Tax season is here, and the Accounting & Finance Student Association (AFSA) is back in 2026 with its free tax clinic.

A group of trained volunteers are providing free tax return services for low income individuals and families starting today (March 21), and continuing March 22, 28, and 29.

“It’s generally beneficial for all students to file a tax return,” said Ben Ma, co-leader of the tax clinic. “Most students are eligible for low-income benefits, which will average around $1,100 over the course of the year. Plus you can accrue tuition credits, which can save you 14 cents per dollar of tuition when you eventually have income in the future.”

The clinic generally works on a walk-in basis, however, more complex situations may take more time, so fill out the screening tool linked here to determine whether you need to book an appointment.

“Usually we see about 200-300 clients a day,” Ma said. “Since we have about 50 volunteers at one time, we’re able to handle most returns within an hour.” 

Volunteers cannot prepare a return that involves the following: self-employment, rental income, interest income over $1,200 (except those claiming a T2202 tuition credit), a foreign investment property worth over $100,000, disposition of marketable securities, employment expenses, bankruptcy, deceased persons, or total income above $40,000 (for individuals) or $55,000 (for couples, with +$5,000 for each individual dependent).

The clinic is hosted in the Science Teaching Complex room 1012 from 10 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. today, along with March 22, and March 29. On March 28, it will be hosted during the same hours in the J. R. Coutts Engineering Lecture Hall, room 301. 

Anyone with additional questions can reach out directly at taxclinic@uwafsa.com. 

Hundreds of people attended The Waterloo Forum moderated debate in the Science Teaching Complex between Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith and Conservative MP Matt Strauss on Wednesday evening, March 18.

Hosted by the University of Waterloo Young Liberals, Waterloo Conservative Club, and the Political Science Student Association, the event focused on a broad range of topics, including affordable housing, healthcare, young people in politics, immigration policies, floor crossing, and the medical assistance in dying (MAID) program. 

Erskine-Smith represents the riding of Beaches-East York, while Strauss represents Kitchener South-Hespeler. Each MP had a set amount of time to answer each question, and the speaking order was randomized, decided by a virtual coin flip. The debate was formatted into four sections: open ended questions, policy modelling questions (both allowed time for rebuttals), adversarial questions drafted by Liberal and Conservative clubs addressed to the opposing MP, and an audience question-and-answer period.

Young people getting involved in politics

While discussing younger people getting involved in politics, Strauss said it was his hope that they would not feel that they have to run for elected office, and that there are many ways for young people to get involved, such as activism. “I feel like a lot of the times, the solutions are simple… It is government regulation and heavy handedness and red tape that is preventing homebuilders from [building homes.] Builders want to build, and it’s politicians who stop them.” 

Erskine-Smith noted that there are costs to politics, such as being away from family and loved ones. He added that it’s important that people, no matter their profession, should stay engaged in politics. “Name your problem that directly affects you, or a problem that affects a loved one, and I guarantee it all tracks back to politics,” he said. “If you want better, you should participate.”

Affordable housing

The moderator, science faculty senator Jordan Bauman, noted that the cost of housing has risen significantly faster than wages recently, creating barriers for students and new graduates. He asked what policies each MP would implement to address the issue. 

Erskine-Smith noted that it’s about getting the government out of the way and driving down the cost of homebuilding. He added that Ontario is the only province in Canada that does not have a provincial housing agency, and that these responsibilities are instead pushed onto municipalities, who are ill-equipped to deal with the housing crisis on their own. “We need to treat housing as a home first, and an investment second,” he said, adding that homebuyers should be prioritized over investors. 

Strauss stressed the importance of property rights. He told a story about his friend who came to Canada from Albania who eventually became a housing developer in the region. He purchased a plot of land, planning to build 32 townhouses on it, but the City of Cambridge told him he could only build 16. He ended up fighting with the city council for two years. “I have that exact story, or ones that sound like it, from every corner in the province. Politicians don’t build houses — builders do, and we have to let them.”

Healthcare

Bauman asked MPs how the federal and provincial governments should approach healthcare understaffing, while clarifying the involvement of the private sector.

Erskine-Smith noted that there is plenty of private delivery in the public healthcare system, and that public health insurance should be “non-negotiable” in the system. “When it comes to private delivery, the thing we absolutely need oversight over… is to make sure we don’t see upselling. We don’t see additional charges that undermine the idea of universality, that undermine the idea of core public health insurance.” He added there are plenty of ways to improve the healthcare system, including more competition in the duopoly of blood services, supporting doctors getting into the practice, and serving underserved communities.

Strauss told a story about he and his postpartum wife bleeding and in the emergency room two days after their son was born. After six hours of waiting, there was no bloodwork, no bed, and no doctor that visited them. “I told the triage nurse in [the ER] that ‘I’m a doctor, I’m going to take her home. If she bleeds again, I’m going to take her to a different hospital because this is crazy.’ And he said, ‘Yes please. That would be great, thanks.’” Strauss compared it to visiting a burger restaurant, waiting six hours for a burger, then telling them you’re leaving to go to a different restaurant — they would eventually go out of business. “You can have a strong public insurance model, but if you take out the idea of competition, you lose the invisible hand. Suddenly everyone’s incentive is to get you to take your bleeding, postpartum wife home instead of providing her the care so that she’s a happy customer,” Strauss said.

Immigration

Erskine-Smith said that federal immigration targets need to be aligned with the province when it comes to their housing and infrastructure targets. He said that there have been challenging immigration numbers post pandemic, due to the temporary foreign workers program and international students. “International students, more broadly, are incredible contributors to our community. But the system was incredibly mismanaged by [Premier Doug] Ford, and then we came in too late at the federal level to fix those rules and to bring numbers down.” 

