FERGUS – Introductions alone took about an hour to get through at an all-candidates event at the Fergus Legion on Sept. 26.

Seated along tables facing a group of more than 150 people at the Riverside Events Centre were 19 of 22 candidates vying to govern Centre Wellington.

The Wellington Advertiser hosted the event, which was moderated by newspaper humour columnist Kelly Waterhouse.

Candidates used their opening statements to ask for votes, detailing local histories, resumes and motivations for putting their names on the ballot. Growth, affordability and promises to listen to constituents were recurring themes.

Candidates drew randomly from a list of questions sent to them in advance, with topics ranging from tourism to data centres. Most responded by reading from prepared statements.

Former mayor Kelly Linton said strong mayor power “blurs the line” between council governance and staff management, but that he would consider using them to advance council’s strategic plans and propose budgets at or below inflation.

“What I would not do is use strong mayor powers to sideline council,” Linton said, adding the powers “should never be used to weaken democracy.”

Current Ward 5 councillor Bronwynne Wilton outright objected to the powers.

“I believe they are an attack on democracy,” she said, in part.

“I would do everything I could to maintain the democracy at the council table."

Current mayor Shawn Watters was asked about balancing efficient decision making with giving room for councillors to speak their mind.

Watters said a council must learn to listen and communicate with each other.

“I always gave the opportunity for the council to work and take more time to make critical decisions in the community; it was never a rush to get to the end,” Watters said, adding democracy done right is a slow process.

If council isn’t ready to move forward on an issue, it won’t be pushed, he said, using a short-term rental bylaw as an example.

Asked about personal and financial conflicts, former councillor Neil Dunsmore said he would step away from chairing the trustee board at Melville United Church where an affordable housing project he helped organize is going up next door.

Asked the same, former councillor Stephen Kitras said he has no conflicts to disclose, but took the time to say the township’s relationship with county government needs more scrutiny, and a closer look at where local tax dollars go.

Five candidates were asked how to cover development charge shortfalls, with most rejecting the choice between cutting services or raising taxes.

Ward 4 candidate Maddy Smith said the township needs to diversify its revenue sources.

“We cannot put the full burden onto you through tax increases,” she said, suggesting partnerships with other municipalities and businesses could be the answer, along with looking internally for cost savings.

Ward 1 candidate Erika Montero said the first response shouldn’t be looking to taxpayers, rather plans need to adjust to reality.

“We can go back through the capital budget and look at what absolutely needs to happen now, what can be phased, what can be redesigned more simply and what can wait,” she said.

Ward 3 candidate David DeWitt said a shortfall isn’t expected because of federal funding, but if that didn’t pan out, he would lobby Ottawa and Queen’s Park instead, supporting neither cuts nor increases.

Ward 6 candidate Matt Bunch said the best route is downloading expenses onto developers while identifying grants, incentives and offsets.

“I think council has the ability to weigh all these different possibilities and do what they can to manage these cost cuts,” he said.

Pamela Brown-Wass, also a Ward 6 candidate, said the first step is looking at what projects – outside of essential roads, bridges and water – can be phased or delayed.

“I believe in fiscal discipline, but I also believe in maintaining the infrastructure our community depends on,” she said.

Three candidates were asked about allowing cannabis retailers, something that was rejected by two previous councils.

Current Ward 3 councillor Barbara Lustgarten-Evoy said though she supports the stores, downtown business owners don’t want them, and rules about minimum distances from schools aren’t strict enough.

“If it should come up again next term … I will again ask the people who work and live there and vote according to their wishes,” she said.

Former Ward 3 councillor Bob Foster voted to opt out of having the stores in 2019, citing opinions from police and public health leadership about the dangers of marijuana use. He said he would vote no again.

Ward 5 candidate Julie Charbonneau, a former OPP officer, said she strongly supports the stores despite not being a user herself.

“What concerns me most about the history of this issue is that the township asked residents what they wanted,” she said, adding residents are largely in favour of local cannabis retailers.

“I don’t see a compelling reason why residents should have to leave our community to purchase it legally,” she said.

Three candidates were asked about a data centre policy following the expiry of a one-year moratorium. Waterloo-based Spur Innovation is moving forward with plans for a data centre on a Gartshore Street property in Fergus.

Current Ward 2 councillor Kimberly Jefferson said decisions “must be grounded in environmental stewardship and community protection” and that “robust public consultation is essential.”

