Cambridge property owner blindsided by nearly $700 sidewalk snow-clearing bill A Cambridge landlord says she was shocked to receive a nearly $700 bill from the city for sidewalk snow clearing at one of her rental properties. Kayla Andrade owns a six-unit rental property on Elgin Street North in Cambridge. While the sidewalk there is clear now, she said there wasn’t much snow to begin with following a light snowfall on a Saturday in December. She said the city left a notice at the property that day, which she does not live at, and they returned once again, eventually clearing the snow themselves. “The city had come out to put a notice on this property’s door. They came back again on the 14th, the very next day,” Andrade said. “Then they did another fee of $86 for the reinspection on the 16th and then just started to do the work.” When all the costs were added up — including reinspection fees, snow-clearing charges, fines and administrative costs — the total came to $691.90. Andrade said she believes the city should notify landlords more directly when there is an issue at a rental property. She also questioned the timeline between the notice being posted and the city clearing the sidewalk, saying it all happened in a span of three days. Andrade said she also photographed several city-owned sidewalks that she believes were not cleared to the same standard, including a section in front of her own property. “In the City of Cambridge they have a bylaw where if there’s no little grassy area between the curb and the sidewalk, they’re supposed to be responsible,” she said, adding that portion wasn’t cleared when they originally dropped off the notice. Frustrated with the situation, Andrade even turned to humour — using artificial intelligence to create a character she calls “Ice Inspector Ken,” poking fun at the city’s own AI-based snow-clearing campaign. In an emailed statement to CTV News, Director of Municipal Bylaw Compliance Elisabeth Slusarcyk said the matter is under investigation and could not be commented on directly. However, the statement noted that residents who want to challenge a penalty can do so through proper channels. “Residents who wish to dispute a penalty notice should use the City’s Administrative Penalty System, which provides a fair and transparent review process and includes the opportunity to request disclosure related to their file,” wrote Slusarcyk. “This is the appropriate and only process to dispute a penalty.” Andrade said a screening officer has since reduced the fine to $175, but she still plans to continue fighting it. 24 drivers charged with driving the wrong way on Highway 403 on-ramp during traffic backup More than two dozen drivers are facing charges for making bad decisions while police responded to a collision on Highway 403 near Brantford. The eastbound lanes were closed along part of the highway near Garden Avenue on the morning of March 11 while the Ontario Provincial Police dealt with a crash. The closure caused a significant traffic backup on the highway. “Unfortunately, some drivers decided that waiting like everyone else simply wasn’t an option… and instead chose a creative solution — driving the wrong way down a one-way on-ramp to get around the traffic,” a social media post from the Brantford Police Service said. “Our officers were there to greet them,” it continued. In all, police charged 24 people with driving the wrong way on a one-way, while two drivers were charged for backing up on an on-ramp, and one person was charged for driving without a licence. “In fact, officers handed out so many tickets that they actually ran out of printer paper in the cruiser,” the post said. The fine for driving the wrong way on a one-way is $110 and three demerit points. OPP reminding visitors to prioritize safety ahead of Friday the 13th gathering in Port Dover Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) reminded visitors to prioritize safety ahead of a Friday the 13th gathering in Port Dover last week. The event, which traditionally attracts motorcycle riders and visitors to the lakeside community, was expected to bring increased pedestrian and vehicle traffic to the downtown core. This year is notable for having three Friday the 13ths, which are in February, March and November. Police said the off-season gathering typically draws smaller crowds than the larger summer events, but officers would still maintain a visible presence throughout the day to help manage traffic and support public safety. OPP also urged drivers to remain mindful of weather and road conditions. Seven-month-old puppy nearly ready to find forever family after losing partial mobility A seven-month-old puppy is hoping to find his forever home after losing partial mobility and enduring a lengthy medical journey. Valor, a mini-poodle golden-retriever mix, was surrendered to Hobo Haven Rescue in St. Jacobs, Ont., at just two months old. He was called in by a commercial breeder after losing mobility in his hind legs. “He had his vaccination at five weeks and within hours he lost all use of his back legs,” Hobo Haven Rescue founder and president Chris Schaefer previously told CTV News. At the time of his intake, Schaefer said she wasn’t sure what caused Valor’s condition. However, through Valor’s veterinary visits, she learned he has Myasthenia Gravis (MG) — an autoimmune or genetic disease that can cause severe muscle weakness due to disrupted nerve-muscle communication. “It affects the muscles primarily,” Schaefer said in an interview with CTV News on March 11. “So his ability to swallow, his ability to walk like a normal dog, develop muscle strength, that type of thing.” According to Schaefer, MG cannot be cured, but it can be treated and managed to ensure dogs who have it live long, fulfilling lives. “He’s just doing really, really well,” said Donna Cote, Valor’s foster mom Since Valor came into the rescue’s care, Schaefer said Hobo Haven has invested more than $20,000 into his medical journey so far — from vet visits to emergency hospital procedures, physiotherapy and more. Schaefer said she expects the seven-month-old dog to be available for adoption soon, with the hope that the right family will understand his condition and help him live out the rest of his days. Those interested in adopting Valor can review his profile once it’s posted on Hobo Haven Rescue’s website. One person dead, another in hospital, following Cambridge crash Waterloo Regional Police are investigating a fatal crash in Cambridge that occurred on March 13. Maple Grove Road was closed between Boxwood Drive and Speedsville Road for several hours. Police said a white Hino truck and silver Subaru hatchback collided near the intersection at 11:40 a.m. The Subaru’s passenger, a 77-year-old woman from Guelph, was pronounced dead at the scene. The 81-year-old Guelph man driving the Subaru was taken to hospital. The extent of his injuries is not known. Police said the 50-year-old Kitchener man driving the Hino truck was not hurt. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to to contact investigators at 519-570-9777, ext. 8856.
