♦

I love writing. I set down my scratchy black pen, and the love of ink and page and the flow of unexpected discovery and adventure fills me with gratitude, too great to express, yet I want to, so I come here, to say thank you for reading, and thank you for giving me a place to set down my thoughts, now and then.

I am writing a lot this fall. Papers and reflections and journal entries. Notes. Presentations. Writing by hand, writing on yellow lined paper, writing in my notebook. Writing on screen. Rejigging my CV, and composing cover letters, for the purpose of applying to practicum placements, which will start either this spring or next fall. The closest I’ve come to writing fiction is sketching a few “case studies” for essays. I am also writing poems for a final project for one of my courses. The poems are not the point, the reflection will be, but the poems are thrilled to be invited to the conversation. Writing these poems, scratching them out in pen, transferring them to the screen, playing with them, backward and forward, is a balm, is a bright-burning flame.

This program is hard. It requires me to consider, as deeply and thoroughly as I can, how best to use my self. Safe and effective use of self. That is the phrase that guides my focus through the ups and down of this process. I have felt broken and lost, and buoyed and blessed and found, sometimes in the same afternoon. How can I use my self to serve others? Well, I am coming around to recognizing that “safe and effective use of self” isn’t about seeking the hardest path, or the greatest challenge, it is about knowing my strengths, and leaning on them, to make the best use of my whole being in the therapy space.

I am very hard on my self, folks. You may or may not know this. I am pretty sure my family knows it, my kids know it. I’ve tried to shield them from the punishing expectations I’ve put onto myself, but it is likely they have not been spared. I kind of know that, while not wanting to know it. Denial is real, and has a protective purpose, but in time, I would like to un-peel this shell and pull us all into the great love that I feel exists, beyond expectations, with no need to be right or accomplished or better than or perfect. Something that’s true is that I am not perfect. What’s the solution to not being perfect? I think one answer is: Being accountable.

♦

My expectations are shifting, I feel it, and I am learning. I am learning to be gentler to my self, to speak to my self like a friend, and, yes, discover that it is gentler and kinder to recognize and name when I have done wrong, or been wrong, or acted in a way that does not align with my inner compass. To be accountable means to trust that my mistakes will be forgiven, to trust that I won’t be cast out or punished or abandoned or seen as unworthy for making errors, maybe even really egregious errors that cause real harm. I don’t want to cause harm, but as a human, I may and I have. If I name this and know this, I will be able to carry this truth to others, and offer hope.

Hope of repair. Hope of forgiveness. Hope of belonging. Hope of contentment. Hope of respect, dignity, and ultimately, trust in one’s self.

xo, Carrie

Well that's quite the timing. Yesterday Bob Burtt, author and former K-W Record reporter, called for a provincial inquiry in his Letter to the Editor and today the front page of the Record has a story about our brand new, just appointed Regional Chair Scott Davey. Obviously Mr. Davey, a current city of Kitchener councillor, is already going to be very busy in the months ahead and will need to get himself up to speed on many regional issues including our water supply. 

Hmm this calls for a deft, diplomatic touch here in order for me to promote Mr. Burtt's call for an inquiry and to suggest that an experienced local politician as our new regional chair isn't such a bad idea. The problem for me is that certain twits and idiots with vested interests have called me many things, mostly behind my back, but never using the words "deft" or "diplomatic". Oh heck here goes anyways.

I like Bob Burtt and recognize his sincerity and deep interest in our water supply. I do not like how Susan Bryant has wound him around her little finger. Some of us have renamed his 2014 book about the Elmira Water Crisis as "The Ode to Susan". That said how can I seriously be upset with him regarding Susan as she has made a career out of befriending people who can advance her status and knowledge. This included Sylvia Berg, Pat Mclean, Ken Seiling, Bob B. and shudder...myself. I and two others resigned from APTE in January 1994 and I split from her as a friend and colleague in 2008. She and APTE lost another incredibly highly qualified member, and respected nationally and internationally scientist, a few years earlier. O.K. I was an idiot in my own right not to have added things up then and departed sooner. 

As far as Scott Davey goes he hasn't even been on my radar. I am very curious as to whether or not he is a card carrying Conservative or not. Former Regional Chair Karen Redman was a Liberal. Former mayor Sandy Shantz was a Conservative and thank God she wasn't appointed as Regional Chair. Water should be a non partisan issue but of course it's not. Critics of the Region may want an inquiry and supporters and those served well by the Region will not. This much I can say and have said: Our water supply is in great jeopardy both as in Quantity and Quality and lying about it serves only the incompetent and the guilty. That means a ton of politicians do NOT want to hear about it. Keep an eye on the Record and other local papers and lets see if AFTER an election there is any appetite for the truth. I am doubtful but have been wrong before.  

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The 29th annual edition of our signature event will take place on Tuesday, February 9!

The post 2027 Pancake Lunch ✨🥞 first appeared on Child Witness Centre.

Arnoux, M., Cochand, F., Brunner, P., Schaefli, B., Winstral, A., & Hunkeler, D. (2026). Groundwater storage in Quaternary deposits and bedrock buffers the discharge response of a small alpine catchment to climate change. Hydrogeology Journal. doi.org/10.1007/s10040-026-03157-5

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

“The model was trained to predict monthly groundwater discharge (GWD) and radionuclide transport (RNT), and its performance was evaluated against the results from HGS, which serves as a physically rigorous reference model.”

“Because real-world data for the hypothetical ADioS watershed were unavailable, the HGS model, which is a fully distributed, physically based, integrated surface–subsurface hydrological model, was used to simulate groundwater flow and radionuclide transport for target feature extraction.”