Strauss said that the federal government quadrupled the number of immigrants allowed in annually, and that it was the Liberal party that allowed that. He added that he loves immigration, and that his mother is a refugee to Canada, but uncontrolled immigration hurts local employment and the healthcare system. He asked how this was determined on the Liberal benches. “How did this happen? When you were studying public policy at Queen’s or Oxford or both, did anyone ever run a case study of ‘What if we quadruple immigration this year?’ It’s bananas, and it’s hurt a lot of people.”

The full debate is available on YouTube. 

There were a total of 218 Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) charges from St. Patrick’s Day festivities this year, between March 13 and March 18.

The most common charge was related to the highway traffic act at 128. The liquor licence and control act charge was next at 58. Other charges included bylaw (12), other (10), criminal code (6), trespass to property (3), and the cannabis control act (1).  

WRPS released the results on their website today, March 20. The number of arrests was not specified. Police estimated that the crowd reached its peak on March 14 at 7,500 people.

This year’s enforcement data shows a decline from 2025 and 2024 – last year’s celebrations led to more than 254 charges and 17 arrests, while there were 257 charges in 2024. This year, things were still busy, but clearly more controlled.

During the St. Patrick’s Day period, mainly on March 14, City of Waterloo bylaw officers responded to 72 calls related to noise and nuisance complaints, a drop from 129 in 2025. On that same day, they issued the following penalty notices: seven nuisance party (an $800 fine) charges, six charges for blocking traffic ($800), 21 noise violations ($400), and three public urination charges ($400). There were also 49 property standards orders given out for clean-up.

“We are disappointed that students and others continued to gather on our streets, creating a nuisance and a community safety concern,” said Grant Curlew, acting director of municipal enforcement services, in a release. “We are thankful there were no significant injuries, and that crowds were smaller, more contained, and dispersed more quickly than in previous years. ”

Most of us are well-aware that what we eat directly influences our physical health as well as our general sense of well-being. Have you ever gulped a sugary soda looking for a late-night study boost and then rapidly found your energy (and concentration levels) crashing to a whole new low? Well, if you’re looking for some easy, affordable snacks that will not only satisfy your cravings, but that can also support optimum cognitive function, we’ve compiled a few great choices.

Nuts & Seeds

Whether it’s trail mix or a handful of peanuts, almonds, or pumpkin seeds, snacking on nuts and seeds provides you with a variety of minerals and nutrients, not to mention a solid dose of protein. 

Brain-boosting nutrients: The healthy fats and antioxidants present in most nuts and seeds can support memory, processing time, and overall neuron function. If you’re curious what nut comes out on top, walnuts are often touted as the top contender, given its high amount of ALA omega-3 fatty acids.

Air-popped popcorn

We all have times where we want nothing more than a snack that we can continually graze on while studying a tough concept. Air-popped popcorn is a relatively low-calorie and tasty snack option.

Brain-boosting nutrients: This movie theatre favourite is packed with polyphenols, an antioxidant that can reduce oxidative stress and its effects on the brain and body.

Dark chocolate

You’ve probably seen dozens of social media influencers and health gurus emphasize the health benefits of a few squares of dark chocolate. For optimal benefits, aim for a bar that contains about 70% or more cocoa.

Brain-boosting nutrients: Flavanols are what make dark chocolate such a great option if you’re looking to support optimal brain functioning. Flavanols can support long-term cognitive functioning and boost focus.

Fruit salad or homemade fruit smoothie

Whether it’s a mix of kiwi, apples, and grapes or whatever fruits you currently have on hand, snacking on whole fruit or blending them together with milk or water can be the ideal snack. Not only is it hydrating and appealing, but fruit also boasts many beneficial nutrients!

Brain-boosting nutrients: Harvard Health Publishing shares that research shows berries in particular can boost memory. Again, the winning nutrient here is the flavonoids found within berries such as raspberries or strawberries, that not only lend these fruits their bright colours, but also their cognitive-boosting effects.

Cheese with whole-grain crackers

A classic snack and for good reason! Who doesn’t love cheese alongside some crunchy crackers? Whether you’re a fan of sharp cheddar, some classic mozzarella, or perhaps some mild provolone, pairing cheese alongside whole-grain crackers combines a solid amount of protein and carbs, keeping any unwanted energy crashes away.

Brain-boosting nutrients: It is the amino acid tyrosine found within cheese that can help you ace that exam. Research finds that about an hour after cheese consumption, ‘convergent thinking’ is increased. This kind of thinking, known as ‘deep thinking’ essentially means you can solve problems with less guesswork or simply move along your study session faster and more effectively. Tyrosine also promotes cognitive ‘top-down’ control, which helps explain its study-boosting power.

As we near the final few weeks of classes, there’s little doubt that exhaustion and stress have started to take a toll. Regardless, reserving even a few hours this weekend for some fun might just give you the break you need, so that when it’s time to hit the books, you’ll feel refreshed and recharged. This weekend, you need not go far from campus to find big fun!

The GLOW Centre is hosting a lavender ball this Friday, March 20 from 7-10 p.m. in the SLC Black & Gold room. The night of dancing is open to all UW undergraduate students, who are welcome to bring along one guest. Tickets are $4 for undergrads and $7 for guests. If you’re hoping to plan your outfit for the night, keep in mind the theme is ‘starry night.’ Complimentary food and beverages will be provided. Don’t miss out on a night of good music and new connections! Tickets can be purchased online on the event page on WUSA’s website or some remaining tickets may possibly be available for sale at the door.

