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.

♦

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.

♦

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.

♦

♦

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. 

♦

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.

When: Saturday May 3rd, 2025 1:00 – 1:25 pm

Where: Entrance of Ferguson Cottage, 37 Grand Ave, Cambridge 

Walk Leader: Liz Stacey

Galt Horticultural Society (GHS) which operates out of the historic Ferguson Cottage came into being in the 1850’s. The current version was established in 1891 with 186 members. The property was purchased in 1836 by William Ferguson, a blacksmith and farmer at the time. The property remained under the Ferguson name for the next 80 years. The cottage is all that is left of the once Ferguson Farm and is credited as one of the earliest surviving Scottish stone cottages in the City of Cambridge.

Check out the Cambridge Sculpture Garden Tour from 1:30-1:55, followed by McDougall Cottage from 2-2:30 pm

When: Saturday May 3rd, 2025, 10:00 – 11:00am

Meeting Point: Soper Park parking area

Walk Leader: Linda Simpson

Walk Leader: Cambridge City Green volunteers We’ll explore the human ecology of a rare cold-water watercourse, Mill Creek from Soper Park to its mouth along the Grand River, and how the creek has been altered, destroyed, and renewed over the past 200 years. The walk will consist of accessible, flat locations (asphalt walking trails, sidewalks). Distance may be an issue for some (i.e. Soper Park to Grand River and back again). Attendees will be encouraged to participate in this walking conversation.

When: Sunday May 4th, 2025, 1 – 2 pm

Meeting Point: Playground parking lot off Salisbury Ave. in Galt, across from Highland Public School

Walk Leader: Linda Simpson

Cambridge has a new woodlot management plan for Victoria Park – come and enjoy a spring walk, learn about our local forest, and how you can be involved in making it healthier. The walk is not entirely accessible as the majority of the walk will consist of footpaths through the forest with varying accessibility, slopes and surfaces.

On Thursday, March 20, 2025, the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce hosted the 2025 Business Excellence Awards Gala, presented by Cowan Insurance Group. The Waterloo Region business community, local dignitaries, and community ambassadors came together to honour the extraordinary contributions of more than 130 nominees across 14 categories in a night of true excellence.

Congratulations to Amber French, Co-Founder, Catalyst Ventures for winning the Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year Award. This honour is awarded to an individual that continuously showcases the value of their community in their actions, work, values, and someone that has spent years paying it forward in the Region of Waterloo.

♦

As Managing Partner at Catalyst Capital, she works tirelessly to connect investors with early-stage technology and tech-driven commercial real estate opportunities right here in the Waterloo Region. She’s also the Co-Founder of Catalyst Commons, the largest co-working space in Canada, now with 125,000 square feet and more than 150 startups and tech firms.

But it’s not just her business acumen that sets her apart; it’s her leadership in times of need. In the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic, when our community was facing unprecedented challenges, she stepped up as CEO of Supply and Protect, a not-for-profit dedicated to sourcing essential PPE. Within the first month, she had sourced and helped deliver thousands of medical-grade masks, surgical gowns and gloves for health-care workers in our community. Through her efforts, Supply and Protect became Canada’s largest marketplace for locally-made PPE, connecting businesses with over 40 Canadian manufacturers, enabling them to reopen safely.

Her commitment to supporting the local ecosystem doesn’t stop there. As a partner in revitalizing the iconic Boathouse in Victoria Park, she’s helped restore a cultural landmark… returning it to a vibrant venue for music and entertainment, that brings people together. Beyond her entrepreneurial ventures, she’s an active board member with the Grand River Hospital Foundation and a proud mom to her two sons, Owen and Isaac. She embodies a “can-do” attitude – always rising to the occasion, tackling challenges head-on, and inspiring everyone around her to do the same.

Her unwavering dedication to building culture, supporting creativity, fostering collaboration, and empowering entrepreneurs has made a profound impact on our community. She has helped countless individuals and organizations build their big ideas and bring them to life.

