Latest news with #Kitchener
CTV News
2 hours ago
- Business
- CTV News
Rally in downtown Kitchener to protest controversial provincial bills
'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) A 'Rally for People and Planet' was held in downtown Kitchener on Saturday. Dozens of people gathered at Carl Zehr Square to hear from Aislinn Clancy, the deputy leader for the Green Party of Ontario and MPP for Kitchener Centre. Rally for People and Planet Kitchener Carl Zehr Square Aislinn Clancy Kitchener Centre MPP Aislinn Clancy speaks at the 'Rally for People and Planet' at Carl Zehr Square in downtown Kitchener on May 31, 2025. (Hannah Schmidt/CTV News) The event focused on two proposed provincial laws – Bill 5 and Bill 6. Bill 6 targets homeless encampments and drug use in public spaces. If passed, police officers would have more power to arrest anyone in a public space, including a tent, who is in possession of an illegal substance. Those individuals would then face tougher penalties, including up to six months in prison or a fine of up to $10,000. Advocates have argued that punitive measures often fail to address the issues causing homelessness and may, in fact, make them worse. Bill 5, meanwhile, seeks to speed up development for certain projects, like mining, and create 'special economic zones' where provincial and municipal laws would be suspended. The Ring of Fire is one the sites identified by the province.
CBC
9 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Police warn of 'uptick' in online marketplace thefts in Waterloo region
Social Sharing Before deciding to post unwanted items online, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) are reminding people to make they're being as safe as possible. Const. Melissa Quarrie, a public information officer at WRPS, told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris, that police tend to see a little "uptick" in calls for online marketplace buy-and-sell robberies during the spring and summer months. "I don't know if that's connected to people doing spring cleaning, or wanting to refresh their residences or things that they're owning, but we do see these things happen not infrequently," said Quarrie. In a news release Sunday, WRPS said they continue to investigate a "person on person robbery" that happened in the area of Hollywood Court and Birmingham Drive in Cambridge in mid-February. A more recent robbery happened in mid-March. Police said a person, who thought they were meeting up with a buyer for the cellphone they posted online, was threatened with a machete. The victim's phone was then stolen. The robbery happened in the area of Pattandon Avenue and Mill Street in Kitchener. A Kitchener man was later arrested and charged. "It's definitely a cause for concern when people are just trying to sell their items and are experiencing violence or theft," said Quarrie. 'Trust your gut' Quarrie says there are often clues to spotting a fraudulent buyer or seller. "Someone who has a really quick timeline, someone who isn't able to answer any of your follow up questions, anyone who's wanting to exchange e-transfers or cash-in-advance payments," are some of the common signs, she said. "If something doesn't feel right, trust your gut." There are also other steps a person can take to ensure that an online buy-and-sell transaction will be as safe as possible, said Quarrie. The first step is doing as much background research as possible. Having recently sold a change table herself, she says "inquiring the person's name, their phone number, [and] checking their rating as a buyer and a seller on the application," would be a good start in vetting a buyer. A recently created profile also presents a red flag. "Ask some follow up questions to people," Quarrie said. "If something doesn't feel right, then you can always decline the sale." For buyers on the other hand, Quarrie says it's always good to remember that "if something feels too good to be true, it likely is." She advises against making advance payments before the meet-up. She also said to make sure you tell someone where you're going, who you're meeting, and what time you're supposed to meet. "Even better if you can bring a partner with you, or a trusted person who can go and be there to provide support," Quarrie said. "There's safety in numbers in cases like this." As for locations where you can safely do these transactions, WRPS have designated three safe exchange spots in the region: Doing the transactions in these locations are effective for a reason; the optics. Ron Piché, a defence lawyer in Saskatoon, told CBC News that "criminals don't want to be anywhere close to a police headquarters or a jail." Now in case a person has to do the transaction at their home address – as is sometimes the case with larger items such as furniture – Quarrie suggests making sure you are not home alone, and that your children are not with you. "And don't give out your address until the very last step," she added. If anything happens when conducting a buy-and-sell transaction, people are urged to call 911.