Ward 6 candidate Richard Pinder said any policy should begin with protecting “the public interest” and include “consultation, strong technical reviews, defined approval criteria and full transparency about all impacts across all areas of interest.”

Current Ward 1 councillor Lisa MacDonald said residents in Ward 5, where Spur’s data centre is proposed, could use a break from development. MacDonald said she’s hopeful staff will give council something to work with.

“I also am hoping maybe we can talk the owner of the data centre property into something better, maybe some housing,” she added.

Three candidates had one-off questions about traffic volume, the impact of tourism, and plans for the first six months if they’re elected.

Ward 1 candidate Sophie Hogan was asked how to make it easier for commuters and commercial trucks to navigate urban centres in Fergus and Elora.

Hogan didn’t directly answer the question, saying traffic woes have been a longstanding issue dating back to the 1960s.

She said the Wellington Road 7 bridge over the Grand River outside Elora, built in the ’70s, is correctly positioned and being used as an alternative route while another bypass is undecided.

Current Ward 4 councillor Jennifer Adams was asked about balancing tourism and local interests.

Adams said residents feel they’re carrying the cost without the benefits. She pointed to three measures: paid parking (free for residents), a forthcoming 5% tax on short-term stays, and a township-owned economic development and tourism corporation.

“It means tourism that pays its own way, an economy people can build a career in, and a council that remembers who lives here 52 weeks a year, not just our six busiest weekends,” she said.

Ward 5 candidate Elnor Walsh was asked to name a project or initiative she would champion within the first six months, if she were elected.

Walsh said she would advocate for a business partnership program that would bring better communication, clearer timelines, support during construction and a stronger voice for businesses.

“I want the township to be known not just as a regulator, but as a trusted partner that helps local businesses survive and thrive,” she said.

For the remaining hour of the three-hour event, many candidates stayed to speak one-on-one with constituents.

Absent from the event were candidates Darcy Saunders (Ward 2), Shivam Taneja (Ward 3) and Matt LeBeau (Ward 5).

Election day is Oct. 26.

WATERLOO – Spur Innovation pitched a proposed Fergus data centre as a benefit for the community, saying nearby residents wouldn't hear it running.

Locals travelled to the company’s Spur Innovation Centre campus in Waterloo on Sept. 19 to tour a five-megawatt (MW) server room and question company officials ahead of a Sept. 28 delegation to Centre Wellington council.

Spur CEO Sharif Virani reiterated the company has no formal plan filed with the township.

Much of the meeting focused on concerns about the size of the facility and potential for noise.

“It’s 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year for the rest of my life and everyone else here that are going to stay in Fergus – it never goes away,” a woman said.

Spur officials told the room a 10MW first-phase would be built over a five-year period and be barely audible outside the building.

Cooling would be done indoors with air, an abrupt shift from the company’s earlier public statements that the centre would be water cooled.

Within a decade, Spur intends to accommodate a 25MW centre within the current building and could eventually grow to 100MW, which would require additional infrastructure.

Attendees voiced concerns about the effects on property values, who benefits from a data centre, inconsistent information coming from Spur, and a lack of solid information provided in response to questions.

“I do have concerns about the fact that you just don't have the numbers. If you had the numbers, I don't think you'd have near the objection, and I really think you need to do your homework,” a man said.

Virani said he wouldn’t rush concrete numbers just because Centre Wellington councillors rushed a pre-election vote, referring to a one-year moratorium on data centres favoured by township council.

“I’m not going to give you the numbers that are going to fulfill a politician's short little window before the [Sept. 28 council meeting],” Virani said.

Virani said a delegate to council had spread misinformation, and Spur wanted the opportunity to hear the community’s concerns and speak on record at council.

Virani also called out an error appearing in two earlier Advertiser stories that incorrectly identified Spur's ownership. Kapley Judge is the director of Spur Innovation. Krishan Judge owns the 865 Gartshore Street property.

However, Virani did not clarify who comprises the company’s leadership or who owns it.

In a Sept. 28 email to the Advertiser, Virani wrote he is “not the right person to characterize its shareholding, its corporate hierarchy, or the roles of individuals connected to it.”

“We’re not revealing that structure at this time,” he said when reached by phone the same day.

Virani said he’s taking heat as the public face for the project while protecting the company’s private organizational structure, at least until the dust settles.

Virani also disputed that Spur uses Chinese and Indian software, a statement that someone at the meeting incorrectly attributed to the Advertiser.

“We create our own Canadian software,” he told the town hall, calling Kimi and Qwen open-weight models rather than software.