Are you craving something tasty to beat the end-of-term stress? Come out this Saturday, March 21st between 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. or from 6 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. and get ready to whip up some amazing dishes. All levels of kitchen expertise are welcome to attend. You’ll be making chimichurri chicken thighs, spring salad, and strawberry mochi. Tickets are $25.00 and can be parched online on their WUSA event page.

Finally, if you want to wrap up your Sunday night with a little UW entertainment, the St. Jerome’s musical theatre club is hosting Little Shop of Horrors: The Musical from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. Tickets are $20 each for students and $25 for members of the general public. The show takes place at Waterloo’s Maxwell’s Concerts & Events Hall. You can purchase your ticket online on the WUSA events page.

After a heartbreaking first-round OUA playoff exit to the eventual champion Guelph Gryphons in triple overtime two weeks ago, the Warriors are now competing for an opportunity at redemption, this time at a national level. 

The 2026 Miller Waste U Sports Championship will be hosted in Elmira at the Woolwich Memorial Centre from March 19-22, UW’s second consecutive year hosting the event, and will feature the top eight teams from all four U Sports conferences. The sixth-seeded Warriors will take on the Gryphons in the first round at 7 p.m. on the 19th, though the first matchup of the tournament will be between the seventh-seeded UManitoba Bisons and the Concordia University Stingers at 3 p.m. on the same day. 

The key for the Warriors in this matchup is to control the puck and capitalize on opportunities. The OUA is one of the strongest conferences in Canada, and the winner of this game will be a favourite to win against either the Stingers or the Bisons in the semi-finals. Last year, the Warriors crushed Concordia, who were ranked the second-best team in Canada headed into the playoffs, 5-1 in the semi-finals before claiming silver against the Bishop’s Gaiters in the finals. 

“I think it’ll be a great game,” says Tatum James, second-team OUA all-star forward for UW.

This year, the tournament is seeing some familiar faces, as well as returning ones. Here’s the full list of teams and everything you need to know about them.

1. UBC Thunderbirds

Region: Canada West (champions)

Record: 4-0 playoffs, 26-2-0 regular season

The Thunderbirds are the top seed for just the second time in program history. Though they’ve historically been a top-3 seed, they’ve struggled to advance past the semi-finals, usually exiting in the first round or finishing with a bronze medal. They’ve been ranked number one in U Sports for 15 weeks; that’s the entire regular season. Their star-studded roster includes two first-team All-Canadian players: forward Grace Elliot and defenseman Jaylyn Williams. They also have the reigning FOX 40 coach of the year, Graham Thomas, who led them to a record-breaking 26 wins this year. They’ve only lost 13 out of 112 regular-season games in the last four years, and swept their competition in the playoffs to make their fifth consecutive U Sports championship appearance. If they win, it’d be the first time in program history. They’ll be playing their first game on Friday, against the UMontreal Carabins at 7 p.m.

1. Concordia University Stingers

Region: RSEQ (champions)

Record: 4-0, 22-2-0

Right behind the Thunderbirds are the Stingers, who have been ranked #2 in Canada since Nov. 17, though they started the season ranked #5. Another team filled with talent, their roster includes first-team All-Canadian and U Sports player of the year Jessymaude Drapeau, who finished with the most points this season, 39, and led her team to a clean sweep of the playoffs to cement the second seed. Supporting Drapeau are forward Émilie Lussier and defenseman Émilie Lavoie, both second-team All-Canadians. The Stingers won it all in 2024 and have completely dominated their conference. They finished with 22 wins; no other team has more than 13. They’ll be playing the first match of the tournament today at 3 p.m. against the UManitoba Bisons.  

1. Guelph Gryphons

Region: OUA (champions)

Record: 5-1, 19-4-3

The reigning OUA champions and the team to beat for the Warriors. It’s their first time at U Sports since 2018, and history is in their favour; the last time they qualified, they won the entire tournament. Their roster includes the OUA player of the year and first team all-star, forward Katherine Heard, and second team all-stars Arielle Macdonald, Maeve Sutherland-Case, and Sophie Helfenstein. It’s anyone’s game against UW, and they’ll be playing tonight at 7 p.m.

1. UNB Reds

Region: AUS (champions)

Record: 5-2, 20-6-2

The Reds attend the U Sports championship year after year and have had a strong season. Nevertheless, the AUS is one of the weaker conferences, and historically, they’ve been first or second round exits, including to teams ranked lower than them. They’ll be playing the Gee-Gees on Friday at 7 p.m. 

1. UOttawa Gee-Gees

Region: OUA (finalists)

Record: 4-3, 15-9-2

The runners-up for the OUA championship are a dark horse to win it all this year. They returned to the OUA two seasons ago after playing in the RSEQ, and are making their first appearance in U Sports since 2009. They’re coached by Olympic Gold Medalist Ali Domenico, who joined the program two years ago, and are led by Gillian Warren, who has the most points of any OUA player competing. Their goalkeeper, Clara Genier, has an inhuman 0.927 save percentage; for context, the highest save percentage in NHL history is 0.944. Though Guelph bested them in the OUA championship, it was an incredibly tight series that could’ve gone either way. They have a strong matchup against UNB, who they’ll be playing on Friday.

1. University of Waterloo

Region: OUA 

Record: 1-2, 17-8-1

Despite starting their season 3-7, the Warriors made an incredible turnaround to finish 17-9, and have proven they aren’t a team you can write off. The squad boasts two first-team all-stars, forwards Keiara Raitt and Carly Orth, a second-team all-star in forward Tatum James, who holds the record for most career goals by a Warrior, and an all-rookie player in Brooke Williams. The depth and experience of this team cannot be discounted, and they’ll be carrying that with them against the Gryphons.

