The post Easter Hours appeared first on Grand River Rocks Climbing Gym.

♦

KITCHENER - Kade Kozak is coming to Kitchener.

The lefty arm will add to an already stacked bullpen after gaining a year of IBL work in Hamilton.

Last season with the Cards, Kozak appeared in 10 games and registered his first IBL win, July 7 against Toronto. He posted a 4.90 ERA in 11 innings of work.

The lefty spent his collegiate career at Lee University in Cleveland, TN and Davis & Elkins College in West Virginia.

In his freshman year at Davis & Elkins in 2019, he had his heaviest workload, getting into 14 games, posting a 5.40 ERA and collected 27 strikeouts in 33.1 innings.

Kozak got into 12 games during his 2022 campaign at Lee, collecting a 4.73 ERA.

He played youth ball with the Okanagan Athletics.

"We are excited to add Kade to our pitching staff," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"With a year of IBL experience under his belt, we believe he can continue to build on last season and be extremely effective out of the bullpen for us."

If you want to see Kade, and the rest of your Kitchener Panthers this summer, GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! Season tickets and single-game tickets are available NOW online. FLEX PACKS are coming soon!

Was sha a fifth columnist right from the beginning? Or did she sincerely believe that polluting companies including chemical companies had an inherent right to make money and sell their products to willing customers? Did she possibly feel that the rhetoric coming from APTE members and co0ordinators was too much?

For years I thought that Susan and Sylvia's position on DNAPLS was basically the kiss of death regarding ever cleaning up the site. However I did not even begin to fathom the depth and width of their betrayal of Elmira citizens and their fellow APTE members until late in 2007 when I saw the lying and manoeuvering within CPAC to avoid bringing Drs. Cherry and Parker's DNAPL revelations to CPAC by Susan and Pat McLean. Until 2007 I had become aware of more and more contradictions in their behaviour versus their words. I also had long been concerned with Susan's allegiance with Pat Mclean who in my eyes had never shown much knowledge or care for the natural environment. I also had concerns with hydrogeologist Wilf Ruland who while ostensibly working for CPAC was in fact taking all direction from Pat and Susan. He was also way too deferential to CRA literally on all their hydrogeological pronouncements constantly favouring their client Uniroyal/Chemtura etc. . 

Is it conceivable that a master manipulator like Susan was actually so ill informed  that she embraced Uniroyal's often outrageous claims concerning cleaning their site, the Creek and Elmira's groundwater? I find that hard to believe. I also note that she stuck to her guns regarding the lack of shallow aquifer containment plus maintaining proper on-site Municipal Aquifer pumping in the early days. Yes she did give concessions to the polluter far too often for my liking regarding number of monitoring wells and timing of their sampling 

She and Sylvia worked hard to remove Richard, Esther and I from APTE. She did something similar with Dr. Regier  who was heads and shoulders more knowledgeable than Darryl & Susan multiplied by 100. It was that totally unnecessary behaviour combined with her enjoyment of private meetings with Uniroyal that finally got through to me. Susan and Pat led UPAC and CPAC for many years. Even the M.O.E. occasionally bragged about how CPAC was the best citizens committee in the province. I found that pronouncement bizarre as so very little was actually getting done. Frankly none of it made any sense and then the gross DNAPL behaviour after the two world experts (Cherry & Parker) clarified what should be done about it was the final straw.  Keep in mind that McLean, Bryant, myself and Ruland all attended that meeting at the U. of Waterloo and I was the only happy one of the four afterwards. Clearly McLean and Bryant saw the writing on the wall and eliminated me from CPAC as fast as their wagging tongues were able. 

Recently I've said shame on the APTE co-ordinators' 1994 DNAPL failure and now I say shame on CPAC in 2007 and 2008 for their stupidity and willingness to blindly follow Susan and Pat.  Clearly an inappropriate deal was made with two APTE co-ordinators in 1994 and renewed again in 2007 and 2008 at CPAC.  Apparently as long as polluters can convince the local politicians that their plans can save everybody money then honesty and ethics are out the door.   

Swift is Apple’s powerful and intuitive programming language, which is one of the best choices for developing iOS applications and releasing in AppStore. With it’s clean syntax and performance optimisations, Swift makes app development easier and accessible to beginners while offering advanced capabilities for experienced developers.

In this blog, you’ll be building a simple to-do list app in Swift using Xcode and SwiftUI. By the end, you’ll have a functional app that allows users to add and delete tasks, which you can further develop as per your interest…

Before starting to code, we need to set up our development environment.

1. Install Xcode

Download and install Xcode, Apple’s official IDE, from the Mac App Store. Xcode includes everything you need to develop iOS apps, including the Swift compiler and iOS Simulator.

2. Create a New Project

• Open Xcode and select “Create a new Xcode project”.
• Choose “App” under iOS and click “Next”.
• Name your project (e.g., “ToDoApp”) and set the interface to SwiftUI.
• Click “Next”, then choose a location to save your project.

The tree or project structure looks as shown,

SwiftUI is a declarative framework that makes UI design intuitive. Instead of writing complex UI code, you describe how the UI should look and behave. BTW, Xcode provides a live preview of SwiftUI code. Click the Resume button in the canvas to see changes instantly. Here’s a simple SwiftUI Text View :

Let’s build a basic to-do list app that allows users to add and delete tasks.

1. Define the Task Model

We need a data model to represent tasks. The Identifiable protocol allows SwiftUI to track each task uniquely.

2. Create the Main View

Let’s create the UI with a text field to enter tasks and a list to display them.

Key Features in This Code:

• @State is used to store the list of tasks and the new task input.
• TextField allows users to enter a task.
• Button triggers the addTask( ) function to add a new task.
• List displays all tasks and supports swipe-to-delete.
• .onDelete() enables deleting tasks with a swipe gesture.

1. Click Run (▶) in Xcode to launch the app in the iOS Simulator.
2. Enter a task in the text field and tap the ➕ button to add it.
3. Swipe left on a task to delete it.

Now that we have a basic working app, here are some ideas to improve it :

• Persistent Storage : Use UserDefaults or CoreData to save tasks.
• Custom UI : Modify colours, fonts, and animations.
• Cloud Sync : Sync tasks using Firebase or iCloud.

In order to enhance the app,

1. Animations for Adding & Deleting Tasks

SwiftUI makes animations easy. We can animate task additions and deletions using withAnimation.

Modify the addTask( ) and deleteTask( ) functions in ContentView.swift. After this change, the Tasks will smoothly appear and disappear when added or deleted.

2. Dark Mode Support

SwiftUI automatically supports Dark Mode, but we can customize it.

In ContentView.swift, modify List and HStack to support both Light and Dark modes. Through this change, the app adapts to Dark Mode when enabled in iPhone settings providing an option for users.

3. Persistent Storage with UserDefaults

To save tasks, you can use UserDefaults, a lightweight storage option.

Step 1 : Modify the Task Model

Convert tasks into a Codable array so it can be stored in UserDefaults:

Step 2 : Save & Load Tasks

Modify ContentView.swift to save tasks whenever they are added or deleted. With this edit, the app will now remember tasks even after closing and reopening or you can use cache …

Swift stands out from other programming languages due to its speed, safety and modern syntax. Swift is faster because it compiles directly to machine code, eliminating the overhead of a virtual machine. compared to Python. Swift offers a stronger type safety and better performance while still maintaining an easy-to-read syntax. Unlike C++, Swift handles memory management automatically using ARC (Automatic Reference Counting), reducing memory leaks and making development smoother. Additionally, SwiftUI simplifies UI development, allowing developers to create stunning iOS and macOS apps with minimal code. With Apple’s continuous enhancements or improvements, it remains as the best choice for iOS development, ensuring a seamless, efficient and future-proof experience.

Building a simple Swift app is easier than you think, with SwiftUI and Xcode, you can quickly develop functional and visually appealing iOS applications. This is a simple to-do list app which is just the beginning phase — keep experimenting and developing considering this as a template and soon you’ll be able to build much more complex projects.

Thanks for reading, clap if you find it helpful!

Getting started with Swift … was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

What: International Palestinian Children’s Day ♦
When: 11:00am on Saturday 5 April 2025
Where: Kitchener Market
Location: 300 King Street East, Kitchener, OntarioMap
Contact: wrfriendsofpalestine@gmail.com

Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine writes:

Dear Friends of Palestine,

Always amongst the debris are hidden gems that call for celebration. This week amongst the ongoing carnage of Israeli’s maniacal genocide, we have a moment of brightness, a key to Palestinian liberation that will be the prize of Palestinians. International Palestinian Children’s Day is on Saturday 5 April 2025, it is a mouthful that is easily missed, but, the children of Palestine need to be celebrated and it will be a joy this weekend to shine the spotlight on them, as we also remember their suffering.

♦Future health care workerWe will be celebrating their spiritual fortitude, their cultural strength and their physical and mental courage. They have been born into a world of chaos and genocidal occupation and still, like a tree growing out of a rock, the children have thrived, learned, loved and played, they have dreams and visions for the future. These children are the future leaders of Palestine and they will liberate Palestine and the world one day. It is in the eyes of this future health care worker that leadership to a better place is the vision and the focus, he and his peers will arrive at a place of justice, dignity and liberation for all.

This Saturday, join the Walk with Grief to lift your spirits, in addition, come to the table for International Palestinian Children’s Day that is just inside the market (Upper level), bring your children, they can colour pictures, write notes to the children of Gaza, share in the candies and other treats available for children.

Do not miss the moment, International Palestinian Children’s Day (IPCD), bring yourself, bring your children to celebrate the future leaders of Palestine.

Please join us at the Walk for Grief, this Saturday at 11am at Kitchener Market. Also, join us inside the market (upper level near front door) 7:00am to 2:00pm.

irene and WRFP

Waterloo Region Friends of Palestine
Instagram: @wrfriendsofpalestine

The Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy has announced the new surplus income limits for 2025 bankruptcy filings. We list the thresholds below and provide an example to help you understand what surplus income can mean for your bankruptcy filing.

You can read more about the 2025 Bankruptcy Guidelines on our surplus income payments page, or you can use our surplus income calculator to do the math for you.

Numbers are nice, but what does this mean to you? Here’s the simple explanation:

If you declare bankruptcy, the more you earn, the more you pay.  It’s that simple.

So, if you are a single parent with one child, you are a family of two, so your surplus income limit is $3,318 per month. If your net earnings (your income after tax, less child care and medical costs) are $3,718 per month, you are $400 over the limit, so you have $400 of surplus income.

If you are bankrupt you are required to pay half of your surplus income to your creditors, so in this example you would be making a surplus income payment of $200 per month.