Fig 2. Illustration of the HGS model and geology

We’re pleased to highlight this publication by Marie Arnoux, Fabien Cochand, Philip Brunner, Bettina Schaefli, Adam Winstral, and Daniel Hunkeler, which uses HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to investigate how groundwater storage can buffer the effects of climate change on streamflow in snow-dominated alpine catchments. In particular, the study examines how groundwater stored within different geological formations influences future summer low flows as snow accumulation and melt patterns change.

Alpine regions play an important role in supplying water to downstream valleys, particularly by releasing stored water during warm and dry periods. However, groundwater and the influence of geology are often underrepresented in studies of future alpine water resources. The researchers sought to address this by quantifying groundwater storage dynamics and examining how individual geological units contribute to low-flow generation under current and future climate conditions.

Fig 3. Simulated daily discharge compared to the measured daily streamflow for the period 21.10.2014—01.04.2016

The modelling framework was based on conditions typical of the Vallon de Réchy, an approximately 11 km², non-glacierized alpine catchment in the Swiss Alps. The catchment ranges from 2,150 to 3,148 m above sea level and contains a mixture of bedrock, evaporites, and unconsolidated Quaternary deposits, including alluvium, talus, and moraines. These different geological formations provided the researchers with a basis for investigating where groundwater is stored and how that storage contributes to streamflow.

Using HydroGeoSphere, the researchers developed an integrated surface–subsurface model that simultaneously represents three-dimensional variably saturated subsurface flow, two-dimensional surface flow, infiltration and exfiltration, evapotranspiration, snow accumulation and snowmelt, and catchment discharge. This integrated representation was particularly important because groundwater recharge and exchanges between streams and aquifers are central to understanding how alpine water resources may respond to a changing climate.

The model was evaluated against observed streamflow and groundwater levels, with particular attention paid to reproducing low-flow conditions. For an independent validation period, simulated discharge achieved a Nash–Sutcliffe efficiency of 0.73, while the study notes that low flows were well reproduced. The researchers then drove the model using two RCP8.5 climate projections from 1981 to 2099, selected to investigate relatively strong warming and changes in snowmelt and groundwater recharge. The authors emphasize that these scenarios represent upper-bound climate impacts rather than moderate future conditions.

The simulations showed substantial changes in the catchment's snow regime by the end of the century. Mean snow water equivalent decreased by approximately 100 mm under one climate scenario and 120 mm under the other, while annual snowmelt declined by approximately 150 and 245 mm/year, respectively. At the same time, mean annual evapotranspiration increased by around 45 mm, and mean annual groundwater storage across the catchment decreased by approximately 110–130 mm.

Importantly, the response differed considerably between geological formations. Most of the decline in mean annual groundwater storage occurred within the low-permeability bedrock, where storage decreased by approximately 125 mm by the 2085 period. In contrast, mean annual groundwater storage within the Quaternary deposits remained relatively stable. These deposits, concentrated largely within the valley bottom, can receive recharge from precipitation and snowmelt as well as groundwater from the surrounding bedrock and, depending on the season, from streams.

The seasonal results reveal an important groundwater buffering effect. By 2085, simulated summer discharge declined substantially: August discharge decreased by approximately 38–45%, while September discharge declined by approximately 45–55%, depending on the climate scenario. Yet groundwater storage in the Quaternary deposits declined by only about 10–14% during these months. The researchers found that streams and Quaternary aquifers are closely connected: streams recharge these aquifers during spring, while groundwater stored within them contributes back to streamflow during low-flow periods.

The timing of low flows also changed. Under the simulations, the annual low-flow period gradually shifted from winter toward late summer, ultimately shifting to summer after 2092 in the scenario examined in detail. Future summer low flows generally remained higher than present-day winter low flows, but after exceptionally dry summers they approached similar levels. This suggests that groundwater can help buffer changes in streamflow, although its ability to do so may become limited during prolonged periods of low precipitation.

A sensitivity analysis further demonstrated that the geological composition of the catchment plays an important role in determining this buffering capacity. Moraine and talus deposits primarily regulate groundwater storage and buffering: lower hydraulic conductivity within these units increases storage and supports higher low flows. Bedrock plays a complementary role, with higher bedrock hydraulic conductivity allowing more stored groundwater to be released to streams during dry periods. Overall, the researchers found that both Quaternary deposits and bedrock are important for maintaining discharge during low-flow conditions.

This research demonstrates how HydroGeoSphere can be used to explicitly connect geology, groundwater storage, surface water and climate change within an integrated modelling framework. Rather than considering changes in snowmelt or streamflow alone, the study shows that understanding where groundwater is stored— and how different geological units release that water— is critical for evaluating future water availability in alpine environments. The findings highlight groundwater as an important buffer against declining summer flows, while also demonstrating that this buffering capacity is finite and strongly dependent on the hydrogeological characteristics of the catchment.