1. UManitoba Bisons

Region: Canada West (finalists)

Record: 4-4, 13-9-6

It’s the Bisons’ return to U Sports after last qualifying in 2019, where they won the bronze medal in that outing. They’re the only team in the tournament not to rank in the top 10 during the regular season. They’ll be looking to secure an upset victory over the Stingers today at 3 p.m.

1. UMontreal Carabins

Region: RSEQ (finalists)

Record: 2-3, 13-9-2

The other team from the RSEQ, the Carabins, have had an eventful season. They won all of their games against RSEQ teams, except for the Stingers, who are responsible for 11 of their 12 losses this season. They have a difficult matchup against UBC, but they’ve overcome the gap before; in 2024, they upset the Thunderbirds 4-2 in the first round. They play on Friday at 7 p.m.

The UW Faculty, Alumni, Student, Staff (FASS) theatre company held a 2025 winter show the past weekend. Their show was titled ‘What (Not) To Do After Graduation’ and was held at the Kitchener-Waterloo Little Theatre between Thursday, March 12 and Saturday, March 14.

The comedy show follows three students after graduation as they enter a job market. With a total of eight scenes, characters Junie, Elle, and Conrad graduate together, scroll through LinkedIn, face the ‘OSAP Repo Squad,’ and have hilarious conversations with professors and family members. 

Allie Beldan, FASS president, along with Isabella Sciorili, director of the show council, were in the green room ahead of the show with the rest of the cast and crew as everyone geared up for opening night.  When asked about their favourite part of the process, cast members said having fun, looking at the lines and joking with each other. 

The cast consisted of a wide range of STEM students, including accounting, psychology, biomedical science, and more. Sciorilli mentions needing a creative outlet after entering STEM and to nourish a creative side. The sentiment seems to be the same for many of the other cast members, all looking for a way to express themselves outside of school and work. 

Zara Syed, in her final year of mechatronics engineering, plays Junie. She describes the irony of her situation, having auditioned for FASS in the winter of 2025 but had to drop the role to focus on her job search. After she accomplished what she wanted career wise, she was able to return to FASS and commit to a role. She says, “That’s exactly what the play is about, the things you sacrifice.” 

Nick Boyce, who has been with FASS since 2016, the primary script writer, talks about his experience with job hunting the past few years, and describes it as “just so miserable.” With help from other members of the cast and crew, they were able to create a fun twist on job hunting and that included a choreographed sword-fighting scene.

The crew started off the show with a ritual, getting the crowd to join in and perform a few lines of “Singing In the Rain.” Throughout the show, the cast seamlessly helped to rearrange the stage and quickly switch between costumes at times. And of course, staying on brand with UW, there were several mentions of co-op, computer science terminology, and MathNews. However, the highlights from the show were the epic sword fight scene and the personification of LinkedIn.  

Beldan mentioned that FASS has a policy that whoever auditions gets a part. With a wonderful community, putting on great shows since 1962, FASS is a great way to get involved with the community. Whether it be enjoying some UW themed shows or joining the cast in having fun on stage, FASS seems to have a spot for everyone and anyone. 

KENILWORTH – Pharmacies in Arthur and Mount Forest are set to improve their lighting with a $9,229 boost from Wellington North. 

The green energy grants include $5,000 for Walsh’s Pharmacy in Mount Forest and $4,229 for Walsh’s Pharmacy in Arthur. 

The projects involve replacing outdated fluorescent lighting systems with modern LED flat-panel fixtures. 

The green energy grants fall under Wellington North’s community improvement program. 

Its goal, officials say, is to encourage property owners to:

• improve energy efficiency in existing commercial, industrial and institutional buildings;
• facilitate the installation of small-scale renewable energy systems; and
• promote active and sustainable transportation infrastructure such as bike racks, bike repair stations and electric vehicle charging stations. 

“Walsh’s Pharmacy has been a long-standing and valued business in Wellington North for nearly 75 years,” states a March 9 report to council. 

It was founded in Arthur in 1952 by John Walsh, and  relocated to its current Arthur location, at Charles and George Streets, in 1955. 

The lighting system has not been fully upgraded since the building’s construction that year, resulting in poor lighting quality, high energy use and increased maintenance, the report states.   

“In 2014, the Walsh family expanded their operations with a second location in Mount Forest, further strengthening their presence and service to residents across the township,” it continues. 

The lighting system there has not been upgraded since then, and relies entirely on fluorescent fixtures, which are inefficient and require special disposal due to mercury content. 

The business is now into its third generation, with Joe and Cheryl Walsh operating both locations since 1992 and their son Nick joining the business in recent years.

“Walsh’s Pharmacy has been a cornerstone of health care and community service in Wellington North for generations,” the report states.

“This project will help ensure their facilities remain safe, efficient and environmentally responsible as they approach their 75th anniversary.” 

GUELPH/ERAMOSA – Snow may still be blanketing much of the island, but Hillside Festival organizers are gearing up for summer with the announcement of this year’s lineup. 

The festival takes place on the island at Guelph Lake Conservation Area from July 17 to 19. 

Over 50 artists from all over the world are performing during Hillside’s 43rd annual festival, with local musicians joined by those travelling from Sudan, Australia, Ukraine, the U.S., Columbia, the U.K., Guyana, Cape Verde, Côte d’Ivoire and the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). 

They include award winning reggae artist Tiken Jah Fakoly, who officials say attracts “tens or even hundreds of thousands of spectators to his concerts in Africa [and] is famous for his explosive stage performances.” 

Singer-songwriter Elida Almeida was born on Santiago, an interior island of Cape Verde, “a countryside so deep, so remote, that most of its inhabitants never leave it,” she said. 

But Almeida has travelled world stages with her music, sharing a voice officials describe as warm, suave, and “capable of exulting with power.” 