If your income goes up, you pay more.  If your income goes down, you pay less.

If you are considering bankruptcy, you should estimate your income during the bankruptcy period, so you can estimate your surplus income and therefore the cost of your bankruptcy.  If you get a bonus, or work overtime at certain times during the year, or if you get laid off for part of the year those factors will influence your surplus income.

If you expect your income to increase and you are worried that you may pay a lot in surplus income, you could consider a consumer proposal as an alternative to bankruptcy.  We negotiate a settlement with your creditors up front, so if your income increases later your payments don’t increase.

Which option is best for you?  Contact us today and one of our professionals will calculate your options and help you decide which option is best for you.

The post New Surplus Income Limits for 2025 appeared first on Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc..

When most people think of web development, languages like JavaScript, Python or Ruby typically come to mind. But did you know that Haskell, a functional programming language known for its purity and strong type system, can also be used to build web applications? In this blog, we’ll explore how to create a simple website using Haskell, leveraging some of its powerful features for a robust and scalable solution.

In this tutorial, we’ll use Yesod, one of the most popular Haskell web frameworks, to build a simple “Hello, World!” style website. Yesod is a high-performance framework that focuses on type safety, which helps catch many bugs at compile time. It is highly modular, making it suitable for both small projects and large, complex web applications.

Before we dive into the code, there are a few prerequisites :

1. Haskell – Make sure Haskell is installed. Else, can install it from here.
2. GHC (Glasgow Haskell Compiler) – Install along with Haskell.
3. Stack – Stack is a build tool for Haskell that simplifies project management. You can install it from here.
4. Yesod – We’ll be using Yesod to build the web app. Yesod comes with tools for scaffolding projects and handling routing, views and more.

Let’s start by setting up a new Yesod project. We’ll use Stack to create a new Yesod project.

1. Install Yesod’s scaffolding tool

stack install yesod-bin

2. Create a new Yesod project

After installing Yesod’s scaffolding tool, you can use it to generate a new project. Run the following command in your terminal :

yesod init

You’ll be prompted with a few questions. For simplicity, you can choose the default settings:

Project name: simple-website

Which Yesod project template to use : Choose the default yesod-sqlite template (even though we won’t be using SQLite here, it’s still a good default template for most web apps). This will generate a folder structure for your project, including the necessary files for routing, views and more.

Once the scaffolding is done, let’s take a look at the basic structure or the tree of a Yesod project :

simple-website/
│
├── app/
│. ├── Foundation.hs.  – Basic definitions and configurations
│. ├── Handler/Home.hs.  – Handlers for routes
│. ├── Import.hs.  – Imports for Yesod helpers
│. └── Main.hs.  – Entry point for the application
│
├── config/
│. └── settings.yml.  – Settings for the project (e.g., database configuration)
│
├── static/  – Static files (images, CSS, JS)
│
└── templates/  – HTML templates

The main components are :

• Handler : Where HTTP routes and actions are defined.
• Foundation : Defines basic settings, configurations for the application.
• Main : Contains the main function to launch the server.

The handler for the home page is defined in Handler/Home.hs. This file contains the logic for rendering a simple “Hello, World!” page. Let’s modify this file to display a basic greeting.

Open Handler/Home.hs and modify it like this:

Here, getHomeR is the function that handles requests to the root route /. defaultLayout is a helper that wraps the content in a basic HTML layout. We’re using Hamlet, a templating system in Yesod, to write our HTML.

Now, we need to connect our handler to a route. Routes are defined in config/routes, which maps URLs to the appropriate handler functions.

Open the config/route file and you should see something like this :

The / route is already connected to HomeR and GET is the HTTP method for this route. We won’t need to modify this file for now since the default handler setup is already pointing to the getHomeR function we just created.

Now, let’s run the application. In the terminal, navigate to the project directory and run :

stack build
stack exec simple-website

This will build the project and start a web server. By default, the server will run on port 3000. Open your web browser and navigate to your local host localhost:3000. You should see a simple “Hello, World!” message.

If you want to add some basic styles, you can place your CSS files in the static/ directory. For example, create a file static/styles.css with the following content:

Then, include this CSS file in your layout by modifying defaultLayout inHandler/Home.hs:

With the updated CSS file, refresh the page in your browser and you’ll see the changes reflected.

Congratulations! You’ve just built a simple website using Haskell and Yesod. By following these steps, you’ve created a basic web application with a custom home page and added some basic styling. Yesod’s strong typing system and functional paradigm offer many benefits when building robust and maintainable web applications.

Although this is a very simple introduction, Yesod provides many advanced features for routing, form handling and database access, allowing you to scale your application as needed. For more advanced topics, such as working with databases or creating APIs, check out the official Yesod documentation. With Haskell’s emphasis on immutability and strong type systems, it’s a great choice for developers looking to build robust and high-performance and type-safe web applications.

Building a Simple Website Using Haskell… was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

Kitchener, Ontario, [December 11, 2024] – We’re pleased to announce that our original InkSmith Climate Action Kits are officially sold out and will transition to the new, enhanced version under our new global brand Forward Education. Through years of working with you on implementing our Land, Energy and Combined kits, we’ve integrated those valuable classroom insights and your feedback directly into the new Climate Action Kit platform. Now available through both Forward Education and InkSmith websites, this all-in-one version makes implementation easy, and makes a host of new features available to your educators to enhance student outcomes. 

For those of you with the original InkSmith Climate Kits, we will still offer service and support and have a stock of spare parts on hand in our Kitchener offices. If you’re interested in the new kits we’re offering a 1:1 trade-in program where you can get $30 per land or energy kit as a trade in towards a new all-in-one kit. To learn more about the trade-in program, click here for details.

We’re grateful for your ongoing support and look forward to the next chapter!

About InkSmith

InkSmith is a trusted Canadian EdTech provider dedicated to empowering classrooms with STEM/ STEAM tools and purpose-driven learning resources. InkSmith offers innovative products, including 3D printers and robotics kits, helping educators inspire students to create solutions for today’s (and tomorrow's) challenges.

The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) is Canadian federal legislation governing bankruptcy, insolvency, and financial restructuring processes. It is designed to help Canadians who find themselves unable to repay their debts. The BIA outlines all the rules and procedures for filing insolvency in Canada while ensuring fairness to both debtors and creditors.

The primary purpose of the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act is to:

• Provide individuals who genuinely can’t pay their debts an opportunity for a fresh start.
• Ensure creditors are treated fairly by providing an organized way to collect outstanding debts.

The law helps strike a balance between protecting the rights of people who are overwhelmed by debt and ensuring creditors can fairly recover some of the money owed to them.

The BIA covers:

• Individuals facing personal financial hardship who are unable to repay their debts, offering solutions like personal bankruptcy and consumer proposals.
• Businesses that are experiencing financial difficulties and need structured methods, such as bankruptcy or business proposals, to either close operations or reorganize debts.

There are 4 possible insolvency proceedings individuals or businesses can choose to deal with their debt.

1. Personal Bankruptcy: Personal bankruptcy is a legal process that eliminates eligible debts that were in place when the bankruptcy was filed. In exchange for the elimination of their debts, the bankrupt surrenders certain assets and, depending on their income, may make additional surplus income payments.

2. Consumer Proposal: A consumer proposal allows debtors to offer to repay creditors a percentage of what is owed through a structured payment plan.

3. Division I Proposal: Division I Proposals are typically used by individuals and businesses with higher debt levels (generally over $250,000) or more complex financial situations.

4. Business Bankruptcy: Provides structured liquidation of assets of a corporation to fairly repay creditors when reorganization isn’t feasible.

Companies Creditors Arrangement Act (CCAA) is another piece of federal legislation that enables financially troubled businesses to restructure themselves. In a CCAA restructuring, the debtor company remains in possession of its property and continues to conduct its business.

The BIA defines the roles and responsibilities of various stakeholders, including:

The Debtor: Someone who owes money to a creditor. In a bankruptcy, the debtor is known as insolvent since their liabilities exceed their assets and they don’t have the ability to pay their debts. The debtor files an assignment in bankruptcy or makes a proposal to their creditors.

The Bankrupt: When an insolvent individual files for bankruptcy, they are known as a bankrupt. A bankrupt person must make a full disclosure of all of their assets and debts to the LIT, inform the LIT of any property that was disposed of in the past few years; and give up all credit cards to the LIT.

The Creditors: People that the debtor owes money, goods, or services to. There are 3 types of creditors – secured creditors, preferred, and unsecured. Secured debts are not included in a bankruptcy or consumer proposal.

The Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT): Federally licensed professionals who administer bankruptcies and proposals, ensuring compliance and fairness.

Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB): Oversees the administration of the BIA, licenses trustees, and maintains public records of insolvency filings.

Courts: Oversees bankruptcy proceedings, handles disputes, approving proposals, and issues court order and discharge orders.

The BIA, and related bankruptcy rules and guidelines, outline the rights and responsibilities of debtors and creditors:

Treatment of Assets: A bankrupt must surrender assets owned at the time of bankruptcy for the benefit of creditors. The trustee proceeds to liquidate the property and distribute the proceeds to the creditors in accordance with the distribution priorities prescribed under the BIA.

Federal and provincial law outline which assets are exempt from seizure during a bankruptcy (e.g., personal belongings, certain home equity, retirement savings).

Surplus Income Rules: If your monthly income exceeds a government set surplus income limit determined by your household size, you may need to make additional payments to your creditors. Surplus income payments also extend the length of your bankruptcy.

Stay of Proceedings: When bankruptcy or a consumer proposal is filed, creditors must immediately stop collection activities, lawsuits, and wage garnishments. This legal protection is called a “stay of proceedings.”

Creditor Rights: Creditors have the right to be informed, participate in creditor meetings, vote on proposals, and receive their fair share of any available funds distributed through the bankruptcy or consumer proposal.

Duties of the Debtor: As a debtor, you must cooperate fully, honestly disclose all financial information, attend required financial counselling sessions, and comply with your trustee’s instructions during the bankruptcy or proposal process.

The Act also sets out various procedural items in the administration of an insolvency proceeding:

Meetings: Meetings of creditors may be held and inspectors appointed. If a meeting is called, the bankrupt is required to attend. The job of an inspector is to examine and give direction to the LIT’s administration of the estate of the bankrupt.

Examination of Bankrupt: In certain situations, a bankrupt may be required to undergo an examination. This typically occurs if creditors, the trustee, or the Office of the Superintendent of Bankruptcy (OSB) have concerns or questions about the bankrupt’s financial affairs, property, or conduct.

