GUELPH – Between the everyday hustle of working life, to the unexpected events that always seem to arrive at the worst time, it’s easy to get lost in the ever flowing pace of life.

Artist and mindfulness coach Roxana Bahrami recognizes this and has set out on a mission to encourage everyday people to tune out of the hustle of life and instead tune in to themselves.

“I’m a self-taught artist. My specialty is pointillism, and as far as I remember, I’ve been doing dot painting,” said Bahrami.

“From the very beginning, I realized it had a very positive impact on me, but it was exactly 10 years ago that I realized that if it has that much impact on me, it’s on me to pass it on to others.”

Bahrami began her mindfulness journey in 2016, when she pursued mindfulness teaching and began taking clients from her home studio before moving on to teach workshops at local organizations and universities.

“Gradually, I moved into online teaching, and of course, the audience moved from just Kitchener-Waterloo and Guelph to Ontario, beyond Ontario, B.C., and even in the US,” said Bahrami.

“A few months ago, it was like a kind of aha moment. Why do people need to come to me either for face-to-face workshops or online workshops? Why don’t I put together a simple and small package, which has all the fundamental well-being and mindfulness that I learned throughout this journey, and give them something?”

And thus, A Little Box of Calm was created.

The box includes 10 simple dot painting exercises as well as all of the supplies needed to complete the work. 

“The intention is not making someone an artist. It’s just giving them ... the basic permission to pause, and it’s all about slowing down and doing meditative drawing,” said Bahrami. 

“When it comes to slow drawing or dot painting, we are talking about some kind of ... repetition, and doing this kind of repetition helps our mind or brain to stay in the moment and be grounded."

Everything included in the box is by intentional design, right down to the size of the canvases.

“It’s small. You can hold it in your hand, and each exercise, based on the size of the cardstock is designed to be completed in maximum 15 minutes,” said Bahrami.

“Why? Because we human beings would like to see the final result of something and say ‘check, done.’”

The box includes a small stand so once complete, the piece can be displayed.

While the initial batch of boxes has already sold out, Bahrami is still accepting orders on her website.

To order, visit roxanabahrami.com.

TORONTO – Michelle Obama wore her earrings. Selina Gomez wore her rings. Hannah Waddingham wore her bangles. Jennifer Lawrence wore her anklet.

But the greatest thrill for jewelry designer Jenny Bird is seeing regular women wearing her creations.

“When I see women wearing my jewelry, I just love it,” Bird said in a phone interview.

Bird, who was born and raised in Elora, and later lived on a farm in Ariss, is living a blessed life in Toronto right now.

She heads a burgeoning jewelry business also called Jenny Bird, where she’s living the creative lifestyle of her dreams.

And having big-name celebrities wear her pieces certainly hasn’t hurt her brand, she said.

She connects with stylists and they connect with the celebrities, Bird said.

“The celebrity world operates in images and they use stylists. And stylists need modern products that make their clients look modern.

“If [a celebrity] loves my earrings, she can have them. It’s a big compliment when she chooses to wear them herself.”

Bird’s designs aren’t trendy, but they are modern and add a contemporary boost to any wardrobe, she said.

“That’s the purpose of Jenny Bird – to keep you looking modern and current. I have a role to play in your closet.”

It’s been a big year for Bird. The Globe and Mail placed her company at number 18 of Canada’s top growing women-led companies in 2026.

Bird also received the Alumni Award of Excellence in Entrepreneurial Spirit from Wilfrid Laurier’s alumni association in May.

“I feel grateful for the recognition, and we have accomplished a lot,” she said. 

“But that was never my goal. I don’t care if my name is in lights. For me it’s about making a positive economic impact. And I hope to inspire others to do all they can do.”

It’s easy to talk about her success now, but Bird’s career did not follow a straight line.

At her father’s urging she got her Bachelor of Business Administration at Laurier and joined him as an investment advisor after she graduated.

She did it for a few years, but despite the generous salary, “I wanted to be an entrepreneur,” she said. “I wanted to be creative.”

She switched career paths to brand marketing, but it still wasn’t checking all the boxes for her.

“I had a real desire to create,” she continued. “And I had a vision of this life, where I could create and earn a living doing it. How dreamy would that be?

“The vision was too sweet to not pursue it.”

She tried sewing handbags, but it was hard to make a go of it, she said. She got another 9-to-5 job, but at age 30, she quit again, throwing herself into her new luxury leather handbag business.

Her bags featured unique hardware, and she was learning the casting process, preparing to scale up the business. Then the recession hit.

“There was no market for leather handbags anymore,” she said. 

