I have long enjoyed introducing students to historiography and historical methods. Teaching how we differentiate between history, myth, and memory also creates a space wherein the students can teach me how they understood the relationship between the past and the study of history. It’s a poignant lesson in 2017, as Canada’s sesquicentennial offers opportunities to embed those discussions within contemporary debates and concerns. This year also marks the 60th anniversary of the University of Waterloo, presenting another opportunity to reflect.
While it is dangerous – some might say impolite – to assume the age of one’s audience, many of you reading this may have memories of Canada’s centennial or the 50th anniversary of the UWaterloo. Our institutional anniversaries have deservedly been celebratory events, signalling our reputation for innovation and excellence in teaching and research, and the success of our alumni. Marking Canada 150, on the other hand, has proven to be more complex, and for historians, our experiences and memories of 2017 will no doubt generate content and questions for many future historiography classes. As part of our response to the sesquicentennial, the Faculty of Arts is partnering with the City of Waterloo and Wilfrid Laurier University to present a Canada 150 lecture series that looks at the anniversary through different lenses (see the Events page for details).
While our efforts to come to grips with the past continue to fascinate me, I am all too aware of the challenges and opportunities of the present. Recent events at the University of Waterloo and at other universities across Canada have shown us how important it is for us to look more closely at the mental health of our communities on campus and beyond. Individuals within Arts, and the Faculty as a whole, are participating in a number of initiatives intended to create healthier work and study spaces, as well as building programs to support wellbeing in our ever-growing region. You can read about two strong examples in this issue.
When I reflect upon all that the Faculty of Arts achieves, I’m always struck by the role of our alumni. Over the course of my six years as Dean, I have drawn valuable lessons and insights from our alumni, whether it is over coffee in Waterloo, dinner in Hong Kong, or a pub in London. I hope you will enjoy the shared reflections in this Arts & Letters from three of our alum, representing cohorts from three different decades, and living in three locations worldwide.
Thanks for reading, and stay in touch.