Certificate of Discharge or Discharge Order: Once the bankruptcy procedure is completed (usually after nine months) the bankrupt will, in most cases, receive a Certificate of Discharge, which means all of the bankrupt’s debts, with certain exceptions, are wiped out. If a bankrupt is not eligible for automatic discharge, the bankrupt can receive an Absolute Order of Discharge issued by the court once all duties are completed. In a consumer proposal this is called a Certificate of Full Performance.

Proof of Claim: Each creditor must file a proof of claim with the trustee confirming how much debt is owing. It allows creditors to participate in the proceedings including filing a vote in a consumer proposal and receive any payments they’re entitled to from the debtor’s estate.

Voting: When you file a consumer proposal or a Division I proposal, your creditors have the right to vote on whether to accept or reject your offer. Each creditor votes based on the dollar value of the debt you owe them. Once accepted by the majority (over 50%), the proposal is binding on all creditors.

The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act lists several important offences:

Fraudulent Disposal or Concealment of Property: Hiding, selling, or transferring assets before or during bankruptcy to prevent creditors from benefiting.

Falsifying or Omitting Information: Providing false information, omitting debts, or assets intentionally when filing bankruptcy documents or when answering questions from your trustee or creditors.

Failure to Comply with Duties: Not attending required meetings, counselling sessions, or failing to provide requested financial information to your trustee.

Obtaining Credit Fraudulently: Obtaining credit without disclosing that you are bankrupt or providing misleading information to obtain credit during your bankruptcy.

Refusing or Neglecting to Answer Questions: Refusing to answer or deliberately misleading during examinations or trustee inquiries.

Committing these offences can lead to delays in your bankruptcy discharge, court-imposed penalties or conditions, and possible fines or even criminal charges depending on the severity.

Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc. is an Ontario Licensed Insolvency Trustee with many years of experience. We appreciate that learning about all the aspects of the BIA can seem a bit overwhelming, but we are here to help you. if you are experiencing financial difficulties and are unable to pay your debts, contact us for a consultation on the debt relief options available to you.

The post Layman’s Guide to the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act in Canada appeared first on Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc..

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Empowering Future-Ready Classrooms with Precision and Versatility

Kitchener, Ontario, [April 2, 2025] – InkSmith is thrilled to announce the addition of  Silhouette Vinyl Cutters, materials, and accessories to our product catalog—bringing a new dimension of creative potential to classrooms across Canada. This expansion reflects our ongoing commitment to providing educators with the tools they need to foster innovation and hands-on learning.

From 3D printers, to robotics, and laser cutters, InkSmith prides itself on hand-picking the best tools for Makerspaces and STEAM education in the classroom. Silhouette cutters are a perfect addition to this collection because of its exceptional performance and suitability for educational environments. Silhouette Vinyl Cutters offer unparalleled precision, user-friendly design software, and the versatility to tackle a wide range of projects.

♦

Beyond STEAM applications, vinyl cutting brings an extra layer of creativity to any lesson, blending engineering and design with artistic expression. Whether students are personalizing their robotics builds or creating classroom displays, this tool encourages both technical skill development and creative problem-solving.

• Design Software for Everyone: Silhouette Studio makes design accessible to all, providing both beginner-friendly tools and advanced features for experienced users.

• Cut More, Cut Precisely: From cardstock to vinyl and fabrics, Silhouette cutters deliver precise cuts, expanding the possibilities for classroom projects.

• Detail Matters, Results Show: Achieve professional-quality results with pixel-perfect precision, all while enjoying quiet and reliable operation.

• Tools for Every Project: A wide array of specialty tools ensures educators can tackle diverse projects, fostering creativity and practical skills.

• Silhouette Cameo 5: ($560.00 CAD) Available in Matte-Black and White.

• Silhouette Cameo 5 Plus: ($730.00 CAD)

• Silhouette Cameo PRO MK-II: ($800.00 CAD) Available in Black.

• Silhouette Mint Custom Stamp Maker: ($125.00 CAD)

• A comprehensive range of accessories, including various blades, cutting mats, and electrostatic mats. (See all accessories here)

• A wide selection of high-quality vinyl and materials in various colors and types. (View our vinyl catalogue here)

We're grateful for your ongoing support and look forward to seeing the incredible creations your students bring to life with Silhouette!

♦

About InkSmith:

InkSmith is a trusted Canadian EdTech provider dedicated to empowering classrooms with STEM tools and purpose-driven learning resources. InkSmith offers innovative products, including 3D printers, robotics kits, and now, Silhouette Vinyl Cutters, helping educators inspire students to create solutions for today’s (and tomorrow's) challenges.

♦

Coinciding with the winter melt and milder spring weather, the first weeks of April will see a special new beer pop up from the team at Broken Stick Brewing, the craft beer maker located inside Hammond Golf Club.

With a lineup of over a dozen beers already in their portfolio, Broken Stick will unleash the new suds in collaboration with the not-for-profit registered charity “It Takes a Village Dog Rescue” (ITAV).

With the brewery’s name pairing nicely with the canine focus of the event, Broken Stick’s role in the collaboration comes at the tail end of a recently completed contest called “Pints and Paws Rescue Brew Photo Contest.”

The contest raised $9,309 to support ITAV’s program to find good “forever” homes for lost, abandoned, neglected and mistreated dogs.

Over 50 dogs (and a cat, apparently) entered the photo contest which began in the middle of March and generated thousands of votes: contest winner, Kelso, a three-year-old Akita-Chow Chow cross with the latter breed’s distinctive blue tongue, was declared the winner grabbing more than 3,000 votes.

That means that Kelso’s photo – courtesy of Ottawa-based Josée Lavoie PhotoArt – will grace the label on cans of Broken Stick’s specially-crafted lager called “Rescue Brew.”
The new beer is scheduled to be unveiled at a special event at the brewery that runs 4 p.m. – 7 p.m. on April 12.

Homes found for 600 abandoned or neglected dogs

Established in 2021 and based in Athens, Ont., ITAV Dog Rescue finds homes for all dogs, but they are especially concerned with abandoned and neglected dogs in remote northern Canadian communities where there is canine overpopulation and limited access to veterinary care.

To date, ITAV has found homes for 600 abandoned or neglected dogs, and they continue to work on raising money to allow them to help more.

For more, visit Paquette Editions.

[Photo/Josée Lavoie PhotoArt]

Check out my latest post Drink a new brew, save neglected dogs from AndrewCoppolino.com.

A USB Video Class (UVC) camera library for Android and a plugin for Flutter.

C 20 2 issues need help Updated Mar 31

The Bank of Canada is stuck between a rock and a hard place at the moment. Our economy is facing real headwinds from south of the border. The recent move to lower rates by another 25 basis points is inflationary with regard to shelter costs, no doubts a significant concern to renters and buyers. Nevertheless, the Bank was compelled to move due to restrained consumer and business confidence in the face of tariffs from the United States. The overnight rate now sits at 2.75%. Job growth had also flat-lined in February after making healthy gains through the end of 2024 into January. Also of concern is inflation in combination with diminished economic activity due to uncertainty. An excerpt from the press release below:

While economic growth has come in stronger than expected, the pervasive uncertainty created by continuously changing US tariff threats is restraining consumers’ spending intentions and businesses’ plans to hire and invest. Against this background, and with inflation close to the 2% target, Governing Council decided to reduce the policy rate by a further 25 basis points.

Monetary policy cannot offset the impacts of a trade war. What it can and must do is ensure that higher prices do not lead to ongoing inflation. Governing Council will be carefully assessing the timing and strength of both the downward pressures on inflation from a weaker economy and the upward pressures on inflation from higher costs. The Council will also be closely monitoring inflation expectations. The Bank is committed to maintaining price stability for Canadians.

♦

• 1-year fixed insured 4.79%
• 2-year fixed insured 3.94%
• 3-year fixed insured 3.74%
• 4-year fixed insured 4.19%
• 5-year fixed insured 3.64%
• 3-year variable insured 4.15%
• 5-year variable insured 3.89% 

Is the mortgage stress test still a thing in 2025? Yes it is, and with the higher rates we’ve seen, it’s even harder to qualify for a mortgage. The rules require you to qualify at either 2% above the rate your lender is offering you or 5.25%, whichever is higher.

Being forced to qualify at the higher stress test rate causes the principal portion of your monthly mortgage payment to shrink, lowering the maximum amount you’ll be allowed to borrow for your mortgage. But the rate you’ll actually pay once you buy is the rate you are offered by your lender. Your monthly payments will be calculated from this lower rate, not the stress test rate. As a result your monthly mortgage bill will be smaller too.

The stress test has been quite unpopular so the federal government has rolled out several new changes to make it easier to buy a home. They are now offering a first time buyer’s credit of $5000, and an increase in withdrawals from your RRSP to $35,000.

In addition existing borrowers are no longer required to re-qualify at the stress test rate when they renew or refinance their mortgages. This will allow borrowers some flexibility if they want to choose a different lender as they are no longer under the pressure of qualifying at an additional two percentage points.

If you’re looking for mortgage info or help please reach out.

The post Mortgage Rates appeared first on Andrew Shackleton.

1)  "They all lie."   This is a quote emblazoned on T-shirts/pullovers by environmentalist Pat Potter.

2)  Their promises are wind.  Meaningless doesn't even come close to describing their promises.

3)   They are incestuous.    In other words getting a request turned down by a municipal Council almost                                              guarantees it will be turned down by the Region and the GRCA. Way too much                                            overlap in membership.

4)  Never accept their dates for delays.  Almost always these parties interpret a "delay" as meaning for                                                                       forever.

5)  If you ask a question assume their answer will be a lie.  This prevents disappointment as well as future                                                               expectations of good behaviour on their part.

6)  Make these "lessons" available to the parties listed above.  Let them know that you appropriately have                                                                zero confidence in them. 

7)  Let the parties know that despite these "lessons" you will keep track of future promises, statements,                                                               lies  delays and commitments.

8)  Never apologize for any of these lessons.    Thirty plus years of despicable behaviour can not be                                                                   undone by a future few years of good behaviour.

9)  Laugh at their outlandish claims and junk science regularly.

10)  Never feel the need to prove them wrong.   Yes it is satisfying but it only encourages even more lying                                                           from them.

The Magic Mask for Android

C++ 51.9k Updated Apr 3

Privacy and security enhanced releases of Chromium for GrapheneOS. Vanadium provides the WebView and standard user-facing browser on GrapheneOS. It…

Shell 1k Updated Mar 27

Success Beyond Limits is a collaborative, youth-led, community based movement that provides youth with holistic supports to complete their education and experience success in their lives.

