With Valentine’s Day coming up this Saturday, there’s plenty of fun activities to pursue this weekend, whether it’s with friends or your significant other. Check out some of the events we’ve highlighted, from bouquet-building to psychic readings, get ready to make this weekend one to remember.

Make your valentine’s (or a friend’s) day by surprising them with a beautiful floral bouquet! Head over to the SLC Multi-Purpose Room this Friday, Feb. 13 between 1 p.m. 4 p.m for an afternoon of crafting and flowers. Both UW students and staff are welcome to participate. The Women’s Centre will have a card-making station open, perfect for making them a thoughtful card to go along with some fresh flowers. There will also be a DIY crafts table with an assortment of crafting supplies, from pipe cleaners to scrapbooking supplies. Sign-up is not required to attend.

The floral prices are as follows:

$4 for 1 stem 

$7 for 3 stems + 1 greenery accessory 

$10 for 5 stems + 2 greenery accessories

Are you wondering what the future holds for you and your sweetheart? Or, are you dying to know if your next great romance is just around the corner? Find out the answers to all your questions about what’s next by attending the Kitchener Psychic and Crystal Fair.

The event runs from Friday, Feb. 13 to Sunday, Feb 15. On Friday, it is open from 2 p.m. to 10 p.m., on Saturday from 11 a.m. to 10 p.m., and on Sunday from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m., meaning there are plenty of opportunities to attend. In addition to astrologers, psychics, and palm readers, you will also have the opportunity to purchase sparkling crystals or handmade jewelry.

Tickets to attend the event are $10. Parking is free and the venue is located at DoubleTree in Kitchener.

ABOYNE – It’s taken 80 years, but Joan Fuller is finally getting her due.

The Wellington Terrace resident, who turned 108 in January, was presented with a medal of honour in a small ceremony at the retirement home on Feb. 11.

The 1939-1945 War Medal commemorates her years of service in England during the Second World War.

“I was interviewing her and realized she hadn’t received her medal,” said Beau Harper, founder of Soldier Search, a website that tells the stories of war veterans and helps researchers find historical military information.

He pulled some strings, had the medal shipped from the U.K. and pinned it on Fuller at the ceremony.

“England has not forgotten your service and neither has Canada,” Harper said.

Countless 1939-1945 War Medals were awarded by the British government to WWII veterans, but it is believed Fuller is the oldest person to ever receive one.

She served for two years with Britain's Women’s Auxiliary Air Force as a radar operator during the Second World War.

She said her service was very interesting, even though she didn’t detect any enemy planes from her post in northern Ireland.

However, life during the war was never easy.

Fuller lived through the Blitz, an eight-month German/Italian bombing campaign against the United Kingdom in 1940-41. One night a falling enemy plane narrowly missed her house, crashing into a nearby home and killing everyone inside.

And on Oct. 5, 1943 her only sibling, Basil, was killed while serving in Italy.

Joan Fuller (nee Belmar) in uniform 1943-1945 and with daughter Felicity Barrington at the ceremony on Feb. 12.

After the war she met her future husband Christoper Fuller, who had fought in Italy and Africa.

Smitten, Joan Fuller (nee Belmar) followed him to Canada, where they married and raised their family.

Harper said Fuller's medal was probably missed because she left England and didn’t realize she was entitled to one.

“A lot of people are missed,” Harper said. “But it’s never too late and Joan is proof of that.”

Wellington County Warden Chris White said he has an interest in military history and found Fuller’s story fascinating.

“This is not that long ago,” he said. “I appreciate everything you’ve done for us and Canada.”

Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters joked that Fuller is "the first time traveller I’ve met.”

“You are a fantastic example of what we should all strive for,” he said, referring to Fuller’s longevity and her service to her country.

Fuller said it was “exciting” to receive the medal and she didn't know she had missed out until a few weeks ago.

Fuller moved from Burlington to Wellington Terrace just two months ago to be closer to her daughter, Felicity Barrington, who lives in the township.

That’s another excitement, she said of getting to know the facility.

For more about Fuller's story visit the Soldier Search website.

February is one of the coldest months of the year, and what better way to stay warm than with a hearty meal? Each ingredient is meant to complement the others. The sweet and savoury combination of squash and sausage is enhanced by the caramelised onions and herbs, with an added crunch from the cashews. The heartiness of this dish is guaranteed to keep you warm as we approach the final hurrah of winter.

Tools

A large mixing bowl

Baking sheet 

Parchment paper 

A medium pot 

Ingredients 

2 cups of ground Italian sausage 

1 cup of quinoa, rinsed

2 cups of water 

2 cups of butternut squash, cubed  

1 cup of yellow onions, sliced 

3 cups of baby spinach 

½ cup of salted cashews

1 tbsp of rosemary, finely chopped 

1 tbsp of sage, finely chopped 

2 tbsp of cooking oil 

½ tsp of salt to sprinkle on the squash 

½ tsp of salt for general seasoning 

1 tsp of black ground pepper 

Optional: ½ cup of dried cranberries for sweetness 

Instructions 

1. Preheat the oven to 400°F and line the baking sheet with parchment paper. 
2. Gently massage the squash cubes with cooking oil and season with salt and pepper. Bake the squash for 30 minutes or until tender with golden edges. 
3. In a medium pot, combine the quinoa and water, and bring to a boil. Once boiling, reduce the heat and let simmer for 15 minutes. Ensure most of the liquid has evaporated before taking it off the stove. 
4. Caramelise the onions, sage and rosemary for about 20-25 minutes, or until they are golden and softened. Then add the sausage and spinach, and cook until done. 
5. In a large mixing bowl, combine the onions, sausage, spinach, squash, cashews and quinoa. Optionally, you can also add cranberries for sweetness. 

This recipe is perfect for meal preps and can be stored for up to a week in an airtight container. Enjoy and stay warm!

With UW president Vivek Goel set to wrap up his term in just a few months, some student senators have one trait they’re hoping the new president brings in — good faith.

“If I felt like there was hope for the current university administration making those changes, I wouldn’t be here today,” said WUSA president Damian Mikhail, referring to his conversation with Imprint. 

Tensions between students and the university administration are no secret to anyone on campus. The school is believed to be the first in Canada to sue students involved in a campus encampment regarding the conflict in Palestine, something several senators pointed to as a key catalyst for distrust between students and the administration. Students have also disrupted Board of Governors and Senate meetings over the university’s investments in weapons manufacturers deemed complicit in what has now been termed a genocide by the U.N. 

For Mikhail, the passing of a set of guidelines around university bodies (including faculty units) making collective statements, despite outstanding concerns about its wording and contents, was a clear example of the administration’s “top-down approach.” But the conversation that happened after that meeting is what he feels contributes to a larger problem with the university, what he called “a sense of antagonism” towards students.

Mikhail says he was chatting with several senators after the meeting about maintaining governance standards. As Goel joined the conversation, Mikhail says he pointed out that the taskforce used to create the guidelines were untransparent, and that presidential task forces were not a mechanism students would trust. 

According to Mikhail, Goel’s response boiled down to, “how am I supposed to trust students when they’re calling me ‘Genocide Goel’?” The term has been used in several student demonstrations against the university’s investments in companies deemed complicit in what is now widely considered a genocide in Gaza.

“In front of all these senators, he goes off about how I should be condemning it. ‘Why haven’t you condemned it?’ Even though it’s language I’ve never used, it’s not WUSA’s job to go out and police the speech of students during their protests,” Mikhail said. 

Faculty senator Hans De Sterck says he probably joined the meeting right after that exchange. “There was a lot of tension and a lot of anger at that moment,” he said, adding that he recalled hearing Mikhail rebut Goel by saying he had already condemned usage of the term. 

Student senator Rida Sayed, who was present, confirmed Mikhail’s account of events. Other senators Imprint spoke to who were not present also recalled hearing of the interaction from Mikhail.

Mikhail said Goel’s behaviour indicates that the university isn’t focused on rebuilding trust between students and the university, but rather on “protecting their own, and protecting the idea that they have done no wrong and that they must not be changed.” 

“It became obvious in my conversation with Vivek who, even when we’re not really talking about it, his feelings towards students came out naturally,” he said.

In response to Imprint’s questions about the incident, the university said they were committed to building trust and meaningful engagement with students, pointing to regular meetings between WUSA and university administrators as examples.

Imprint spoke with nine student and faculty senators, many of whom expressed that the university could be doing more to engage with students particularly when it comes to governance. Mikhail noted that although Goel’s behaviour is not the only example of poor relations between the university and students, it is at the center of a relationship that he and other student senators hope the next president will focus on improving.

“I think if we had a president who was seriously looking to rebuild that trust, they wouldn’t have seen that criticism [regarding the presidential taskforce] as a direct attack on them … and would have seriously had a discussion of how to move forward,” he said. “And I think that’s what we need from the next president, is to put the ego aside and to start having those conversations with students.”  

In response to questions directed to president Goel on whether the university had sufficiently engaged students, university secretary Gen Gauthier-Chalifour said that the responsibility to engage with students is “shared across the full senior administration, not something carried by any one individual or role.”

Gauthier-Chalifour also said that students have had opportunities to engage with the university through recent task forces like the task force on freedom of expression and inclusive engagement.

However, Sayed says the issue remains that the only chances students have to engage with upper university administration are in such formal settings like convocation or the Senate and Board of Governors, “where there is, in a sense, a power imbalance, where they’re here giving an opinion that may or may not be listened to. But there is never that opportunity for the wider student body to ever feel like they’re dealing with someone who cares about them.” 

Student senator Alex Pawelko echoed Mikhail and Sayed’s sentiments, stating that students have a “slim window” of opportunity to let their voices be heard. “A lot of the root of any, like, kind of bubbling mistrust, which I would say I’ve observed, and have myself felt, does kind of come from that where like, admin can get changes through if they want to,” Pawelko said, a sentiment shared by other senators Imprint spoke to. 

Gauthier-Chalifour clarified that the administration does not direct Senate votes. “Members are expected to be informed and make decisions in the best interests of the institution as a whole,” she said.

Pawelko said that though some individual administrators are particularly concerned about collecting student input, highlighting associate vice president, academic David DeVidi’s efforts, the system has not “baked in” consultation from students, a sentiment his colleague, student arts senator Andrew Chang, echoed. 

Chang said this effect trickles down to departmental and faculty decisions, such as the attempted moratorium on curriculum changes that according to Chang, neither he nor Arts Student Union vice president (VP) Tanraj Dulai were consulted on. Chang said that not knowing what’s happening negatively impacts his ability to affect change on the Senate floor. 

