DDT was manufactured in both companies/countries.  Chlorobenzene is a significant part of the process. There is also a benzene plume at Montrose Chemical similar to Uniroyal/Elmira. Both sites have identified chlorobenzene DNAPL also known as free phase DNAPL. Both sites have identified residual chlorobenzene DNAPL. Both sites apparently have client driven consultants with a firm grasp on both fantasy and the bottom line.

Differences include the stratigraphy. Montrose Chemical has between 235 and 250 feet of sand, silt, clay etc. in their aquitards and aquifers all above Bedrock. Uniroyal/Elmira has approximately only 100 feet of aquitards and aquifers with sand, silt, clay & gravel above their fractured Bedrock Aquifer. The Gage Aquifer beneath the Montrose Chemical site in California begins at 175 feet below ground surface and is sixty feet thick and is contaminated with both dissolved chlorobenzene AND free phase chlorobenzene DNAPL. Here in Elmira we are to magically believe that the free phase chlorobenzene DNAPL didn't go below the Municipal Aquifer at worst, a mere 45-65 feet below ground surface. Recently it sounds as if Lanxess are walking that back to no free phase DNAPL past the Upper Aquitard (UAT) which is ridiculous. 

DDT is poorly soluble in water (very low) in both locations however it is very soluble in chlorobenzene in both locations. DDT is likely in California (Montrose Chemical) to become a mobile contaminant in groundwater after it has dissolved in the chlorobenzene.  It should be the same in Elmira (Uniroyal) although here in Elmira we also have dioxins dissolving and moving in groundwater with chlorobenzene.

This Feasibility Study (Montrose Chemical) has varying time estimates for major cleanup. They are between 3,100 and 5,800 years. I suspect that we can do better here in Elmira (Uniroyal) albeit all guilty parties do appear to be doing their best to achieve those time frames.

♦I came into the city today to take part in Toronto Mike's podcast. I'd like to thank him for making me feel comfortable and welcome as our conversation went out live to the Internet. He's clearly an old hand at this, as I was guesting on his podcast's 1,761st episode, but he treated me fantastically well, making me feel like a celebrity. He took the time to research my background and came up with new, interesting and nicely challenging questions that got me to speak about the heart of my writing, as well as my influences, including my mother.

And it was also the perfect venue to talk about The Night Girl. As you can see from Toronto Mike's studio, this is a man who loves Toronto and grew up in the thick of things in the eighties and nineties. We shared memories about the Blue Jays' first World Series win, my love of Doctor Who, and the gigantic tonal shift TV Ontario took every Thursday at 7 p.m. as we switched out from The Polka Dot Door to Tom Baker's opening credits. These days were exactly the sort of thing that was at the back of my mind when I wrote The Night Girl, and it was wonderful to share time with a kindred spirit.

Seriously, check out the episode, and check out his podcast. Many interesting epsiodes with fascinating guests await.

One thing Mike and I discussed was the golden age of blogging, before social media sucked our audiences away with their addictive algorithms. We talked about how some of the great things about the early days of our current Internet are already lost, and apropos of that, I'll draw your attention to changes happening on the Transit Toronto YouTube Channel.

Basically, we're moving, opening up a completely new channel to eventually house our current video library and all new videos. This is not something we particularly want to do, and it comes with the cost of complete demonetization (at least, until we bring over enough subscribers and gather enough views to monetize the new channel). Unfortunately, thanks to decisions made at the dawn of YouTube, we have no choice.

Because the account was built around 2010 on an e-mail that no longer exists, that sat on a domain that is no longer under our control, the current YouTube Channel can ONLY be controlled by my Gmail address. If any of the over half-dozen individuals who currently now help out making videos for the channel want to post, I'd have to give them access to my Gmail account. If something were to happen to me to cause me to lose access to the Gmail account, the YouTube Channel would effectively be locked up.

Can we appeal to YouTube to fix this? No, because I'm not officially the site's owner, I'm just the guy the site's owner appointed as the manager. And since the site owner is no longer reachable (because of the e-mail issues described before), I can't do anything to add partners or participants to the channel, and YouTube simply won't accept my e-mails as proof that they need to do something to fix the problem.

It's hilarious the amount of frustrating bureaucracy you can encounter outside of a government setting.

So, we start over, completely from scratch, and hope that we have enough subscribers willing to make the migration to get us on our feet again. Oh, well. It sucks, but this move ensures the ultimate longevity of Transit Toronto's online video library.

If you want to help, please go to the new Transit Toronto channel and like, share and (most importantly) subscribe. You can also consider becoming a paid supporter of our Patreon account. Either way, enjoy the classic old videos we'll be porting to the new site in the weeks to come, as well as the new videos we'll continue to produce..

The email's title was the worst thing a tech person could see.

URGENT: Potential Data Exposure.

A junior developer on my team had made a simple mistake. They sent an analytics file to an external vendor for testing. But the file wasn’t just test data. It contained real customer information with names, email addresses, and purchase histories for over 1,200 real people.

For one terrifying hour, we thought it was over. We thought we’d have to face our customers, the media, and huge GDPR fines. I pictured my project, which we’d built for two years, getting shut down completely.

Then, our lead security engineer walked into my office. “Relax,” he said. “I think we’re okay. The data was anonymized.”

That’s when I became a huge believer in hiding personal data. It didn’t just save our project; it saved our butts. It stopped a huge, embarrassing problem and saved us a ton of money. Let me tell you how we did it, and how you can do it too.

Before that day, I thought anonymization was just a checkbox for the legal team. I was wrong.

Think of it like this: Using raw data is like sending a friend a photo of your driver’s license. Using anonymized data is like giving them just the zip code from your address. They get the valuable information they need without any of your private details.

Our breach wasn’t a disaster because the data we sent was treated. The real customer names were replaced with unique codes like “User_7b7Xq9.” The email addresses were masked, showing only the domain like “***@gmail.com.” We had turned all the personally identifying information into useless tokens.

The vendor got the data patterns they needed. They could see that “User_7b7Xq9” bought a red jacket after looking at boots. But they had absolutely no way of knowing that “User_7b7Xq9” was actually Jane Smith from Ohio.

That scare taught us to build anonymization into every project from day one. We follow three simple rules.

The biggest lesson was to never use real data for testing or development. We now have a strict rule: production data and non-production data must be separated. Any data used for testing, sharing with vendors, or analytics must be run through our anonymization tool first. No exceptions.

Anonymization isn’t something you do just once at the end. We made it part of our daily workflow. It’s baked right into our data pipeline. Whenever data is copied or moved, our automated tools check it and anonymize it if it’s going to a less secure environment. This automation is what saved us. The developer didn’t have to remember to anonymize; the system did it for them.

