PALMERSTON – Hammond Manufacturing’s Palmerston plant is almost doubling in size with $4 million in help from the province.

Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae announced the funding on Oct. 2, addressing a group of staff gathered on a chilly morning with work on the addition underway in the background.

“If you have a wire, they’re going to provide a box around that wire,” Rae said of the Guelph-based company, which manufactures electrical enclosures and components in Ontario and New York.

The company is getting $3.97 million through the Southwestern Ontario Development Fund to help expand the plant from 97,000 to 182,000 square feet.

Rae, who is associate minister of energy-intensive industries, said the company’s products are becoming more important as homes and vehicles become more electrified and data centres come online.

“It’s great to see we have Canadian suppliers for those industries,” he said.

Minto Mayor Dave Turton said he’s “extremely proud” and thanked Hammond for choosing Minto.

Hammond’s overall investment is pegged at $26.47 million, and is expected to create 30 new jobs, while retaining around 98, according to a news release from Rae’s office.

CEO Rob Hammond stated in the release the province’s support is allowing the company to “accelerate investments that strengthen our manufacturing capabilities.”

The plant operates as Palmerston Manufacturing and sits on roughly 13 acres on Minto Road in the Palmerston Industrial Park. Minto council sold the land to Hammond in 2021 for $520,000, with the plant opening in June 2023.

The addition will mirror what’s happening in the current space: laser cutting, punching, pressing, bending, welding and powder coating.

Operations manager Rob Villapiana said the new space will allow the company to increase its market share, “which is what we’re seeing."

The company, trading on the Toronto Stock Exchange, employs more than 1,000 people and reported sales of $281 million in 2025, up 15% year over year.

However, profit fell to $14.4 million from $18.4 million, according to an annual report that noted U.S. tariffs cut into gross profit margins as the cost of business increased.

In the first half of 2026, sales are up nearly 16% from the same time last year.

“We’re there when the customer needs us; we have inventory when the customer needs us,” Villapiana said.

The Palmerston plant produces 700 product variations.

An electrical box is one of the finishing details customers order for a project, he added – “they want it on time and they want it available.”

Villapiana said the Palmerston property has room for another building, around 70,000 square feet, which could be built in five years.

“We joke that it’s just a box,” Villapiana said on a tour of the facility following the announcement.

“Every electrical connection requires protection and that’s what we do.”

MORRISTON – Three people have been charged with attempted murder in connection with a home invasion last year that sent one person to hospital with a gunshot wound.

Emergency crews responded to a Morriston home at about 4:40am on Nov. 16, 2025.

A resident of the home was shot during the break-in and transported to a trauma centre, Wellington County OPP officials stated.

On June 19, an 18-year-old from Oshawa was charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, break and enter and possession of property obtained by crime.

The accused, who was under 18 at the time, is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.

On June 24, Lavontae Bowleg, 20, of Mississauga, was charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, break and enter, possession of property obtained by crime and nine firearm charges.

He is to appear in Guelph court on Oct. 9.

On Sept. 9, Keillo Waisome, 19, of Welland, was charged with attempted murder, conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, break and enter, possession of property obtained by crime and seven firearm charges.

He is to appear in Guelph court on Oct. 5.

OPP officials say a publication ban has been issued in the case so they "will not be able to release further information."

Anyone with information can contact the Wellington County OPP at 1-888-310-1122 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

The Region of Waterloo has announced that green e-scooters and e-bikes from Lime Technology Canada have begun rolling out in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo. Up to 500 e-bikes and 500 e-scooters will be deployed, in addition to adaptive vehicles for riders of varying abilities from the Lime Assist program.

Neuron Canada first launched a rental program for their orange e-scooters, e-bikes, and accessible vehicles in Waterloo Region in 2023. After being acquired by Lime Technology Canada in Jul. 2026, Neuron began removing vehicles from the local area, despite their agreement with the Region of Waterloo being scheduled to continue until Oct. 2026. At the time of the acquisition, Lime had expressed interest in working with the cities to continue Neuron’s rental program.

Imprint has reached out to the City of Waterloo and the university for specifics about the rollout on UW campuses and is awaiting further comment.

Lime e-bikes and e-scooters will be available for rent until Oct. 31. City staff will be monitoring community reception and sharing data with their respective councils. Riders can visit Lime’s website or download the Lime app for costs, availability, and booking.

ROCKWOOD – Guelph/Eramosa council candidates had a second chance to make their case at an event on Sept. 30 at the Rockmosa Community Centre.

The event, the second in as many nights for Guelph/Eramosa candidates, was hosted by the Rockwood Lions club.

Both mayoral candidates were present at the meeting as were 10 of the 11 councillor candidates. Ward 1 candidate Bill Weima was absent. 

Also present was acclaimed Ward 7 county councillor Mathew Bulmer and acclaimed Upper Grand District School Board trustee Jen Edwards. 

The format allowed residents to ask questions of select candidates. 

One resident asked how candidates would cut costs, and whether that would include cutting services. 

“In terms of keeping the taxes not going up, one thing that I’m looking at doing, and something that most of the people on council already currently do, is applying for the grants,” said Ward 1 candidate Philip Mullis.

"There’s lots of grants at the multiple levels of government.”

Incumbent mayoral candidate Chris White echoed the importance of grants, emphasizing the small size of the township.

“We’re just trying to maintain the township with limited population, but we know costs are at the top,” said White. “So we’re not trying to do anything frivolous. We’re staying at the core services.”

Mayoral candidate Dan Kennaley agreed grants are beneficial, but cautioned against using grants to build large facilities with ongoing operational costs.

“A lot of times, the grants provide you with new facilities,” said Kennaley. “I think you [also] have to take into account the ongoing operating costs associated with those new facilities. The grants may pay for the new facilities, but then the taxpayer may be stuck with the ongoing operating costs.”

 He added, “A lot of these grants come from the province and from the federal government, but really there’s only one taxpayer, and so you ... [have to] make sure that you can actually afford the grants, and make sure that they’re for things that you really want or need."

Ward 4 candidate Mark Montgomery took a different approach to affordability and spending.

“I don’t believe that councillors should have their salary tied to an annual increase,” said Montgomery. “Maybe a term increase, but I don’t want to see councillor salaries get increased every year. And I think that’s a really easy cost savings up front.”

Another question, directed towards the mayoral candidates, asked how they would encourage businesses to come and stay in GE, to avoid residents leaving town to shop in Guelph and other surrounding areas.

White spoke of cleaning up sidewalks, the new medical centre and “building out the infrastructure” to encourage residents to stay in the community.   

“Your doctors would be here; your nurses would be here. You might stay here, then you might go to the hardware,” said White.

“So, then we went through, and we cleaned up the sidewalks. Anything that we controlled as a municipality, we’ve tried to build the infrastructure out to give people a reason to stay.”

Kennaley also spoke of infrastructure and making it easier for commercial development to occur. 

“And part of that … is we need to streamline the site planning process,” he said.

White was asked how he would ensure pedestrian and road safety in Rockwood.