“I don’t want to say it’s like a rubber stamp institution, but I feel like a lot of the proposals have gone through so far along with the process, I think, by the time that students or anyone, like any senator has any concerns about it, I feel like it’s a little too late.”

Faculty senator James Nugent said that given the lower number of students in the Senate, the university should be “extra vigilant” in ensuring they feel like their voices are heard.

Student senators do get pre-Senate lunches where they are presented with the agenda, with Gauthier-Chalifour stating the university would like to see “stronger attendance and participation from student senators.” Chang said that though these lunches help with briefing senators, most of the time, there’s “not much we can talk about until the actual Senate”, and that administrators who can answer senators’ questions have only attended the lunches twice in the past year and a half of his time on the Senate. 

According to Gauthier-Chalifour, the lunches are “often attended” by senior administrators depending on the topics at hand.

In response to questions directed to president Goel on whether the university had sufficiently engaged students, including on topics like the collective statements guidelines, university secretary Gen Gauthier-Chalifour said the guidelines were discussed at multiple Senate meetings with “extensive debate and consideration of proposed amendments,” and “ultimately endorsed by Senate through its normal decision-making process.”

However, De Sterck said that elected representatives should get a more direct role in formulating the wording of the guidelines, because the writing of the guidelines is done largely by the office of the associate vice-president faculty planning and policy. “They basically bring the same a second time and a third time, and then people say, ‘well, it’s the third time, now we have to approve it.’”

Katie Traynor, student senator and former WUSA VP, said that though she feels the university generally does do its due diligence in consulting students, the feeling of distrust may come from student senators often having to “fish for a lot more information, specifically when it comes to impacts on students.”

Student senator Jordan Bauman said he feels the school takes sufficient measures for transparency, at least with student senators, citing the pre-Senate lunches. In reference to student protestors, he said “you do have to recognize when people are trying to work productively with you and when they’re just trying to tear things down,” and that the president’s reactions to the protests were “really admirable of him, in terms of his restraint.” 

He added that if the school were to do more informal engagement with students, both the administration and students would need to engage in good faith. 

Mikhail and Sayed said a general lack of engagement from the university with students is clear, pointing out how the previous president, Feridun Hamdullahpur, would engage in orientation lunches and the like with students, something current president Vivek Goel has not done. In response, the university cited Goel’s regular meetings with WUSA representatives as “an important forum for frank exchange,” and said many other senior administrators regularly meet with student representatives in formal and “less formal” settings. 

“If the feeling amongst [student leaders] and senators and people like this is that they’re not being listened to and they’re not able to have these conversations, even though they are talking to [admin], then really I can only wonder how the average student who never gets to have these conversations, who never even runs into these people on campus, would feel,” Mikhail said.

Foufou Abdullah, a Palestinian masters architecture student at the Cambridge campus, said she once tried to do just that, approaching the president at an event held there last fall term. She has requested to use a different name out of fear of retribution. 

Abdullah said she only found out the president would be there from chatter she overheard, as many of the professors she spoke to didn’t know he’d be there. When she saw Goel and other administrators chatting in the lobby of the architecture building, she waited for the president to finish his conversations before approaching. Abdullah said she frequently wears her keffiyeh around campus, and that when Goel saw it, his body language changed. 

Abdullah said she approached the president hoping to speak about the university’s investments in companies deemed complicit in what the U.N. labelled a genocide last September. “We never really have anybody from main campus, or somebody that’s very high up in the university, come,” she said, hoping to take the opportunity to speak to him “so that he knew that this was a problem that people felt strongly about across all different campuses.”

She says that from the beginning of the encounter, Goel seemed “combative.”

“He goes essentially, ‘We have a board working on this, I don’t know why are you coming to talk to me about it,’” she recounts. She said as she pointed out the complicity the students are involved in because their tuition supports the university’s investments, Goel became “increasingly agitated and combative.” 

While student tuition does not directly fund university endowments, other fees paid by students can, such as those that go toward faculty-specific endowment funds.

The university has taken several steps in response to student protests. In August 2024, UW created the Task Force on Social Responsibility in Investing, which among other recommendations, advised the school to disclose its investments and update its existing Responsible Investment Policy to include adherence to the UN’s Convention on Certain Conventional Weapons. 

UW updated this policy to include internationally recognized human rights as one of its priority environmental, social and governance factors at an October 2025 Board of Governors meeting. This means these factors will receive “focused investment attention relating to its impact on the financial performance of investments.”

Abdullah says that when she pushed Goel for specifics about the university’s investments, he said, “‘I’m at a social dinner. Why are you coming to bother me?’ Something along those lines.”

Abdullah said she told him, “You’re at my campus… if you are visiting different campuses, or even your own campus, you should be open to hearing your students’ opinions. At the end of the day, it’s our tuition that funds the entire university.” Eventually, other administrators came and spoke with Goel, while she discussed further with Nick Manning, associate vice-president communications and institutional relations. 

A source Imprint spoke to who was present for part of the interaction was told the same details about the exchange when they spoke to Abdullah immediately afterward. The university did not provide further response when asked to comment on this incident.

Mikhail says that when he encourages Goel to talk to students, the president will acknowledge that the university and students aren’t on the same page. “But the question is essentially … if no one’s making the effort to talk to students, then what grace would they have to give you, right?”

After the meeting? “I was livid,” Abdullah said, adding that her experience felt reminiscent of a “consistent pattern.” 

“They’ve sued their own students and they will go after students that protest against them, that speak out against them, and now I guess if you even dare to have a conversation with the president at a time that he doesn’t feel comfortable to have a conversation with you, or he views as his social time, well, he’s gonna be aggressive towards you… he’s going to try and diminish your position and your thoughts,” she said.

With a new president will come a new cohort of administrators, as retirements are coming for several key figures, including vice president of international and research and associate vice president academic. “I’m hopeful that the nominating committee will see this, and that those in the administration, who do have goodwill for students in their hearts and who actually care about rebuilding that trust, will remember this when the next president turns over,” Mikhail said.

But some are less optimistic. “I don’t think the hope is gonna come from the students,” Abdullah said. “The hope has to come from the administration’s actions and to show that they are worth trusting. As it currently stands, they have not shown that at all.”

Winter can be rough, especially with the rough state of the world right now combined with the gloomy weather. But it’s also a great time to try some lesser-known games and feel the unique charm of the snow and ice of the season. Here are four indie video games that center around all things winter. Whether it’s a quiet reflective experience or a survival adventure in the snowy landscape, we hope you’ll find what you need among these indie works!

Developer: Pine Creek Games

Platforms: Steam (Windows), Switch, Xbox

TW: animal death, implied domestic partner abuse.

After leaving for greater opportunities, disillusionment and tragedy bring you back to your childhood home in the woods. In Winter Burrow, you play a field mouse trying to survive the winter by foraging for supplies, fending off hostile insects, and crafting furniture and clothing to slowly turn your run-down burrow into a proper home. Along the way, you’ll meet and befriend other forest creatures grappling with their own life struggles, whether it be through dealing with grief or strained family relationships. Ultimately you’ll help build a community that supports each other through highs and lows. This cozy survival simulator game strikes a balance between some light survival action (with hunger, health, and warmth meters) and the more relaxing aspects of crafting to keep you engaged during exploration and farming.

Developer: Timberline Studio

Platforms: Steam (Windows)

This game puts less weight on the cozy and more on the survival aspect, but is still comforting for anyone who loves the snowy scenery and can’t make it up north during midterm season. Traverse the vast wilderness of snowy Alaska with your dog-sledding team in this survival game, making sure to care for your team and yourself as you find your new home. Choose a team of four dogs, each with their own personalities, and upgrade your equipment to keep everyone warm and well-fed on the journey. For those who want a stress-free experience, the game offers an unlockable Zen Mode where you can remain idle and let the dogs run wherever you like.

Developer: Polygon Treehouse

Platforms: Steam (Windows, macOS), Switch, Xbox, Playstation

Based on Scandinavian folklore and inspired by Studio Ghibli, this coming-of-age narrative adventure set in the mountains comes with a simple but enchanting art style. You play Tove, a young girl who is accompanied by her brother and are both whisked away from home into a fantastical snowy world. This point-and-click game, which was nominated for Best Debut Game at The Game Awards in 2020, weaves puzzles into environmental exploration, rife with trolls and mythical denizens like the Jötnar.

Developer: Team Empreintes

Platforms: Steam (Windows)

This one has admittedly less snow in it, but no less heart than the rest. For those who are feeling isolated and stressed during this cold season, connecting with people over what makes us human can lift us up a little, especially during these difficult times. Made by a two-person team from France, Fireside Feelings gives you the space and the comfort to have heartfelt conversations with a stranger from the Internet, without the stress of leaving someone on read. Choose from one of three randomly selected prompts, ranging from personal ones like “Dreams” to lighthearted ones like “Food.” Your campfire sprite Spark will ask questions for you and another user to answer and guide the back-and-forth. Unlike regular chat apps or software, this conversation doesn’t take place in real time — answers written by the other person are dated at least one day back, so there’s no inherent time pressure to reply or risk dropping the ball like in a live conversation. Users can also choose to not discuss certain topics using 18 different blacklist tags for triggering content, like animal cruelty and self-harm. All conversations are manually moderated by humans and no text is AI-generated.

Second-year mathematics student Samir Sharma is getting ready to enter a new era as the new WUSA president. Previously a WUSA director from 2025-2026, Sharma decided to run for presidency. What he, perhaps, didn’t quite expect was being the sole candidate to put his name in the running, essentially running unopposed in his bid for presidency. Sharma shared his perspectives on why he decided to run for presidency, what he hopes to accomplish over the next year, and how it feels to be running unopposed.

Deciding to run

When asked what inspired him to run for president, Sharma touched on the current unprecedented budget deficit, adding that “both the president, provost, head of research, head of AVBA, head of academics are all gone in the next 16 months.” During his time as director, he noticed that many new faces have joined the team over the past year. “I think even though we’ve done a lot this year on board, there’s always more to do, there’s always new problems and we need to act,” he added. As president, Sharma aspires to act on these problems and do what he can to “really push the [organization] forward.”