But she realized that while women were no longer buying $500 handbags, they would treat themselves to a $100 necklace now and then. So she switched from handbags to jewelry.

“I did it quickly,” she said. “I needed the mortgage payment.”

But you don’t just become a jewelry designer because you want to.

Bird said she doodled as a child and had some talent. Which is why she was enamoured with all the artisans in downtown Elora who earned their livings as artists.

“There was a silversmith on Mill Street and I thought, ‘This is their life? An adult was doing this?’” she recalled.

“Elora gave me exposure to an artistic career in craft. I was so enthralled.”

Her family later moved to a farm in Ariss, and her grandmothers taught her to sew.

Her first business was a lemonade stand. In middle school she made and sold scrunchies, and opened a “store” in her living room where she sold homemade bookmarks.

“That was the proprietor in me,” she said with a laugh. “I guess it was always there.”

Back in Toronto, her jewelry started to sell. And ideas for jewelry pieces started to flow.

“I love jewelry design,” she said. “The ideas seem innate in me, like a language. It’s very rewarding, and a little addictive. I enjoy envisioning the end products and the process of bringing them to life.”

It took time to get the product line going, but it finally took off.

Jenny Bird has been in business for 17 years. She now employs 75 people, and the C-suite is entirely women.

She also runs the Possibilities Fund, where one per cent of every purchase is directed to organizations that help women in urgent need as well as mentorship programs and mental wellness initiatives.

To date more than $500,000 has been donated to organizations including the YWCA Canada, The Centre for Addiction and Mental Health’s Womenmind program, Baby Love and Baby2Baby.

It’s like a figure eight, she said.

“Women buy jewelry to feel uplifted; a percentage of the sale goes to organizations that uplift women. It’s a beautiful, cyclical thing,” she said.

Bird has lifelong friends in Elora and visits often.

Most of her sales are online but she has a few stores that carry her line, including the Ron Wilkin Jewellers boutique store in Elora.

Bird said cynical people will say that you need connections to wealthy people to become successful yourself but that’s just not true.

“I’m proof that there isn’t anything you can’t achieve if you work hard and keep at it,” she said. 

“You can achieve a life less ordinary. That’s what I’m proud of. If that can inspire others, I’m proud of that too.”

BRUCEDALE – Guelph/Eramosa is receiving a $200,000 grant from the Ontario Trillium Fund to help pay for pickleball courts in Rockmosa and Marden parks.

Construction of the Rockmosa court is already underway.

Mayor Chris White announced the funding at an Aug. 11 council meeting. 

The 2026 budget for the courts was $562,000. However, the township is spending  $793,000 before tax – down from $1.24 million initially indicated.

At the meeting resident Ian MacDonald questioned council on the need for the courts.

“There’s just not the evidence to say that the amount of money being spent on [this project] is actually warranted by the amount of use we’ve seen,” said MacDonald.

He told council he’s seen few residents playing the sport at Rockmosa Park this summer.

Councillor Mark Bouwmeester, though sympathetic to MacDonald’s concerns, stated they would simply have to “agree to disagree” on the courts.

“I remain convinced of the popularity of pickleball,” said Bouwmeester. 

“I think it’s going to be a strategic investment and well-received by residents now and into the future.” 

GUELPH - Data centres are the way of the future, and those against them are misinformed, Ontario Premier Doug Ford told reporters on Aug. 13.

Ford made his remarks against the humming backdrop of servers storing Ontarians’ sensitive information at a Guelph data centre on Thursday.

He pitched data centres as a now-or-never opportunity as the province released its “data centre playbook.”

“This is the way of the future, either we do it, or Donald Trump’s going to do it, and I’m not giving Donald Trump nothing, absolutely nothing,” Ford said.

The so-called playbook — currently in a draft phase and open for public commenting — would be used to determine what projects get to hook up to the province’s power grid.

A final version will feed into the province’s broader strategy around AI, expected in the fall.

Data centre projects would be assessed on their economic benefits, local investments and digital sovereignty.

Economic Development Minister Vic Fedeli said the playbook’s purpose is to help “negotiate the best deal” with proponents as the province fields increased data centre proposals.

Projects would also be assessed by power grid impact, independent power supply and water use. Centres using closed-loop or waterless cooling would be prioritized, and new builds larger than one megawatt would fetch higher electricity rates.

“They’re going to be paying for their own facilities, for their own power,” Fedeli said, noting the province wouldn’t financially incentivize builds.

“The whole idea is to get the best value for the people of Ontario,” he added, in part.

