News
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Study Confirms Updated Vaccines Reduce Severe COVID-19 Outcomes
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A new study from the University of Waterloo analysed how COVID-19 continues to evolve within the dominant Omicron family and assessed whether current vaccines remain effective against these emerging sub-variants. The research underscores the importance of annual COVID-19 vaccination, particularly as immunity from previous doses wanes and the virus undergoes subtle genetic shifts. While the early years of the pandemic saw…
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Dialogue Over Division at World Religious Conference
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On Nov. 23, Wilfrid Laurier University hosted the 43rd World Religions Conference (WRC) at the Lazaridis Hall Auditorium, becoming a hub for dialogue, reflection and education, drawing on religious scholars, community leaders and students to explore the pressing social challenge of combating hate. Hosted annually in Canada by the Ahmadiyya Muslim Jama’at since 1981, the conference brings voices together from major world religions, Indigenous faiths and non-religious…
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Laurier Mourns the Passing of Shannon Lee
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The Laurier community is in mourning following the sudden passing of Shannon Lee on Nov. 7, 2025. Originally from Oakville, Lee graduated from Laurier’s Integrated Musical Arts program in 2023 before pursuing a career as a musician and sound technician in Kitchener-Waterloo. During their time at Laurier, Shannon was known by peers to be a…
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Ontario Passes Bill 33, Overhauling Education and Child Services
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Ontario legislature passed the Bill 33, known as the Supporting Children and Students Act, 2025 on Nov. 19, bringing in major changes to how school boards, children’s aid societies and post-secondary institutions are governed The newly passed controversial bill is a piece of legislation that introduces significant changes to the oversight of school boards and post-secondary institutions in Ontario, giving the Minister of Education…
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Threats Prompt Safety Measures at Local Queer Events
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Several 2SLGBTQIA+ events in the community were cancelled after Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) warned about possible threats planned to target local queer events. KW Gays and Theys, organizers of a Beers with Queers event, made the decision to cancel their event at Together We’re Bitter (TWB) Co-Operative Brewing on Oct. 21. Amanda Farquhar, manager…
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WRPS to Install 52 CCTV Cameras Across Waterloo Region
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Police say the project will deter crime and improve response times, while experts urge transparency to prevent bias. The Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) plans to install 52 CCTV cameras in 10 locations across Waterloo Region starting in November. According to the service, the locations were selected using three years of crime and service…
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CUPW Shifts to Rotating Strikes as Charities Struggle with Mail Delays
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The Canadian Union of Postal Workers (CUPW) continue to strike, causing disruption to mail and package delivery. As of Oct. 10, 2025, the CUPW moves from a full, nationwide strike, onto rotating groups of strikers, restarting national operations while continuing discussion with the Canadian government. Despite this, charities report major loss caused by the…
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Mayors Push Back on Speed Camera Ban
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Local leaders call for compromise, saying the program keeps students safe near schools More than twenty Ontario mayors, including those of Cambridge, Waterloo, and Guelph, are urging Ontario Premier Doug Ford’s government to reconsider plans to cancel the province’s automated speed enforcement (ASE) program, warning that the move could endanger children in school zones. The…
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University Safety Concerns Cited in Last-Minute Cancellation of Gaza Lecture
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A public lecture titled Canada and the Genocide in Gaza, organized by former Wilfrid Laurier University professor Peter Eglin and NDP leadership candidate Yves Engler, was cancelled by the university administration just one day before it was set to take place. Despite the cancellation, the speakers went ahead with the event in an alternative location on…
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Canada Slashes International Study Permits Amid Federal Cap
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Canada is issuing far fewer international study permits this year as a federal cap and tougher approval requirements reshape the sector. Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) said that only 36,417 study permits were issued between January and June 2025, compared to 125,034 during the same period last year. Applications have also declined. IRCC received…
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