Abstract:

Alpine areas play a major role in the water supply of downstream valleys by releasing water during dry periods. Groundwater storage could significantly influence how changing climatic conditions affect the discharge regime. However, these processes are still not well understood in alpine areas. Studies on how climate change impacts water resources in alpine areas rarely consider the influence of geology explicitly. An integrated surface–subsurface hydrologic model (HydroGeoSphere) was used to highlight the effect of groundwater in buffering future summer low flows and to give new insights into the role of geology in controlling discharge. The spatially explicit model allows the quantification of groundwater storage and its variation in different geological formations of an alpine catchment, under current and future conditions. The results suggest that, under future extreme climate change conditions, the average catchment groundwater storage in Quaternary deposits increases in winter and decreases in summer; the annual mean groundwater storage for the entire catchment decreases due to the decrease in mean annual groundwater recharge; and the total catchment discharge decreases and low-flow period shifts from winter to late summer by the end of this century. Future summer low flows will remain higher than the current winter low flows but will approach them closely after very dry summers. Proportionally, the decrease in groundwater storage will be less severe than the decrease in discharge. Finally, a sensitivity analysis illustrates that both Quaternary deposits (especially moraine and talus units) and bedrock play an important role in supporting discharge during low-flow periods.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

Other questions include which aquifer did they travel along the bottom of on their way off-site (westwards) whether to Nutrite/Yara or past Varnicolor to beside the Howard St. Water Tower. Certainly DNAPLS have travelled off-site in both the Municipal Upper (MU) and the Municipal Lower (ML) Aquifer. Another question is whether the ML DNAPL got there via the "window" at OW-58 along Uniroyal Chemical's western property line, which pierces the Municipal Aquitard (MAT), or whether it came all the way from the Stroh property. Either way it had to have come via gravity flow from above. A third possibility is that high concentrations of chlorobenzene at ML pumping wells such as W8 could have come from DNAPL at OW57-32R near the water tower partially gravity flowing even deeper than 32 metres down into the nearby unconfined ML. While possible I think the other two are more likely.

Of course Lanxess and GHD know the answers and are not sharing. Keeping the public in the dark is absolutely mandatory for the coverup to succeed and this includes promoting co-optee citizens and dumping and defaming citizens who will not be co-opted and bent. You can figure out who is who despite the old joke that you need a roster to know who is playing on which team. 

Again there is still the possibility that the chlorobenzene DNAPL at OW57-32 (Howard St. Water Tower) came from a closer source such as either the former Borg Textiles (Howard Ave.) or from Varnicolor Chemical (Union St.). Again I am sure that Lanxess, GHD and probably the Ontario MECP know the truth but why share it if it will only denigrate the MECP's credibility and professionalism in missing yet another Elmira dirty polluter. It would also bring discredit upon the sweetheart deal of November 1991 between Uniroyal and the Ontario M.O.E. of the time.

Frank Rovers of Conestoga Rovers & Assoc., according to Susan Bryant, told the Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee (UPAC)  that the Uniroyal site was filled with sub-surface DNAPLS whether free phase or residual. Now it is possible that Susan slipped up and made an honest mistake when she told me that and in fact Frank Rovers had told her that privately. Who knows for sure although either way it certainly is interesting and damning .

I’ve been reviving my Hiker Atlas hobby project. My interest in it has been renewed by LLMs making a lot of the tedious scutwork easier. Hey, if I have to face the downsides of my profession being destroyed, I may as well enjoy the upsides of software development being ~free.

One consequence of LLMs is that development cycles happen faster. Much faster. tilemaker gives an example – performance work that took me 3 months in 2023 is now being done in days or weeks in 2026.

When you iterate faster, you also learn faster. I’m1 running more experiments. I’m rolling out new features. I’m exploring more ideas. When they work, I want to capture them, both as a reference for myself, and as a resource to which other map devs can be referred.

Writing then becomes a bottleneck. Do you accept that, and produce hand-crafted text at the cost of making progress on the app? Do you let an LLM write up the discoveries? Are you obliged to disclose the use of an LLM?

Everyone can reach their own decisions here. For me personally, I’m landing on two policies, split by whether the publication is one-to-many (a blog post) or one-to-one (an email).

For one-to-many communication:

• It’s OK to have an LLM draft an article.
• If an LLM drafts an article, say so.
  • This lets readers assess how much of your effort went into the post, and thus calibrate their own expectations.
  • An example Hiker Atlas blog post that follows this policy: ARM runners are 1.5x faster
• If an LLM drafts an article, review it for accuracy and terrible prose.
  • Should someone complain about the quality of the text, don’t take it personally. Fix it. It’s not your text, why should you be offended when someone dislikes it?
• Using an LLM to suggest edits is fine, and does not require disclosure.
  • If you are the one incorporating the edits, your voice and personal judgment are still in play.
• Using an LLM to wrangle data, generate charts, etc, is fine and does not require disclosure.

For one-to-one communication:

• LLMs should never draft. It violates the social norms of personal communication, and can lead to this ridiculous outcome: ♦ Cartoon by Tom Fishburne, Marketoonist
• LLMs as reviewers that provide critiques are OK, but shouldn’t be directly editing your content.

Oxide Computer Company’s Using LLMs at Oxide policy seems similar, although it further differentiates one-to-many communication into public writing that represents the brand (don’t use LLMs) and operational writing that is reference material (LLM use is OK). I consider the blog posts on Hiker Atlas to fall in their “operational writing” category more than their “public writing” category.

1. Well. “I”. Claude. Whoever. Whatever? ↩

KWSQA is offering this KWality Talk as in-person only, details under Location below!

Register: Online at our KWality Talk Page.

Speaker: Kayla Gillman

Topic: Across the globe, organizations are rapidly investing in AI to improve quality, speed delivery, and reduce cost – yet many are encountering a familiar problem: high expectations, slow progress, and limited business value. A decade ago, QA leaders faced this same challenge during the rise of test automation. In this session, Kayla Gillman, Global Head of Pre-Sales at TTC Global, draws on her experience leading enterprise automation and quality engineering initiatives across multiple regions to explore what AI adoption can learn from automation’s first decade.