The post Michael R. Follett Community Leader of the Year Award Winner: Amber French appeared first on Greater KW Chamber of Commerce.

Kitchener, ON, March 31, 2025 – Grand River Hospital and St. Mary’s General Hospital are thrilled to announce the Ministry of Health has approved their merger to become the Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) on April 1, 2025.

Building on over 90 years of partnership, this merger represents a continued commitment to enhancing the health-care experience through combined resources, expertise, and continued work towards including the new state-of-the-art Hospital at the University of Waterloo’s North Campus.

WRHN will continue to deliver its full range of regional programs, specialties, and services at their existing locations. On April 1, all legacy Hospital sites will begin providing services as WRHN. While the name of the Hospital organization and site locations are changing, how and where patients will access care will not change. The community should continue accessing emergency care as usual. Sites will now be known as:

• WRHN @ Midtown (formerly Grand River KW Campus) - emergency services available
• WRHN @ Queen’s Blvd. (formerly St. Mary’s) - emergency services available
• WRHN @ Chicopee (formerly Grand River Freeport Campus)

"We are excited to unite our strengths and expertise to better serve the communities of Waterloo-Wellington, and beyond," said WRHN Board Co-Chair, Tim Rollins. "This merger is more than just a name change, it's about building a stronger health care system that prioritizes patient care, innovation, and community well-being."

“Thank you to all community and team members for your input throughout this process,” says Sandra Hanmer, WRHN Board Co-Chair. “Your input has been invaluable during this transition, and our teams remain committed to keeping the community engaged as we work to ensure everyone has access to the right care in the right place at the right time.”

The Hospitals first announced their intent to merge in April 2024, following years of engagement with team members and the community on improving the local health-care experience, and founded on more than 90 years of partnership. The St. Joseph’s Health System, of which St. Mary’s General Hospital was a member, is supportive of the merger. Since last spring, the teams of both Hospitals continued and expanded their work together, already realizing better coordination and efficiency to meet the communities’ rapidly growing and increasingly diverse needs.

The Hospitals have also engaged with communities and key audiences – including equity-deserving groups, Indigenous communities, and system partners – to understand better what they want and need in a new hospital network. The new brand, designed with inputs from these engagements, includes an uplifting visual identity, reflecting WRHN’s commitment to providing exceptional patient care in safe, welcoming, and inclusive spaces, with compassionate and innovative mindsets. The bold and fresh new logo is inspired by nature, pays homage to the legacy, while positioning the new unified organization for growth.

“Waterloo Region is one of the fastest growing regions in the province,” says Rollins. “Our legacy Hospitals have partnered for over 90 years, helping ensure that patients receive the care they need when they need it. Through this merger, we’re working to further eliminate barriers to access, and are helping the communities we serve to feel confident and connected throughout their individual health-care journeys.”

“Ensuring community members have access to world-class health-care experiences close to home is a key component of helping the Region of Waterloo be 1Million Ready,” says WRHN Board Co-Chair, Sandra Hanmer. “Through this merger, we’re able to better support the growing demand and work collaboratively to innovate solutions that improve the overall patient experience.”

For more information about Waterloo Regional Health Network, please visit WRHN.ca. If you have questions about WRHN, you can reach out to the Hospital through Sarah Farwell.

Media Contact

Sarah Farwell

Vice President, Strategy

Waterloo Regional Health Network

sfarwell@smgh.ca

(226-339-1903

About Waterloo Regional Health Network Waterloo Regional Health Network (WRHN, pronounced wren) represents the merger of St. Mary’s General Hospital and Grand River Hospital into a single, integrated health-care organization. Building on over 90 years of partnership, WRHN brings the strengths of both Hospitals together and is home to seven regional programs and comprehensive health-care services to meet the current and emerging needs in Waterloo-Wellington and beyond. WRHN is redefining the health-care experience through collaboration and innovation, addressing barriers to access, advancing care delivery, and setting new standards in compassionate, empowered community-driven health care. At WRHN, every patient is at the centre of everything we do as we strive to improve lives, inspire healing, and build healthier, stronger communities.

