The village of Belmont will celebrate Christmas on Dec. 6 with a parade down Belmont Avenue. Organizations and companies are putting their floats together to make this possible. Organizer Leigh Mauer is looking forward to the event.  “So the parade represents community spirit and I think a return to somewhat normal events. You know, what better time to celebrate than at Christmas,” Mauer said.  Mauer is expecting a normal turnout … Continued

Christmas tree farms are struggling more than ever this year with the high demand for evergreens. An alternative species may be your best bet this holiday season. The demand for Christmas trees is skyrocketing in North America. From new Canadians embracing the Christmas tradition, to others embracing a more environmentally friendly approach, Christmas tree farms have had to make some changes to their business. Thomas Morelli, co-owner of Andrew’s tree … Continued

Ballet Jorgen Du Canada will host its annual Christmas play, The Nutcracker, at the Centre in the Square in Kitchener on Dec. 28. The first show will be at 2 p.m. and the second, at 7 p.m. Ballet Jorgen Du Canada has a long history of hosting this Canadian tradition since its first showing in 1995. The creator of the ballet and co-founder of the company is Bengt Jorgen. The … Continued

A Kitchener city council motion denouncing conversion therapy and calling on the federal government to also ban it passed unanimously after public input at the meeting. Coun. Debbie Chapman of Ward 9 proposed the motion. A federal bill banning conversion therapy in Canada, a practice which has been denounced by scientific and medical organizations the country over, stalled in the Senate. Alongside Coun. Chapman in the virtual meeting were the … Continued

Christmas gift giving has changed during the pandemic. From online shopping to in-person shopping, holiday crafts have become the new gifts of Christmas. Many groups and stores have made accommodations to encourage this change. A group called Dollarama DIY Crafts and Hacks was created on Facebook to make life easier and bring more light into the Christmas spirit during the pandemic. The group takes cheap items that are found in … Continued

The slow return to normal after the pandemic has many people excited, including those who want to venture out on Black Friday. In Waterloo Region, some shoppers look forward to the busy day when they can search for bargains. “Christmas is for gifts. Black Friday is for me,” said Tammy McNamee, a Waterloo Region resident who already has her shopping list ready. “I’m definitely into Black Friday. I buy stuff … Continued

The start of the holiday season is usually marked by snowfall, Christmas music all over the radio stations, and people rushing to malls for their holiday shopping. This year, however, the spirit of the holidays is sparkling in the nearby village of St. Jacobs, Ontario. From Nov. 12 to 28, the annual St. Jacob Sparkles takes place every Friday, Saturday and Sunday with more dates, activities, and longer hours to … Continued

Santa Claus’s return to Waterloo Region this November might look a bit different yet again this year with pandemic precautions still in place, but the show must go on for the jolly man in red. This year, guests attending parades in Waterloo and Kitchener will be the ones rolling past the floats in what is being called a Reverse Santa Claus Parade. But, in Cambridge, the traditional parade will return. … Continued

Students in Waterloo Region will be expected to participate in remote learning on snow days. Materials will be available via Google classroom and the content will be a review work of previous lessons, according to Abby O’Leary. O’Leary, a Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School teacher, says that she is not a fan of the system. “I think it stinks for the kids because as a student, snow days were always … Continued

Kin and Kinette club members across Canada work to make a difference in their communities, and Waterloo Region is no exception. According to Krista Nicol from Kin Canada, “Kinsmen, Kinettes, and Kin clubs are comprised of volunteer members who share the mission of serving the community’s greatest need.” Adrian Helm from the Preston Kin Club in Cambridge talks about how he got involved with his local Kin Club and how … Continued