A SLICE OF PERFECTION

Even an extreme cold warning on a blustery January afternoon could not keep pizza lovers from grabbing a slice at Willibald Pizza in downtown Galt. The restaurant has been earning positive reviews for its food and atmosphere from residents across Waterloo Region and beyond since opening in November 2025. For head chef Brian McCourt, the warm welcome is based on more than great pizza.  

The new restaurant at 135 George St. N. in Cambridge is the second location for the Willibald team. 

“There’s a lot of creativity around Galt, but there wasn’t a community spot where you could come and get a few slices. We just wanted to have that neighborhood spot…it just gives that great community vibe of different generations all eating the same thing and enjoying it,” McCourt said. 

Owners Cam Formica, Jordan van der Heyden and Nolan Jordan van der Heyden opened the original Willibald Farm Distillery in Ayr in 2017 and added a restaurant in 2018. 

McCourt joined the restaurant as head chef after working across the Waterloo Region culinary scene. A self-described “lifelong pizza head” from his earliest memories of a pizza being delivered by motorcycle in his native Dublin, Ireland, McCourt developed his pizza skills working at Wildcraft, Bauer Kitchen, The Rich Uncle and Graffiti Market. 

After working more management roles, McCourt wanted to get back into the kitchen. 

“I wanted to get back in there, and when the Willibald opportunity came up, I put my name in the hat and that was that,” McCourt said. 

As word of mouth spread for the pizza at the Willibald Farm, McCourt said they found themselves turning more and more guests away.  

“The farm was bursting at the seams. Then I heard that the previous tenant of this space wasn’t renewing their lease. As a joke, I said, ‘We should open a pizza shop.’ Then two weeks later, they came back and asked if I was serious. I was, and that’s how Willibald Pizza was formed,” McCourt said.  

Opening a second location also presented a branding dilemma for the Willibald team. Formica worked with Toronto-based graphic designer Joel Malkin to create the brand and called upon Malkin to help adapt it for Willibald Pizza. 

“It’s challenging to balance how modern and clean the current Willibald branding is with something a bit more nostalgic feeling. We wanted it to feel like somewhere you’ve been before,” Formica said.  

Malkin incorporated influences from classic pizza shops—handwritten cursive lettering, checkerboard patterns and a Willibald-twist on one of Formica’s favourites.  

“Even the light shades—I used to go to Pizza Hut as a kid, and I just love the old Tiffany’s stained-glass lights,” Formica added.   

With the look and feel locked down, McCourt set to work on the kitchen. Willibald Pizza dough ferments for up to six days before it sees the oven. The restaurant serves up to 250 pizzas on Fridays and Saturdays. McCourt said word of mouth demand has helped the restaurant sell out pizzas on a few nights already this year.  

“We’re looking at expanding over the next few weeks to make our walk-in a little bigger so we can keep up with the demand,” McCourt added.  

But even with gourmet ingredients and a labour-intensive process, McCourt said they want to make food that is affordable as well as comforting.   

“We’re using premium ingredients. We’re giving a great product with everything sourced from Ontario, and it’s still in that price range where it’s quality. You can come here, have a quality meal in a comfortable setting and still feel satisfied,” McCourt said. 

QUEEN STREET COMMONS SET TO RE-OPEN

The Working Centre’s Queen Street Commons Café in downtown Kitchener is set to reopen this spring after a six-year hiatus. The cafe closed its doors in March 2020 at the start of the pandemic and has remained shuttered as the non-profit organization focused on changing priorities for the communities it serves.  

In 2024, The Working Centre began planning for the reopening, including upgrades and a layout change. Cassandra Polyzou, community tools and enterprise hub lead at The Working Centre, said that, as with any renovation, there were unexpected challenges that pushed the reopening into 2026. 

“Anyone who is working on renovating a small business knows that we all face challenges. Everyone is trying to do their best. But it has meant that the process has been slow,” she said. 

Queen Street Commons opened in 2006 as a third space for the community, regardless of income. Polyzou said the goal is to be that third space again and bring the community together. 

“The space is going to look different…We’ll be able to do things like film screenings and concerts in the space,” she said. “It’s refreshed, but it certainly still is going to feel like the Queen Street Commons that we’ve all known and loved.” 

There is no set opening date yet, but Polyzou said the cafe has two concerts scheduled in March to welcome people back to the space. 

 The Queen Street Commons is hosting The Boo Radley Project on Mar. 6, 2026 and I, the Mountain on Mar. 7, 2026. The cafe is hoping these big launch events show people the new space and what can be done with it. 

Downtown Kitchener has changed in the six years since Queen Street Commons closed. Conestoga College’s two downtown campuses opened and closed, multiple new condominium and apartment buildings have opened, and many major employers have opted to continue with remote work instead of renewing their office leases.  

There has also been a significant increase in the people experiencing homelessness across Waterloo Region, including the 100 Victoria St. encampment across from The Working Centre’s recently opened Making Home space at 97 Victoria St. Polyzou said the changes are a motivator to bring back the spirit of “radical hospitality” that Queen Street Commons was known for. 

“Queen Street Commons was always a place for everyone. Things have changed, and the need is very much there. We hear it from people all the time who say they miss this kind of space that is really a bridge across communities that brings diverse people to sit at tables beside each other and share food and coffee,” she said. 

When it opens, the cafe will continue to offer affordable and vegetarian menu items, including coffee, baked goods, and soups. Polyzou added that volunteering opportunities will also return to the cafe. 

“We know that people have missed that opportunity. It’s such a gift. Or maybe they’ll just come for a bowl of veggie chilli and a cup of coffee, and that’s great,” she said. 

MINI-DOSES OF AWE AND WONDER

A staycation is a vacation you can take in your home country, rather than abroad. For the sake of this piece and my wallet, I’ll be focusing on staying in your own city or, better yet, your own home.   

These mini vacations are useful because they’re easier on the budget but also help you learn about your own community.  

As you explore your city, you can create more relationships that flow into your everyday life and deepen your connection to the place that you live. Staycations are also much easier to plan, considering you don’t have to worry about accommodations, flights, trains, packing, etc.   

Like all vacations, a staycation requires deviation from your regularly scheduled programming. If you can, empty your schedule in advance—take a couple days off work or have a weekend where you have no other plans. I will sit down with a monthly and weekly calendar to help me visualize. I also try to set aside at least three days because I tend to be restless the first day that I deviate from my regular work, so I need some time to get into a more relaxed mindset.   

Then, consider what you need. Are you tired of monotony and want to add something interesting to your life? Or are you just tired and need some rest. Pay attention to your body and your thoughts in the days leading up to your time off.   

The answer is usually not so complicated. For example, if you find yourself bored at mealtimes, you might want to explore more food options either at home or outside. If you keep wishing that everyone would leave you alone, then you probably need some rest and alone time.   

Doing a brain dump of all the thoughts you have (especially all your complaints) can help with understanding the stressors of your life, which might change the type of staycation you choose to take.   

Now, you can decide what it is that you need in a staycation. Do you need more time with friends or time alone? Do you want to meet new people or deepen the connections you may have been neglecting? Does exploration and social time rejuvenate or exhaust you?   

Considering these questions can help you decide whether you want to spend your staycation exploring your city or exploring your home.   

If you choose the former, it is possible to explore your surroundings spontaneously. Choose a starting point—e.g. downtown Kitchener or brunch at your favourite cafe—then let the day take you where it will. I especially like doing this with friends, since I am not very adventurous.   

Another method is to make a list of all the places you either never get a chance to go back to, or that you wanted to explore, but never got a chance. This could be cute cafes (cafe-hopping!), bookstores, parks, trails or any number of places. What has caught your attention before, but you weren’t able to go back to it?  

Other people’s houses can also be on that list. So many social plans rely on us going out, but visiting a friend in their own space can be just as fun. It also means another way of learning more about them, especially if this is a new friend.   

Finally, a staycation can happen in the confines of your own home. This is my personal favourite and is the most versatile type of staycation.   

I like to start by deep cleaning my spaces, doing my laundry and dusting, maybe even rearranging some furniture. Freshening up your space also helps refresh your mind.   

