Sleeman calls Sapporo’s plan to move Canadian operations to the U.S. ‘not imminent or finalized’ Production at Guelph, Ont.-based Sleeman Breweries could be impacted by the ongoing tariff war between Canada and the United States. With 50 per cent tariffs targeting Canadian beer exports to the U.S., Japan’s Sapporo Breweries Ltd. has announced it will be shifting some production from Canada to the U.S. In Canada, Sapporo beer is made in Guelph at the Sleeman facility, which Sapporo acquired in 2006. According to several media reports, Sapporo plans to move production of non-alcoholic beer destined for the American market to a U.S. facility in the first half of 2027 to avoid tariffs. In an emailed statement to CTV News, a Sleeman spokesperson said nothing has been confirmed at this time. “The relocation of Sapporo 0.0% production for the U.S. market from Sleeman Breweries’ Canadian facilities to Sapporo USA’s U.S. facilities is not imminent or finalized,” the spokesperson said. “Sapporo 0.0% that is produced in Canada for sale in the US represents only 0.5 per cent of Sleeman Breweries’ total production in Canada.” The spokesperson added that the company’s beer sold in Canada is all brewed in Canada, with the exception of their 650 mL cans of Sapporo Premium, which are imported from Vietnam. With files from Daniel Otis Kitchener couple call insurance process unfair after tree falls on garage Doug and Alicja Arnold say Wednesday’s storm didn’t just damage their home, it also sparked a battle with their insurance company. A tree on the Kitchener couple’s property split in half and fell onto the roof of their home. “Nobody ever expects that you’re going to be the next victim,” said Doug. “Unfortunately, this time we were. I don’t know why the rest of the neighbourhood doesn’t have what we have.” They immediately reached out to their insurance company. The response wasn’t what Arnold’s were expecting. “I’m learning a lot and also very disappointed,” Doug admitted. Their insurer told them they would only cover some of the cost to remove the tree and repair the roof. The Arnolds said they checked their policy but couldn’t find that part. “Generally, I’m very, very upset,” said Alicja. “I’m thinking, if I’m paying regular insurance for 25 years, how long I am living in this house, they’re supposed to be covering everything.” Tree complications The complicating factor is the tree itself. Their insurer is willing to pay for the half that fell onto the roof. But the Arnolds said they were told the tree was dangerous and both parts needed to be removed, which their policy doesn’t cover. That means the couple will have to pay out of pocket. “If half the tree is standing and half the tree is on the house, what good is the half tree standing?” Doug asked. “They’re parcel and package, still belong together. And one should be compensated for the other one.” Policy details According to the Insurance Bureau of Canada (IBC), most policies only cover damage to the home “A lot depends on the details,” explained Amanda Dean, the association’s vice-president for Ontario and Atlantic. While she didn’t know the details of the Arnolds situation, she shared her own insight into the decision-making process by insurers. “The first detail to take a look at, what type of home insurance policy are we talking about? Because some individuals within our communities have what we refer to as a ‘no-frills insurance policy.’ Those are typically in cases where upgrades are needed, but it’s a form of coverage that people can get,” she said. “Now, if we’re looking at typical home insurance policies, so the home is up-to-date, everything is to today’s standards to building codes, whether it’s the roof, heating system, you name it. In those situations, is it part of the tree that broke off to damage the roof? Certainly, that part of the tree that damaged the roof would be removed.” There are also other factors to consider. “When it comes to trees and shrubs, there’s also limits within policies,” Dean explained. “Primarily, home insurance policies cover the structure, the building, and buildings are what is insured. And certainly, the contents.” The Arnolds said the tree only appears to have punctured the roof over the garage and not the main part of the home. Two days after the storm, the tree was still where it fell. But they worry that the damage will only get worse as time goes on. “It’s a daunting process” The couple said their insurance company advised them to pay for its removal and any needed repairs now, then invoice them after. Doug, however, wants his insurance company to arrange the work. Dean said, for large-scale and severe weather events, insurance companies will sometimes work with contractors retained by the homeowners. But, given the specificity of the situation, she encouraged the Arnolds and anyone else in a similar situation to contact IBC’s Consumer Information Centre. She said they will help them through the process. “The challenge is, in an event like this, adjusters are looking at so many claimants and trying to get to each one quickly to at least get that process started. At the end of the day, an insurance policy is a legal contract between the policyholder and the insurer. The insurer can’t go outside of that policy,” Dean