The province is touting massive numbers around the economic benefit of the centres, suggesting $122 billion in cumulative economic growth by 2035 and 17,000 new jobs each year.

Ford called the opportunity a “no-brainer” and said closing the door on data centres “would be the worst thing we could ever do.”

“It’s going to drive the world economy,” the premier said, adding, “trillions and trillions of dollars around the world is being invested.”

Public and Business Service Delivery and Procurement Minister Stephen Crawford called data “the new gold.”

“This is critically important that we as a government, and corporations, keep [our] data right here,” he added.

A 25-acre brownfield in Fergus, once home to the Wolverine Tube copper tubing plant, is being eyed by Waterloo-based Spur Innovation for an AI data centre.

But if concerns about water and power use, and environmental impacts, posted to local Facebook groups are any indication, some are ardently opposed.

Ford suggested those against data centres are succumbing to misinformation on social media.

“Guys, get informed, it drives me crazy that people are misinformed, do your due diligence, do your research,” he said, adding, “data centres have been around for decades.”

Ford called it “hypocritical” to rely on services powered by data centres while opposing them locally. "It just doesn't add up," he said.

In Centre Wellington, councillor Bronwynne Wilton has proposed a year-long moratorium on the centres — coming to council on Aug. 24 — to provide township staff a chance to assess whether local policies can handle the facilities.

Wilton said she wants to ensure potential impacts on surrounding neighbourhoods are understood and mitigated.

“I think it’s good if [a] municipality has an option to opt in or opt out,” Wilton said.

Local councils will have a say over whether data centres are built in their communities, Ford said, but he didn’t directly rule out using ministerial zoning orders.

“I’d sit down with the mayor and council and we’d consult with the community, but I’d rather go to a willing host,” Ford said.

FERGUS – The Fergus Curling Club’s U20 men’s team is heading to the World Junior Curling Championships in Aberdeen, Scotland in February and there’s a fundraising campaign to help them get there.

Steve MacDougall is manager of the team, and he’s still reeling from the excitement of last season and the reality that his team came out on top.

The team consists of Evan MacDougall, Dylan Stockton, Evan Madore, Carson Kay, Ryne Fisher and coach Jordan Thin.

“The Fergus club hasn’t had a provincial title since the 1800s,” MacDougall said in a phone interview, noting the team had an incredible season that got them to the provincials and then the nationals.

The provincials were held in Kitchener in March and the nationals in Sudbury in April.

“It was not a foregone conclusion that we would get the gold,” MacDougall said. “We thought they’d do well – even to medal would be an accomplishment.

“And there were hurdles to get there,” he continued. “A couple of the team had norovirus, so they were not 100 per cent at the nationals.”

Still, they won against an Alberta team and the deal was sealed.

Team MacDougall, named after skip Evan MacDougall, who is Steve MacDougall’s son, is not local, although they’re affiliated with the Fergus Curling Club, which has provided them ice time for practice.

And some Fergus club members came out to Kitchener and Sudbury to cheer on the team during those important games.

“The Fergus club has been very good to us,” MacDougall said.

The team has been together for two years, “and it took quite a bit of work to make it to the top level. But because of the work they put in, they matured significantly. 

“Our team grew organically over the years,” MacDougall added.

After the worlds, the team ages out of the U20 category and advances to U25, a different game with older players.

The Fergus Curling Club is hosting a one-day fundraiser, called Fergus Rocks the World, on Aug. 29 at the club to help cover transportation and other expenses.

Events include euchre, cornhole and waddies tournaments and a battle of the bands, where the audience votes for the winner with cash. Euchre begins at 11am with other tournaments following in the afternoon.

Battle of the Bands begins at 6pm and wraps up just before midnight. For more visit ferguscurling.ca and search for Fergus Rocks the World under the events tab.

FERGUS – A couple disruptive years and one bumpy winter later, Centre Wellington has announced that the St. David Street North (Highway 6) reconstruction project is complete.

The provincial-municipal thoroughfare opened to traffic at 5pm on Aug. 12.

By the next morning, crews were removing road closure and detour signage on neighbouring streets.

The project was completed in three phases.

The first, from St. Andrew Street to just north of the Garafraxa Street intersection, was completed in 2024.

The second, extending from just north of Garafraxa Street to Edinburgh Avenue, was substantially completed in 2025.

The third and final phase included remaining paving, landscaping, and active transportation work completed this year.

The overhaul was prompted by ageing infrastructure, and involved water and sewer pipes, reconstructing the road and sidewalks, adding bike lanes, traffic calming elements, intersection improvements, and streetscape additions such as benches and decorative streetlights.

The project was controversial from the beginning.

