The University of Waterloo’s Institute of Transportation Engineers (ITE) student chapter has continued its remarkable resurgence, earning its fourth consecutive major accolade. An achievement that underscores the group’s rapid transformation and growing influence within the transportation field.
According to one of the chapter presidents for the 2025-year William Pham, the Waterloo chapter has been named the 2026 Outstanding Student Chapter by the ITE Canada District, marking its third consecutive win in that category. The recognition follows a 2023 “Momentum Award,” which celebrated the chapter’s revival after a steep decline in activity during the COVID-19 pandemic. This recognition really reflects how far the team has come, as they hadn’t won the Outstanding Student Chapter award since 2003.
Founded in 1974, the Waterloo ITE chapter is the oldest student chapter in Canada. Despite its long history, recent years have marked a period of significant change. After pandemic-related disruptions left the group struggling, a renewed focus on community-building and outreach helped the chapter rebound and ultimately thrive.
One of the most notable shifts has been a change in leadership and membership structure. Once dominated largely by graduate students, the chapter is now primarily run by undergraduate students, Pham being the first undergraduate president (2024) alongside Planning student, Shrinidhi Elangovanneela.
In addition to leadership changes, the chapter has diversified its membership beyond civil engineering students. Today, about half of its members come from planning and environmental programs, reflecting the interdisciplinary nature of modern transportation challenges.
The chapter’s success has also been driven by an emphasis on community, both online and in person. A student-run Discord server with more than 200 members has become a central hub for discussions, event planning, and informal engagement.
“This sense of community is a big reason we’ve been able to stay active,” Pham noted. “People don’t just come to events; they stay involved because they feel connected.”
Beyond traditional networking and professional development events, Waterloo ITE has expanded its programming to include creative and social initiatives. These range from industry nights and design competitions to unconventional activities like transportation-themed GeoGuessr competitions.
Members have even organized informal trips to observe major transit developments firsthand, including recent light rail openings in Toronto, demonstrating a shared enthusiasm that extends beyond the classroom.
“It’s not just about professional development,” Pham said. “It’s about fostering curiosity and excitement around transportation.”
The chapter has also strengthened ties with industry and alumni, many of whom are Waterloo graduates. These connections have enabled mentorship opportunities, event sponsorships, and career pathways for current students.
“Waterloo supports Waterloo,” Pham said. “A lot of professionals in the transportation field have ties to the university, and they’re eager to give back.”
In addition, the group has made outreach a key pillar of its mission, participating in K–12 initiatives and Women in Engineering outreach programs, which are after school events aimed at encouraging young women to pursue engineering.
“We want to engage younger students and introduce them to transportation in a way that’s accessible and interesting,” Pham explained.
Collaboration has also played a role in the chapter’s growth. Waterloo ITE regularly partners with other student chapters at universities such as the University of Toronto and McMaster and is even exploring cross-border initiatives with institutions in the United States.
“We believe success isn’t something you achieve alone,” Pham said. “Working together with other chapters helps everyone grow.”
Looking ahead, the chapter plans to continue expanding its reach and experimenting with new ways to engage students, while maintaining the strong sense of community that has defined its recent success.
For Pham, who joined the club as a second-year student and rose quickly through its ranks, the journey reflects both personal growth and the resilience of the organization itself.
“I didn’t even plan to run for a leadership role at first,” he said. “But once I got involved, it became something I really cared about and now it’s amazing to see what the team has accomplished together.”
With multiple awards in hand and momentum on its side, the University of Waterloo’s ITE chapter appears well positioned to remain a leader among student organizations in transportation engineering for years to come.
Congratulations to the full ITE Student Chapter, as well as to all past executive members who contributed to these awards. None of this could have been possible without every one of you.
If you are interested in learning more about The University of Waterloo’s ITE Student Chapter, please click the link here: https://www.itecanada.org/students/student-chapters/university-of-waterloo/
2026 Outstanding Chapter Award
2025 Outstanding Chapter Award
2024 Outstanding Chapter Award