Sharma’s vision for upcoming year

Currently in his 2B term, Sharma intends to take a year-long co-op placement to run for the presidency. When asked about his potential goals as president, he described being in favour of reforming the Undergraduate Senate Caucus and creating a policy on the rights of undergraduate research assistant (RA) and teaching assistant (TA) students. Currently, only graduate students at UW have established RA and TA policies in place, whereas undergraduate students lack this protection. He also hopes to modernize the Student Life Center (SLC) Great Hall. Sharma notes that the worn out furniture and games are in need of a revamp, and hopes funding will be invested to upgrade this space and give students another space to unwind in. At the end of the day, he emphasizes his overarching focus on “pushing the [Horizon] platform forward.” Horizon’s main four platform points include affordability, culture, education, and Senate reform.

Sharma observes that WUSA’s last three consecutive presidents were never involved with WUSA prior to running for presidency. Thus, if elected as the first president in a while to have served as a former director, Sharma would bring a strong understanding of WUSA policies and the Horizon team. One initiative the Horizon team is especially proud of pushing forward, he said, was the Pay-What-You-Can program that has been running out of the Bomber. The program saw “over 100 meals a day [served] to students who are food insecure.”

What causes is Sharma most passionate about?

Sharma states that the Horizon party is interested in seeing changes made to students’ course perception surveys, degree tracking tools, and system level changes, the latter of which is a major priority. He emphasized that “doing good changes is important, but setting up the systems and abilities for the changes to happen in the first place can be a lot more impactful over time.” In this regard, some system level changes he touched on included reestablishing the Senate Undergraduate Caucus, promoting unified Senate voting, and developing an undergraduate TA/RA policy to protect student rights.

During his time on WUSA’s Board of Directors, he outlined three main initiatives he was able to support. The first initiative was making changes to the Student Life Endowment Fund. As chair, he supported government reform efforts and co-op advocacy. Through his work there, he was able to complete “a major rewrite of the fund’s bylaws and marketing efforts, which has led to about a 10% drop in opt-outs.” This has led in turn to giving out “about 300K a year in student grants.”

Thoughts on running unopposed: A signal for a deeper level problem?

Sharma is currently running unopposed for WUSA president, essentially meaning no other student has entered their name in the race. When asked how he feels about running unopposed, Sharma emphasized that he “believes in competitive elections.” He has even gone so far as to post on the r/uwaterloo Reddit page the day before nominations closed, offering to help obtain nominations for any student willing to run. No student took him up on his offer. “Students need a real choice and I was willing to do that,” he said. “Sadly, no one stepped up, but I really hope in the future they do.” He also touched on how the lack of opposition reflects the greater problem of how students may not “feel fully connected to WUSA and their community.”  Under a new governance structure that was established in 2022 ,, he described how many WUSA officers have “been acclaimed or no one runs at all”

Overall, Sharma hints at the deeper problem  of the disconnect between the student body and WUSA, mentioning the low turnout of candidates for previous president and vice president roles. He conceded that the past two years have been competitive, however the “president and VPA, GSR, government stakeholder relations, are [all] acclaimed.”

Regardless, Sharma does believe that the UW student body has real culture and passions, citing Wat2Do, a website developed by UW students that lists many events happening on campus daily. Sharma concluded, “We have real culture, but our culture is really unique.” Touching on the faculty-oriented culture at UW, he believes that the student body is forming greater connections, although “WUSA [needs] to connect to them better.”

Sharma concluded that if he could leave students with a message moving forward, “[he] would ask students to hold the board; hold Horizon accountable. We need to relentlessly push forward. That’s the job of our student union.”

He added, “We’ve had a strong team, we have strong experience, and we really hope to genuinely improve the experience of students [at UW].”

From one WUSA President to another: Insights from our current president

Damian Mikhail, the current WUSA president shared a few insights on his run as president to date, as well as what he hopes to see from the next presidency. If he could describe his presidency in one word, it would be“fast-paced,” thanks to how governance reform added to an already packed schedule.

“My hope is that life is made a little bit easier for the next President,” Mikhail noted. He hopes that his contributions and his time supporting governance changes made a lasting impact. Mikhail cited increasing club funding and revamping The Bomber as key successes in his presidency.

Asked if he had any advice for the next WUSA president, Mikhail described how a president is not necessarily judged by the amount of work or hours put in, but by the outcomes that follow. “If you really want to make an impact, you need to find your priorities early on and you need to focus on them,” he explained. Mikhail went on to share how it can be all too easy to become distracted by “a million other minor details”, but that distraction can minimize your capacity to make an impact. He believes a meaningful way to create meaningful outcomes for students is by “[finding] some big changes that you can make that will positively impact students.” Always keeping the broader vision in mind is something he highlighted as essential to being able to make a lasting impact.

Mikhail did not hesitate to describe Sharma’s WUSA expertise, which he believes is one of Sharma’s biggest strengths he would bring into the role of president.Mikhail remarked that “[he]  has one of the most impressive memories and knowledges[sic] of the systems of WUSA I’ve ever seen.” He shared that he often finds himself relying on Sharma for historical information “about how WUSA evolved and how WUSA works.” Furthermore, he emphasized that Sharma appears to understand “that students are looking for action and not just a president that keeps the lights on.”

Mikhail believes Sharma may be a transformative president “because he has the experience and the dedication to make change [happen],” describing him as a very kind and dedicated individual. 

Mikhail joked “Sometimes I’m confused how he’s doing so well in class because he’s always in the office talking about this new thing that needs to be done!”

He ended by sharing that he feels Samir would be a dedicated president, determined to bring students change. “I’m very hopeful for him,” he added.

Many know UW’s reputation in STEM disciplines — students get co-ops at big name companies in tech and finance and donors fund new buildings like QNC and M4. But what about the arts at UW? Students and faculty members both discuss the existing challenges of being in arts, and what the upcoming faculty reorganization holds for their uncertain future.

From a broad perspective, studying a humanities discipline at UW inherently comes with its unique advantages and drawbacks. By official headcount, the faculty of arts is the second-largest faculty at UW, topped only by the engineering faculty. Official headcount statistics show that about one in five UW undergraduate students is in arts (20.7 per cent in fall 2025 and 20.3 per cent in winter 2025). Even when adjusting for students in the accounting and financial management (AFM) program, whose enrolment falls between 1,000-1,800 per term over the past three years has outnumbered other arts programs, arts only falls to third after the math faculty. With a large student body encompassing incredibly diverse programs, arts students feel a strong sense of community among their classmates.

“I love my peers, I love my classes, [and] my professors have been incredible,” says second-year English literature and classical studies student Bridget Coleman. Fourth-year arts student Amaya Kodituwakku agrees, noting not just the kinship among arts students but the commitment of its faculty to quality education. “The [professors] are some of the kindest, most supportive, and admirable people that I have ever had the pleasure of learning from … you can tell how much they care about connecting with their students.”

That dedication also transfers to official academic programming. The Arts Student Union (ASU)’s vice president of academics Tanraj Dulai notes that compared to other universities’ arts programs, UW has many interesting courses “theoretically available … that offer [great] depth of understanding” for field-specific studies. The undergraduate calendar’s offerings include upper-level courses like ENGL425: Transnational Feminisms and Contemporary Narratives and HIST231R: The History of East Asian Communities in Canada.

However, in practice, arts students have faced chronic systemic issues at UW that have been worsened by internal and external changes. On the academic side, many officially listed courses are now seldom offered regularly, save for foundational 100 and 200-level courses and courses explicitly required for degrees. Both ENGL425 and HIST231R have not been offered in the past three years. 

When courses are offered, Dulai says they are often “broad surveys” that cover a large scope of topics and fail to empower students to specialize deeply in their field of interest. Faculty policies and constraints set by the university result in these courses often not being taught by instructors who are experts in the relevant content. This also takes time away from faculty members who want to pursue research in their domains, but can’t due to teaching requirements. Dulai has spoken to students whose professors “[have] not had an opportunity to do [their] research in however many terms or years they have been around … They want to teach these courses that they’re passionate about, but they have to teach [another] course that is the money maker, the bigger course, the required course.”

The lack of options for arts students is also apparent in the co-op sphere. Official statistics from the Center for Experiential Education (CEE) show percentages of co-op hires in industries sorted via the North American Industry Classification System (NAICS). From winter 2024 to fall 2025, 22.5 per cent of arts students were hired by employers in accounting and financial services, with the university sector hiring the second largest proportion at 11.8 per cent. While these jobs help AFM students jump-start their careers, opportunities in other arts disciplines are lacking. Jobs classified under “Universities” in reality are, anecdotally, often administrative jobs not relevant to degree studies. All other industry proportions for hires come in at 1 per cent or less.

“When co-op is such a big draw for students to come to this university … it becomes a thing where we’ve kind of been lied to,” Dulai remarked. “We were told that there’s all these jobs available, but there are a bunch of [finance] jobs or marketing jobs that aren’t appealing to, say, a student that wants to become a lawyer or a student that wants to work in the heritage industry.” 

Kodituwakku also observes that most jobs posted in WaterlooWorks “skew in the realm of tech and AI … [while] jobs in the realm of teaching, publishing, or research for the arts are few and far between,” a discrepancy which has worsened during their time at UW. The Center for Experiential Education (CEE) said in a statement that while factors affecting available co-ops are often a product of the highly competitive market, it strives to “facilitate access to meaningful work opportunities related to all students’ academic studies and their aspirations.”

When Dulai brought up student concerns about employment, faculty leadership pointed to AI and machine learning certificates like the Data Analytics for Behavioural Insights credential offered by WatSPEED, which allows arts students to market themselves as having both technical and creative competencies. The response received mixed feedback, in no small part thanks to ethical and environmental concerns in using generative AI.

Kodituwakku said that given these concerns, many arts students want the university to do more in developing relationships with potential employers that don’t prioritize AI. “Those jobs do still exist,” they clarified, “but because they are not being actively sought out and shown to Arts students, it creates this false narrative that the only way to secure a job is to sacrifice our values.”

Furthermore, most recently, arts students are losing dedicated physical spaces on campus. On Jan. 16, Dulai was informed by a university staff member that the storage room ASU had been using would need to be mostly vacated by February to make room for furniture storage.

“What we have been told is that this storage room is historically shared by ASU and the Arts Undergraduate Office [AUO] … but the AUO has not used that room in at least five years,” he said. “The tuck shop cannot hold all these things; we cannot hold them in a corner.” Imprint reached out to the AUO, but did not receive a response in time for publication.

Having little in the way of resources and support is not new to anyone in arts. But the impending reorganization, which takes effect July 1, has exacerbated these issues and accelerated what many see as the decline of the faculty from an already shaky place.

