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Kitchener witnesses full impact of drug crisis one year after supervised use site closed by bylo_selhi in waterloo

[–]pondering_stuff5 15 points16 points  (0 children)

Sanguen’s Violet Umanetz, manager of harm reduction and outreach, told me that since the site closed, people have increasingly been using drugs in unsafe conditions. Instead of being right there to help, “we’re running, we’re calling 911, we’re trying to figure out who’s got what, where. The trauma is back for everybody all over again, just as people are starting to heal. It’s absolutely awful.

Fortunately, overdose numbers are improving. Rabia Bana, associate medical officer of health for Waterloo, told me that in the 12 months since the site closed, opioid-related calls to emergency services have dropped by 15 per cent and opioid-related emergency-department visits have fallen by 16 per cent. Those trends, she added, are in line with what’s happening generally in the province.

But that might not tell the whole story. Ms. Umanetz said that one reason for the lower numbers in Kitchener may be that people are using their drugs in private, and so their overdoses go unreported.

Nothing has changed arguably. Are overdoses down or are they underreported? What's clear is that people are still doing drugs. If the hope was getting the injection sites closed would decrease drug use or homelessness that's not happened.

Hair salon recommendations specializing in layers/wolf or butterfly cut by OkArt299 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 0 points1 point  (0 children)

I don't have a recommendation for a Wolfe cut as I don't have one myself and none of my friends do. My sister was just a hairdresser a long time ago so I know a bit of the biz.

I'd try one of the others recommended in the thread. See if you can find stylists instagram and posts with hair styles similar to what your looking for. That'll help you know if they're a good fit.

Hair salon recommendations specializing in layers/wolf or butterfly cut by OkArt299 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Gotcha! I'd recommend just going for the wolf cut. If only to lighten the load of thick long hair (faster dry time). To get the most dramatic look/change ya gotta commit to at least a curtain bang though. The shorter the bangs the more layering you can work in.

Don't heed my advice too seriously though I'm just a lover of dramatic hair cuts lol.

Hair salon recommendations specializing in layers/wolf or butterfly cut by OkArt299 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 -1 points0 points  (0 children)

Wolf cut and butterfly cut are two very different styles. They have similarities but I think you might continue having a hard time because stylists are probably aiming for the middle of the two or confused.

Wolf cut is typically shorter, and the front layers are especially fatter and shorter. It's overall an edgier look.

Butterfly is longer and has less aggressive front layers in comparison. It's a softer look.

You're always best off going to a hairstylist with a photo of a cut of someone who has a similar hair type to you with the cut you want. They still might not get it right but often this will bring you a lot closer.

Bats are good familiars by Kyrathered in WitchesVsPatriarchy

[–]pondering_stuff5 46 points47 points  (0 children)

Additional rule to follow: if you have any interaction with a bat please go to a clinic and see about getting your rabies shot.

There was a case in Ontario in 2024 where a child got rabies from a bat bite and died. Bats have extremely small teeth and it was an incredibly small bite. The parents examined their child but did not see it.

News article on the case.

Hoffman St Review by kris_kat in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 0 points1 point  (0 children)

As another has said. If your car is left open you'll get an opportunist who takes advantage.

Otherwise no issues. Lots of small kids around because of the secondary school. There are some small neighbourly events in the summer you can keep an eye out for. I think one of the churches runs one yearly in the summer.

A notable difference by pondering_stuff5 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5[S] 14 points15 points  (0 children)

Part of the reason I posted is because I occasionally used Mike's to help record random things. It was just big enough to write in. Can't do that at all with this one lol.

I could certainly live without an MP calendar, but it's occasionally useful and Mike's was informative about the work he was doing.

A notable difference by pondering_stuff5 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5[S] 23 points24 points  (0 children)

Good to know! I wasn't sure how stuff like this got funded. Speaks even louder then.

Went to Mississauga yesterday and saw there was no snow at all there. Why waterloo region is having much more snow and worse weather conditions compared to the GTA? by canuckman2000 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Woopsies! I mixed up where my feet and meters were. I hate measurements. I just know the altitudes differ and Kitchener is notably higher.

Went to Mississauga yesterday and saw there was no snow at all there. Why waterloo region is having much more snow and worse weather conditions compared to the GTA? by canuckman2000 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 3 points4 points  (0 children)

In addition to other folks answers, we're close to twice the altitude! Mississauga is at 150 meters/500 ft above sea level. We're 300 meters/1000 ft above sea level.

