The Mathematics 4 (M4) building is expected to be completed in fall 2027, along with the opening of bridge links between the math buildings. Construction began on Oct. 28, 2024.

The work is being undertaken by Gillam Group and Moriyama & Teshima Architects and is currently in the building envelope and rough-in stage. 

When asked if any part of the building is completed, Plant Operations replied, “There are no fully completed sections of the building at this time. However, we are working with the City of Waterloo and the construction manager [Gillam Group] to open the existing DC food court as early as possible.”

Despite ongoing construction, there are still alternative barrier-free routes around the construction area at certain campus entry points. 

Because of the math quad closure and the removal of its bridges, pedestrians are instead directed to sideways and at-grade pathways to move between buildings and access the interior trail network. The math road remains open and continues to be a main route for students entering campus from mass transit.

The project is planned to be a 120,000 square foot, five storey building connected to the three other math buildings on campus. The space will include a new math undergrad office and two registrar-funded student classrooms.

It is with profound sadness that we announce the passing of Grace Chavez-Moran, beloved daughter of Luis Alberto and Graciela Chavez, beloved wife and best friend of John Moran, devoted and loving mother to Nadia, Cassandra, Tahlia, Mateos, Isaias, Joshua, and Jhedsley, cherished mother-in-law to Kyryl and Daniel, and adored grandmother to Ethyn, Sierra, Aria, and Phoenix. Grace was the heart of her family — a deeply devoted wife and mother whose love knew no limits. She dedicated her life to caring for those she loved, always putting her family first and making sure everyone around her felt supported, comforted, and loved. Her warmth, kindness, and unconditional love will be deeply missed by all who knew her. She was the kind of woman who made everyone feel at home — welcoming, compassionate, and endlessly giving. Whether through her comforting words, her open door, or the way she cared so deeply for others, Grace touched countless lives with her generous heart and beautiful spirit. Her love and the memories she created will be treasured forever. Arrangements entrusted to Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home (280 St. David St. S., Fergus, ON, 519-843-3100). Visit www.grahamgiddyfh.com for Grace’s online memorial.

Thomas Samuel David Garrison, formerly of Elora and later of Oakville and Toronto, passed away suddenly in Copenhagen, Denmark. Thomas was a charismatic, compassionate, and encouraging person who made friends easily and had a unique gift for bringing people together. He was a thoughtful listener, loyal friend, and creative storyteller who loved writing fantasy stories,playing Dungeons & Dragons, and building his business venture, Friends with Dice. As a computer programmer, he worked at the forefront of emerging AI technology. Throughout his life, Thomas faced significant health challenges, including Celiac disease and fibromyalgia, yet he persevered with strength, resilience, and compassion for others. His experiences shaped his strong sense of social justice and deep care for people facing hardship. A number of times he grew out his hair so he could donate it in support of cancer patients. Thomas loved learning, reading, music, laughter, and adventure. His scope of interest would range from Harry Potter to Pride and Prejudice. He liked to dance, and to participate in family sing-alongs to movies like White Christmas and A Muppet Christmas Carol. He backpacked through Central America, scuba diving and volcano sledding. He explored his family roots in Ireland, and most recently made his home in Denmark. He was an animal lover and devoted “fur dad” to his dog, Appa, going for frequent, long walks together, and to his cat, Nebbie. He also found great peace in nature, especially near the water, drawn to it from a young age. Thomas was a devoted partner to Robyn Dalgleish; beloved son of Ron and Anne Garrison; cherished son-in-law to Rob and Kelly Dalgleish; treasured grandson of Doris Monteith; loving brother and brother-in-law to Andrew and Lauren Garrison,Sarah Garrison and Bob Van Hout, and Laurel, Matt, and Graham Dalgleish; and proud uncle to Rea, Seth, Shea, and Kylee Garrison. He will also be deeply missed by his extended family and many friends. He was always happy to have a chat, whether long or short, genuinely interested in hearing about your life and enthusiastic about what mattered to you. He had a rare gift for making people feel seen and valued. He strove to do his very best for the people he cared about without complaint. If you were fortunate enough to be counted among them, you knew unwavering support. Thomas was always in your corner with the warmest hugs, the loudest cheerleading, and the biggest smile. Thomas will always be remembered for his huge heart, helping hand, and the blessings he brought to everyone he met. We are devastated by his passing and it has left a hole in our hearts and lives that can never be filled. Until we meet again, may God hold you in the palm of His hand. A visitation to celebrate Thomas’ life will take place on Friday, May 22, from 6:00pm – 9:00pm at Elora Road Christian Fellowship (5696 Wellington Rd 7, Guelph, ON N1H6J2).

It is with deep sadness that we share the passing of Stephen Earl Shaw of West Luther, at Groves Memorial Hospital on Monday, May 11, 2026, at the age of 68. Following a hard-fought battle with pancreatic cancer, Steve was surrounded by the love of his family. Beloved husband and best friend of Marsha Shaw (nee Wilson) for 46 years. Proud father of three sons, Jamie (Tiffany), Darren (Jenn), and Tyler (Molette) Shaw. Cherished and loving grandfather of Trinity, Tristan, Amelia, and Alexandra Shaw. Son of Faye Shaw and the late Earl Shaw. Loving brother of Karen (Jim) O’Brecht, Eric Shaw and Helen Shaw (Christin Dennis). Stephen was predeceased by Brother Alan Shaw (Debbie). Stephen will be fondly remembered by his in-laws and their families: Brenda Hutchison, Murray (Donna) Wilson, Janice (Gary) Gambrielle, Randy (Wanda) Wilson, Rodney (Debbie) Wilson and Morris Wilson. Predeceased by his in-laws Alfred and Doreen Wilson; Carol and Rick Gilder and Brian Hutchison. Stephen will also be affectionately remembered by his many nieces, nephews, extended family, and friends. To honour Stephen’s wishes, cremation has taken place. A private family. Celebration of Life will be held at a later date. Arrangements entrusted to the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Arthur.