This is the most important step. You can’t just hide the names and call it a day. You have to ask: “Can I still use this data?” and “Is it truly anonymous?”

We test it by building simple machine learning models. We train one model on the real data and another on the anonymized data. If the anonymized model’s predictions are almost as accurate, we know we did it right. If the accuracy drops, we know we anonymized too much and removed the useful patterns.

You don’t need a huge team or expensive software to start. You can begin with simple, free tools.

For a small team, start with a Python library like Faker or Presidio. With just a few lines of code, you can create realistic but fake data for testing.

This code creates a list of customers that look real but are completely fictional. It’s perfect for building new features without touching a single real customer record.

That email was the most frightening moment of my career. But it was also the most educational.

We didn’t have to send 1,200 apology emails. We didn’t get a fine. The project didn’t get canceled. We simply called the vendor, confirmed they deleted the file, and that was the end of it.

The best part? Our project’s data insights didn’t suffer at all. The anonymized data was still incredibly valuable for spotting trends and training our AI models. We kept the power and lost the risk.

Protecting your data isn’t about not trusting your team. It’s about building a system that is safe by design. It’s about making sure a simple, human mistake doesn’t turn into a company-ending crisis.

Start small. Take one customer dataset this week and try anonymizing it. The peace of mind is worth it.

We Had a Breach: How Anonymization Saved My Project was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

The Montrose Chemical Corporation 's site in Los Angeles, California sits on thirteen acres. I think that that is smaller than Uniroyal Chemical's site here in Elmira. They manufactured DDT which requires chlorobenzene as part of the process. They spilled or dumped chlorobenzene onto the ground and into the natural environment apparently with just about the same care, consideration and respect for their human neighbours and the natural environment as Uniroyal Chemical did. 

The extent of the environmental damages there are beyond horrific. The extent of chlorobenzene DNAPL present in the subsurface is both horrific and a major reason why their cleanup may go on for generations. Based upon my first hand experience here in Elmira with Uniroyal Chemical and corporate successors, it appears to me that our local home grown (i.e. U.S. multi national company)  polluter has a standard solution for their environmental problems. Politely it is called gilding the lily and or greenwashing or even minimizing all problems. Less diplomatically it's called obfuscation or lying like dogs.

Why do corporations think that switching spokespersons somehow nullifies their history of dishonesty and deception? Why do corporations think that changing ownership also somehow nullifies their past history of deceit with local citizens? Is it possible that corporations like Uniroyal/Lanxess believe that as long as they have the local councillors support then lying to their citizens is now somehow O.K.? 

None of it is O.K. Not one goddamn word from Lanxess is O.K. or ever will be. All bridges of trust, respect and confidence have been burned by Uniroyal/Crompton/Chemtura and Lanxess. Too many lies by too many people for too many years/decades has caused this. Shooting the messenger is but one of their tactics with much support from local politicians over the decades, to their shame. 

If you’re involved in governance – especially in the post-secondary or not-for-profit sectors, Paul Wilton is someone you may know. As University Secretary at King’s University College, Paul is deeply immersed in the daily complexities of both academic and board governance. His experience is hands-on, strategic, and informed by years of thoughtful leadership.

♦Fred Galloway shares “Paul is keen observer of sound governance practices and evolving governance perspectives in the post-secondary academic space. His hands on direct experience with Kings governance development and evolution, and his successful doctorate work on post-secondary institution governance provide a unique vantage point in helping others learn about and develop effective governance models, practices and outcomes.”

You may already know Paul through The Governance Guys, the blog and podcast he’s co-hosted for the past five years with fellow Capacity Canada Executive in Residence, Andrew Jardine. But what you might not know is how Paul’s recent PhD research could fundamentally reshape the way we think about governance. His doctoral work focused on the board’s oversight of the financial crisis at Laurentian University in Sudbury, a post-secondary institution serving the North, with a unique bilingual and tricultural mission.

In February 2021, Laurentian became the first in Canada to declare insolvency using a piece of legislation designed for private companies to seek protection from their creditor. This decision led to widespread layoffs and the elimination of academic programs, contravening established university governance norms with painful impacts on the Sudbury community.

Through his research, Paul explored the root causes and consequences of this governance failure and was able to pose critical questions that continue to shape the dialogue on institutional accountability and community trust:

• How did the Board and Administration understand the Board’s oversight role?
• How did governors oversee the university’s finances?
• How did Laurentian’s board handle governor recruitment?
• How did the Board exercise its oversight role in a time of sustained financial challenges?

Paul shares, “Capacity Canada is a trusted organization with a strong reputation for advancing good governance across the country. I’ve had the opportunity to learn from their Executives in Residence (EIR), whose insights have deepened my own interest in governance.”

Paul’s passion for governance has been a consistent thread throughout his career. He began by volunteering with nonprofit organizations and eventually progressed to serving on a board of directors. His commitment to continuous learning and knowledge-sharing led him to co-host a podcast focused on governance, where he explores the experiences and perspectives of others in the field.

Paul Wilton’s journey reflects a deep and evolving commitment to strengthening governance in the post-secondary and nonprofit sectors. From his hands-on leadership at King’s University College to his in-depth research on the Laurentian University crisis, Paul brings a rare combination of practical insight and academic reflection.

To learn more about governance and Paul’s thesis reach out to him at: Paul@capacitycanada.ca 

The post Thesis Completion Marks a New Chapter for Paul Wilton appeared first on Capacity Canada.

It took 11 days in jail for Bruce* to be able to leave alcohol behind.

Bruce* is finding a fresh start, after years of homelessness and addiction.

That, and House of Friendship’s Live-In Treatment program.

“House of Friendship saved my life,” said Bruce. “I don’t know where I’d be without it.”

Ever since Bruce’s first visit to a bar when he was 19, alcohol has been a major part of his life.

“I had six double ryes and Cokes, and walked out of there, with no problem,” said Bruce. “I had a tolerance for it.”

When Bruce went to college, he was in a group that “partied hard” and still got good grades. With a good paying summer job, Bruce always had the money he needed to buy alcohol and go out to bars.

“Back then, I crashed on the floor, or couch, or wherever,” said Bruce. “During the week, we’d go for ‘liquid lunches.’ If I couldn’t get a ride to the bar, I would run to it at lunchtime.”

Bruce, now 62, spent years chasing the feelings that only alcohol could give him. In all the major milestones of his life – and the many days in between, alcohol was there. And it would lead him to some tough places – years of bouncing from shelter to shelter to living on the street. And sometimes, it even led to jail.

“I never had a good time with alcohol,” said Bruce. “It always led to destruction. It always led to trouble.”

