From questions about speed cameras to an attempted armed robbery in Cambridge, here are some of the top stories of the week: Why are some speed cameras staying up following provincial ban? While speed cameras were banned in Ontario starting Nov. 14, some areas are not removing the devices just yet. Instead, they’re being used to collect data. A statement CTV News Kitchener received from the Region of Waterloo explained the vendor who leases the cameras to the region requires 90 days notice to end the contract. That notice has now been given, but in the meantime, the cameras will continue to gather speed and traffic information. The information from the cameras will not lead to any new tickets, but it is data University of Waterloo planning professor Carrie Mitchell hopes to study. “By looking at that we will be able to understand what worked, what didn’t and where,” she said. Mitchell hopes to get at least a month’s worth of traffic data from areas that continue to collect it so she can compare it to the statistics from when the cameras were operational, and when available, from before the programs were put in place. “I really just want to consolidate what’s already been made available and to look at what happens after the cameras are turned off for ticketing,” Mitchell said. Wellington County’s speed cameras also remain in place for now. County Engineer Don Kudo said images aren’t being gathered, just data on vehicle volumes and speed. “Most municipalities do all kinds of traffic counting and speed monitoring on their road network all over the place. So, it will just be very similar to that,” said Kudo. The cost to keep the cameras up in Wellington County is $275 per month, each. Wellington County has 14 cameras. The county’s roads committee would like to see data collected until Labour Day next year. Guelph’s 12 mobile speed cameras were turned off Nov. 14 and removed by Nov. 18, a statement from Paul Hutchison, the city’s supervisor of traffic engineering, read. Brantford intended to install five speed cameras in November, but that is no longer happening in light of the provincial ban. Brant County said its two speed cameras are no longer active, and the county is tracking traffic and speeding data using other methods. Five suspects arrested after armed robbery at Cambridge Centre mall Five suspects were arrested Monday night for an attempted jewelry store robbery at Cambridge Centre. The Waterloo Regional Police Service said mall security reported a stolen vehicle linked to an earlier robbery was spotted around 5:20 p.m. Officers confronted five suspects who were carrying duffle bags and allegedly armed with handguns and sledgehammers as they were robbing an unnamed jewelry store. “Officers were quick to react,” said Const. Chris Iden. “As a result, we were able to arrest them all for robbery-related charges, as well as weapons-related charges. We did seize two loaded firearms as a result of this investigation as well.” Police believe the group was also connected to four other robberies and gun-related incidents in the Waterloo Region and other jurisdictions on Monday. They told CTV News the suspects first robbed a large Canadian retailer near Pinebush Road and Hespeler Road but, after struggling with a loss prevention officer, they fled the area with an unspecified amount of merchandise. Police said the suspects then drove to Conestoga Mall in Waterloo. This time, it was mall security who intervened. After the first two incidents, the group headed to the Cambridge Centre. Ultimately, five suspects were taken into police custody. “At the time of locating the individuals with the firearms, they were loaded with ammunition and could have been used,” Const. Iden said. A 22-year-old man, a 19-year-old man, a 17-year-old boy and two 15-year-old boys were arrested and charged with robbery with a firearm. Police said all five were from Toronto. “We are looking to see if there’s any other involvement with other matters as well,” Const. Iden said. More allegations of unpaid wages from former Dutchie’s employees More former employees of Dutchie’s Fresh Market in Waterloo are coming forward with claims they haven’t been paid. When the final Dutchie’s location closed on Saturday Nov. 1st a CTV Kitchener reporter went to the store to take footage of the location. While there, a person who identified themselves as a Dutchie’s employee approached the CTV reporter and said he was not being paid and needed help. An 18-year-old man, Walliullah, who is originally from Afghanistan, said his family fled to Pakistan in 2021 after the Taliban came back into power. While they were there, his family sponsored him to come to Canada, where he had hoped to go to school and find work to support himself and his family. He started working at Dutchie’s Fresh Market in March 2025. He said after two weeks of working long hours, he confronted the company’s business director Michael Renkema about his pay. “Then he made me one cheque - he didn’t make my full hours and I asked him, ‘I worked more than this.’ He say, ‘No, I’m not paying for you guys because there’s no customer, it’s not busy,’” Walliullah recounted. In total Walliullah claims he is owed over $9,000 in wages. Recent high school graduate Fortuna, 18, worked at Dutchie’s Fresh Market in Waterloo from August to September. She said her family immigrated to Canada from Eritrea in 2021. She said she is owed approximately $700 for three weeks of unpaid work. Unlike the young recent immigrants, another man, Roy has lived in Canada for several decades after immigrating from Guyana. Roy owned a small Caribbean grocery store in Kitchener, but recently shut it down. He said he was looking for some part-time work to help fund his retirement. According to Roy, he thought he was picking up a part-time job at Dutchie’s, but said after working a few shifts, he was put in charge of the store. He said after the first two weeks, payment was always irregular, inconsistent, insufficient or simply never made. Roy said he tried to use sympathy to get Renkema to pay his wages. “One time my cousin passed away. I had to tell him my brother passed away just to get someone to give me a cheque. He looked at his brother, him and his brother, and they smile and they give me a cheque for $1,441.” But Roy said it was short-lived victory. “Three days after, the cheque bounce, every cheque he give me bounce, every one.” All three employees who spoke with CTV News said they received a cheque, only to later find out the deposit had a “stopped” notice, indicating the cheque had been revoked by the person who issued it. All three former employees said they issued a complaint with the Ministry of Labour and are hopeful they can get their owed wages. Michael Renkema did not wish to comment on the record about these allegations. In a social post addressing the closure of Dutchie’s Fresh Market’s Waterloo location the company said, in part, “…this closure will allow Mike to focus on his health and other commitments, including those to former employees, suppliers, and others. Mike will honor all promises made to employees and suppliers.” Council rejects call to cover $14K bills handed out to Breslau residents Dozens of property owners in a Breslau neighbourhood who were hit with an unexpected $13,950 bill for sewer and water work completed nearly a decade ago will still have to pay the fee after Woolwich council voted Tuesday not to cover the cost. Residents filled the council chambers to express their frustration after receiving notices last week that they owed the township money for a $348,754.75 project in the Woolwich Street South community. “I know these have caused a lot of worry and frustration,” said Mayor of Woolwich Sandy Shantz. “Nobody likes to get unexpected financial news.” In 2014, 77 per cent of property owners voted in favour of extending sanitary and water services to their homes. The work was completed in 2016, but a legal dispute delayed the project’s final accounting until 2024—nine years after the last formal communication with residents. “No excuse. Should have been communicating through that process,” said Jared Puppe, director of infrastructure services during Tuesday’s meeting. “And that was a failure on the township for sure.” Many said they felt blindsided—including new homeowners who said they were unaware of the levy, and long-time residents who said the lack of updates left them uninformed the payment was still coming. Ward 1 Coun. Evan Burgess and Ward 3. Coun. Bonnie Bryant proposed a motion to have the township absorb the full $348,754.75 project cost. That part of the motion was denied by the rest of council. “We can’t waive 100 per cent of it because...this township doesn’t have a spare $300,000 to spend,” said Ward 2 Coun. Eric Schwindt. “It doesn’t just go away,” added Ward 1. Coun. Nathan Cadeau. “I mean, somebody has to pay for it. So it’s everybody else that has to chip in for that.” Council did approve drafting a special service levy policy requiring annual communication with residents as well as several other concessions. Residents now have until May 1, 2026, to decide between paying the full amount up front or choosing a 20-year repayment plan. The previous 6.7 per cent interest rate will be waived for residents who choose the 20-year repayment method. The first installment does not have to be paid until Sept. 1, 2026. New chocolate factory opens in Brantford, Ont. Brantford has attracted another ‘sweet’ employer to the Telephone City. On Thursday, Barry Callebaut, a Swiss chocolate company known for their Van Houten line, officially opened their third manufacturing facility in Canada. The new Brantford location has been in the works since 2022, when a ground-breaking ceremony was held in the city’s Northwest Industrial Park. When the company first announced plans to open the factory, they said it would bring 200 new jobs to the area. They also planned to invest $104 million USD over the course of 10 years. They said the Brantford factory was designed to produce sugar-free chocolate, high protein offerings and other specialty products. It was originally scheduled to open in 2024. Barry Callebaut has two other Canadian locations: one in Chatham, Ont. and the other in St. Hyacinthe, Que. “We’re proud to open our doors here in Brantford and become part of this community,” Zeljko Andrasic, the plant manager for the Brantford location, said. “This facility is more than just a factory; it’s a place where local talent, innovation, and collaboration come together to create the exceptional chocolate our customers love. Beyond building a facility, we’re building a culture, one that values safety, quality, and, above all, the people who make it all possible. We’re excited to grow with Brantford, support local jobs and contribute to the region’s thriving food manufacturing landscape.” Brantford is also home to a Ferrero Canada factory and a Hershey Canada distribution centre.