White said traffic safety in Rockwood is “complicated” by different levels of jurisdiction over local roads, citing “constant conflict with the province on Highway 7.”

Noting speeding is the township’s “number one complaint,” White said the municipality is pushing the province for improvements to Highway 7 and is asking the county to reduce speeds and to permit additional traffic-calming measures on county roads.

He also pointed to new crosswalks, traffic lights, a 40 km/h speed limit and speed humps as measures taken to improve safety by the current council.

“The top priority is to protect the children,” said White.

The same resident asked Kennaley how he would “balance local business growth and Main Street (Rockwood) usability with traffic management and municipal infrastructure limits.”

Kennaley said some development could be a good thing for the municipality, but raised concerns about projects that could bring more traffic through Rockwood.

Kennaley also stated residents have “mixed opinions about speed humps” and the township should get more public input before putting them in.

The resident who asked the question replied, “Isn’t that really the job of the council ... Because when we have 100 or 150 people giving their opinion, then it becomes a real chaotic mess, and that’s why we hired you guys to do that for us.”

A big topic of discussion was recreation – more specifically the possible addition of an arena.

A resident at the meeting criticized the township’s repeated decisions not to build an arena, recalling that council declined a $50,000 loan in the 1970s despite the Rockwood Lions Club’s work to establish the park and offer the land to the township for $1.

“We have gone from one grade school to three schools in short order,” the resident said, warning the growing community could soon have youth teams with nowhere to play.

“We drew up a full plan of arena plans a few years ago,” said White. 

“At the time, it was about a $15-million grant that was coming through. We never got the grant, but we did develop the plans, and we had arrangements made with Milton, Acton, Fergus and Guelph for ice time.”

White added the township has set aside land for an arena but would not fund the project through a major tax increase or debenture.

“If an arena can fit and we can afford it, we would do it,” said White. “But we’re not going to jack (up) taxes.”

Kennaley said, “If, after financial analysis occurs, and everybody understands the implications associated with building an arena, if we do a survey, public consultation, and the majority of people want to proceed on the basis of those cost implications, I will do everything in my power to achieve an arena in this community."

He added, “It will require grants. And similarly, I won’t be increasing taxes to pay for it."

Incumbent Ward 4 councillor candidate Mark Bouwmeester said he has seen people talk about wanting an arena on social media, but warned of the costs of building and maintaining an arena. 

He refuted the notion that arenas make money, noting, "These are huge, huge investments."

Both mayoral candidates voiced their opposition to the use of strong mayor powers.

“I’m absolutely opposed to stronger power, and I always have been,” said White.

He noted the powers may make sense for large councils of 13 or 16 people ,as “they can grind to a halt,” but said they should be a “special one-time kind of power.”

“I am similarly not interested in in those special responsibilities that come from being a strong mayor,” said Kennaley.

He added, "I’m quite confident in being able to enter into collaborative relationships with them (current and prospective councillors) and ensure that council is going to function well.”

MOUNT FOREST – Despite public opposition, Wellington North council authorized township staff to sign a subdivision agreement with Deer Ridge Heights. 

“This is just the next, normal step in the process and I think we need to make sure that we are keeping the process moving,” said Mayor Andy Lennox during a Sept. 21 council meeting. 

The developer’s proposal includes 411 homes – detached, semi-detached and townhouses – in Mount Forest’s south end.  

Council also expressed unanimous support during the meeting for a three-year extension for the developer’s subdivision plan. Wellington County holds decision-making authority for the extension. 

The developer is asking for more time to meet conditions for the subdivision’s draft approval and to finalize a subdivision agreement with the township.

According to Deer Ridge Heights chief financial officer Ian Letford, “It is taking longer than anticipated to complete the process for the submission for final approval. 

“We have also not been pushing to expedite the project due to the current depressed new housing market in Ontario,” Letford states in a letter to Wellington County planners. 

“We will potentially see the market changing in the next coming year and wish to get phase one started in the spring.” 

Deer Ridge Heights paid Wellington County $3,350 for the extension. 

The proposed subdivision would be built west of Highway 6 and north of Bentley Street on a 31-hectare (77-acre) property within Mount Forest’s urban boundary. 

The plan is for the subdivision to include 411 residential units: 231 detached homes, 60 semi-detached homes and seven townhouse blocks with 120 townhouses total.

Developers are also set to build a three-hectare commercial block at Highway 6 and Bentley Street; an open space of a similar size between South Water Street and the former CPR Railway; a stormwater management area beside the open space; a walkway; and associated roads, hydro and infrastructure. 

Wellington County initially approved a draft plan for the subdivision in 2018, when the property was owned by Avila Investments. An initial three-year extension for the plan was granted in 2023. That extension was set to expire on Oct. 3.

“The new ownership has all the same obligations as the old owners,” Lennox noted. 

He said he doesn’t expect the recent extension to be the last one: “This is a phased development – this will have to be extended each time, every three years, as the phases proceed.” 

In 2022, the township rezoned the residential portion of the property and granted developers 75 units of sewage allocation for the subdivision. 

The proposed commercial area will need to be rezoned (with public consultation) before final approval, and an additional 336 sewage allocation units are needed. 

Councillor Penny Renken asked if the proposed commercial area could potentially become residential, so that it doesn’t take away from Mount Forest’s downtown core. 

Chief building official Darren Jones said, “I suppose that may be an option, but that is not what township staff are anticipating.” 

Lennox said there is a demand for more highway commercial in Mount Forest, “so I think we would need to think long and hard before we re-designate … I do think as the community grows there will continue to be a need for highway commercial, and that is a prime location for that.” 

According to a report from Wellington North public works staff, an engineering design review for the subdivision is “nearing completion.” 

Before anyone moves into the subdivision, developers will need to enter into an agreement with the Ministry of Transportation and complete any needed Highway 6 widening and improvements to facilitate access to the development.

Staff state in the  report that they are satisfied “that this proposed development will be constructed in a manner that is consistent with municipal standards and best practices.”

Michelle McInnis, who is running for council (Ward 1) and lives near the proposed subdivision, was among the neighbours with concerns. 

She asked council to “defer authorization until the election results are known, protections are explained publicly and nearby residents are consulted.” 

McInnis said she understands Mount Forest needs housing and is not anti-development – “I am pro-responsible development.

“Development should strengthen a community, not overwhelm its infrastructure, leave neighbouring residents feeling powerless or transfer growth-related costs onto the people who already live here.”

The proposed development, McInnis argued, will “affect our roads, water, wastewater, stormwater systems, traffic and municipal services. It will also directly affect the people whose homes and backyards will border it. Supporting housing does not require us to accept less transparency, less consultation or fewer protections.” 

She said there are already limited options for indoor recreation, and “Before adding hundreds of new families, we need an honest plan for the recreational capacity they will require. 

“Responsible development must include places for people to gather, play and belong, not simply places for them to live.” 

McInnis also expressed concerns about property taxes or water and wastewater rates increasing to fund infrastructure expansions necessary to accommodate the development. 

“Council should be able to explain publicly what the developer will pay, what the municipality may be expected to pay, why that division is fair and what protections prevent unexpected costs from being transferred to residents later,” McInnis said.  

