News – Spoke

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: 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

From clippers to confidence: A place to become

The sound of clippers hums softly in the air, a familiar rhythm as each haircut becomes a quiet act of self-creation. Beneath the warm glow of vintage lights, identities are shaped as gently as the hair falling to the floor, with each snip revealing more of the person beneath. In this space, it’s not just hair being cut – it’s the barriers, fears, and weight of judgment, left behind in … 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

VIDEO: Winterloo 2025 Offered a fun-filled day of games and entertainment after last year’s weather challenges

Photo by Cornelius Ejimogu/Spoke Online. Held on Jan. 25, from 12 p.m. to 5 p.m., Winterloo, an annual cold-weather celebration in the heart of Waterloo brought people together to embrace the winter season in full force. Goreti Cardoso, a festival and event specialist at the City of Waterloo explained how the weather plays a significant role in attendance. For example, last year, the event was limited to the Waterloo Public … Continued

Conestoga professor recognized with Scholastic esports awards nomination

Photo by Rowen Fisler/Spoke Online Chris Lamarucciola stands near the entrance of Conestoga College’s current esports hub at their John W. Tibbits campus in Waterloo, Ont., on Jan. 17, 2025. Following a successful first year teaching at Conestoga College, Chris Lamarucciola received an award nomination at the inaugural Scholastic Esports Awards, a major collegiate esports event in North America, held in Columbus, OH, from Jan. 11 to 12. The award … Continued

FEATURE: Earning her “sunset” by breathing life back into the community

Photos by Rowen Fisler/Spoke Online (Pictured) Registered Respiratory Therapist (RRT) and Conestoga College instructor Pam Hall stands beside a test patient in her classroom at Conestoga College’s Doon Campus in Kitchener, Ont., on Nov. 14, 2024. Almost 40 years ago, a near family tragedy forever changed the trajectory of Pam Hall’s life. When Hall was in the ninth grade, her cousin was born prematurely at just 28 weeks old. The … Continued

Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks football team reflect on a near perfect 2024 season

Photo obtained via Wilfrid Laurier University/Facebook Following a historic undefeated run to the 59th Vanier Cup held in Kingston, Ont., at Richardson Memorial Stadium on Saturday, Nov. 23, the Wilfrid Laurier Golden Hawks fell short at the finish line, losing 22-17 to Laval University’s Rouge et Or. Despite the loss, the Golden Hawks are looking back on the football season as a success. Golden Hawks starting quarterback (QB) Taylor Elgersma … Continued

FEATURE: From vine to wine: Uncorking day trip to Kacaba Vineyards & Winery

Photos by Rowen Fisler/Spoke Online (Pictured left to right) The logo for Kacaba Vineyards & Winery on a gift box in Vineland, Ont., with Charles Gervais holding a bottle of wine from a signature 2022 collection inside the entrance of the winery, on Nov. 15, 2024. For all 6,994 days of my life, I have not been a fan of wine. Whenever I would have sips of it growing up, … 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

Million-dollar boost for Conestoga College’s Women in Skilled Trades program

Photos provided by Suzanne Moyer/Conestoga College Conestoga College has acquired over a million dollars in funding from the government of Ontario for the college’s Women in Skilled Trades (WIST) program. The college was one of 25 programs province-wide to receive funding through the Women’s Economic Security Program, an Ontario government initiative created with the purpose of helping provide women with career training opportunities and ensuring a path to a job … Continued

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