A collaborative, youth-led, community based movement that provides youth with holistic supports to complete their education and experience success in their lives.

To improve educational outcomes, expand possibilities, and support youth in Jane and Finch along their individual paths to success.

Success Beyond Limits exists to provide youth with the opportunity to progress from where ever they are to where ever they want to be. This is reflected in our programming, in which Mentees become Mentors-in-training, then become Mentors, who go on to play a variety of roles within our organizations (as tutors, co-op students and board members), eventually making contributions to the broader community.

Youth-led: Everything we do aspires to and is designed for establishing youth ownership of SBL by engaging and responding to the voices of youth. Youth are involved in our governance, as well as planning, adjusting, and delivering programming.

Collaborative: The common ground of success in education for our youth is where we meet with individuals, organizations, agencies, institutions and movements.

Community Based: Our focus, mandate and staffing are community-based, community-focused, and community-empowered.

Flexibility: All of our programming stays flexible in order to respond to the voice of the youth and their changing needs.

Our focus is to reduce the impact of external factors that negatively affect the educational success of youth in Jane-Finch. We operate a 6-week summer program that offers credits, mentorship, youth employment, enrichment, nutrition, engagement, graduation, and relationship building.

We continue our support through our presence within Westview Centennial Secondary School, where we operate a youth space. Through this space, our staff support youth during the school day, run an after-school program, and connect youth to an array of diverse opportunities.

The Board will elect a Treasurer to support the Board of Directors in their function of financial governance.

The Treasurer will be qualified and experienced in overseeing the finances of organizations, as assessed by the Board of Directors, preferably be a CPA, and preferably having experience with non-profit organizations.

The Treasurer and Co-Executive Director (Operations) will meet (at minimum) on a bi-monthly basis.

The responsibilities of the Treasurer will include the following:

1. Annual review of the organization’s financial policies and procedures
2. Monitoring actual budgeted allocations and ensuring any significant changes are reported to the Board on a quarterly basis
3. Review of annual operating budget
4. Review of existing monthly financial statements and reports
5. Work with Co-Executive Director and Finance Committee to implement, monitor, and evaluate financial controls and systems
6. Review and recommend the quarterly financial statements to the Board, as prepared by the Co-Executive Director (Operations)
7. Provide guidance and support to the External Auditor, Bookkeeper, and Co-Executive Director (Operations) to ensure the timely completion of the audit
8. Review and approve the audited annual financial statement on behalf of the Board; present the statement to the Board
9. Recommend an External Auditor to the Board for approval at the Annual General Meeting
10. Annual review of the organization’s Charitable Return to the CRA
11. Annual review of the organization’s insurance policies, including the Directors’ and Officers’ Liability Policy
12. Act as the subject matter expert surrounding all financial management and strategy
13. Chair the Finance Committee and the coordination of committee activities

The Treasurer is a volunteer, non-paid role, and is an executive member of the SBL Board of Directors. If you have any questions about the role or are interested in volunteering on the SBL Board of Directors, send your questions and/or resume to Tammie Orifa at tammie_orifa@hotmail.com. Directors on the SBL Board are expected to adhere to the Privacy and Confidentiality policies of the organization and must express any known or potential conflicts of interest while affiliated with the organization.

To learn more about Success Beyond Limits, please visit their website at www.successbl.com/.

The post Success Beyond Limits- Treasurer appeared first on Capacity Canada.

A collaborative, youth-led, community based movement that provides youth with holistic supports to complete their education and experience success in their lives.

To improve educational outcomes, expand possibilities, and support youth in Jane and Finch along their individual paths to success.

Success Beyond Limits exists to provide youth with the opportunity to progress from where ever they are to where ever they want to be. This is reflected in our programming, in which Mentees become Mentors-in-training, then become Mentors, who go on to play a variety of roles within our organizations (as tutors, co-op students and board members), eventually making contributions to the broader community.

Youth-led: Everything we do aspires to and is designed for establishing youth ownership of SBL by engaging and responding to the voices of youth. Youth are involved in our governance, as well as planning, adjusting, and delivering programming.

Collaborative: The common ground of success in education for our youth is where we meet with individuals, organizations, agencies, institutions and movements.

Community Based: Our focus, mandate and staffing are community-based, community-focused, and community-empowered.

Flexibility: All of our programming stays flexible in order to respond to the voice of the youth and their changing needs.

Our focus is to reduce the impact of external factors that negatively affect the educational success of youth in Jane-Finch. We operate a 6-week summer program that offers credits, mentorship, youth employment, enrichment, nutrition, engagement, graduation, and relationship building.

We continue our support through our presence within Westview Centennial Secondary School, where we operate a youth space. Through this space, our staff support youth during the school day, run an after-school program, and connect youth to an array of diverse opportunities.

The Board Director with Lived Experience in the Jane Finch Community has current or recent connection to the community through work, residential, or other community involved experience. This member can contribute first and second hand commentary on matters related to the community and/or leverage community relationships where appropriate.

As the highest leadership body of the organization and to satisfy its fiduciary duties, the board is responsible for:

• determining the mission of the organization and understanding its collective purpose
• selecting, supporting, and evaluating the performance of the chief executive
• strategic and organizational planning
• ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
• fundraising and resource development
• approving and monitoring the organization’s programs and services
• enhancing the organization’s public image
• assessing its own performance as the governing body of the organization
• ensuring legal and ethical integrity

Each individual board member is expected to:

• know the organization’s mission, policies, programs, and needs as well as understand its collective purpose
• faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and board materials in advance of meetings
• serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization
• fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for the organization to advance its mission
• leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to achieve the organization’s mission
• help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and influence public policy
• prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in board meetings
• participate fully in one or more committees or taskforces
• engage in learning opportunities to better understand the community we serve
• respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences into the boardroom and the organization
• uphold the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance
• follow the organization’s bylaws, policies, and board resolutions
• maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization

• Board Meetings: Approximately 2 hours four times per year for Board meetings (typically virtual) and an AGM.
  • Committee Meetings: Committees typically meet monthly or bimonthly

*Adopted from boardsource.org/resources/board-member-job-description/

The Board Director is a volunteer, non-paid member of the SBL Board of Directors. If you have any questions about the role or are interested in volunteering on the SBL Board of Directors, send your questions and/or resume to Tammie Orifa at tammie_orifa@hotmail.com. Directors on the SBL Board are expected to adhere to the Privacy and Confidentiality policies of the organization and must express any known or potential conflicts of interest while affiliated with the organization.

To learn more about Success Beyond Limits, please visit their website at www.successbl.com/.

The post Success Beyond Limits- Lived Experience appeared first on Capacity Canada.

A collaborative, youth-led, community based movement that provides youth with holistic supports to complete their education and experience success in their lives.

To improve educational outcomes, expand possibilities, and support youth in Jane and Finch along their individual paths to success.

Success Beyond Limits exists to provide youth with the opportunity to progress from where ever they are to where ever they want to be. This is reflected in our programming, in which Mentees become Mentors-in-training, then become Mentors, who go on to play a variety of roles within our organizations (as tutors, co-op students and board members), eventually making contributions to the broader community.

Youth-led: Everything we do aspires to and is designed for establishing youth ownership of SBL by engaging and responding to the voices of youth. Youth are involved in our governance, as well as planning, adjusting, and delivering programming.

Collaborative: The common ground of success in education for our youth is where we meet with individuals, organizations, agencies, institutions and movements.

Community Based: Our focus, mandate and staffing are community-based, community-focused, and community-empowered.

Flexibility: All of our programming stays flexible in order to respond to the voice of the youth and their changing needs.

Our focus is to reduce the impact of external factors that negatively affect the educational success of youth in Jane-Finch. We operate a 6-week summer program that offers credits, mentorship, youth employment, enrichment, nutrition, engagement, graduation, and relationship building.

We continue our support through our presence within Westview Centennial Secondary School, where we operate a youth space. Through this space, our staff support youth during the school day, run an after-school program, and connect youth to an array of diverse opportunities.

As the highest leadership body of the organization and to satisfy its fiduciary duties, the board is responsible for:

• determining the mission of the organization and understanding its collective purpose
• selecting, supporting, and evaluating the performance of the chief executive
• strategic and organizational planning
• ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
• fundraising and resource development
• approving and monitoring the organization’s programs and services
• enhancing the organization’s public image
• assessing its own performance as the governing body of the organization
• ensuring legal and ethical integrity

Each individual board member is expected to:

• know the organization’s mission, policies, programs, and needs as well as understand its collective purpose
• faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and board materials in advance of meetings
• serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization
• fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for the organization to advance its mission
• leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to achieve the organization’s mission
• help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and influence public policy
• prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in board meetings
• participate fully in one or more committees or taskforces
• engage in learning opportunities to better understand the community we serve
• respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences into the boardroom and the organization
• uphold the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance
• follow the organization’s bylaws, policies, and board resolutions
• maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization

The Board Director with expertise in Information Technology will contribute their general knowledge or subject matter expertise on topics related to:

• Understanding of IT Infrastructure: Ability to understand the organization’s IT infrastructure, including hardware, software, networks, and cybersecurity.
• Cybersecurity Awareness: Familiarity with data protection laws, cybersecurity risks, and best practices for safeguarding sensitive information.
• Cloud Computing & Data Storage: Knowledge of cloud-based systems, data management, and storage solutions.

• IT Alignment with Organization Goals: Ability to align IT strategy with the overall goals of the organization, ensuring technology decisions support long-term objectives.
• Risk Management: Provide guidance on assessing technological risks and ensuring proper risk mitigation strategies are in place, particularly with regard to cybersecurity and data breaches.
• Budgeting & Resource Allocation: Experience in managing or advising on IT budgets and resource allocation.

• Board Meetings: Approximately 2 hours four times per year for Board meetings (typically virtual) and an AGM.
• Committee Meetings: Committees typically meet monthly or bimonthly

*Adopted from boardsource.org/resources/board-member-job-description/

The Board Director is a volunteer, non-paid member of the SBL Board of Directors. If you have any questions about the role or are interested in volunteering on the SBL Board of Directors, send your questions and/or resume to Tammie Orifa at tammie_orifa@hotmail.com. Directors on the SBL Board are expected to adhere to the Privacy and Confidentiality policies of the organization and must express any known or potential conflicts of interest while affiliated with the organization.

To learn more about Success Beyond Limits, please visit their website at www.successbl.com/.

The post Success Beyond Limits- IT appeared first on Capacity Canada.

A collaborative, youth-led, community based movement that provides youth with holistic supports to complete their education and experience success in their lives.

