The visit was sparked by an extraordinary milestone. Violet, a Luther Village resident, recently marked her 105th birthday. After visiting WCA in December 2025, she left with a deepened curiosity about the universe and a clear desire to keep learning. That curiosity became the catalyst for bringing the Centre’s outreach programming directly to her and her neighbours’ home.
The featured lecture was delivered by Avery Broderick, professor in the Department of Physics and Astronomy and a member of the Waterloo Centre for Astrophysics (WCA). His talk, “Resolving the Lives of Black Holes,” offered a window into one of the most significant scientific achievements of recent years. Drawing on his work with the Event Horizon Telescope collaboration, Broderick shared how astronomers captured the first image of Sagittarius A*, the supermassive black hole at the centre of the Milky Way.
Following the lecture, Broderick and Graham Murphy, Associate Dean of External Affairs in the Faculty of Science, presented Sykes with a signed photograph of Sagittarius A*. The image reflects the international effort behind the Event Horizon Telescope (EHT) and recognizes Sykes’s enthusiasm for astronomy.
Guests were also invited to experience the Astro-Bubble. The inflatable planetarium is part of WCA’s outreach program and has delivered more than 500 shows since launching in November 2022 to engage school-aged audiences throughout Ontario. At Luther Village, it offered residents the opportunity to explore the night sky, learn how astronomers study the universe, and observe galaxies, nebulae and black holes in an interactive setting.
“It was a fantastic experience to see the residents looking around at galaxies and black holes, asking questions, and taking in the incredible sights from our Universe,” said Roan Haggar, Outreach Coordinator with WCA. “It reminds us that the sense of wonder and discovery isn't unique to any group of people. It is something we can all take part in.”
Read the story in more depth on the Science News article "At 105 years old, Violet Sykes is still reaching for the stars".