iiinova — where your digital self keeps evolving

Fantastic upgrade to the WeatherCAN app: forecast precipitation! This is normally reserved to people who know about weather models and the sites that visualize that data. Now it's accessible to average Canadians. Hats off to ECCC for making existing data accessible.

News update in the WeatherCAN app (1/2):

"**New radar feature: precipitation forecast**

Wondering if rain or snow is heading your way? We've got you covered! This week, we released a new feature in the Map tab of the app that allows you to see how precipitation is expected to move over the next hour, based on the latest radar observations and advanced forecasting algorithms. This new feature can help you better anticipate what's coming your way.

The new radar map now shows precipitation over a two-hour period, including the last hour's observed precipitation and the upcoming hour's forecast precipitation. The precipitation forecast is updated every 6 minutes, so you can see the latest available forecast as conditions change."

Image description: 'The radar slider shows observed precipitation from the previous hour to the left of “Now” and forecast precipitation for the upcoming hour to the right. “Observed” or “Forecast” appears above the slider to indicate which period is displayed.'

News update in the WeatherCAN app (2/2):

"When viewing the Precipitation Intensity map layer, use the slider under the map to move between Observed and Forecast precipitation and see how precipitation is expected to evolve. As a reminder, you can also view past and current lightning strikes by selecting Lightning under the layer button on the radar map.

Keep in mind that the radar forecast shows where existing precipitation is expected to move. It does not predict the development of new precipitation or changes in the intensity of existing precipitation. As a result, actual conditions may differ from the forecast.

Whether you're planning outdoor activities or monitoring fast-changing weather, this new feature is there to help you make informed decisions as conditions change."

Map in the WeatherCAN app forecasting a line of rain hitting central Niagara Falls (Ontario) shortly after 12:00 EDT (as of 11:24 EDT).

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

The bus latch has Spanish labelling below English. Obvious American design on Canadian infrastructure.

Emergency exit roof hatch on a Guelph Transit Nova LFS.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

Oh, I might like this angle better.

OpenStreetMap (Humanitarian Theme) - Tilted Projection
* Underlain by the Ontario Digital Terrain Model (LIDAR derived) in hillshade.
* Overlain by watercourses (linear) and waterbody (polygon) data from Ontario Hydro Network data

Open Database License – OpenStreetMap, Open Government Licence – Ontario

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

Well, this is a day to amplify voices. Am I taking this too literally?

Powerful
Reuben and the Bullhorn Singers
Powerful [Single] (2024)

https://music.youtube.com/playlist?list=OLAK5uy_kPbMUG0R-t2dU1Cj3yCqSkcCkNLRGcAkc

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

I dream of building a client that integrates OSM into the ATmosphere, but one whole subproject of that will be ensure basic functions like this and other features limited to power users (e.g. symbology and drawing) cater to lighter abilities via simple web interface (e.g. a better, open MyMaps).

OpenStreetMap (Humanitarian Theme)
* Underlain by the Ontario Digital Terrain Model (LIDAR derived) in hillshade.
* Overlain by watercourses (linear) and waterbody (polygon) data from Ontario Hydro Network data

Open Database License – OpenStreetMap, Open Government Licence – Ontario

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

Side note: Do you know why people still use Google Maps instead of OpenStreetMaps? Because it still does some basic functions correctly. Like searching a feature by its ID and getting a correct result. It should be an obvious, sharable, trustworthy tag, and not easy to get a wrong result. #OSM

Google search result for "osm 7519889" returning a correct result, referring you directly to Six Nations of the Grand River.

Going to https://www.openstreetmap.org/way/7519889 points you to an unintended result: Rainbow Court, San Bernardino, ISO 3166-2:US

34.132608 -117.200454 [WGS84(G2139) @ 2010.0]

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

I wanted to go walk by the water and pick up garbage today, but my knee is giving me a lot of grief, so that's axed that plan. I guess it's appropriate to help correct the administrative boundaries that are least undisputed by the Crown. Particularly the parts that aren't as well known

OpenStreetMap Boundary for Six Nations of the Grand River, specifically the smaller portions on either side of Mohawk Canal, Eagles Nest Tract, Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 561986 4776033

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/09/2026

Looks like two of the main Toronto radio stations I listen to from Toronto - Q107 (CILQ) and The Edge (CFNY), both owned by Corus Entertainment - are not participating in A Day To Listen. Very unfortunate.

