Most read stories of the week: ceiling collapse, international enrolment falls and an artifact donated

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Ontario woman says ceiling of her AirBNB collapsed on family

Rearrest of high-risk sex offender

International student enrolment down 62 per cent at Conestoga College

Artifact from the War of 1812 found in Ontario

An Ottawa woman’s stay in Kitchener took an unexpected turn, Conestoga College is feeling the impact of an international student visa cap and an artifact from the War of 1812 finds a new home in Stratford – here are some of the top read stories from CTV News Kitchener this week.

Ontario woman shares warning after a near-miss ceiling collapse at her short-term rental

A woman from Ottawa says she was staying at an AirBNB in Kitchener when a section of the ceiling collapsed near her family.

Victoria Nguyen told CTV News she was in the city to introduce her young son to his great-grandparents.

Nguyen said she was aware there had been water damage to the ceiling a week before her arrival. A text message from the host, which she shared with CTV News, described it as “a small patch (3x4 feet) in the kitchen ceiling that bulged out a little.” She was also assured there was “no safety hazard and the ceiling is intact.”

Then, three days into her stay at the rental, the unthinkable:

“It happened right in front of my eyes because I was feeding my baby,” Nguyen explained. “Suddenly, without any notice at all, [the ceiling] collapsed. It was loud, surprisingly. It was heavy. The drywall went down and it nearly missed my father.”

Nguyen tried to contact the host to let him know about the ceiling collapse. After multiple failed attempts, she reached out directly to AirBNB who offered her a 30 per cent refund.

CTV News also reached out to the host who denied contacting Nguyen about the damaged ceiling before her stay. He claimed she embellished the story in hopes of getting a full refund.

CTV News also reached out to AirBNB. A spokesperson from the company said the listing for the Kitchener rental has been suspended until the host confirms the ceiling problem has been addressed. AirBNB also said Nguyen would be issued a full refund.

High-risk sex offender refuses to appear at bail hearing in Guelph

A man known as a high-risk sex offender remains behind bars after he refused to appear in a Guelph court on Monday morning.

Medhani Yohans was arrested Friday, less than 24 hours after he was released from custody on separate charges.

“[A] person that he had a pervious interaction with, about a year prior, called and indicated that he was downtown and was close to that person’s workplace and [was] concerned for her safety,” Scott Tracey, a Guelph Police spokesperson, said Monday. “Officers did investigate and were able to confirm his presence there.”

The 36-year-old was charged with four counts of breach of probation, disobeying a court order and criminal harassment.

Yohans has a history of violence, including at least two sexual assaults involving strangers.

On July 29, 2024, he was released from police custody in Toronto. Yohans was arrested again, this time by Guelph Police, for breaching his conditions on Aug. 23, 2024.

He was released on March 1, 2025.

At that time, Guelph Police warned the public he was a high-risk to reoffend.

On March 8, 2025, Yohans was rearrested by Guelph Police for breaching conditions. He was released on bail the following day.

Guelph Police said Yohans was found sleeping on a bench at the University of Guelph on March 10, 2025. He was, once again, arrested for breaching a court order.

Yohans was released after completing his sentence on July 24 and, as before, Guelph Police issued a public warning.

When he was arrested the next day, a court date was set for July 28.

The morning of his bail hearing, Yohans refused to go to court.

Ari Goldkind, a criminal defence lawyer not associated with the case, said there are processes in place to deal with these situations.

“If somebody does keep doing that throughout, for example, a preliminary inquiry or trial process, there’s various mechanisms in the Criminal Code to, one, force them to come, or two, if forcing them to come isn’t going to be done, to do the trial in their absence if you can show that there’s a good reason to proceed, and they themselves are the ones causing the problem,” he explained.

Yohans has another bail hearing scheduled Tuesday.

International enrolment falls by more than 60 per cent at Conestoga College

New numbers from Conestoga College reveal just how hard the federal cap on student visas is hitting.