www.heritagefuneralhomes.ca

It is with great sadness that we announce the passing of Bob Gammie on May 12, 2026 after an incredibly courageous battle at the age of 77. He was a loving dad, grampa and loyal friend whose kindness and quiet strength touched the lives of all who knew him. Although we will miss him dearly, we find comfort in knowing that he has been reunited with the love of his life, Candy (2013). Bob is deeply missed by his daughter, Jodi Rathwell (Kevin), son Brian Gammie (Ashley) and his grandchildren; Audrey (Tyson), Christopher (Allie), Lucas, Grace and Cameron. A lifelong resident of Elora, Bob was the son of Ken and Betty Gammie. Along with his parents, he is predeceased by his brother Kenny, sister and brother-in-law Barb and Tiny Meulenbelt, sister Sandra Hilker and nephew Kenny Meulenbelt. He is survived and remembered fondly by his sisters Cathy Epoch (Tom) and Donna Denny (Bob), his brother Randy Gammie and many nieces and nephews. Bob dedicated more than 50 years to James Keating Construction and will forever be remembered as a hardworking man of few words, well respected for his steady presence and work ethic. Outside of work, Bob found happiness in the simple things he loved like spending time by the pool, sharing laughs with family and friends as well as his beloved fur buddies who were always close companions. He loved his family fiercely and beyond measure - his grandchildren were his greatest joy. More often than not, you could find grampa at an arena cheering one of them on. He will forever be their biggest fan. Memorial donations may be made to Aboyne Rural Hospice, the Canadian Cancer Society or a charity of your choice. Family and friends are invited to gather on Thursday, May 21, 2026 from 11:00am to 1:00pm at the Elora Legion (RCL Branch 229, 110 Metcalfe St, Elora, ON). Tributes will be shared at 1:00pm. Interment will be held at Elora Municipal cemetery to follow. A celebration of Bob’s life will continue at the legion immediately following the interment until 8:00pm. Arrangements were entrusted to Graham A Giddy Funeral Home Ltd., 280 St. David St. S. Fergus, ON N1M 2L5, (519) 843-3100. Visit www.grahamgiddyfh.com for Bob’s online memorial.

Of Arthur passed away passed peacefully at Caressant Care Nursing Home, Arthur on Tuesday, February 17, 2026 in his 84th year. Beloved husband of the late Barb Robertson (nee Smith) for 56 years. Dear father of Debbie Shaw of Arthur. Grandfather of Josh Shaw, Cheyenne Shaw and Austin Shaw all of Arthur. Great grandfather of Jade. Brother of Jack Robertson and Bonnie Fitzpatrick. Predeceased by his son-in-law Alan Shaw and brothers-in-law Tony Smith, Tom Smith and Gerald Fitzpatrick. Fondly remembered by his nieces, nephews and friends. To honour Wayne’s wishes cremation has taken place. A celebration of Wayne’s life will be held in the Arthur Royal Canadian Legion Branch 226 Saturday, May 23, 2026 from 12:00pm to 3:00pm. Interment in Greenfield Cemetery, Arthur. Arrangements entrusted to the Crawford Funeral Chapel, Arthur.

www.heritagefuneralhomes.ca

Russell passed away peacefully at home at the age of 81 in the presence of his loving family, so he did. He lives on in the hearts of his wife of 61 years, Susan (McGowan), his son Scott, his daughters Kristy and Rebecca, and his grandchildren Oden, Willum, Heath and Meadow. The son of the late Murray & Mary (Galbraith) Simpson, Russell was born in Orangeville and lived in Dufferin County for his whole life. He is survived by his sisters Jeannie Brookes (Colin), Peggy Weigert (Peter) and his many cousins, nieces and nephews. Predeceased by his sisters Sheila, Heather, Frances and Betty, his brothers Bill and Harry and his twin brother Robert. Russell never stopped working, even after he closed his long running fencing business years ago. His passion was tractor and truck pulling for over 40 years alongside Susan. He also loved collecting antique Massey Harris tractors, playing cards with friends, and tinkering with equipment in his shop. Russell knew so many people from so many places, we’d like to thank the mall for being part of his life. The family would also like to thank the nurses in the Oncology Department at Headwaters Hospital for the care they showed Russell over the past few years. May this good man rest in peace, he will be missed. At Russell’s request no services will be held.

Passed away peacefully at the Louise Marshall Hospital on Tuesday, May 12, 2026 in her 94th year. Loving wife of the late Murray Burns (1996). Mother of Brian (Darlene) Burns, Connie (Steve) Keating, and Wayne (Catherine) Burns. Grandmother of 10 and great-grandmother of 14. Sister of Agnes (late Lawrence) and Elsie (late Robert). Sister-in-law of Marie (late Raymond) Burns. Predeceased by her siblings and their spouses: Gordon (2005) (Marion and Doreen), Louise (2002) (Jerry), Catherine (1989) (Lorne), Mary Alice (2016) (Bernard), Austin (1993) (Wilda), Bernard (2022) (Sheila), and Gerald (2005) (Angela); and brother-in-law and sister-in-law Ivan and Catherine Allen. Visitation was held at the England Funeral Home, 294 Main Street South, Mount Forest, on Wednesday, May 13th from 5:00-8:00pm, with prayers at 7:45pm. The Funeral Mass was celebrated at St. Mary of the Purification Church, 310 Parkside Drive, Mount Forest, on Thursday, May 14th at 11:00am, with visitation at the church from 10:00-10:45am. Interment followed at Holy Cross Cemetery and all were invited for refreshments and fellowship to the Egremont Optimist Club, 392137 Grey Road 109, Holstein. Those wishing to make a donation in memory of Virginia are asked to consider a charity of their choice. Donations and online condolences may be made at www.englandfuneralhome.com The family would like to thank Dr. Martins, Dr. Rowley and the staff of Birmingham Retirement Community, as well as the staff of Louise Marshall Hospital for their exceptional care.

