Paper Business Cards Remain in My Networking Tool Kit

I’m a fan of business cards as networking and job search tools.

And I know that sounds weird in a digital world, where people might just say: “Look me up on LinkedIn!”

I always try to remember to carry business cards with me so that I may efficiently share my contact information with someone – if they ask for it. 

(Here’s my LinkedIn profile, in case you’re not interested in my business card: www.linkedin.com/in/kevinswayze)

Again this week in class at Conestoga College, I told my 20-something-year-old students about the value I give to simple paper business cards in a digital world. They’re graduating at the end of this semester and will be looking for work. I encourage them to add business cards to their job-search tool kit.

And since the class was about Starting a Consulting Practice, talking about business cards was even more appropriate in a world of personal business branding. In mind, it’s showing you’re ready to connect with potential clients.

I adopt the outlook that you never know who you might meet today, who might be the connection to the job you are looking for. My ritual of placing business cards in my pocket at the start of the day primes me to be ready and open to opportunities.

You can order 100 business cards for $5 at Walmart, I tell my students. That’s about the price of two basic coffees at Starbucks, after you add the HST.

I suggest students pick a simple design that’s easy to read. And put their name and essential information on one side. That way, if someone wants to take a photo of your contact info, it’s easier.

In a digital world, I think paper business cards remain a good addition to anyone’s job-hunting and networking kit.

What do you think?

Cambridge Fall Fair an easy bus ride for Conestoga College students

The Cambridge Fall Fair runs in Dickson Park, Cambridge, on the second weekend of September.

Updated Sept. 7, 2024

I teach international students business communication at Conestoga College and regularly hear questions about what events and festivals happen in the Cambridge-Kitchener-Waterloo area.

Fall fairs are events I always mention in September. They usually include demolition derbies, animal displays, a midway, and live entertainment. And lots of food.

The easiest fall fair for Conestoga students to reach without a car is the Cambridge Fall Fair, Thurs., Sept. 5 through Sun., Sept. 8, 2024, at Dickson Park in Cambridge.

Dickson Park is on the Grand River Transit bus Route 57, which runs between the Doon and Cambridge Campuses of Conestoga College, and the Ainslie Street GRT bus terminal at 35 Ainslie St. in Downtown Cambridge.

Thursdays and Sundays offer free admission, but there is always a charge to take midway rides. Admission is $10 at the entry gates on Friday and $15 on Saturday when most events are scheduled.

Route 57 buses run Monday through Saturday, morning, afternoon, and evening.

On Sunday, you’ll have to take a bus to the Ainslie Street terminal and then walk about 10 minutes to Dickson Park through the old Galt Downtown area. (If you’re heading to the fair in Cambridge on Sunday from Kitchener or Waterloo, your probably best to take the Route 302 or Route 206 express buses to the Ainslie Terminal).

There are other fairs in the Waterloo Region area, but they’re not easy to reach by public transit. Here’s a link to all the fall fair dates in Ontario.

The Wellesley Township Fair runs on Sept. 10 and 11, 2024, at the Wellesley Recreation Complex Centre, 1401 Queen’s Bush Road, Wellesley. That’s a 20-minute car drive northwest of Waterloo.

The New Hamburg Fall Fair runs Sept. 12-15, 2024 at 251 Jacob St. in New Hamburg Fairgrounds, west of Kitchener. To reach that location by public transit from Kitchener or Waterloo, you can take the GRT Route 77, but only on weekdays mornings or afternoons. That doesn’t work well to visit the fair in the evening.

How to freeze a row in an Excel spreadsheet – again

I’m a grudging user of Excel spreadsheets.

I don’t seem to use them enough in my day-to-day projects in communications consulting and teaching to keep all the tips and magical shortcuts at the top of my mind.

Today, I – again – forgot how to freeze the top row of an Excel sheet while organizing class attendance data. It was for the Creating a Consulting Practice course I teach in the Cloud Data Management program at Conestoga College.

Yes, I appreciate the fact I forget to do things with Microsoft Software in a program that is based entirely on Microsoft Software. This might be part of my challenge: I use a Mac.

Frozen out

This how-to page from the University of Sussex came to my rescue, with succinct advice to freeze a row. The top row is now locked in place where I can see it.

Now, back to sorting attendance data…

Canada Day events planned July 1, 2024 in Cambridge, Kitchener and Waterloo

Fireworks burst in the air over Riverside Park in Cambridge, on Canada Day 2017.
Fireworks burst in the air over Riverside Park in Cambridge, on Canada Day 2017.

Updated July 2, 2024: Parade livestream recording added.

Livestream recording of Cambridge Canada Day parade July 1, 2024.

To all my Conestoga College students, I wish you a Happy Canada Day on July 1, 2024.

There are no classes on the national holiday, so I encourage you to visit community events across Waterloo Region. Here are events accessible by Grand River Transit buses and Ion LRT trains, running on a holiday schedule.

Cambridge: Canada Day events are planned in Riverside Park, 49 King Street West, starting at 8 a.m.  and ending at 10 p.m. with fireworks. A 1 p.m. parade follows King Street, from Bishop Street to Eagle Street, ending near the park entrance. Fireworks are planned at dusk in the park over the Speed River. 

Kitchener: There are events planned from 2 p.m. to 11 p.m. at Carl Zehr Square, in front of Kitchener City Hall at 200 King Street West.  

Waterloo:  A community picnic is planned 4 p.m. to 10 p.m. in Waterloo Park, at 100 Westmount Road West.  The ION LRT tracks cross the park, with access at the stations at Seagram Drive and in downtown Waterloo.   

Here’s a listing of all the public Canada Day fireworks locations in Waterloo Region.

See you in our next class!

Bus to the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival Sat., April 6, 2024

I enjoy inviting my international students at Conestoga College to take part in community activities and feel connected to their new home.

This week in class, I’ve shared information about the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival is on Saturday, April 6, 2024.  It starts at 7 a.m. and runs through the day.

Upwards of 70,000 people are expected for the one-day event.

I remember my visits to the Elmira Maple Syrup festival included the chance to take a trip by wagon to see a maple syrup production in a “sugar bush” wooded areas.

It’s been years since I’ve been to the festival in Elmira. I tell students it celebrates Maple Syrup, which is made from sap harvested from maple trees in the spring in the rural areas of Waterloo Region.  

It’s held in the town of Elmira, north of Waterloo. Usually, I wouldn’t share an event that’s outside the urban area of Cambridge, Waterloo or Kitchener, because students don’t usually have a car.

Rural bus service in Waterloo Region is limited, compared to urban areas. But Grand River Transit has a regular bus route to Elmira – and has added extra buses for the festival.

Man pours maple syrup onto a plate containing a pancake at the Elmira Maple Syrup Festival

The Elmira festival is run by volunteers, to raise money for community events. 

I tell students to expect to pay for food and activities, but I remember also having fun just walking around and seeing the displays a sunny early morning in spring.  

I tell students to expect to be able to buy pancake breakfasts and other food.

Maple Syrup is a sweet sign of spring in eastern Canada.