Now, I know that most people are not like me. Where I would include cleaning and reorganizing as part of my vacation, but for others, it would be considered work. If you’re in the latter group, I would suggest doing all the cleaning and chores as preparation for your staycation.   

Then, the world (or your house or your room) is your oyster. Exploring your home can take many forms—you can go through all those old photos and clothes and declutter, or just bask in the nostalgia. Go shopping in different rooms to change things around, create new outfits from all your clothes, bust out the puzzle you never got to do or the art supplies you haven’t used in the two years since you bought them.   

The goal is to rest, but also to see your own space in a new light. What is your house like when you’re usually not home? For example, over quarantine, I discovered that the leaves of the tree in our backyard cast shadows on my wall during sunset and to this day, that is one of my favourite aspects of my room. It is incredibly calming to watch the shadows of those leaves swaying while I’m not doing anything in particular.   

Some other things I like finding are hiding places, places to sit that you haven’t thought of before, what space is the most relaxing, what seat is the most comfortable. Forget about everything you know about your space, and rediscover how charming a place you live in.   

If that’s too much work, just lay in bed and stare at the ceiling. That’s super fun.   

My favourite thing about staycations is that they don’t have to end. That new cafe you liked, you can revisit as often as you like. You can keep making the new dish you discovered, you can go back to the bookstore you fell in love with, you can spend 10 minutes lying there and watching the leaves swaying on the wall when you need to.   

A staycation is a reminder to take a step back, look at your life and your space from a fresh perspective, and maintain a sense of awe in the regular, the common and the everyday. 

KITCHENER GETS NEW ARTS LEADERS

The City of Kitchener’s arts and entertainment department has added two local arts leaders to its team to support the launch of the recently announced Kitchener LIVE destination marketing brand. Green Light Arts’ co-founder and managing director Carin Lowerison will be taking on the role of Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues and music industry veteran Will Muir will become the city’s Music Officer.  

Kitchener LIVE was first announced at Mayor Berry Vrbanovic’s State of the City address on Oct. 21, 2025 at Centre in the Square. In his address, Vrbanovic said Kitchener LIVE will be a centralized platform for residents to discover events, purchase tickets, and learn how to host an event at a city-owned facility.   

The new brand is a small part of the city’s growing Arts and Entertainment Department. Led by Director of Arts and Entertainment Jeremy Dueck, the department includes three divisions: Arts and Creative Industries, Special Events and Arts and Entertainment Venues.  

Arts and Creative Industries is managed by Andrea Hallam and includes calls for public arts, the 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace, and the city’s film and music offices. Special Events is led by Steve Roth and includes the city’s Canada Day celebration, Way Back Festival, and the Christkindl Market. Music Officer Will Muir will work with the Special Events team to integrate local talent into events like the Roos Island Music Series.  

Lowerison will lead the third division as the Manager of Arts and Entertainment Venues which oversees the Conrad Centre for the Performing Arts, the Victoria Park Pavilion, the City Hall Rotunda and Carl Zehr Square.   

The Arts and Entertainment Venues team is also responsible for the Kitchener LIVE platform. Dueck said the platform’s vision of “Your City. Your Stage.” is designed to help audiences and artists connect across all of the city’s venues, from Centre in the Square and The Aud to Roos Island and Carl Zehr Square. Kitchener LIVE will also include information on public art calls that are coming up and camp opportunities at THEMUSEUM and Centre in the Square.  

“How many times have you talked to people and they say they didn’t know that an event or concert was happening? We think all these events are common knowledge, but it’s not. Our community is growing so quickly that even for the people who’ve been here for a long time, they may not always know what’s happening,” Dueck said.  

For audiences, Kitchener LIVE will be the brand for its existing KW Tickets website and will include events at all city-owned venues and spaces. The new platform will also include information and tools for event hosts and producers to help book venue space.  

“There’s never been an easy entry point if you want to organize an event in one of the major event spaces. That’s what Kitchener LIVE will introduce,” he added.  

In addition to Kitchener LIVE, Dueck said the new department structure will help improve communication across the city’s owned and operated venues.   

“When the Mayor and Council created this division, one of the visions they had was, we need our venues to talk more. Now we meet monthly where we can share what’s coming up. Through those conversations, we get more insight as to what the other venues are doing,” Dueck said.  

While the new platform helps guide the public and event organizers, Dueck said the overarching goal is to present a cohesive brand to potential event hosts. The new structure can potentially help the city to attract major destination events, such as national award shows.  

“Down the road, if we’re trying to attract a major destination event, the Canadian Country Music Awards or the Junos, if we’re trying to go after an event brand, Kitchener LIVE helps us package and present our experience in the arts and entertainment scene here in Kitchener,” he said.  

DOUG EARLE APPOINTED CEO OF WRHN FOUNDATION

After a 30-year career in fundraising Doug Earle has taken the role as the first CEO of the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN) Foundation as it begins to fundraise for the new hospital campus scheduled to open in 2035.   

The WRHN Foundation was established in May 2025 following the merger of St. Mary’s Hospital and Grand River Hospital and their respective foundations.  

Earle was announced as CEO on Oct. 29, 2025, and will lead the foundation’s fundraising efforts for its three existing facilities and the new hospital campus located in the David Johnston Research + Technology Park at the University of Waterloo’s North Campus.  

Before joining the WRHN Foundation, Earle was the CEO of the West Park Healthcare Centre Foundation in Toronto where he led fundraising for the hospital’s new building that opened in 2023. It was the tenth building that Earle had led the fundraising effort, but he joked that he still had the itch to work on another project.  

“I’m not a maintainer, I’m a builder. I was looking for a new challenge, and this new hospital building is quite exciting to be a part of,” he said.  

While it is not his first hospital project, it does hold a special meaning.  

“I’ve never actually been at the beginning of a new building project. That’s my goal this time. To be here while we’re just starting the design, and I hope to be there when the staff move in,” Earle said.  

The initial planning and application phase of the new hospital was completed this year with a $15 million contribution from the province. The WRHN is now actively working with the province to receive approval to move into the design phase, which will take two years to finalize.  

The province funds 100 per cent of the design and planning phase, and 90 per cent of the construction costs. The WRHN Foundation and local governments are responsible for the construction phase’s remaining 10 per cent and all required equipment and infrastructure.   

“If we get the go ahead in the spring budget, it’ll be about three years before the walls go up. Then it takes about two years for all the electrical work and quality testing. That’s when we would take possession, probably 2031, and our first payment would be due,” he said.  

The second payment would be due in 2034, but before that, the WRHN Foundation will need to start fundraising for equipment in 2030.  

“That’s about $30 million a year; it’s a lot of dollars,” he said.  

Fundraising for the new hospital does not mean that new equipment and programs are on hold at WRHN’s Midtown, Queen St., and Chicopee campuses. One of the campaigns Earle is working on is to bring neurosurgery back to the Waterloo Region.  

“We have not had a neurosurgeon for well over a decade. If you’re having an aneurysm and you’re in the ER, you know time is short. Right now, you have to go to McMaster, which is another hour of not getting treatment. We’ve submitted a plan to the Ministry of Health and we’re waiting to hear back,” Earle said.  

Once approved, the WRHN Foundation will fund renovations at WRHN Midtown to support neurosurgery.  

“We can run neurosurgery at Midtown for another ten years and then move all the equipment to the new hospital when it opens.”  

Whether it is one-time or monthly donations, Earle said this is a once-in-a-generation opportunity to make an investment in healthcare.   

“We’re the fastest growing region in the country and will be over a million people in ten years. The one thing that’s been consistent is the care and passion of our staff and the delivery of quality care. Now we have an opportunity to give them a building that is designed for them to deliver the best quality care possible,” Earle said. 

RIDE ON: BIKING THROUGH THE WINTER

Driving and walking are not the only ways to get around town in the winter. Cycling through the slush, snow and ice is an option that many locals are opting for both commuting and recreation.   

Krystal Li, a year-round bicycling commuter, said she chooses to ride through every season because she never felt motivated to own a car after moving to Kitchener.  

