a player."

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

YUNIOR IBARRA

• Bats/Pitches: R/R
• Hometown: Sancti Spiritus, Cuba
• Birthdate: April 13, 1995
• Pronunciation: Yoo-n-yur Eye-BAR-uh

♦For more than four decades, Community Justice Initiatives (CJI) Waterloo Region has been a leader in restorative justice, helping individuals, families, and communities heal through dialogue, accountability, and compassion. From supporting survivors of crime, to guiding youth through conflict resolution, to fostering safer, more connected neighbourhoods, CJI’s work is rooted in the belief that people and communities can grow stronger through understanding and restoration.

But like many small nonprofits, CJI has faced increasing pressure to sustain their impact while navigating the complex realities of fundraising, communications, and long-term operational planning. With no dedicated funding for capacity building, the organization needed support that was strategic, practical, and tailored to their mission.

♦In 2025, CJI joined Capacity Canada’s pilot ScalableOps Program which provides supports in the functional areas of finance, fundraising, and human resources. They were paired with Executive in Residence Julie Newman who helped with a variety of human resources supports, and with Karen Spencer and Scott Williams who facilitated a new strategic planning process. We look forward to supporting CJI with their fundraising strategy and donor engagement in the new year.

Despite limited resources, CJI approached the program with openness and determination; ready to rebuild foundational pieces that would elevate their message and secure future sustainability.

“Working with Capacity Canada was a turning point for us. Without dedicated funding for capacity building, this support was invaluable. Their custom approach helped us rethink how we communicate our impact, engage donors, and design campaigns. Capacity Canada didn’t just guide us, they equipped us to step forward with clarity and confidence.”
— Interim Executive Director, Community Justice Initiatives Waterloo

Together, they developed new campaign strategies, refined donor engagement pathways, and created clearer, more compelling communication materials that reflect the heart and urgency of CJI’s mission.

With Capacity Canada’s guidance, CJI has strengthened the internal systems needed to scale their work. Staff and board members now have:

• More strategic, mission-aligned fundraising approaches
• Stronger donor and community engagement tools
• Communication materials that clearly convey the impact of restorative justice
• A renewed sense of direction and confidence in advancing their mission

This transformation ensures that CJI can focus more fully on what matters most: supporting people through conflict, trauma, and healing.

♦Your support empowers CJI to continue building safer, more compassionate communities—one conversation, one restored relationship, and one life changed at a time.

Every gift strengthens justice through connection, empathy, and hope. Together, we can create lasting impact and brighter futures.

Please consider making a donation today to CJI to help them keep this vital work moving forward. Donate today!

The post Strengthening Justice Through Community: CJI Waterloo’s Story of Transformation appeared first on Capacity Canada.

Firstly timing is everything. The article was published on November 15, 2025. It was a very lengthy article (4 pages) and quite technical with lots of claims of success by company shills even suggesting that the warning signs along the Canagagigue Creek were unnecessary. Fortunately that nonsense was disputed by some although again far too little of the company's (Lanxess) claims were disputed by knowledgeable people. By delaying the necessary corrections it gives weight to all the falsehoods. By totally failing to correct an article, likely written in good faith, albeit with these numerous inaccuracies, the Record are solidifying the company's propaganda.

Is the company's influence not sufficient already? Do they also have to have control of what the public read about them? Why do the Record seem intent upon refusing  to allow input from some of the most knowledgeable local citizens namely CPAC members from 2010 -August 2015? Why are they promoting the obviously false narrative that one American citizen who formerly lived in Elmira with absolutely less than average science and math skills somehow has successfully battled a multi national, multi billion dollar chemical company? Her efforts always had an element of self-service in them and she and Sylvia Berg quickly marched to the polluters (Uniroyal) tune on the Dense Non Aqueous Phase Liquids (DNAPL) issues in the very early 1990s . That is what got her her elevated and preferential status with the company, the Ministry and all their fellow travellors.  To this day she may oppose their lack of cleanup of the Creek but she frivolously and hopefully unknowingly gave away so many environmental issues along the way hoping for the big payoff (the Creek) at the end. She is still hoping although perhaps she is learning what happens when you make deals with the devil and his acolytes. i.e. nothing good 

Meanwhile I wait for the K-W Record and or the National NewsMedia Council to step up and do the right things. So far almost no discussion or communication from either of them. Clearly they don't want to correct or possibly even know about their errors. Will they see the light or not?

