This Week in Photos - April 23, 2026

Provincials – Special Olympics athletes from Wellington Heights Secondary School (WHSS) qualified for the Provincial Special Olympics Championships in bocce ball and track and field. The championships will take place May 26 to 28 at the University of Western Ontario in London. Both the bocce ball and track and field teams are unified teams, which means peer athletes play alongside athletes from the high school’s learning resource centre (LRC) 10 classes. WHSS ran trials last fall for running and throwing events for students from LRC-10 classes and peer helpers to record their distances and times, then submitted these to Special Olympics. Special Olympics selected a four-member team to attend based on their scores, making the WHSS team one of 30 to qualify. The team members are Jason Davidson, Kaden Fraser, Faith Wilde and Hannah Rundle. The bocce ball qualifier was held at the Royal Distributing Athletic Performance Centre in Marden in February. One of WHSS’ unified teams qualified, meaning they are one of 12 unified teams competing in London. The team members are Austin LaCombe, Savannah Copland, Macey McDermott, Wyatt Smaglinski, Nick Duxbury and Noah Schlosser. Staff members attending the event include Brittany Heffernan, Adam Teeter and Christine Chambers. Submitted photo

Donation – Blessings to You Palmerston donated $2,000 to Big Brothers Big Sisters North Wellington (BBBSNW) to aid mentoring programs. From left: Diane McFarlane, Marg Stevens, BBBSNW executive director Marianne Christie and Annette Curry. Submitted photo

Real-life experience – Norwell District Secondary School co-op students have been gaining real-life skills in the workplace. PHOTO 1: Sophie P., right, has been working in Mr. Holland’s learning resource centre class and is connecting with each student. From left: Brandon L., Caleb M., Holland and Sophie P. PHOTO 2: Student Evan H., left, is completing his co-op at BLP Machine and Tool shop in Teviotdale. During this visit, Norwell graduates Nathan Van Staveren and Patrick Wood were teaching Evan how to make parts for snowmobiles. From left: Evan H., Van Staveren and Wood. PHOTO 3: Kaleigh D. decided to experience the hospitality industry for her co-op program. Her placement is at Harry Stones Social House restaurant in Harriston. From left: Joanne and Kaleigh D. Submitted photos

Open – Guelph/Eramosa council and staff held a long-awaited grand opening ceremony on April 21 for the new Rockmosa Park tot lot playground. The project, which was completed in November, features a moderately-sized jungle gym for the smaller children in the community. Mayor Chris White says the new equiptment is “much needed” as the larger jungle gym was a concern for parents with small children due to its size and height. The park addition was partially funded through an Accessibility Incentive Fund provided by the County of Wellington. PHOTO 1: From left, councillors Bruce Dickieson and Steven Liebig, Mayor Chris White, councillor Corey Woods, Wellington County councillor Matthew Bulmer and councillor Mark Bouwmeester. PHOTO 2: The new tot lot playground jungle gym. PHOTO 3: From left, Guelph/Eramosa parks manager Jeff Myer, Dickieson, Woods, Liebig, White, Bulmer, Bouwmeester and CAO Ian Roger. Photos by Ellouise Thompson

Vehicle fire – On April 17 at about 2:30pm, emergency crews responded to a vehicle fire at Eramosa-Milton Townline and Wellington Road 44, south of Rockwood. Wellington OPP officials say the driver sustained serious but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to a trauma centre by ambulance. “No other vehicles were involved and no other injuries were reported,” police stated. They later added the fire was “non-suspicious and ... deemed to be mechanical in nature.” Submitted photo

All aboard – The Centre Wellington Children’s Drama Club presented its show Cruisin’ with two performances on April 18 at the Fergus Grand Theatre. The story, written and directed by Gerard Guthro, who has put in 20 years with this group, is about what happens when the entertainment doesn’t show up for their scheduled performance on a cruise ship. Photos by Bill Longshaw

Treasure hunt – The Annual Elora Antique and Vintage show saw the Jefferson Elora Community Centre packed April 18 and 19. The event ran both Saturday from 10am to 5pm and Sunday from 11am to 4pm. This year’s show offered up a little bit of everything including: dishes, collectables, clothing, accessories, furniture and tools. PHOTO 1: Christine Pinkney, who has been attending the show for the past four years, made sure to dress up for the occassion. PHOTO 2: Although the doors did not open until 10am on Saturday, lines had formed well before then. PHOTO 3: A vendor took a “vintage” approach to recording his sales as he used pen and paper to keep track of his merchandise. PHOTO 4: Judith and Julia from Vintage J & J in Hamilton were hard at work bartering and informing customers. PHOTO 5: Ron Dodge, owner of Iron Bucket Antiques in Fergus, discusses a piece of antique furniture with a potential customer. PHOTO 6: Uranium glass offered by Treasure Hound Vintage. Photos by Ellouise Thompson

Perched – An osprey keeps a watchful eye on a nearby nest along Wellington Road 19 on April 12. Ospreys readily build large stick nests on man-made structures. The raptors can dive into water to secure a meal of live fish. Photo by Jordan Snobelen

Visit and cheque – Farm Credit Canada stopped by in early April for a tour of the Centre Wellington Food Bank and to present a cheque. “We look forward to future conversations about increasing our impact and collaborative approaches to food security work,” said food bank executive director Curt McQueen, second from left. Submitted photo