A list of Toronto radio stations participating in A Day To Listen 2026:

CFRB-AM
CFTR-AM
CHFI-FM
CHUM-FM
CKFM-FM
CKIS-FM

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 29/09/2026

Maybe extensions of Line 5/6 can address it. Maybe a reconfigured LINK Train. Heck, a new wye onto the UP Express guideway would be top-tier. But I'm not convinced a new hub *detached* from the Kitchener corridor is the answer. Malton Station itself can and should be that hub.

Arrows shoing connections from the GO Transit Kitchener Line, as well as TTC Lines 6 (Finch West) and 5 (Eglinton) converging on a new proposed Regional Transit Centre between Terminals 1 and 3 at Toronto Pearson International Airport.

Graphic by WW+P Architects: https://www.wwparchitects.com/projects/toronto-pearson-international-airport-regional-transit-centre/

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 26/09/2026

Pretty edge-of-fall scene. I'm already missing the light, it could be a long, mild, dry, dark winter.

River crossing south of Mile 31.28, Guelph Junction Railway Goderich Subdivision, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 561140 4821841

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 26/09/2026

I'm trying to appreciate this, but I still think it would be better without.

Joseph Wolfond Park Weir, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560222 4822373

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 26/09/2026

Location: Joseph Wolfond Park East, Downtown Trail, rear of Wellington Plaza Quantity: 1 bag + pile of cans and bottles Notable finds: Feminine hygiene products, lighter, nail paint, sunscreen, so many cans and bottles

Garbage bag and picker next to a public park garbage can.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 25/09/2026

I had to have heard this lyric over 3 dozen times and I'm just getting it.

Song lyric: "Under vacant towers..."

I Feel the Transition
The Zolas
Come Back to Life (2021)

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=s8pZfYOjtgQ

Song lyric: "...of the well-financed"

I Feel the Transition
The Zolas
Come Back to Life (2021)

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=s8pZfYOjtgQ

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 24/09/2026

Maybe plain white isn't all that bad. Strip the rear ad space and never put anything on it again and it'd be perfect.

Guelph Transit 297 sits at Platform 12 while Guelph Transit 302 sits at Platform 10, Guelph Central Station, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560876 4821593

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 24/09/2026

We're on the opposite end of the white light colour temperature spectrum from the warm lights that illuminated early 20th century transit.

Bluish interior lighting in the rear of Guelph Transit Nova LFS.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 20/09/2026

A pretty quiet gateway into downtown, but I believe it's mostly used as an exit.

Looking south along Wilson Street towards the Metrolinx Guelph Subdivision (Mile 48.94), Guelph Ontario Canada

43.542618, -80.248668 (WGS84[G2139] @ 2010.0)

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 20/09/2026

Looks better drawn down, even at night.

Looking upstream along the Speed River, Heffernan Pedestrian Bridge, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560787 4822006

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 19/09/2026

Also, this is exactly why the federal government should be coordinating this. The winter map is bonkers.

Map of Canadian time zones in effect for the summer.
BC, YT: UTC-7
AB, SK, NT, west NU: UTC-6
MB, central NU, northwest ON: UTC-5
ON, QC, east NU: UTC-4
Labrador, NB, NS: UTC-3
Newfoundland: UTC-2:30

From CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/time-zone-canada-map-9.7349663

Map of Canadian time zones in effect for the summer.
BC, YT, west NU: UTC-7
AB, SK, NT, central NU, northwest ON: UTC-6
MB, east NU, ON, south QC: UTC-5
North QC, Labrador, NB, NS: UTC-4
Newfoundland: UTC-3:30

From CBC News: https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/time-zone-canada-map-9.7349663

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 18/09/2026

There's also these things.

A driveway of diamond-shaped permeable pavers.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 18/09/2026

Paul Ainslie complains that he'd have to go back west from Guildwood to Toronto Union to travel east to Ottawa. That's mostly not true, as most trains departing from Union stop at Oshawa, and a GO train can easily go east to let passengers transfer in Oshawa. Maybe his preferred train skips Oshawa?

Looking west at VIA, GO and CN freight trains from the pedestrian bridge at Oshawa GO Station, Oshawa Ontario Canada

CC BY-NC-SA Metroscapes. Taken March 23, 2025. More available at https://metroscapes.ca/walks/2025-03-23/

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 15/09/2026

Location: Eramosa River Park Quantity: ¾ of a bag + large rusty metal [P2] Notable finds: the sharp rusted metal in pic 2, whatever pic 3 is, and whatever pic 4 is

Garbage picker with a tied up garbage bag beside a public park garbage bin.

