President's Message

As I write this, the sun is shining and the forecast is calling for temps in the teens! Isn’t this change in weather welcome after our long winter?? 🌞

This month, I’d like to focus on the Kitchener Tech Connects free tech classes for older adults. This is a series of courses created for seniors to build skill and confidence in various areas of tech - using the internet, email, Google Docs, iPads, Chromebooks and more! I teach all of these courses and can say with confidence that people who attend enjoy the small classes and the welcoming, supportive environment, and learn so many things that ‘they didn’t know they didn’t know’! Whether you feel like a beginner, or if you’re looking to update your skills, there is something for everyone!

Information about the various courses and locations, as well as the different ways to register can be found on this page on our club website > KTC Courses. I hope to see you at one or more of these classes!

~ Susan

Club Events this month

Winter Meetings: Note (January 1 to March 31, 2026): 

Any Drop-In gatherings and Speaker's Meetings showing as "IN PERSON" are subject to change to "VIRTUAL" if poor winter driving conditions are forecast for that day. 

• The Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode will be sent in an email reminder to club members at least 24 hours prior to the event.

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 11

9:30 - 11:30 AM

DROP-IN (IN PERSON)

Downtown Community Centre:

• Multi-Purpose Room (upstairs)

Click here for more information!

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 18

9:30 - 11:30 AM

VIRTUAL SPEAKER MEETING

Online (on ZOOM):

• The Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode will be sent in an email reminder to club members at least 24 hours prior to the event.

• We won't be meeting in person at the Downtown Community Centre. Join us from the comfort of your home with your choice of hot (or cold) beverage and snack!

Topic: 

• • Fake News and DISinformation 

We'll be picking up where we left off from our January topic "Real or Fake?" and paying attention to the growing challenges facing online journalism.

Click here for more information!

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MONDAY, MARCH 23

1:30 - 3:30 PM

VIRTUAL DROP-IN

Online (on ZOOM):

• The Zoom link, Meeting ID, and Passcode will be sent in an email reminder to club members at least 24 hours prior to the event.

Click here for more information!

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WEDNESDAY, MARCH 25

9:30 - 11:30 AM

SHARE AND LEARN (IN PERSON)

- Coffee and Cookies served ($2 donation suggested)

Downtown Community Centre:

• Multi-Purpose Room (upstairs)

Topic:

• • Search Smarter... Not Harder

    • We'll be sharing simple, practical ways to search the internet more effectively, so you can quickly find trustworthy information, answers to everyday questions, and helpful resources online.

Click here for more information!

Tech-splorations

This month our club is talking about "fake news" - but not the type of reporting that a certain world leader complains about. True "fake news" is intentionally fabricated, misleading information designed to mimic legitimate news, aiming to deceive for financial or political gain. It goes beyond error (misinformation) by deliberately spreading falsehoods (disinformation). Key indicators include sensationalist headlines, lack of supporting evidence, and urgent, emotional appeals. 

Here's a breakdown of what constitutes true "fake news":

Core Characteristics

• Intentional Deception: It is not just an error; it is created to mislead.

• Fabrication: The content is completely made up, or heavily twisted to distort the truth.

• Mimicry: It often uses layouts, URLs, or headlines that resemble reputable news outlets to gain credibility.

• Purpose: The primary goal is usually to make money (clickbait), gain political influence, or create chaos. 

Common Forms of Fake News

• Fabricated Content: Entirely false stories, photos, or videos created from scratch.

• Deepfakes/Manipulated Media: AI-generated or edited audio, images, or videos that look real but are false.

• Misleading Headlines: Headlines that do not match the content of the article, designed to trigger emotional responses (e.g., anger, fear).

• Imposter Content: Genuine sources or brands are impersonated to lend legitimacy to false claims. 

It's this last form of fake news that I'd like to discuss further, especially when the "sources or brands" being impersonated are well-known government officials or celebrities. Learn about AI-Generated Impersonation Fraud, which has become serious enough to warrant a March 9, 2026 news release from Competition Bureau Canada. Click here for this month's column. 

Remember, you can directly navigate to the Tech-splorations columns anytime on our website. In our website's top navigation menu, click on Tech-splorations. The drop-down menu lists each article in chronological order of publication.

Apple Enthusiasts

See our latest update by clicking here!

Spring 2026 Program Registration is Now Open!

The Spring 2026 program session starts next month, but you should register now!  Program Registration for all activities running from April 1 - June 30, 2026 will open for City of Kitchener residents on Tuesday, March 10th at 8:30 a.m., and will open for non-residents on Tuesday, March 17th at 8:30 a.m.

Registration is easy:

1. Visit the front desk of any City of Kitchener Community Centre,

2. Call the City of Kitchener’s Program Registration Support line at 519-741-2907, or

3. Use the City of Kitchener’s ActiveNet online registration portal. We’ve created an ActiveNet Registration Instructions guide for this.

   • The City of Kitchener has its own online information about program registration and using ActiveNet.

The Kitchener Tech Club offers four types of activities that you can participate in each month:

1. • • Kitchener Tech Club Drop In (2nd Wed of each month)

     • Kitchener Tech Club Speakers Meeting (3rd Wed of each month)

     • Virtual Kitchener Tech Club Drop In (4th Monday of each month)

     • Kitchener Tech Club Share and Learn Gathering (4th Wed of each month)

And remember...

1. • • You can now sign up for a package of club activities through one registration! Click the ActiveNet Registration Instructions link above for a complete explanation of how to benefit from this feature that you - the members - requested!

Not Getting Club Emails?

You may not be on our mailing list! 

For full details on becoming a member, visit https://www.kitchenertechclub.ca/about/membership-contact.

Senior of the Year - nominations now open!

Do you know a Kitchener resident aged 65+ who is helping to make our community a better place for others? Maybe they’re a helpful neighbour or dedicated volunteer who supports you or your organization?

• If so, nominate them to be Kitchener’s Senior of the Year by March 31st!  

What if the person you have in mind lives in Waterloo, even though they do their volunteering in Kitchener? 

• Then, nominate them to be Waterloo's Senior of the Year by March 31st! All other criteria for being nominated are the same.

Connect With Us

There are many ways you can stay up-to-date with what’s happening. Click one of the links below to visit our…

• Kitchener Tech Club website for lots of information about the club, past events, and upcoming dates. 

• Facebook page.

• Instagram page.

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