He confirmed during the town hall the company uses the models, saying where they were created is irrelevant because the models run on Spur’s local hardware.

Open-weight AI models are files downloadable by anyone to use and run on owned hardware — nothing is sent back to the developer of the model. Spur Innovation maintains the data it handles stays in Canada on its own infrastructure.

In an email to the Advertiser, Virani retracted his public statement about the newspaper’s reporting on the models, writing: “I answered the assertion in front of me rather than the published text, and I criticized the accuracy of your reporting on the strength of it. I had not gone back and checked what you had actually written.”

A man, who only identified himself as a Spur engineer at the town hall, said the company wants to make “something that is good for the community.”

“We’re innovation; data centres don’t create a lot of jobs, but innovation centres do, and that is what we propose,” the man said, in part, adding the plan will “take years” to advance.

“The alternative is that we don't do anything, and we'll leave it the way it is … I mean that's fine for some people, but does that add value to your community?”

Virani declined to identify the man who spoke, only saying he’s a “technical lead or lead engineer.”

PUSLINCH – Police have identified the person found dead inside a vehicle here last week and are investigating the death as a homicide.

Wellington County OPP officials say police responded to a "suspicious vehicle" call on Wellington Road 32, between Forestell Road and Concession 4 in Puslinch, on Sept. 21 at about 7:30am.

Initially, police stated only that "there is no threat to public safety" and on Wednesday they announced officers "located one person deceased inside the vehicle."

Four days later, on Sept. 27, police issued a press release identifying the deceased person as Trumaine Kyte, 43, of Cambridge.

"The death is being investigated as a homicide," police stated.

"Investigators believe this is an isolated incident with no indication of a broader threat."

The OPP is asking anyone who was in the area of Wellington Road 32 between 9pm on Sunday and 7:30am on Monday, "to review surveillance or dashcam footage for any suspicious vehicles or activity."

Anyone with information can call police at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

CENTRE WELLINGTON – Two teenage boys from Guelph have been charged with second-degree murder in the death of a Puslinch teen last weekend.

The 16-year-old boy was struck by a minivan on Wellington Road 29, south of Eramosa-Garafraxa Townline, near Fergus, shortly after midnight on Sept. 19. 

He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The minivan driver stopped at the scene and was not hurt.

On Sept, 26, Wellington County OPP officials announced that the previous day police arrested and charged two 17-year-old boys from Guelph with second-degree murder.

Both were scheduled to appear in Guelph court on Saturday.

Police have not released the name of the dead teen and will not release the names of the accused, because they are under 18 and their identities are protected under the Youth Criminal Justice Act.

The OPP has shared very few details about the incident. It is not clear why the victim was on the road and whether or not some sort of altercation led to the fatal collision.

Rampant rumours online and in the community led police to urge members of the public not to spread "unverified information."

Anyone with information about this investigation can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.

Take full advantage of this fall weather and attend some of our top picks for affordable events this weekend!

Warriors Women’s Hockey vs. Ontario Tech Exhibition Game

Start off hockey season early by cheering on the Waterloo Warriors as they take on the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks in this exhibition game.  The match will take place at  7:00 p.m. this Friday, Sept. 25 at Columbia Icefield Arena.  Admission is free for students via advance reservation through the Waterloo Warriors Website, or tapping your Watcard at the gate.  Seats are unassigned and parking in Lot X will be free starting at 4:30p.m.  Get your tickets and learn more at the event site here.

Forestry Fall Fair

Spend some time in nature at the Forestry Fall Fair, with its self-guided nature walks, crafts, facepainting, and information booths.  This is a free event happening on Saturday, Sept. 26, from 10:00am to 1:00pm in the Huron Natural Area (801 Trillium Dr, Kitchener, ON).   Find out more at the event website here.

Kitchener-Waterloo Society of Artists Art Festival

Part of the City of Kitchener of Culture Days, this event features a silent auction, live painting, interactive demonstrations, and free art workshops.  Happening from 1pm to 5pm on both Saturday and Sunday at 44 Gaukel Creative Workspace.  Admission is free and workshop registration is available here.

King StrEATery Food Truck Festival

Spend your Sunday at a food truck festival in Downtown Kitchener, with over 15 food trucks and free events happening all day.  The festival will take place at 300 King St E, from 11:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on Sunday, Sept. 27. Local artisan vendors, free dance classes and live music will be featured at the event. Admission is free and more information can be found on the event website here.