Using real-world examples and industry research, Kayla examines why both automation and AI initiatives stall – not because of tooling, but due to gaps in readiness, governance, skills, and alignment with business goals. Delegates will gain a practical framework for assessing maturity and learn how to embed AI responsibly into modern quality practices without sacrificing trust or human judgment. Attendees will leave with clear, actionable guidance for scaling automation and AI sustainably across complex, global delivery environments.

Meet our Speaker: 

Kayla Gillman is Global Head of Pre-Sales and Senior Manager, Canada at TTC Global, where she leads enterprise quality engineering strategy across international transformation programs. Based in Canada and working closely with clients across Europe and North America, Kayla specializes in test automation, AI-assisted testing, and large-scale delivery enablement. She brings close to two decades of experience helping organizations evolve from manual testing foundations to continuous and intelligent automation at scale. Known for her pragmatic leadership style, Kayla focuses on aligning people, process, and technology to deliver measurable business value. She is a frequent speaker on automation maturity, AI readiness, and the evolving role of quality engineering in global digital transformation.

Doors will open at 11:45 pm. Announcements and discussion start at 12:00 pm. Meeting ends at approximately 1:00 pm.

As with all in-person KWality Talks lunch will be provided. Please ensure you note any dietary restrictions in the ticket registration process. 

Please follow the instructions on the KWality Talk Page to register for this event.

This months in-person event will be held at the Waterloo Accelerator Centre at 295 Hagey Boulevard, Waterloo, ON, N2L 6R5.

People attending our meetings are expected to adhere to the KWSQA code of conduct.

For 37 years we the public have been blatantly lied to by municipal, regional and provincial politicians on any and all matters pertaining to the 1989 Elmira Water Crisis that could impact negatively either reputations or pocket books of the above four groups. Lanxess Canada of course includes Uniroyal, Crompton and Chemtura. The depth, breadth and scope of these lies are extraordinary and breathtaking. From hydrogeological nonsense and lies to even which companies contributed to the disaster; truth has been intentionally crushed since 1989. 

On one hand we could grudgingly look at some of the revelations of the last few years and suggest that maybe, maybe Lanxess are less comfortable with dishonesty than their predecessors. The pictorial Conceptual Site Model (CSM) dated January 2024 has been expanded eastwards to include at least part of the Stroh property in the handouts from last September 17 th TRAC meeting. There are a number of changes from past CSMs including the Feb.15, 2019 one and all it's predecessors that suggest a stunning misdirection and deception since the start of the crisis in November 1989. 

Put simply and in a nutshell what the latest pictorial CSM suggests is the PROBABILITY that three deeper aquifers have windows or fractures connecting each other. This means that as all three aquifers Municipal Upper, Municipal Lower and Bedrock (MU, ML & BR)  flow in a generally south-west direction they are carrying contamination originating from Uniroyal Chemical both back to Uniroyal's already grossly contaminated site as well as likely south of it into the town of Elmira bypassing pumping wells allegedly protecting Elmira's Aquifers. If you think any of this new to the public information is positive regarding eventual cleanup of the Elmira Aquifers, you are mistaken. What it does is clarify all the signals that we will never be safely drinking water from those aquifers again.  

Artificial Intelligence or AI (Google for example) can sometimes be tapped for clarification although it's sources and references if followed up are not always what they initially appear. On the other hand I have seen  AI make statements and claims that they quite readily will correct if given additional data to work with. A friend and colleague sent me an AI generated version of it's hydrogeological interpretation of the multiple aquifers beneath the Stroh property (immediately east of Uniroyal/Lanxess property) . Despite a couple of errors it really was quite enlightening and helpful. 

I would encourage Lanxess to begin telling the truth more often because the day of reckoning is coming  and you really do not want to be found as guilty as your predecessors.   

While building the CI workflow for my application, I got tired of pushing every small workflow change to GitHub just to see whether it worked. Make a change, commit, push, wait, and sometimes repeat.

I started looking for a way to run the workflow locally. That’s when I came across act.

It’s an open-source tool that lets you run GitHub Actions workflows locally using Docker.

It reads workflow files from .github/workflows, interprets the jobs and steps, and executes them inside Docker containers that simulate GitHub Actions runner environments.

This means you can test workflow changes locally, inspect failures in your terminal, and iterate without pushing every change to GitHub. Here’s its GitHub repository, if you want to know more.

The project provides installation options for different operating systems. You can use the installation steps from its documentation.

Once installed, I verified it:

act --version

With Docker running, I was ready to try it.

Before running a workflow, it’s worth knowing that act offers different runner image sizes: micro, medium, and large.

The main difference is how much software comes preinstalled in each image.

• Micro: A minimal image with very few preinstalled tools. Smaller and faster to download, but you may need to install dependencies yourself.
• Medium: Includes a broader set of commonly used tools. A reasonable balance between image size and convenience.
• Large: Includes a much wider range of preinstalled software, making it closer to a typical GitHub-hosted runner environment. However, it’s significantly larger.

You can choose an image depending on what your workflow needs.
Now, to run the default workflow event, you can use the command:

act

But I wanted to test the pull request workflow specifically:

act pull_request

Docker pulled the required runner image, and the workflow started executing in my terminal.

The workflow actually ran through several steps without any issues, including building the Docker image. Things looked good until it reached the Trivy scanning step.

That’s where it failed with this error:

::error::Input required and not supplied: token

I initially wondered why a vulnerability scanner needed a GitHub token. After looking into how the Trivy action works internally, I found what was causing the issue.

The Trivy action uses another action called setup-trivy to install the Trivy binary. In my case, the cache lookup had failed, so it proceeded with a fresh installation. As part of that process, setup-trivy invoked actions/checkout to fetch the Trivy repository's installation script. That checkout required a GitHub token, but act hadn't provided one.