Known as Manley-son of John and Emaline Young. He was born March 1, 1939 at home in Erin Township. Loved brother of Loretta Hough Leachman (Jack) of Fergus. Cherished Uncle of Sharon Bradley, Leanne Baarda (Ken Jan, 2024), Michelle Kandola (Brian). Great Uncle of Amanda, Mathew, Felicia, Kayla and Brandon, and a beloved Step Uncle and Great Uncle to many others. Manley passed away peacefully at the Wellington Terrace, on May 15, 2026, with family by his bedside. Manley enjoyed farming and helping neighbours. He joyfully continued to help his neighbours when he and his mother moved to Alma, Ontario. He cherished his long special friendships with Dan and his family, and Jason and his family. His stay at Wellington Terrace, Fergus brought him great happiness, as he developed his music and art skills, other activities and friendships. Manley was a loving man, with a smile that would brighten up any room and anyone’s day. Manley touched many lives and will be forever remembered. Family and friends are invited to share their memories at Graham A. Giddy Funeral Home, 280 St. David St. South, Fergus, on Thursday, May 28, 2026, from 2:00–4:00pm and 6:00–8:00pm. A funeral service celebrating Manley’s life will be held at the funeral home on Saturday, May 30, 2026, at 1:30pm, with a reception to follow. Manley will be laid to rest at the Huxley Cemetery in Hillsburgh. In lieu of flowers, donations to Wellington Terrace Long Term Care would be greatly appreciated by the family.

www.grahamgiddyfh.com

Margaret Ann McKenzie (nee Fritz), of Durham, passed away at the South Bruce Grey Health Centre, Walkerton on Tuesday, May 12th, 2026 in her 85th year. Beloved wife of the late Laverne McKenzie. Margaret will be missed by her daughter-in-law Laura Cotton; her loving grandchildren: Troy Heffernan, Shane McKenzie, and Dean and Eden McKenzie; and her great-grandchildren: Tegan, Avery, Landon, Rowan, Kaysen, Nyah, and Louelle. Dear sister of Roderick Fritz, and sister-in-law of Isabel Fritz. Mother of Robert McKenzie and the late Heather McKenzie. Predeceased by brother Berkley Fritz. Marg loved our Lord Jesus and had a deep faith. She cherished her family and friends, had wonderful neighbours who helped her out and she loved them dearly. She loved gardening and the many pets she cared for over the years. Marg was the absolute best cook and baker, always making something delicious. A funeral service celebrating Margaret’s life will be held at the Gentle Shepherd Community Church, Eugenia on Wednesday, June 17th at 11am. Interment at Harriston Cemetery. As an expression of sympathy, memorial donations to the Heart and Stroke Foundation, the Arthritis Society or Gentle Shepherd Community Church would be appreciated by the family. Arrangements entrusted to the McCulloch-Watson Funeral Home, Durham.

ELORA – Judy French warmed her greys with brown and black, cooled them with blue, noting where the shadows fell on the face of the Henderson Street home of the late Beverley Cairns.

French wore a faded, red jacket splotched with dried black paint, a gift from her mother some 40 years ago.

French once raced sled dogs wearing it, she said.

“You can’t dress up for this; I have paint on my pants too.”

French studied the scene from under her Tilley hat, a thin brush suspended between her fingers for a beat.

“Normally I wouldn’t take on a subject as difficult as this, but the various roof lines and the interesting view really caught my eye,” French said.

Since 2016, the Elora Plein Air Festival has drawn artists from across Canada each May for a weekend competition and sale.

An Elora resident of 20 years, French, 74, has participated since its inception, except the two years she spent caring for her late husband, Richard Martin.

“It’s sort of a struggle and you pop upon a scene that you really like that speaks to you, you want to get the image down … and if you’re successful it’s the most heady thing,” French said.

French took third last year, and a $300 prize, for a painting she created from the Elora foot bridge facing the village.

French likes the challenge of working outdoors with shifts in the environment; weather and insects, and intentional constraints like “quick paints” or nocturnes.

“Sitting at home, what else would I do? I don’t knit. I don’t play golf. I like to paint.

I like the people I meet. I like the things I see when I’m painting,” French said.

She’s part of an older cohort at the festival, she said, one in need of younger talent.

“Like everything else, most groups are full of seniors now, and the seniors are getting older and become ill or dying; so we need replacements to come up,” she said.

French said she has painted the Elora Mill many times, before its “grandiose” transformation. Templin Gardens and Wilson Flats are also popular subjects.

The sun peeked out here and there on May 15; tiny bugs flitted about getting stuck in the oily colours; and passersby stopped to glimpse the developing scene.

French said the idea is to simplify as much as possible — “we’re editing the scene all the time” — but the details in Friday’s painting had taken over.

“Buildings have to look a certain way, or they’re not going to ‘read,’” French said. “The architecture is tricky; I want to get it proper, otherwise it’ll really annoy me.”

Her artwork began with a pen sketch in a picture diary, where French jots down the date, weather and remarks.

On the 8x10 canvas, she divides the scene in thirds and sketches the structural lines. Working in oils, she paints back to front, finishing in the foreground.

“I’m going to cover up a lot of the structure with the leaves that you can see just coming out now … that will soften some of the edges and make it not so in your face,” she said.

