Spoke – A News Portal for Conestoga College's Journalism Program

Hustl Hot Girl Walks – a Conestoga College student’s solution to helping women make friends

Aisley Ellis, a first-year a massage therapy student at Conestoga College, wanted a “low-barrier” way for women to make connections over the summer. So, she started what she calls “Hustl Hot Girl Walks.” An extrovert for as long as she can remember, Ellis said she started the walking group so women could make connections without the pressure of spending a lot of money. She ran the no membership, weekend walking group … Continued

Pumpkins, plaid, and plenty of fun at St. Jacobs Harvest Hoedown!

Fall has officially arrived at the St. Jacobs Farmers’ Market as they kicked off the season with their fourth annual Harvest Hoedown on September 19th. The festival offered something for everyone – from live music and trivia to line dancing, unique vendors, and even the chance to ride a mechanical bull. Attendees were encouraged to dust off their cowboy boots and show up dressed in country attire. Many were wearing … Continued

Woven through life: Alisa McRonald’s unique perspective on art

“It’s in my DNA to work with textiles. The medium just always resonated with me, and it feels right,” said Alisa McRonald, an award-winning artist who focuses on yarn, woven, and punch needle pieces. McRonald has been recognised both nationally and internationally for her approach to art. Her work is currently on exhibit at Kitchener City Hall’s Rotunda Gallery. After learning the basics from her mother and her grandmother, McRonald … Continued

Feel the pulse: the beat of live music never dies

The stadium is filled with tens of thousands of strangers. They are shoulder to shoulder, excitement building, and hearts pounding. People of all different ages, genders, races, sexualities, and religions. They are all here for one thing: the art of live music. Suddenly, the lights go out. Screams erupt louder than ever imaginable. Normally, screams of such volume would be cause for chaos. Tonight, they are in joy. The stage … Continued

From passion, to distraction, and eventual fruition: How art moved Trevor Clare

If you asked Trevor Clare six years ago if he could see himself painting nostalgic locations for a living, he probably would have said that’s a “wild” idea. Back then, Clare didn’t see art as a serious hobby, let alone a full-time career. If anything, he saw painting as a way to distract himself from his mental battles. But what Clare didn’t realize was that his digital recreations of iconic … Continued

Hardwood takeaways: Austin Ernst-Finnie’s rookie year coaching

Austin Ernst-Finnie giving a postgame interview, following a 67-57 road win over the Forest Heights Collegiate Institute senior basketball team on January 13, 2025. Photo by Anashe Mapuranga/Spoke Online. Austin Ernst-Finnie giving a postgame interview, following a 67-57 road win over the Forest Heights Collegiate Institute senior basketball team on January 13, 2025. Photo by Anashe Mapuranga/Spoke Online. Coming into his first season coaching the Huron Heights senior basketball boys’ … Continued

Conestoga College hosts its final ABC drop-in session of the semester

Conestoga College’s Student Engagement team hosted its final African, Black, and Caribbean (ABC) drop-in session of the semester at the Waterloo campus on March 12, providing students an opportunity to network with their peers and enjoy snacks. The event aimed to foster a sense of belonging among ABC-identifying students. “It was not only limited to ABC-identifying students,” said Esther Hayford, student engagement programmer for inclusion and belonging. “As long as … Continued

VIDEO: Conestoga College celebrates grand opening of new Creative Industries hub

Following months of preparation, Conestoga College held the grand opening for their new Creative Industries (CI) hub. The facility is home to classrooms, lounge areas, workspaces, and the Conestoga College Digital TV network (CCDTV). The investment comes at a time when other post-secondary institutions in the province are slashing Creative Industries programs. As Spoke Online’s Rowen Fisler finds out, Conestoga president Dr. John Tibbits and other important figures in the … Continued

VIDEO: Cambridge grows green with Bee City Seedy Saturday’s return

Cambridge was buzzing with excitement as Bee City Seedy Saturday returned on March 8, 2025, bringing together gardeners, environmentalists, and pollinator advocates for a day of seed swapping, sustainability, and community action at the rare ECO Centre and Slit Barn. The event, held from 10 a.m. to noon at 768 Blair Rd., featured a seed swap, educational displays, and community booths focused on sustainability and pollinator conservation. Attendees exchanged seeds … Continued

Bringing history back to life with restoration of Lower Doon Mill Ruins in 2025

A piece of Kitchener’s history is set to be brought back to life, as plans to restore the crumbling Lower Doon Mill ruins were unveiled at a Heritage Kitchener Committee meeting on Jan. 7. An engineering report presented to the committee outlined the critical need to stabilize the crumbling Lower Doon Mill ruins, which meet criteria for historical and contextual significance. “You can kind of see the irregular property just … Continued

VIDEO: Not just a game: The benefits of esports

Conestoga Esports Hub midway through the Provincial Valorant Tournament held on Sat. March 1, 2025. Photo by Emily McGirr Coaches from Ontario’s secondary schools competing in the provincial Valorant tournament last weekend are passionate about their students’ success. Since they arrived in students’ everyday lives, video games have been seen as a distraction from schoolwork, but these coaches and the esports industry itself are challenging those ideas. According to Statista, … Continued

AUDIO: Galileo Exhibit arrives in Canada for the first time at Perimeter Institute in Waterloo

History and science enthusiasts in Waterloo have a rare opportunity to engage with the groundbreaking work of Galileo Galilei at a traveling exhibit at the Perimeter Institute located at 31 Caroline St N, Waterloo. This is the first time the exhibit will be in Canada. Emily Petroff, the director of external relations at Perimeter Institute says the exhibit was originally curated by an Italian professor based in Paris and has … Continued

Black athletes within the Waterloo Region

A basketball on the Huskies logo of the Huron Heights Secondary School’s school basketball court, taken on Monday November 25, 2024. Photo by Anashe Mapuranga/Spoke Online Growing up, Nyasha Mombeshara tried a variety of sports before sticking to basketball. Mombeshara’s hardwood experience first began when her mother Lorraine signed her up for house league basketball in Lowell, Massachusetts in 2005. After that experience, a love for the game that would … Continued

Audio: Conestoga College to open new student residence across from downtown Kitchener campus

Conestoga College sign surrounding the 22 Fredrick St. student residence building on Feb. 2, 2025. Photo by Victoria Jarvis / Spoke Online Conestoga College addresses the shortage of student housing in downtown Kitchener by opening a new student residence early next year, located directly across from its downtown Kitchener campus. “We try our best to provide as many beds as we can to our student population across all campuses,” says … Continued