To improve educational outcomes, expand possibilities, and support youth in Jane and Finch along their individual paths to success.

Success Beyond Limits exists to provide youth with the opportunity to progress from where ever they are to where ever they want to be. This is reflected in our programming, in which Mentees become Mentors-in-training, then become Mentors, who go on to play a variety of roles within our organizations (as tutors, co-op students and board members), eventually making contributions to the broader community.

Youth-led: Everything we do aspires to and is designed for establishing youth ownership of SBL by engaging and responding to the voices of youth. Youth are involved in our governance, as well as planning, adjusting, and delivering programming.

Collaborative: The common ground of success in education for our youth is where we meet with individuals, organizations, agencies, institutions and movements.

Community Based: Our focus, mandate and staffing are community-based, community-focused, and community-empowered.

Flexibility: All of our programming stays flexible in order to respond to the voice of the youth and their changing needs.

Our focus is to reduce the impact of external factors that negatively affect the educational success of youth in Jane-Finch. We operate a 6-week summer program that offers credits, mentorship, youth employment, enrichment, nutrition, engagement, graduation, and relationship building.

We continue our support through our presence within Westview Centennial Secondary School, where we operate a youth space. Through this space, our staff support youth during the school day, run an after-school program, and connect youth to an array of diverse opportunities.

As the highest leadership body of the organization and to satisfy its fiduciary duties, the board is responsible for:

• determining the mission of the organization and understanding its collective purpose
• selecting, supporting, and evaluating the performance of the chief executive
• strategic and organizational planning
• ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
• fundraising and resource development
• approving and monitoring the organization’s programs and services
• enhancing the organization’s public image
• assessing its own performance as the governing body of the organization
• ensuring legal and ethical integrity

Each individual board member is expected to:

• know the organization’s mission, policies, programs, and needs as well as understand its collective purpose
• faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and board materials in advance of meetings
• serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization
• fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for the organization to advance its mission
• leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to achieve the organization’s mission
• help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and influence public policy
• prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in board meetings
• participate fully in one or more committees or taskforces
• engage in learning opportunities to better understand the community we serve
• respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences into the boardroom and the organization
• uphold the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance
• follow the organization’s bylaws, policies, and board resolutions
• maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization

The Board Director with expertise in Finance and Accounting will contribute their general knowledge or subject matter expertise on topics related to:

• Understanding Financial Statements: Ability to interpret balance sheets, income statements, cash flow statements, and other financial reports.
• Budgeting: Experience in overseeing the creation, implementation, and monitoring of organizational budgets.
• Financial Analysis: Ability to assess financial performance, identify trends, and make recommendations for improvement.
• Cost Management: Knowledge of controlling costs and improving efficiency while maintaining quality.

• Familiarity with accounting principles (e.g. NFPS) and an understanding of how they apply to the organization.
• Ability to review accounting practices and ensure compliance with financial

• Ability to identify, assess, and mitigate financial
• Understanding of insurance policies, investments, and potential liabilities to protect the organization from financial threats.

• Experience in long-term financial planning to ensure
• Knowledge of how financial decisions affect the overall strategy of the
• Ability to make informed decisions about resource allocation, investments, and

• Understanding of various fundraising strategies and how financial performance impacts fundraising efforts.
• Ability to evaluate the financial aspects of funding sources and

• Board Meetings: Approximately 2 hours four times per year for Board meetings (typically virtual) and an AGM.
• Committee Meetings: Committees typically meet monthly or bimonthly

*Adopted from boardsource.org/resources/board-member-job-description/

The Board Director is a volunteer, non-paid member of the SBL Board of Directors. If you have any questions about the role or are interested in volunteering on the SBL Board of Directors, send your questions and/or resume to Tammie Orifa at tammie_orifa@hotmail.com. Directors on the SBL Board are expected to adhere to the Privacy and Confidentiality policies of the organization and must express any known or potential conflicts of interest while affiliated with the organization.

To learn more about Success Beyond Limits, please visit their website at www.successbl.com/.

The post Success Beyond Limits – Finance appeared first on Capacity Canada.

A collaborative, youth-led, community based movement that provides youth with holistic supports to complete their education and experience success in their lives.

To improve educational outcomes, expand possibilities, and support youth in Jane and Finch along their individual paths to success.

Success Beyond Limits exists to provide youth with the opportunity to progress from where ever they are to where ever they want to be. This is reflected in our programming, in which Mentees become Mentors-in-training, then become Mentors, who go on to play a variety of roles within our organizations (as tutors, co-op students and board members), eventually making contributions to the broader community.

Youth-led: Everything we do aspires to and is designed for establishing youth ownership of SBL by engaging and responding to the voices of youth. Youth are involved in our governance, as well as planning, adjusting, and delivering programming.

Collaborative: The common ground of success in education for our youth is where we meet with individuals, organizations, agencies, institutions and movements.

Community Based: Our focus, mandate and staffing are community-based, community-focused, and community-empowered.

Flexibility: All of our programming stays flexible in order to respond to the voice of the youth and their changing needs.

Our focus is to reduce the impact of external factors that negatively affect the educational success of youth in Jane-Finch. We operate a 6-week summer program that offers credits, mentorship, youth employment, enrichment, nutrition, engagement, graduation, and relationship building.

We continue our support through our presence within Westview Centennial Secondary School, where we operate a youth space. Through this space, our staff support youth during the school day, run an after-school program, and connect youth to an array of diverse opportunities.

As the highest leadership body of the organization and to satisfy its fiduciary duties, the board is responsible for:

• determining the mission of the organization and understanding its collective purpose
• selecting, supporting, and evaluating the performance of the chief executive
• strategic and organizational planning
• ensuring strong fiduciary oversight and financial management
• fundraising and resource development
• approving and monitoring the organization’s programs and services
• enhancing the organization’s public image
• assessing its own performance as the governing body of the organization
• ensuring legal and ethical integrity

Each individual board member is expected to:

• know the organization’s mission, policies, programs, and needs as well as understand its collective purpose
• faithfully read and understand the organization’s financial statements and board materials in advance of meetings
• serve as active advocates and ambassadors for the organization
• fully engage in identifying and securing the financial resources and partnerships necessary for the organization to advance its mission
• leverage connections, networks, and resources to develop collective action to achieve the organization’s mission
• help identify personal connections that can benefit the organization’s fundraising and reputational standing, and influence public policy
• prepare for, attend, and conscientiously participate in board meetings
• participate fully in one or more committees or taskforces
• engage in learning opportunities to better understand the community we serve
• respect the experiences of all who bring their voices and lived experiences into the boardroom and the organization
• uphold the legal duties and laws regarding nonprofit governance
• follow the organization’s bylaws, policies, and board resolutions
• maintain confidentiality about all internal matters of the organization

The Board Director with expertise in Human Resources will contribute their general knowledge or subject matter expertise on topics related to:

• Knowledge of recruitment, hiring, and retention strategies to ensure the organization has a talented and engaged workforce.
• Understanding of compensation and benefits practices to ensure fairness, competitiveness, and sustainability within the organization’s budget.
• Experience with performance management systems, including employee evaluations, feedback mechanisms, and goal-setting processes.
• Awareness of employee training and development programs to help staff improve skills and grow within the organization.

• A solid understanding of employment laws and regulations, including those specific to Federal and provincial jurisdiction (e.g. the Canadian Labour Code or the Ontario Employment Standards Act).
• Knowledge of workplace health and safety regulations to ensure compliance and protect
• Awareness of non-discrimination laws and policies surrounding harassment and diversity in the workplace.

• Ability to think strategically about the organization’s workforce needs, aligning HR practices with the overall mission and goals of the organization.
• Experience in workforce planning, including succession planning, talent pipeline development, and identifying gaps in staffing needs.
• Expertise in designing and assessing organizational structures to ensure effectiveness and efficiency.

• Expertise in managing employee relations issues and resolving conflicts, ensuring fair treatment of all employees while maintaining the organization’s policies.
• Ability to mediate disputes and address grievances between employees, ensuring the resolution process aligns with the organization’s values and legal requirements.

• An understanding of DEI principles and practices to promote an inclusive work
• Ability to advocate for and implement policies that ensure the recruitment, hiring, and retention of diverse talent.
• Skills in creating programs to foster an inclusive workplace culture and addressing systemic issues related to diversity and discrimination.

• Ability to support organizational change, whether it’s related to leadership transitions, restructuring, or the introduction of new policies or technologies.
• Skills in helping employees adapt to change through effective communication, training, and providing emotional support during transitions.

• Knowledge of setting up and monitoring performance metrics, ensuring that employees are supported in achieving their best performance.
• Experience in designing talent development programs, mentoring initiatives, and leadership development pathways.
• The ability to assess the organizational impact of HR strategies and make adjustments as needed to ensure alignment with the organization’s goals.

• Understanding of compensation strategies, including salary structures, incentives, and benefits packages to ensure competitiveness and fairness in employee
• Familiarity with benefits administration and understanding how these offerings can impact employee satisfaction, retention, and performance.

• Awareness of the risks associated with HR, including labor disputes, potential lawsuits, and non-compliance with labor laws.
• Ability to oversee risk management strategies and work with legal professionals to ensure the organization’s HR practices comply with all relevant laws and

• Board Meetings: Approximately 2 hours four times per year for Board meetings (typically virtual) and an AGM.
• Committee Meetings: Committees typically meet monthly or bimonthly

*Adopted from boardsource.org/resources/board-member-job-description/

The Board Director is a volunteer, non-paid member of the SBL Board of Directors. If you have any questions about the role or are interested in volunteering on the SBL Board of Directors, send your questions and/or resume to Tammie Orifa at tammie_orifa@hotmail.com. Directors on the SBL Board are expected to adhere to the Privacy and Confidentiality policies of the organization and must express any known or potential conflicts of interest while affiliated with the organization.

To learn more about Success Beyond Limits, please visit their website at www.successbl.com/.

The post Success Beyond Limits – Human Resources appeared first on Capacity Canada.

A cross-platform library to access USB devices

C 5.5k Updated Mar 19

If you’re considering bankruptcy in Canada, it’s important to understand the rules that will govern your financial fresh start. The Bankruptcy and Insolvency Act (BIA) is the federal legislation that regulates the bankruptcy process across Canada. This bankruptcy law establishes consistent rules for how bankruptcies are administered, what happens to your assets and debts, and what obligations you’ll have during the process.

Understanding these rules will clarify what to expect and help you take the right steps toward financial relief.