Last year, Bruce assaulted his brother after an argument. It was bad enough to send Bruce to jail. It was then that he decided he needed help.

It took decades before Bruce felt ready to address his problem with alcohol, but the roots of his addiction go back as far as his childhood.

Growing up, Bruce always struggled to fit in, to feel like he belonged.

“I remember being chased and being picked on in grade school,” said Bruce. “When you are a loner, it’s hard. Everyone else got invited to birthday parties, but I didn’t. Everyone else used to get Valentine’s, but at my desk, nothing.”

Growing up in an Eastern European family, Bruce remembers getting half shots of alcohol on special occasions when he was as young as 10.

“It was just tradition.” He didn’t realize that he drank differently from others until he was an adult.

When he started drinking, there was no stopping. Alcohol was the only constant in Bruce’s life – jobs would come and go, and where he lived would always change, because he couldn’t keep up with the demands of his everyday life.

And while Bruce went through periods of sobriety and tried different treatment programs, he always turned back to alcohol when life became difficult.

“I didn’t know how to stop. When I went to a bar, if I had $400 in my pocket, it would be gone by morning. I couldn’t care less.”

When Bruce was finally at the point in his life where he was ready to make a change, the support he received at House of Friendship’s Live-In Treatment program made all the difference. Bruce met regularly with a counsellor and participated in the group sessions. He enjoyed cooking meals for other participants and encouraged others on their journey.

He was so motivated that he spent all his spare time working on his progress, filling in his binder with insights, and learning more about himself as he went.

“When you are on the street, you don’t know how to act. It’s not how someone treats you, it’s how you react that matters. I had to learn that.”

Bruce continues to work on his goals, regularly meeting with a counsellor as part of the program’s after-care support. He is looking forward to the future with hope, for the first time in a long time.

He’s also incredibly thankful for the help he received through House of Friendship.

“It’s not a right to be at the House of Friendship; it’s a privilege,” said Bruce.

Thank you for being there for men like Bruce as they start a fresh chapter in their lives! Your care and compassion help reduce the stigma of addiction and are changing lives for the better!

*Name changed to preserve the privacy and dignity of the storyteller.

The post Alcohol Always Led to Trouble appeared first on House Of Friendship.

I recently read Mel Robbins’ book The Let Them Theory. In a nutshell, it’s a framework to help you detach from what you can’t control and instead focus on managing your own reactions and well-being. She recommends two simple but powerful phrases: Let them act that way, followed by Let me do this.

And I’ve started applying the Let Them Theory to making workplaces better.

For example, when Charlsie Niemiec posted on LinkedIn about what happened when she pushed back against a racist marketing campaign, I immediately thought:

Let them laugh at a marketing campaign that perpetuates negative stereotypes. Let me say, “I can’t be the only one finding this offensive and inappropriate, right?”

Here are a few more:

Let them make that disparaging joke. Let me say “We don’t do that here” to reinforce a more inclusive culture.

Let them refer to a woman physician by her first name while calling her male colleague “Doctor” followed by his last name. Let me call her “Doctor” last name.

Let them interrupt a speaker and ask an off-topic question, which might undermine their credibility. Let me offer to start a “parking lot” of topics to address later and tell the speaker, “I wrote down that question; You can keep going.”

Let them say they don’t think a job candidate would be a culture fit. Let me say “I think they’d be a culture add and will bring something new to our team that will help us meet our goals.”

Consider how you can apply the Let Them Theory to create a better workplace. And send me your ideas. I’d love to hear from you.

Share this action on Bluesky, LinkedIn, Instagram, Threads, or YouTube.

Earlier this week, the U.S. Supreme Court paused a previous ruling that prevented federal agents from making immigration stops without reasonable suspicion. In practice, this means I.C.E. agents can target people based on their appearance, language, occupation, or for being at a location where undocumented immigrants might gather. Source SCOTUSblog

For many, this decision feels deeply personal. Your coworkers may be worried about their own safety, or about family, friends, and communities impacted by immigration enforcement.

As I’ve shared in past newsletters, moments like this call for allyship at work. Take Michelle MiJung Kim’s advice: Acknowledge what’s happening, let people know you’ve been paying attention, and offer your support.

Even a simple, “I saw the news — I’m thinking of you and here if you need anything,” can help colleagues feel less alone.

In From intention to impact: 3 ways men in leadership can build equitable workplaces that work for everyone, Lisa Kaplowitz, Colleen Tolan, and Olivia Foster-Gimbel summarized their survey findings of managers about gender equity.

One of the gaps Kaplowitz et al. identified was related to men taking parental leave. Most of the women surveyed considered it vital to gender equity, but many men didn’t see the connection.

The article cites research that shows paternity leave is a powerful driver of gender equity: It normalizes men as caregivers, supports women’s workforce participation, reduces sexist attitudes, and even helps close wage gaps.

Yet many men cut their leave short — often returning within a week — because of fear of judgment, career setbacks, or stereotypes about masculinity. This mismatch between what men believe privately and what they think other men expect perpetuates the stigma.

The more openly men take parental leave, the more they contribute to shifting workplace culture toward equity for all parents.

Nate Shalev recently shared how stressful it can feel to ask for time off to observe Jewish holidays. Too often, employees wonder: Will my manager even know what these holidays are? Will they judge me for observing them?

No one should feel like their identity is a liability at work. As better allies, we can make this easier — and it doesn’t take much.

Here are three ways to support colleagues during any religious holiday not covered by standard company calendars:

• Don’t schedule mandatory meetings or events during major holidays.
• Proactively send a note to your team affirming it’s okay to shift schedules or take time off to observe.
• Advocate for floating holidays so everyone can take time for what matters to them.

Shalev also pointed out the upcoming Jewish holidays to keep in mind, with a note that they start at sundown:

• Rosh Hashanah: September 22- 24
• Yom Kippur: October 1–2
• Sukkot: Week-long holiday from Oct 6–13, but most will only take off work on the first two days and the last day
• Simchat Torah: Oct 14–15

This week’s spotlight on an ally action from the Better Allies community comes to you from a subscriber who works in the tractor industry. They wrote,

“In the world of tractors, we speak a language all our own — full of technical terms, acronyms, and shorthand that help us move fast and stay efficient. But sometimes, even the most common abbreviations deserve a second look.

Recently, I made a conscious decision to step outside my comfort zone and request that the word ‘transmission’ not be abbreviated as ‘trans’ in printed communications. While this shorthand is widely used in our industry, I recognized that it can unintentionally carry meanings beyond our technical context — meanings that affect real people in our broader community.

This change wasn’t about me. It was about being mindful of how our words land with others. As someone who values inclusion and allyship, I believe we all have a role to play in creating a workplace where everyone feels seen, respected, and safe. Sometimes, that starts with something as simple as spelling out a word.