“I figured cycling would be easier than walking to a lot of places,” she said.  

In the winter, Li uses a commuter bike with winter tires. The commuter bike is a step-through model that allows riders to easily mount the bicycle verses stepping over a crossbar.  

“It’s more upright, so I feel safer when I’m cycling on snow,” she said.  

As with any winter sport, dressing for winter cycling is specific to each individual. Li said she wears a ski jacket and pants and brings a change of clothes for her workplace. Keeping dry is not only restricted to her clothing. Commuting to work means bringing her laptop, which she transports in a water-proof backpack.  

Li uses the Iron Horse and Spurline Trails in the summer and winter for her commute. She said the trails are maintained well, making it easy and safe to get to and from work.  

“I would go out of my way if that means I can stay on the trail for as long as possible. I hope more people try winter cycling to help encourage the city to maintain the trails,” she said.   

Fellow cyclist Rober Haskett is also an avid recreational winter cyclist. Like Li, Haskett has different bicycles for the summer and winter seasons, including a fat bike. These bicycles have extra-wide tires that run at low pressure to provide better traction and stability on snow and ice. He said the fat bike is his preferred choice for riding in deep snow.  

“As long as you’re paying attention to what you’re doing, riding in the winter is as easy as riding in the summertime. The biggest concern is figuring out what works for you to keep warm,” Haskett said.  

He said one of his friends could never keep his hands warm while cycling in the winter. That was until he discovered pogies, which are water and wind-resistant pockets that fit over a bicycle’s grips, gear shifters, and brake handles.   

“They’re basically an insulated bag that goes on top of your handlebars where your hands go. For me, I find that a pair of lobster claw style gloves work perfectly for me because my hands run hot,” he said.  

Beyond keeping warm and dry, maintaining your bicycle in the winter is another area cyclists need to keep in mind. Ryan McDonough, sales manager at McPhail’s Cycle and Sports, said he advises people to keep their main bicycle in storage for the winter and ride a bicycle that you do not mind getting damaged by water and road salt.  

“Winter is going to put wear and tear on your bike. The great thing about the Region is that they clear the trails. But they salt them heavily, so that will ruin anything that’s metal on the bike,” McDonough said.   

While Haskett said he prefers a fat-tire bike for winter riding, McDonough said a thin tire is his choice in slushy conditions. He said fat bikes were designed to be buoyant on surfaces like sand and dirt.  

“When it comes to slush, you end up sliding on it versus staying buoyant. A narrower tire will cut through the slush and get you down to the cement, which is where you want to be,” McDonough said.  

Whether you choose to ride a fat bike or an older bicycle with winter tires, Haskett said winter cycling can change your outlook on the season.  

“It’s so much fun, especially when you get a fresh snowfall in the evening. The snow is coming down and the trails are quiet. It’s a serene thing to experience,” Haskett said.

#AlexKinsella #Biking #crossbar #driving #dry #ironHorse #KrystalLi #laptop #mcphailsCycleAndSports #mount #roadSalt #RyanMcDonough #spurlineTrails #Summer #transport #Transportation #Walking #winter #Work

ONTARIO WASTE COLLECTION CHANGES

On Nov. 4, 2025, Circular Materials released new details on the changes to curbside recycling in Waterloo Region. Circular Materials is the national not-for-profit which took over responsibility for managing recycling in the province in March 2024.  

The changes are part of Ontario’s new recycling regulation that moves recycling programs to an extended producer responsibility (EPR) model. The new recycling program officially starts on Jan. 1, 2026 and is funded and operated by producers of packaging and paper products.  

“The program takes the costs of and operational responsibility for blue box recycling away from taxpayers and municipalities. This means that residents will no longer be paying for recycling services as this cost will be borne by producers,” Jennifer Kerr, Director of Community and Media Relations at Circular Materials, said.  

Under current recycling programs, each municipality decides what materials can be placed in blue bins. The change introduces a unified materials list that is the same across the province.   

The new list includes previously unaccepted items, including hot and cold beverage cups, toothpaste tubes, black plastic containers and frozen juice containers. The complete list of materials is available on the Circular Materials website.   

“The unified material list and new materials included are a great example of how extended producer responsibility advances innovation and improves environmental outcomes,” Kerr said.  

March 2026 brings additional changes to curbside recycling. Recycling collection will shift to a bi-weekly, four-day schedule running Tuesday to Friday. To accommodate the change, Circular Materials is delivering two additional blue boxes to residents starting in January 2026.  

“The new bi-weekly recycling schedule will alternate with the new bi-weekly garbage and organics collection schedule which is managed by the Region of Waterloo,” Kerr said.   

While Circular Materials manages the program, each community is serviced by a different collection contractor. Miller Waste currently provides curbside collection in Cambridge, Kitchener, and Waterloo.   

Starting on Mar. 3, 2026, Miller Waste will provide collection service across all Waterloo Region communities, including North Dumfries, Wellesley, Wilmot and Woolwich. Contact information for local collection services, along with the most up-to-date recycling details, is available at circularmaterials.ca/waterlooregion.  

The move from municipally operated programs to a province-wide program is a major change. Kerr said the feedback from residents has mainly been on clarifying what the changes are.   

“We appreciate residents’ and communities’ continued engagement and participation in recycling through this transition. Resident participation is vital to increasing recycling rates and advancing a more sustainable future,” Kerr said. 

#AlexKinsella #Cambridge #CircularMaterials #jenniferKerr #kitchener #millerWaste #NorthDumfries #recycling #RegionOfWaterloo #waterloo #waterlooRegion #Wellesley #Wilmot #Woolwich

THE RISE OF THE RUN CLUB

The days are getting shorter, and the weather is getting colder, but that does not mean it is time to hang up your running shoes. There are runners of all skill and experience levels running on trails, paths and sidewalks across the Waterloo Region throughout the winter. Regardless of skill level, running groups is a great way to meet new people, improve skills and explore the community. 

Runner’s Choice Waterloo has hosted run groups for over 20 years. Today, it hosts two weekly run groups from its storefront at 55 Erb St. E. in Waterloo. The Beginners Group is on Mondays and Thursdays at 6:30 p.m. and is a social run or walk ranging from two to five kilometers. Experienced runners can join the Fun Run Group, also on Mondays and Thursday at 6:00 p.m. 

Andrew Aguanno is a co-owner of Runner’s Choice Waterloo. He said there is often a stigma attached to running groups where people may not think they fit in, but the reality is much different. 

“Some people hear ‘running club’ and think everyone’s going to be 100 pounds soaking wet and in amazing shape. But when you actually come to a running club, you see that runners come in every shape, size and age. I think that’s really encouraging and motivating for a lot of people to come out and see someone who looks just like you,” he said. 

Aguanno added that going to a run group by yourself can be intimidating, so the store’s run group leaders work to make everyone feel welcome and included. He said he has dropped into running groups in Toronto and Vancouver, where he felt like an outsider, but that is not the case in Runner’s Choice running groups. 

“Our groups are super friendly. Everyone is here to support each other. We want to be in that community hub where everyone is welcome and supported. We just want to share our love of the sport with everyone else and get as many people into it as we can,” he said. 

Looking for a way to find a community was how Isabeau Glebe discovered the run groups at Runner’s Choice. Glebe took up running in the summer of 2024 as a way to connect with new people in the area. 

“I was wondering, ‘How do adults make friends?’ That was what got me into running, and then I got absolutely hooked,” she said. 

As Glebe made new friendships in the community, she said a few people suggested that there was a need for a women-centred run group. After researching, she realized it was something that did not exist at the time and started a women’s run group at Runner’s Choice. She quickly realized the group had potential to become a strong community and decided to launch Women Run Waterloo. The group hosts run throughout the week, including social and trail runs. 

“Running itself leads to some awesome community building. But when you intersect that with the space of women in sport and exercise, it becomes this interesting community,” Glebe said. 

In addition to building a community for women runners, Women Run Waterloo also supports women-owned businesses. Those businesses include LenJo Bakes, the Crumby Cookie Co, Camellia Bake Shop, and Glebe’s personal favourite: Four All Ice Cream.  