“Painting teaches you to see really well.”

MOUNT FOREST – Two Grade 9 Wellington Heights Secondary School students from Mount Forest both won first place at the Canadian National Kickboxing Championships, held May 1 to 3 at the Toronto International Centre.  

Kennedy Ray competed in her title fight in kick-light kickboxing in the under 50kg category against another athlete from Ontario.  

The first round had high intensity, but since Ray had watched her opponent fight previously, she knew she had to adapt to her opponent’s intensity, officials say. 

The first round saw Ray behind 2-1, but in the second round, Ray continued to battle while her opponent ran out of energy, and Ray dominated the second round winning 3-0 and claimed the national championship belt.

After her fight, the CEO of the World Association of Kickboxing Organizations (WAKO) Canada reached out to Ray’s coaches to see if she would join Team Canada and travel to Italy in September for the international championships.  

Kennedy is still deciding whether or not to accept the invitation. 

“It’s pretty great ... especially good because I was personally asked and didn’t have to try out [for Team Canada],” she said. “It meant that I seemed deserving to be asked.”

Reflecting on her national championship, Ray stated, “Winning was great. The national title has been the thing that I have always been going for. I have been competing at the nationals for four years, and this is the first time I have won it. 

“It’s like I’ve finally proved something.  I’ve been so close before, often winning second or third, so it’s really great to finally win the national title.  Now that I have the national title, I can take it further to the world level.”

Taylor Krueger competed in her title fight in kick-light kickboxing in the under 65kg category against an athlete from the Northwest Territories.  

Krueger was behind in the first round 2-1 and went back to her corner where her coaches gave instructions and feedback for the next round.  Krueger applied what her coaches instructed her to do in the second round where she performed much stronger, won the fight 3-0 and claimed the national championship belt.

Krueger was also supposed to have a low-kick belt fight on May 3 against a competitor from Newfoundland, however Krueger injured her knee in the previous fight, so the low-kick belt fight has been rescheduled for a later date.

This kick-light kickboxing national championship win secured Krueger’s spot on the Team Canada National Kickboxing Team. Krueger will compete in the Youth World Kickboxing Championships in Jesolo, Italy (near Venice) from Sept. 18 to 27.

Krueger’s coaches are Blair West and Tom Stewart, who both work at the Golden Tiger Gym in Hanover.

Asked about her time at the national championships, Kreuger stated, “It was a really good experience. It was the first time to have Blair in my corner; he prepared me mentally and physically for the fight.  Tom also really helped me a lot with my technical movements leading up to nationals and preparing me well for this moment.” 

When it comes to the upcoming international kickboxing championships, Kreuger said, “I’m pretty excited to go to Italy. I’ve never been there.  I’m a little nervous because some of the other fighters don’t go to school - they simply train all day.  So, my aim is to make it on the podium.  Even to say I’m representing my country is pretty crazy to think about.”

She added proudly, “Ever since I went to watch the nationals in 2021, I always said I wanted to be wearing one of those belts.  

“And now that I’m actually wearing one of those belts is insane to think about.”

Surrounded by her loving daughters, Erla passed into the arms of Jesus on the 13th day of May, 2026, at Columbia Forest LTC Waterloo in her 94th year, formerly of Elmira. Beloved wife of the late Leonard Frey (2007) for almost 52 years. Loving mother of Bonnie (Clare) Brubacher, Pam Morden, Carey (Jeremy) Kelly, all of Elmira. Loving grandma to Shanna (Jamie) Rozema, Monique (Tony) Roes, Katie (Jo) Fisher, Jacob (Erica) Morden, Emily Morden (Everett), Kennedy and Grayson Kelly. Cherished great-grandma to Bryson Rozema (Sophie), Bronwyn Rozema, Georgia and Ella Roes, Rylee Fisher.  Survived by her dear sisters Jean Erb, Darlene (Paul) Onica, and sister-in-law Jean Kelterborn. Much loved aunt to all her nieces, nephews and their families. Erla will be sadly missed by her Frey in-laws. Predeceased by her second husband Donald Schaaf (2020), her parents Joel and Irene (Boshart) Jantzi, sister Marjorie in infancy, brother Delford Jantzi, and brother-in-law Frank Erb. The family received their friends and relatives at the Dreisinger Funeral Home, 62 Arthur St. S., Elmira on Thursday, May 14, 2026, from 5-8 p.m. Visitation was also held at Emmanuel Evangelical Missionary Church, 2 First St. W., Elmira on Friday, May 15, 2026 from 1 p.m. until time of funeral service at 2 p.m. with Rev. Gordon Wright officiating. The service was livestreamed and can be accessed on Erla’s tribute page of the funeral home website. Interment followed in Elmira Mennonite Cemetery, and all were welcomed back to the church for a reception. The family wishes to extend a heartfelt thank you to the staff at Columbia Forest LTC for the compassionate and professional care to Erla. Donations to Alzheimer Society of Waterloo Wellington, Mennonite Central Committee, or Emmanuel Evangelical Missionary - Mission Fund would be appreciated by the family as expressions of sympathy and may be made through the funeral home.

On Wednesday, May 13, Canadian Olympian and founding spokesperson of Bell Let’s Talk, Clara Hughes, shared her story and mission with the UW community at the Humanities Theatre in Hagey Hall. Her lecture is the latest installment of the annual Hallman Lecture Series, which highlights the stories and ideas of speakers recognized for notable contributions to their respective fields.