Learn more at WRHN.ca (website launches April 1, 2025).

Luisa D'Amato (K-W Record) wrote an Opinion piece on February 2, 2018 denouncing Woolwich Council's decision to appoint a replacement for Scott Hahn to Council. Then on February 8/25 the Woolwich Observer followed up with their opinion on Woolwich Council deciding who they'd prefer to work with versus what the public wanted. Funny sometimes how democracy works isn't it? Luisa's piece was titled "In Woolwich, a vacant council seat exposes bitter divisions". The Observer's Editorial was titled "Vacancy gambit means council has to deliver".

As appropriately critical as both newspapers were can you imagine if they knew exactly how perverted Woolwich Council had actually behaved? They offered the seat to former councillor Julie-Ann Herteis behind the scenes and went through the whole rigamarole including speeches and presentations at a public meeting of council .  Wow now that really is a dog and pony show when nine candidates in good faith address a council who in bad faith have already, surreptitiously, made their decision.  I wonder which mayor before Sandy taught her these tricks. Maybe it wasn't mayor Strauss afterall. Maybe it was Sandy's and Woolwich's longtime CAO, David Brenneman. Now that's a difficult question.   

♦H7G’s Art Market
Sunday, April 13
11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
FREE
Victoria Park Pavilion – 80 Schneider Ave. Kitchener

Healing of the Seven Generations is having a Spring Art Market right in the heart of Kitchener. Come and support local Indigenous Vendors! See what unique wares are for sale and meet some incredible artists. Contact Raven at ryoung@h7g.ca for any questions, comments or concerns.

Click here for more info

♦Jacob Moon Plays PROG!
Wednesday, April 9
7:30 PM – 9:45 PM
$37.61 per person
The Registry Theatre – 122 Frederick St. Kitchener

Prepare for a mesmerizing solo concert where Jacob Moon, celebrated singer, guitarist, and live looping virtuoso, takes you on a journey through the iconic world of progressive rock! Witness the magic as Jacob brings to life timeless anthems by legendary bands such as Rush, Genesis, Yes, Pink Floyd, Marillion, Radiohead, and Peter Gabriel. Get ready to experience the music you love like never before—up close and personal!

Click here for more info

♦Puzzle, Book and Game Exchange
Saturday, April 12
2:00 PM – 4:00 PM
FREE
Country Hills Library – 1500 Block Line, Kitchener

Upcycle your gently used books, games and puzzles to make room for new ones at our community exchange. Please make sure books, puzzles and games are in good condition and have no missing pieces. The swap is 1 for 1. If you drop off one puzzle, book or game to swap, you can take one puzzle, book or game.

Click here for more info

♦

Musician Meetup♦
Tuesday, April 8
6:00 PM – 7:30 PM
FREE – Registration Required
Southwest Library – 100 Rosenberg Way, Kitchener

Do you want to connect with other musicians in the community? Are you writing a song and don’t know where to take it next? Do you need some tips for recording and mixing? Come to this in person meetup with other musicians in the community. Bring along projects or songs you’re working on and we’ll help you get unstuck. Ask questions, make new friends, make music, get inspired! All levels of musical experience are welcome

Click here for more info

Kitchener/Waterloo Career Fair
Wednesday, April 9
10:00 AM – 2:00 PM
FREE – Registration Required
Bingemans Conference Centre – 425 Bingemans Centre Dr. Kitchener

Get in front of hiring managers! Network and apply with Employer Exhibitors. Build meaningful rapports you need to advance your career in the direction that you want. Learn about exciting new career options and obtain valuable information about how to earn the credentials and diplomas you need to get the job you want with our Training Exhibitors.