Pieces of rusty metal (from a car?) beside a trail, Guelph Ontario Canada

43.541005, -80.238744 (WGS84[G2139] @ 2010.0)

A piece of broken clay? I'm not sure what this object is, it's curved, white and of a clay substance, but it's sitting on a wooden park bench.

A plastic cap of...something? I'm not sure where this objetc came from but it's a heavy duty cap for some exterior use, ~20 centimetres in diameter.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 15/09/2026

Canada has the critical minerals. Why don't we work to build more EV battery supply here in Canada, and permit express pairings with European automobile models? Reduced rates to import more European automobiles, and assistance with domestic European auto manufacturing (new or re-tooling)?

**Critical mineral development across Canada**
Critical mineral mines, smelters, refineries or advanced projects are located in all Canadian provinces and territories, except for Prince Edward Island.

*Text version of map*
Alberta has advanced projects and smelters or refineries that are labelled as lithium, nickel, cobalt, and helium.
British Columbia has advanced projects, smelters or refineries, and mines that are labelled as molybdenum, niobium, aluminum, copper, zinc, bismuth, indium, germanium, nickel, cobalt, rare earth elements, and tantalum.
Manitoba has advanced projects and mines that are labelled as nickel, copper, and cobalt.
New Brunswick has advanced projects that are labelled as tungsten, molybdenum, manganese, and zinc.
Newfoundland and Labrador has advanced projects, mines, and smelters or refineries that are labelled as rare earth elements, nickel, cobalt, high-purity iron ore, uranium, and copper.
The Northwest Territories has advanced projects that are labelled as rare earth elements, cobalt, bismuth, and copper.
Nunavut has advanced projects and mines that are labelled as copper, nickel, cobalt, platinum group metals, and zinc.
Ontario has advanced projects, mines, and smelters or refineries that are labelled as chromium, nickel, lithium, platinum group metals, phosphorus, cobalt, gallium, indium, vanadium, and molybdenum.
Quebec has advanced projects, mines, and smelters or refineries that are labelled as lithium, rare earth elements, graphite, nickel, cobalt, platinum group metals, copper, niobium, silicon-metal, phosphorus, scandium, aluminum, tellurium, and titanium.
Saskatchewan has advanced projects and mines that are labelled as uranium, potash, helium, copper, and zinc.
Yukon has advanced projects and mines that are labelled as zinc, copper, tungsten, and nickel.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 14/09/2026

Dave is a top-tier rock star, and now has raised some serious talent.

THUM
Violet Grohl
THUM [Single] (2026)

https://music.youtube.com/watch?v=A3s-CgcfKUA

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 13/09/2026

I have to say I was irritated to find as much trash as I did, near the fire circle and women/children memorial. Is expecting them to be immaculate too high of an expectation? Not if it's cigarette butts and beer cans. Do better.

River view from the Sacred Fire, Between the Lakes Treaty No. 3 (1792), Kanata

UTM: 17T 561154 4820815

Riverview from Marianne's Park, 176 Gordon Street, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 561322 4820896

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 13/09/2026

Location: Northumberland Park, Waterloo Avenue Park South, Royal City Park, with additional attention to the Sacred Fire Circle and Marianne Goulden Memorial Quantity: 1 bag + a handful of other larger cars and cups Notable finds: Lots of broken glass

Garbage bag and garbage picker leaning against a public park garbage can.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 13/09/2026

Good afternoon to soak up some September Sunday sun.

St George's Square under improvements, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560646 4821715

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 12/09/2026

Great day for a game with the dome open.

Looking at the Baltimore Orioles playing against Toronto Blue Jays at the SkyDome, Toronto Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 629936 4833325

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 07/09/2026

That should do for a conceptual design.

Cross-section of a federal Canadian standard railway clearance envelope, with an adjacent conceptual rail trail and fence post adjacent, with a locomotive and person for scale.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 06/09/2026

Nothing like a late night family friendly concert in a downtown park.

Boy Golden playing on an outdoor stage in Victoria Park, Kitchener Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 540876 4810671

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 05/09/2026

A No Trespassing sign along this popular shortcut has escalated to looking up standard Canadian railway clearance envelopes and using a tape measure to get existing real-world rail trail setbacks.