explained. “It’s a daunting process. And adjusters have an awful lot of individuals that they’re looking after at this point in time. You may not remember all of those questions when you get your adjuster on the phone or in person.” The Arnolds called it a stressful situation that, they feel, is unfair. “I think the insurance [company] is completely wrong,” Alicja said. “They’re taking money regularly from us for that many years. And when something happens, they do not want to cover.” Dean shared one last piece of advice. “Look in the details of your policy,” she said. “But also ask questions of your adjuster as to why that might be.” Charges laid in vehicle theft from Elmira gas station A Woolwich Township man has been charged as part of an investigation into a vehicle theft from a gas station in Elmira. A witness told the Waterloo Regional Police Service they saw a man steal an unoccupied vehicle from the gas station on Sept. 5 around 9:20 p.m. On Tuesday, police arrested a man around 5 p.m. after he was seen behind the wheel of the stolen vehicle. The 33-year-old was charged with motor vehicle theft, theft under $5,000, possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, four counts of operation of a conveyance while prohibited and two counts of driving while under suspension. Repeated flooding leaves Waterloo, Ont. couple facing repairs, uncertain home sale A Waterloo, Ont., couple preparing to move into a new home in two weeks is facing uncertainty after their current house was flooded during last week’s severe storm, leaving them with months-long repairs. Homeowner Dan Lauzon said water rushed down Twin Oaks Crescent during the Sept. 2 storm and overwhelmed the driveway. “The water coming down the road got so high, it just overflowed the end of the driveway,” Lauzon recalled. “Within a minute, we had five feet of water in the house.” Lauzon said he and his wife were outside at the time, trying to clear the nearby storm drains. “We were raking the leaves to make sure the drains stayed open,” he explained. Last week’s flood was the latest to hit the property. The couple had already experienced significant flooding in 2008 and again this past March. Lauzon said the repeated incidents have left them watching the weather closely and worrying whenever heavy rain is in the forecast. “Every time it rains, my wife and I are at the window concerned,” he said. “If it’s 3:00 in the morning, we are up. We can’t sleep through that.” The latest flooding comes as the couple prepares to move into another home on Sept. 21. Couple questions city’s response Lauzon is calling on the City of Waterloo to do more to address drainage and flooding concerns. “The storms are worse, though,” he said. “It’s just going to happen again unless they do something.” Lauzon said he and his wife met with city officials in April to discuss the flooding and concerns about leaves blocking storm drains. He said they presented the city with information about what had happened and expected action to prevent another flood, but that wasn’t the case. “Absolutely nothing. Not one phone call, not one email, no one coming over to look at this situation as to how they can stop this from happening again,” he said. City officials said steps were taken following that meeting. Waterloo Mayor Dorothy McCabe said the couple raised concerns about the city’s leaf pickup program and the possibility that leaves left on the road could block drains, redirecting water toward the property. “Their concern was that sometimes leaves are left when the snow falls early ... that leaves are left sometimes and covered the drain,” she said. McCabe added the city made clearing storm drains and catch basins in the area a priority. “We can confirm that the drains were clear in advance of that heavy, heavy storm that we just had,” she said. McCabe said the property itself is also a factor. She described the home’s driveway as negatively sloped, meaning it directs water toward the property rather than away from it. “One of the main contributing factors here is this negatively sloped driveway ... certainly not a design that the city would approve these days,” she said. McCabe also said the intensity of recent storms is creating new challenges for infrastructure. At one point, about 93 millimetres of rain had been collected, she said. “[On Sept. 2,] we had what’s called a one-in-100-year storm,” she said. “No infrastructure can take that amount of rain in that short period of time and properly absorb it.” McCabe said the city’s stormwater network in the area meets provincial technical standards. “While certainly we sympathize with anyone who’s experienced anything like this, the city’s stormwater network at that location and certainly at other locations across the city, meets the technical standards required,” she explained. “At this point in time, I’m not aware that any engineering work or anything like that is required in that area. Certainly, in that area, that water and wastewater network is something that we keep a really close eye on.” Flooding creates insurance concerns Richard Zehr, president of Zehr Insurance Brokers in New Hamburg, said repeated water-damage claims can affect a homeowner’s ability to obtain coverage. “If you have repeated water damage claims, it