The reorganization has been in the works since 2014, but is now being pushed forward during a period of financial strain for UW. A presentation from members of the Reorganization Working Group at the Jan. 26 student town hall noted that “current financial challenges experienced by all universities and colleges in Ontario and beyond have intensified the need for organizational changes that will help us continue to deliver our programs.”

Dulai and other faculty members he’s spoken to agree that a restructuring of arts is needed for the faculty to survive, but the process has been criticized for a reported disregard for community feedback and a lack of transparency.

According to associate professor of political science Anna Drake, each department was asked to propose ideas on which other departments they would work well with together as “natural fits” during the initial consultation stages. However, Drake said that “it became clear that this was not going to happen, that [they] actually did not get to pick who [they] wanted to work with” as the department groupings were assigned without that input. The current plan dictates political science be grouped with six other departments under the school of social, political, and historical research. Six other departments will combine to form the school of critical and creative humanities.

Both Drake and Dulai also draw attention to the discrepancy in the treatment of departments in relation to faculty leadership, visible in the reorganization planning. Out of all five arts associate deans, only one — Katherine Acheson, associate dean of undergraduate programs — is from a humanities discipline that will be absorbed into a conglomerate school. The other four associate deans are from departments that will be grouped into their own schools — namely, the schools of economics, psychology, and accounting and finance.

“If the [associate deans] went back to their teaching roles, they would be teaching in schools that would fundamentally be the same,” Dulai noted. Drake shared this opinion, saying that the four aforementioned departments “get to carry on what they’ve been doing the whole time … they get to not be part of the reorganization process.”

Meanwhile, the two conglomerate schools have been planned in a way, said Dulai, “that is not conducive to people [who] understand the actual meanings of disciplinary and interdisciplinary scholarship” despite interdisciplinary collaboration being a stated motive. “People who are economists are saying, ‘why don’t we combine courses like Canadian history and Canadian politics?’ while political scientists and historians are saying, ‘no, you can’t do that,’ because those are fundamentally different… in methodologies and pedagogy.”

At the Arts Faculty Council meeting on Sept. 9, 2025, where members voted were set to vote on approving the reorganization, faculty in attendance were divided in opinions, expressing both approval and skepticism. Those who voiced concerns, according to Dulai, “were not being combative, but they were fighting … they know what has happened at other universities that have done similar things.” Last year, Western University reorganized to its humanities and arts programs, resulting in staff layoffs that sparked protests. In February 2025, York University halted admissions to 18 undergraduate programs, the bulk of which are humanities programs. UW itself has suspended admissions to its German and Spanish undergraduate programs. All but one Applied Language Studies (APPLS) course are marked as “no longer available” on the APPLS minor web page.

Dulai says that “professors were shut down … someone asked a question [along the lines of] ‘what happens if we vote no?’ They were [essentially] told, ‘we’re not going to vote no.’” Drake corroborated this account. Ultimately the notion for “agreeing to the principle of re-organization” was approved, but answers to remaining questions about the process have been unsatisfactory, like the impact on administrative staff and faculty workload. “Despite the flowcharts provided, it’s still not entirely clear how [that] will take place, like who we’re reporting to, why, and all the other important details,” Drake commented.

Information provided to students has also been unclear and sporadic, often only arriving when decisions have already been made without consultation. A moratorium on course changes until 2029 was announced on Nov. 11, 2025, “blind-siding” Dulai and fellow students. It was then postponed after more than 100 students in and outside arts programs signed Dulai’s open letter to Acheson. The next opportunity to submit curriculum changes is in September 2026.

Despite the positives of her experience at UW, Coleman feels “hoodwinked into picking a university that claims to have a diverse arts faculty, only for that faculty to be attacked a year and a half into [her] degree.” For her, the past few months have signalled that “the university sees the arts faculty as an afterthought or inconvenience, rather than a fully realized faculty.”

Drake continues to call for more transparency and accountability from university and faculty leadership on plans involving arts. She also wants to strengthen communication with students to help support each other during this tumultuous phase. “I would like to know how much the students are aware of this and how it’s affecting them, because those voices haven’t been brought to our meetings,” she stresses. “We’ve been so busy trying to do what feels like damage control, and trying to make sure that we will still be able to do our jobs.”

“Believe it or not, the arts [reorganization] will affect all of us,” Kodituwakku said. They call upon arts students to get involved with their majors’ sub-societies to have their voices heard by leadership within the faculty and the university at large. 

Dulai also calls on university leadership and administration to better support the faculty, not just in spirit but also in intentional practice. “Arts is the second largest faculty [and] the second eldest faculty. We deserve your respect. We deserve your investment. The students in this faculty deserve to receive a quality education.”

GUELPH – It was either house arrest or time behind bars at a Feb. 11 sentencing hearing for former Goofie Newfie partner Robert O’Brien.

Sitting beside his wife in Guelph court on Wednesday, O’Brien appeared despondent as he was handed a six-month jail sentence by Justice Nicole Redgate for sexually assaulting a former pub employee.

But the 51-year-old is already back in Elora as the case heads to the Ontario Court of Appeal.

O’Brien’s defence lawyer Brennan Smart confirmed to the Advertiser that the Crown consented to release O’Brien on bail until the case is heard by the appeal court.

Smart said that could be anywhere between six and 12 months from now.

It has already taken more than two and a half years for the case to trudge through court after charges were laid in June 2023.

At issue for the defence are the reasoning and decisions that led to O’Brien's conviction, Smart said. A new trial is being sought.

“The judge made findings, and we are of the belief that there were errors in law on the path to her findings,” Smart said.

“[O’Brien] has the right to have the trial decision reviewed by a higher court to see whether the decision can withstand legal scrutiny,” Smart added.

O'Brien was also sentenced to three years of probation following the sentence, and ordered not to have weapons for a decade, along with his name being added to a sex offender registry for 20 years. 

A panel of judges could overturn the conviction and send it back for a new trial, or uphold the conviction and reconsider the sentence.

The appeal was filed in advance of O’Brien’s sentencing by Smart’s colleague, Mel Edwardh, who will be counsel for the appeal.

O’Brien was found guilty on two counts of sexually assaulting former pub employee Mackenzie Osborne in a six-day, judge-alone trial last year.

Assistant Crown attorney Matthew Yassa previously asked that O’Brien be jailed for 18 months, followed by three years of probation.

The defence suggested a year of house arrest, followed by another year of probation, was appropriate.

At this week’s sentencing hearing, court heard house arrest would adequately check off some boxes, such as protecting the public and avoiding incarceration when possible.

But a sentence served in the community, Justice Redgate said, would “fail to adequately reflect the seriousness of the conduct, the power imbalance and the significant harm caused.”

The court gallery behind the Crown and Osborne was all but filled with her family and supporters.

Osborne, who babysat O’Brien’s children, previously told court she was just 20 when O’Brien, 30 years her senior and a man she considered her boss, committed the sexual assaults.

Court heard O’Brien touched Osborne’s breasts and buttocks on a bus ride from a work party, and while at the pub, he placed his hand on her buttocks – all without her consent.

The unwanted sexual touching constituted “a serious breach of her personal autonomy and bodily integrity,” Redgate said, reading from her sentencing decision.

“Further, the profound emotional, psychological and practical impact of the offences, as outlined in Miss Osborne's victim impact statement, demands a meaningful response from this court."

The judge considered 11 letters of support for O’Brien, speaking highly of the father of two and noting a commitment to coaching youth sports and participation in community charity efforts.

Following last year’s guilty findings, the Goofie Newfie’s liquor licence was pulled for 10 days. O’Brien was jointly listed on the licence, and on the business title, with spouse Rebecca O’Brien.

He can no longer be involved with the business, or physically be at the pub, as per the province’s alcohol retail regulator.

Nor can he work with youth or serve the community in the same way with the convictions, court heard.

O’Brien’s family has been the subject of much negative attention online. The case has also attracted media coverage.

But the fallout and mitigating aspects of the case didn’t go far enough to stave off a jail sentence.

Redgate noted O’Brien hasn’t expressed remorse or accepted responsibility.

It’s also his second time before the court on allegations of sexually assaulting a former pub employee.

In a 2017 case, he was given a conditional discharge (finding of guilt without a criminal record) and nine months of probation after pleading to a lesser assault charge.

Redgate said her sentence speaks to the escalating nature and gravity of O’Brien’s offences.

Osborne declined to comment on the outcome outside the courthouse on Wednesday afternoon.

Her mother, Kim Watson-LeBeau, said the family was not surprised by the outcome.

They believed jail time was coming, and got a heads up about the appeal, which Watson-LeBeau called a “delay tactic.”

Though the saga is likely to last more than three years, she said it’s worthwhile.

“Society is really changing how they view sexual assault, and I think it's very important for males and females to be able to feel safe in their work environment,” she said.

Watson-LeBeau said Osborne is “happy” and “feeling very vindicated.”

With Valentine’s Day only two days away, now’s the time to channel your inner romantic and indulge in some perhaps cheesy, but absolutely delightful romantic comedies! The Imprint staff team have shared their top rom-com films, so you can make this Valentine’s Day, be it spent alone or with your significant other, your best one yet. Grab your bouquet of roses (or popcorn) and get ready to watch some great flicks!

La La Land (2016)

Overview: A love story that UW students might find all too relatable amid the need to balance social life with career aspirations (or co-op jobs!), this film follows Mia, an actress, and pianist Sebastian as they navigate love amid wild career ambitions.

“One romance I love that is more on the emotional side is La La Land. The lighting, storyline, and soundtrack is so beautiful and emotional and I believe it captures a lot of the raw emotions that come with love.”

– Karen Zhou, videographer and video editor

He’s just not that into you (2009)

Overview: The title alone might appeal to anyone who’s spent a little too much time psychoanalysing someone’s potential feelings for them. The film is inspired by a self-help book, following couples and singles as they grapple with relationship troubles and common questions about commitment, feelings, and reciprocity most will find perhaps too relatable.

“Truth is told.”

– Tiffany Wen, Staff Writer

Love Actually (2003)

Overview: We all know the holiday season can be a hectic time. Amid retail shopping and family gatherings, it can be a time love is challenged. Follow along with the lives of eight couples, each navigating the season and love, differently.

“It’s more of a Christmas movie but it’s an even better romcom.”

– Emma Danesh, senior website editor

Notting Hill (1999)

Overview: Famous actress Anna Scott begins to fall in love with Notting Hill bookshop owner William Thacker. Unfortunately, fame has a way of complicating things.