“I’m a big fan of all things local, and we have awesome businesses in the area that are run by women. Once a month, we go and support a local women-run business to help raise awareness and have some really yummy treats,” she said. 

There are run groups hosted throughout the Waterloo Region.  

Here are a few to check out: 

• Beechwood Runners 

• WHYNOT Run Club 

• Farm League Running Club 

• Running Room Waterloo 

• KW Trail Runners 

• Run Waterloo 

• Cambridge Harriers 

• River Rats Run Club 

• KW Run Club 

#alexKinsella #andrewAguanno #beechwoodRunners #cambridgeHarriers #farmLeagueRunningClub #kitchenerWaterlooRunClub #kwTrailRunners #runWaterloo #runnersChoiceWaterloo #runningRoomWaterloo #waterlooRegion #whynotRunClub

LILA BRUYERE ON RESIDENTIAL SCHOOL EXPERIENCES IN NEW DOCUMENTARY

On Sept. 9, 2025, Bangishimo launched a GoFundMe campaign to support completion of the documentary I Am Water. Co-directed by Bangishimo and Erik O’Neill, co-founder of Astro Dog Media, the documentary tells the story of Lila Bruyere, who is Bangishimo’s mother and a survivor of the residential school system. 

Educator and public speaker Bruyere wrote her memoir of surviving the residential school system until an issue with her computer changed her plans. Losing months of work would be a blow to anyone, but Bruyere took it as a sign to tell her story in a different medium.  

“I had five chapters written, and I swore I saved it, but when I went back to continue, I couldn’t find it. Thankfully, my oldest son was able to find it, but then my computer ate it again. I take things as a sign, and then a friend of mine asked me if I had thought about doing a documentary,” she said.  

Bruyere was new to the documentary world and sought help from a friend with experience in filmmaking. She was approved for a grant to begin work on the documentary, but the project stalled after a friend who helped them apply for the funds failed to pass the money along. While there was no fraud involved, Bruyere’s son and photographer, and community leader Bangishimo said the experience was a major setback.  

“We did call him out on social media. He claimed that he never spent the money, so he didn’t steal it. He ended up giving it back to the Arts Fund, but then we had to start from square one,” Bangishimo said.  

Bruyere was frustrated, and Bangishimo offered to help introduce her to Erik O’Neill, co-founder of Astrodog Media.  

“I have already made two short documentaries with Erik, Stories from Land Back Camp and Recollections and Imaginings. I introduced the two of them, and they hit it off immediately. They’re like besties now, which is hilarious,” they said. 

Bruyere tells the story slightly differently.  

“I met Erik and I didn’t want him to do it. I told Bangishimo that he’s too miserable. But then I went over to his studio, and this was the first time he ever videotaped me, and we were talking and laughing. I thought, oh my gosh, like this guy does laugh. Now, we’re the best of friends,” she said.  

With a new crew onboard, the team travelled to Bruyere’s home reserve on Couchiching First Nation near Fort Frances, Ont. for a 10-day shoot in June 2025.   

“I told the crew I didn’t want this to be all doom and gloom, even though it is a sad story. This is not your ordinary documentary. This is a spiritual experience. I told them I hoped they were open to learning things about our culture, and they were amazing,” Bruyere said.  

The documentary trip was also the first extended trip home for Bangishimo. While they had passed through over the years, they said their experiences growing up as a queer person on a small reserve were not positive.  

“I didn’t have a lot of great memories in my community. Growing up on my reserve and in a small town was not always a safe place for queer kids, especially in the 80s. But once I got there, my whole perception had changed. My therapist told me the community that I grew up in is no longer that community and I am not that same person,” they said.  

The trip was a chance to run into relatives they had not seen since they were children and meet new ones they had not met before.  

“It was so nice to be with my people and on my people’s land. It was the highlight of 2025 for me, and it made me actually really miss home. We’re now hoping to go home again next summer just because we had such a great experience,” Bangishimo said. 

Bruyere hopes the documentary will change the conversation on residential schools to one of moving forward while not forgetting the atrocities committed. She added that she spent five years working with a therapist and attending counselling to deal with the trauma she experienced.  

“I know what happened to me, but I don’t live there 24/7. I don’t let it cripple me like it used to. I shouldn’t even be here because I went through so much drama. Sometimes, I don’t know where I got the strength from, but then I always give my credit to my mom. She was a really strong person, and I want people to know that there is life after residential school.” Bruyere said.  

For more information or to donate, visit the I Am Water GoFundMe.

#alexKinsella #astrodogMedia #bangishimo #documentary #educator #erikOneill #gofundme #lilaBruyere #localFilm #localHistory #memoir #nationalSurvivors #nationalSurvivorsCircle #queerHistory #residentialSchoolSurvivors #residentialSchools #truthAndReconciliation

KWFAMOUS LAUNCHES THE CREATIVE CAFE IN DTK

Artists, creatives and neighbours celebrated the opening of The Creative Café at a soft launch event on Sept. 26. The 3,500 square-foot space is located inside the Bright Building condominiums at 741 King St. W. in Kitchener. It features a dedicated gallery and event space alongside a small cafe that can be used as a pop-up space for local food entrepreneurs.   

The Creative Café is the latest project from the team behind KWFamous, a non-profit group that hosts meetups, workshops, and events across the region. Robin Lindner, founder of KWFamous, said she pitched the idea to the building’s developer, Scott Higgins of HIP Developments, after reading his book The Joy Experiments.  

“Their whole mantra is bringing people together. So instead of creating an amenity space like a gym that no one would use, they advocated for creating a space that welcomes the community in,” Lindner said.  

The opening of The Creative Café comes three months after a similar concept failed to gain support in Waterloo. ArtsBuild Ontario had asked the City of Waterloo for a three-year lease for the former St. Columba Anglican Church site which the city had purchased in February 2025.   

Lindner said she was disappointed when she learned of the decision.  

“I don’t think there’s a lack of space. I think there’s a lack of willingness to give that space up and give up control,” she said.  

Lindner credited Higgins and HIP Developments for taking a risk to create a new type of amenity space for building residents and the neighbouring community. Higgins said arts play a critical role in making a community a great place to live, but, as a neighbourbood gentrifies, the artists who made it great can no longer afford to live and work there.  

“We’ve been building these backyards in the sky that no one uses, and then we’re building for-lease space on the ground floor that no small business can afford. We’re sterilizing our community,” Higgins said.  

The answer for Higgins was to work with the residents of the Bright Building and the City of Kitchener to change how amenity space was used. Instead of a gym or bowling alley on an upper level, the building has street-level amenity space and Higgins put out a call for a creative group to run it. The space is rent-free, but KWFamous is responsible for utilities and upkeep.  

“Working with the city and the residents allowed us to put amenities on the ground floor so that they can be amenities for the neighborhood, not just the residents,” he said.   

Lindner said Higgin’s vision is sustainable and has the potential to work for artists and the community.   

“I’m excited to prove the concept and build this with other creatives in the community. This is a space that residents can invite people in and be proud of, whether that’s having a coffee or checking out a cool film being played. It’s an extra bonus for people who live in the building,” Lindner said.  

KWFamous has also started discussions with the Waterloo Region District School Board about potentially offering workshops for students at the neighbouring Kitchener-Waterloo Collegiate Institute.  

“They have really great vocational and co-op programs, and we want to test out what we could offer them, whether that’s making patties with The Dessert Artist’s Rochelle Williams or pastries with Casey Ng from Nibble & Nosh,” she said.  

Beyond culinary opportunities, Lindner wants to create artistic outlets for high school students. She credits similar opportunities during her high school years for giving her the confidence to pursue her art.  

“There’s not a lot of outlets for people to be creative, especially for the high school students. It can be a tough time and having that creative outlet or being shown the possibility of doing a craft can be inspiring,” Lindner said.  

“There are so many things that can happen here if we keep this space as modular and open as possible. I’m excited for people to come together and learn something,” Lindner said. 