She is also concerned about drainage, dust, noise, truck traffic and potential property damage during grading and construction, and how such issues will be handled. 

Another of McInnis’ concerns is transparency, as after spending weeks studying the project, she is still struggling to find information.

“Transparency is not simply placing hundreds of pages online. It is making the consequences of a decision understandable to the people who will live with them,” she said. 

Deferring the decision, McInnis said, would “give staff time to provide a plain-language public summary of the agreement and allow nearby residents and the developer to meet before the agreement is signed.”  

Applause reverberated through the council chambers after McInnis finished speaking. 

Mayor Andy Lennox thanked her for coming to council and reminding him of “all the work that council and staff have completed together to ensure that growth is positive to the community and not overwhelming.” 

The issue is “very near and dear to my heart,” Lennox said,   

Most people aren’t fully aware of how municipalities manage growth, he said – “it is a complex topic.” 

He explained how various master plans and policies guide growth and noted, “All these master plans are public documents … crafted with numerous opportunities for public participation.”

“They are huge documents,” he added. “It’s a challenging file for everybody.”  

Lennox explained development charges, paid to the township by developers, “are supposed to ensure growth pays for growth. 

“It’s an incomplete tool to keep the burden of existing rate payers protected,” he said.  

“It is absolutely critical to make sure that we keep the rates that people have to pay in a manageable range, not only now but for many years to come.”

Lennox added, “All of this together … has been a central theme of my time here as mayor.” 

From his perspective, Wellington North is “the best prepared municipality in Wellington County … and the reason that we are well prepared is so that we can accommodate growth and ensure that growth works for the residents and not only for developers.” 

While council discussed the two motions on the table (the subdivision agreement and the extension), Lennox waived the rules of decorum to allow members of the public to ask clarifying questions and share more concerns, including flooding, tree maintenance and communication. 

He said he would make sure the developer holds an open house “and invites people to have a conversation about things like the trees as it proceeds.” 

When council voted unanimously to authorize the mayor and clerk to “enter into the subdivision agreement in the form or substantially the same form as the draft subdivision agreement included in the bylaws section of this agenda,” residents got up and walked out. 

At least one told members of council she hopes they all lose their seats on election day.  

It’s the first weekend of October! Here are some fun, budget-friendly ways you can enjoy it.

Guided Gallery Tours at Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery

Spend your Saturday at the Kitchener Waterloo Art Gallery for a free guided tour of their Fall Cycle exhibitions.  The exhibition is happening this Saturday from 11a.m. to 12 p.m.  Register and find out more here.

FOX Fall Fair

Spend your weekend enjoying the fall vibes at the 2nd Annual Fox Fall Fair.  Enjoy live music, explore vendors, including free comic books, and try some fall treats!  The fair is happening on Saturday from 11  a.m. to 5p.m. at 640 Queen St. S., Kitchener.  Find out more on the Fox Brothers Mini Market’s Instagram post here.

Booktoberfest

Find the perfect cozy read for this fall season at Booktoberfest!  This book fair features local authors from every genre and has options for everyone.  This fair is happening this Saturday from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m. on Gaukel Block in Downtown Kitchener.  Find out more on the KWWriters’ Instagram post here.

Battle of Waterloo

Get ready to see the Warriors Football team take on our home rivals, the Laurier Golden Hawks.  The game is this Saturday at 1 p.m. on the Warrior Field.  Gates will open at 11:30 a.m. and students can get free admission by either tapping their WatCard at the gate or reserving in advance here.

Men’s Hockey: Warriors vs. Nipissing Lakers

If hockey is more your thing, you can follow up this week’s Habs vs Leafs game by watching our very own Waterloo Warriors Men’s Hockey face off against the Nipissing Lakers.  The match will start at 5 p.m. on Saturday at Columbia Icefield Arena. Students receive free admission by either tapping their WatCard at the gate or reserving seats in advance here.

UW students, staff, and faculty came together on the BMH Green on Sept. 30 to recognize the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, in honour of the lost children and survivors of Canadian residential schools.

The day’s program, organized by the Office of Indigenous Relations, began with a 7 a.m. sunrise ceremony led by Elder Myeengun Henry, Indigenous Knowledge Keeper within the faculty of health and former Chief of the Chippewas of the Thames First Nation. Attendees were each given tobacco, a sacred plant often used for ceremony and prayer, before placing it in the ceremonial fire at the centre of the circle. At sunrise, attendees turned to the east for a moment of silence and reflection.

At 10 a.m., president Bill Rosehart and the deans of UW’s six faculties joined Elder Henry and other Indigenous elders to reaffirm their commitments to truth and reconciliation. “It’s not a commitment that I bring alone,” Rosehart said. “It’s a commitment that I’ve seen in just about everyone that I’ve talked to at this university, and that commitment together is what will allow us, in partnership, to do some really incredible things.”

The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation was established in 2021 as a federal statutory holiday in response to Call 80 of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s 94 Calls to Action. These demands called on the federal government, in collaboration with Indigenous Peoples, to create a statutory holiday that would publicly recognize and commemorate the survivors, families, and communities impacted by the history and ongoing legacy of residential schools.

The day is also known as Orange Shirt Day, after residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad, whose new orange shirt was taken from her on her first day of school at age six in 1973 and never returned. The orange shirt represents the stripping of language, culture, and family ties, and the continued neglect and abuse of children at residential schools across the country.

More than 10 years after the commission released its Calls to Action, Canada is “still lingering behind,” said Elder Henry. He approximates that only 14 or 15 of the 94 Calls have been completed. Indigenous Watchdog, a non-profit dedicated to Indigenous issues, reports that as of September 1, 2026, only 14 Calls have been completed.

UW aims to polish said commitment each year. “The reason we do it every year is because, in our original treaties, we didn’t [reaffirm] them every year, and then it got less and less known. So the next generation didn’t know about these commitments,” explained Elder Henry. “We’ve learned from that; we have to come back every year to recommit to them.”

At 11 a.m., hundreds of students, staff, and faculty walked in solidarity along Ring Road, led by Gladwyn Badger, a member of the Sturgeon Lake Cree Nation, a Canadian Armed Forces veteran, and carrier of the campus eagle staff. “We’re going to do what our children can’t do, the ones who died in residential schools, to walk on Mother Earth,” said Elder Henry.

The day closed with attendees joining hands in a large circle for a traditional round dance, accompanied by a drumming circle.

Elder Henry and Rosehart said that members of Renison, St. Jerome’s, Conrad Grebel, and United College are set to join the 2027 ceremony.