When a workflow runs on GitHub, GitHub Actions provides a token automatically. But when running locally with act, I needed to supply that token myself.

Fortunately, I already had GitHub CLI installed and authenticated. So I could retrieve my token with:

gh auth token

Then I passed it to act as a secret:

act pull_request -s GITHUB_TOKEN="$(gh auth token)"

The -s flag allows you to pass secrets to a locally executed workflow. I ran the workflow again, and this time it completed successfully!

I used my authenticated GitHub CLI token to get the workflow running. However, for regular local testing, it’s better to use a dedicated fine-grained personal access token with only the permissions required by your workflow.

Not exactly.

act uses Docker containers to simulate GitHub-hosted runners. While this gets you pretty close, the local environment isn’t identical to GitHub’s actual runner environment. For example:

• Some actions depend on GitHub-specific APIs, credentials, or services.
• The Docker images used by act may not have the same preinstalled software as GitHub-hosted runners.
• Not all GitHub Actions features are supported locally.

So, a successful local run doesn’t guarantee that the workflow will succeed on GitHub. An actual GitHub Actions run is still necessary for final verification.

act isn't the only way to work with GitHub Actions workflows.

• Rehearse is an alternative that aims to execute GitHub Actions workflow files locally without relying on Docker.
• GitHub-hosted runners are always an option. You can push your changes to GitHub and let the workflow run in its actual environment. Of course, that brings us back to the reason I started looking for act in the first place, having to push every small change.

I wouldn’t say act replaces GitHub Actions or that every developer needs it.

But if you’re frequently changing workflow files and don’t want to push every small change just to test them, it’s worth knowing about.

For me, it was a useful discovery while building my CI pipeline. I could test changes locally, catch issues earlier, and avoid the repetitive cycle of committing, pushing, and waiting for GitHub Actions to finish.

Running GitHub Actions Locally was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

A proposed zoning change at 400 Millennium Boulevard in Waterloo could bring additional single-detached homes to a planned residential community in the city's northeast end.

Activa Holdings Inc. has submitted a new rezoning application seeking permission to develop detached homes on two blocks previously designated for townhouses.

The property is part of a larger mixed-use development near RIM Park and Country Squire Road that received draft subdivision approval from Waterloo City Council in October 2025.

For homeowners, prospective buyers and anyone following new construction in Waterloo, here's what is planned, what's changing and what happens next.

The development is located in northeast Waterloo, near the established Carriage Crossing neighbourhood and RIM Park.

On October 27, 2025, Waterloo City Council approved the draft plan of subdivision for a mixed-use community at 400 Millennium Boulevard, contemplating up to 634 residential units.

The broader development includes plans for:

• Single-detached and semi-detached homes
• Townhouses
• Apartment and other multi-unit residential buildings
• Commercial space
• A public park
• Stormwater management facilities
• Conservation and open space

The original planning application identified a range of approximately 583–634 residential units.

The City's newer rezoning application identifies a range of 572–623 residential units across the entire property. The final number and configuration of homes may change as the development progresses.

Activa's latest application, Z-26-18, proposes rezoning Blocks 6 and 8 within Draft Plan of Subdivision 30T-23401.

These blocks are currently zoned Residential Seven (R7), which permits townhouses under the applicable site-specific zoning provisions.

The developer is requesting Residential Five (R5) zoning to permit single-detached homes instead.

In practical terms, the proposed amendment would allow detached homes on two portions of the subdivision where townhouses were previously planned.

These proposed changes apply to Blocks 6 and 8. The broader subdivision continues to include a variety of residential housing types, along with commercial and community uses.

The new rezoning application is subject to the City's planning review process.

View the official Blocks 6 and 8 illustration and current application on EngageWR. The applicant-provided illustration may change as the planning process continues.

New residential developments contribute to the evolving housing landscape in Waterloo, particularly in growing areas of the city.

For prospective buyers, the proposed change could introduce additional detached-home options within a future northeast Waterloo community.

For existing homeowners, development activity provides useful context about the types of housing being planned nearby, future neighbourhood growth and potential changes to the surrounding area.

However, a proposed zoning change does not automatically translate into new homes being built or made available for purchase.

Construction timelines, pricing and sales availability have not been confirmed through the municipal planning information reviewed.

New development does not, on its own, determine whether existing home values will increase or decrease. Property values are influenced by numerous factors, including buyer demand, comparable sales, inventory and broader market conditions.

The broader subdivision received draft plan approval from Waterloo City Council on October 27, 2025.

The newer rezoning application affecting Blocks 6 and 8 is a separate proposal that remains subject to the applicable municipal review and approval process.

Draft plan approval is an important planning milestone, but it should not be confused with final subdivision registration or authorization to begin construction.

Additional approvals, servicing requirements and permits may be necessary before building proceeds.

The property is located in northeast Waterloo, near RIM Park and Country Squire Road, in the vicinity of the established Carriage Crossing neighbourhood.

Activa Holdings Inc. is the developer associated with the proposed subdivision and the latest rezoning application.

The original subdivision application contemplated 583–634 residential units, with Waterloo City Council approving a draft plan allowing up to 634 units in October 2025.

The newer rezoning application identifies a range of 572–623 units for the overall property. The ultimate number may change.

Yes. Single-detached homes were already included in the broader subdivision plan. The latest application proposes allowing detached homes on two additional blocks previously zoned for townhouses.

A confirmed construction start date has not been established in the municipal planning information reviewed for this article.