#AlexKinsella #brightBuilding #caseyNg #HIPDevelopments #KWFamous #nibbleAndNosh #robertLindner #scottHiggins #theCreativeCafe #theDessertArtistsRochelleWilliams #theJoyExperiments

RANGERS WIN SEASON’S OPENING GAME

The Kitchener Rangers dropped the puck for their home opener on Friday Sept. 19, clinching a win in overtime against the Brantford Bulldogs.  

The Rangers fell short early in the game, with the Bulldogs leading 3-0 going into the third period.  

Cameron Arquette changed the tempo of the game, scoring their first goal in the third, with Tanner Lam tying the game at 3-3.  

Lam scored the winning goal 41 seconds into overtime, giving fans an exciting end to a suspenseful game.   

The Rangers’ home opener is just the first of what the team hopes to be an exciting season.  

“The start of the season is always met with great expectations and energy, especially with the group that we have of hockey players that have returned from last season,” Joe Birch, chief operating officer of the Kitchener Rangers, said.   

Birch said the team has used the off-season to build off of successes from last year. From a roster perspective, he noted two significant additions to the team for the year.  

“The return of Jack Pridham is very significant for us. And then the signing of Christian Kirsch to do his best in filling the void of Jackson Parsons,” Birch said.   

In addition to new signings, Birch noted the work that Mike McKenzie, General Manager of the Kitchener Rangers, has done to retain players. Retention, Birch said, is equally as important as bringing in new players.   

“That work that was done by him and our entire coaching staff really has set us up for a year that we hope to take another step. [Last year] we made it to the third round. Can we make it to the fourth round? I think we have the right players and the right mindset,” he said.  

Off the ice, the Rangers as an organization has undergone growth during the off season.   

During the off season, the Rangers renovated their Rangers Authentic Store for fans looking for merchandise.   

“We’ve got additional square footage—which will be great for mobility within the store—new floor, new paint and a new exit point with a new entry. So, we think overall, it should enhance the fan experience,” Birch said.   

While this season is just getting started, the Rangers are looking towards the Memorial Cup.  

In September, the Kitchener Rangers were named one of two finalists to host the Memorial Cup. After submitting a full bid application and a presentation to the selection committee, a final decision will be made in December.  

Kitchener last hosted the Memorial Cup back in 2008. Birch is hopeful that the upgrade to the facility, an upcoming brand-new restaurant, a new dressing room tour, and the renovated Rangers Authentic Store, all added since 2008, will be compelling features in successfully bringing the cup to Kitchener.   

“The community is looking for it, and the fan base deserves it,” Birch said.  

“Our hockey roster has been being built and constructed since the April 2023 draft. The hockey team is ready to push, and the players are ready to compete for it. So the combination of those things make this the right time for it,” Birch said.   

Over the years, the Kitchener Rangers have become a community staple in the Waterloo region.   

“A lot of fans come every Friday night, that’s been their Friday nights for 40 years…that’s how they socialize, and that’s really amazing,” Birch said.   

While fans love to see the Rangers deliver on the ice, Birch said what makes the Rangers special to the community is that the organization is more than just a sports team to its many loyal fans.  

“Being a community team, we really try to give back and support the community to the very best of our ability by having our players and so many others really engaged. We’re a fabric of Waterloo Region, and have been forever and will continue to do,” Birch said. 

#AlexKinsella #brantfordBulldogs #cameronArquette #Hockey #jackPridham #JoeBirch #KitchenerRangers #localSports #memorialCup #MikeMcKenzie #SafinaJennah #tannerLam

SERVING GOOD FOOD AND GOOD KARMA

Tiny Home Takeout, located at 56 Duke St. in Kitchener, has been serving the community since they opened four years ago.   

“Father Toby, the head pastor [at St. Mary’s] he was thinking about ways in which we could support the community, especially during the pandemic,” Jie-Soo Park, program assistant at Tiny Home Takeout, said.    

The restaurant works on a pay-what-you-can model to feed as many people as possible.   

“We want everyone to be welcome, whether it’s the mayor or somebody who’s sleeping on the street, to feel like they can come and grab food,” Park said.  

Originally the restaurant served pizzas, but a few years ago the menu switched to serving four different calzone varieties as well as a rotating flavour of the month. The stall also offers bites, smaller snacks that change every day.  

“We started off by serving between 10 and 100 people a day, and now we’re up to 300 sometimes 400 people” said Fr. Toby Collins one of the founders of Tiny Home Takeout.  

“[W]e want to eliminate the stigma behind accessing a great meal, and so even though we are really accessible to those who may not be able to afford take out or a restaurant quality meal, that doesn’t mean that that’s the only demographic we serve,” Park said.  

Many of the ingredients used by Tiny Home Takeout are grown in their own garden located at Resurrection College.   

“We also seek to build community through food, and we find that calmer environment and a respectful environment where people have just a delicious meal that they really appreciate day in and day out,” Collins said.   

On Sept. 14, Tiny Home Takeout will be running their Hunger No More event at St. Mary Our Lady of the Seven Sorrows Roman Catholic Church at 56 Duke Street, Kitchener.   

“We’re going to have lots of food vendors come in and offer small free samples of whatever they serve. And there will also be a Kid Zone, live entertainment and there is a massive silent auction that is always really interesting and a great way to contribute to the community,” Park said.   

For those who are looking to get involved with Tiny Home Takeout, the restaurant takes donations on their site. They are also looking for volunteers in both their restaurant location and garden.   

“It really is changing this part of the downtown and when everybody pitches in and works together trying to deal with the issue of food insecurity in a new and creative way, it truly changes lives for the better,” Collins said.   

“We want everyone from the community to be in line, and we always make enough food so that regardless of who you are, you can come by and you can grab dinner with your family,” he said.  

More information can be found on their website as well as X, Instagram and Facebook at @TinyHomeTakeout. 

#AlexKinsella #charity #community #fatherToby #kitchener #localBusiness #payWhatYouCan #RachaelMacIntosh #sevenSorrowsRomanCatholicChurch #stMaryS #TinyHomeTakeout

“THE JOY EXPERIMENTS” ASKS HOW WE CAN DESIGN CITIES FOR SERENDIPITY

What would cities look like if they were designed not just for efficiency, but for joy? That is the question at the heart of The Joy Experiments, a new book by Paul Kalbfleisch and Scott Higgins looks at how private developers and community leaders can take risks that city halls often cannot.  

Kalbfleisch is a marketing consultant who works with clients in city building, urban development, and cultural planning.  

His focus is on helping city builders become society builders by prioritizing joy in how communities grow.   

“If I would put a creative brief on most of the projects that I try to get involved in, the objective is to create a space where strangers can become friends,” Kalbfleisch said.  

He said municipal governments are risk-averse when it comes to experimenting because of the demands for them to manage day-to-day issues.  

“For a real estate developer, they can experiment more. They can be bolder,” he said.   

“Once people see it being created, once they see it being successful, once citizens see it, experience it, then it becomes easier for city halls to start entertaining those types of spaces,” Kalbfleisch said.  

The concept for The Joy Experiments originated from Kablfleisch’s work with Higgins and HIP Developments, which involves creating spaces within cities to make them more vibrant.   

“One day, Scott said he really needed a manifesto so that local stakeholders and city builders understood what was motivating him to do more than what was being asked. Nothing makes people more suspicious of a real estate developer when they do start doing more than they’re being asked to do,” Kablfleisch said.  

Inspired by former Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuel’s The Nation City: Why Mayors Are Now Running the World, Kalbfleisch suggested Higgins write a book about why he was pushing forward projects like the Gaslight District, rather than what had been done in the past.   

“The idea of it is to explain to people why HIP Developments was so interested in creating spaces that connect citizens to each other. We wrote it consciously so that it could be a book that could speak to the world using Waterloo Region as a backdrop for the story,” he said.  

“We’re at the early stages of acknowledging that community doesn’t just exist. It has to be built. It has to be shaped. We have to find a way of taking people from isolation and division and create infrastructure that brings people together, that gives them some sense of optimism and collective joy,” Kalbfleisch said.  

