Top stories of the week: Teachers laid off, shelter dog needs home and drivers charged

Miller, a dog who has been with the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth, was photographed in Kitchener, Ont. on April 8, 2026 after waiting more than a year for a new family. (Colton Wiens/CTV News)

Driver caught with altered license plate and unmarked cigarettes

The driver of a pickup truck with altered licence plates was pulled over on Wellington Road 109 near Minto.

“The driver had used permanent marker on their licence plates, in the attempt to evade law enforcement and imitating a class designation of their licence plates contrary to their type of vehicle,” Ontario Provincial Police said in a media release.

The Ministry of Transportation of Ontario (MTO) had previously determined the pickup truck was unsafe to drive.

As if that wasn’t enough, OPP also found almost 2,000 unmarked cigarettes in the vehicle.

The driver, a 63-year-old from Mount Hope, was charged with operating an unsafe vehicle, driving a commercial vehicle contrary to prohibition, having a defective braking system, having a defaced plate and using a plate not authorized for a vehicle, as well as possession of unmarked cigarettes.

Driver arrested for impaired driving with three young children in the vehicle

Waterloo Regional Police say a driver, who was allegedly impaired, had three young children in their vehicle.

Witnesses told police the vehicle almost hit a tractor trailer and a curb.

It was also blocking a live lane of traffic.

Police said the driver was charged with driving while impaired. Their license was also seized for 90 days and the vehicle impounded for seven days.

One person airlifted to hospital in collision involving pedestrian and transport truck

A pedestrian and their dog were hit by a tractor trailer on Highway 6 in Arthur.

Ontario Provincial Police said they were crossing the road at the time of the crash, while the driver was attempting to turn right onto Frederick Street East.

The pedestrian was airlifted to hospital with unknown injuries. The dog was killed.

Dog searching for a family after a year with the Humane Society

Miller has been with the Humane Society of Kitchener Waterloo & Stratford Perth for more than year, earning him the unenviable title of the shelter’s longest canine resident.

“Most dogs end up in a home around the 30-day mark, on average,” Kaleigh Siegner-Robertson, the organization’s marketing and communications coordinator, told CTV News. “Typically, that involves foster as well. Miller has actually never been fostered.”

At least 300 other dogs have come and gone since Miller’s arrival.

The Humane Society says he’s very vocal, so it’s best if he lives in a standalone home. He also loves other dogs.

Nearly 130 elementary teachers in the region will be laid off

Nearly 130 elementary teachers with the Waterloo Region District School Board and the Waterloo Catholic District School Board are facing an uncertain future.

The Elementary Teachers’ Federation of Ontario Waterloo Region (ETFO) said 97 jobs have been declared “surplus to the system.” Those teachers held permanent positions but do not have contracts for the upcoming school year.

Another 30 positions have been declared redundant at the Catholic school board, according to the Ontario English Catholic Teachers’ Association (OECTA) Waterloo.

The Ford government has advised school boards to take a conservative approach to staffing as enrolment declines across the province.