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

Posted on by

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.

Your day not going as planned? Look for your three wins

Posted on by
Reply

Three wins? Perhaps this is the mindset I need on days when things aren’t going well.

As of noon today, I’ve reached two of Neal Foard’s three wins:

Spiritual Win

I’ve been out with the dogs walking under the trees to start my day, with no electronic device in hand.  I could have also meditated or prayed or cleaned my desk to help restore my spirit.  And I’ll head out for a walk at noon again in the sunshine.

Human Win

I shared my time with a good friend over coffee and talked about things neither of us can change but can learn from. And I shared an insight that might help his business.  I shared my kindness.

Physical Win

Later today, I’ll expose my body to some good stress.  I’ll spend some time on an exercise bike, getting ready for the summer of trail riding with my wife—then my daily isometric exercise and stretching before bed.

Two of three so far.  That’s a win, even if the rest of the day is bumpy. 

What will your three wins be today?

Yard waste curb side collection returns to Cambridge March 25, 2024

Posted on by

The return of yard waste bags to curbs are a sure sign of spring in Cambridge, like Snowdrop flowers blooming and Robins singing.

At-the-curb yard waste collection begins in Cambridge the week of March 25-29, 2024. As usual, it’s also a green bin and blue box collection day.

Alternating-week yard waste collection ends in the week of November 18-21, 2024, according to the region’s 2024 waste collection calendar.

The region changed its recycling contract on March 2, 2024, moving to a Ontario-wide operation run by Circular Materials.  

No changes are planned for curbside pickup of yard waste, blue box, green bin, garbage or bulky items.

What changes is who you contact with questions about blue box pickup or getting a replacement blue box. It’s now Miller Waste Services, not region waste management officials.

2 job fairs for my international students at Conestoga College, February 2024

Posted on by
Help Wanted sign in window

I often hear about the desire for part-time work from the International students I teach at Conestoga College, in downtown Kitchener.

Here’s what I shared with my Technical Communication classes this week, as I do whenever I hear of job leads:

Thursday, February 1, 2024 – Multi-Employer Hiring Event hosted by Lutherwood, at Cambridge City Hall, 50 Dickson Street, Cambridge, 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mostly full-time positions on offer, but some part-time opportunities are promised. Organizers suggest arriving with resumes in hand.

February 7, 2024 – P4E Career and Job Fair is an online event, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. It’s a collaborative effort among the University of Guelph, the University of Waterloo, Wilfrid Laurier University and Conestoga College.  Employers generally offer full-time, co-op, and summer roles.

And I’ve heard of another on-campus job fair at Conestoga’s main campus:

March 13, 2024 – 2024 Conestoga Job Fair, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the recreation centre at the Doon Campus. It’s also focused on full-time, co-op, and summer seasonal positions for students and alumni. 

The Conestoga Talent Hub at the Downtown Kitchener Campus is a resource for students in their job search and career planning.

And I always encourage students to use employment guidance from Student Support Services at the college.

I can’t find jobs for students, but I’m always ready to pass along suggestions and point them toward whatever good news I hear about.

Noisy jets: One day, I’d like to visit the Mach Loop in person

Posted on by

One day, I’d like to visit the Mach Loop in Wales to watch military jets flying in the valley in front of me.

For now, I’ll watch videos on YouTube so save me airfare – and buy some upgraded camera gear.

The video above is via the Big Geek Daddy email newsletter.

What is the Mach Loop?

Here’s why the Mach Loop is a popular place for jet pilots to train for low-level flying:

And here’s a pretty RCAF CF-18 showing off in 2018.