The 224-page book is divided into 15 chapters with stories and strategies that Kalbfleisch said are a starting point, not a step-by-step guide.  

He added that the book was written to create a common language and a common goal for politicians, architects, community leaders, and everyday citizens.  

“That’s one of the reasons why we use the word, ‘joy’. We define joy as a feeling you get when you feel connected to something or someone, where you don’t feel completely alone, and it’s a collective feeling,” he said.  

To illustrate his point, Kalbfleisch used a typical neighbourhood park as an example of an amenity that brings people together, but is limited to people who live within walking distance.  

“We need to stretch beyond that and create places where strangers can connect with each other and become neighbours and friends, where the only commonality you have is the city you live in. To me, that’s the Holy Grail,” Kalbfleisch said. 

#AlexKinsella #GaslightDistrict #HIPDevelopments #holyGrail #municipalGovernments #paulKalbleisch #scottHiggins #theJoyExperiments #theNationCity #urbanDesign #waterlooRegion

WATERLOO REGION POLICE PARTNER WITH PROJECT 529

Cyclists in Waterloo Region have a new tool to help protect and recover their bicycles from theft. On Aug. 7, 2025, Waterloo Region Police (WRPS) launched its partnership with Vancouver-based Project 529 at The Hydrocut in Kitchener. The program allows cyclists to register their bicycles and alert police, bicycle shops, and other registered users in the event their bike is stolen.  

In a Waterloo Region Police announcement of the partnership, Chief Mark Crowell said over 5,400 bikes were reported stolen between 2019 and 2024, but only 432 were successfully recovered.  

The local partnership lead, WPRS Constable John Heaton, was inspired by his experiences using Project 529 during suspected bike theft stops. He learned about the platform during an online search for bike registries and began using it to look up suspected stolen bikes.  

“There were several instances where bicycles were not registered on the traditional databases, but they were registered on the 529 database. So, I was able to recover a bunch of bikes and return them to their owners, years after they had been stolen, which is awesome,” Heaton said.  

Project 529 was launched in 2013 to address the large number of recovered bikes that went unclaimed at the Vancouver Police Department (VPD). Rob Brunt, Project 529’s chief outreach officer, was a police officer with VPD at the time and said he was inspired to take action after seeing the department’s property office filled with bikes.  

“They had 400 bikes in a storage system and another 100 on the ground. I’m an avid cyclist and thought it was crazy. Whose job was it to get these bikes back to owners,” he said.  

VPD, like many police departments, holds stolen bikes for 90 days before selling them at auction or disposing of them as surplus property. Brunt said that without a way to identify a bike’s owner, the police have no way to return it if it is recovered.   

“The police don’t have a way to do it. The public then goes, ‘Well, why would I phone the cops when they don’t have a tool to do anything anyway?’ The only people that win in that scenario are the thieves,” he said.  

Brunt raised the issue with the VPD chief and asked if the department’s IT team could develop a solution. Instead of handing it off, the chief assigned the task to Brunt.  

“That’s how I got assigned to it. I searched across Canada and the U.S. for an existing solution, and just by a fluke ran into people who knew someone building a solution for this,” Brunt said.  

That person turned out to be J. Allard, a former Microsoft executive who launched the Xbox gaming platform. Allard had been developing Project 529, and Brunt said the app met all the requirements he envisioned for the solution.  

“He’s the inventor of Xbox. The only person above him at the time was Bill Gates,” he said.   

After connecting with Allard, Brunt and the VPD launched Project 529 in Vancouver. Brunt said reports of bike thefts dropped 35 per cent after launch.  

“I was on the job 25 years. We don’t reduce property crime by double digits. That’s unheard of. I checked the arrest rates and custody times…Nothing had changed,” he said.   

“It was the registrations combined with the 529 Shield. The crooks figured out that the shield meant that the bike was registered, so they left them alone,” Brunt said.  

“So if you come out of a coffee shop and your bike lock is on the ground, you can use the app to mark your bike stolen. It acts like an Amber Alert to everyone within 15 [km] of you,” Brunt said.  

CycleWR board member Aldo Culquicondor welcomed the WRPS’s partnership with Project 529. The local cycling advocacy group has purchased 529 Shields for its members that can be picked up at events throughout the year.  

“Our goal is that everybody in the community knows that this program exists. The more people know about it, the more effective it is in preventing theft,” Culquicondor said.  

With the partnership, the WRPS is notified when a bike is reported stolen in the area. Heaton said Project 529 is giving his fellow officers a new tool to help return bikes to their rightful owners and reduce thefts.   

“Now that we’re working with 529, and the hope of as many people as we can get registered, when we make these stops and we run the bikes, they’ll come back as registered to someone or reported stolen already, and then we have more than enough authority to seize that bike and make an arrest and get the bike back to the owner,” Heaton said.  

Registration for Project 529 is free and can be completed on the website project529.com or through its mobile app. Each registration can include the bike’s make and model, serial number and photographs. The optional 529 Shield is a tamper-proof sticker that can be scanned by police or bike shop staff. 

#AlexKinsella #bicycles #bikeTheft #bikes #chiefMarkCrowell #coffeeShop #crime #jAllard #johnHeaton #microsoft #policeOfficer #project529 #vancouverPoliceDepartment #vpd #WaterlooRegionPoliceServices #WRPS

THE GREAT WORK FROM HOME DEBATE

In July, TD Bank announced that its employees would be required to work from the office four days a week beginning on Oct. 6, 2025. The financial institution joins Google, Amazon, the Royal Bank of Canada and other businesses that have mandated a return-to-office policy for their employees.   

According to a survey by Benefits Canada, 76 per cent of Canadian employers have already mandated a partial or full return to the office. Improving productivity and collaboration are often cited as goals for the mandates.   

Dave Whiteside, Director of Insights at YMCA Work Well, stated that while companies and workers have presented arguments for and against return-to-office mandates, many of these arguments are not grounded in research or data.   

“Many companies have a building that they’re paying for and they don’t want it empty. They’re using the argument that getting people back in person will create connections again, and I think they’re harnessing this argument that people at home are lonely and they want them connected again,” Whiteside said.  

While discussions on loneliness and the loneliness epidemic focus on post-COVID 19 experiences, Whiteside said our society has been struggling with the issue for decades.   

“There’s this idea that the loneliness epidemic only began once everyone was working at home. It’s not really true. People were lonely in a crowded office. The issue with loneliness is that it is invisible. You never really know who’s feeling it and who’s not,” he said.  

Respondents to the Gallup 2024 State of the Global Workplace survey support Whiteside’s views, with one in five respondents reporting feeling lonely at work. Whiteside said the increase in awareness and discussions about loneliness in the workplace is driven by people who felt connected before working from home.  

“These people were typically well-connected when they were in the office. Now they’re feeling alone and are talking about it. It’s shone a big light on the issue,” he said.  

While more employees are sharing their feelings of loneliness, many return-to-office mandates have been met with challenges from employees who are affected by the mandates.   

In May 2024, the Treasury Board of Canada amended its policies to increase the number of days employees were required to be in the office from two to three days a week. The employees’ union, Public Service Alliance of Canada (PSAC), filed a court challenge against the change.   

The PSAC said that the government lacked evidence to support the change. In August 2024, the court ruled that the government had to provide full justification for its return-to-office policy.  

One of the justifications Whiteside hears from leaders for return-to-office mandates is that it improves connections between their employees. He said that leaders looking to change their current policies or issue a return-to-office policy should be intentional about what outcomes they want to see and how the change could affect their employees.  

“Our approach at WorkWell is to view your office as a tool, not a location. Just because people are going to be back in the office, that doesn’t mean they’re going to be connected again. Leaders need to think about how they are going to create opportunities for employees to connect,” Whiteside said.

Through his research, Whiteside has observed organizations adopting an intentional approach that has made the return to the office beneficial for their employees.   

“The ones who do it well are the ones who make in-office time worth it. They’re coming together around a whiteboard and solving problems. They’re not just coming into an office to join a video call with colleagues across the room,” he said.  

In addition to making in-office time valuable, Whiteside said leaders should also remember that the flexibility from hybrid and remote work is a significant driver of employee satisfaction.  