This is one of the most commonly asked questions for developers. It's the fundamental topic that every developer should be aware of, as to how the project is built and deployed.

So let's understand how CI/CD actually works?

CI/CD stands for Continuous Integration and Continuous Delivery (or Deployment). It’s a DevOps practice that automates building, testing, and deploying code changes, enabling faster and more reliable software releases.

It is a software development practice where the developers commit their work frequently to the central code repository

Continuous integration is the practice of integrating all your code changes into the main branch of a shared source code repository early and often, automatically testing each change when you commit or merge them, and automatically kicking off a build. With continuous integration, errors and security issues can be identified and fixed more easily, and much earlier in the development process.

Continuous delivery (CD) is the process of automatically preparing tested code so it is always ready for deployment to any environment. It is a software development practice that works in conjunction with CI to automate the infrastructure provisioning and application release process.

CI/CD Pipeline Flow : Code → Build → Test → Package → Deploy → Monitor

Developers push code to version control → CI/CD platform triggers build → Build tools compile code → Testing frameworks validate → Artifacts stored in repositories → Deployment tools release to production → Monitoring tools track application health

Source Phase

The source stage involves the version control system where developers commit their code changes. The CI/CD pipeline monitors the repository and triggers the next stage when a new commit is detected. Git, Mercurial, and Subversion are popular version control systems.

Build Phase

During the build stage, the CI/CD pipeline compiles the source code and creates executable artifacts. The build stage may also involve packaging the code into a Docker container or another format suitable for deployment. The build process should be repeatable and consistent to provide reliability.

Test Phase

The test phase of the CI/CD pipeline involves running a series of automated tests on the built artifacts. Tests can include unit tests, integration tests, and end-to-end tests. Test automation is crucial at this stage to quickly identify and fix issues.

Deploy Phase

The deploy stage is the final stage of the CI/CD pipeline. With a continuous delivery setup, the deploy stage prepares the release for manual deployment. In a continuous deployment setup, the pipeline automatically deploys the release to the production environment.

• CI/CD represents essential principles of fast, dependable software delivery and strong collaboration between development and operations teams
• Aims to eliminate working in silos, optimize processes, and incorporate testing and deployment practices early and frequently
• Automates the build, testing, and deployment pipelines, ensuring new code changes are swiftly detected, integrated, and validated
• Minimizes errors through rapid feedback loops, accelerates release cycles, and enhances overall efficiency
• Serves as a foundation for DevOps-driven organizations, enabling them to deliver high-quality software more quickly and reliably

The idea of this sample pipeline is to demonstrate a complete CI/CD pipeline using GitHub Actions and Minikube that automatically builds, tests, and deploys Python applications to a local Kubernetes cluster.

Following are the steps involved.

• Code Push — Developer pushes code to the repository
• GitHub Actions Triggers — Workflow automatically starts
• Test — Pytest and linting run on the code
• Build — Docker creates a multi-platform container image
• Push to Docker Hub — Image is stored in the container registry
• Deploy to Minikube — Application is deployed to the local Kubernetes cluster

📖 For complete setup instructions, see the README

🔗 Repository: github.com/veerao05/pipeline

Note: I have used self-hosted runners for learning purpose. In industries they rely on managed CI/CD platforms like GitHub Actions, GitLab CI/CD, Jenkins, CircleCI, Azure Pipelines, AWS CodePipeline, and Google Cloud Build for production deployments.