Language matters. And when we choose words that reflect both our technical precision and our human values, we build a stronger, more inclusive culture — one shift, one sentence at a time.”

🙏 Thank you.

If you’ve taken a step towards being a better ally, please reply to this email and tell me about it. And let me know if I can quote you, either by name or credit you anonymously, in an upcoming newsletter.

That’s all for this week. I wish you strength and safety as we all move forward.

Karen Catlin (she/her), Author of the Better Allies® book series
pronounced KAIR-en KAT-lin, click to hear my name

Copyright © 2025 Karen Catlin. All rights reserved.

Being an ally is a journey. Want to join us?

• Follow @BetterAllies on Bluesky, Instagram, Medium, Threads, or YouTube. Or follow Karen Catlin on LinkedIn
• This content originally appeared in our newsletter. Subscribe to “5 Ally Actions” to get it delivered to your inbox every Friday
• Read the Better Allies books
• Form a Better Allies book club
• Get your Better Allies gear
• Tell someone about these resources

Together, we can — and will — make a difference with the Better Allies® approach.

Let Them/Let Me, and Other Actions for Allies was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

♦The image of the left is a section of a photograph of the No Kings Protest in front of Los Angeles City Hall, snapped by the Wikipedia user ItalianAce. It is used in accordance with their Creative Commons License.

This post is also available for free on my Patreon page. If you'd like my latest posts to be delivered into your inbox, please sign up and help me build my community of readers.

When I was finishing the final draft of The Night Girl, the story was supposed to be set in 2018. Although the year is never mentioned, the dates correspond with 2018. Or 2029, as it turns out.

For the years that I wrote The Night Girl (2003-2016), the story was supposed to be far enough in the near future to feel contemporary, but slightly ahead of its time. Subway lines were finally going to open in Toronto, and there was a new (but somewhat familiar) mayor. Torontonians were going about their business as much as they were when I was writing the story.

Publishing takes longer than people think, but thanks to Kisa Whipkey and REUTS Publications, The Night Girl came out in October 2019, not too far into the near future for the story to clash with reality. (And thanks again to Ed Willett and Shadowpaw Press for giving the story a new lease on life in 2025)

Then 2020 happened.

While the reviews for The Night Girl have been favourable, some have criticized the resolution. One noted, "[it's] too good to be true. With the events of 2020, I admit that I lost a lot of hope in the human race, so I tended to side with the fairies on this one. In the real world, [this story] would have ended in rivers of blood." Others questioned the use of Toronto's homeless statistics as a plot device, with James Davis Nicoll noting that, if 20,000 goblins and trolls were enough to seriously bend the veil in a city with a population of three million, "any fey folk population larger than one percent of the human population is going to wreak havoc on the veil."

When writing The Night Girl and ending the story with the faeries, goblins and trolls coming out from behind the veil and allowing themselves to be seen by the human race, I tried my best to hint that the human reaction was mixed. While the worst of us would act as we'd expect them to, the best of us would open our arms, accept our new neighbours for who they are, and welcome them into society.

Tent encampments for the homeless were already a feature of North American cities by the time my novel came out. Since then, the situation has only gotten worse. We've seen the politicization of the pandemic, the celebration of ignorance and the rise of malicious disinformation. Then there's the ongoing plague of Trump and his fellow travellers, some of whom revel in cruelty, denounce empathy as sin, and wish death on the people I love for being queer.

With all this, I can see how some may see my resolution of The Night Girl as hopelessly optimistic. It's true that I'm an optimist, often a hopeless one, but my children genuinely dread the future, and I can't say "things will be all right" without sounding trite or condescending.

But does that change the need for people like the faeries, goblins and trolls to step out from behind the veil and demand respect for their existence, and for the angels among us to welcome them? I don't think so. Instead, the events of 2025 only demonstrate their courage in doing so. The question now becomes, how do we react?

A few weeks ago, millions of Americans took to the streets, from Los Angeles to New York and in over 2000 centres in between. They came out in some of the reddest of red states of America to stand up for the rule of law, to stand up against authoritarianism, and to demand respect for the human rights of all people. Yes, this is only the beginning of the struggle, but it shows that the best angels of our nature are still with us and within us.

There is a lot of work to do to fight back the fascists and win an optimistic world for our future. But it starts with standing up and, more importantly, never sitting down again.

And who knows? Maybe The Night Girl is set in 2029 after all.

Are you an experienced professional with a passion for Indigenous storytelling and community empowerment? APTN is looking for dynamic, visionary leaders to apply to be a board member and help shape the future of Indigenous media in Canada.

This leadership opportunity is your chance to join a national conversation, contribute to meaningful change and be part of a team committed to representing the voices and stories of First Nations, Inuit and Métis Peoples.

We’re seeking individuals with diverse professional backgrounds who are ready to lend their expertise and help guide our organization forward. Whether you have experience in finance, governance, law, community leadership or the media industry, we encourage you to complete your board member application today!

APTN’s board of directors opening is ideal for experienced professionals who are passionate about Indigenous media, community engagement and advancing reconciliation through storytelling.

APTN is where Indigenous stories come to life.
For over 25 years, APTN has been amplifying Indigenous voices, breaking new ground in Canadian media and delivering authentic, compelling stories that reflect the resilience, diversity and richness of First Nations, Inuit and Métis communities.

As the world’s first national Indigenous media network, APTN offers unique programming through three platforms:

• APTN – Our flagship channel featuring English and French content
• APTN Languages – Canada’s first channel dedicated entirely to Indigenous language programming
• APTN lumi – A streaming platform offering Indigenous-focused films, series and documentaries

From award-winning dramas to investigative journalism and daily news, APTN is more than just a media outlet, we’re a community-driven, multiplatform network and a powerful advocate for Indigenous Peoples in Canada and around the globe.
As a charitable media organization, APTN works in collaboration with Indigenous creators and independent producers to deliver content that informs, inspires and empowers.

APTN is governed by a volunteer board of directors representing all regions of Canada. The governance board is responsible for the oversight of APTN and sets its policy and direction while guiding the organization to fulfill its mission, mandate and vision, remaining a true reflection of Indigenous Peoples across Canada.

The board supports the network to remain a trusted and effective outlet for Indigenous content, while contributing to a greater national understanding of Indigenous Peoples’ issues and perspectives.

We seek members to contribute some of the following capacities on our board:

• Finance;
• Legal;
• Representation from Northern, Southern, Eastern and Western Canada;
• Elder or knowledge keeper;
• Youth perspective;
• First Nations, Inuit or Métis perspective;
• Broadcast industry;
• Corporate experience;
• Traditional knowledge and values;
• Television or film production experience;
• Indigenous language speaker;
• Regulatory experience;
• Experience in news and/or journalism.