Hughes is the only athlete in Olympic history to have won multiple medals in both summer and winter games. She represented Canada in the 1996, 2002, 2006, and 2010 Olympics, earning one gold, one silver, and two bronze Olympic medals in speed skating. Hughes also won two bronze medals in cycling. During her time spent training with her teams, learning from her coaches, and competing in tournaments, Hughes navigated part of what she calls her personal truth: living with depression and a mood disorder. With encouragement from some of her longtime coaches and opening up to the idea of vulnerability, Hughes worked to build her internal strength. After two years, she began vocalizing her mental health experience.

Clara Hughes speaks to the crowd at Hagey Hall. (Photo credit: Zoey Pearce)

As she presented her advocacy work at various institutions over the years, Hughes found that the most rewarding aspect was creating a space for audience members to open up to her about their own experiences. Before and after events, she schedules time to meet with people and actively listen to their stories. She believes that listening is one of the most powerful ways to be there for someone who is struggling. “We’re not taught to treat our mental health as something until it becomes a concern … and it’s something to really care for and hone and nurture through your entire life,” Hughes stressed.

She has also witnessed how many have difficulty addressing stigmas attached to depression, anxiety, and other mental health disorders, because of the limited language and vocabulary surrounding these topics in society. Normalizing mental health and invisible disabilities as conversation topics is a major part of her mission, which is why she was eager to share her story with UW community members.

“Everybody getting involved and making mental health a priority is what I really like,” Hughes said. The advocate recognizes UW as a leading institution that prioritizes mental health as a top concern. “That activation and advocacy is really strong right now, and it’s coming not only from faculty, but from the student body itself, and I think that’s the most powerful place it can come from,” she stated.

In her advocacy work across Canada, Hughes often discusses the importance of equally prioritizing mental health and physical health, believing that both must be valued so that everyone can find their own healing journey. “Being sick is not being weak. Being vulnerable is not being weak,” Hughes emphasized. “Mental health is something that we are all born with, but we’re not taught to care for, … so I really hope to open up the conversation in a way that we can value our mental health to a greater degree before we lose it.”

To nurture her own healing journey surrounding childhood trauma, Hughes spends time living out her creative process as a visual artist by painting and drawing her inner world. She creates art using watercolours, acrylics, pastels, and alcohol markers on canvas to visualize the stories and shapes that form in her mind. In addition to using visual arts as creative self-expression, Hughes practices journaling and is a recreational athlete who engages in adventure travel. She enjoys the silence of nature while camping, long distance hiking, kayaking, bikepacking alone or accompanied by her husband, Peter.

As she embarked on adventure travel for weeks or months around the world, Hughes found that these types of physical activity are a positive outlet for her mental health. “I find that deep connection to nature a really healing place,” she said. Some of the locations she has visited include the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs from the U.S.-Mexico border to the U.S.-Canada border, and the Appalachian Trail, located in Maine.

The most difficult aspect of Hughes’s job, she says, is how the healthcare system she calls attention to lacks the proper foundation to support individuals experiencing mental health crises. “I find it challenging to give someone any kind of advice that can solidly steer them towards something that’s publicly available in a decent and reasonable amount of time, [whether] for them or the person they’re asking about to get help,” she expressed. “The whole public healthcare system, when it comes to mental health support, is not even broken; it’s not even there enough to be broken.” She calls for the system to be rebuilt from its foundations in effective and accessible ways for everyone.

To UW community members, Hughes gives a reminder that they are a part of a large and interconnected community. “Choose connection. To reach out to that one person, to ask for help, to say, ‘Hey, I’m not okay’ … I think that is a bold, and beautiful, and very quiet thing that a person can do. This is a beautiful place with so much potential and it can be even better.”

So what’s next for Clara Hughes? Her second memoir, Learning to Breathe, will be released in Canada on October 13, 2026. “That’s a continuation of my advocacy to open up the conversation of common experiences many of us have that aren’t talked about enough,” she said. Hughes elaborated that the book details “healing through menopause, psychedelic-assisted therapy, and the topics of this season of life for women that are also understudied [and] underdiscussed.” Hughes will continue to advance her advocacy work, engaging with various organizations, businesses, and institutions around the world.

With files from Angela Li.

ELORA – St. Mary’s Catholic School in Elora is getting a $9-million addition.

Wellington-Halton Hills MPP Joseph Racinsky made the announcement at the school on May 15.

The addition will add 10 classrooms and create 164 student spaces at the crowded school, which currently has six portables on its property.

Tracy McLennan, associate director of the Wellington Catholic District School Board (WCDBS), said there are currently 430 students at the school and enrollment is projected to rise to 500 in September. The school’s capacity is 330 students.

“So it’s needed,” she said in an interview after dignitaries spoke.

The funds will cover the addition, a retrofit to some existing classrooms, and relocation of the playground and parking lot.

Work should begin in 2027 and be completed by September 2028, added Rae Walton, WCDSB operations manager.

“St. Mary’s in Elora has seen great growth in recent years, and I am very happy to see this important investment into our students’ future,” Racinsky said during the formal presentation. 

“This $9-million investment will make sure that the teachers, staff and students have the space they need to learn and thrive.”

Director of education Michael Glazier said the board has a good partnership with Racinsky and he’s grateful for the MPP’s advocacy on behalf of the board.

“We are thrilled to see St. Mary’s continue to evolve,” Glazier said.

Centre Wellington Mayor Shawn Watters introduced himself as the husband of Deb Watters, a long-time teacher at the school who is now retired.

He said with all the growth happening in Centre Wellington, it’s important that infrastructure keeps pace and that includes schools.

“Our residents need confidence that key infrastructure is ready for growth,” he said. “An investment like this matters in our plan for growth.”

The province is spending a total $1.6 billion on 79 construction projects across Ontario, creating more than 29,000 new student spaces and more than 1,900 licensed childcare spaces, according to a press release.

Victoria Day is right around the corner, approaching this coming Monday, May 18. Here’s what will be open and closed around UW.