I have done only on main branch for now. You can try to trigger the build on merge requests on any of your feature to main branch. Thats how it works in industries as well.

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Following are some of the frequently asked Java 8 Interview Questions

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Dear Readers, these are the commonly asked Java programs to check your ability in writing the logic.

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Complete Guide to CI/ CD Pipeline was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Renaud, A., Mügler, C., Durand, V., & Pessel, M. (2025). Natural and anthropogenic drivers of the water table dynamics in a riparian fen peatland. Journal of Hydrology, 652, 132655. doi.org/10.1016/j.jhydrol.2024.132655

“The HydroGeoSphere (HGS) code succeeded in modelling the effect of strong temporal variations of the atmospheric forcings on water table levels in the Jarcy peatland over several years.”

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

This publication, co-authored by Adrien Renaud, Claude Mügler, Véronique Durand, and Marc Pessel, examines the natural and anthropogenic drivers of water table dynamics in a riparian fen peatland along the Essonne River in France. This study leverages HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to couple surface and subsurface hydrology, providing new insights into how precipitation seasonality, vegetation activity, and river regulation influence peatland water levels.

Traditional approaches to wetland hydrology often focus on annual precipitation or groundwater levels, but these overlook the combined effects of vegetation cycles and human interventions such as dam operations. By integrating long-term field monitoring with HGS simulations, this research captures the critical role of seasonal rainfall distribution and river–peatland exchanges in sustaining water tables.

The study found that vegetation transpiration was a primary driver of seasonal drawdowns, while lateral inflows from the river buffered extreme declines during dry summers. Model results showed that precipitation timing mattered more than annual totals, with summer rainfall playing a decisive role in recovery. Simulations also revealed that the removal of a downstream dam reduced summer water tables by up to 38 cm, highlighting how hydrological restoration projects can significantly alter wetland resilience.

HydroGeoSphere proved essential in this work by reproducing both seasonal and event-driven dynamics, validating the importance of peatland structure— particularly a highly conductive surface layer overlying a deeper, less permeable horizon— in mediating hydrological responses. This research highlights the need to account for both natural variability and anthropogenic change when managing riparian peatlands, offering valuable guidance for conservation and water resource planning under a changing climate.

Abstract:

Riparian fens are peatlands that are fed by precipitation, groundwater, and surrounding surface water bodies. They can therefore be influenced by meteorological conditions, emphasised by global warming, and anthropogenic constraints such as flow regulation of the nearby rivers. In this paper, field monitoring and numerical modelling were used to identify the main drivers of water table dynamics at the site scale in a riparian fen peatland located along a regulated river. To this end, water table levels were recorded during three years in a riparian fen located in the alluvial plain of the Essonne River in France. A 2D transect hydrological model was built using the physically-based code HydroGeoSphere. It was composed of two superimposed soil layers identified in undisturbed soil cores taken from two distinct locations. Laboratory and field experiments revealed contrasting properties between these two layers, with a more decomposed peat layer at the surface (one metre deep) showing higher hydraulic conductivity compared to the deeper, more organic layer. Both measured and simulated results showed that the strong fluctuations of the water table in the peatland were mainly due to the seasonal life cycle of the vegetation. The water supply to the riparian peatland from the nearby river was essential when the vegetation was active by limiting the water table drawdown during very dry periods. Modelling results highlighted the importance of the river stage on the amplitude of the water table since a 26 cm drop led to a decrease of up to 38 cm of the piezometric levels. Both data and simulations also proved that the precipitation seasonal distribution plays a more critical role than the total annual precipitation on the water table depth, particularly in summer. This paper demonstrates the importance of precipitation seasonality and river hydraulic regime on the sustainability of a riparian peatland.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Location: Peel Region | Vacancies: 4

“This place saved my life!”– former grateful youth

Are you passionate about making a positive impact on the lives of youth in your community? If so, we invite you to join us in supporting vulnerable youth in Peel Region.