“It’s 90’s Hugh Grant—need I say more?”

– Thea East, senior magazine editor

13 Going on 30 (2004)

Overview: Sometimes finding real love means facing uncomfortable truths. When Jenna Rink’s 13th birthday doesn’t go as planned, her wish to wake up as a thriving 30-year-old comes true- except she begins to see the friendship and relationships she damaged while chasing success as an adult. Can she find a way to make things right?

“Jenna Rink is easily one of my biggest role models.”

– Arabella Hormillada, Video Editor

How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days (2003)

Overview: Magazine columnist Andie Anderson is tasked with writing a how-to article on the movie’s namesake. She meets Benjamin Barry, a competitive executive determined to win a bet by proving he can make any woman fall in love with him in days. Somehow, amid mutual deception and competing interests, can real love blossom?

“If you’re a journalist, this one’s for you!”

– Carla Stocco, Staff Writer

ABERFOYLE – Puslinch taxpayers will see a 3.99 per cent increase to the municipal portion of their tax bill in 2026.

Council approved the township's capital and operating budget on Feb. 11 – the last municipality in Wellington County to pass its budget.

For a typical home in the township assessed at $666,000, this amounts to $53 more per year in township taxes.

Combined with Wellington County and education taxes, the increase is 3.15% or $224.

The Puslinch operating budget comes in at $4.4 million, up slightly from 2025’s total of $4.2 million.

The approved capital budget is $5.3 million, down from $6.6 million in 2025.

Last year saw the purchase of a pumper truck for the fire department and the renovation of the municipal and operations facilities, which were big-ticket items.

The lion’s share of this year's capital budget will go to public works and roads projects totalling $3.79 million. They include improvements to Concessions 1 and 2, Daymond Drive, Nicholas Beaver Road, Carter Road, Farnham Road and Cooks Mill Road.

Council also approved a $1.53-million contribution to discretionary reserves used for future capital projects, including $394,050 for future gravel road improvements.

Fire equipment purchases and initiatives come to $117,751, while $1.73 million is set aside for parks and facilities, and $24,750 is allocated to economic development initiatives. 

One change was made to the 2026 proposed budget at the Feb. 11 meeting.

CAO Courtenay Hoytfox said while council had pre-approved the purchase of enforcement cameras in December, she sought a slight change.

“It was to be a capital cost but now we’re looking at a lease format,” she explained to council.

The cameras were to be purchased at a cost of about $33,000 with funds from the capital reserve.

Leasing means the cost – about $10,000 per year – would come from the operating budget, but Hoytfox said there are two benefits to leasing: the cameras can be replaced without cost if they malfunction and they have built-in artificial intelligence that can process data.

“That will save staff time,” she said, adding revenue from the cameras is expected to cover annual operating costs.

The cameras are not speed cameras. They are intended to photograph transport trucks carrying heavy loads on roads identified as restricted in the township's heavy vehicle bylaw.

Puslinch roads see a lot of heavy vehicle traffic and unless trucks stick to approved routes, they deteriorate roads that must be rehabilitated sooner at taxpayers' expense.

Signs will be mounted near the cameras stating, “Camera systems in use. heavy vehicle bylaw enforced by camera systems.”

Council approved the minor change to the operating and capital budgets.

“Puslinch council has approved a sensible budget that maintains our focus on key priorities during these challenging times,” Mayor James Seeley stated in a press release issued after council approved the budget.

“Despite continued high inflation and rising costs, the township portion of the increase for residents is just $53 annually.

"Council has remained committed to fiscal responsibility while continuing to invest in essential services and infrastructure without placing undue financial strain on residents.”

GUELPH – Police have charged two people in connection with unspecified "threats" that led to the closure of John F. Ross CVI high school on Thursday.

Parents received a letter from school principal Chad Warren just after 7am on Feb. 12 that provided few details about a "threat against the school" made the previous evening.

He told parents "the school was placed in hold and secure early this morning as a precaution," and "based on police direction," the school would be remain closed to students and staff.

At around 10:30am Guelph Police issued a press release stating, "The involved parties have been arrested and there is no further threat to the school or community."

At about 4:30pm Guelph Police stated they located a firearm at "an address outside [Guelph]" and arrested a 64-year-old man and 17-year-old girl from Wellington County.

They were charged with five counts of uttering threats and the man was also charged with knowledge of unauthorized possession of a firearm. Both were held for bail hearings.

Spokesperson Scott Tracey refused to provide details about where the arrests occurred and about the nature of the threats to the school.

A 31-year-old Wellington County man was also arrested as part of the investigation and charged with unauthorized possession of a firearm.

He was not involved in the threats to the school, police say, and he is to appear in Guelph court at a later date.

Caution: this story contains details some readers may find upsetting. For support, call Here 24/7 at 1-844-437-3247. Due to sensitive content, panelists are referred to by first names only to protect their identity.

GUELPH – Sometimes it takes a wake-up call – an alarming prognosis, hearing your dad break down, or deciding to start a family – to fuel the next step in recovery. 

Other times, big life changes knock you off your feet. 

Eating disorders are serious but treatable mental illnesses affecting more than 1.7 million people in Canada, including about 1.4 million youth, according to the Canadian Mental Health Association Waterloo Wellington (CMHA WW).

The Grove Youth Wellness Hub officials have seen eating disorder-related concerns double over the past year.

The Waterloo-Wellington Eating Disorders Coalition (WWEDC) has held a Faces of Recovery panel annually for 22 years, during which panelists share stories over Zoom that highlight the ups and downs of recovery, and why it’s worth putting in the work.

The panel on Feb. 4 didn’t run as smoothly as usual this year: it was “Zoom-bombed” by hackers sharing inappropriate content, which led to some attendees missing out.

“Creating a safe and respectful space is central to our work, and we sincerely apologize,” WWEDC officials stated. “We are actively learning, reviewing and strengthening our security measures.”   

Despite the interruptions, four panelists presented and responded to questions. 

Since her late teens, Leah wanted to be a therapist, but wasn’t sure she’d ever get well enough to achieve that goal.

It was also in Leah’s teens that her eating disorder set in. After a year or so she realized she was struggling and started receiving treatment – something she hoped would mean the end of her disorder. 

But it was a long road, and  Leah learned recovery “really needed to come from me – I needed to want it.” 

One tipping point came  in Leah’s early 30s: she moved across Canada to live with her dad after a breakup. 

Symptoms were flaring. 

A doctor delivered a wake up call: “‘If you keep going like this, you are not going to see 34 or 35.’” The urgency of recovery was unavoidable.  

Another milestone was when Leah decided to have  a baby, though doctors had told her she’d likely never be able to. 

After making that decision, she knew: “I really had to make recovery work.”

Recovery isn’t easy, and the eating disorder hasn’t disappeared, but Leah learned to “turn the volume down on those eating disorder thoughts and … combat them when they do come up.”

Leah now has two sons and has “been able to stay healthy” since becoming a mom. 

And she has been working as a therapist for five years.   

Simone, who is using a pseudonym, said when their daughter started high school the academic and social demands increased her stress, and she began to withdraw and develop unusual eating habits, leading to exhaustion, anxiety and prolonged absences. 

It was “part of a broader picture of autistic burnout,” Simone said. 

By the time the eating disorder was diagnosed, her health was comprimised and she could hardly function, Simone said. 

The diagnosis was a turning point, as was being admitted to McMaster hospital: “ a great place for us to get her medically stable.” 

Simone said their daughter was relieved to be admitted, and once she got there, she began the “process of radically re-imagining her life.” 

As a parent Simone said they learned to stop asking “What did we do wrong?” because eating disorders aren’t anyone’s fault.

And their daughter said if anything had happened differently she wouldn’t be who she is – “and I like who I am.” 

They learned to connect with her in the darkness instead of analyzing the past or yearning for a “magical future on the other side,” Simone said.

“Rather than seeing her as a problem that needed fixing we saw her as a full and incredible human being … an expert in her own healing.” 

Simone and her family used “joy and silliness  to regulate her nervous system around meals.” 

Her daughter took time off school and spent time playing games, creating crafts, doing cold water plunges and going thrift shopping. 

They leaned on family and friends who composed songs and funny videos and gave surprise gifts and meal subscriptions.

“One family member sent me a poem, meditation or quote every day for over a year,” Simone said. 

Healthcare workers honoured their family wisdom and kept “shame and blame out of the picture,” they said.

Now, Simone’s daughter is doing well: she’s back in school, embracing a love of drama and has a girlfriend.

Maya’s  eating disorder kicked off in university, in the midst of a breakup, a move and an unsuccessful job hunt. 

Food felt like the only thing she could control. 

After rapid weight loss, Maya’s racing heart made sleep challenging, she woke up dizzy and she felt tired and anxious all day. She was frequently angry and upset, and conversations exhausted her. Her skin paled and she started losing hair. 

And she “couldn’t stop thinking about food.” 

She’d grown up running half marathons and going to the gym, but this fell to the wayside. 

“I felt like I wasn’t even living any more – I was just surviving.” 

One day Maya woke up with a strange feeling in her gut. It kept getting worse, and she knew something serious was wrong.

“I could barely walk, my stomach hurt so much – it was so distended,” but doctors dismissed it as “just stress” or sent her home without answers. 

Eventually Maya was diagnosed with a “rare, potentially life threatening condition caused by severe weight loss.” 

She told her parents and her dad cried uncontrollably  – afraid she would die.

“Hearing Dad break down like that made a lot of things click at once and I understood the severity of what I was doing,” Maya said. 

That was followed by months of treatment, testing, specialized care and efforts to overcome mental barriers around eating. 

The diagnosis turned out to be wrong, but it showed Maya “losing all that weight in a short amount of time can be extremely damaging.”

Doctors said if she didn’t take recovery seriously she’d need to drop out of school and be admitted. That motivated Maya to focus on goals of earning a degree, having friends and eventually falling in love. 

Though gastrointestinal issues made eating painful, she made food non-negotiable and scheduled time for school, friends and her boyfriend so her life didn’t revolve around eating. 

Maya gained weight and it became easier to live with her gastrointestinal condition. Now, she’s feeling closer to people around her, has increased empathy and is applying to medical school. 

She wants others to understand possible complications of eating disorders. “If I had known … I would have done things differently,” she said. “It’s really not worth it, if it’s going to affect the rest of your life – but recovery is definitely worth it.” 

Violet is a first year university student “slowly but steadily” figuring out her path. 