Most UW Food Services locations on campus will be closed, including Brubakers, Browsers Café, Evergreen Café, Liquid Assets Café, CEIT Café, Jugo Juice, as well as all Tim Hortons and Starbucks. Some locations such as The Market (Claudette Miller hall) will remain open over the holiday.

All libraries on and off campus will also be closed. These include the Dana Porter and Davis Centre libraries, as well as all branches of the Waterloo and Kitchener Public Libraries. The Fitness Centre and other athletics facilities will be closed on campus, and will not be operational.The Student Life Centre will remain open, including the Turnkey Desk and Flock Stop.

Some locations off campus will remain open for students to enjoy their long weekend. Conestoga Mall will be open from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. Kitchener’s Fairview Park Mall will also be open on Monday from 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

With the first week of spring term already in the books, now is the perfect time to explore fun activities in the region before assignments and deadlines really start to pile up. From movie marathons to fresh flowers, let’s dive into this long weekend’s lineup of events.

If you’re looking to gather some fresh blooms for your space or shop around for a variety of vegetables, visit the Ken Seiling Waterloo Region Museum this Saturday, May 16 for the Heritage Plant sale. This event is running from 9:30 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.; no registration or fee needed to attend. Plant sales are running while supplies last. The sale is also a fundraising event for the FRIENDS of the Waterloo Region Museums.

Head over to the Princess Cinema this Sunday, May 17, for a nostalgic movie marathon of The Lord of the Rings trilogy, to celebrate its 25th anniversary. This cinematic afternoon kicks off at noon and runs until 11:40 p.m. Two breaks will be provided between films. A 30-minute break will follow the first film and a longer 75-minute dinner break will be offered prior to the third film. Non-members can expect to pay $40 plus a $1.50 online fee. Further details can be found on the Princess Cinema’s event page.

On Monday, May 18 from 7 to 8 p.m., get ready for some dancing! Remix Swing on King street in Waterloo is offering shuffle dance classes. You’ll spend the hour improving your footwork and dance moves in this beginner-friendly class. No prior experience required. University students receive 10% off admission. Tickets are $28.25 and can be purchased on the Remix Swing Eventbrite page.

Rory Norris, the Waterloo Undergraduate Student Association (WUSA) Vice President of Government Stakeholder Relations, has been elected president of the Ontario Undergraduate Student Alliance (OUSA). Two other candidates ran for the position: Stephen Titizian, vice president of external affairs from the University of Western, and Aisha Mahmoud, vice president of education from the University of McMaster.

Running on a platform based on student affordability after recent OSAP cuts to student grants, Norris aims to increase visibility for OUSA and amplify student voices.

OUSA is an organization consisting of nine student associations in Ontario, including WUSA. Elected WUSA representatives, including Norris, form part of the OUSA steering committee.  The election process for OUSA executive positions begins at the student bodies of each member organization. At UW, an elected WUSA executive joins the steering committee. Afterwards, members of the steering committee elect a president in mid-May who serves until April 30 of the following year.

His platform ran primarily on combatting the inaccessibility of post-secondary education from OSAP changes and the loss of student union independence due to Bill 33 amendments. Other platform points include addressing rising living costs that impact student affordability and increasing OUSA visibility among students.

Rory Norris, WUSA VP and OUSA president-elect. (Photo credit: WUSA)

Norris had previously advocated on these issues during his tenure as WUSA president from May 2023 to April 2024, leading the Board of Directors and supporting student advocacy on the municipal and provincial levels. “I told myself something very clearly [that] I would never run for elected office again,” Norris wrote in his OUSA platform of his thoughts after his tenure as president. Despite this, Norris has continued his involvement in student advocacy and policy work.

Norris stated that his plans as incoming OUSA president are broken down into four key areas, the first of which is enhancing the visibility of OUSA as an organization.

“Students don’t necessarily know what’s going on with OUSA; it operates at … more of an arm’s length,” he observed. Norris explains that he plans to tackle this issue through campus visits and better student interaction through social media. Other matters he will focus on include the impact of Bill 33, student affordability, and reducing student union fees to OUSA.

Regarding the last point, Norris believes that “OUSA is, from a budget perspective, at a pretty healthy place.” According to the new president-elect, OUSA has enough reserves to “cover … two years of expenses without needing to charge those membership fees anymore.” An alternative he mentioned is using certain funding for campaigns of interest, like the ongoing fight against OSAP aid cuts.

When asked about concerns regarding balancing responsibilities between OUSA and WUSA, Norris stated that although another full-time VP at WUSA will help shoulder the workload, he will “probably end up working more hours than [he] would have if [he] did take on this role.” He then went on to state that “the combinations of these two pieces will sort of come into play where, yes, I spend … more time supporting this external organization to which we are a member, but at the same time, I am still making sure I’m committed to my duties and responsibilities.”

Norris has two messages for readers: encouraging students to get involved and building meaningful connections that they can take with them as they depart post-secondary education.

And finally, Norris encourages student advocacy so that constituents can push and fight for the changes they would like to see. He hopes they ask themselves, “how can they look at a problem that exists in the world and start to work towards advocating for a solution?”

ERIN – The council chamber here was packed on May 14 with residents opposed to the remediation plan for the Hillsburgh gravel pit.

Among them were delegates from the Erin Citizens Coalition, formerly the Concerned Citizens of Erin, which spearheaded opposition to the project. 

Erin council approved the remediation plan in January for the property at 9516 Sideroad 27. The site operated as a sand and gravel pit for Strada Aggregates from 1999 to 2021.

The remediation plan will allow pit owner Jay Fieger to bring in 5.36 million cubic metres of fill over 20 years. It will see approximately 150 trucks per day arriving and leaving the site. 