Our Place Peel is a non-profit charitable organization that provides shelter, support and hope for homeless and at-risk youth in the Region of Peel.

Founded in 1985, Our Place Peel is a registered charity, governed by a volunteer Board of Directors and actively serves Mississauga, Brampton and Caledon youth. Through our emergency shelters, transitional program, and community outreach services, we empower youth to take control of their lives, break harmful patterns and make a healthy new start.

Joining the Board of Our Place Peel lets you make a real, life-changing impact on vulnerable youth in Peel Region. You’ll contribute your expertise in governance, finance, or community engagement while collaborating with a mission-driven team to shape the organization’s future. With a flexible commitment of just a few hours per month, you can help empower youth to take control of their lives and build a brighter future

The Board meets in person on the third Tuesday of the month from 6:30-8:30pm eight times per year. Directors can be elected to the Board for a maximum of three consecutive two-year terms. This voluntary commitment involves:

• Attending and actively participating in an informed manner at Board, Committee, and Annual meetings. Board meetings are ideally in-person.
• Chairing or sitting on one of the two committees of the board.
• Committing to 3 – 4 hours per month, board members should expect 8 board meetings per year plus committee meetings.
• Actively support Our Place Peel through time, talent or treasure.

We are particularly interested in candidates with experience serving on an NPO Board of Directors. Ideally, you bring a specific background in one or more of the following areas: Finance/Financial Literacy (CPA), Board Governance and/or Government Relations. It is also preferred that you you live or work in the Region of Peel.

If you are ready to take on a rewarding and challenging role, we invite you to apply to join our Board of Directors. We are seeking energetic, committed and collaborative individuals who reflect the community we live and/or work in.

If you are interested in this opportunity, please submit a cover letter and resume to Carolyn Bryan, Executive Assistant at cbryan@ourplacepeel.org by January 12, 2026.

Our Place Peel is an equal opportunity employer. Accommodation for disabilities will be provided to support participation in all aspects of the process upon request. We are also dedicated to providing an atmosphere free from barriers in order to promote equity, inclusivity and diversity.

The post Our Place Peel appeared first on Capacity Canada.

Doug* never knew what it was like to be loved.

♦

*Name changed to preserve privacy.

When he was a child, Doug remembers spending days on end in his basement, with only a black-and-white television for company.

“My mother didn’t want me, and didn’t know how to take care of me,” said Doug. “Today, I would be diagnosed as autistic, but in the 80s, I was just seen as a troublemaker. And my mom couldn’t cope.

“And when I did something my mom didn’t like, she would throw away my toys as punishment – but she never told me. I just wondered where they went.

“I tried everything to get my mom to like me,” shared Doug. “I would draw beautifully detailed drawings and give them to her as gifts. I wanted her to love me. I wanted to feel safe. But that never happened.”

Other family members sometimes came to care for Doug, but there were many times he was left to fend for himself., even when there were adults around.

“I remember being so hungry that I would climb the cherry tree in our backyard, just to get a few cherries to quiet my rumbling stomach.

“I felt like I was invisible, that I didn’t matter to anyone,” said Doug. “I think that’s why I started doing everything I could to fit in, to belong. And that made it very easy for people to take advantage of me.”

In high school, Doug started smoking marijuana and joined in with friends who were drinking. And at first, he didn’t drink all that much. But as his pain grew, Doug drank more and more.

As an adult, Doug went from relationship to relationship, never finding love, or even a lasting friendship.

“My autism meant that I took everything at face value. I would trust that what someone said to me was true, that when they said they loved me, they meant it. I didn’t always understand what was going on, and would often have no clue why someone was upset with me.”

This all came to a head for Doug this April, when he got into a dispute with his landlord, someone that he saw as a friend up until then. The dispute turned physical, and Doug was violently assaulted.