According to UWaterloo’s safety alert system, the DWE building will remain closed until Oct. 4 following wastewater pipe damage that caused a sewage backup and surface discharge near the UW campus. Activities scheduled in DWE will be adjusted as needed, and details will be shared directly with affected students and employees.

The City of Waterloo shared with Imprint that the incident was caused by a private contractor working at a UW construction site near University Avenue East and the Laurel Trail. According to the city, the contractor accidentally drilled into and blocked one of the city’s wastewater pipes during construction, damaging the pipe and resulting in a surface discharge of wastewater on Thursday.

“The problem has been mitigated, and  no further damage is happening,” read a statement from a spokesperson of the City of Waterloo. The statement added that the impacted wastewater pipe has since been rerouted as surface cleanup continues.

City officials have also notified the Spills Action Centre and the Region of Waterloo Environmental and Laboratory Services. City staff are currently working with the building contractor on mitigation and cleanup efforts. The contractor has confirmed that repair work will begin Monday, Sept. 28. The affected area will continue to be monitored and maintained throughout the weekend.

The city mentioned that it does not know how long UW buildings will remain closed, as that decision is up to the university. Imprint has reached out to the university and is awaiting further comment.

A new temporary exhibit highlighting the work of Leonardo da Vinci opened Sept. 24 at THEMUSEUM in Downtown Kitchener.

Titled “Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius,” the exhibit showcases the famous polymath’s innovations in the arts and sciences.

“I hope people question it, think about it, try to imagine what he was attempting, and have some form of transformative connection,” said David Marskell, CEO of THEMUSEUM.

Marskell first saw the exhibit during its run at the Philip and Patricia Frost Museum of Science in Miami, Florida. “I thought, ‘we’ve got to bring this back [to Kitchener],'” Marskell stated. The next seven months were spent collaborating with exhibit creator Grande Experiences and the Museo Leonardo da Vinci in Rome to bring the collection to its current home in Kitchener.

“We don’t have a collection, having come from being a children’s museum, so we have the ability to be more entrepreneurial and flexible,” Marskell said of THEMUSEUM. He hopes that the exhibit will appeal to a broader audience than in previous years and invite visitors to gain inspiration from Da Vinci’s work.

While Da Vinci is best known for his paintings, he also worked as a military engineer and stage designer during his lifetime. He designed theatre costumes and war machines while also studying botany, anatomy, and physics.

Some of his notes and artwork survive, but many have been lost to time or never made it off the page. “Much of this Leonardo never took past the drawing stage; he would perhaps get bored with it or he’d do what he set out to accomplish, and then move on;” stated Marskell. Most artifacts in the exhibit are life-sized recreations of tools and concepts from Da Vinci’s notes, like his “aerial screw” (a precursor to the modern helicopter) and a cone-shaped military tank designed for the Duke of Milan.

Visitors can also engage with interactive displays comparing their body proportions to the Vitruvian Man model, take a figure drawing class, or watch a 26-minute film about Da Vinci projected 360 degrees in the EYEPOOL, a digital immersive gallery. The venue’s workshop area, MakerSpace, will also feature family-friendly activities exploring Da Vinci’s innovations like his self-supporting bridge and studies in hand anatomy.

Outside of the exhibit, the museum will also host Da Vinci Dialogues, a series of talks focused on the legacy of Da Vinci’s work across fields, ranging from aviation to Italian architecture.

“I hope this is an inspiration and I hope this is a catalyst for … a student to really sort of squint and say …’I really want to follow this path or passion,’ whether it be [in] school or creativity,” Marskell said about the exhibit and future programming.

Admission to the museum costs $18.99 with a valid student ID. Separate admission to Da Vinci Dialogues is free with a museum membership or can be purchased online through the museum’s event calendar.

“Leonardo da Vinci – 500 Years of Genius” will run until February 2027.

ERIN – Nine councillor candidates and three mayoral hopefuls took to the stage at the Centre 2000 theatre on Sept. 22 for a debate regarding town growth, environmental pressures and government transparency. 

The event was hosted by the Erin Chamber of Commerce with moderator Bruno Marsala asking questions submitted by audience members prior to the debate. 

“We received about 100 questions from the community … they were all considered, grouped by theme and consolidated,” Marsala told the audience.

“Every single one of those questions is going back to these candidates for their consideration.” 

Present were Cathy Aylard, Sunjay Bedi, John Brennan, Jamie Cheyne, Sukhchain Gill, Benita Raponi, Sid Spear, Tracey Wallace and Alex Zaichuk. 