Ten of 14 on-street parking spots were removed to make way for wider sidewalks, trees, streetlights and separated bike lanes.

The decision to remove the parking spots and add bike lanes was made in 2021 by a previous council after considerable public input, consultation with businesses and the province, and with regard for the township’s transportation master plan.

Council of the day was divided on most matters — but members voted unanimously in favour of bike lanes at a June 2021 council meeting.

Mayor Kelly Linton and councillors Neil Dunsmore, Ian MacRae, Steven VanLeeuwen, Bob Foster, Stephen Kitras and Kirk McElwain comprised the horseshoe.

However, at a subsequent meeting, VanLeeuwen, Foster, Kitras, and McElwain thought they made a bad decision and asked MacRae, Dunsmore and Linton to reconsider the decision. A motion to reconsider did not pass, so the project moved forward.

The controversy continued last year, when drivers were met with a rough ride on a newly reopened St. David Street a day before Christmas Eve.

Base asphalt had been laid on a layer of frozen gravel during winter cold spells, the township told the Advertiser at the time.

Frost spread through the granular material and the road buckled and warped.

“With construction now complete, St. David Street provides a renewed and improved connection through Fergus, and supports the township’s continued investment in safe, reliable and sustainable infrastructure,” the township said in an Aug. 12 news release, thanking the community for its “cooperation and patience.”

The $9.25-million project was paid in part by a $2.85-million provincial grant.

The Headwaters Institute, a Canadian charity focused on protecting water, is calling on the government to do more to protect Ontario’s Great Lakes.

The charity last month submitted formal comments on the renewal of the Canada-Ontario Agreement on Great Lakes Water Quality and Ecosystem Health (COA), calling for the integration of land use and watershed planning in Ontario and greater public outreach. The Headwater Institute also submitted a petition with 150 signatures, along with recommendations on the renewal of the COA.

The discussion comes at a time when the federal and provincial governments are debating the renewal of the COA. The agreement came to an end on May 31 after being in effect for five years and undergoing its ninth renewal.

If it’s on his property, then it’s his problem.

That’s the feedback Woolwich farmer Pat Polillo received from authorities following a series of complaints about illegal dumping on his farm. And it’s not just household refuse he’s dealing with – it’s dump trucks unloading construction materials such as topsoil, broken concrete, bricks and lumber.

“We’ve been here over 27 years and this is probably the worst it’s been, starting about six years ago. I would say the past two to three years have been the worst, and this year, the way it’s going, will be the absolute worst,” the Apple Grove Road resident told The Observer.

“It used to be a small amount. But now we’re getting dump-truck loads.”

Four communities in the Region of Waterloo will see beefed up transit services thanks to a cash infusion from the provincial government announced last week. Bus routes in Woolwich, Wellesley, Wilmot and North Dumfries will benefit from $3.4-million in additional funding.

Wellesley Mayor Joe Nowak described himself as “ecstatic” over the news, which he believes is the result of years of campaigning.

“This is something we’ve been working on for a number of years. We’ve always realized there was a need for it in our rural areas, and now we have an opportunity to have this pilot project and see if this is going to work for us,” he told The Observer.

Almost every Ontario driver can say they have witnessed dangerous driving behaviour, a new survey from the Canadian Automobile Association (CAA) finds.

The CAA South Central Ontario (CAA SCO) reports that 96 per cent of drivers have seen those dangerous behaviours, which include speeding (78 per cent), aggressive driving (69 per cent), unsafe lane changes (68 per cent) and distracted driving (67 per cent).

However, only 57 per cent of drivers admitted to engaging in at least one of these, but for drivers aged between 18 to 34 years old, that number rises to 62 per cent.

An Elmira resident who is no stranger to acclaim in international powerlifting competitions has now been recognized for her veterinary talent. 

Dr. Emily zur Linden received the American Association of Small Ruminant Practitioners’ Dr. Don E. Bailey Practitioner of the Year award last month for her work with small ruminant animals. 

Cass Stewart, who works with zur Linden as a student, told The Observer she nominated her because the award description fit her perfectly. 

“I believe she deserves every recognition possible for the work she does,” she said.

It’s been two years since the Wilmot residents learned of Waterloo Region’s plans to take control of 770 acres of prime farmland for a future mega-industrial site.

While the region has acquired much of the land, local activist Susanna Campton says the fight isn’t done just yet.

“It’s really not over. I know because it’s been quiet and because there have been some sales. It feels like the fight is done, and I think that it’s important to know that it’s not,” said Campton.