Here are the top 6 bankruptcy rules you should know:

When filing for bankruptcy, debtors must contribute a portion of of their income over a set government threshold into their bankruptcy estate. Each month during your bankruptcy, you must report all household income to your Licensed Insolvency Trustee (LIT) so they can calculate this surplus income.

The calculation involves comparing your household’s total monthly income to a standard based on family size. If your income exceeds this threshold, you must pay 50% of this surplus to your LIT for the benefit of your creditors. These surplus income payments continue throughout your bankruptcy period,

Surplus income also extends how long your bankruptcy lasts:

• First-time bankruptcy: Typically lasts 9 months, extended to 21 months with surplus income.
• Second bankruptcy: Lasts 24 months, extended to 36 months with surplus income.

When you file bankruptcy you must surrender certain assets to your LIT however you don’t lose everything. Certain assets are exempt from seizure, meaning you can keep them, including:

• Personal items, household furnishings, tools required for your job (within provincial limits).
• Most RRSP contributions (except those made within the last 12 months).
• Vehicle equity, up to provincial exemption limits ($7,117 in Ontario)
• Home equity, subject to provincial exemptions (up to $10,783 in Ontario)

You must also disclose any assets you’ve sold, transferred, or given away prior to filing bankruptcy. Your Licensed Insolvency Trustee may review transactions from the past 1-5 years, and any sales below fair market value or transfers intended to hide assets can be reversed by the court.

During bankruptcy, tax refunds for the years up to and including the year you file bankruptcy become part of your bankruptcy estate. Future refunds from years after your filing date are yours to keep.

Bankruptcy eliminates most unsecured debts.

Dischargeable debts (eliminated in bankruptcy):

• Credit cards and lines of credit
• Personal loans and payday loans
• Income tax debt and HST/GST debt
• Student loans if you’ve been out of school more than 7 year)
• Outstanding bill payments
• Most civil judgments

Certain debts are not discharged in a bankruptcy meaning you’ll still owe them after bankruptcy including child support and alimony, court fines and penalties, and debts obtained by fraud.

Can creditors continue to collect after bankruptcy is filed? No. Filing bankruptcy initiates an automatic stay of proceedings, preventing creditors from continuing or initiating legal actions, wage garnishments, or collections.

Secured debts (mortgages, car loans) are not included in bankruptcy. A secured creditor cannot terminate your loan simply because you filed for bankruptcy.

You can keep those assets during bankruptcy as long as you remain current on your payments. However, if you have significant equity in these assets beyond any provincial exemption limits, your trustee will need to realize this equity for creditors.

For example, if your home has $50,000 in equity and your province only exempts $10,000, you might need to pay the trustee $40,000 to keep your home—or it could be sold.

A consumer proposal offers an alternative that allows you to keep all your assets regardless of equity, while still reducing your unsecured debts. This makes proposals an attractive option for homeowners or those with valuable vehicles who want debt relief without risking their assets.

When filing bankruptcy, you must complete specific duties to receive your discharge. These include:

• Attending two financial counselling sessions
• Providing monthly income reports and proof of income to your Trustee
• Attending any required meetings of creditors (if called)
• Surrendering all credit cards to your LIT
• Disclosing all assets and debts honestly
• Informing your Trustee of any material change in your circumstances

Failure to complete these duties can result in an opposed discharge, extending your bankruptcy or requiring additional conditions before you’re released from your debts.

Bankruptcy in Canada is a legal process with rules that balance relief for honest debtors with fair treatment of creditors. To file bankruptcy in Canada you must work with a Licensed Insolvency Trustee who will explain how these rules impact your personal financial situation.

As Licensed Insolvency Trustees, we will explain how these rules apply to your situation and whether alternatives like a consumer proposal might better suit your needs.

Take the first step toward financial freedom. Contact us today for a free, confidential consultation.

The post 6 Key Bankruptcy Rules in Canada Explained appeared first on Hoyes, Michalos & Associates Inc..

It has been more than five years since TechGirlz was acquired by Creating IT Futures, now known as CompTIA Spark, the nonprofit arm of CompTIA. In October 2024, CompTIA Spark abruptly dismantled TechGirlz without any formal announcement or fanfare, reneging on the promise to preserve its legacy.

TechGirlz was founded in September 2009, driven by the realization that women were underrepresented in the tech industry. Our research indicated that girls often lost interest in tech careers around ninth grade, prompting us to focus on middle school students. We developed interactive workshops called TechShopz, engaging tech industry professionals as instructors.

Over time, TechGirlz expanded beyond Philadelphia, reaching cities like Raleigh and Oak Ridge, Tennessee. By the time of the acquisition, we had impacted over 20,000 girls with nearly 1,000 volunteers. Our library of open-source TechShopz grew to almost 30, all achieved on a lean budget with just seven employees and various interns.

Our partnership with CompTIA began with their financial support. As our relationship deepened, I joined the board of IT Works, which later became CompTIA Spark. They expanded their focus to include middle and high school students, aligning with our mission. When TechGirlz needed a partner to grow, our paths converged with IT Works, which sought to acquire existing programs.

I was optimistic about finding a partner who valued our mission and methodology. During the acquisition process, Charles Eaton, then Executive Director of IT Works, verbally assured me that if circumstances changed, he would return TechGirlz to me.

The acquisition was smooth, but the transition was challenging. As a board member, I could offer advice, but it was up to others to act on it. The board was informed that CompTIA Spark navigated COVID-19 and its aftermath successfully.

In 2023, leadership changes occurred. Charles Eaton moved to a role at CompTIA, and MJ Shoer took over CompTIA Spark. They hired someone with an education background to manage TechGirlz, aiming to operationalize and grow the program.

In June 2024, MJ informed me that TechGirlz was being shut down due to lackluster growth. I was asked to suggest potential recipients for the program materials. At the board meeting, I remained silent, unable to influence the decision.

Inspiration struck when I contacted Dan Rhoton, CEO of Hopeworks, an early TechGirlz supporter. He was eager to adopt the TechShopz materials for his students and alumni to teach future generations.

I informed MJ and Charles of this plan, hoping for a swift transfer without legal complications since no financial transactions were involved. However, despite initial enthusiasm, the process stalled. CompTIA’s lawyers were too busy, and emails went unanswered.

The last communication from MJ was in mid-February, stating that lawyers were working on an agreement. We are still waiting. It appears that these valuable materials, which could inspire more girls and under-resourced youth, are lost due to corporate indifference and unfulfilled promises.

Yet, we are not defeated. The impact of TechGirlz lives on through the young women we inspired to pursue tech careers, the universities they attended, and the confidence they gained. The stories of our volunteers who made a difference will endure. There will always be obstacles, but we will navigate around them.

TechGirlz may be gone, but its legacy will persist, a testament to resilience and determination. We will continue to push forward, undeterred by those who seek to hinder us. The work is far from over, and we will ensure that the spirit of TechGirlz continues to inspire generations to come.

TechGirlz is Dead, Long Live TechGirlz was originally published in Code Like A Girl on Medium, where people are continuing the conversation by highlighting and responding to this story.

• You see the big picture, want to make an impact in your community, and live in Waterloo Region
• You view Diversity and Equity as integral to this work

Newer to all this? That’s ok! We welcome you and will provide space for you to learn and develop Governance skills.

• Bring lived experience or expertise and appreciate the value of diverse viewpoints
• Have experience in strategic and entrepreneurial leadership
• Have expertise/experience in Finance/Accounting, Legal, Marketing or Fundraising

Apply by Monday, April 14, 2025. Please send your applications or inquiries via email to board@caminowellbeing.ca 

Please submit a traditional resume and cover letter in either a traditional format or by recording a short 2-3 minute video.

In your cover letter or video, please answer this question:

• Why is diversity important to a board and how will your personal and/or professional experiences contribute to our Board’s commitment to a connected community where all people thrive?

The post Camino appeared first on Capacity Canada.

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KITCHENER - Two MacNeil's really are better than one.

After signing Owen MacNeil recently, the Kitchener Panthers have added brother Andrew to the fold.

Andrew is in the midst of his sophomore season with Cloud County Community College in Concordia, Kansas.

The former Ontario Blue Jay is set to suit up for his first IBL season.

"We are happy to have Andrew joining us for his first season in the IBL," said general manager Shanif Hirani.

"He has a unique delivery and three-pitch mix that can be tough for opposing lineups to adjust to. He will add a different look out of the bullpen for us this summer."

If you want to see Andrew, and the rest of your Kitchener Panthers this summer, GET YOUR TICKETS NOW! Season tickets and single-game tickets are available NOW online. FLEX PACKS are coming soon!

The Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce is looking for Directors to serve on our Board of Directors. We value a Board comprised of talented and committed individuals with a wide range of experience, knowledge, abilities, backgrounds, and lenses.

It is essential for the Greater KW Chamber to build a Board of Directors that represents the diversity of our membership and community, as well as improving our ability to promote economic growth and add value to our members.

Who would be a great asset for the GKWCC Board? Please complete the nomination form below by 4:00PM on Friday, May 2, 2025.

Nominate here.

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The post Join Our Board of Directors appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

On the first Tuesday of every month, we’ll announce a new Female Founder, including a video interview of them sharing their business story. Want to be featured as a Female Founder?

Contact Memberships for more details. The Female Founders Program would not be possible without our Title Sponsor, Scotiabank.

To learn a little more about the Scotiabank Women Initiative, and why they’ve chosen to sponsor this program, see the video below.

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The next Female Founder we’re featuring is Katie Campbell, Founder & Matchmaker at Soul Matchmaking

After nearly a decade in corporate accounting, Katie found herself craving something more human – something that sparked joy, connection, and a sense of purpose. Numbers were fine, but people were better. So, she took a leap, left the spreadsheets behind, and followed her gut toward something entirely different: matchmaking!

What started as a passion for networking and human connection quickly evolved into Soul Matchmaking, a boutique matchmaking service rooted in authenticity and a deep love for people. Based in Kitchener-Waterloo, Katie has built a business that reflects her values – community, intentionality, and a belief that love and companionship should be approached with care, curiosity, and heart.

Katie’s approach to matchmaking is personal and intuitive. She works closely with each client, getting to know who they are beyond a profile – their values, quirks, hopes, and non-negotiables. Her goal isn’t just to make introductions, but to create opportunities for genuine connection – the kind that happens face-to-face, without endless scrolling or shallow small talk.

While Soul Matchmaking is proudly local to KW, Katie works with clients across North America, bringing people together across cities, provinces, and even borders. From matchmaking and relationship coaching, Soul Matchmaking is expanding what it means to connect in a modern world – all while keeping it real and personal.