The planning records do not establish a confirmed sales launch, pricing or available inventory. Buyers interested in future new-construction opportunities should monitor announcements from the developer.

It is too early to determine what effect the development may have on surrounding property values. Individual property characteristics, neighbourhood demand, comparable sales and overall market conditions remain important considerations.

Waterloo continues to evolve, with new residential developments, planning applications and neighbourhood growth contributing to the city's long-term housing landscape.

For homeowners and prospective buyers, understanding what is being proposed—and distinguishing it from what has already been approved—can provide valuable context when making real estate decisions.

Drew and I believe that staying informed about local development is an important part of understanding the Waterloo Region real estate market.

Whether you're considering selling your home, purchasing a property or simply curious about how your neighbourhood is evolving, we're always happy to share our perspective on local market conditions and opportunities.

Thinking about buying or selling in Waterloo Region? Connect with The Deutschmann Team for a personalized discussion about your home, your neighbourhood and your real estate goals.

Becky Deutschmann & Drew Dickinson
The Deutschmann Team
RE/MAX Twin City Realty Inc.

1. Current 2026 rezoning application — Z-26-18
2. Original subdivision planning application
3. Waterloo City Council summary — October 27, 2025

Planning information reviewed November 8, 2026, and is subject to change. The Deutschmann Team is not affiliated with Activa Holdings Inc. or the developer’s sales program.

The post 400 Millennium Boulevard Waterloo: Activa Proposes Changes to Planned Residential Development appeared first on Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent - The Deutschmann Team.

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 Luisa D'Amato in her Opinion piece in yesterday's K-W Record, titled "A report on Waterloo Region's water crisis will be ready next month  What happens next?", makes it very clear. One, public trust in Regional government has been broken and two, we are not out of the woods yet. Ms. D'Amato states "But we're doomed to return to the moment of crisis, if we forget that we ever had a crisis.".  She suggests that even if we get by the 2026 Region of Waterloo Water Crisis  we have no way of knowing if we have enough water to provide for the growth of the Region to one million people by 2051 as our provincial and federal governments are demanding. 

Myself I see no problem in Waterloo Region attaining a population of that size and a plethora of serious problems if we do. Our city streets and highways are too busy now part of the time. Lets pack in more people, more cars, more buses, more trucks and see how they are then. Our waterways are getting dirtier from agricultural, industrial and human discharges so lets make them worse. Our groundwater based drinking water is badly compromised from both past industrial pollution as well as current road salt levels, nitrate exceedances, glyphosate (Roundup), chlorinated solvents and worse. We can solve that apparently by a multi billion dollar pipeline to the dirtiest of the Great Lakes namely Lake Erie. We deserve that because much of our water pollution ends up in the Grand River which empties into Lake Erie. Our air stinks part of the time although that isn't solely our fault. Farmland and crop production continues to erode as we turn farms into either industrial wastelands, data centres, warehouses or rural subdivisions requiring personal cars for work, shopping and play. Lastly don't we all enjoy sitting for hours in hospital emergency rooms waiting to be seen? Surely larger populations will reduce waiting times won't they?

Meanwhile locally our politicians have been complicit in the destruction of a magnificent aquifer complex that was capable of providing for the needs of Elmira, Woolwich and even south to K-W to assist in their needs. That is done! Now K-W are providing for our water needs but do not fool yourselves. They are providing us with heavily and expensively treated groundwater and river water that some of those same politicians cheerfully allowed to become contaminated without proper remediation at the source in the first place. They would rather all taxpayers pay for disinfection and contaminant removal at regional water treatment sites than their political party and individual donors, who made extra millions by improper waste disposal, pay out of their own pockets. 

Yesterdays Blog posting here indicates how far and wide contamination has spread in Elmira and how it continues to re-contaminate aquifers that are only partially being pumped and treated. It also shows how far the MECP, Lanxess, Woolwich and Regional politicians are willing to go to distort, lie and deceive residents and citizens on these matters. All of their lies and deceptions serve their purposes which are to make money and to accrue power and influence at our expense.         

Board members serve two-year, renewable terms
We need a few exceptional people to join us as we build a more peaceful and compassionate Toronto

Out Of Bounds, a registered charity, is looking for a small number of capable, concerned and committed volunteers to join our Board of Directors.

Our organization was founded in 2006, after Toronto’s infamous “year of the gun.” Since then, we have provided support to those affected by gun violence and pioneered programming and advocacy to address the root causes of such violence.

One of our hallmark programs offers immediate counselling and support to the families of young people who have been killed or wounded as a result of gun violence.

As Toronto witnesses an upsurge in such violence once more, and after several years of operating as a grassroots organization, Out Of Bounds is transitioning to a more formal and professional structure to advance our mission. We are seeking volunteers to join our Board of Directors to help us grow to the next level.

Ideal candidates will have a combination of the following:

• Previous experience serving on a nonprofit board or in a leadership role with a community organization;
• Familiarity with the legal and fiduciary responsibilities of nonprofit governance;
• Personal/professional interest in, or connection to, the issue of reducing gun violence and supporting those affected by it;
• Empathy and dedication to advocating for survivors and families impacted by gun violence;
• The ability to provide both strategic leadership and accountability AND perform the tasks often asked of a working board, including serving on sub-committees and volunteering for specific tasks;
• The ability to call upon personal networks to source information, resources and connections that would advance the mission of the organization;
• The ability to work collaboratively with others on a small board, building consensus and managing conflict constructively; and
• Willingness to serve as an “ambassador” for the organization as it meets with those in the community and connects with other stakeholders.