Click here for more info

KW Youth Orchestra Concert
Friday, April 11
6:00 PM – 8:00 PM
By Donation
First United Church – 116 William St. W, Waterloo

Join us for the performance of four ensembles of the progressively-organized Kitchener Waterloo Youth Orchestra. KWYO leads the region’s music-loving students in the creative process of orchestral performance, under the keen guidance of dedicated conductors. The concert celebrates the culmination of the 2024-25 season of orchestral activities.

Click here for more info

Baking Fridays – Mochi
Friday, April 11
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
$33
Centreville-Chicopee Community Centre – 141 Morgan Ave. Kitchener

This popular Japanese dessert is sure to make your taste buds dance with it’s soft and chewy shell, filled with a delicious sweet paste on the inside! This delectable sweet treat will have all those winter blues fading away!

Click here for more info

Spring Planter Workshop
Saturday, April 12
10:30 AM – 12:00 PM
$39.99
Colour Paradise – 1209 Bleams Rd. Mannheim

Plant a beautiful spring planter. Choose your favourite combination of spring flowers to create a spring planter for your home. Let the flowers of spring bloom and take home your own little piece of Colour Paradise.

Click here for more info

♦

Meditation
Mondays
7:00 PM
FREE
Bridgeport Community Centre (Room 2) – 20 Tyson Dr. Kitchener
Click here for more info

Jukebox BINGO
Wednesdays
7:00 PM
FREE
Falls Road Irish Pub – 296 Victoria St. N, Kitchener

Click here for more info

The Hangout
Tuesdays & Thursdays
8:30 AM – 11:00 AM
FREE
Grant’s Cafe – 99 Ottawa St. S, Kitchener

Click here for more info

The post March 31, 2025: What’s Happening in Your Neighbourhood? appeared first on KW Habilitation.

An open platform for continuous software analysis.

TypeScript 1 Updated Jun 10, 2018

I have been unfortunate to meet a few lickspittles, co-optees and ethically non-existent individuals over the last 36 years. I have also been extraordinarily fortunate to meet a large number of dedicated, serious environmentalists over the same decades. These fine people include Barb S., Mary R., Pat Potter, Esthur Thur, Rich Clausi, Linda W., Robert B., Debbie Vitez, Tommy Vann, Tracy Hipel, Ron C.,  Dan H., Sebastian, Graham C., Ken J. and more. All are unique but Dr. Regier is literally one of a kind.

If I could remake myself it would be as a combination somehow of Henry Regier and Pat Potter. Both are/were (Pat is no longer with us) intelligent, clever and dedicated individuals. Henry spent much of his career researching Great Lakes fisheries and advising the IJC (International Joint Commission) on Great Lakes issues. He also spent some quality time in Elmira, Ontario after 1995.  Pat lived in Dunnville and later further north in her and husband Chuck's "tire" home that they built.

Pat often wore T-shirts at public meetings emblazoned front and back with the words "They all lie !".  Oh boy I should have paid more attention decades ago to those words, they are so true. Pat could hold her tongue when she chose but oh boy if she was upset enough she could blister paint off the walls. She and Chuck also padlocked Uniroyal Chemical's front gate closed on one occasion.

Henry had what I view as an almost magical ability to lecture polluters, ineffective bureaucrats, dishonest politicians and when he finished they seriously applauded and thanked him for his words. Somehow no matter how strong his words were; his tone, his volume, his soft spoken voice seemed almost reassuring. Even the guilty parties somehow felt that it was an honour to be criticized by Dr. Regier.  Everyone responded positively when he spoke.