He ended up in hospital. Doug had a broken collarbone, a torn lip and bruises all over his body. And when he was discharged from the hospital, he no longer had a home.

After calling the Region’s shelter intake number, Doug found a room at our ShelterCare program.

“I walked there that afternoon. I had never been so relieved to have somewhere to go, but at the same time I was frightened. I had never been homeless before. Would I be able to handle it?”

But Doug soon found out that he didn’t have to  worry – he had found shelter and more at ShelterCare.

“Here at ShelterCare, everything is different. Once I got here, my life started to get better. The staff are so caring – they have taken the time to know me and my story, and I get the help I need.”

Doug struggles with post-traumatic stress, and finds it difficult to sleep at night. Having a safe room of his own that he can rest in during the day is essential for his mental health.

He is also regularly meeting with the on-site counsellor, visits the addiction clinic for ongoing support, and has access to the nurse to get health care.

“But what is making me truly happy is that I’m beginning to figure out things about myself I never knew, and I’m starting to heal, both inside and out.”

Every person who arrives at our shelter comes with their own story, a unique journey that led them to our doors. Like Doug, they are all looking for a safe place to land.

And every day, 100 men find that safe place at our ShelterCare program. Thanks to your generous, faithful support, they receive 365 days of shelter, rest, healthcare, mental health and addiction services, along with one-on-one help to find permanent housing.

Thank you for your care and compassion that is making it possible for men like Doug to gather the strength to leave homelessness behind for good!

The post Finding More Than Shelter appeared first on House Of Friendship.

Useless is pretty strong.  As bad, self-serving and entirely not in the public interest that TRAC meetings are, it is still difficult not to find some small legitimate benefit . If I try really hard. 

They start with a Land Acknowledgement which I believe has been mandated by our provincial government but is now under a legal suit for removal. Or at least the school board's (WRDSB) use of the Land Acknowledgement is under attack which likely will affect other users thereof. 

Next is a Delegation from Schlegel Urban Development regarding future residential development in the extreme south end of Elmira. This is followed by discussions of Off-Site Contamination Cleanup, Groundwater Pumping and the truly pathetic Human Health and Ecological Risk Assessment (HHERA) yet again. How unsurprising that these shoddy plans require rewrites over and over to essentially pretend that they are responding to critics when they are not.  How dare the filth long in charge of the cleanup wait 55 years (1970-2025) before even beginning to clean up the downstream Creek and then suggest that there are now no unacceptable risks. BURN IN HELL YOU FILTH

The new and useless (just like the old ones)  2028 MECP Control Order summary will be presented. It will be flowery and self congratulatory and inherently useless as intended. We wouldn't want to upset our corporate masters now would we?

Item 9.2 will discuss the November 15, 2025 Record article titled "The Long Cleanup of Elmira's Water Contamination Crisis" which they couldn't even write correctly. I doubt that they will point out all the errors because they are the source of most of them.

The Universe is unfolding as the wealthy and powerful so intend and the rest of us sheep are merely along for the painful ride.

MECP does not stand for Ministry of Expanded Corporate Pollution but it really should . The MECP probably prefer The Ministry of Environment, Conservation and Parks. Boy talk about downgrading a Ministry by expanding their mandate while not expanding their budget enough to even be able to drag recalcitrant polluters in front of the courts to enforce the legislation that does exist.

2028 is the mandated date for the cleanup of the Elmira drinking water aquifers. Instead the company are talking about alternatives.  These alternatives include getting well E10 at Scotch Line (south of Elmira) to contribute water to the distribution system. Other implausible ideas include water barriers of clean water pumped into the aquifers between the company at the north end of town and the south wellfield (E7, E9) at the south end of town now surrounded by both commercial and industrial development. Only Elmira/Woolwich are dumb enough to pollute the south wellfield in 1989, shut it down then develop all around it and later decide to start it up again in 2028. 