BOOKSTORE
A SECOND LOOK BOOKS
BARBERSHOP
MARLOWE
RECORD STORE
ENCORE RECORDS
HAIR SALON
MARLOWE
LAWYER
SCHAFFER & SCHAFFER
NOT-FOR-PROFIT
THE WORKING CENTRE
MUSIC SHOP
LONG & MCQUADE

GYM
GRAND RIVER ROCKS
CINEMA
PRINCESS CINEMAS
TATTOO PROVIDER
INK DEN
BAKERY
ROUX BAKEHOUSE
NEWSLETTER
TL;WR
HEALTHCARE PROVIDER
SHORE CENTRE
VINTAGE SHOP
UP & UP

CAFE
PRINCESS CAFE
ICE CREAM
FOUR ALL
BEER SELECTION
ARABELLA PARK
TAKEOUT
JOHNNY FRESCO
COFFEE
LUCERO CANTEEN
CASUAL RESTAURANT
JANE BOND
BREWERY
TWB

PIZZA
WILLIBALD
BURGER
ARABELLA PARK
DONUT
LADY GLAZE
VEG/VEGAN
JANE BOND
FINE DINING
ODD DUCK
BREAKFAST
CHECKERBOARD
SANDWICH
VINCENZO’S

WRITER
ELLIE ANGLIN
VISUAL ARTIST
MADDIE RESMER
PHOTOGRAPHER
STEFANO CAMPAGNOLO
OUTDOOR SPACE
WATERLOO PARK
MUSICIAN/ BAND
A HORSE NAMED FRIDAY

BARTENDER
EMMA OSMOND
2SLGBTQIA+ SPACE
JANE BOND
PATIO
ARABELLA PARK
COMMUNITY LEADER
MIKE MORRICE

MARDEN – Guelph/Eramosa mayoral hopefuls Chris White and Dan Kennaley clashed at an all-candidates meeting here on Sept. 29.

Fourteen candidates in total attended the event, but discussion was dominated by the two men seeking the top chair on council.

Present at the event, which was moderated by Warren Harris  and hosted by the Guelph Township Horticultural Society at the Marden Community Centre, were:

• Ward 1 candidates Jason Baldwin, Philip Mullis and Bill Weima;
• Ward 2’s Jason Peart and Corey Woods;
• Ward 3’s Tara Groves-Taylor, Steven Liebig and Lisa Logan-Dayman;
• Ward 4’s Mark Bouwmeester, Mark Montgomery and Bree Wilson; and
• acclaimed county councillor Matthew Bulmer (Ward 7).

During candidate introductions Kennaley used his allotted time to highlight the current council’s “poor track record with regards to land-use planning decisions,” he said.

“The environmental disaster we see today at the Hidden Quarry site on Highway 7 is the ugly legacy of the current mayor and council,” Kennaley added.

The controversial site was granted an extraction licence by the province on Oct. 31, giving James Dick Construction the right to remove 700,000 tonnes of aggregate annually from the 60-acre open-pit mine for the next 20 years.

Kennaley was part of an opposition group, the Concerned Residents Coalition, that raised concerns about the quarry, including flyrock, haul truck volume, noise, dust and possible groundwater contamination.

“The current mayor and council also failed the community around the proposed refrigeration plant” on Jones Baseline near Highway,” he added. “That refrigeration plant should have never been approved because of the proximity of residential uses.”

After introductions concluded Harris opened the floor to the public for questions. One audience member asked how candidates would achieve a balanced tax base while managing sustainable and responsible growth.

“When we talk about trying to remain a rural community, you get a lot of pressure to develop,” White said. “We don’t want urban sprawl.”

He continued, “We understand there’s a housing crisis … but the County of Wellington is growing at eight per cent and it’s exceeding the provincial average. We’re doing our share for the housing crisis so I don’t think we need to take the rest of our prime [agricultural lands] and build subdivisions out.”

Referring to the refrigeration plant mentioned by Kennaley, Whites said, “That would have been 300 well-paid jobs with little water use and little environmental impact. It was Canadian manufacturing … and we only have 500 acres of industrial land in this township.”

According to White, the township has a full team “striving” to utilize that land to “keep the tax base where it needs to be.”

Ward 1 candidate Weima interjected, stating, “There’s always a trade-off. There’s a give and a take and it comes down to what are you people willing to sacrifice.”

“We need to try to keep the community rural … and that comes at a cost as well,” Weima added.

Another audience member questioned council’s role in public engagement.

Ward 3 candidate Groves-Taylor stated the importance of community members knowing they have a “direct voice.”

“They can delegate at council any time themselves and bring their expertise,” she said.

Kennaley jumped on that point, saying, “There is a problem right now with the existing council and how they treat delegations.”

Those wanting to delegate to Guelph/Eramosa council must submit a request form to the municipal clerk and they must limit their comments to an agenda item.

“That’s very restrictive and it leads to less public consultation, not more,” said Kennaley. “People should be able to talk to their council about anything they want, whenever they want it.”

White responded, “Council meetings are a business meeting. You have to have agendas in order to conduct it properly.”

If speaking council meetings become a “free for all,” then “it won’t work,” White said, adding staff and council’s time would be wasted.

Agenda items need to be “integral to decisions the council can make,” he added. “There’s no point in us talking about national defence for four hours.”

White agreed with Kennaley in regards to the public having access to councillors and the ability to bring ideas forward.

“But there’s a proper place and time,” he said. “You’ll notice the vast majority of councils operate this way because it works.”

Kennaley disagreed, stating none of the municipalities he’s worked with as a planning consultant have the “kind of restrictions that exist in Guelph/Eramosa Township. It’s got to change.”

(Every lower-tier municipality in Wellington County requires delegations to register in advance. At least two strictly limit delegations to items on the agenda; the others have different rules/restrictions).

Harris stepped in and told the mayoral candidates they would have to “agree to disagree.”

“I might suggest that you connect with the clerk’s office just to verify that point for your own information,” Harris told Kennaley.

Lastly, an audience member asked the group where they could find information regarding tax increases over the last four years.

“Every year, the county publishes a copy of its budget and its 10-year plan,” Bulmer said. “It has every detail you could ever want to know about where your taxes go in the county.”

The inch-thick package is “sitting in every library across the county,” he added.

Photos by Chris Tiessen

This August, the TOQUE crew headed to Fergus for the 81th Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games, joining thousands of Scots and Scots-at-heart for a weekend of pipes, plaid, Highland games, music, food and and the odd wee dram.

From caber tossing and sheep shearing to clan tents, live music and a packed vendor village, the festival is summer at its most colourful. Here are a few of our highlights from this year’s celebration.

Fergus Scottish Festival & Highland Games →

The post Fergus Scottish Festival and Highland Games appeared first on .

The small but passionate group of kids in the Woolwich Junior Gardeners program has proven that big things can grow from tiny seeds, capturing two second-place finishes at the prestigious Ontario Horticultural Association (OHA) Convention Youth Competition held in July.

The annual convention, which adopted the vibrant theme “Gardening for Life” to explore creative expression, saw the local club make its competitive debut. While it was their first year entering the contest, the group left a lasting impression on the judges, taking home two victories in different categories highlighting their gardening skills.

It is a deceptively simple biological process, but it remains one of the most hidden and lethal hazards on modern farms. When fresh crops are stored away, the danger begins almost immediately. 

Silo gas is a toxic, hazardous mixture of gases, primarily nitrogen dioxide and carbon dioxide, that forms naturally from the fermentation of freshly chopped forage (like corn or alfalfa) inside a silo.