It took five years after beginning her journey with bulimia for Violet to seek help. 

“I was in denial that I was suffering,” Violet said: hiding from everyone around her with lies and baggy clothes until she became a mere shell of herself.  

Eventually, Violet “reluctantly accepted” the negative effects and “took the leap to get help.” 

She said “raw and honest conversations with loved ones were imperative,” as was transparency during treatment sessions, which was “extremely nerve-wracking but so rewarding.” 

Violet realized she was her own worst critic, and letting go of this was “vital to free me from the shackles [of] my disease.”

Her journey had “bumps and boulders,” but Violet is gradually gaining a clearer outlook and embracing happiness and hope.

She said she gained power by managing her anxiety while “accepting that I cannot puppeteer the complete trajectory of my future.”  

Violet came to realize she is worth “so much more” than her disease. 

“Being my unique self was the most petrifying thought – blending in became such an instinctive action.”

But “step by step, challenge by challenge I improved,” she said, and came to understand: “I am my greatest investment.’” 

Though she isn’t there yet, Violet said she will one day be “completely estranged” from her eating disorder.  

She participated in the panel to inspire others to care for themselves. 

“I dare you to take the reins and begin to break down those barriers,” Violet said. “What makes you special is your uniqueness – take advantage of these magical quirks that convey who you are as a person.” 

To connect with local eating disorder supports and services  visit eatingdisorderscoalition.ca for WWEDC, cmhaww.ca/services/eating-disorders/ for the CMHA WW’s eating disorders program or thegrovehubs.ca for eating disorder supports offered at The Grove Youth Wellness Hubs.  

FERGUS – At approximately 5:45pm on Jan. 19, a break-in occurred at a residence on Flannery Drive in Fergus.

Forced entry was gained through the rear of the residence. The suspects involved are described as two males, both brown and wearing dark clothing. The suspect vehicle is described as a white delivery-style van.

Anyone with information is encouraged to call Crime Stoppers. Callers never have to give their names or testify in court. Crime Stoppers does not subscribe to call display or *69.  Call Crime Stoppers at 1-800-222-8477 or submit a tip online at csgw.tips. If the information is used in an arrest, the tip provider may be eligible for a cash reward of up to $2,000. 

MINTO – Town council voted unanimously in support of a proposed lot line adjustment on Feb. 3. 

The adjustment involves approximately 0.33 hectares (0.82 acres) of vacant agricultural land to be added to an abutting vacant agricultural parcel about 0.41 hectares (1.01 acres) in size.

The property is located on O’Dwyers Road and owned by Lindsay and Kyle Ellis.

The retained parcel is approximately 3.85 hectares (9.51 acres) with approximately 265 metres (869.4 feet) of frontage and will continue to be used for agriculture.

It also includes an existing dwelling, three sheds and a shop building, town planning coordinator Sama Haghighi told council.

In 2022, a consent application for the property was submitted and approved for an agricultural severance to separate a portion of the vacant land for a proposed rural residential use.

The new owner is now seeking to add more land to the previously severed parcel through a lot line adjustment to create a more functional building lot for the existing property.

Town staff recommended approving the adjustment, with the following conditions:

– owner satisfies all town requirements;

– all accounts are in good standing financially; and

– owner obtains a written statement confirming the proposed lots and associated land uses, buildings and structures comply with applicable requirements in the town.  

Council approved the report with no questions.

Mayor Dave Turton and councillor Geoff Gunson were absent.

GUELPH  – The Guelph Minor Football Association (GMFA) is calling out to Wellington County residents with a passion for football.

“Canada’s always been such  a hockey country that ... football’s often been forgotten,” said league president Mike Ferigo. 

“And it’s a sport now that seems to be actually growing more than it ever used to be. Our numbers are higher than what we used to be.”

Established in 1971, the GMFA accepts youth players aged eight to 18, for spring and fall seasons, with five teams – U10, U12, U14, U16 and U18 – competing in leagues run by Football Ontario.

“We run a spring season, which starts April 1 ... and runs, usually till about the first week in August depending on how we do in playoffs,” said Ferigo.

“And then we run a fall season, which starts two weeks after that and runs until mid November.” 

Things will be kicking off soon for the U16 team, as indoor practice and training starts Feb. 15. 

“Our U16 team is starting the earliest ... because they won the spring or the summer league last year [and] we got promoted to triple ‘A’ for that team,” said Ferigo.

While the league doesn’t typically hold tryouts, if the numbers are there, tryouts will occur. 

“We can only carry so many kids, right? So it becomes a numbers game,” said Ferigo. 

“If we go over a certain amount then ... we do have tryouts for our teams, and they’re generally completed in and around the first week or two of the season.” 

Aside from Guelph, the nearest youth football organizations are in Waterloo and Owen Sound. 

“We have players coming from ... all over,” said Ferigo. “There’s not a lot [of leagues] north of Wellington County.”

Despite being one of the few organizations in the area, Ferigo says the GMFA has “very few” players from Wellington County.

“That’s one of our biggest things,” said Ferigo. “The reason why we try and reach out to those areas [Wellington County]. A lot of those kids don’t even know ... even in our own town, there’s a lot of people that don’t know minor football exists.”

Ferigo said football helps develop discipline, offers physical and mental health benefits and can instil a sense of belonging, as teams are very close-knit.

“For the U10s, we carry around 25 players. The U16 and U18 teams have upwards of 65 to 70 people on a team,” said Ferigo.

“It’s very family oriented. My son, started playing football when he was seven years old (and) is still good friends with players that he’s played with since he was seven years old.”

For more information, or to fill out a registration form visit, guelphminorfootball.net or email Ferigo @ferigo.football@gmail.com.’

GUELPH – Winter Pride is underway, commemorating the 45th anniversary of the Toronto bathhouse raids or Operation Soap – a milestone in Canadian queer history. 

Local pride events this year include drag bingo at the Palmerston Legion on Feb. 13, Pride Night with the Guelph Storm hockey team on Feb. 27, and a “Dungeons and Drag-Queers” in Guelph on Feb. 12. 

Guelph Winter Pride kicked off on Feb. 5 to mark the anniversary of a historic moment often considered Canada’s equivalent of the Stonewall riots – a turning point in the fight for 2SLGBTQIA+ rights in this country. 

On Feb. 5, 1981, hundreds of Toronto police officers, armed with crowbars and sledgehammers, stormed four bathhouses and arrested over 300 men for attending or running the bathhouses, sparking a string of protests that changed the course of history for queer Canadians.  

On Feb. 5, 2026, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow said, “The bathhouse raids were a horrid mistake and a serious stain on Toronto’s reputation, a scar a community feels to this day,” according to CBC.

“It was wrong. It was shameful. And we remember,” Chow said, while announcing the city will unveil a plaque in June to commemorate the raids. 

Out on the Shelf (OOTS), a 2SLGBTQIA+ library and resource centre in Guelph, is hosting a range of events to celebrate Winter Pride. 

OOTS also offers free workshops throughout the year, geared specifically for rural service providers. 

Rural education coordinator Shyanne Favaro said Winter Pride matters because it acknowledges  Canadian history while making space for people to “celebrate, show up, belong, be authentic, take up space and most importantly: experience joy.” 

That’s particularly necessary in the current political climate, as policy and progress is being rolled back, which amplifies the importance of finding strength in community and taking steps forward together, Favaro said. 

It’s important to look at what’s happening nearby, including the push back on pride flags in the Waterloo Catholic District School Board and a recent event at the University of Guelph where people showed up wearing shirts with racist, anti-Semitic and homophobic messages, she said. 

Things like this are a reminder of the urgency of banding together as a united front and showing “we will protect 2SLGBTQIA+ rights,” Favaro said.    

But it’s also important to take a step back and lean on community: “Sometimes we get so wrapped up in all the bad news that we forget that there’s community out there, and we can live normal lives,” Favaro said, so OOTS works to create space for that. 

OOTS offers customized workshops, free of charge, available to all service providers in Wellington County and Guelph, including schools, long-term care homes, churches, municipalities and youth centres. 

Favoro said she’s motivated to offer these workshops because over a decade working with children has shown her that, most of the time, people are good and have good intentions – “they just have a lot of questions and aren’t sure where to get answers.” 

The OOTS workshops are a place to find answers, she said. 

Favaro focuses on offering these workshops in Wellington County, while Cas Harwood coordinates workshops within Guelph. 

Anyone interested in arranging a workshop can contact Favaro at tp-rural@outontheshelf.com.

Favaro said she’s excited about the Winter Pride event happening in Wellington County this year. 

The Drag Bingo *Love Edition* is organized by Minto Pride and hosted by Troyboy Parks. It will take place from 7 to 10pm on Friday, with tickets available for $15 at mintopride-bingo.eventbrite.ca. 

Favaro is also looking forward to Pride Night at the Guelph Storm, where the Storm will face off against the Niagara Icedogs at the Sleeman Centre – the Storm’s home ice in Guelph and also the filming location of Heated Rivalry, a popular new show about gay hockey players.    

For more on Winter Pride events visit outontheshelf.com/pride/winter-pride. 

Guelph Pride is seeking a chair of its committee to facilitate the organization of two annual Pride festivals. Anyone interested in volunteering as Guelph Pride chair can email OOTS chair Athena Van Nacht at chair@outontheshelf.com.

FERGUS – Denise Kankainen of Guelph was elected president and chair of the Fergus Agricultural Society at the organization’s annual meeting on Jan. 30. 

Kankainen is a long-time community volunteer and will be the second generation in her family to serve the Fergus Agricultural Society as president. 

Her father, John Broadfoot of Fergus, was president from 1999 to 2000 and has been involved in the Fergus Fall Fair for 70 years. 

“Giving back to the community is so important and I really enjoy working with like-minded volunteers,” she says. 

“We work together to promote agriculture in the community and the end results always fill me up with a warm feeling.”

In addition to being involved in the Fergus Fall Fair beef cattle show and antiques section, Kankainen started organizing Breakfast on the Farm events in 2017 and serves as chair of the committee. 

She was raised on a dairy farm near Fergus and now works in the agriculture industry. 

Fergus Agricultural Society membership also elected Dillon Bernier as first vice-president, Jane Shaw as second vice-president, Jade Ritter as secretary and Paul Knierim as treasurer. Paul Rappolt will serve as past president. 

Mary Brander, Stephanie Matthews, Sarah Shaw and John Worton were elected as directors for a three-year term. 