Her passion for protecting Ontario’s farmland has roots in her childhood, growing up on her parents’ cabbage farm in Wilmot. Her family’s farm was directly across the road from the land that the region was trying to acquire for the proposed industrial site.

Planting trees near streams has big benefits for the environment. These living green zones protect water quality and help stabilize eroding banks. That’s why ReForest Woolwich, the local non-profit aiming to increase the Township’s tree canopy, is offering free stream buffer planting for residents.

Anyone whose property has a stream near a roadway, currently lacks good tree cover, and has a planting area away from livestock activities qualifies for the program. Property owners must also plan to keep the trees and will have their site assessed to ensure the proposed planting will not negatively impact the existing ecosystem.

“What the stream buffer project is basically planting trees along streamways that intersect a roadway. So if you have a stream that intersects a road, we can plant it to a certain distance away from the roadway, and that’s just due to our funding requirements,” explained Braedon Witt, ReForest Woolwich’s operations manager.

This duck thinks it’s a puppy.

If you travel out to Pam Woodhouse’s farm in Ariss, you might encounter a rowdy duck named Buddy that has come to believe it’s a dog. This charismatic waterfowl has befriended a golden retriever named Lucy, and their pairing has led to delightful social media posts that feature them nuzzling and rough-housing.

“Buddy was a three-week-old duckling when we first got him. He was given to us from a friend in Burlington,” Woodhouse told The Observer, noting that the drake was ill-suited for an urban environment.

The proposal by CRA Lands Limited to obtain an industrial land-use designation for 108 acres of agricultural land and a former gravel pit north of Bridge Street West has renewed focus on the countryside line. 

Established in 2009 with roots tracing back to 2003, the countryside line was designed to curb urban sprawl and protect vital agricultural land. The region features six growth boundaries: one encompassing the urban tri-cities of Kitchener, Waterloo, and Cambridge, and five others dedicated to rural settlement areas, including Wellesley, New Hamburg and Baden, Elmira, St. Jacobs and Ayr.

Because the proposed development site sits on the north side of Bridge Street West in Woolwich Township, it directly breaches this established boundary. The prospect has prompted swift outcries from residents in the neighbouring Martin Grove Village and local advocates.

If public opposition was enough to quash a project, the proposal for an industrial site on Woolwich agricultural land would already be doomed.

A petition presented this week to township council includes the names not only of those who live in the vicinity, but from across Waterloo Region.

CRA Lands Limited is looking to develop land on the north side of Bridge Street at the edge of the township, opposite an industrial area in Waterloo. All the land is currently zoned for agricultural use. The business park would require changes to the township’s official plan, along with bringing all of it into the settlement area and arranging for water and sewer services from the City of Waterloo.

Artificial intelligence based on large language models is shaping up to be the most efficient destroyer of value since the South Sea Bubble. After the crash, some specific functions of AI will eventually turn out to be genuinely revenue-generating, and a lot of jobs will duly disappear. But the biggest winner (and potentially biggest loser) is medical science.

Dr. Brian Hie, a chemical engineer at Stanford University in California, has just revealed that his team has made the first viruses designed by artificial intelligence. They are ‘bacteriophages,’ viruses that only infect bacteria and are widely used to treat people with infections that resist other treatments.

However, natural bacteriophages sometimes fail, so Dr. Hie used generative AI to design new ones that might do the job. The AI generated thousands of designs for new genomes that more or less fit the bill, and he chose around 300 of them to build in the lab. It’s hard work, not magic, but he ended up with 16 ‘novel’ bacteriophages that might work.

The other day, after thoughtlessly typing “I want to be paddled” in my Internet search bar, I inadvertently found myself looking at several highly embarrassing images on my laptop’s screen.

Worse still, it was at this precise moment that Jenn walked in.

“Oh my God,” she said. “Are you looking at a canoe paddling website?”

She had caught me dead to rights, looking at the most humiliating thing a Canadian can be found looking at. That’s right, I was on a hard-core basic canoeing instruction website.

University of Waterloo researchers have discovered a way to help pitchers reduce stress on their elbows without sacrificing velocity. 

A study led by Cedric Attias, a graduate student in the mechanical engineering program, found that computer simulation revealed two main factors – a high arm slot, or angle and tilting the torso away from the pitching arm during delivery of the ball – that put the most demand on the UCL, ulnar collateral ligament, a band of tissue on the inner side of the elbow that connects the humerus (upper arm bone) to the ulna (forearm bone).

“A UCL sprain, shy of fully rupturing, is quite common,” said Ryan Wark, who is a partner and clinical director at Elmira’s SOS Physiotherapy. 

For many years, it was known simply as At The Crossroads.