The first question addressed environmental concerns including fireworks, local water systems, illegal dumping and commercial fill operations. 

“One of my priorities is clean and green,” Aylard said. “It means protecting our natural beauty, our resources and our rural roots.” 

Aylard plans to put a “green lens” on all council reports by revising the reporting template to include an environmental section. 

“This small change means that environmental issues will be discussed at every single council meeting,” she added. 

Bedi expressed his concern regarding fireworks going off “all over town in our rual areas where we’ve got dogs, horses and other big animals.” The use of fireworks “frightens them” and is a “big problem,” he said. 

Bedi stated the town needs to protect its groundwater, forests, wetlands and rural conservation areas as it’s “the lifeblood of our land.” 

Both Wallace and past Erin councillor Brennan stated the need for additional by-law enforcement. 

“Another bylaw officer might be a good idea,” Wallace said. 

As for illegal dumping, Spear believes an educational approach may help “find out the root as to why people are dumping.” 

Next, Erin’s future growth, with infrastructure, and whether it is proceeding responsibly came into question. 

“We need to step back and look at what infrastructure wasn't put in place prior to the growth that is already happening,” Wallace said. 

For additional growth to be sustainable, “it needs to be better planned,” she added. 

Wallace also promised to keep the town accountable by making planning details public. 

Brenna spoke on the pros of infrastructure improvements occurring after the growth. 

One reason to hold off on improvements is “that the costs of the improvements are levied on a larger tax base,” Brennan said. "If you put all the infrastructure in place beforehand, who pays for it?” 

“I’m not against borrowing because it isn’t fair to have you today pay for what people … 20 years from now will enjoy,” he noted. “We need to spread those costs out and borrowing is a way to do that.” 

Spear said, “We need the development in order to cover the infrastructure costs. But that needs to be monitored closely.” 

Zaichuk’s idea to keep sustainability a top priority, includes “further discussions, more dialog and understanding all these new challenges coming to town.” 

“It seems like a no-brainer to send an email, make a phone call and see how other municipalities handle some of these challenges,” he added. “I think that would help guide us in a better direction.” 

Candidates were asked how they will support local businesses, commercial development and entrepreneurship while protecting Erin’s agricultural land base and rural character. 

Raponi’s approach is to buy local, go to farmers’ markets and to protect farmers' land, including no property cut-offs or selling. 

“We need to listen to local businesses and farmers … they are the experts,” Bedi said. 

He added he believes in reliable infrastructure bylaws that support “responsible growth, jobs and businesses,” while providing a stable tax base. 

Brennan pointed out the town’s tax ratios, with residential coming in at 82 per cent, commercial at 2.73% and industrial at 1.18%. 

“That puts the heaviest loads on your shoulders, homeowners,” he said. 

Attracting industrial and commercial businesses can help address that, Brennan added. 

One question suggested the town’s budget, fiscal responsibilities and other major municipal decisions must be easier for residents to understand and provide input on. 

Gill suggested an infrastructure app be created with a budget tab and surveys open to the public. 

Erin has a “beautiful” website and “all we need to do is connect it [to the app] and every person will have all the details in their pocket,” Gill noted. 

Spear took a different approach, stating public meetings must be held, especially for larger issues. 

“Those meetings should be held when … residents are available,” he said. 

Changing the time of council meetings “would certainly keep the public informed of what decisions are being made,” Spear noted. 

Aylard would like to see a plan and budget made with community consultation and a clear layout of successes and milestones. 

“Assign a budget for every single line item and then report it out,” she said. 

Wallace, Brennan and Cheyne all stated the importance of using social media and different platforms so all residents stay informed. 

“I just want to say there is no excuse for not responding to queries,” Brennan said. “Even if we don’t have the perfect answer right off the bat, we need to get back to you promptly.” 

In attendance and vying for the role of Erin mayor were Michael Dehn, Dusty Scott and Rob Smith. 

On the topic of growth, Marsala asked what pace and scale of growth the candidates believe is appropriate for the community. 

“I'm not all for new subdivisions and mass developments coming in, but I do recognize that our next generations need places to live,” Scott said. 

He believes council must look at land severance requests “case by case,” so farmers and their families have the ability to live in Erin. 

Smith shared he is “somewhat happy” housing has slowed down as it allows council to assess the community's concerns. He also noted the importance of “keeping on top of developers to have infrastructure that paces with our growth.” 