These areas of expertise balance the values of the organization, ensure cultural and geographical representation and identify skills that will assist in expanding APTN’s presence in the ever-evolving media environment. Past experience on a board of directors, while not necessary, will be beneficial.

The board communicates mostly in English and each meeting involves the substantial reading of reports.

Term(s) of Office: Directors will be elected for up to a three-year term and may sit for a maximum of two consecutive terms.

The board of directors meet at least four times per year typically in Winnipeg, Man., COVID-19 restrictions permitting. Additional meetings may be held by video or teleconference and directors are expected to participate in one or two board committees, which meet virtually, by phone or at board meetings.

Travel and accommodations for meetings are arranged and covered by APTN.

If you are interested in serving on the APTN Board of Directors, you will need to complete an online application form and upload the following documents. Please prepare your files before completing the online application:

• Cover letter (maximum of two pages) that addresses your interest in sitting on the board, the skills or areas of expertise you can contribute and eligibility;
• Resumé;
• BackCheck Forms (Service Order Form|Consent Form A) to verify criminal record and bankruptcy status (download a blank form) APTN will submit on your behalf;
• Letter(s) of support (maximum of two) which include complete contact information of your references;
• Proof of residency (driver’s licence or similar legal document);
• Proof of Indigenous ancestry (if applicable).

Please reference file #BDA – 25-1 in your cover letter.

Five positions are available, one for each regional quadrant except for the southwest, which has two.

→ APTN Board of Directors Application Form – www.aptn.ca/boardofdirectors/application-form/

October 17, 2025 – 5:00 p.m. CT

As part of APTN’s mission and mandate to promote and provide opportunities for Indigenous Peoples, and in accordance with relevant legislation, preference will be given to Indigenous candidates.

The post appeared first on Capacity Canada.

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Frankly I was shocked! I've long read that DNAPLS effects routinely can take decades to centuries to dissolve, dissipate and or be removed. Milleniums seemed like overkill if not fantasy. Not so according to state authorities and others for the former DDT manufacturing facility in Montrose, California. There estimates for various remediation schemes suggest three to five thousand years to get rid of the subsurface DNAPL and negative effects on local groundwater.

 Now this contaminated site appears to be awful in its' environmental impacts. The plant is located in Los Angeles and another plant is mentioned as being in Torrance, California. This second plant was discharging into the ocean and involves the Palos Verde Shelf and sediments contaminated with DDT and PCBs. What also shocked me was the following information however.

"Montrose/Del Amo Dual-Site Dense Non-Aqueous Phase Liquid (DNAPL) - consists of the study and cleanup of a highly contaminated mass of chlorobenzene in the form of dense non-aqueous phase liquid (DNAPL) located under the former Montrose plant property. Chlorobenzene is one of the main ingredients used to make DDT. Excess chlorobenzene from the historic DDT manufacturing process has slowly moved down through the soil and is now trapped in spaces between the soil particles in the form of DNAPL . The DNAPL chlorobenzene mass is a current "source" of the chlorobenzene groundwater contamination, meaning the DNAPL continues to slowly contaminate the groundwater every day. It takes only a small amount of dissolved chlorobenzene for the groundwater to be extremely toxic and unsafe for drinking. Removing the chlorobenzene DNAPL from the ground will make the groundwater cleanup successful and more efficient."

NDMA has an even lower drinking water criteria but at least it is not a DNAPL. We the citizens of Elmira and Woolwich have been lied to and misled about the extent of the chlorobenzene contamination and long term health and environmental damages. 

• What: Proportional Representation Rally ♦
• When: 1:30pm on Sunday 14 September 2025
• Where: Waterloo Public Square
• Location: 75 King Street South Map
• Online: www.instagram.com/wr4prnow/
• Contact: Waterloo Region 4 PR wr4prnow@gmail.com

On Sunday September 14, there will be a non-partisan rally planned by local organizers at Waterloo Town Square (Uptown Waterloo) to show support for Proportional Representation. The rally theme is Better Late Than Never.

The rally begins at 1:30 with time to gather, and make posters to show support for PR.

Speeches at 2:00 PM will be from:

• Aislinn Clancy (MPP for Kitchener-Centre and Deputy Leader of the Green Party of Ontario)
• Mike Morrice (former MP for Kitchener-Centre)
• Mike Schreiner (MPP for Guelph and leader of the Green Party of Ontario)
• Fair Vote Canada

and others.

Now is the time to speak up! Although Justin Trudeau broke his often-repeated promise to Canadians that the 2015 election would be the last under the first-past-the-post system, there is still strong support for the idea – even among those in power. After stepping down as Liberal leader, Trudeau shared that his one regret leading up to the 2025 election was not being able to change the way we elect our governments in this country  1 . Mark Carney has also spoken positively about electoral reform and has shared openness to addressing “those more structural issues in our democracy” 2 .

We are rallying to show that Canadians from across the political spectrum have not forgotten this broken promise, and that now is the time to act. More than ever, we need a strong democracy, with elected officials who reflect the will of the people, and where every citizen’s vote counts equally. We hope that you will join us!

If you have any questions, please feel free to reach out, anytime.

Thank you,

WR4PRNow Organizers

• Heline Chow
• Lisa Massaro
• Stephanie Janzen-Martin

wr4prnow@gmail.com

♦

 1  — Trudeau says abandoning electoral reform is his biggest regret.
 2  — Mark Carney speaks positively about working on electoral reform.

—
Waterloo Region for Proportional Representation

The post Brawl in the Fall – October 4, 2025 appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

The Learning Disabilities Association of York-Simcoe (LDAYS) is a charitable non-profit organization which was established in 1976. We provide leadership in Learning Disabilities advocacy, research, education and services, and strive to advance the full participation of children, youth and adults with Learning Disabilities (LD) in society. At LDAYS our vision is to assist individuals with Learning Disabilities achieve their full potential. In doing so, we must consider three central branches of our association-our products and services, image and brand and funding. Collectively, with the help of our community, members and funders we can achieve this vision. We promote positive change through: Innovation, Collaborative Partnerships, Credible Advocacy, Informed Public Policy, and Quality Products and Services.

Position Title: Board Member

Term: Two (2) year term renewable once unless a part of a subcommittee or executive role

Reports to: Chair of the Board/Membership

The Board of Directors provides strategic leadership, oversight, and accountability to ensure the organization fulfills its mission in compliance with legal, ethical, and governance standards.

1.  Strategic Leadership

• Participate in developing and monitoring the organization’s strategic plan.
• Ensure programs and initiatives are aligned with the organization’s mission.
• Advocate for equitable access to education within Ontario.

