VOL. 14, ISSUE 12
SEPTEMBER 2026
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THE LOCALIST: AUGUST 2026 WRAP UP
Uppercut—All My Big Dawgs Go to Heaven (Single) Release Date: Aug. 5, 2026 City: Cambridge Genre: Emo, Punk The second single release of 2026 from Uppercut is a thrashing whirlwind Read more ›
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REGION OF WATERLOO CANDIDATES – KITCHENER ELECTION
Correction: Ward 8 candidate Carly Pettinger’s profile has been updated to more accurately reflect her platform and prior experience. Mayoral David Alton Alton is a newcomer to municipal politics with Read more ›
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GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AT INDULGENCE
Growing up, becoming a Certified Medical Aesthetician was not on long-time Waterloo Region resident Jennifer Thibault’s radar. Today, Thibault is the owner of Indulgence Studio and has over 20 years Read more ›
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RESTORING GAMES & PUZZLES, PIECE BY PIECE
Jamie Lichty (he/they) discovered his first special interest very young, when his parents introduced them to their first board game, The Secret Door, around age three. Lichty fell in love Read more ›
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A WALK IN KIWANIS PARK WITH TARA BUTLER
The shade from the tree canopy in Kiwanis Park provided much-appreciated relief from the heat on my morning walk with dancer and choreographer Tara Butler. The crunch of gravel under Read more ›
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BLUEBIRD BUILDS SKILLS ON DECK
Skateboarding is known for its community as much as it is for kickflips. That sense of community is something Chantel McDougall has experienced as a longtime skateboarder and certified coach. Read more ›
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PINCH CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS
Sept. 26, 2026, will mark the five-year anniversary of Pinch Cabaret, Waterloo Region’s wacky and explosive monthly variety show. The cabaret will take place at Button Factory Arts in Waterloo, Read more ›
EVENTS
SHOP
All proceeds go towards keeping your independent monthly newspaper afloat.
COLUMNS
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KELSI SORENSEN GRAPHICTHE LOCALIST: AUGUST 2026 WRAP UP
Uppercut—All My Big Dawgs Go to Heaven (Single) Release Date: Aug. 5, 2026 City: Cambridge Genre: Emo, Punk The second single release of 2026 from Uppercut is a thrashing whirlwind Read more ›
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A WALK IN KIWANIS PARK WITH TARA BUTLER
The shade from the tree canopy in Kiwanis Park provided much-appreciated relief from the heat on my morning walk with dancer and choreographer Tara Butler. The crunch of gravel under Read more ›
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Kat Wex PhotoROAMING THE REGION: FESTIVAL SEASON
Once again, Waterloo Region’s festival and event calendar is overflowing with options to celebrate cultures from all over the world. So, get out your planner and call all your friends Read more ›
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Christoff Le Roux PhotoA WALK ALONG THE BOB MCMULLEN LINEAR TRAIL WITH ANI J
My walk with stained glass artist and ordained Buddhist nun Tsunma Jamyang Donma, known as Ani J for short, was punctuated by extremes. The Bob McMullen Linear Trail in Cambridge Read more ›
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KELSI SORENSEN GRAPHICTHE LOCALIST: JULY 2026 WRAP UP
Packing—Loves Me (LP) Release Date: July 24, 2026 City: Waterloo Genre: Indie Rock Packing’s first full length LP is an album about love, heartbreak, and healing. With tight and technical Read more ›
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Dividends
From the shore, barges slip past and we could try to count cargo. We watch the markets swell, bigger than dollars or ducats can hold; we watch them strain against Read more ›
FEATURES
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GENDER-AFFIRMING CARE AT INDULGENCE
Growing up, becoming a Certified Medical Aesthetician was not on long-time Waterloo Region resident Jennifer Thibault’s radar. Today, Thibault is the owner of Indulgence Studio and has over 20 years Read more ›
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THE RETURN OF FREDERICK LANES
For Kassandra Ahlin and Mason Tikl, the new owners of Frederick Lanes, the bowling alley was more than a casual date night spot. “It’s such a diverse community of so Read more ›
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BLUEBIRD BUILDS SKILLS ON DECK
Skateboarding is known for its community as much as it is for kickflips. That sense of community is something Chantel McDougall has experienced as a longtime skateboarder and certified coach. Read more ›
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PINCH CELEBRATES FIVE YEARS
Sept. 26, 2026, will mark the five-year anniversary of Pinch Cabaret, Waterloo Region’s wacky and explosive monthly variety show. The cabaret will take place at Button Factory Arts in Waterloo, Read more ›
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EXCAVATOR COLLECTIVE CURATES A SENSORY-ACCESSIBLE EXPERIENCE
Live music events bring people together, but the use of amplifiers and lights can make these events inaccessible for people living with sensory-related conditions. It was a challenge that Cam Read more ›
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Sangjun Han PhotosPYM AND SPORAS HOST FIFTH ANNUAL KW PALESTINE FESTIVAL
On July 12, 2026, the Palestinian Youth Movement (PYM) and Sporas (formerly known as Sporas Scattered) hosted their fifth annual KW Palestine Festival, Ounadikom, at Carl Zehr Square. The KW Read more ›
OPINION
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EDITORIAL NOTE: A SMOOTH SEA NEVER MADE A SKILLED SAILOR
Our beloved paper is sailing transformational seas and now is the opportune time to step aboard. As we anticipate Volume 15 of the Community Edition, we are reflecting on the Read more ›
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ON OPTIMISM AND REALITY
You may have heard the saying, “Every cloud has a silver lining” when facing life’s difficulties. I argue that most people have heard statements that are in the same vein: Read more ›
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THE SHAPE OF GRIEF
Grief doesn’t end—it settles into the ordinary and stays. I still catch myself reaching for my phone to call my mother. It has been five years, but it happens without Read more ›
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PROTECTING THE RIGHT TO REPAIR
The first computer in my house was a Tandy 1000. It was made by RadioShack and it was the coolest thing I had ever seen. Sure, it was not much to look Read more ›
GET INVOLVED
The Community Edition has loads of volunteer experiences. Whether you’re looking to write, edit, take photos, work on design and/or production, manage social media or work on this (incredibly witty) website, we’d love to have you.