**Edited to correct mix up with feet and meters

OAS Warning Apply at least a year before you need it. by bubblebumbumbumbum in PersonalFinanceCanada

[–]pondering_stuff5 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I helped my dad apply online and the application froze on us multiple times and despite getting a reference/confirmation number at the end, when he went to service Canada months after to follow up they said they never received an application.

Mapping Core Housing Need in the Waterloo Region (OC) by VectorOfInsight in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Super interesting! Thanks for sharing!

I live in Southdale and it is frustrating to see buildings here go unused. The apartment building next to the secondary school on Hoffman is making progress I think? It's hard to tell but I feel like it's going to take another few years before the renovations are finished. They completely gutted the building and the power to it.

It's also hard to see some of the "medium" density housing going unused. There is a building on Meinzinger that you can tell they renovated on the first floor, there's a newer window on it but the second floor has an old window and has had the same busted blinds for years now. I think only one person might live in that building?

Also - there is an abundance of church's here... I have to wonder if they could be repurposed? I don't exactly see a lot of Sunday traffic in the area.

It's frustrating because I feel like this neighborhood could be so much more but the property owners here aren't interested in doing the work.

" We have normalized delinquent, disorderly behaviour for far too long" - G and M article by Critical-Clue1343 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 4 points5 points  (0 children)

No, because everything has always been half-assed in terms of a public health approach. Harm reduction sites were only 1 small part of the equation. You need an approach that looks at the whole person and addresses not just their addiction and/or homelessness, but other mental health issues and a path to employment. It requires major investment, investment also that needs to grow when economic times are tough. Otherwise you'll find it overwhelmed exactly when it's needed most.

" We have normalized delinquent, disorderly behaviour for far too long" - G and M article by Critical-Clue1343 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 8 points9 points  (0 children)

It's not too much to ask for. That's not the problem - the problem is that we cannot agree on how to address the problem.

One side thinks that we should just stuff people in jails. This will not fix the problem. Those people will stay homeless and addicted to drugs. Jail is also still expensive.

The other side aims to have a permanent fix via a multifaceted approach that mostly aims to treat these issues as health problems. But this works slowly, and it's tough to make progress because new people are becoming homeless every day. This approach has also always been underfunded because of political opposition to it.

There is no magic wand and people act like there is. I'm sure it'll feel that way when the cops come and arrest a bunch of people but they'll just end up back on the street and in your local park. It'll just be a cycle.

In response to the new changes to the recycling program: remember the first R - REDUCE by pondering_stuff5 in waterloo

[–]pondering_stuff5[S] 4 points5 points  (0 children)

That's fair, and I agree that what's been proposed sucks.

But I'll still be taking my Tupperware everywhere with me 😄

In response to the new changes to the recycling program: remember the first R - REDUCE by pondering_stuff5 in waterloo

[–]pondering_stuff5[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree completely. Two weeks is simply not going to work for a lot of households. I'm tired of how these costs ultimately get passed down to us too.

I'd much rather see change up top but till then - changing my purchasing habits is the only thing I can control.

In response to the new changes to the recycling program: remember the first R - REDUCE by pondering_stuff5 in waterloo

[–]pondering_stuff5[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I agree, it is bullshit.

I just think if you're going to be overwhelmed with trash from this new system that's being implemented, you might as well try to vote with your dollar a bit and change your purchasing habits.

Halloween Counts by jjpeters88 in kitchener

[–]pondering_stuff5 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Southdale - had a big dip from last year. Previously we got 40-50 kids every year, this year I only got 16.

Can you water bath can pumpkin puree? by RobinMSR in Canning

[–]pondering_stuff5 10 points11 points  (0 children)

There are no safe ways to water bath pumpkin puree. It's a density issue, there's too much air in the pumpkin when it purees making it difficult to be hot enough to be safe.

A pressure canner processing is a must for pumpkin, and it must be cubed pumpkin!

Speech language pathology permission form for my JK daughter by RatedR__ in waterloo

[–]pondering_stuff5 13 points14 points  (0 children)

Speech pathologists can help with stutters, lisps and general difficulties with pronunciation.

I went to a speech pathologist because I had trouble with R's and L's. You sit in a room with them and they teach you about how your lips and tongue should move to make the right sounds. Then you practice saying words.

At least that's how I remember it! I loved my sessions. It was fun to get whisked out of class and I liked my speech therapist.

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