And with a new venture on the horizon in the world of love, Katie’s just getting started. Stay tuned.

At the end of the day, Katie’s work is about people – helping them feel seen, heard, and supported as they move toward relationships that truly fit. And if she can make the process feel a little less overwhelming (and maybe even fun), all the better.

To learn more about Katie’s journey as a Female Founder, watch the interview below (or read the written format).

Tell us about your business.

Soul Matchmaking is a boutique matchmaking business and just found a need for people to date differently. So, I curate matches, it’s very personable, I get to know all of my clients. So, there’s nothing online, no swiping. It’s just me and you and I help you get out there and date.

Where did your business idea come from?

I love networking, I love people. I took that and then I took the need for dating. So, a lot of people are sick and tired of online dating. It’s hard to meet people.

A lot of people are very isolated, especially when they work from home. So, I took that need for human interaction and networking and the need for some help with dating and put them together. The matchmaking world is actually very big.

It’s a big community of matchmakers and yes, I love it.

What were you doing before you started your business?

So, before I started my business, I worked in corporate accounting. I worked in accounting for about 10 years.

I have a business degree, and I also have a hospitality diploma that I got when I was 18. So, I have a lot of certificates in business accounting as well as relationships and matchmaking. So, I’m fairly qualified to work with people.

What was the turning point when you started your business?

The change for me happened over COVID. I was feeling very burnt out like a lot of people. I felt unfulfilled in my career and like how I wanted to live out the rest of my life or my working life.

So, one day I literally bought a notebook, a fancy pen and I just started writing ideas down how I would want to run my business, how I want to structure it. And now all of a sudden, it’s here.

What have been some of the highlights of your entrepreneurial journey?

Some of the highlights, it’s literally just starting my business. I don’t come from a family of entrepreneurs. A lot of my friends, we all work in the corporate world. So just starting it, even registering the business, my first client, everything was a big deal.

So, there are lots of highlights, but I always encourage to celebrate the little wins. They may seem small to other people, but to you and your journey, they’re big and important and you should always celebrate them.

What have been some of the challenges that you’ve faced so far?

Some of the challenges I faced personally is having no idea what I was doing. Like I said, I just had to start from scratch and write things down and just do step by step, figuring out how I want to structure the business, the financial part of it, the branding, the social media, and then even registering the business and doing step by step. It’s hard too when you must wear every hat in the company and some of the hats you don’t know how to wear, so you have to figure it out as you go.

Knowing what you know now, is there anything you’d do differently?

If I were to go back, I would definitely ask for help. I have a lot of really great friends and family that helped figure things out for me and gave me ideas. But I think even using a mentor would have been helpful or asking other professionals, other entrepreneurs, their challenges and how to overcome them. Everything has just been learning as I go, so it would have been good to have a little more advice going into it.

How does your client process work?

My process is straightforward. I ask everyone to go on my website and fill out a questionnaire. The questionnaire just helps me understand you better, the basics about you, your relationship history, your personality, your hobbies, whatever you want to tell me.

And then everyone gets vetted and interviewed. Obviously, safety and authenticity are number one, so I must make sure everyone is who they say they are. There are no big major red flags before I take you on.

Obviously, if I’m setting you up with someone and you’re not who you say you are, that looks bad on me. And I want everyone to feel safe and comfortable. So, if you actually come on as a client, I get to know you a little better. I do relationship coaching as well within my packages. And we just have a close… it’s like a friendship. Just think of it as your friend setting you up on a date.

And people are very, very busy. I’m busy, you’re busy, we’re all busy. So, we’re all jaded and tired of just swiping, whether it’s anything you’re doing on your phone.

We’re all on our phones, so it gets exhausting constantly being on different apps. So, this way you sort of avoid the swiping, you avoid the small talk, and you just get set up and you get to start dating.

What methods have you used to grow your business?

Being local to Kitchener-Waterloo, I’ve used the markets, especially in the summertime, some of the Christmas markets. I go out to events and meet people. I put flyers on people’s cars. I’m sure some of you have seen them out there.

And I just use networking connections. I like to connect with other businesses and see if they can help me and I can help them. Yeah, just being very resourceful.

How do you define success?

I think for me, especially starting off small, success is celebrating the small wins, like I said. I wouldn’t go into it being like, I have to be making this much money by this day and the business has to have this many clients. Sometimes you set yourself up for failure that way.

It’s good to have goals but keep them realistic. So, for me, I think where I am right now is successful. I’m still growing, but it’s a big step for me to start my own business.

What is the usual demographic of your clients?

So, I think that’s successful. Yeah, so a lot of my clients, they vary in age. So, I go from young 30s all the way up into 60s.

There’s no limit. A lot of folks who are in their golden years, they get a little weary like it’s not for them, but it’s absolutely for them as well. And anyone with any type of job, any type of personality, whether you’re straight or your part of the queer community, it doesn’t matter.

I’m here to help everybody. And I don’t shy away from someone who’s a little more unique.

What have been some of the core values you’ve integrated into your business?

I don’t pretend to be someone I’m not. And then as well for my clients, making sure they’re authentic to themselves and I’m finding them someone that’s going to be the best for them and they can be their true self.

What have been some of the advantages of establishing your business in Waterloo Region?

Yeah, Kitchener Waterloo has an amazing community. Once you get out there, whether you’re going to a local event, the markets, a ceremony, award ceremony, working with other businesses, there’s so many creative people out there, creative ways to meet people. Obviously, Kitchener Waterloo is quite large now. So, working with other businesses, trying to incorporate what they do into what you do, the Region is great.

And there’s so many different types of people here, different cultures, races, religions, personalities, which is great because I get to work with so many different types of people.

What inspires you?

I think what inspires me are other entrepreneurs or solopreneurs. It’s really tough to start your own business, no matter what it is. Whether you have a ton of funding or no funding, you’re going to be big, you’re going to be small. I see other businesses that have succeeded and those are who inspire me. And I like to connect with them to see how they did it, what their struggles were, what their successes were, and how I can incorporate that in my business.

What advice would you give to other aspiring business owners?

My advice I would give is just start. There’s never going to be a right time. Nothing is ever going to align perfectly.

So even if it’s just writing down your ideas and sort of pre-planning until you feel confident, just start, just do it. Make the small steps. You don’t have to be like a millionaire in one year.

That’s never going to happen. So just have realistic expectations and just go for it.

Do you have a checklist for your clients?

Majority of my clients have a checklist. And part of my job is to bring them down to reality and that you’re not going to find everything you’re looking for in just one person. You have to be realistic, and you have to understand what your long-term goal is with the relationship, whether it’s you want to get married, get married again, have children, or just be with somebody and have companionship. There’s a lot of people out there with unrealistic expectations.

And so, it’s my job to sort of get them to realize what’s important in a relationship, what you’re looking for and how to find it.

What audacious goals do you have for your business?

So, the goals I have for my business in the future, I do have some clients in the USA. So, I’m hoping to expand a little bit further into the US and hopefully internationally over in Europe.

That would be great because there’s a big community of matchmakers there. It’s very popular over in Europe. So that would be nice.

I also have another business that I’m starting. So, it’s still in the launching phase, but I’m hoping that’s going to be very successful as well.

What can we expect in the meantime?

Yeah, I’m still ramping up my social media, trying to figure that out. It’s spring, summer’s coming. So, hoping to get back out of the markets and interact with the community. Just getting my name out there.

One step at a time.

Where can people reach out to you directly?

You can head to my website at soulmatchmaking.ca or you can email me, and I’ll get it personally. So, it’s info@soulmatchmaking.ca or you can head to my Instagram. It’s @soul_matchmaking.

The post Female Founder (April): Katie Campbell appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

To be a gateway to safety, support and a future without abuse for her and her children.

Halton Women’s Place will provide a safe haven, information, and education to support a future without abuse for women and their children.

Halton Women’s Place will:

• Make emergency shelter and/or crisis services accessible to all abused women and their dependent children.
• Provide crisis services and information to women and children living in the shelter and in the community at large.
• Provide non-judgmental, empathetic crisis counseling for all abused women and their dependent children.
• Design and implement strategies to inform and empower abused women and their dependent children to make decisions about their safety, rights and options.
• Design and implement strategies to promote and provide public education to end violence against women and children.

Halton Women’s Place (HWP) is an independent, not for profit charitable organization that provides shelter and crisis services for physically, emotionally, financially, and sexually abused women and their dependent children and is dedicated to ending violence against women and their children.

The HWP Governance Committee of the Board of Directors is seeking a new Board Member who is passionate about our mission and values to join our Volunteer Board.  We are recruiting Board Members who reflect the diversity of our community to ensure a broad spectrum of perspectives are represented in decision making.  At this time, given the population we serve and the current composition of our Board, we are seeking a new female Board Member.  Serving on the Board is an extraordinary opportunity for individuals who share HWP’s vision and who live in one of the communities within Halton. Selected Board Members will have leadership experience in business, government, philanthropy, or the non-profit sector.

As a Board Member, you will be required to:

• Participate fully in the deliberations of the Board, encourage open discussion, ask relevant and probing questions at the strategic level.
• Review management’s strategic plans and initiatives, and provide input on, and monitor performance.
• Provide financial oversight, assessing and monitoring program costs, ensuring organizational financial health.
• Consider principal risks and provide recommendations on how best to manage and mitigate.
• Monitor and assess the Board’s effectiveness in fulfilling all the responsibilities of its mandate.
• Work collegially as part of a team, respecting the views of others on the Board.
• Demonstrate a commitment to learning, taking advantage of opportunities for continued development.

We are especially seeking Board Members who bring excellence and skills in:

• Financial acumen
• Not-for-Profit governance
• Regulatory and public policy

As a Director, you will serve a term of three years, with eligibility for reappointment for one additional term.

Meetings of the Board of Directors are currently held on the last Wednesday of each month from 6:00-8:00 pm except for July and August when no meetings are held.  Board members also serve on ad hoc committees as needed.  Board meetings alternate between being held in person in Burlington, Ontario and virtually.

If you would like to be part of a dynamic, committed, volunteer Board of Directors that will impact the lives of women and their children in Halton, please apply with a brief cover letter and resume, clearly stating the reasons why you would be an excellent candidate for this position.

All applications received will be reviewed by the Governance Committee.  Candidates who are shortlisted will undergo interviews with committee members, and the final list of potential candidates will be presented to the Board.  Those who are chosen will be required to attend board meetings before being officially nominated for election at Halton Women’s Place Annual General Meeting which will take place in June, 2025.