The building that stands at the intersection of Arthur Street and Listowel Road in Elmira has been largely vacant since the pandemic, but recently became host to a new pub. Now one of the first things you see when driving into town, Piper Arms is looking to appeal to a broad demographic, boasting a night club vibe mixed with family appeal.

According to general manager Ragavi Ravichandrakumar, it took some heavy lifting to get the space into shape.

From rising cost of fuel to the steep increases in fertilizer prices, it’s been a costly year for farmers.

“With the increase in the price of diesel and fuels, of course, it gets passed down to the farmer,” said Angela Zike, board director for District 7 (Oxford and Waterloo) with the Grain Farmers of Ontario (GFO), adding that a major pressure right now is the price of fertilizer.

“Fertilizer costs are up. They’ve continuously been going up for the past two years, but they’re up again, and inputs are all up.”

Dear Editor:

This summer marks an exciting new chapter for the Centre Wellington Community Foundation (CWCF).

Following Randall Howard’s 16 years of dedicated leadership as chair, we are honoured to work together in our roles to continue building on that strong foundation and strengthening local philanthropy for generations to come.

Summer brings us together for local festivals, farmers’ markets and time with family and friends. It’s also a wonderful opportunity to reflect on what makes Centre Wellington such a special place to call home. From Fergus and Elora to our surrounding rural communities, our strength has always come from neighbours helping neighbours.

At CWCF, we work to ensure that spirit of generosity continues for generations to come. Our mission is simple: to build a permanent endowment that supports local charities, community organizations and initiatives forever. Gifts to the foundation’s endowment are invested and the income they generate is granted each year to local charities and community initiatives, while the original gifts remain intact.

One of the things we hope more people will discover is that philanthropy isn’t reserved for the wealthy. Every gift, regardless of size, becomes part of a lasting legacy. Over time, individual contributions combine to create a permanent source of support for the causes that make Centre Wellington a caring, resilient, and vibrant community.

Community foundations are built by the people they serve. Whether you’ve lived here all your life or recently made Centre Wellington your home, you can help shape our community’s future.

This summer, if you’re curious about how community foundations work, have ideas for strengthening our community through philanthropy or simply want to learn more about CWCF, we’d be delighted to start the conversation. 

Together, we can build a legacy that will benefit Centre Wellington for generations to come.

Jean Prichard (chair) and Judy Foster (executive director),
CWCF

On May 11, 2026, five statements of claim were filed against both the Elora and Blair House groups owned by Julia Zhang and her JD Development company. Two statements of claim were filed by Century Church, Benton Corp. and Aurelia Innovation Consulting. Rez-One, First Investment Ltd. and Husheng Development Ltd. all submitted claims as well. 

The lawsuits concern an alleged fraudulent invoice scheme, but they are still to be tested in court. First Investment Ltd. and its affiliated entities (the Plaintiff entities) invested in three jointly owned real estate development projects.

This injunction was to have Zhang and JD Entities refrain from “This injunction is to have Zhang distributing, misallocating, misusing, misappropriating, withdrawing, transferring or otherwise dissipating any operating income generated by the Blair House and Elora House projects.”

Zhang was recognized as one of Canada’s most powerful women by Women’s Executive Network in 2021. JD Development Group was established in Markham in 2008, with the goal of providing luxury rental housing for students.

JD Development built Blair House and Elora House as part of four residences that are run by Rez-One. Hespeler House and Fergus house are included in that project and have recently been sold. 

On Aug.31, 2018, the Xu Entities invested through certain of their investment vehicles (namely, Century Blair, Century Elora, Century Hespeler) an additional $35 million to acquire a 75 per cent equity interest in each of Blair House, Elora House, and Hespeler House, and an additional $6 million as debt financing for the projects,” the Notice of Arbitration states.

The Phillip Street Project — student housing residences in Waterloo, Ontario (Blair House at 256 Phillip Street and Elora House at 250 Phillip Street). The Plaintiff Entities hold a 75 per cent equity interest in these properties. 

The Church and Benton Project — an assembly of four land parcels in Kitchener, Ontario (69 Benton Street, 73 Benton Street, 39 Church Street, and 51 Church Street), in which the Plaintiff Entities hold a 49 per cent limited partnership interest. The development was paused in or around September 2024.

The LakeVu Project — a three-tower condominium development in Barrie, Ontario (Buildings A, B, and C at Lakeside Terrace), in which the Plaintiff Entities held an indirect 53 per cent interest. The Plaintiff Entities’ interest has been sold.