In a report sent to students and staff Monday, the college said it had 8,584 international students for the 2025 spring semester – a 62 per cent drop from 22,633 students at the same time last year.

The semester is currently underway, wrapping up in August. Those who work on campus said they’ve seen a change.

“We can see the difference in the number of students that we’re seeing on site, so I’m not surprised,” said Vikki Poirier.

Poirier is the president of Local 238 – the union representing full-time and part-time support staff at the college. Earlier this year, membership was slashed by around 180 jobs.

“Some of that work isn’t gone,” Poirier noted. “It’s there now, and it’s unfortunately being absorbed by our members.”

As international enrolment fell, the number of domestic students rose in the spring – up 28 per cent to 3,498 this year compared to spring 2024.

In its release, the college credited programs that started in the spring and summer for the boost in local numbers.

In a statement to CTV News, Conestoga College President John Tibbits acknowledged international enrolment “has significantly declined.”

“Fall confirmations are up by almost 15 per cent,” Tibbits said, in part. “We will continue adjusting operations to enrolment and remain optimistic for the future.”

However, Poirier said the future looks bleak.

“It’ll be interesting to see how the areas and the campuses look in September,” Poirier said. “I don’t think our students are going to get the services or the quality and the quantity of services that were available before July.”

Multiple tow truck companies ‘no longer welcome’ on Hamilton streets

Almost 40 charges were laid, 10 tow licenses were suspended or revoked and a number of drivers have been charged as part of a crackdown on ‘unsafe tow operators’ in Hamilton.

The Hamilton Police Service announced the results of their latest initiative, Project Barrier, on Tuesday.

“After a concerning rise in fraud, intimidation and aggressive tactics at collision scenes, the Hamilton Police Service created Project Barrier,” Const. Adam Kimber explained.

In total, 29 charges were laid, 10 tow licences were suspended or revoked, nine operators were charged and four companies were banned from operating.

Police said the companies that were charged included: Provincial Roadside Services, High Class Recovery, Onsite Towing, Royal Roadside and Recovery Reliable Towing.

“These businesses were found to be causing significant harm in our community. Many are now suspended, or in the process of having their licence revoked permanently in partnership with the Ministry of Transportation,” Kimber said.

He also added police are trying to make sure those businesses don’t pop up again under a new name.

“These businesses are no longer welcome on Hamilton roads.”

Man in his 90’s donates War of 1812 artifact to Stratford museum

An ammunition holder believed to be from the 1700s has a new home at the Stratford Perth Museum after a man says he found it more than eight decades ago.

Gordon Willder was only 15-years-old in 1945 when he and his grandfather began renovating their home on Cobourg street in Stratford.

“That was a long time ago, and I’ve kept it ever since,” said Willder, referring to what the pair found that day.

When an interior wall came down, it unearthed a treasure.

“Out popped this ammunition pouch and it was buried in sawdust, which was installed in those days,” said Willder, who is now 95-years-old.

Willder believes after all these years, it’s time to pass it on.

“I didn’t want money for it. I just wanted to give it to verify the history of it and that’s hopefully what’s happening here in this museum,” Willder said.

He is now donating the artifact to the Stratford Perth Museum.

“This wonderful item that came to the museum on Monday is a cartridge holder or an ammo pouch that contained shot and balls,” explained. Kelly McIntosh, general manager at the museum.

“Our collections manager has dated it back to not only the War of 1812 but earlier to the 1700s.”

The belt is believed to have been used in the War of 1812 and with the local militia before it somehow ended up in a wall.

“What we can determine is that whoever had this at the house, at that time in 1945 - which was 146 Cobourg Street, that they probably brought it here,” said McIntosh.

Museum staff said they are grateful for the donation.

“It’s probably one of the artifacts in the best shape that we have dating back that early. And it’s great because we already have an exhibit about this history, and we’ll be able to tell it’s story,” said McIntosh.

After being a treasured family heirloom for so long, it will be another few weeks before the public can view it on display at the Stratford Perth Museum.