2.  Governance & Compliance

• Ensure the organization complies with the Ontario Not-for-Profit Corporations Act (ONCA) and all applicable laws and regulations
• Regularly review and update governance policies and bylaws.
• Maintain confidentiality and act in the best interests of the organization.

3.  Financial Oversight

• Ensure financial sustainability through sound fiscal management and risk oversight.
• Review and understand funding models (e.g., grants, donations, partnerships).

4.  Fundraising and Advocacy

• Support fundraising efforts through personal contributions, donor engagement, or event participation.
• Act as an ambassador for the organization within the education and philanthropic communities.

5.  Board Development & Participation

• Attend and actively participate in regular board meetings, the AGM, and committee meetings.
• Help ensure leadership succession and staff well-being.
• Contribute skills and experience to board deliberations and decisions.
• Engage in ongoing board development and evaluation.

6.   When a part of a subcommittee responsibilities also include:

• Committee chairs will liaise with designated staff, deliver agendas and revise minutes and present to the board on the subcommittee activities
• Committee chairs will schedule committee meetings and prepare all appropriate materials and reports.

• Demonstrated commitment to equitable and accessible education.
• Prior governance experience or professional/lived experience in education, policy, nonprofit management, fundraising, finance, education, psychology or law is an asset.
• Ability to work collaboratively and respectfully in a team setting.
• Willingness to contribute time, skills, and financial support (as able).

• Attend 6 board meetings per year (virtually or in-person)
• Attend the Annual General Meeting
• Serve on at least one board committee.
• Participate in strategic planning sessions and major events.
• Estimated time commitment: 4–6 hours per month.

This is a volunteer position. Directors may be reimbursed for reasonable out-of- pocket expenses incurred in fulfilling their board duties.

Email your resume to helga.sirola@ldays.org stating your interest.

The post Learning Diabilities Association of York-Simceo appeared first on Capacity Canada.

The post Ropes 101 Class appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

The Waterloo Region housing market continues to show signs of stabilization as we move into the fall. In August 2025, 536 homes sold through the MLS® System, down 1.3% compared to last year and 23.1% below the 10-year average for the month. While sales remain softer than historic levels, new listings are up and giving buyers more choice.

As we head into September, all eyes are on the Bank of Canada’s next interest rate announcement on Wednesday, September 17, 2025, with many economists predicting a rate cut that could influence buyer confidence and affordability.

Detached Homes
320 detached homes sold in August, a 5.6% drop from last year.

• Average sale price: $846,405
• Down 4.6% from August 2024
• Down 1.3% from July 2025

Townhouses
101 townhouses sold, down 1.0% from August 2024.

• Average sale price: $594,200
• Down 3.2% year-over-year
• Down 1.7% month-over-month

Condominiums
62 apartment-style condos sold, up 1.6% compared to last year.

• Average sale price: $433,113
• Down 6.0% year-over-year
• Up 4.2% month-over-month

Semi-Detached Homes
50 semis sold in August, a 25% increase from last year.

• Average sale price: $618,206
• Down 5.5% year-over-year
• Down 4.1% month-over-month

The average residential sale price across all property types in Waterloo Region was $728,465 in August 2025.

• Down 5.5% compared to August 2024
• Down 1.0% compared to July 2025

This reflects modest but consistent price pressure across most housing categories.

• Families remain the main driver of demand, with young and middle-aged couples drawn to the region’s community feel and strong amenities.
• However, economic uncertainty is causing hesitation, leading to longer days on market and fewer multiple-offer scenarios.
• Some buyers continue to wait on the sidelines for further clarity on rates and prices.

One key insight for sellers: overpricing often leads to homes sitting stale on the market. Buyers quickly skim past listings they’ve already seen or wait for a price drop. Positioning a home at true market value is critical to generating early activity and stronger offers.

• Across Canada, home sales declined year-over-year in 62% of markets analyzed between January 1 and July 31, 2025 (RE/MAX). Residential prices rose in Atlantic Canada and the Prairies, but Ontario and British Columbia saw declines.
• In Ontario, higher inventory levels have shifted many markets into buyer’s market territory, giving buyers more negotiating power.

The Bank of Canada has held its key interest rate steady at 2.75% since March 2025. With Canada’s economy losing 66,000 jobs in August and unemployment now at 7.1%, most economists believe the BoC is likely to cut rates by 0.25% to 2.5% on September 17.

What this means for real estate:

• A rate cut could boost affordability, easing borrowing costs for variable-rate mortgages and credit lines.
• Lower rates may also bring cautious buyers back into the market, increasing competition.
• However, cheaper borrowing can also reignite price appreciation if demand outpaces supply.

Whether or not rates are cut, both buyers and sellers should stay alert — the next few weeks could shape fall market activity.

(Sources: Money.ca, RE/MAX Housing Outlook)

• For Buyers: More listings and longer days on market mean you have options and negotiating power. If rates drop, affordability improves — but expect competition to rise.
• For Sellers: Positioning is everything. The first 2–3 weeks of a listing are when pent-up demand is strongest. Pricing at market value attracts serious buyers quickly and reduces the risk of low-ball offers.

At The Deutschmann Team, we’ve helped families across Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, and the surrounding townships buy and sell with confidence. Ranked among the Top 50 RE/MAX Teams in Canada (2024) and with over $800M in real estate sales, we combine expert pricing strategies, award-winning marketing, and concierge-level service to deliver results.

If you’re thinking of selling, start with a free home evaluation backed by real market data and strategy — not guesswork.

Contact us today to discuss your options and position your home for success this fall.

The post Waterloo Region Housing Market Update – September 2025 Real Estate Trends & Prices appeared first on Kitchener Waterloo Real Estate Agent - The Deutschmann Team.

A task runner / simpler Make alternative written in Go

Go 13.5k 6 issues need help Updated Sep 14

Run any GUI app in the terminal❗

TypeScript 4.4k 5 issues need help Updated Sep 12

📺🗿 Terminal graphics for the 21st century.

C 3.7k 2 issues need help Updated Sep 13

The HydroGeoSphere Revision 2870 (September 2025) software update is now available for download.

This month’s update brings targeted bug fixes, improvements to error handling, and several enhancements to hgs2vtu output options. New commands also expand the flexibility of polygon tracking and water balance reporting, making it easier to analyze results and streamline workflows in HydroGeoSphere (HGS).

Fix for polygon tracking Tecplot output
Resolved a bug that caused duplicate nodes to be reported when exporting polygon tracking node selections.

Fixes for unsaturated function commands
Corrected issues in the unsaturated brooks-corey functions and unsaturated van genuchten functions commands when issued in the grok file.