Canadian comedian, actor, writer, recording artist and this year’s host of the Junos Mae Martin will also be taking to the stage, after launching their career in music last year. 

Toronto-band Cowboy Junkies formed in 1985 and are set to perform a show that spans their 40-year, 29-album career. 

Fulu Miziki means “the sound of garbage” in Lingala, and this eco-friendly-afro-futuristic-punk band from the Ngwaka district of Kinshasa, the capital of the DRC, has a “unique sound (that) carries a pan-African message of artistic liberation, peace and a harsh look at the ecological situation,” officials state.   

Canadian singer-songwriter Donovan Woods is “known for his candid, emotionally resonant songwriting,” blending folk, country and pop, officials state. 

Mad Professor has been a prominant figure in the English dub music scene for four decades and has worked on tracks for Depeche Mode, Jamiroquai, the Beastie Boys, Massive Attack, Rancid, Horace Andy and U-Roy.  

Performers also include Stars, Hollerado, Matt Mays, Austra, Angine de Poitrine, The Free Label and Tell it to Sweeney. 

Returning acts will include showcases from JamSchool Youth and Girls and Guitars, as well as guest curator Celeigh Cardinal, who presents Electric Religious, Darla Daniels, Mimi O’Bonsawin, the North Sound and Piqsiq. 

“This year’s lineup reflects Hillside’s long-standing reputation for bringing together acclaimed Canadian talent, international voices and artists audiences may be discovering for the first time,” Hillside officials state.  

The festival also includes an Indigenous circle, workshops, a children’s area, an artisan market, a food bazaar and on-site camping. 

For more information about the performers and festival or to purchase tickets, visit hillsidefestival.ca. 

ABOYNE – More than the artifacts themselves, the Wellington County Museum and Archives loves to receive local artifacts that come with a story or that help to piece together the larger story of the people and places in the county’s history.

The shoe store token local resident Eric Huber dropped off on March 11 fit the bill.

It is old, circa 1911, local, from Ford’s Shoe Store in Rockwood, and it’s got a really interesting back story, said museum curator Hailey Johnston.

Archivists were able to find a short history of Eli Ford, who lived in Eden Mills and perhaps Rockwood and was listed as a merchant in Rockwood in 1911.

He gave tokens to his regular customers, each good for five cents off their next cash purchase of shoes.

This token is octagonal in shape, made of brass and is 23mm in diameter.

The information about Ford comes from a book called Numismatically Wellington, a numismatic listing of various businesses in Wellington County and the token or medals they used. It was written by Harry N. James and published in May 2015.

The book also has information about Ford’s parents, Eli Ford and Josephine (Brohman) Ford, who came to Canada from England in 1851 and settled in the Guelph area. They had 11 children in all, some born in England and some in Canada.

The younger Eli Ford married Mary Catherine Ingle in 1891. Eli was already a shoemaker at this time.

Museum curator Hailey Johnston said these tokens were used the way current shop owners use coupons, offering a deal to loyal and returning customers.

“We see a lot of them,” she said, noting bread and milk tokens were fairly common back in the day.

The shoe store token is less common and the fact it’s from a store in Rockwood made the museum interested in acquiring it.

“We can’t take everything though,” Johnston said, adding the museum doesn’t have an acquisition budget, nor does it have unlimited space. But as a registered charity it can issue tax receipts, so there’s some benefit to those who donate items.

“The hardest part of my job is deciding what to keep,” said Johnston.

Huber, who has a side hustle clearing junk and delivering items to local charities, often spies items that might have historical interest and is a regular donor to the museum.

“He’s got an eye for things,” Johnston said.

Huber said he has an interest in historical items and often haunts antique stores, thrift stores and flea markets. That’s where he found the shoe store token.

Johnston said she’s happy to talk to people to discern whether their item might be accepted by the museum.

“We love people to offer us things and if I can’t say yes, I try to make suggestions on where (their item) can go,” she said.

Archivist Karen Wagner is also interested in acquiring items for her end of the facility, such as log books and business records.

The focus is on local (from Wellington County) historic items that tell a story. So the more information about an item the better.

“It’s not necessarily the thing they think we’ll be interested in that we take,” Johnston added. “It’s really about the story behind it.”

Anyone with artifacts they think the museum and archives would be interested in can contact Johnston at 519-846-0916 x5226 or email haileyj@wellington.ca.

Anyone with archival records can contact Karen Wagner at ext. 5235 or email karenw@wellington.ca.

KENILWORTH – The mayors of two north Wellington townships say provincial wastewater infrastructure funding announced Wednesday will unlock development in their communities.

Premier Doug Ford visited Wellington County on March 18, announcing $29 million for water and wastewater projects in Wellington and Perth counties at a press conference held inside the Kenilworth public works garage.

Perth-Wellington MPP Matthew Rae, acting infrastructure minister Todd McCarthy and local politicians were also present.

Wellington North is receiving around $14 million for a long-needed upgrade to the Arthur Wastewater Treatment Plant, and Mapleton is receiving around $12 million to replace its sewage pumping station in Drayton.

Sewage allocations, required to accommodate provincially-directed growth in Arthur, were paused in 2023 after the village’s wastewater treatment plant hit capacity.

Provincial taxpayer dollars will cover 70 to 78 per cent of the Arthur treatment plant upgrade, which is expected to cost $18 to $20 million and accommodate 1,061 additional housing units in the village.

The remainder of the cost is likely to be covered by the township’s development charge reserves, as well as debt and water and wastewater user fees.

A report on a financing plan is expected to come to council on March 23.

“Municipalities carry much of the responsibility for community infrastructure, even when the benefits and growth are shared more broadly,” Lennox said during the announcement.