“Naturally, people are pushing back on losing that flexibility they had, and that’s why you see people changing jobs and saying they would rather get paid a little bit less and have an opportunity choose how they work,” Whiteside said. 

#AlexKinsella #Amazon #benefitsCanada #Column #daveWhiteside #financialInstitution #Google #publicServiceAllianceOfCanada #royalBankOfCanada #TDBANK #workwell #YMCA

EDITOR’S NOTE: APPROPRIATION VS. APPRECIATION

The debate on cultural appropriation versus appreciation is complex and ongoing.  

Appreciation is more than mere recognition that something is from a different culture. Simply stating that you’ve borrowed from a different culture does not indicate an understanding of the thing you borrowed or the meaning it holds.   

The difference between appropriation and appreciation is learning—are you engaging with the other culture? Are you approaching new cultures with an open mind, with an intent to share meaningful customs and traditions?   

If so, it is not only acceptable, but commendable for a person to learn about others. This includes food, fashion and other fields.   

Cultural appropriation must also include a discussion of power dynamics. Especially as our communities become more diverse and colonialism—while still achingly relevant—becomes more abstract, the tangible impacts of various power dynamics evolve into new forms.   

Appropriation requires some benefit to the person appropriating the other culture at the cost of people from that culture.  

As such, it is still important to be cautious of borrowing from another culture, even if you think or have good intentions. For example, wearing a traditional dress from another culture as you attend an event is not inherently offensive. But if someone wears something traditional from another culture to an event not of that culture, their motives might be questionable.   

Genuine exchange is possible—and inevitable—in as diverse a community as ours. Particularly in arts and sports, there is more likelihood of this exchange being equal.   

This region has many martial arts gyms, for example. This month, we covered Fight Night 2 by Phady’s Muay Thai, where local, national and international athletes came to compete.   

Muay Thai and other martial arts forms require dedication and discipline over a long period of time. They require patience and commitment to learning.   

Participating in a martial art is not only a physical journey, but often one that becomes philosophical and spiritual. As such, when all fighters present at the event performed a short greeting and dance—the Wai Kru and Ram Muay—the ethnicity of the fighter isn’t as important.   

In addition, the Fight Night 2 event itself was a space for people to experience Thai food and see a Laotian dance performance. One event became a gateway for more exposure and growth.   

In this region, there are also a few dance studios that offer classes for different cultural dances. I participate in some Latin dance classes, where people spend years learning to dance with each other. As most of these are partner dances, not only do dancers learn how to move their bodies, they also can interact with dancers from different backgrounds, and many go on to learn Spanish or Portuguese.   

Cultural appropriation is still a reality, as are the power dynamics that enable someone of one culture to lay claim to another.   

Still, it is both possible and necessary for everyone to engage with different cultures that make up a part of our region. Especially through more time- and energy-consuming media such as sports and art, there are opportunities for equal exchange. 

#AlexKinsella #artsAndCulture #culturalAppreciation #culturalAppropriation #culturalExchange #FightNight2 #HarleenKaurDhillon #LatinDancing #Learning #PhadySMuayThai #waterlooRegion

THE COMMUNITY EDTION GUIDE TO BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT AREAS

From the Uptown Waterloo Business Improvement Area (BIA) to the Downtown Cambridge BIA and everywhere in between, BIAs support business communities in city cores with networking and events that bring more people to dine, drink and shop.   

The BIA concept started on Bloor St. W. in Toronto. As foot traffic shifted to suburban malls in the late 1960s, shopkeepers banded together and convinced City Hall and Queen’s Park to let every business contribute to streetscape upgrades and joint promotions. Their experiment became the Bloor West Village BIA in 1970, a model soon copied across Ontario and around the world.  

Since then, BIAs have spread across the province. Today, there are over 300 BIAs in Ontario and more than 500 across Canada. The Uptown Waterloo BIA was the second to be incorporated in 1972.   

Waterloo Region now has eight BIAs, each anchoring its own main street with a distinct mix of shops, streetscape touches and marquee events. Here is a snapshot of who they are, where they sit and what they do.  

Uptown Waterloo BIA  

With King St. S. at its core, the Uptown Waterloo BIA represents businesses from Avondale Ave. to Willow St., and Union St. to Elgin St. The Uptown Waterloo BIA runs several events throughout the year, including Winterloo, the LUMEN Festival and nighttime art markets throughout the summer.    

Downtown Kitchener BIA   

The Downtown Kitchener BIA is the largest of the local BIAs and is bounded by Victoria St. on the west, Cedar St. on the east, Joseph St. to the south and Weber and Duke St. to the north. Its events include Palette x Palate, Día de Los Muertos, Sunset Sessions and more.  

Downtown Cambridge BIA  

Main, Water and Ainslie streets shape Galt’s heritage grid between Concession St. and Park Hill Rd. Summer events include Latin Music on Main and Friday Night Twilight Markets. In the spring, the Downtown Cambridge BIA is a partner in Cambridge Wedding Week, one of the region’s largest wedding events.   

Preston Towne Centre BIA   

King Street runs the length of the Preston Towne Centre BIA from Waterloo St. to Dolph St., with Central Park as its green heart. Wednesday Preston Towne Market (June-Sept.) anchors the summer, and the autumn Preston Lantern Project lights up the park after dusk.  

Hespeler Village BIA   

Queen St. hugs the Speed River between Guelph Ave. and Tannery St., backed by converted mill buildings. #WalkQueen closes the street to cars every weekend throughout the summer, and the Friday-night Hespeler Village Market features a mix of produce, artisans and live music.    

Downtown Elmira BIA   

Arthur St. and Church St. frame this small-town core, with most storefronts grouped around the Gore Park intersection. The Elmira Maple Syrup Festival draws tens of thousands each April, and the self-guided Elmira Art Walk exhibits murals and sculptures throughout the year.    

St. Jacob’s Village BIA   

The St. Jacobs Village BIA follows King St. N. and Front St. between Cedar St. and Henry St. Tourists and locals alike flock to the twinkling St. Jacobs Sparkles nights in November and return for the village-wide Sidewalk Sale every June.   

Belmont Village BIA  

The unofficial BIA of midtown, the Belmont Village BIA runs down Belmont Ave. from Union Boulevard to Glasgow St. The Belmont Village Bestival turns the street into a two-day art-and-music fair each September, and A Holly Jolly Village decks the avenue for holiday shopping in late November.  

From St. Jacobs’ Sparkles nights to Uptown’s light-art takeover, every BIA shares the same goal: to turn a quick errand into a reason to linger.   

#AlexKinsella #belmontVillageBia #BIA #bloorStreetWest #downtownCambridge #downtownCambridgeBia #downtownElmira #DowntownKitchener #hespelerVillage #Ontario #PrestonTowneCentre #queensPark #stJacobsVillageBia #uptownWaterlooBusinessImprovementArea #WalkQueen #waterlooRegion