“When corn or the alfalfa or the grass is put into the silo, it starts to ferment and it creates gas, and so it’s working in an oxygen deficient environment, and so then it replaces the air,” said Walter Gross, retired owner of Husky Farm Equipment in Alma and an active proponent for farm safety.

ARTHUR – Upgrades to Arthur’s wastewater treatment plant are expected to begin early next year and take about two years to complete. 

The project will increase the plant’s wastewater treatment capacity from 1,860 to 2,300 cubic metres per day, with a price tag nearing $20 million, including HST, according to a township staff report updating council on the upgrades.  

It is the second phase of upgrades and expansion at the plant. The first phase was completed in 2020 and increased capacity from 1,465 to 1,860m³/day. 

Funding for phase two comes from a $13-million provincial grant, $2.5 million in debenture proceeds, $1.6 million from development charge reserve funds, $700,000 from other township reserves and $2 million in tax rebates.

If the upgrades cost more than currently estimated, provincial funding could increase to a maximum of $14 million or 73 per cent of the total cost. 

“The township would continue to be responsible for 27% of any additional eligible costs, with additional growth-related costs funded from the sanitary and sewer development charges reserve fund and additional non-growth costs funded from the sanitary and sewer reserve fund,” the report states. 

Mayor Andy Lennox said the project “really wouldn’t be possible without contribution from provincial partners – that $14 million is a huge, huge lift to making this project possible at the time that this is and also helping to keep the rest of our system affordable for the residents today.”

Phase two increases the plant’s aeration and pump capacity and includes upgrades to its forcemain and headworks, decreasing system redundancy and improving plant performance and effluent quality, according to township staff. 

“Detailed design has been completed, and the project tender will be ready to issue by late 2026,” the report states. 

The contract will be awarded in early 2027, and township staff expect the upgrades to take about 24 months to complete. 

“It’s exciting to see phase two moving forward,” said councillor Steve McCabe. “I’m looking forward to when that tender goes out and we can start the phase-two building – it’s a long time coming.”

Woolwich’s mayoral and Ward 2 candidates shared why they believe they’re the best choice to represent the township at a candidates’ town hall event Monday evening. 

Evan Burgess and Eric Schwindt are vying to replace outgoing Mayor Sandy Shantz, while Steven Haase and Sheryl Tilley are competing for the Ward 2 seat that will be vacated by Schwindt. 

Glenn Fern, the third candidate for mayor, failed to appear at the St. Jacobs Lions Hall, where more than 50 residents listened in. 

WELLINGTON COUNTY – In less than a month, Wellington County voters will have chosen who leads the county, its seven municipalities and local school boards.

For the next four years, elected leaders will set property taxes, determine how to spend taxpayer money and establish policy affecting everything from development and growth to what happens within school halls.

Many won’t even have to leave home to cast their ballot, with most municipalities providing options for phone or mail-in voting ahead of the Oct. 26 election.

Puslinch

Puslinch electors can vote-by-mail or in person.Voting kits will already be on their way by the time this feature reaches readers’ hands. 

It’s recommended ballots be mailed back no later than Oct. 12. Votes received after election day won’t be counted.

Kits include printed voting instructions, a voter declaration form, ballot,secrecy sleeve and return envelope, which can be mailed or hand-delivered to the ballot return station at the municipal office (7404 Wellington Road 34).

In-person voting is available at the municipal office on weekdays, 9am to 4:30pm.

Centre Wellington

Fergus and Elora residents can vote online or by phone from Oct. 13 at 10am until Oct. 26 at 8pm.

Eligible voters will receive information – including a toll-free number and PIN – by mail.

Step-by-step voting tutorials can be found at the township’s website at centrewellington.ca.

Multiple voting help centres are set to operate from Oct. 17 to Oct. 26:

– St. John’s United Church in Belwood, Oct. 17 (11am to 1pm);

– Victoria Park Seniors Centre in Fergus, Oct. 19 and 21 (10am to 12pm);

– Municipal office in Elora (1 MacDonald Sq.), Oct. 19 and 21 (8:30am to 4:30pm), Oct. 22 and 23 (8:30am to 7:30pm), and Oct. 24 and 25 (10:30am to 2:30pm); and 

– CW sportsplex in Fergus, Oct. 22 and 23 (8:30am to 7:30pm), and Oct. 24 and 25 (10:30am to 2:30pm).

On election day, both the CW sportsplex and the Elora municipal office will be open for help from 9am to 8pm.

Wellington North

Arthur and Mount Forest residents can vote by mail, attend an advance vote or drop a ballot off at the Kenilworth municipal office during business hours, or in a 24/7 secure drop box.

Township clerk Karren Wallace said voting is a chance to have a say in decisions that “affect you, your family and your community.”

“When you vote, you help choose the people who will represent you and make important decisions about your community,” Wallace added.

The vote-by-mail system in place since 2015 continues this year.

Voter kits are being mailed out now. Completed kits can be mailed back by Oct. 15 or hand-delivered to the secure drop box at 7490 Sideroad 7 W., Kenilworth.

Advance voting locations include:

– Mount Forest and District Sports Complex, Oct. 10 (10am to 3pm); and

– Arthur and Area Community Centre, Oct. 17 (10am to 3pm).

Mapleton

A combination of online, telephone and in-person voting is available to Mapleton’s electors.

Voter information and instruction letters will begin arriving starting this week.

Votes can be cast until 8pm on Oct. 26. Early voting begins Oct. 16 at 7am.

“Over the years, voting systems which utilize new and available technology have gained in popularity,” municipal clerk Larry Wheeler said.

He said voting is important and vital, especially in smaller, rural areas.

“Often the final results between those running for councillor are determined by a few dozen votes or less,” Wheeler added.

Those without internet access or a phone can visit the municipal office at 7275 Sideroad 16 to vote.

Minto

The town will continue primarily using mail-in voting, in place since 2000.

Voting kits are already on the way to electors.

Residents can hand deliver completed kits to the ballot return stations:

– Clifford Community Hall, Oct. 8 (4 to 8pm);

– Harriston Arena Auditorium, Oct. 13 (4 to 8pm); and

– Palmerston Arena Auditorium, Oct. 14 (4 to 8pm).

The last day recommended to mail in ballots is Oct. 15 for guaranteed arrival. Ballots can be brought into the municipal office until 8pm on Oct. 26.

In the last six elections, between 52 per cent and 57% of voters participated, according to municipal clerk Annilene McRobb.

In the previous election all candidates were acclaimed.

McRobb called for participation in local democracy: “If you don’t vote, how are you going to make any changes?”

Those who need help with voting can visit the municipal office at 5941 Highway 89 in Harriston.

Erin

Erin residents can vote for at-large council candidates by mail.

Electors will receive a voting kit by mail (already on its way) and can return it by mail or drop-off at the municipal office at 5684 Trafalgar Rd. until 8pm on Oct. 26.

If you don’t receive a voting kit by Oct. 8, visit town hall with a valid identification.

The deadline to mail completed voting kits back is Oct. 15.