Lanxess want somehow to get Elmira back onto Elmira drinking water. The Region of Waterloo have also reversed their position and now want Elmira off the pipeline that brings water from Waterloo and the IUS or Integrated Urban System.  The minor problem of course is that NDMA and chlorobenzene are still above drinking water standards in many parts of the drinking water aquifers. Also these chemicals have bonded to soils in the clay or silt aquitards between the aquifers and they are now back diffusing from the soils into the aquifers. 

The elephant in the room however may be the unmentioned and intentionally ignored other Uniroyal chemicals in our aquifers and aquitards and this includes DDT and dioxins despite the longstanding lies that they do not dissolve in groundwater. The other elephant in the room is Uniroyal's long insistence in talking about DNAPLS versus actually cleaning them up both on and OFF the Uniroyal property. These DNAPLS (chlorobenzenes, chlorophenols, TCE etc.) help mobilize DDT, dioxins and other low solubility chemicals and have transported them off-site just as erosion of soils has done so into the Canagagigue Creek for at least five miles downstream.

A company with a site history of maiming, killing and crippling both Vietnamese and Americans and that has proven grossly inadequate in their cleanup can not be trusted to remain in charge of the eventual health of the Elmira Aquifers. Knowing what I know about the non-cleanup to date I have no intention of drinking Elmira water again.

The post Friday Night Boulder League appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

The quietness of the 2025 fall real estate market has continued into November. While prices are a bit of a mixed bag relative to October, they are down moderately in every segment compared to last year.

Robust inventory levels and lower sales volumes continue to put downward pressure on prices, which has been especially the case for the past several months.

In fact we are at multiyear highs for listings and multiyear lows for sales volumes. And with buyers now clearly in the driver’s seat, days on market is also trending higher, with a typical property in every category taking over a month to sell.

This is not a local phenomenon. Calgary and Toronto are seeing similar market conditions. I suspect that part of the decline we are seeing is investor driven, especially in the apt condo and townhouse segments. Rents here and in many places across Canada are lower relative to both last year’s and the 2023 figures. It is difficult to make a case for real estate investment in the short term. Compare this to the TSX, up by 25% compared to January.

Going forward into the new year, we are faced with under performing housing targets and high immigration levels even after Ottawa’s cuts. As of September, Ontario met just 26% of its target. Immigration is expected to come in nationally at 3/4 of a million people in 2026, and many of them will chose to live in Ontario.

With low rates, low supply and lots of potential buyers, there’s a compelling argument for a turn around in the real estate market. But when that will occur is certainly hard to predict. The Bank of Canada has predicted sluggish growth next year at the last meeting. And at the moment it’s obvious that buyers are reluctant and that’s not surprising with all the turmoil south of the border. I think we’ll see more of the same slowness in December and into January.

The post November 2025 Market Review appeared first on Andrew Shackleton.

♦

KITCHENER - The Kitchener Panthers are proud to announce the signing of import outfielder Yosvani Penalver, marking the first roster signing of the team's Canadian Baseball League (CBL) era.

Penalver had an outstanding first season with the Panthers in 2025, recording a .359 batting average, including a team-leading 55 hits, and 25 walks. His .448 on-base-percentage was key at the top of the lineup.

He also knocked six home runs, and drove in 27 RBI.

Penalver also represented the team at the IBL All-Star Showdown in Hamilton.

He is currently playing in the Cuban National Series with Industriales, where he is hitting .285 with three home runs, 16 RBIs, 33 walks and has a .417 OBP.

"I am excited to have Yosvani back with us this season," said Panthers general manager Shanif Hirani. "Not only was he an All-Star and mainstay at the top of the lineup, but he quickly became a leader in our clubhouse.

"The impact he makes on and off the field is extremely valuable for our program."

==========

YOSVANI PENALVER

• Bats/Pitches: L/L
• Hometown: Havana, Cuba (IMPORT)
• Birthdate: October 28, 1992
• Pronunciation: Yo-s-VAH-nee PEN-all-VAY