(Note: the versions of these commands in material property files remain unaffected.)

Transport mass balance fix
Addressed a bug in the computation of solute exchange variables PM2Olf(Disp), Dual2Olf(Disp), and PM2Frac(Disp) that appear in the transport mass balance.

Improved error handling
Execution errors now produce cleaner output and error handling, improving usability and reducing clutter when simulations terminate early.

hgs2vtu enhancements

• Fixed a bug that caused incorrect species names and types to be assigned for the second solute onwards when multiple solutes were defined.

• Reorganized the --help command output to group commands by output type for easier navigation.

• Updated the hgs2vtu documentation in the Reference Manual to reflect this new organization.

• New command --initial-time reports the initial time of a simulation.

• New commands --cum-water-balance-csv and --cum-water-balance-tecplot generate a cumulative water balance from an existing output file for each time range specified in an ASCII input file.

New polygon tracking functionality
A new command nodal fluid mass balance for selected nodes from multifeature shp file enables polygon tracking areas to be defined using surface nodes contained within shapefile polygons, providing more flexibility for surface-based water balance reporting.

Documentation updates
The Reference Manual (hydrosphere_ref.pdf) has been updated with details on these new commands and functionality.

You can find details about these new features in the HydroGeoSphere Reference Manual. And as always, we are committed to the continued improvement to the user experience. Do you have suggestions for new commands or improvements to the user experience? Send your ideas to support@aquanty.com!

The latest installers are available on the HGS download page and a full list of changes/updates can be found in the release notes.

Download the September 2025 release of HydroGeoSphere here: www.aquanty.com/hgs-download

Review the release notes here: www.aquanty.com/updates

SearXNG is a free internet metasearch engine which aggregates results from various search services and databases. Users are neither tracked nor pro…

Python 21.8k 2 issues need help Updated Sep 12

Official Code of Memento: Fine-tuning LLM Agents without Fine-tuning LLMs

Python 1.4k Updated Sep 11

Richard O’Brien’s stage musical, The Rocky Horror Show, was a bold, sexually-unabashed parody of sci-fi and B-movies when it debuted. In 1975, it leapt to the big screen as The Rocky Horror Picture Show — but at first, it flopped.

Then came the fans.

Midnight screenings transformed the movie into one of the most legendary cult classics of all time. With audience participation, costumes, and interactive call-outs, the film became a global phenomenon that has been running continuously for 50 years.

In this CBS feature, Tracy Smith sits down with stars Tim Curry and Barry Bostwick, producer Lou Adler, and film scholar Jeffrey Weinstock to explore how this outrageous little movie grew into a cultural juggernaut.

Watch the segment below.

The celebration continues this fall when The Rocky Horror Picture Show: 50th Anniversary Spectacular Tour comes to Centre In The Square on Wednesday, October 29.

Get ready for an unforgettable night of costumes, audience participation, and absolute Time Warp madness.

Get Your Tickets Now

I wish I knew. Two major points however:  ignoring DNAPLS and refusing to properly address them for the last thirty-six years has only made the job more difficult. Secondly, for the love of God, do NOT let Lanxess, the Min. of Environment, Region of Waterloo, Woolwich Township or GHD be involved in any  attempt to address either residual or free phase DNAPLS whether on site (Uniroyal) or off site (Yara, Stroh, Martin, plus within the town of Elmira). They've had their chance and made an absolute mess of it. 

Hence a new process with new participants is desperately needed. Again do not let any of those dic*heads get within a mile of planning/plotting this new investigative and decision making body.  This is what dishonest, self-serving politicians are all about namely perverting in advance democratic methods and procedures. Pat McLean for example was a master at that as CPAC Chair and likely while on Council as well. 

This will not be an easy task and frankly I would suggest that success is absolutely not guaranteed. It may even be a situation where local efforts of volunteers will only be for the benefit of future generations . Leaving the proven failures and liars in charge however guarantees more failure as they have proven that their motives are all about saving money for the corporate entity on site as well as avoiding culpability for past decision making and failures.    

♦

♦KW Habilitation’s Career Compass offers courses and personalized tutoring for people with developmental disabilities to build skills essential for finding meaningful employment. Their Leg Up! to Retail course covers customer service, point of sales, task management and more!  When the course is complete, there will be a meeting to discuss the next steps of your employment goals, including opportunities to work with a Job Coach/Job Developer for ongoing support.

One on one tutoring is also available where you can work towards your own learning goals. Have the freedom to decide what areas you want to work on whether it’s using a computer, managing a calendar, handling money, it’s up to you! For more information you can email info@kwcareercompass.ca or call 519 744 6307 extension 1252. Fall sessions are just about to start up. Start building your career today!

Click here for more info

♦

♦Kitchener Fire Open House
Saturday, September 20
9:30 AM – 2:30 PM
FREE
Kitchener Fire Headquarters – 270 Strasburg Rd

Get Fired Up for some Fun! This day will be full of family fun, community spirit and of course some fire safety as well. There will be fire trucks and demonstrations, bouncy castles, and a climbing wall. Meet Kitchener Fire Mascot Sparky the dog and all his fire fighting friends. We would love it if you could bring a non-perishable food item for Food4Kids Waterloo Region as well.

Click here for more info

♦Harvest Hoe Down
Friday, September 18
5:00 PM – 10:00 PM
$10 – $15
St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market – 878 Weber St N, Woolwich

Grab your cowboy boots, dust off your hats, and join us for a rollicking night of country vibes and wild rides at the Harvest Hoedown! Get ready for a boot-stompin’, toe-tappin’ good time as we bring the spirit of the countryside to life. Enjoy live country music, line dancing, and the ultimate challenge of the mechanical bull! Take a selfie with live animals or play some trivia with a new round starting every 30 minutes. Get your tickets now and round up your friends for an unforgettable country experience!

Click here for more info

♦Newcomers Info Night
Wednesday, September 17
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
FREE
Central Library – 85 Queen St. N, Kitchener

Join the KW Multicultural Centre for an inclusive event designed to foster connection among newcomers, refugees, immigrants, and the community. New to the area or not—come vibe with us! Join newcomers and the community for a fun, inclusive event full of connection. With interpretation available in Arabic, Spanish, Tigrinya, and more, there’s something for everyone! Don’t miss out on light refreshments and free prizes for the first 100 attendees. This event is free and open to all!

Click here for more info

♦♦ ♦

Fraud Prevention
Wednesday, September 17
11:30 AM – 12:30 PM
FREE – Registration Required
Grand River Recreation Complex – 600 Heritage Dr. Kitchener♦

Learn how to keep your money and your bank account safe with this presentation from Waterloo Regional Police Services member, Detective Constable Heather Zschocke. Heather will highlight the most common scams and ways that fraudsters try to get your money. There will be time for a question and answer period after the presentation. Register for free at the link below.