Guelph/Eramosa

Residents here can vote by mail; kits are already in the mail. Kits should be mailed back by Oct. 9.

Ballots can be hand-delivered at the following return stations:

– municipal office at 8348 Wellington Road 124 in Brucedale, Oct. 5 to 22 (8:30am to 4pm), Oct. 23 (8:30am to 6pm), and Oct. 26 (8:30am to 8pm); 

– Royal Distributing Athletic Performance Centre at 7384 Wellington Road 30 in Guelph, Oct. 19 (9am to 8pm);

– Rockwood Older Adult Centre and library at 121 Rockmosa Dr., Rockwood, Oct. 20 and 22 (4 to 8pm) and  Oct. 24 (10am to 4pm);  

– Marden Community Centre and library at 7368 Wellington Road 30 in Marden, Oct. 21 (4 to 8pm) and Oct. 24 (10 am to 4pm);

Young green thumbs in the Township of Woolwich are dealing with a wave of recurring destruction this season. What was meant to be a summer of hands-on learning, environmental stewardship, and community-building for kids has instead turned into a weekly lesson in frustration for the gardener group.

Unknown vandals, strongly suspected to be local youth, have repeatedly targeted the Woolwich Junior Gardeners communal plot at Bristow Park.

Regional staff are putting the finishing touches on a massive, 25-year roadmap designed to overhaul how local communities manage, reduce, and divert waste over the next quarter-century.

The initiative, known as the long-term waste management strategy, has officially wrapped up its extensive public consultation phases. Driven by rapid population growth and shifting provincial regulations, the strategy aims to future-proof regional infrastructure.

The comprehensive planning process has been underway for nearly two years to ensure no stone was left unturned.

For as long as many people can remember, the Region of Waterloo has picked up their discarded Christmas trees at the curbside every year, a program that annually costs $540,000. But as participation has dwindled over the past five years to less than three per cent of the population, the government has opted to send the program to the shredder and pass on the savings to taxpayers.

According to director of waste management Olivia Kwok, it was time for something new, which led the region to a partnership with Family & Children’s Services that will see those same Christmas trees picked up for a suggested donation of $20.

The word crisis gets thrown around a great deal when you’re talking about housing in Ontario. And it’s true that the issue is a multi-headed hydra that defies easy fixes, one that has been escalating over the years. But when executive director Dan Driedger of Beyond Housing looks back on the past quarter century of tackling this particular problem, he sees a lot of positive progress in the Waterloo Region.

The organization has completed 14 developments in the region, totalling 258 units, with 20 more currently under construction. When Driedger first joined the organization in 2013, there was a fraction of that number.

They needed a bigger umbrella.

As the Township of Wellesley continues to grow, so do the services offered by any particular department. When it comes to the recreation department, council recently became aware that its mandate had grown beyond what they had initially envisioned, necessitating a name change.

As of last week, it is now known as the community services department. That’s a name that better captures the diverse reality of the current programming in Wellesley, according to chief administrative officer Rik Louwagie.

Newspapers remain indispensable to Canadian democracy as guardians of truth, watchdogs of power, and chroniclers of our shared life. National Newspaper Week, which runs October 4-10, is not a ceremonial nod to history. It is a civic necessity that rallies public attention to the institutions that hold governments, corporations and powerful individuals accountable.

Celebrating this week reinforces the social contract between citizens and the press and strengthens the conditions that make informed self-government possible.

Flávio Bolsonaro is Trump’s candidate and what Trump wants is to colonize Brazil, take our riches, steal our future and leave us in the dust,” claims the latest video released by President Luiz Inácio ‘Lula’ da Silva’s re-election campaign. The weird thing is that about half of Brazil’s voters would be OK with Trump running the country (through Bolsonaro).

Nobody in Brazil thinks that Flávio Bolsonaro is his own man. He is the son of Jair Bolsonaro, the hard-right ex-soldier and former president who tried a coup after he lost the 2022 election. It was even clumsier and more half-hearted than Trump’s brief excursion in sedition after he lost the 2020 election – but Jair Bolsonaro went to jail for his attempt.

In duck hunting, just as in the old cartoons, there are times when the hunter wins, and there are times when the ducks win. I experienced the latter last Saturday in the Southern Region on opening day.

It started with us bushwhacking in darkness to a spot we have regularly hunted successfully in previous years.

That spot is on my friend’s property, and he normally clears trail to the river and the canoe we have stashed there. This year, he didn’t have the chance to do that, so we waded through heavy underbrush in the pitch black to get there for first light.

The Elmira District Secondary School football teams kicked off another season September 24, as both the junior and senior squads dominated their Grand River Collegiate Institute counterparts.

The junior team won 50-0, while the seniors posted a 46-0 victory.

It was a great way to start the season, said Alex Derma, coach of the juniors, noting the team hadn’t planned to run up the score.

The Wellesley Applejacks settled for a split over the weekend, defeating the Norwich Merchants 6-2 on Saturday night, then dropping a 5-4 decision the following night to the Dorchester Dolphins.

But despite the Jacks’ first regular-season loss, “It wasn’t a bad weekend,” said assistant coach Ryan Yantz.

“It was a hard-fought weekend.”

There were plenty of goals, and then there weren’t.

The Elmira Sugar Kings won two games on the strength of the former, before losing a third when the scoring dropped off.

On the road in Strathroy September 24, the Kings came out on the winning side of a 9-6 shooting gallery, following that with a 6-3 victory over Woodstock at home Saturday.

The script flipped the following day when the visiting St. Marys Lincolns won 5-2.

Ottawa has blown a huge opportunity to reverse a poor decision it made earlier this year to cut seven federally funded agricultural research stations across the country and 655 personnel.

Last week, federal agriculture and agri-food minister Heath MacDonald announced he was ignoring the recommendation of an all-party committee looking into the cuts which recommended they be paused and reversed.

Instead, MacDonald said, “closure of the research and development centres will be phased and carefully managed.”

GUELPH – Some of the more than 150 applicants wanting a spot at Meadowview Place seniors’ residence in Hillsburgh have waited 10 years.

They may get a little closer to moving in after Wellington County council committed $1 million for the Township of Erin Non-Profit Housing Corporation to help construct a second building at its 51 Spruce St. property.

That’s Erin’s full share of a $7-million housing fund available to the county’s seven lower-tier municipalities and created using funds from the county’s Continuum of Care project in Aboyne, which was abandoned due to ballooning costs.

The new Spruce Street building would have at least 20 one-bedroom units for seniors 65 and older, with rent around $960 per month – or about 80 per cent of market rate.

Up to 10 of those units could be charged at rates geared to income, with tenants paying around 30% of their income, according to a Town of Erin report.

Councillor Earl Campbell, chair of the county’s finance committee, told council on Sept. 24 the proposal was being moved forward by the committee despite being “in its early stages.”

Erin Mayor Michael Dehn previously said at a July Erin council meeting that the project “addresses a demonstrated need within the community” and would allow seniors to age in town instead of having to leave.

A town report states the funding is not intended to pay for everything; the total capital cost is currently unknown. The report adds the housing corporation intends to seek other funding sources, “which may include federal and provincial housing programs, low-interest financing and community fundraising.”