“In or around January 2016, the Xu Entities invested $5 million to indirectly acquire a 31.45 per cent equity interest in Fergus House,” which was the first investment by the Xu Entities in the Phillip Street Project, as stated in the Notice of Arbitration.

The minority partner manager of these projects is Zhang, operating through a network of corporate entities known collectively as the “JD Entities.” This development company is based in Markham. The Phillips Street Project is managed by Rez-One Management Corp., an entity controlled by Zhang.

“Key improper payments include approximately $859,365 to Remolife Landscaping (a company owned by Ms. Zhang’s common-law partner), $22,448.89 to Construction One Contracting, and $12,215 to ZO1 Ltd. Remolife’s invoices were grossly inflated, vague, and lacked supporting documentation,” the media backgrounder stated.

Julia Zhang and JD Entities and First Investment Ltd. could not provide a comment due to the lawsuit being in court.

It is with broken hearts and profound sadness, we announce the passing of our beautiful Catharine “Cathy” Clark (née de Jong), who passed away on August 5, 2026, at the age of 71, after a short but fierce battle with cancer. Cathy is now reunited in heaven with her beloved parents Maria and Jerry de Jong and her cherished sister Ina. Cathy was born on May 9, 1955 to her parents Maria and Jerry de Jong (predeceased). She was raised in a loving family on farm in Neustadt, Ontario along with her seven siblings. Cathy was the second oldest daughter until the passing of her beloved sister Ina at the young age of 10. Cathy had a bond with her siblings that was truly special. Being one of the older siblings, she often took on the role of a second mom, always looking out for everyone. She spoke very proudly of her upbringing and Dutch roots. She always enjoyed meeting other Dutch people, especially when it gave her a chance to speak Dutch again. Cathy leaves behind her daughter, Julie (Jason “Chuck”) Albert; her son, Michael Clark; her beloved grandchildren, Luke, Brooke, Ryan, Kaitlyn, Lynsay and their partners; her loving siblings, John (Nancy) de Jong, Rita (Steve) Shaw, Annette (Kurt) Henderson, Patricia (Rick) Sharpe, Yvonne (Bill) Carroll, and Geraldine (Ken) Rounds; as well as many cherished nieces and nephews and adorable great-nieces and great-nephews. She also leaves behind her dance partner and dear friend Don Antosh, whose love for her was unconditional. Cathy had many joys in life, but some of her greatest were caring for others, her friendships, dancing with Don, live music (the No Name Band being a particular favourite), gardening, socializing, making people laugh, children, and above all, her family. She had a remarkable gift for making people feel loved, welcomed, and cared for. For 40 years, Cathy ran a home daycare in Elora, something that brought her tremendous joy and allowed her to care for generations of children and families. After retiring, she found a new purpose in helping seniors and others in her community. Cathy could often be found driving around town with a car full of people, making sure everyone had a way to attend community lunches and dinners or simply get out and enjoy a social event. At times her daughter would ask her to slow down but she would have no part of it. Cathy expressed that it gives her purpose and she loved doing it. The loss of our mama, mom, grandma, best friend, sister, tante, aunt, dance partner, and friend simply cannot be put into words. Our hearts are broken. Cathy was so much more than any one of these titles could ever describe. To her daughter, she wasn’t only a mom, she was a best friend, confidante, and the person she could always turn to. To her grandchildren, she was a loving grandma who was incredibly proud of each of them. To her siblings, she was a sister, a friend, and the “glue” of the family. The bond they shared was like no other. To her friends new and old, she always greeted them with a smile on her face and embraced them with open arms. Cathy was taken from us far too soon, and it is difficult to imagine our lives without her. There was still so much life for her to live, so much more love to give, and so many more memories to make together. We are forever grateful for every moment we were blessed to have with her and for the countless memories she has left behind. We will miss her laughter, her hugs, her dancing, her phone calls, her stories (sometimes a little embellished), her caring heart, her friendship, and the unconditional love she gave so freely. We will carry her with us in the stories we tell, the traditions we continue, the music that makes us think of her, the gatherings where we feel her absence, and every time we remember to tell the people we love, “I love you.” There will never be another Catharine “Cathy”.  She was one of a kind, and there will always be a special place in our hearts that belongs only to her. Please join us in celebrating this incredible woman at 11:00am on Tuesday, August 18th at the Central Church, 7674 Colborne St, Elora, ON. Reception to follow. A private Interment to take place on August 19th in Ayton, ON. Arrangements entrusted to Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home Ltd., Fergus, ON, 519-843-3100. Visit www.grahamgiddyfh.com for Cathy’s online memorial.

