The Elora Quarry was closed June 25 after the death of a swimmer.
First responders were called to the popular swimming spot around 6:30 p.m. June 24 for a man in distress.
Ontario Provincial Police said the 24-year-old was pulled from the water and transported to a local hospital, where he was later pronounced deceased.
The Grand River Conservation Authority (GRCA) would not comment on the death, but urged all visitors to prioritize safety.
“Specifically at Elora Quarry Conservation Area, jumping, diving or climbing is not permitted from the cliffs for safety reasons,” they said in an email to CTV News. “Visitors must stay behind the barriers, or risk eviction from the conservation area. All Grand River Conservation Area beaches are not patrolled. The GRCA advises caregivers to always keep a close watch on children or people under their care.”
OPP was not able to confirm if the man who died was wearing a lifejacket or not.
Closed sign at the Elora Quarry on June 25, 2025. (Sidra Jafri/CTV News)
The Stratford Police Service said eight vehicles were pulled off the road during their latest safety initiative.
Police teamed up with Transportation Enforcement Officers from the Ministry of Transportation for the latest blitz on June 25.
Seven charges were laid, including four charges against owner/operators with expired registrations. One charge was issued for driving with bald tires. Inspectors said an exposed wire could be seen coming out of at least one of the tires.
An exposed wire could be seen poking out of a tire during a safety blitz. (Courtesy: Stratford Police Service)
Nurses at a Kitchener hospital will soon have to park offsite and hop on a shuttle bus to get to work.
According to hospital management at WREN @ Queen’s Blvd., formerly known as St. Mary’s General Hospital, the change will come into effect on July 9. The decision was made to improve parking options for patients and guests.
Hospital representatives said the Queen’s Blvd. site does not have the space needed for everyone to park onsite.
The Ontario Nurses Association (ONA) said it’s a move that hurts nurses and their ability to do their job.
The hospital is providing a complementary shuttle service, but the nurses are concerned the shuttle’s capacity won’t be able to keep up with demands at peak hours, forcing nurses to wait. They said this new approach may also lead to a decline in patient care.
The hospital said the shuttle system is “a work in progress” and they will assess and make adjustments as they move forward.
WRHN @ Queen's Boulevard in Kitchener, Ont. was photographed on April 8, 2025. (Dan Lauckner/CTV News)
Berry season is in full swing, but one farm in Paris, Ont., is going beyond the typical bushel, only selling one type of berry.
Haskap berries are Blue Gables Acres’ specialty. Otherwise known as honeyberries or honeysuckle berries, they look like an oddly shaped blueberry.
“I think it tastes a lot like you smashed a raspberry, blueberry and a blackberry together, and no seeds,” said co-owner Kimmy Osmond.
“Blueberries on steroids,” added Osmond’s husband and other co-owner, Delano.
The couple doesn’t come from an agricultural background, but they were looking for ways to cultivate their family-owned five acres.
Their search led them to plant haskap bushes in 2017, turning their property into a profitable and growing business.
Picker Jude Bouwer sifts through a haskap berry bush for the best of the bunch at Blue Gables Acres near Paris, Ont. on June 24, 2025. (Alexandra Holyk/CTV News)
A basketball player from Kitchener, Ont. is headed to the big league.
Will Riley, 19, was selected 21st overall in the first round by the NBA’s Utah Jazz on June 25 but he won’t play for the team, as he was traded shortly after to the Washington Wizards.
Riley attended both Grand River Collegiate Institute in Kitchener and Preston High School in Cambridge. He also played with the K-W Vipers basketball club.
Riley is only the 22nd Canadian since 2011 to be drafted by the NBA in the first round.
Riley is also the second basketball player from Kitchener to play for the league.
Riley’s parents, Tracy and Ray, are still coming to terms with Wednesday’s announcement.
“It’s an incredible experience, we’re still trying to process it,” Tracy said the day after the draft.
Both Tracy and Ray praised the people in Waterloo Region who helped Riley develop his basketball skills.
“It’s so nice Will had coaches that believed in him,” Tracy said. “He’s driven, and he plays basketball every single day. He’s getting 1,500 to 2,000 shots a day. The kid’s relentless when it comes to this sport.”
Will Riley after getting drafted by the Washington Wizards. (Source: @WashWizards/X)