significantly impacts your ability to purchase that type of insurance protection,” Zehr told CTV News. He said insurers can respond to repeated losses by reducing coverage, adding exclusions or, in some circumstances, declining to provide coverage. The couple also faces additional insurance considerations because the home will be vacant while repairs are underway. Zehr said vacant-home insurance can be more difficult and costly to obtain because water damage can go unnoticed for longer periods. “Those risks go up exponentially when you’re not home and monitoring a property. So, it’s going to be more expensive,” he said. Sale falls through as repairs begin The flooding has also complicated the couple’s plans to sell. The home had been set to be sold, but the potential buyer backed out following the latest flooding because the property could no longer be delivered in the same condition. Lauzon said he now expects the repairs to take several months. “It’s pure devastation,” he said. The financial impact is significant, with the couple facing mortgage and household costs while the property is repaired. “I have to take out an $800,000 mortgage at cost ... with heat, hydro, electricity, water, I’m figuring it’s going to be about a $5,000 cost per month.” The latest flood also damaged the family’s vehicle, with water reaching the engine and entering the seats. The couple had hoped to move on from the property, but the latest flooding has left them questioning what the home will be worth and whether another buyer will be willing to take on its history. New home, lingering concerns Despite the damage, the couple is moving forward with plans to leave the property. They expect to move into their new home Sept. 21. But the couple moving does not end the worry. Lauzon said they will continue to watch severe weather and wonder whether the old home — and other properties in the area — could flood again. “My wife is devastated and she’s broken down in tears many times, and so am I right now because it’s just so frustrating,” he added. Two tornadoes, downburst confirmed after storms hit Tavistock, Ont. Two tornadoes and a downburst were confirmed in the Tavistock, Ont. area following a line of intense thunderstorms that moved through southwestern Ontario last week, according to the University of Western Ontario’s Northern Tornadoes Project. The Northern Tornadoes Project team said a ground and drone survey, along with an analysis of the results, confirmed the three weather events that occurred on Sept. 2. The first tornado began west of Tavistock and tracked into the community, causing minor damage to trees and house shingles. It was rated EF0 on the Enhanced Fujita scale, with estimated maximum winds of 125 km/h. The tornado began at about 5:23 p.m. and travelled 6.24 kilometres, with a maximum path width of 410 metres. The Northern Tornadoes Project said a clear path through crops was visible along its route. A second tornado developed near Shakespeare, north of Tavistock, about two minutes later and tracked southeast. It was rated EF1, with estimated maximum winds of 155 km/h. The tornado travelled 8.29 kilometres and had a maximum path width of 420 metres. “It’s far more complicated than usual. We’ve got two tornadoes that are basically coming in from the west and then converging at an area where there’s a burst down, so that’s pretty unusual to have that,” said David Sills, the director of Northern Tornadoes Project. Both tornadoes converged toward a downburst that developed east of Tavistock and travelled more than 17 kilometres toward the east-southeast. The downburst was rated EF0, with estimated maximum winds of 125 km/h. Damage to trees, farm outbuildings and the roof of a home was reported. No injuries were reported in any of the three events. The Northern Tornadoes Project completed its ground surveys on Sept. 4. Tornado cleanup continues The Northern Tornadoes Project said several farm buildings were damaged, including a barn, along with trees and crops. The damage was concentrated along a path beginning southeast of Shakespeare. In the Tavistock area, Wade Nicklas and Angie Brenner said their family farm was decimated with a chicken barn destroyed and trees ripped in half. The pair told CTV News that their 18-year old daughter was at home at the time of the Wednesday storm. “When we pulled in, all I wanted to do was make sure that our daughter was okay,” Nicklas recalled. “Once I saw Ainsley at the door, I was feeling a lot better. And then after that, there was a lot of shock to see all the yard and everything in pieces.” The storm’s path was clearly visible with multiple buildings on the property impacted and crops flattened. While no one was injured and the chicken barn was mostly empty, the family said the storm left an emotional toll. “We definitely lost pretty well 100 per cent of the chicken barn and a bunker roof. Then half of our show and drive shed is flattened, and our house roof had a big tree in the middle of it,” Nicklas explained. The family is now asking for people to respect their privacy while they pick up the pieces. “If you want to stop by or have any questions, it’s best to breach out to me or Angie because the kids aren’t used to so many strange vehicles in the yard,” Nicklas said.