After I switched over to the Uniroyal Public Advisory Committee (UPAC) from the Varnicolor Liason Committee (VCL) in 1992 one of the first things I did was expose Brian Beatty's ridiculous 10% concentration rule. He had taken  out of context hydrogeologist Stan Feenstra's research allegedly showing  that DNAPLs could be present in the sub-surface anytime that groundwater concentrations of a chlorinated solvent (DNAPL) equalled or exceeded 10% of the compound's aqueous solubility. In fact Mr. Feenstra's research showed that the actual percentage was only 1% not 10% as Mr. Beatty (Morrison-Beatty) claimed on behalf of Uniroyal Chemical. Mr. Feenstra actually wrote me a letter explaining this and criticizing Mr. Beatty for his behaviour.

Mr. Beatty was shortly thereafter "consolidated" by Dr. David Ash of Uniroyal Chemical . I received a nice little award signed by numerous APTE coordinators for my efforts and discovery.  In hindsight I guess I should have taken that award along with me to remind the APTE coordinators at the January 1994 meeting at Sylvia's house but I guess I thought that might be a little tacky. Almost as if I didn't trust their judgement, memories etc. In hindsight I had no idea of the politics and corruption going on with Sylvia and Uniroyal Chemical.  

She had zero interest in debating DNAPLS at that meeting and turned it into a "Do you trust me as your co-leader meeting."  Susan Bryant was in India at the time with her husband. The APTE coordinators basically didn't have a clue about DNAPLS and sided with Sylvia. Rich Clausi, myself and a few days later Esther Thur all left APTE. All I wanted from that meeting was for APTE to stand up and say publicly that DNAPLS are an issue and just because the Ministry of Environment has rolled over to Uniroyal's interests, APTE has not. 

The APTE coordinators essentially in hindsight right there gave up the fight to Uniroyal and the M.O.E.  I knew it was a major screwup by APTE but only later on understood what was going on behind the scenes and how crucially APTE needed to oppose the DNAPL non cleanup plan.  

A Swift command line tool for generating your Xcode project

Swift 7.3k 4 issues need help Updated Feb 17

Karabiner-Elements is a powerful tool for customizing keyboards on macOS

C++ 19.7k 20 issues need help Updated Feb 19

♦

When it comes to our food system, the current U.S. tariff situation facing the country has forced consumers to ask themselves questions about how they will buy groceries depending on where they are produced or grown.

It’s a moment to reflect more broadly on beliefs and assumptions about what and how we eat and on the actions we take in order to do that.

First off, of course, people will make decisions that best suit their family’s needs. That only makes sense.

However, re-evaluating your approach to food and eating can be healthy at the same time it can be enlightening: what do I support when I purchase food? Where is the food coming from? What quality it is? Who are the farmers, producers and workers involved? Is this a local business?

Visiting a restaurant has the same implications. People often ask on various social media platforms: “Where can I get a cheap meal? An inexpensive burger”?

That seems simple enough, but when you start thinking about it the issue is a fairly complex one, to which I will add a saying: “You can have it fast, you can have it good, you can have it cheap: pick two.”

The little ditty, perhaps most commonly used in business management, is variously referred to as the “iron triangle” or the “triple-constraint triangle.”

For everyone from project managers to industrial designers to software developers, the triangle (also taking the form of a nifty Venn diagram) is a signifier of the struggle between those often-opposing forces of quality, speed and cost which are always aligned with the food we eat.

Let’s consider just a little bit of the history of the ubiquitous “fast food.”

Cheap and fast food was available in North America and especially the United States – pennies for a hamburger – as early as the 1920s, but its full-blown impact, interestingly, coincides with the ascent of wider North American car culture.

The post-World War II era’s booming economy saw automobiles became more affordable and more widely produced.

As journalist and food activist Michael Pollan has stated, at about the same time, supper became a moveable feast as it shifted from the dining room table at home and onto the road.

Pollan notes in his various books and explains quite well that as the network of roads and highways evolved and intensified, restaurants popped up at basket-weaves and highway interchanges.

For more, visit here.

[Photo/Pearson Street Smashburgers]

Check out my latest post Fast, cheap, good: pick two from AndrewCoppolino.com.