Professional experience in a number of fields that would contribute to our board skill set is welcomed but not mandatory. These fields would include public policy, social justice and advocacy, media and social media, law enforcement and the justice system, trauma counselling, fundraising, accounting, strategy and community leadership.

Our nine-person Board of Directors is at the centre of our response to the challenges facing Toronto communities. Our small staff, led by our Executive Director, delivers programming in two main areas:

• Supporting those who are grieving from the loss of a loved one to gun violence; and
• Engaging in the community to address the root causes of gun violence.

Our working board has helped us design and deliver programming in each of these areas and meets regularly to oversee the implementation of programming, hold our staff and each other accountable for tasks and timelines, and respond to emerging issues and opportunities in the community.

• Attend board meetings regularly
• Actively participate practically (taking on and accomplishing tasks) and in policy / accountability discussions;
• Commit to at least one, two-year term of board service;
• Join at least one Board subcommittee; and,
• Consider serving as an officer of the organization as your skills and time permit (e.g., Co-chair, Treasurer, and Secretary).

Those interested in this opportunity are welcome to contact the Chair of our Nominations Committee, Garcia Bartley, at garciabartley@hotmail.com

Website: www.outofboundjf.org

The post Out of Bounds appeared first on Capacity Canada.

♦The Central Student Association (CSA) is the undergraduate student association at the University of Guelph. We advocate on behalf of our membership, representing their collective interests on a diverse range of issues such as public transit, housing, student rights and the accessibility of education. In addition, we offer numerous services and programs such as the Bullring, Universal Bus Pass, Health and Dental Plan, Bike Centre, Clubs, Student FoodBank, SafeWalk, Student Help and Advocacy Centre, printing, and promotional services.

The CSA Board of Directors works within the CSA’s welfare, image, and mandate, to defend and protect the rights and interests of students. Directors have a huge influence across campus and beyond, making decisions that affect the quality and type of services, events and campaigns offered by the CSA as a not-for-profit corporation. Between General Membership Meetings, the Board of Directors is the highest decision-making body of the organization. Directors also help to shape and build the student movement within these board meetings. The Board of Directors is made up of a four-person Executive, two at-large members elected per college, and representatives appointed from college governments and campus organizations, totalling to a maximum of 35 individuals. As a result, the Board of Directors meetings include passionate discussions about student issues from members with diverse backgrounds, and it is the role of the Chair to ensure the meetings flow efficiently with decorum.

The Board Chair serves as an external chair, not as a member of the Board of Directors. The primary duty of this position is to uphold the CSA’s Rules of Order and Robert’s Rules of Order in order to allow for democratic decisions to be determined by the Board of Directors. The Board Chair must work in an unbiased manner with utmost neutrality to ensure equity among all Board members in acknowledgment of the mandated diverse demographic of the Board. By extension, the Chair must be mindful in ensuring all Board members are given all available options when they inquire about parliamentary procedure. As a staff member, the Board Chair must uphold and support the CSA’s Mandate and Approach and work towards the overall success of the CSA.

Board Meetings are generally held alternating Wednesday evenings, and are typically 1.5 to 2.5 hours in length, though may extend to 5 hours on rare occasions. In addition to the scheduled Board Meetings, the Board Chair is expected to chair the CSA’s Annual General Meeting, General Members’ Meeting, and Emergency Board Meetings.

Start Date: As Soon As Possible – Total of at least 20 meetings per fiscal year (May 1 to April 30)
Salary: $50.00 per hour, rounded up to the nearest quarter hour – starting from pre-meeting – Minimum three hours paid for all regularly scheduled board meetings and training dates
Vacancy Disclosure: This job posting is for an existing vacancy within the organization
Executive Supervisor: CSA President
Immediate Supervisor: Policy and Transition Coordinator

• Required to complete the following online training modules:
  • Workplace Health & Safety
  • Anti-Oppression
  • AODA Customer Service and Human Rights
  • Sexual and Gender Based Violence Awareness
• Additional training may be required at the request of the President
• Opportunity to shadow up to two Board of Director meetings

• Primary responsibility will be to chair/facilitate Board of Directors meetings, emergency Board meetings, and members meetings using Robert’s Rules of Order and CSA Rules of Order
• Review board packages prior to meetings
• Make all necessary inquiries and complete research to ensure you are prepared as possible for discussion at Board meetings
• Attend meetings on an as needed basis before Board of Directors meetings and members meetings to go over upcoming items with the Policy & Transition Coordinator
• Conducts Board meetings in an efficient, effective, and focused manner and ensure adequate time to consider complex issues
• Establish a safe and inclusive environment that seeks and embraces diverse perspectives, independent thinking, and active participation
• Be mindful of the diverse identities represented on the Board and facilitate discussion in a way that creates space for voices most affected by the issues being considered.
• Formulate rulings of the chair when an issue arises which is not explicitly stated in the CSA bylaws and/or policies, while also adhering to Robert’s Rules of Order
• Demonstrate an understanding of University of Guelph student issues as well as an understanding of the workings of the Central Student Association, including Bylaws and Policies
• Sign minutes of the Board of Directors once they have been approved by the Board
• Lead the training of Board members on CSA Rules of Order and Robert’s Rules each semester
• Ensure the Board is made aware of and upholds CSA bylaws and policies pertinent to meeting discussions in conjunction with the Policy & Transition Coordinator
• Act as a resource for Directors with respect to all questions of process and motion writing
• Receive evaluation from Board members to incorporate feedback into your work annually

• Knowledge of Robert’s Rules of Order
• Highly effective communicator and skilled facilitator
• Experience chairing large meetings
• Arbitration, tact, diplomacy, and impartiality
• Reliable and flexible to emergency meetings held on short notice
• Strong understanding of, and commitment to diversity, and inclusion
• General knowledge of student unions
• Experience with student governance, not-for-profit boards, or similar organizational structures is an asset
• Strong knowledge of the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) and relevant case law, particularly as it applies to not-for-profit governance and board procedure

Deadline for applications is November 18, 2026 at 5pm
Resumes and Cover letters should be submitted online through the CSA application process found at www.csaonline.ca/jobs

For a complete copy of the CSA Hiring Policy, visit csaonline.ca/about/bylaws-policies. The CSA hiring policy is found in Appendix C of the Policy Manual, Section 4.0.