Of Drayton passed away peacefully surrounded by the love of his family on Wednesday, August 5, 2026 in his 85th year. Beloved husband of Colleen (Baker) for 63 years. Dear father of Gail and Daniel Gibson of Guelph and Darren and Andrea Robb of Guelph. Cherished Poppa ofDrew and Rawan Gibson, Brock and Ashley Gibson. G Poppa of Noa, Carson and baby G to be announced. Brother of David and Peggy Robb and Kevin and Diane Robb. Brother-in-law of Bernice Robinson, Joan Clarkson and Winston Baker. Special Poppa to Sandy, Kevin, Clarke, Rich, Rob and TJ. Fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews and friends. To honour Donald’s wishes cremation has taken place. A celebration of life will be held in the Acton Royal Canadian Legion Branch 197 on Saturday, August 29th, 2026 from 1pm – 6pm. As expressions of sympathy donations to the Drayton Royal Canadian Legion Branch 416 would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the Heritage Funeral Home, Drayton.

www.heritagefuneralhomes.ca

Peacefully at the Wellington Terrace in her 91st year. Predeceased by husband Murray Taylor (2025). Lovingly remembered by her children Richard (Kathleen Mulliss), Cynthia (Ken Taylor), Jennifer (Todd Hambleton), Jeffrey (DeeAnn Roche), and Joseph (Lydia Della Rocca); her grandchildren Dustin (Laura Hoogendoorn), Brittney (Justin Holm-Laursen), and Hollie (Ely Sokyrko); and great-grandchildren Branson, Oaklynn, Lula, Fox and Emma. Honorary gramma to Nadine Mulliss (Bruce Boswell), and Brent Mulliss and their families. Survived by her brothers Wayne Ritchie (Sharon Stawicki), and Wally Ritchie, sister Lorraine Newman, and sisters-in-law Elinor Ritchie and Betty (Taylor) Hillis. Predeceased by her brothers Rae Ritchie and Murray Ritchie, sisters-in-law Sheila Ritchie, Nancy Ritchie and Heather Ritchie, and brother-law Gordon Newman. Shirley will be missed by her many Ritchie and Taylor relatives. Shirley was born in Grand Valley to Mae Pearl Benham and Joseph S. Ritchie, the oldest of six children, and attended the old school on the Main Street hill in Grand Valley. Shirley and Murray were married on May 29, 1954, at the Community of Christ Church in Grand Valley. Shirley and Murray owned and operated two successful businesses (Taylor’s Groceries and Taylor’s Department Store) on Grand Valley’s Main St. from 1963 until their retirement in 1988. Shirley spent a great deal of her retirement years as an avid spectator and supporter of Murray’s curling and lawn bowling events. The family would like to thank Dr. Stickney, and the staff at Wellington Terrace for the excellent care provided to Shirley, and for the kindness and attention given to our family. As per Shirley’s wishes cremation has taken place. A memorial service will take place at In Memoriam Funeral Services Inc. (28 Main St, N. Grand Valley.) on Friday August 14th, 2026, at 12:00pm, with 2 hours of visitation prior to the service time. Interment will take place at Grand Valley Union Cemetery following reception. In lieu of flowers donations can be made to: The Alzheimer’s Society, Community of Christ Church - Grand Valley or to a charity of your choice. Online condolences can be made at www.imfunerals.com. In Memoriam Funeral Services Inc. has been given the honour of serving the Taylor Family.

It is with heavy hearts that we announce the passing of Wayne Reid, who passed away on August 4, 2026, at the age of 68. Wayne was the loving father of Steven Deforest, Lowanna Patterson, Ashley Smith, and Sabrina Reid. He was a proud grandfather to Sarah Lockhart, Izaak Wilks, Maddison Kostal, Dylan Patterson, and Hannah Kostal. He will be dearly missed by his many siblings, nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. Wayne left a lasting impression on all who knew him. He was always the first to extend a helping hand to a neighbour, family member or friend. Wayne was hard working and enjoyed sharing his many skills by mentoring others. He loved spending time with family and friends, tinkering in his garage, and cruising around in his ’55 Chevy Bel Air. His mischievous smile, contagious laugh, and bear hugs will be forever missed. He will be remembered for his generous spirit, love of family, and the many memories shared with those who knew him best. Donations in Wayne’s memory may be made to March of Dimes Canada or Diabetes Canada, if desired. Family and friends are invited to celebrate the life of Wayne Reid on September 20, 2026, from 1:00pm to 4:00pm at Raging Bull Banquet Hall, 84 Lewis Road, Guelph, Ontario. Guests are invited to share memories and bring photos.