COLLECTIVE ARTS BREWERY OPENS NEW LOCATION IN GASLIGHT DISTRICT

Fans of craft beer, live music and art now have a new gathering spot with the opening of Collective Arts Cambridge in the Gaslight District. Collective Arts is taking over the former Foundry Brewing Co. space in the project developed by Cambridge-based HIP Developments.
Collective Arts has already started brewing three core beers on-site. Hamilton hospitality group Equal Parts will run the taphouse, slated to open later this year.
Collective Arts celebrated its opening on June 29, 2025, with Off the Canvas, an event featuring music, a maker’s market, and brewery tours. Toni Shelton, vice president of brand and strategy at Collective Arts, said opening the Cambridge location was an easy decision for the Hamilton-based brewer.
“The Gaslight District embodies everything that Collective Arts already stands for. We’ve always been more than just a product on the shelf. We created our brand platform with the idea of creating spaces where all kinds of creatives can come together,” Shelton said.
On the operations side, the Gaslight District turned to a familiar partner, Equal Parts. The hospitality management company also operates The French in the Gaslight District and LaLa Social House in uptown Waterloo.
Jason Cassis, Equal Parts’ co-founder and CEO, said Collective Arts was a natural choice to operate the brewery in the district.
“Collective Arts is known for its commitment to art and music, and the Gaslight District is set up well for both of those cultural touch points because of the unique programming they’ll bring to the square,” Cassis said.
He added that the brewery is joining a growing list of breweries and distillers in the area.
“The City of Cambridge is getting some interesting beverage businesses, whether that be Willibald in Ayr or Farm League Brewing. It’s becoming a destination for beverage tourism,” he said.
Beyond beer and music, the venue will include artist studios. Collective Arts partners with artists to feature their work on cans and other packaging.
Waterloo-based artists Jeff Dillon and Taylor Armstrong have had their art featured in past collections, and Kitchener artist JJ Wilde was a featured artist on its Audio/Visual Lager in 2021.
Shelton said the brewery is always looking for ways to bring different artistic experiences to its communities. The brewery has invited artists from around the world to visit and showcase their work while also helping local artists reach a large audience.
“All the artists who are on our walls are internationally renowned artists who probably would never have come to Hamilton if we hadn’t invited them. At the same time, there’s a community art gallery with 20 Canadian artists. We’re able to embrace local and also bring global into local,” she said.
Scott Higgins, the president of HIP Developments, said the addition of Collective Arts to the Gaslight District continues to support the company’s goal of creating a space where everyone in the community can enjoy themselves.
“If you really want to be an inclusive community, you should measure yourself by how much fun you can have for free,” Higgins said.
He added that bringing Collective Arts to the district will add new entertainment opportunities for residents of Cambridge and Waterloo Region.
“This is going to increase the energy in the taproom and on the patio. Collective Arts joining us will help us make this place one of the best entertainment districts in the province,” he said.

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Kitchener Celebrate Erick Traplin Day

The City of Kitchener is recognizing 35 years of music and memories the first Erick Traplin Day on Sunday, June 8, 2025. The free event at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener celebrates the contributions of one of Waterloo Region’s favourite children’s entertainers, featuring live performances, special guests and games.  

Having a day named after him was not something Traplin ever expected when he began his musical career 35 years ago. Originally from Owen Sound, Traplin and his family moved to Kitchener in 1961. Traplin grew up in a musical family and played guitar and sang from an early age.  

After graduating from school, Traplin worked as a sewing machine mechanic at the La-Z-Boy factory in Waterloo. He said while it was a good job, he knew his life had more purpose.  

“I worked in construction and factory work for many years, but then I finally took a Tony Robbins course and realized what I really wanted to do was be an entertainer. It was a very deep epiphany. That’s what I wanted to do, and, by golly, within three months, I was doing it,” he said. 

While a career as a musician was the goal, Traplin said he had not planned on becoming a children’s and family entertainer. 

“I was gonna do the pub set. I joined the musician’s union, and when they called me, they said, ‘We got you a Christmas show for kids.’ You don’t get anywhere by saying no. So, I said yes and did the show, and I loved it,” Traplin said. 

With a career spanning over 35 years, Traplin said he sees familiar faces in the crowd. 

“I see more moms and dads getting up and dancing with their kids now because I played for them when they were kids,” he said.  

One of those kids who has grown into an adult fan is Merrin Manser, an event coordinator with the City of Kitchener.  

“My mom used to bring me to events like KidsPark and out to the Blue Moon. I’d sit there and eat my chicken fingers and wait for him to pay ‘Bubbles.’ Erick even played at one of my birthday parties,” Manser said. 

The opportunity to help plan out the day is something Manser is excited about taking on. 

“Erick is the first person that comes up every single time we start talking about family entertainment. He is a staple of the community, and this is a chance to celebrate the legacy of everything he’s done over the last 36 years,” she said. 

Manser planned the event with Traplin’s wife, Ruth, as a surprise for the musician. 

“I was overwhelmed. I’ve been playing for almost 36 years in the community and didn’t expect it,” Traplin said. 

In addition to planning the event with Ruth Traplin, Manser noted that the event also received assistance from other municipalities in the Waterloo Region. The partners include City of Cambridge, City of Waterloo, Kitchener Blues Festival, Kitchener Public Library, Kitchener-Waterloo Multicultural Centre, Kitchener-Waterloo Oktoberfest, Sherwood Systems and the Township of Wilmot. 

“This is one of the first events where we’re coming together with all these groups that have worked with Erick over the years. From a planning perspective, it’s been great to work together with all our partners to make this day possible,” Manser said. 

Erick Traplin Day may be a celebration of music, but, for Traplin, the magic is in the lives that his music has changed. 

“I always take joy in watching the kids. I say I’ve got the best seat in the house because I get to see the kids’ faces, and I see them jumping up and down and having a good time. It’s joyful,” Traplin said. 

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WATERLOO’S COMEDY STAR, ASHWYN SINGH

Ashwyn Singh’s Oct.19, 2024 show at Den 1880 in Uptown Waterloo was a bit of a homecoming for the Toronto based comedian. 

Originally from New Delhi, India, Singh attended the University of Waterloo, where he earned a degree in computer science before switching careers to comedy.

Singh came from New Delhi India to attend the University of Waterloo. He earned a degree in computer science before making a switch to comedy. Singh has received praise across Canada for his Audacity comedy tour, including that of fellow Canadian comic Howie Mandel. 

“You deserve a huge career beyond being a local Canadian comic. I think you’re next,” said the Canada’s Got Talent judge after Singh’s audition on the show’s Apr. 27, 2024, episode. 

Singh’s tour wraps up later this year, but he is not taking time off. His next tour starts in Toronto on Nov. 22, 2024, and across Canada, Europe and India in 2025. 

“I start with a show in Toronto before I go on tour, and then I end with one in Toronto when the tour ends because it feels like home. Then December is a big experiment. So, I’m going to go to London, Amsterdam and Dubai,” he said. 

Singh builds his comedy around his experiences of immigrating to Canada, attending university and becoming a permanent resident. He does not change the material based on where he is performing. Instead, he likes to see how different people react to his comedy.  

“I feel like we are all one people. We all have the same sensibility. Of course, there will be just a few things because the cultures differ,” Singh said. 

While Singh calls Toronto home now, he said his experiences in Waterloo significantly shaped his comedy. His friends here included future Good Co. Productions founder Amit Mehta and Jazz Room sound engineer Jeremy Bernard. 

“I used to sneak into the Jazz Room because Jeremy was usually doing sound. I would sit next to him at the sound board, and when I graduated three years later, the Jazz Room was the first place I headlined a show,” he said. 

A career change from computer science to comedy might seem dramatic for most people. But for Singh, computer science and comedy both require a core understanding of how logic works, whether in a computer processor or a comedy club. 

“Everything you do prepares you for everything you’re going to do. Computer science is essentially the study of logic and mathematics. It’s very A plus B. That math is reflected in art as well. Comedy has a rhythm. It might not have a melody, it might not have harmony, but there is a rhythm. There is a beat,” he said. 

For Singh, that logical flow of comedy writing helps him reflect on what he experienced. He said each show follows the same evolution from raw experiences to laugh-inducing stories with twists, turns, and humor for his audiences.  

Singh compared joke writing to keeping a journal where you make an entry the moment something annoying or angering happens to you. He said writing at that moment captures pure emotion, but it often does not make sense when you reread it later. 

“You have something raw and truthful but don’t know exactly what you were trying to say. Then you read it again,” he said.    “[…] slowly, the idea becomes more complete. You get to edit out the parts of your emotion that are too incendiary and add humour. You get to zoom out a little bit, so the finished sculpted product often has a very different feeling or says something very different than what you began with,” Singh said.

Building his sets this way can often change the intention of the original joke.  

“Sometimes it’s true to the initial intention, and then sometimes it has changed into something so drastically different from what you began with that you don’t even like it anymore. One thing I know for sure is that at the end, the hour is far funnier than it was at the beginning, and that is the one of the goals of the tour.” 

You can experience Singh’s comedy when he returns to Waterloo in March 2025. Visit www.ashwyn.me to sign up for tour updates.

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