Linda Wing, Randy Kent, Mary Fraser, Deb Veldhuizen, Sheree Bessey, Joan McBurney and Rebecca Hannam will continue their ongoing director terms. 

The Fergus Agricultural Society is a non-profit organization that aims to promote agriculture, celebrate rural lifestyles, recognize talent and inspire connections. 

The organization will host an Agriculture Education Day for Grade 5 Students, Breakfast on the Farm and the 189th Fergus Fall Fair in 2026. 

Event details will be announced at fergusfallfair.ca and on Facebook and Instagram in the coming months.

GUELPH – Local robotics teams are growing in popularity, fueling students’ passions and building foundations for future tech careers.

Royal City Community Robotics (RCCR) is a non-profit with volunteers who coach six youth robotics teams in Guelph. 

Teams are administered by the Upper Grand, Wellington Catholic and MonAvenir Catholic school boards   

There are two high school teams and four elementary teams across both boards, with about 100 students between the teams, RCCR president Henry Dossett said. 

He’s a mentor for all the teams, and said the club is “really trying to create a community.”   

The RCCR eventually wants robotics teams in each Guelph elementary school.

It costs about $1,000 for a kit and registration to start an elementary Lego-robotics club, and Dossett said teachers, parents or students interested in launching a club can email info@guelphrobics for support.

Grade 10 Centre Wellington District High School (CWDHS) student Walker Coe is a member of Goose Goose Duck, a new team that formed last fall.

He took a break from his robotics work at College Heights Secondary School one Friday evening to tell the Advertiser what the group means to him. 

“It’s an amazing team – I really love it, and feel at home with what I’m doing.” 

Coe said he’s always had a passion for robotics, so was immediately excited to join Goose Goose Duck.

He has a manufacturing role on the team, meaning he uses machinery to build the robots, mostly of aluminum. 

It’s very fragile and easy to break, Coe said, so students have to be precise in their measurements. But aluminum is an ideal material because it’s light, affordable and easy to work with. 

Using the machinery is Coe’s favourite part of his work with the club, especially drilling holes with the mill. 

He’d like to use the skills he’s developing in a future career – possibly something where he can work with both hardware and software. 

He said if other students are considering joining the team he’s confident they’ll find a role aligning with their interests and skills – be it coding, design, manufacturing or media. 

Elora resident and Grade 12 student Spencer Anderson said when a CWDHS teacher noticed his passion for robotics, she recommended he join the Goose Goose Duck team. 

He did so right away, and said it’s been a great experience. 

Anderson’s role with the club is “all over the place,” he said, including working on computer-aided design and taking promotional photos. 

“It’s a lot more complex than I thought at first,” he said, with a significant amount of planning to design and build the robots.

The students participated in a competition in the fall to build their skills – Lord of Robots’ Cubic Chaos, where they designed a small robot that could flip a cube. 

Now they’ve moved on to a far more complicated bot for the First Robotics Competition – this one can pick up balls and toss them into a net, as well as climb a ladder. 

They’ve created a prototype and are working on designing and building a more advanced version. 

As a rookie team, Anderson said they aren’t trying to win, but to “learn a lot and build a robot that can accomplish some cool feats.” 

Zoey Vandermeer and Martin Cleaver are volunteer coaches with Goose Goose Duck. 

Vandermeer participated in a robotics club throughout high school and said it made a world of difference in her life. She’s now studying software engineering at the University of Guelph. 

She’s been passionate about coding since elementary school, but said being the robotics team during high school multiplied that passion 10-fold.

When she heard Goose Goose Duck was looking for a software mentor she was “super excited” to help out. 

The mentors have been amazed by the popularity of the Goose Goose Duck team – they were expecting between eight and 10 students but now there are dozens involved. 

“It’s fantastic,” she said. “I love this program.” 

Cleaver, one of the volunteer coaches with Goose Goose Duck, whose 17-year-old son is now on the team, said an early search for a team, before RCCR formed, brought disappointment with only Guelph-based “Beaverworx” available.

That club formed in 2008 at Guelph’s Our Lady of Lourdes Catholic High School. Without other options, Cleaver reached out and found his son was welcome to join. Cleaver was impressed with the club’s equipment and the attention given to students. 

Many of the team members go on to become mentors once they graduate, “creating an ecosystem reinforcing what it is to be an engineer,” Cleaver said. 

“Guelph needs to modernize its industry, and youngsters have fresh perspectives, time and energy to embrace a fresh outlook,” he said. 

Joining a robotics team can help students transition smoothly from playing with Legos for fun to developing technical skills helping to propel them to a successful future, he said. 

“Employees can’t get enough of students with advanced skilled trades.”

More information about RCCR is also available at guelphrobotics.ca.

Anyone interested in joining  or sponsoring a robotics team can email info@guelphrobotics.ca.

GUELPH – The sanctuary at Harcourt Memorial  United Church reverberated with the sounds of teenagers singing in Cree and Malay on Feb. 6. 

The Guelph Chamber Choir (GCC) hosted a choral workshop taught by Wilfrid Laurier University choral head Dr. Tracy Wong and sponsored by Robert Munsch.

The children’s author was hoping to pop in at the end of the workshop to listen to a mini-concert put on by the students, but did not end up feeling well enough to do so. 

The workshop included students from the Upper Grand District School Board’s  MADE Urban Arts program and John. F. Ross, Centennial and Guelph Collegiate Vocational Institutes.  

Conductor Dr. Charlene Pauls said the GCC hosted the workshop because it’s important to foster a love of choral music in the next generation.

She said youth music programs are important and the benefits far-reaching, including boosting mental, social and physical health. 

Wong taught the students two songs: her own song JAM! (Jom-Ayuh-Mari) in Malay, and a Cree song by Cree-Dene composer Sherryl Sewepahagam called mitêh. 

County resident and GCVI student Tuuli Quilley said  she enjoyed how Wong’s teaching style is more fast-paced than she and her peers are used to – which enabled them to learn two songs in one afternoon. 

Wong would quickly move on after teaching them something new, not leaving much time to process. But to Quilley’s surprise, when she circled back to it later, she remembered just what she’d been taught. 

“She’s a really effective teacher,” added GCVI student Arshia Shaharior. 

Quilley particularly enjoyed the call-and-response aspects of the songs. 

For Marden resident and MADE student Lauren Ferrier, the highlight of the workshop was learning music in Cree and singing along side students from different high schools across Guelph. 

MADE students and members of the GCVI Chamber Choir will be travelling to the CBC headquarters in Toronto on March 26 to perform mitêh for CBC Music executives to promote the CBC Canada’s Greatest Music Class Competition. 

GCVI’s music class was among 13 first place winners of the competition in 2023. 

MADE student Priya Maden enjoyed the workshop too, and noted singing in a choir is outside of her comfort zone as her usual focus is on film. 

MADE is an interdisciplinary, semester-long arts program in which  students earn four credits: music, art, drama and English.

It highlights how art can be a tool for community building, cultural development and social change. 

MADE operates out of the Heritage Hall in Guelph and includes students in Grades 10 through 12. 

MADE applications for the 2026/27 school year are open until Feb. 28. 

For more information about the MADE program, including how to apply, visit ugdsbmade.ca.

“Project South” opened eyes and should serve as a point of deep reflection for officers and police services everywhere.

This specific operation dealt with the takedown and charges of numerous officers with the Toronto Police Service. Work by York Regional Police uncovered layers of corruption linked with organized crime. 

As with most charges of this nature, all matters will ultimately be dealt with in court.

Inspector General of Policing Ryan Teschner confirmed in a press conference earlier this week that investigations are ongoing and other police organizations will be tested for corrupt and poor management practices.

In his press release it was noted that five key areas will be reviewed: 1) supervision and span of control, including how officers are supervised and how effective that supervision is; 2) screening and vetting of police officers both at recruitment and on an ongoing basis; 3) access to police databases and information systems, including permissions, controls and clearances; 4) evidence and property management practices; and 5) substance abuse and fitness for duty.

As to be expected, an issue like this has quickly become polarized with pro-police camps railing against the news and anti-police factions embracing the chance to stick it to the cops. We find those viewpoints extreme and unhelpful in the larger context, yet entirely in keeping with the current political environment.

As frustrating as that is, institutions are only ever as strong as their weakest link and Project South has cast a pall on men and women in uniform. This reputational damage is undeniable, but with honest dialogue, police services can come out the other side better for this black eye. 

We sure hope they do. The question remains how did we get here? We see it as a societal problem.

It has been our belief for some time that ethics and values have become casualties in recent years, as greed replaced good.

Right and wrong have been replaced with excuses and rationalizations to explain outcomes that often involve enrichment and personal gain. Dilemmas that were once black and white, now function in gray zones

Our experiences across an expansive number of businesses, non-profit organizations and political institutions suggest that these moral quagmires were always present but historically countered by voices of experience in such matters. The odd man out is generally unwelcome today, regarded as a fixture of the past. Go along and get some has become the norm.

Accountability and transparency, pledged as top priorities by many organizations, hide behind privacy and access to information laws. Despite some gains through tenacious reporting and insistence on answers, the truth remains sheltered.

Under these societal observations it should not be a surprise that police have problems within their ranks. Before becoming officers with tall expectations and high standards, they were citizens.

Rather than see unions and associations blindly fight for members, they need to become part of the solution and agree to turfing bad apples. The rot needs to go for the betterment of the institution.

Officers who advance to leadership roles actually need to be leaders capable of reprimanding and lifting the morale of the workforce in their charge. Great leaders can do both.

After the fiasco with the license bureau and dispensation of private consumer information, the whole government needs to develop a regimen holding those who access information criminally responsible for leaking said data. The rules and penalties must be that strong in this digital age if we are to counter bad actors.

Whistleblower legislation needs to be strengthened so that officers feel confident reporting impropriety within the service. Having claims sent back for internal investigation, rather than an independent body, makes it difficult for officers to report wrongdoing.

Out of every storm comes the sun. 

Hopefully this is step one to getting back on track with one of our most important institutions.

MINTO – Minto will soon be receiving $48,000 from the province through a fire protection grant to purchase equipment for cancer prevention measures.

“This is a yearly grant we get from the fire marshal’s office,” director of fire services Chris Harrow told council on Feb. 3.

The grant funds must be used on cancer prevention items. In previous years the funds have been used to purchase extra bunker gear as well as extractors to clean gear at the stations.

The Clifford station is the final station needing extractors for cleaning the personal protective equipment after calls at which it becomes contaminated.