“That's why partnerships like this really matter, and why we sincerely appreciate the province's contribution."

The township twice unsuccessfully applied for provincial funding in recent years before submitting a joint application with Mapleton in 2025 to the province’s $875-million water health and safety fund through the Municipal Housing Infrastructure Program.

The upgrade will turn a holding tank into an aeration bay and settling tank, pipes will be upsized and a new headworks building, which removes solids from sewage before it enters treatment, would also be installed.

Speaking to the Advertiser following the announcement, Lennox said the project price tag is “immense” for a small municipality and necessitates help from taxpayers outside the township.

“The benefits of this go outside the borders of our municipality too, so it makes sense that the broader society should contribute to it as well,” Lennox said, noting the township supports the area’s workforce and economy.

“If you look at us in the context of the whole province, we've been making our share of the contributions to the housing growth that the province wants, and then some."

Arthur’s total population is projected to grow to 20,500 by 2051, from 12,700 in 2021, according to Wellington County’s official plan.

The number of households is projected to grow to 7,660 from 4,860 in the same timeframe.

The treatment plant was previously upgraded in 2020, but rapid development quickly consumed capacity at the plant, which empties into the Conestogo River.

Lennox said much of the additional capacity facilitated by the funding announced on March 18 is already spoken for by ongoing developments.

“We’ve already informally allocated where that capacity will go,” Lennox said, referring to a study last year exploring expected development in Arthur.

He added there are incoming development applications that will exceed the capacity of the new upgrade.

“Right now we do not have enough wastewater capacity to build more homes,” Mayor Gregg Davidson told the Advertiser.

The township is currently undergoing a $42-million water and wastewater upgrade in Drayton and Moorefield to open development potential.

Davidson said developers are waiting on the township to complete the project to “unlock that housing.”

Part of the overall work includes relocating a Drayton pumping station from one side of the Conestogo River, where it floods with high river levels, to higher ground on the other side, at an estimated cost of $16 million.

A 700-unit development is ready to be built in Drayton’s south end, off Wellington Street South. And a 100-acre plot nearby to the east could be developed to accommodate 400 homes.

There’s also land available to be developed within Moorefield’s urban boundary.

“We expect that we’ll be able to double the size of Drayton and Moorefield,” Davidson said. “That’s going to be a slow growth period.”

Mapleton’s total population is projected to grow to 15,100 by 2051, from 11,200 in 2021, according to the county’s official plan.

The number of households is projected to grow to 4,820 from 3,260 in the same timeframe.

The province provided just under $9.8 million last year for the township’s projects.

“We now have covered $22 million through the Province of Ontario,” Davison said, noting the cash means the township won’t have to jack up water and wastewater user fees for residents.

Davidson noted Mapleton and Wellington North discharge treated wastewater into the same river and need to ensure the Conestogo is “maintained or even better from what we’re putting into it.”

“The province likes the idea of joint applications, and this one was a joint application with an environmental aspect,” Davidson said.

Perth West is receiving $2 million to replace its Herbert Street sewage pumping station, and Perth East is receiving $675,250 to restore its Milverton water well.

The premier said the “historic” funding is part of $150 million spent on infrastructure in Perth and Wellington counties since 2024.

FERGUS – Dark, heavy smoke was billowing out from a second-floor bedroom window when volunteer firefighters arrived at a Courtney Street house fire around 3pm on March 18.

Centre Wellington deputy fire chief Jonathan Karn said firefighters found burning clothing, bedding and a mattress ignited by an unattended candle in a bedroom of a two-storey townhouse.

Twenty-three firefighters and five trucks from the Fergus and Elora stations were on scene Wednesday, with crews clearing after about two hours.

"A lot of heat, a lot of smoke, not as much fire," Karn told the Advertiser by phone on Thursday. "There was zero visibility on the second floor."

Smoke alarms were activated and tenants at the home quickly evacuated, along with neighbours in adjacent townhomes, Karn said, adding no injuries were reported.

"[The] fire was contained to a second-floor bedroom, but certainly a lot of smoke damage throughout the entire home and a bit of water damage," Karn said.

Damage could exceed $100,000, the deputy chief suggested. The department has ruled the fire was accidental and non-suspicious.

Firefighters checked next-door units for smoke, Karn explained, and the department is confident fire did not extend into the walls.

"The units on either side were cleared and those residents were allowed back in," he said.

Residents from the affected home have been displaced and Victim Services was contacted, he added.

Karn said people should never leave burning candles or cooking unattended.

WELLINGTON COUNTY – Doug Ford’s majority government is expected to pass legislation this spring consolidating Ontario’s 36 conservation authorities into just nine regional authorities.

In Wellington County, six conservation authorities cover watersheds winding through seven lower-tier municipalities.

With the changes, the county’s watersheds would be covered by three new regional authorities beginning next year.

The government argues the current 36 conservation authorities are fragmented, inconsistent and inefficient, leading to permitting and development delays.

For more than 70 years, conservation authorities have been charged with managing watershed resources; issuing permits for developments in sensitive areas affected by floodplains, wetlands and shorelines; protecting drinking water; maintaining conservation lands; and monitoring surface and groundwater.

Environment minister Todd McCarthy insists those responsibilities will continue uninterrupted with consolidation.

New regional authorities, he noted, would be strengthened in watershed management and flood resilience through “consistent provincial standards, modern tools and strengthened capacity” while getting developments built faster.

During a 45-day consultation period in November and December, the government received over 14,000 comments distilled into five key areas:

• the size and disparate needs of proposed regional conservation authorities;
• service disruption;
• cost of consolidation;
• fear of losing local input; and
• diluting municipal governance.