Click here for more info

Adult Crafternoon
Thursday, September 18
2:00 PM – 3:00 PM
FREE
McCormick Library – 500 Parkside Dr. Waterloo

Enjoy a relaxing and creative time each week while crafting and connecting with others. Each session features a fun project, like felt flowers, candle making, or Sharpie watercolours. No experience needed—just bring your creativity and enjoy a welcoming space to socialize and get crafty

Click here for more info

Royal Medieval Faire
Saturday, September 20
11:00 AM – 6:00 PM
$10 (Cash only)
Waterloo Park West Side (Westmount Entrance)

Huzzah and welcome to the 28th Royal Medieval Faire! This year King Bertram & Queen Charlotte are hosting the fair to honour the 27th wedding anniversary of their daughter Princess Pamela & Sir Sean of Guildford. Many guests have been invited and the royal court looks forward to seeing you all there to celebrate and enjoy the food, vendors & many performers they have planned. Parking is available beside the skate park or across the street at Waterloo Memorial Recreational Complex.

Click here for more info

Lumen Festival
Saturday, September 20
6:00 PM – 11:00 PM
FREE
Waterloo Public Square – 75 King St. S Waterloo

Explore Uptown Waterloo like never before! Lumen is an immersive festival celebrating light, art and technology. The event features the work of artists as they explore the interplay of light through art and technology in installations located throughout Uptown Waterloo. Come join the fantastical sights of the Lumen Festival!

Click here for more info

All That Worldly Jazz Festival
Friday, September 19 to Sunday, September 21
Various Times
FREE
Various locations in St. Jacob’s Village

Neruda Arts presents this free musical event celebrating Jazz Music in many cultural flavours. This three day festival takes place in the village of St. Jacob’s at several different venues near King St. and Cedar St. Come and enjoy this celebration of arts, culture and community.

Click here for more info

The post September 10, 2025: What’s Happening in Your Neighbourhood? appeared first on KW Habilitation.

Model Compression Toolbox for Large Language Models and Diffusion Models

Python 628 Updated Aug 14

[ICLR2025 Spotlight] SVDQuant: Absorbing Outliers by Low-Rank Components for 4-Bit Diffusion Models

Python 3k Updated Sep 12

♦

We are seeing some nice plump Ontario raspberries, or will be very soon. More than even fresh local strawberies, I favour raspberries.

The delicate and easily bruised tender fruit has a relatively short season in Ontario from now until September or October, but they always deliver huge flavour and berry satisfaction.

Botanically a member of the rose family, raspberries are part of a group of berries known as “caneberries,” which grow on thin and thorny stalks or “canes.”

They likely originated in Asia thousands of years ago and eventually made it to the west in the 1600s where they have been cultivated ever since. They thrive in temperate northern regions of the world.

The caneberry group includes blackberries, loganberries, boysenberries and cloudberries, which are found in Scandinavia. You might also see them in deep purple or golden hues.

Because they are not a single fruit derived from the plant’s ovary, like a blueberry, raspberries are not considered a true berry.

And whatever colour, they are delicious however perishable and fragile they might be. While they can be picked mature but still green, they will ripen quickly and usually have a relatively short shelf-life of only a few days even in the refrigerator. They are difficult to wash as well.

Despite their delicate nature, raspberries are versatile. While they are probably best consumed as a fresh fruit and eaten on their own for peak flavour (I particularly like them on my breakfast cereal), they also make interesting sauces for beef, pork, duck and even scallops.

To do that, combine raspberries with an acid such as cider, red wine, balsamic vinegar, or some sherry, along with a bit of sugar and cook the combination to reduce it.

As such, raspberries can contribute a delightful sweet-and-sour component to a main course protein or be used in a salad dressing for fresh soft lettuces that are coming out of farmers’ fields right now.

Eat your fresh, local raspberries while ye may! They are only around for a few short months of summer.

Check out my latest post Fruit arcana: raspberries are “caneberries” from AndrewCoppolino.com.

• ♦ 2e9028f

  Small fix to wording that could confuse LLM about project rules.

 Well firstly we don't know due to the ostrich like characteristics of Uniroyal/Lanxess and the gross incompetence/negligence of the Ontario Ministry of Environment (MOE/MECP).  Both parties decided that they didn't want to have to deal with the complicating factors involved in a DNAPL site so they simply lied like dogs, disregarded the obvious evidence of DNAPL presence both on and off the Uniroyal site and proceeded as if all was straightforward and simple. DNAPL sites are neither one. 

Frank Rovers, according to a participant at UPAC, stated that the Uniroyal site was full of DNAPLs. The hydrogeological evidence in reports going back to the late 1980s and early to mid 1990s supports that.  This is despite dishonest conclusions in some client driven reports intentionally misinterpreting the data to minimize the extent of both free phase and residual DNAPL on the site. It was only later that the public became aware of off-site DNAPL issues such as onto the Nutrite property as well as beside the Howard St. water tower (OW57-32R) and most recently six to eight more potential areas in and around First St., Union St. and Howard Ave.  Just as a little reminder to the guilty parties and their fellow travellors  I have not forgotten about the search in the 1980s for orange liquid discharges from the Howard St. storm sewers heading towards the Canagagigue Creek.

These pools of free phase chlorobenzene DNAPLS can exist in the subsurface for decades to centuries and even longer (see Montrose, California DDT plant) depending on their size. The leftover residual DNAPL, in the soil pore spaces versus in pools, can also take decades or longer to fully dissolve. That is the problem with chlorobenzene as well as other DNAPL chemicals. They have a low solubility in water hence they simply cannot dissolve quickly while at the same time they can and do exceed the appropriately lower health based drinking water standards.  

DNAPLS flow in the subsurface based upon gravity not groundwater flow direction. Therefore they can flow literally in any direction albeit it must be downhill. The problem arises when DNAPL flows through "windows" in the aquitards and then contaminates groundwater in lower aquifers. This can also occur and I believe has occurred through a window in the Lower Aquitard (LAT) west of the Uniroyal site which is between the Municipal Lower Aquifer and the Bedrock Aquifer. Yes allegedly according to the polluter and successors chlorobenzene has not been found in the Bedrock Aquifer.  However their credibility is miles past suspect based upon their past behaviour and false claims. Finally DNAPL can also flow through leaky aquitards without a window although it takes longer.

If chlorobenzene DNAPL or any other DNAPL has penetrated the fissures and cracks in the weathered Bedrock Aquifer then we are all in trouble as they are almost impossible to remove fully. That might be the final kiss of death for the once pristine Elmira Aquifers.