“We respectfully request that council reconsider and rescind the approval of the large-scale commercial fill operation ... along with the associated enabling bylaw amendment,” said Erin resident and ECC delegate Brittney Pakkala. 

“Our request is based on concerns related to procedural process, community safety impacts and potential long-term financial risk within the current 20-year agreement.”

Pakkala criticized the town's public consultation process, stating “property owners within 120 metres did not receive written notice of the proposal, which limited awareness among nearby residents and reduced opportunities prior to the public meeting.”

Erin manager of planning and development David Waters previously told the Advertiser the municipality complied with the town’s site alteration bylaw.

“Notice was published in the Wellington Advertiser, posted on the town’s website and mailed to property owners with 120 metres of the pit,” said Waters.

Pakkala and fellow ECC delegate Paul Campbell took issue with the lack signs on the property prior to the decision.

“The town routinely requires physical signage for relatively minor planning matters, such as additional dwelling units,” said Pakkala.

“Comparable on-site notice for a large, long-term commercial fill operation may have supported broader public awareness and participation.”

Campbell added, “We have raised the issue of the pit signage with our legal council who confirmed that the signage raises questions about whether the appropriate consultation process was undertaken.”

Delegates also brought up the Earth Healing Foundation sign on the property, which lists the Metis people of Canada as being involved in the restoration of the land. The organization is not currently involved with the property, but the sign remains, which resident say is “misleading.”

Pakkala and Campbell also raised concerns about truck traffic along Sideroad 27, 8th Line and Trafalgar Road.

“These routes are active school bus corridors where children are picked up and dropped off daily. The haul route also passes Barbour Field,” said Pakkala. 

Other ECC grievances included the fixed tipping fee for the project, road wear and maintenance, and discrepancies with the original remediation plan, which did not call for completely filling the pit. 

A petition signed by over 300 residents opposed to the project was also submitted to council.

Following the delegations, councillors were asked if they had any questions. After no one spoke up, one resident in the gallery exclaimed “Really? no questions?”

Mayor Michael Dehn responded, “I think we’ve done this a lot already.” The same resident responded, “yeah, but we weren’t told about it.”

Councillor Jamie Cheyne asked about the repercussions of pulling out of the agreement.

“If you rescind the contract, it's a breach of contract and there may be legal implications that the town will have to face from the owner,” said Waters.

Councillor Cathy Aylard said some ECC concerns echoed those she has previously brought forward.

"I still need clarification on the circumstances that if we did not approve it at council level, it would go to the province and be approved and we would lose revenue,” said Aylard. 

“Whenever I’m asked about this issue, I cant specifically provide someone a link to that information with background.”

Dehn said TAPMO (the Top Aggregate Producing Municipalities of Ontario) "would be willing to do a training session ... if that’s an interest to council."

“I think it’s an interest to council and to residents,” replied Aylard, to applause from the gallery.

Councillor Bridget Ryan also brought up the Earth Healing Foundation, stating the organization lists the Town of Erin as a partner on its website – but “we are not.”

Waters told council he has had no contact with the Earth Healing Foundation and later stated he “had no comment” on why it lists the town as a partner.

A motion to receive the delegation for information was carried by council. 

After three years of organizing and negotiations, CUPE Local 5524, the union representing graduate student workers and sessional instructors at UW, has finally ratified collective agreements for its members. The new agreements for Unit 0 and Unit 1 are retroactively effective from May 1, 2023 and currently in effect until May 1, 2027.

“This is an excellent first contract and a very good contract in general,” says Scott Sørli, president of CUPE 5524 and member of the bargaining committee for Unit 0, the local’s subunit representing sessional faculty. Both contracts include minimum wage raises, formal grievance procedures, and other policies the union hopes will improve job security and working conditions.

CUPE 5524 was first certified as a union in January 2023, originally made up of sessional faculty, after 86.1 per cent of eligible voters voted to unionize. The local expanded to include graduate student TAs and RAs under a second subunit, Unit 1, in early 2024, with 95.1 per cent voting in favor.

What followed was a longer and more drawn-out process than expected. After delays in assembling the employer’s bargaining committee to negotiate Unit 1 contract items, both parties negotiated shared items and language that applied to both Unit 0 and Unit 1 last summer. In August, union representatives reported that the employer intended to refuse bargaining Unit 1 contract items until after Unit 0 items were finalized, contrary to a previous verbal agreement. That and minimal meaningful engagement in negotiations during the bargaining window sparked an e-action campaign in late August, which CUPE 5524 hoped would push the university to come to the table in good faith.

In October 2025, the union came close to striking as perceived stonewalling continued. CUPE 5524 held a larger members’ meeting to discuss the possibility of picketing, but in November, turnover in members on the employer’s bargaining committee helped avert a walkout.

“After that, bargaining was astronomically faster for getting much more reasonable and much more frequent passbacks from the employer,” states Erin Silver, vice president of Unit 1 and member of the unit’s bargaining committee. “They were willing to meet up and discuss issues much more readily.” Imprint reached out to the university for a response, but they declined to comment on the matter.

Negotiations continued steadily in the months after, with bargaining sessions sometimes going late into the night. Sørli recalls that one Unit 0 session ended at 10:30 p.m. on a Friday night. The final bargaining session for Unit 1, which entailed negotiating wages and administrative oversight over TA and RA assignments to undergraduate students, lasted 19 hours, ending at around 5:30 a.m. on Jan. 27. 

“We could see that there was going to be agreement from both sides coming forward,” Sørli recalls. “Once there starts to be some kind of velocity at the table in terms of the final issues, you really don’t want to leave the room.”