County funding would be released in two phases.

Early next year, $400,000 would be released for project management, design, engineering, studies and planning approvals.

Erin councillor Bridget Ryan previously balked at spending that much on consulting and project management.

“We are helping facilitate them to get going and then they have to help themselves go further,” Dehn responded at the time.

The remaining $600,000 – $30,000 per unit – would be released once a building permit is secured.

Town approvals for the project must be in place by the end of 2027.

Unspent money will be forfeited back to the county.

Construction is anticipated for 2028, with residents able to move in the following year. The timing is directly tied to Erin’s new wastewater treatment plant and a shift to municipal sewers from septic.

“With the town’s planned transition to municipal wastewater services, the existing septic system will be decommissioned, creating a unique and time-sensitive opportunity to coordinate site servicing and foundation construction while minimizing future costs and disruption,” Erin CAO Rob Adams stated in a report.

Guelph/Eramosa was the first municipality in the county to receive funding, for the expansion of Squires Lodge in Rockwood.

Wife-and-husband team Steph and Zach Muma own Silver Creek Nursery in Wellesley, where they do things a little differently.

While most tree growers rely on chemical herbicides, insecticides, and fungicides to control pests and weeds, the Mumas run a mostly organic operation. Their focus is on preserving long-term land health to improve the strength and resilience of their trees.

Their test orchard boasts more than 500 cultivars of food-bearing plants, including apples, pears, plums, peaches, cherries, quince, medlars and apricots.

WELLINGTON NORTH – Staff here are exploring the feasibility of equipping all township vehicles with Naloxone kits. 

Naloxone is a fast-acting medication that temporarily reverses the effects of opioid poisoning. 

Attending a drug poisoning awareness event in Mount Forest on Aug. 20 inspired councillor Steve McCabe to bring forward a motion about equipping township vehicles with Naloxone kits.

“I had my eyes opened even further with regard to the overdoses that can occur, not only in urban settings but also in our rural settings,” he said. “Overdoses can happen on our trails, in our parks, and anywhere within the township.” 

McCabe would like all township vehicles and equipment, right down to the lawnmowers, to be equipped with Naloxone, and for all staff operating that equipment to complete Naloxone training. 

Naloxone is available for free through Sanguen Health Centre, the Mount Forest Family Health Team and at most pharmacies. No prescription is needed. 

According to Health Canada, Naloxone is safe for all ages, cannot be used improperly and does not create dependence. It comes in two forms: a nasal spray and an injectable. 

McCabe said he hopes to raise awareness of what Naloxone is and “how and when it is needed in our township.  

“I think even if one death is prevented, it will be worth it,” McCabe said. 

Naloxone has successfully reversed thousands of opioid overdoses across Canada, according to public health. 

At least 37 people in Wellington County have died of drug poisoning since Jan. 1, 2025. 

Wellington North council unanimously approved a motion on Sept. 21 directing staff to bring a report to council reviewing the feasibility of making Naloxone kits available to staff, and for training on its appropriate use to be included in the township’s training/development program.

I stared into the dark abyss below me. It glared back, pouring deeply into my soul. A shiver sparkled up my spine. Closing my eyes and tipping my head back, I inhaled deeply. The cool air stretched down my throat and expanded my lungs. I whooshed out a steady exhale. 

I pounced down the steps to the unfinished basement of my childhood home. Approaching slowly, much like an animal hunting its prey, I cautiously eyed the concealed object in front of me. I grasped onto the brown tarp covering the piece of my family’s history. It fell to the dusty floor in a heaping pile. 

The lonesome lightbulb that swung in the middle of the room illuminated my target. I gripped the stone in my hand until I felt its jagged edges bite into my palm. I focused on the zap of pain and took a deep breath. Despite my family’s warnings, I launched the rock and shattered the mirror. 

The mirror groaned in agony as the rock tore it to pieces. The reflective glass split in the center, carving out a spider web of intricate cracks. The lines crept closer to the antique frame before the tension was released, and pieces fell to the concrete floor. They exploded into stardust upon impact, and constellations painted the floor at my feet. The mirror continued to fracture along the edges of the bronze metal frame. It was detailed, but ancient; the deep metallic shade had been rubbed away, and splotches of lighter metal adorned the corners. Standing tall in front of me, glass continued to spill from the cursed family heirloom, as if it was crying over what I had done. 

My great-grandmother told us stories of the demon her mother had trapped in this mirror. She said it was a prison crafted through intense manifestation and hope, but I always knew that there was a darker art at play. The women of my bloodline protected this relic with their lives; and I was just doing the same; my duty. The thought of a demon inhabiting my basement became too much for me, especially once my life became cursed with bad luck. It was easy to blame the supposed demonic entity that sat trapped in my own home. 

I saw my eerie reflection in the dilapidated corpse that stood in front of me. I knew I shouldn’t have inched closer to examine what I saw in the only remaining glass of the prison vessel. But a pull of energy beckoned me closer, a force far out of my control. I tiptoed around the twinkling pieces of glass around the floor, cautiously dancing around the sparking shards around my feet. I leaned closer. The eyes that glowed back at me were black, with only a pupil of stark white to indicate they were human eyes at all. My long hair was disheveled, and a winding smile snacked across the bottom of my pale face. I squinted to get a better look in the shadows, which would be the last mistake I ever made. 

A hand flew to my neck in the cracked reflection. Hues of blue and purple spread through my doppelganger’s fingers and infected my neck. I clutched my own throat in fear, clawing at evil hands that weren’t within my reach. There was nothing to grip onto on my side of reality. The air escaped my throat with ease. My eyes widened in disbelief that she had the power to do this, despite being confined to this reflective prison for centuries. Maybe this was the moment she had been waiting for all along; a moment to show off her incredible strength and command. She continued to hold on like her freedom depended on it. And it did. I dropped to my knees and flailed. I could feel the dull pain of glass slicing into my legs, but it was nothing compared to the suffocation.  

Before my vision went completely black, I saw her pale leg extend from the mirror. Despite the crooked edges of the glass, she forced herself through. The crystal pieces stuck out of her skin as she contorted her limbs to make it through the looking glass. I watched her gaze upon me as she slinked towards the stairs.  

I shattered the mirror. And now everyone will pay for my mistake. 

On Sept. 19, 2026, Waterloo Region’s unique and historical buildings opened their doors to the public. Free to attend, the annual Doors Open event ran from 10 a.m. until 4 p.m.  

Visitors were encouraged to access the digital Doors Open Passport. For a chance to win one of three $100 prizes, people were asked to list sites they visited and describe what they enjoyed at each location. Those without a device could send their responses via email. 

There were 27 sites in total, with one in Ayr, six in Cambridge, 12 in Kitchener, five in Waterloo, one in Elmira, one in St. Clements and one in New Hamburg.  

If you missed the event, make sure to mark your calendar for next year. In the meantime, here are a few of the special locations that opened their doors to the public this year. 

Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower (Kitchener) 

The Waterloo Pioneer Memorial Tower overlooks the Grand River on a peaceful part of the Walter Bean Grand River Trail. Nearby, the people it pays tribute to, Joseph Schoerg and Samuel Betzner, the first non-Indigenous settlers in the area, lay resting with their families sheltered under a giant tree. 

From the fieldstones at the base of the 18.9-metre-high tower, to the Swiss-inspired copper spire, the eight-sided deck referencing true north, and the Conestoga wagon weathervane, each component of the tower is a nod to the life the Pennsylvanian German settlers built in what is now Waterloo Region. 

Ghost Village of Black Horse Corner (Ayr) 

The once bustling Black Horse Inn was open from 1853-1875 in North Dumfries. Travellers, local families, farmers and tradespeople frequented the corner the inn once stood on. However, today the corner of Cedar Creek Rd. and Northumberland St. hints at nothing of the people and inn that once animated this part of Waterloo Region. A fire ultimately ended the inn’s existence.  

How could a Doors Open event take place in a disappeared building? There are still three standing outbuildings remaining from the 1800s: a barn, a former cheese factory and a smokehouse. 

Tapestry Hall (Cambridge) 

Tapestry Hall has the most eye-popping surprise as you walk through its gigantic doors. A huge art piece, Meander by architect and University of Waterloo faculty of engineering partner Philip Beesley, steals the show and is best described as jaw-dropping. The historic 19th century limestone building that houses the spectacle is a part of the popular third space, the Gaslight District in downtown Galt. 

Brubacher House (Waterloo) 

With the breakneck pace of technology, it’s smart to have a look backwards to ground us and see where we’ve come from—and to remind us that new and fast isn’t always better. Tucked into the University of Waterloo’s Research and Technology Park is an 1850s Mennonite farmhouse. The 16-person Brubacher family once lived in the home, now designated as a significant Cultural Heritage Landscape in Waterloo. Today there’s a museum on the ground floor and a family home upstairs.  

Elmira Masonic Centre (Elmira) 

For 150 years, Freemasons have lived and gathered in Waterloo Region. Today there are around 50 members at Glenrose Lodge and 42 members at New Dominion. Across Ontario there are roughly 40,000 to 50,000 Masons. During the Doors Open event, the Elmira Masonic Centre welcomed visitors in to learn about local Freemason symbols, traditions and community history.  

YMCA Camp Ki-Wa-Y (St. Clements) 

On Paradise Lake in the Township of Wellesley, YMCA Camp Ki-Wa-Y has been giving kids the freedom to explore and enjoy the outdoors for over 100 years. As a part of the event, people of all ages were encouraged to try their skills at archery, spike their adrenaline on the high ropes and soak in the calm of the camp’s waterfront.  

Peel St. Beverage Co. (New Hamburg) 

Invigorating old spaces with new purpose is a marker of a creative and thriving community. Peel St. Beverage Co.’s nano-brewery and taproom resides in a heritage building built in 1872. Connecting past with present, the name Peel St. refers to the 1832 settlement’s street that predates the town of New Hamburg. But what really makes a place is its myths and lore. New Hamburg’s legendary river resident, “Nithy,” served as the inspiration for the Nith River Monster Hazy IPA, which is worth the taste test.  

No one was more surprised to discover she had psychic abilities than Gada Jane herself. Raised in a highly rational and academic household, Jane focused on reason and logic to determine her life path. But while trying to relax and reconnect with her body during a period of burnout, something unlocked in Jane, and she began to tune in to mystical and spiritual energies that would lead to her intuitive and psychic practice. 

Jane and I met for a walk in Homer Watson Park to discuss her childhood, her creative work and the dramatic shift that her life took when she began to have psychic experiences.  

“I usually come [to Homer Watson Park] into the woods and meditate, and then I walk a bit,” Jane said.  

“Learning to meditate, learning to relax and connect to things I feel is very significant for opening up the creative process.” 

Jane was born and raised in Sudbury, the child of educators, in an environment where reason was prized as a means to learn and explore the world. 

“I grew up in a very creative, very open-minded [home], but open-minded in the sense that you want to be very reasonable,” Jane said.  

“If you can’t make an argument for it, then you shouldn’t believe it.” 

After completing an undergraduate degree at Laurentian University, Jane moved south to pursue a master’s degree in Theatre at the University of Guelph. A chance to save money on rent by moving in with her sister brought Jane to Waterloo, where she pursued writing and film projects. She formed The Predella Project, a small weekly writing group that met for six years to work on writing craft and process. 

“I spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to finish pieces,” Jane said.  

“After studying English, I felt like everything got taken apart in my head, and it took me a really long time to figure out how to put things back together again.” 

It was while working as an artist and arts administrator that Jane began to experience burnout. She took a trip to Europe with her sister in the hopes of healing and had a transformative experience. 

“I just started trying to relax. I was trying to figure out how you would be on vacation,” Jane said.  

 
“So, I started to just walk around Europe and notice what I felt in my body…I would end up getting drawn to these people and things that ushered me a step further into this place…it felt magical and interesting.” 

Jane found that she was able to tap into people and give readings with a focus on how their brains work and how they process the world, drawing on her strong cognitive empathy. She began honing these abilities in 2015 and started practicing as a psychic and intuitive in 2018 after subjecting her process to scrutiny and her own skepticism. 

“I found it really agonizing, the process of going ‘wait, am I wrong about this, or is there something really here?’” Jane said.  

“I always think you have to test to trust…you can say, ‘Okay, what does this feeling mean? And if I try trusting it, where does that lead me?’”  

Jane took her psychic abilities and experiences, paired with her sense of reason and logic, and turned them into a one-person show. Becoming Psychic premiered at Femme Folks Fest in Kitchener in March of 2026, then Jane toured it to Fringe Festivals in New York, Boston, Montreal, Windsor and Halifax over the summer. Next year, she will take the show on another tour through Northern Ontario. 

“It has this sort of emotional up and down that I don’t think I was fully used to,” Jane said of performing her solo show.  

“But there’s just a sense of being with the audience and forgetting about everything else.” 

As we walked along the gravel path, being careful to avoid the small toads that shared the space, Jane reflected what drew her to this trail. 

“I think it’s the height of the trees. We don’t have that many areas that feel enclosed like this,” Jane said.  

“It just has a very rich and deep energy.” 

Now that her tour has wrapped up, Jane is turning her attention to other creative projects. She is working on a web series that explores a clown character and will start filming around Kitchener-Waterloo in the fall. Jane finds the support of the arts community in the region helpful for creating new work. 

“I like that [film] continues to exist,” Jane said.  

“Theatre has this quality where you have to keep doing it for it to exist…when I’m not performing and I’m not writing, I feel like there’s something very incomplete.” 

We finished our walk by climbing to higher ground for a view of the Grand River as we talked about the lessons that Jane has learned from providing psychic readings and what she thinks people, in general, would benefit from. 

“I think people need to do more actually listening to what they’re feeling, just attending to it,” Jane said.  

“There’s a lot of information in the body, and you don’t have to believe in psychics to believe that [you] could know something about [yourself] that’s not just in [your] mind.”