On March 10, the province released a decision outlining the coming changes in more detail, including updated boundaries that increased the number of regional authorities to nine, from the seven originally proposed.

“We listened and used feedback from last fall’s consultations to refine and strengthen our plan, including optimizing regional boundaries to better reflect local needs, knowledge and relationships,” McCarthy told reporters earlier this month.

The Ontario Provincial Conservation Agency (OPCA) was created last year to oversee the transition. The agency would be funded annually to the tune of $3 million, starting this year.

Following the transition, the province claims the centralized leadership agency would monitor regional authorities’ performance and improve service delivery. Annual funding would later be redirected to regional programs.

Under the new regime, transitional committees would be formed by the OPCA for each region, with a representative from each of the existing authorities.

An appointed committee chair would become the new chief administrative officer of the regional authority, with a two-year term limit.

Regional authorities would be tasked with creating watershed councils, consisting of members from local municipalities and Indigenous communities to identify local priorities. It’s through the councils the government says local input would remain.

Though the regional authorities would be municipally-governed, upper-tier governments such as Wellington County would take over appointing members.

Lower-tier municipalities, which currently appoint members to conservation authority boards, would no longer directly participate.

Each regional authority would have between 15 and 20 members, with at least one appointed member from each municipality, based on population, and a cap to prevent over-representation.

“It’s definitely going to happen,” said Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) board vice chair and Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters of the consolidation.

Watters said other conservation authorities rejected the plan, but the GRCA decided to “work with province … and hopefully make the system better.”

The GRCA, with a 26-member board, is one of the largest authorities in the province, representing 38 municipalities.

The GRCA met with McCarthy last week, Watters said, noting the board has been “supportive” and is happy with the province’s decision to split the originally proposed Lake Erie regional authority into separate eastern and western authorities.

The GRCA would join Catfish Creek, Kettle Creek and Long Point Region conservation authorities to form the Eastern Lake Erie Regional Conservation Authority.

Watters said the groups all oversee watersheds emptying into Lake Erie. The Grand River watershed begins at Luther Marsh and empties into the lake.

“It all makes sense in terms of watershed management in and around Lake Erie,” Watters said, adding the three smaller conservation authorities will benefit from the GRCA’s resources.

“By consolidating, it just makes it better for everybody,” Watters said.

Puslinch Mayor James Seeley, who represents the township, along with Guelph/Eramosa and Erin, on the GRCA board said in a message it appears the province listened to the GRCA's boundary recommendations, better suiting the interests of local communities.

Former GRCA and Conservation Ontario chair Chris White, also Wellington County warden, said conservation authorities will benefit from consolidation, as long as original mandates are met and the county has a local voice.

Erin Mayor and Credit Valley Conservation (CVC) board member Michael Dehn said he’s concerned the town will lose its voice once the CVC joins Halton, Hamilton and Niagara conservation authorities to form the Western Lake Ontario Regional Conservation Authority.

A limb of the Credit River runs through downtown Hillsburgh, and in Erin another limb wraps around one side of Main Street to the other, behind the county’s new library.

“Flooding is of major concern,” Dehn said, noting the GRCA owns conservation land in the town’s rural areas to address flooding.

“If these watershed councils are actually going to have some meat on the bones to make decisions, great,” Dehn said. “My understanding is they won’t.”

Dehn doesn’t much care what the organizational structure looks like and admits to seeing some benefits to consolidation – as long as the local voice remains.

“What happens (farther) down the watershed (in Lake Ontario) starts up where we are,” he said.

Wellington North councillor Steve McCabe, who represents Wellington North and Minto on the Saugeen Valley Conservation Authority (SVCA) board, decried the province’s plan to remove lower-tier municipal participation.

“I’m literally on the ground every day here in the municipality,” McCabe said, adding county taxpayers need fair representation.

McCabe agrees with consolidating local authorities in Wellington North – “we don’t need three conservation authorities in one township or one county” – but said the Saugeen Valley watershed doesn’t have anything in common with some of the five additional authorities to be included in the new Lake Huron Regional Conservation Authority.

“I’ve sat on the SVCA (board) for almost 11 years, and can there be more efficiencies? Absolutely,” McCabe said.

But he criticized a long-unchanged provincial funding model.

“They talk about how inefficient we are, how we’re not doing a great job, well we don’t have any money,” McCabe said.

Municipal taxpayers currently cover more than half of a conservation authority’s budget.

Another 35 per cent of funding comes from self-generated revenue and the provincial and federal governments together cover around 12%.

Though the funding structure under consolidation remains unclear, the province’s March 10 decision, published to the Environmental Registry of Ontario, suggests the county, as the upper-tier municipality appointing members to a regional authority, “would be levied for portions of [conservation authority] operating expenses and costs not covered by other sources of revenue.”

“I guess we’re gonna find out once the takeover happens here, and see if it’s gonna save any money, or it’s gonna cost more money – it’s hard to tell,” said Minto councillor Ed Podniewicz, who represents Minto, Mapleton and Wellington North on the Maitland Valley Conservation Authority (MVCA) board.

“I guess nobody has any say in this matter; just whatever the province decides to do they’re gonna do,” Podniewicz said, adding he’s against consolidation.

The MVCA would join the SVCA in forming the Lake Huron regional authority.

“I’m not in favour without a lot more input or more discussion on it before they actually impose something like that,” he said.

Susan Fielding is a citizen member and vice chair of the Hamilton Conservation Authority board, which covers a small portion of southwest Puslinch, where the headwaters of the Hamilton Harbour begin.

The township is covered by three conservation authorities, including the GRCA and Conservation Halton.

“We did not want to see amalgamation,” Fielding said.