Both parties finalized tentative agreements for Unit 0 on Jan. 9 and Unit 1 on Jan. 30, with members voting to ratify the documents on Feb. 3 and Feb. 25 respectively. Members voted overwhelmingly in favor of the new contracts and had a highly positive response. “I think everyone, the employer as well as the union, was really looking forward to com[ing] to an agreement at the end,” says Sørli.

While UW declined to comment on the details of the bargaining process, the university said in a statement to Imprint that the ratification is “an important development for the university community and was achieved thanks to the hard work of both CUPE 5524 and the university bargaining teams,” with the agreements “[reflecting] the mutual priorities of both parties.” Both documents will be available on UW’s Human Resources website, where collective agreements with other bargaining units and associations are posted.

As for what is in the ratified agreements, union leadership believes that the contracts codify hard-won victories that will make it more sustainable for their members to study and work at UW.

Communications director and math graduate student Gaia Noseworthy has emphasized that the Unit 1 contract’s new clauses will protect funding and job security for graduate students. “There was a long history in the past [where], if you got other funding, you start losing your [teaching assistantships] or TA funding, and one of our biggest items was to remove that,” says Noseworthy. Typically, graduate students in doctoral or research-based master’s programs will receive TA or RA appointments as part of their funding package. These graduate students may also be eligible to receive additional funding, like the tri-agency scholarship from Canada’s three major research councils that oversee academic research funding.

“Something that used to happen to a lot of [graduate] students here is, if they were to gain one of these big scholarships … you would lose all of your other funding sources,” Noseworthy said. The new Unit 1 contract prevents the loss of TA or RA employment that would offset funding from other sources, so the total funding given to a graduate student is expected to increase rather than remain unchanged in these circumstances.

Another section Noseworthy highlights is a seniority clause for TA and RA positions. Graduate students typically are guaranteed a minimum number of TA or RA appointments to help fund their studies for a fixed number of years. Under the new agreement, graduate student TAs and RAs who have worked longer are prioritized for new positions. This includes graduate students who are studying beyond that initial duration, “meaning people who might be struggling financially because of this decision are much less likely to face struggles throughout the latter [part] of their degree.”

In addition to job security, the new agreement also enforces higher wages for its members. Silver cites that the agreement gives all members a minimum increase of 2.8 per cent in wages. Effective May 1, graduate TAs now have a minimum hourly wage of $51.53. Master’s research assistants are paid at least $49.14, and PhD research assistants are paid $58.46. Graduate students who were paid higher rates prior to May 1 will not see their wages decrease.

For sessional faculty, incremental wage raises have been negotiated. A sessional instructor who began teaching on or after May 1, 2023 would be paid a minimum of $8,910 per 0.5 credit. That wage increases by 3 per cent for courses taught in 2024, another 3 per cent in 2025, and a 2.5 per cent increase in 2026 for a current rate of $9,688.93 per 0.5 credit. That minimum, Sørli says, “is better than what most universities are getting right now for sessionals,” and is a step towards alleviating financial pressure during a struggling economy and high living costs.

Kavi Duvvoori, CUPE 5524’s recording secretary and English PhD student, is particularly glad to now have a formal grievance process for members. “We’ve seen situations across the university where … really devastating demands were being put on people,” says Duvvoori. “Sometimes that looks like TAs being asked to do dozens of hours of extra work that conflict with their own work as students and researchers.” With explicit timelines and policies for each stage, Duvvoori hopes members will be better protected against exploitation in the workplace, “but even more importantly, teach the lesson that there is accountability even for workers that are lower in the hierarchy, and … prevent these situations from happening.”

So what’s next for CUPE 5524? While the agreements are a good first step, one priority of renegotiations in 2027 is securing benefits for members, like health insurance and pension plans. The current agreements pay a rebate to members at the end of each term in lieu of benefits, totalling $100 for graduate student employees and $200 for sessional faculty members.

In the meantime, union leadership has shifted their focus to enforcing the collective agreements, like helping members obtain backpay and continuing outreach to the wider UW community. Duvvoori notes that prior to joining CUPE 5524, many members have had little experience or knowledge in advocacy and organized action.

“Canadian labor law contexts and histories of labor are not shared by everyone,” Duvvoori states. “One important part is just explaining how democratic, member-led unions work for everyone involved [and] showing through this process that coming together with your coworkers to try to improve conditions … can provide concrete results within a reasonable time frame.”

As for working within the institution itself, Sørli says, “every department has operated as a little bit of an isolated fiefdom,” where one department’s policies and practices differ from the next. “It’s been an interesting experience and challenge to begin to communicate a standardized contract … to those various departments that operate in extremely different ways.”

CUPE 5524 also hopes to continue its strong working relationships with other non-member groups at UW, like its sibling chapter CUPE 793, UWSA, FAUW, and WUSA. Noseworthy observes that many undergraduate students in particular have volunteered or plan to become members when they start graduate studies at UW. “Almost every undergrad student I’ve talked to really does understand why we’re doing this … they’re surprised that some of their teachers are in conditions that are so economically unsustainable, and they want to support them in some way.”

Ultimately, the local hopes to strengthen the culture of solidarity, inclusion, and collective action in the UW community, especially during uncertain times. “It’s really important that we allow ourselves to ask the question of what a good university would look like — a university that really provides for the needs and hopes” of the campus community and society at large, says Duvvoori. “At its best, this process allows us to ask that question and pursue it in a democratic and member-led way, rather than one that just depends on what the Premier decides or what big companies decide.”

Noseworthy encourages readers to volunteer for causes they are passionate about, especially local organizations. “You don’t need to spend 20 hours a week. It can be two, and that will still make a difference.” They stress that there are other ways to contribute outside of donations, as “sometimes money is not the biggest problem you can face, [but] having people to use that money … to try and build a better world.”