Halton Women’s Place is committed to an inclusive board selection process to attract all candidates.  Matters related to Board and committee members are guided by principles that embrace values, policies and practices that ensure all people represented are treated fairly in the work of our mission and delivery of service, without regard to race, ethnicity, age, physical or mental disability, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, socioeconomic status, marital status, religion or other bias. HWP welcomes and encourages applications from people with disabilities. Accommodations are available upon request for candidates taking part in all aspects of the selection process.

To apply, please reach out to Cathy Mudge at cmudge@haltonwomensplace.com by April 11, 2025.

Join us in making a difference in the lives of women and children in our community.

The post Halton Women’s Place appeared first on Capacity Canada.

As usual it's a bit of a stinker with lots of back patting at every opportunity combined with professional explanations (excuses) each time hydraulic containment fails. Combined with this is the liberal use of statistics such as those over 90% to describe up times for various pumps and wells. Those with up times however of only 55% seem to get short shrift in the explanation department. 

We are also advised that the Ontario MECP has given  "temporary" relief to Lanxess in regards to their Bio-monitoring program. Apparently bringing in clams etc. from Balsam Lake has been a no-no for a long time that was conveniently ignored. Now it is being enforced hence Lanxess asked and received permission from the MECP for the "temporary" delay.  

I find as usual the Executive Summary to be an exercise in self-serving gratuitous bravado. Everything is good, trust us we are professionals, nothing really exceptional to see here folks kind of nonsense. To date I have seen no honest or legitimate explanations of decreasing on-site pumping while the off-site generally remains around 52 litres per second. When the off-site rises the odd month I see no explanation as to why the on-site pumping is also not rising to ensure hydraulic containment of contaminants so that they are not drawn off site by the higher off-site pumping.

This AMR appears to be the usual bought and paid for good news that Ontario polluters and their captured regulator (MECP) strive for. 

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I have some Sicilian in my DNA. And while I’ve been to Sicily only once, I feel a certain draw to, and curiosity about, the Mediterranean’s largest island. So, I eat and drink Sicily. Vicariously.

When I have an opportunity and find interesting wines from Sicily, I drink them with a thoughtful and reflective pause — I dream I’m in the small town, Racalmuto (Sister City to Hamilton), where my nonna Concetta was born.

It’s an imaginative leap, to be sure, but one which is easy to do while gazing into a glass of red wine as heady, earthy aromas waft upward.

Recently, I made such an imaginative leap, sitting in the backyard with a small collection of cheese and salumi on a peaceful and warm late-summer evening.

It was while enjoying a 2017 Centopassi “Cimento di Perricone” (available at the LCBO).

It was of those ideal moments: relaxed and casual Alt-J radio on the outdoor speakers, a slight breeze. A gentle rustle of leaves from the trees above.

Serenity.

The moment with the wine only added to that relaxed feeling.

It was my first encounter with Perricone, an unusual and obscure varietal — and one of Sicily’s oldest indigenous grapes, apparently — that is most often blended with the better-known Nero d’Avola.

On its own, however, this Perricone was deep red, I’d say nicely bodied (probably medium or just a bit beyond), with some fruitiness and just a gentle touch of pleasant spiciness.

I quite liked it.

The Centopassi Perricone for this wine grew on a plateau at about 400 metres above sea level in seven hectares of certified-organic Don Tomasso vineyard. The soil is impermeable clay, the grapes are native to Sicily, and the wines are grown organically.

But the wine has an even more interesting backstory which I found compelling.

Centopassi is an example, very recently in the very long history of the noble grape, of a winery that started cultivating land that was “rescued” and reclaimed from the Mafia who seized it nastily and illegally and let the properties, the land, and any buildings rot.

Centopassi’s Cimento di Perricone is from a vineyard reclaimed from Giovanni Brusca, the brutal thug who, in 1992, assassinated judge and prosecuting magistrate Giovanni Falcone, a magistrate noted for prosecuting Mafiosi. (There were a number of other prosecutors, such as Paolo Borsellino, assassinated by the Mafia over a period in the same era.)

I wondered if that’s, in part, where the name — “cimento” — came from: a challenge, a test, an ordeal? Or is the grape, on its hard, impermeable clay soil, just hard to grow?

The former, “the challenge,” especially in the wine making is the reason, I’ve learned: besides what I would imagine are considerable safety risks when one involves oneself with anything that once involved the Cosa Nostra, working with Perricone is tetchy.

In his illuminating article of May, 2021, “Centopassi and the Perricone ordeal” in jancisrobinson.com, wine writer Walter Speller, having spoken to Centopassi winemaker-consultant, Giovanni Ascione, writes that Perricone is “difficult to grow and a challenge to ferment.”

Speller’s piece continues, “‘We decided to plant the vineyard, because we wanted to honour the history of the terroir,’ Ascione explained the choice of Sicily’s most fickle variety. ‘We wanted to take on the challenge'” (my emphasis).

Thanks to the Libera Terra organization, the Alto Belice Corleonese region, south of Palermo, now has vineyards growing grapes, including Perricone, for some delicious wines.

Terra Libera is dedicated to creating autonomous, cooperative farms that are “self-sufficient, stable, and that are able to create work places, thereby establishing a moral economic system based on legality, social justice and market,” according to their website.

The co-op includes Placido Rizzotto, Pio La Torre and Rosario Livatino growing on dozens and dozens of reclaimed hectares of vineyards in the Sicilian provinces of Palermo, Trapani and Agrigento.

If you are familiar with one of the world’s greatest films — Francis Ford Coppola’s The Godfather — you will recognize the name Corleone. Vito Corleone and his family, in Mario Puzo’s 1969 novel on which the movie was based, were fictional, of course. But the Corleonesi Mafiosi were real — and a ruthless, murderous, thuggish and evil gang.

In another connecting movie note, “I Cento Passi,” or “The Hundred Steps,” is Marco Tullio Giordana’s anti-Mafia film, made in 2000, depicting the life of Peppino Impastato, a political activist who opposed the Sicilian Mafia.

While I also sipped a Sicilian Pinot Grigio, a good, light-bodied wine with crispness, not a lot of sweet and a range of citrus and melon flavours, it was the Perricone that really set in motion a few moments of reflection.

That grapes and their wine could have such restorative power — playing a critical role in returning ill-gotten land, taken by mobsters, to its majesty for growing things like grapes (and other crops like wheat) that produce such good wine and helping farmers and rejuvenating the agrarian system — is, frankly, energizing and inspiring to me as someone who loves good, proper food and drink that has a social-justice foundation.

That’s brilliant.

So, next time you pop a cork, do some research and see if there’s a story behind the label. You might be truly rewarded — and inspired as you spend a bit of time reflecting peacefully with your glass.

Check out my latest post Centopassi wine turfs the Mafiosi from AndrewCoppolino.com.

Raymond, J., Therrien, R., Gosselin, L., & Lefebvre, R. (2011). Numerical analysis of thermal response tests with a groundwater flow and heat transfer model. Renewable Energy, 36 (1), 315–324. doi.org/10.1016/j.renene.2010.06.044

“We therefore developed a strategy to represent the pipes of a ground heat exchanger by assuming that their behavior could be mimicked with the discrete fracture option of HydroGeoSphere originally developed to simulate solute transport in porous and fractured medium.”

Fig. 5. (a) Model mesh and temperature distribution at (b) the beginning and (c) the end of the heating period (50.5 h) for the TRT simulation, South Dump, BH-4, 07/28/2007. The mesh surface area covers 3.31 x 3.31 m.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.

This research, co-authored by J. Raymond, L. Gosselin, R. Lefebvre, and one of Aquanty’s key founding members René Therrien, explores how thermal response tests (TRTs) can be enhanced by employing HydroGeoSphere (HGS) to simulate coupled groundwater flow and heat transfer processes under complex geological settings. The study investigates the limitations of traditional line-source models, particularly in heterogeneous subsurface conditions, and introduces a numerical modelling approach to improve the accuracy of TRT analyses.

Thermal response tests are widely used to assess the thermal conductivity of subsurface materials for designing ground-coupled heat pump systems. Traditional line-source models, while effective under ideal conditions, are often constrained by assumptions such as uniform thermal properties, negligible groundwater flow, and purely conductive heat transfer. This research addresses these challenges by using HGS to model heat transfer processes that account for subsurface heterogeneities, advective heat transfer through groundwater flow, and other site-specific factors.

The study applied the HGS model to two test cases. The first involved validating the numerical approach under ideal conditions at Stillwater, Oklahoma, where line-source assumptions were largely met. Results showed that HGS could replicate the thermal conductivity values obtained using traditional models while offering additional flexibility in accounting for varying test conditions. The second case focused on a test conducted at the South Dump of the Doyon Mine in Québec, Canada—a setting where the line-source model assumptions were not valid due to subsurface heterogeneities, geothermal gradients, and atmospheric temperature fluctuations. In this case, HGS provided a more reliable estimation of thermal properties, revealing significant differences in thermal conductivity compared to the line-source model.

By leveraging HGS's ability to simulate complex heat transfer dynamics, the research demonstrates how numerical modelling can reduce errors and improve the reliability of TRT analyses in challenging geological settings. The study highlights the importance of incorporating site-specific data, such as stratigraphy and groundwater flow conditions, to enhance the accuracy of thermal property estimations.

This work provides critical insights for the geothermal energy sector, emphasizing the need for advanced modelling approaches like HGS to optimize the design of ground-coupled heat pump systems. By overcoming the limitations of traditional analytical models, this research contributes to a deeper understanding of subsurface heat transfer processes, paving the way for more efficient and sustainable geothermal energy solutions.

Abstract:

The Kelvin line-source equation, used to analyze thermal response tests, describes conductive heat transfer in a homogeneous medium with a constant temperature at infinite boundaries. The equation is based on assumptions that are valid for most ground-coupled heat pump environments with the exception of geological settings where there is significant groundwater flow, heterogeneous distribution of subsurface properties, a high geothermal gradient or significant atmospheric temperature variations. To address these specific cases, an alternative method to analyze thermal response tests was developed. The method consists in estimating parameters by reproducing the output temperature signal recorded during a test with a numerical groundwater flow and heat transfer model. The input temperature signal is specified at the entrance of the ground heat exchanger, where flow and heat transfer are computed in 2D planes representing piping and whose contributions are added to the 3D porous medium. Results obtained with this method are compared to those of the line-source model for a test performed under standard conditions. A second test conducted in waste rock at the South Dump of the Doyon Mine, where conditions deviate from the line-source assumptions, is analyzed with the numerical model. The numerical model improves the representation of the physical processes involved during a thermal response test compared to the line-source equation, without a significant increase in computational time.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE ARTICLE.