Yahoo
9 hours ago
- General
- Yahoo
Police warn of 'uptick' in online marketplace thefts in Waterloo region
Before deciding to post unwanted items online, the Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) are reminding people to make they're being as safe as possible. Const. Melissa Quarrie, a public information officer at WRPS, told CBC K-W's The Morning Edition host Craig Norris, that police tend to see a little "uptick" in calls for online marketplace buy-and-sell robberies during the spring and summer months. "I don't know if that's connected to people doing spring cleaning, or wanting to refresh their residences or things that they're owning, but we do see these things happen not infrequently," said Quarrie. In a news release Sunday, WRPS said they continue to investigate a "person on person robbery" that happened in the area of Hollywood Court and Birmingham Drive in Cambridge in mid-February. A more recent robbery happened in mid-March. Police said a person, who thought they were meeting up with a buyer for the cellphone they posted online, was threatened with a machete. The victim's phone was then stolen. The robbery happened in the area of Pattandon Avenue and Mill Street in Kitchener. A Kitchener man was later arrested and charged. "It's definitely a cause for concern when people are just trying to sell their items and are experiencing violence or theft," said Quarrie. 'Trust your gut' Quarrie says there are often clues to spotting a fraudulent buyer or seller. "Someone who has a really quick timeline, someone who isn't able to answer any of your follow up questions, anyone who's wanting to exchange e-transfers or cash-in-advance payments," are some of the common signs, she said. "If something doesn't feel right, trust your gut." There are also other steps a person can take to ensure that an online buy-and-sell transaction will be as safe as possible, said Quarrie. The first step is doing as much background research as possible. Having recently sold a change table herself, she says "inquiring the person's name, their phone number, [and] checking their rating as a buyer and a seller on the application," would be a good start in vetting a buyer. A recently created profile also presents a red flag. "Ask some follow up questions to people," Quarrie said. "If something doesn't feel right, then you can always decline the sale." For buyers on the other hand, Quarrie says it's always good to remember that "if something feels too good to be true, it likely is." She advises against making advance payments before the meet-up. She also said to make sure you tell someone where you're going, who you're meeting, and what time you're supposed to meet. "Even better if you can bring a partner with you, or a trusted person who can go and be there to provide support," Quarrie said. "There's safety in numbers in cases like this." As for locations where you can safely do these transactions, WRPS have designated three safe exchange spots in the region: North Division - 45 Columbia Street East, Waterloo. Headquarters (front parking lot) - 200 Maple Grove Road, Cambridge. South Division – 176 Hespeler Road, Cambridge. Doing the transactions in these locations are effective for a reason; the optics. Ron Piché, a defence lawyer in Saskatoon, told CBC News that "criminals don't want to be anywhere close to a police headquarters or a jail." Now in case a person has to do the transaction at their home address – as is sometimes the case with larger items such as furniture – Quarrie suggests making sure you are not home alone, and that your children are not with you. "And don't give out your address until the very last step," she added. If anything happens when conducting a buy-and-sell transaction, people are urged to call 911.
CTV News
20 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Wanted woman arrested and drugs seized at Kitchener's Victoria Park
Police have arrested a woman wanted for a number of charges including trafficking, assault and forcible confinement. On Friday, officers with the Waterloo Regional Police Service were on bike patrol in Kitchener's Victoria Park when they spotted and arrested the woman. She was wanted for assault with a weapon, assault causing bodily harm and forcible confinement in connection to an incident that happened in Kitchener on March 20. Police said the woman had also driven way from police in a stolen vehicle during another incident on April 30. Due to that incident, she was wanted for possession for the purpose of trafficking, taking a vehicle without consent, flight from an officer, operation of a conveyance while prohibited, dangerous operation, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000 and possession of property obtained by crime under $5,000. During her arrest, officers said they seized suspected fentanyl, methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription drugs. Police said the approximate street value of the substances comes in at $12,300. The 40-year-old woman was also charged with four counts of possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking and possession of break-in instruments.
CTV News
a day ago
- General
- CTV News
Nighttime train whistles will stop at Kitchener crossing while work continues
People living near a train crossing in Kitchener may be able to sleep a little easier. For weeks, crews have been working near the train tracks at Lancaster Street West and Victoria Street North. During that time, Metrolinx temporarily disconnected the dynamic train warning signs in the area. Instead, train operators would sound the whistle as they approached the area as a safety precaution. Residents in the area said the whistles were keeping them up at night. To address these concerns, starting on Friday, there will no longer be train whistles between 10 p.m. and 6 a.m. Metrolinx has also reactivated three of the four multi-train warning signs at the crossing and will have a security guard posted there during overnight hours. 'We continue to work with our freight partner to ensure the ongoing work is completed as quickly as possible. The daytime whistles will stop once the work is completed and the remaining multi-train warning sign can be re-activated,' Metrolinx said in an email to CTV News.