The province “did double the grant this year which is great,” Harrow said. “Any money we have left over this year, depending on the costs of the extractors, will go towards bunker gear so we have extra sets.”

“We are very thankful to the province and the Office of the Fire Marshal for this program,” Harrow’s report states. “Cancer-related claims have skyrocketed in the past few years and this will help us to hopefully bring the numbers affected down.”

The grant program was announced in the government’s 2024 budget and is designed to support cancer prevention efforts by municipal fire departments across Ontario.

According to the Ontario Ministry of Solicitor General, firefighters die of cancer at a rate up to four times higher than the general population. On average, 50 to 60 firefighters die of cancer yearly in Canada and half of those are from Ontario.

Councillor Ron Elliott asked Harrow how often the extractors are used.

“Not every time we go out but any time there’s contaminants on the gear,” Harrow said. “Any structure fire, grass fire or motor vehicle collision where there might be some fluids.”

He also noted it takes 24 to 40 hours for the gear to be washed and air dried.

“We do have some spare gear [but] it’s getting thinner and that’s why we’re going to try and buy some new gear,” Harrow said.

The firefighter gear has a lifespan of 10 years and must be replaced no matter what.

“How many sets of gear can you put in the extractor? councillor Judy Dirksen asked.

Harrow explained the gar comes apart from the inner lining to the outer shell.

“The shells get washed together and then the inner lining gets washed together. We can do two sets at a time,” he said. 

Council approved the report for information and allowed staff to enter a transfer payment agreement with the province to receive the funds.

Mayor Dave Turton and councillor Geoff Gunson were absent. 

The region’s water-shortage crisis has stalled plans for 53 apartment units on downtown Elmira’s former Trinity United Church site, infuriating backers of the nine-year-old project.

The developers, who have already spent around $2 million in that time and were preparing to install foundations this summer, now fear possible bankruptcy after Woolwich Township said it cannot issue a building permit until a way is found to keep the taps flowing.

Church officials, long frustrated by an especially drawn-out bureaucratic process, worry the decision may kill the construction of a six-storey building aimed largely at seniors looking to downsize and stay in Elmira.

Doug passed away peacefully at his home in Elmira on Thursday, February 5, 2026 at the age of 64 years. Dear brother of Dennis of London, Julie (2022) and Wilfred Doll of Elmira, Steve and Yvette (on the family farm), Rosanne and Tim Amos of St. Jacobs, and Betty Ann and Keith Hunt of Waterloo. Beloved uncle of Jennifer (Anthony); Angela, Carrie; Jenny (Mike), Jessica (Eric); Christopher (Amanda), Jordan (Madeline); Taylor (Griffin), Macey; and great-uncle of Tru, Ruby; Alina, Colton; and Aritzia. Predeceased by his parents Laverne and Laura (Fronchak) Logel. Doug proudly owned and operated “Doug’s Lawn Care” for many years. He was a devoted member of St. Teresa RC Church, Elmira and St. Joseph’s RC Church, Macton where he did the grounds maintenance for many years. Doug took great pleasure in the simple joy of connecting with others.Doug will be fondly remembered throughout the community for his dependable snowplowing and lawn care services, always willing to lend a hand when someone needed it. Many will recall seeing him cruising the streets on his e-bike, stopping to chat or enjoy time visiting with friends. Doug truly valued his family and hosted many family events at his home. He deeply appreciated the help, support, and kindness shared with him by his neighbours and friends. He carried a strong faith that guided him through his life. Doug’s gratitude, humility, gentle spirit, and fierce determination will not be forgotten. May he now rest in peace reunited with his parents and sister. May his memory continue to bring comfort to all who knew and loved him. Visitation will take place on Sunday, February 15, 2026 from 1-5 p.m. at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira. A funeral mass will be held at 11 a.m. on Monday, February 16, 2026 at St. Teresa of Avila RC Church, 11 Flamingo Dr., Elmira. A reception will follow in the church hall. Spring interment will take place in St. Joseph’s RC Cemetery, Macton. As expressions of sympathy, donations to St. Teresa RC Church, Elmira or St. Joseph’s RC Church, Macton would be appreciated and may be made through the funeral home.

Already under stress, live-music venues took an often-fatal hit when the pandemic upended pretty much everyone and everything.

There was a time, however, when Waterloo Region offered up some happening venues, welcoming stellar acts.

The area’s music scene in the 1960s and ‘70s – the likes of Led Zeppelin, Neil Young and Frank Zappa –was captured in Rock This Town, the 2022 documentary. Now, a follow-up, Rock This Town: A New Wave, is set to premiere February 26 at the Princess Cinemas.

Snowplow drivers have faced an especially tough – and thankless – winter.

In some parts of the province, they have encountered aggressive behaviour from frustrated residents angered by road conditions.

With thick snowpack and ice often left behind after plows pass – more so than in other recent winters – taxpayers have increasingly questioned whether the work is being done properly.

Yet those responsible – from the Region of Waterloo, and Woolwich and Wellesley townships – insist drivers are doing a difficult job to the best of their abilities, amid colder- and snowier-than-usual weather.

The desert-dwelling agave flowers just once in its lifetime. 

But instead of moseying to the Mojave to see the succulents’ rare and spectacular blooms, green thumbs only need to venture as far as Belgian Nursery in Breslau.

That’s because nine years after it was a pup – yes, that really is the term used for agave infants – one of the garden centre’s tequila-making plants is birthing its own offspring.

The wintry weather in abundance just now sets the stage for an event to raise funds for those facing homelessness and hunger. 

Woolwich Community Services hosts its eighth annual Coldest Night of the Year fundraising walk, one of hundreds of locations across the provinces, on February 28.

Walkers of all ages will leave from Woodside Bible Fellowship at 5 p.m., choosing either a two-kilometre or a 5k route that both finish back at the church, where they will join in for a light dinner and social time after. 

Two strong weekend performances by the Wellesley Applejacks were a “confidence healer” for the players after a bruising few weeks, said head coach Derek Lebold.

An unlucky 4-3 overtime loss – the team’s first extra-minutes defeat in nine games – to the Norwich Merchants was followed by a commanding 5-1 thrashing of the New Hamburg Firebirds, giving the Jacks momentum as the regular season nears its close.

Despite picking up three points, Wellesley remained third in the PJHL South Doherty Division.

On Monday, February 2, 2026, Kathleen “Kathie” Plein passed away peacefully at Hospice Waterloo Region, surrounded by family, after a courageous journey with scleroderma. Born March 31, 1954, at Guelph General Hospital, she was the tenth of sixteen children of Charlie and Betty Keane and was raised on the family farm in Oustic, Ontario. Kathie met her beloved husband, Walter, on a blind date at 16, beginning a lifelong partnership filled with love, adventure and devotion. For 38 years, she served her community through the Elmira and Fergus Post Offices, becoming a familiar and trusted face. A devoted mother, fierce advocate and warm friend, she welcomed many around her kitchen table through her open-door policy. Kathie was known for her kindness and faith as a Jehovah’s Witness. She is survived by Walter, her children, siblings, and many nieces and nephews. A celebration of life will be held at 4 p.m. on Sunday, February 22, 2026 at Elmira Lion’s Hall, 40 South St. W., Elmira with a link available for those attending through Zoom. Memorial donations to Breakthrough T1D, Diabetes Canada, or Hospice Waterloo Region may be made through the Dreisinger Funeral Home, Elmira. Tributes and full obituary available on the funeral home website.

www.dreisingerfuneralhome.com

Armies can be used against both foreigners abroad and citizens at home, but the two roles require quite different equipment and tactics. The same applies to their commanders: you need a different kind of general if you think that the primary task of their troops will be controlling dissent at home.

With that in mind, what has been happening in China is quite interesting. Slowly at first, but now in a rush, the senior command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) has been purged of its highest-ranking generals.

It’s not like Stalin’s great purge of Soviet generals in 1937-38, just before the Second World War, when at least 780 generals were shot. The Chinese generals are not being executed, although many are ending up in jail. Nobody outside the intelligence services knows what is happening to lower-ranking generals, but at the highest level, it is almost a clean sweep.

Linda Claire Gerth (Koch) peacefully passed at Victoria Hospital in London on February 2, 2026, at the age of 74 surrounded by her family.  Predeceased by her loving husband John of 50 years, her son in-law Mike (Dee), her parents Doris and William Koch and mother in-law, Lorraine LaFlamme (Daub). Survived by her children, Chad, Dee and Trevor (Caroline); grandchildren Alex (Sydney), Samantha (Jim), Drew (Morgan), Josh, Tyler, Isla and her brother, Larry, nephew Chris and niece, Kim. Linda with her husband John started J. Gerth Custom Toolage in 1978. They worked together for 25 years and built their dream home in St. Clements where they raised their family for 41 years.  Their first cottage was on Manitoulin Island and after selling that, they purchased a cottage on McKellar Lake near Parry Sound.  Linda loved wildlife, especially feeding her chipmunks and ducks along with kayaking, scratching lottery tickets and playing cards.  She loved to cook for everyone.  Linda will be sadly missed by her best friend of 52 years, Annette Kuhn and her wonderful companion Ron, who made her smile, laugh and enjoy life again.

Cremation has taken place, and a private family gathering will be held at a later date. As expressions of sympathy in lieu of flowers, Linda would greatly appreciate donations in her memory to the Kitchener Waterloo Humane Society or World Wildlife Fund Canada. Donations may be made by visiting www.wwcremations.com

Elmira drivers have been on edge after reports of vehicles stalling and sputtering following fuel purchases, raising fears that locally-bought premium gasoline might be contaminated.

The Elmira Shell service station, however, insisted its gas is safe.

A franchise manager told The Observer that, while Shell pumps in Hespeler were forced to close last month due to suspected bad gas, his own supply had no issues.

An 80-per-cent difference between the lowest and highest bids prompted Wellesley council to approve a culvert replacement project this week.

The contract for a subterranean channel under Moser-Young Road drew a total of 11 bids from firms.

St. Clements-based Kieswetter Excavating submitted the lowest at $458,759 – more than $140,000 under budget.

The St. Clements speed cameras issued among the largest number of tickets in Waterloo Region last year before the program was axed, the authority revealed.

The two devices beside the village’s Catholic school on Lobsinger Line handed out 5,007 fines, an average of 21 a day during the 238 days they were in operation.

The vast majority – 4,661 – were issued to westbound drivers heading towards Crosshill in the 40-km/h zone.