The CSA is committed to employment equity and to the creation of a working environment that is welcoming for all applicants. We particularly encourage applications from women, Indigenous peoples, persons with disabilities, racialized people, international students, and members of Queer communities.

The Central Student Association welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities.

Accommodation is available on request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process. To arrange accommodations please contact csaocass@uoguelph.ca

The CSA does not use artificial intelligence (AI) or automated screening algorithms to evaluate applications for this role. Every resume and submission is reviewed directly by a member of our hiring team.

The post Central Student Association (CSA) appeared first on Capacity Canada.

A COSMIC applet for displaying CPU/Memory/Network/Disk/GPU usage in the Panel or Dock..

Rust 135 Updated Oct 9

A lightweight system monitoring applet for COSMIC desktop displaying CPU, GPU, memory, and network stats in the panel.

Rust 8 Updated Oct 22

The 2026 Federal Budget includes a number of measures aimed at strengthening Canada’s economy, encouraging business investment and improving the country’s long-term competitiveness.

Following its release, both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce shared their perspectives on what the budget means for businesses, where they see positive progress and where further action is needed.

While both organizations welcome the focus on investment and productivity, they emphasize that successful implementation will be critical to translating government commitments into meaningful results for businesses.

Here is a look at the key takeaways from each Chamber’s response.

Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC)

The Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) welcomed the Federal Budget’s focus on unlocking investment, accelerating major projects and strengthening Canada’s economic resilience amid continued global uncertainty.

Some of the key measures welcomed by the Ontario Chamber include:

• Lowering business costs through tax simplification and immediate deductions for eligible investments.
• Supporting business growth and innovation through enhanced commercialization funding, tax incentives and capital gains exemptions.
• Advancing major projects and energy infrastructure through streamlined approvals and national energy strategies.
• Building stronger communities through housing investments and supports to address homelessness.
• Promoting industrial energy efficiency through investments in energy-saving technologies.

These measures reflect key priorities outlined in the OCC’s 2026 federal budget submission, but they identify four key areas that need further action: improving progress and accountability on major projects and internal trade, supporting small business growth through tax and regulatory reforms, developing a skilled workforce that meets employer needs, and helping businesses expand into international markets and diversify their supply chains.

Read the Ontario Chamber of Commerce’s full Federal Budget reaction:

Ontario Chamber Welcomes Federal Budget’s Focus on Investment, Says Execution Will Determine the Results

Canadian Chamber of Commerce (CCC)

The Canadian Chamber of Commerce welcomed the Federal Budget’s focus on encouraging business investment, strengthening productivity and improving Canada’s competitiveness, while emphasizing the importance of creating the conditions for businesses to invest, innovate, grow and compete internationally.

Some of the key measures welcomed by the Canadian Chamber include:

• Encouraging business investment through the Productivity Mega Deduction, which is intended to lower the cost of eligible investments in machinery, equipment, technology and other productivity-enhancing assets.
• Supporting research and innovation through expanded Scientific Research and Experimental Development (SR&ED) tax incentives to help businesses invest in research, development and the commercialization of new technologies.
• Helping businesses scale and grow through measures such as improvements to the small business rollover and the Canada Growth Incentive, aimed at supporting investment and encouraging businesses to retain and reinvest capital in Canada.
• Strengthening Canada’s economic competitiveness by simplifying the tax system and reducing administrative and regulatory burdens, particularly for small businesses.
• Supporting investment and economic growth through initiatives designed to strengthen Canada’s productive capacity and create opportunities for businesses across the country.

However, the Chamber raised concerns about the federal government’s fiscal outlook, highlighting the projected $62.3-billion deficit and rising borrowing costs. It emphasizes that maintaining fiscal discipline and delivering meaningful economic growth will be essential to the budget’s long-term success.

Read the Canadian Chamber of Commerce’s full Federal Budget reaction:

Our Reaction to Budget 2026 – Canadian Chamber of Commerce

For a more detailed breakdown of the budget measures, the Canadian Chamber has also prepared a full analysis for its national Chamber network:

Canadian Chamber of Commerce Budget Analysis

Looking Ahead

Both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Canadian Chamber of Commerce recognize the importance of encouraging business investment, improving productivity and strengthening Canada’s economic competitiveness.

The Federal Budget includes measures that could create opportunities for businesses, particularly in areas such as innovation, manufacturing, infrastructure, energy and technology. However, both organizations emphasize that turning these commitments into meaningful results will be critical.

For businesses in Waterloo Region, continued investment in innovation, access to talent and capital, reduced barriers to growth and opportunities to reach new markets will remain important priorities.

The Greater Kitchener-Waterloo Chamber of Commerce will continue to monitor federal policies and initiatives that affect our local business community and advocate for the conditions businesses need to invest, innovate, compete and grow.

The post 2026 Federal Budget: What Canada’s Business Chambers Are Saying appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.