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PAGE Thursday, March 19, 2026 W-O SPRING BAZAAR PAGEThe Wilmot-Tavistock GazetteBRAVES SWEEP APPLEJACKS
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THURSDAY, MARCH 19, 2026
School boards, police launch new partnership to combat human trafficking in Waterloo Region GALEN SIMMONS
Regional Editor
March weather swings from spring warmth to winter blast
They add important decisions about education could be made without appropriate public discussion, debate and awareness. Thames Valley District School Board (TVDSB) trustee Dave Cripps said the number one takeaway was the number of
A new partnership between Waterloo Region’s two school boards, local police and a national advocacy organization intends to tackle what officials say is one of the fastest-growing – and often hidden – crimes affecting local youth. The Waterloo Region District School Board (WRDSB) and Waterloo Catholic District School Board (WCDSB) have joined forces with Waterloo Regional Police Service (WRPS) and #NotInMyCity to raise awareness of human trafficking and equip students, staff and families with the tools to recognize and respond to it. The initiative comes as Waterloo Region continues to report some of the highest rates of human-trafficking victimization in Ontario. In 2024, the local rate was approximately 3.4 victims per 100,000 people – about 70 per cent higher than the provincial average and 178 per cent higher than the national rate. For police, the decision to partner with schools is rooted in the demographics of those most at risk. “Between the two school boards, there are thousands of young people who are at the
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(NANCY COGHLIN PHOTOS)
One day it looked like spring. The next, winter had returned. A dramatic shift in weather last week across southern Ontario saw temperatures reach about 18 degrees Celsius under clear skies before plunging within hours as heavy snow and strong winds swept through the region, creating near zero visibility for drivers. These photos captured by Perth County farmers Nancy and Allan Coghlin north of Milverton show the striking contrast. One image features a fiery orange sunset under warm March skies, while the next morning reveals the same landscape blanketed in fresh snow – a reminder of just how quickly conditions can change in southern Ontario this time of year.
School boards and stakeholders call for provincewide governance consultation
TVDSB trustee will not run for re-election LEE GRIFFI
Gazette Reporter
A dozen Ontario education groups recently held a press conference to express their concerns about comments from the province’s education minister on the
future of elected school board trustees. Education Minister Paul Calandra has hinted the current system could be wiped out. The 12 organizations said the move would eliminate one of the most important ways families and communities have a say in how their schools are governed.
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