“We made that clear to the province ... “We felt that we were doing a good job as far as getting permits out in a timely manner and looking after things and being fair to developers.”

Though the board opposes joining the Western Lake Ontario regional authority, Fielding said members intend to participate while advocating for local concerns.

“It really takes away voices of, particularly smaller places, but very important areas of the conservation authorities,” Fielding said of the change.

Puslinch councillor Sara Bailey, who represents the township on GRCA and Conservation Halton boards, respectively, declined to comment.

Lisa Hern, a Wellington North councillor who represents Wellington North and Mapleton on the GRCA board, did not provide comment.

Along with having their data breached, residents of a Breslau neighbourhood are taking issue with how long it took for them to be informed of the fact.

Sanderson Management was hit by a “cybersecurity incident” on August 10 last year, but Breslau resident Steve Lichti wasn’t made aware his personal information was at risk until notification arrived on February 27.

“We were extremely concerned because this breach took place six months ago,” Lichti told The Observer.

St. Jacobs’ Rob and Michele Way will be flying to Nunavut today (Thursday) for the northernmost Hockey Helps the Homeless NHL Alumni Game, where Toronto Maple Leaf alumni and other professional hockey players will face off in Iqaluit.

It is one of the coldest spots in Canada, where temperatures can reach minus-45.6 degrees Celsius. Those conditions lead to significantly higher costs for food, electricity, and transportation than, say, this neck of the woods. As Rob Way noted, a bag of milk that’s $6 here costs $20 in the northern territory.

The alumni tournament is looking to raise money to help with the food and housing insecurity more prevalent there.

Having swept through Hespeler in the first round of the PJHL playoffs, the Wellesley Applejacks were on the receiving end of that fate in the second, falling in four games to the Tavistock Braves.

The curtain fell on their season March 11 in a 1-0 loss on home ice.

The game was the closest of the series, the Jacks having opened it with a 9-6 loss, followed by decisions of 3-1 and 4-2. Wellesley wasn’t going without a fight, however, as they poured it on in game-four.

On the peaceful evening of Monday, March 9, 2026, Sheila Anne Moore passed away at the age of 93, leaving behind a life beautifully lived and a garden of love that will continue to grow in the hearts of all who knew her.
Born on September 2, 1932, Sheila was the cherished daughter of Gertrude (predeceased 2000) and Simon (predeceased 1973) Zinger, and a beloved sister to George (predeceased 2022) and Audrey. From her earliest days, Sheila carried a quiet strength and warmth that would shape the many lives she touched.
Sheila was the devoted wife of William Moore, with whom she built a life rooted in love, resilience, and family. Together they nurtured a home that became a place of comfort and belonging for many.
She was a proud and loving mother to Douglas (Laurel), Allan (Judy), Brian (Roubina), Bill Jr (predeceased 2011), Nancy (Ken) and Valerie (Chris). Her greatest joy was watching her family grow, and she was deeply loved by her 14 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren, each of whom carries a piece of her spirit forward. Sheila also loved and adored all of her nieces and nephews.
Sheila treasured her wide circle of friends, including Marion and Lisa who were invaluable with their love and support in recent years.
A lifelong gardener, Sheila understood something profound about life: that the most beautiful things grow slowly with patience, care, and love. Her gardens were never just about flowers—they were reflections of the way she lived. She tended to people the same way she tended to the earth: gently, faithfully, and with unwavering devotion.
Sheila was a caregiver at heart, an honorary mother to anyone who needed one, and a steady presence in the lives of many beyond her immediate family. Her kindness took root wherever she went. The seeds she planted—in encouragement, in generosity, and in quiet acts of love—continue to bloom in the lives she nurtured.
Those who knew Sheila will remember her hands in the soil, her home always open, and the feeling that you were welcome and cared for simply by being near her. She showed us that love, like a garden, grows stronger when it is shared.
Though we grieve her passing, we take comfort in knowing that the garden she planted in all of us will continue to flourish.
Her love lives on in every life she touched.
Arrangements entrusted to Gilbert MacIntyre & Son Funeral Home, 1099 Gordon St, Guelph. A Visitation will be held on Saturday April 18, 2026, from 12:00-1:00PM. A Memorial Service will immediately follow at 1:00PM
in the funeral home chapel. Reception to follow.
In memory of Sheila any donations to Building a new Nithview Long Term Facility that lovingly cared for Mom or Sick Kids Foundation would be greatly appreciated by the family. Donations and condolences can be made on her memorial page at
www.gilbertmacintyreandson-hart.com

A Conestogo-based band, Roemers, will be rocking their tunes during the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival at Gore Park next month. 

The band recently released its fourth original song, entitled Jane Bond, about growing in a relationship and learning to move past it. 

“And leaving it all behind where you could have gone for it, but you didn’t, in the long run,” said André Regier, the vocalist and guitarist for the four-piece outfit.

While Waterloo Region’s new garbage collection service got underway earlier this month, it opened the door to an opportunity for some elementary-aged kids in Breslau. 

Hudson Aitken, 12, and Harper Aitken, 10, have created a new business, dubbed Breslau Bin Assist, to help get the new big carts to the end of the driveway, offering their services to the likes of seniors, busy families, or those going on vacation. 

They wanted to just “try to help somebody out here and there,” Hudson said.

The Sugar Kings took a 2-0 lead over the LaSalle Vipers as the first-round GOHL playoff series got underway in Elmira over the weekend.

The home side posted wins of 4-1 and 2-0 before the series jumped to LaSalle for games Wednesday night – though results weren’t known before press time – and Saturday.

The wins build on the momentum the Kings showed at the end of the regular season, noted head coach Cory McRae.