Dehn, the incumbent mayor, explained new subdivisions in Hillsburgh “are coming at us like a freight train and we can’t really slow down.”  If the process were to slow “the user fees are going to go up on water and wastewater for the first people connected,” he added.

Mayoral candidates were asked what commitments they will make on communication, leadership and public engagement.

“I truly believe we need a mayor and council that is out in public at all events,” Scott said.

"People ask questions. Sometimes you don’t like the questions. Sometimes they’re tough. Sometimes they’re confrontational but you have to answer … we can’t hide in the shadows.” 

Smith also believes being active in the community is important, which he’s been doing so for the last 20 years, he said. 

“It’s imperative that the town is more present,” Smith said. “A lot of people don’t have social media.” 

Dehn stated part of the solution will be upgrading the “antiquated data system” town hall currently has, as it “takes a long time for data to get to council.” 

How to improve environmental protections and prepare for climate-related emergencies was another topic for mayoral candidates. 

“In Erin and Hillsburgh we have floodplains right in both downtown cores and the Credit Valley Conservation has just updated the floodplain mapping,” Dehn said, adding the map should be integrated into Erin’s next official plan. 

“We’re certain not to develop any more land on those floodplains,” he noted, as development has occurred in the past. 

He added, "There may be potential to take out some old dams … to reduce some of the flooding issues."

Smith stated his willingness to “see what other communities are doing for their climate change issues.” 

“It’s critical that we use our resources of the people that are in the know where we live, and second of all the resources from our neighbouring municipalities,” he said. 

Scott believes adding “another line item in the budget” to support the town’s environmental sustainability plan would help encourage changes. 

“I would use my emergency services background to help with the planning of emergency preparedness for said incidents and potential incidents with climate change,” he said. 

The municipal election takes place on Oct. 26 and the town is set to use a vote-by-mail method. 

Eligible voters will receive a voting kit in the mail and are to return the completed kit by mail or by dropping it off at the municipal office (5684 Trafalgar Road in Hillsburgh). 

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Police are asking member of the public not to share "unverified information" about a tragic incident last week that resulted in the death of a 16-year-old Puslinch boy.

The teen was struck by a minivan on Wellington Road 29, southeast of Fergus and south of Eramosa-Garafraxa Townline, shortly after midnight on Sept. 19. 

He was pronounced dead at the hospital. The minivan driver stopped at the scene and was not hurt.

"Wellington County OPP recognizes that this incident has deeply affected the community," police stated in a Sept. 24 press release.

"Members of the public are urged to be cautious when sharing or posting unverified information, photos or videos related to this incident as it can contribute to misinformation, unnecessary concern within the community and potentially affect the ongoing investigation."

The public should "avoid speculation and rely on information released through official channels," police added.

Anyone with information can contact the OPP at 1-888-310-1122. To remain anonymous, contact Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 (TIPS) or ontariocrimestoppers.ca.  

According to a UW all-campus alert issued at 6:18 p.m., all classes on the main campus have been cancelled for tonight (Thursday, Sept. 24) due to the ongoing city sewer backup.

An alert issued at 3:57 p.m. previously stated that all classes in DWE were cancelled, before expanding to all classes on main campus. UW stated in the updated notice that the decision was made “out of an abundance of caution” and is asking students and staff to avoid all academic buildings on the main campus. Additionally, those who need to retrieve personal belongings from DWE may do so until 7:15 p.m., but must be escorted by the Special Constable Service (SCS). Students and staff should report to the entrance between DWE and CPH, where an SCS officer will meet them and escort them into the building. Individuals should not enter DWE without an escort.

Other activities will continue as scheduled. Student service buildings, including the SLC, PAC, and CIF, will remain open until further notice.

The alert previously shared that Plant Operations was working with the City of Waterloo to address the sewer backup. More information will be shared with students affected by the DWE closure through Regroup. An update for tomorrow’s (Friday’s) classes will be shared by tomorrow at 6 a.m..

Imprint has reached out to UW for more details on the incident and is awaiting further comment.

*Last updated 6:57 p.m. on Sept. 24.

The United Church Hall was the scene for the first meeting of the new season for the Bloomingdale Women’s Institute which was held on Thursday September 17th at 1:30 p.m.

The meeting always opens with the “Women Institute Ode” and the Mary Stewart Collect. 

President  Sharon Agla welcome the ladies and several visitors who were present.    She also gave a cute little story about “Patience”.