Entertainment

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

How skating brings Waterloo students and families together during winter isolation

As winter sets in, a season known for its isolation, Waterloo’s families and students find warmth in an unexpected place: on the rink. “I probably hadn’t skated for like 20 years,” said John, a father skating with his son at Kitchener City Hall rink. John spent his early adult years building his career, which kept him away from skating and some family activities. However, last year, his son, who is … Continued

How Aidan Ruston, aka AJ, built a music empire in Waterloo with ‘The Kitchen KW’

Aiden John Rustin, known to many as AJ, lost himself in the rhythm of his own making. Stretching his arms toward the amplifier, a gentle smile tugged at his lips, a quiet acknowledgment of the music’s power to speak what words could not. It was around 10 p.m at The Kitchen KW studio as the scene unfolded. “The location that we’re at, they don’t let us make noise until 5:30 … Continued

VIDEO: Kitchener’s historic Boathouse officially reopens

Photo by Rowen Fisler/Spoke Online Following a five-year hiatus, The Boathouse, a restaurant and live music venue in Kitchener’s Victoria Park, has reopened its doors to locals. Under new leadership, the venue has been transformed through a number of renovations to modernize and maximize the space while maintaining its historic significance to Kitchener. As Spoke Online reporter Rowen Fisler finds out, city officials and The Boathouse’s new owners are hopeful … Continued

VIDEO: Ninth Kitchener Comic Con gives local niche communities a place to call home

Photo by Rowen Fisler/Spoke Online Following a four year hiatus, Kitchener Comic Con has returned, hoping to give the community the same enjoyment and camaraderie it did before the pandemic. The event, which was held at Kitchener City Hall, gave locals in the community a chance to connect with like-minded people, allowing them to have a place where they could feel safe, welcomed, and appreciated for who they are. The … Continued

Netflix’s ‘Avatar: The Last Airbender’ is not as bad as you think, but it can be better

The latest live-action take on Avatar: The Last Airbender premiered in February this year, and while it’s not the exact 1-to-1 reimagining fans were anticipating, it isn’t entirely hopeless either.

Crossing generations through the canvas with ‘The Proclamation’ exhibition at Kitchener City Hall

Featuring eye-catching artworks based on South Sudanese Shilluk peoples, the exhibit brings abstract designs and striking portraits to life. “I’ve gotten comments on the fact that this is sometimes a scary painting because of how real the eyes look as if there really is a soul behind them,” said artist Chudear Oyual. “It’s comforting knowing that in the creation of my art, my ancestors are with me.”

AUDIO: Conestoga College celebrates Indigenous cultures with its 14th annual Pow Wow

The institution hosts a significant cultural event yearly, celebrating Indigenous traditions with traditional dancers, music, and food. The audience is encouraged to join in on the dancing and food, which creates an opportunity for people of different cultures to come together and learn about each other.

VIDEO: Waterloo residents quizzed on Irish history and the ‘Cúpla Focal’ at trivia night

In 2021, the House of Commons in Canada agreed to commemorate March as Irish Heritage Month. According to Statistics Canada, there are about 4.5 million Canadians with Irish ancestry.

The do’s and don’ts of a live service game: Suicide Squad Kill the Justice League versus Helldivers 2

The games studio behind the beloved Batman Arkham games, Rocksteady, dropped their latest venture into the live service games genre, Suicide Squad Kills the Justice League, eight years after their last flagship release of Batman Arkham Knight in 2015.

Category: Entertainment