Looking at the CN Guelph North Spur at Mile 0.63, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 559466 4821340

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 05/09/2026

Took a walk in the dark park. I have a core memory here from a full moon night with fast-moving low cloud. This is pretty too.

Nighttime view looking south from University Village Park, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 562002 4818458

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 05/09/2026

The bus hive has temporarily relocated. It ended up being convenient tonight, but I'm not a fan of this chosen spot.

Buses congregating at an eastern parking lot on Research Lane, University of Guelph Research Park, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 562685 4819380

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 05/09/2026

There is a spotlight in the downtown skyline tonight, and I did not have my money on it being to attract attendance at Trappers.

100 Carden Street (as seen from Macdonell Street), Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560843 4821620

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 05/09/2026

Some progress in construction and near completion downtown as the local population recovers.

Looking north at St George's Square (under construction) from near Cork Street, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560684 4821674

Looking at the corners of Macdonell and Wyndham (mostly reconstructed), Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560741 4821590

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 03/09/2026

Actually, the most notable find today was this compressed air tank. But I didn't pick it up, I just reported it through the city's "Report a Problem" map.

Red compressed air tank beneath a pine tree in a public park, surrounded by metal pop cans.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 03/09/2026

Location: Exhibition Park, CNR Spurline Trail, Suffolk Street Park Quantity: 1 bag Notable finds: Joint containers, prescription pill bottle, men's boxers

Garbage bag and a garbage picker in front of a public garbage can.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 03/09/2026

According to TRCA's gauge data, the Don River rose 4 metres above normal last night, peaking at 10PM.

Toronto and Region Conservation Authority (TRCA) flow gauge page for the Don River at Todmorden.

Range: 2026-09-02 12:00EDT - 2026-09-03 11:45EDT
Valid: 2026-09-03 11:45EDT

Flows
2026-09-02 17:05EDT: 77.86m
2026-09-02 22:00EDT: 81.53m
2026-09-03 05:40EDT: 78.50m

https://trcagauging.ca/gauge/don-at-todmorden-wl

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 01/09/2026

Location: John Galt Park, Heritage Park, Riverwalk Park Quantity: 1 bag Notable finds: Broken glass pipe

Garbage bag with a garbage picker in front of a public garbage can.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 31/08/2026

It's fun to explore the river valley on a wet day. Air is cool, lots of bugs to look at, lots of rocks to flip.

Looking downstream along the Speed River, Herb Markle Park, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560168 4822470

Looking upstream along the Speed River, Herb Markle Park, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 560126 4822568

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 31/08/2026

Had a close call visiting a local establishment's website yesterday. A CloudFlare dialogue came up, and after clicking to confirm that 'I was not a robot', it prompted me to: * Press Windows+R (opening a run command window * Paste something from my keyboard and press enter Don't ever do this.

A scam CloudFlare box stating "Additional Verification Required", and then providing instructions that install malware on your computer.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 30/08/2026

You know when you hear it, and you hope it's just a transfer flight.

Screenshot of FlightRadar24 showing Ornge Air CGYNN departing from YXU and flying west to east over Guelph Ontario Canada.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 29/08/2026

This may have turned into an activity with the kiddo.

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 28/08/2026

An original analog and a modern twist.

Windows "broken image" icon using what are believed to be the 'original colours', based on Wikimedia Commons record: https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Broken_Image.png

Alternative version of "broken image" icon using default colours in Microsoft Windows 10 Paint

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 27/08/2026

I wonder if the photo was actually taken in 1976. The historic aerial images from 1975 show the headland starting to appear. The new park was opened in 1977.

Historic aerial image of Woodbine Park being constructed, circa 1975.

Courtesy City of Toronto - Aerial Photographs: https://www.toronto.ca/ext/archives/s0012/fl1975/s0012_fl1975_it0036.jpg

43.65921, -79.31028 (WGS84[G2139] @ 2010.0)

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Trevor Heywood @metroscapes.ca · 27/08/2026

Okay, the new segment is pitch dark and yours truly scardied out. Into a mostly closed commercial area alongside a graveyard was a bit too much. If that's too much for an urban explorer, it's way too much for others that need security in their space.

Looking north along the Goderich 2 Guelph (G2G) Trail towards Woodlawn Avenue, 762 Woolwich St, Guelph Ontario Canada

UTM: 17T 558556 4823271

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