Thursday, May 7, 2015

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• Feds Student Food Bank remembers Laura Smith
• Library announces research skills workshops
• Canada Day Celebrations seeking volunteers
• Thursday's notes

Feds Student Food Bank remembers Laura Smith

This is the latest in a series of #UWCommunity stories that feature Waterloo in the community.

She passed away on December 31, 2014 after a brave battle with cancer, but Laura Smith left a legacy of generosity that continues to impact the University of Waterloo.

Years ago, when she walked through the Student Life Centre (SLC) and spotted the Federation of Students’ Food Bank, Laura realized that some undergraduates on campus need support to eat regular, balanced meals. The Feds Student Food Bank provides free non-perishable food items, and use of it is confidential.

At the time, Laura was a staff member in the Information Systems & Technology (IST) department. She decided to take action and help.

“At certain times of the year, Laura arranged a 'breakfast' and would ask her department peers to prepare an item that could be used as barter for food or cash,” says Larry Smith, who was married to her for over 40 years. “The food items collected were shipped over to the SLC, and the cash was used at FreshCo to augment that which was shipped. These celebrations go back a decade or two at least and accounted for a great deal of relief to the Feds Student Food Bank.”

The volunteers at the Feds service noticed her dedication, and appreciated the effort she made to contribute food for undergraduates.

“When she passed away, we received $2,000 as a gift in her memory,” says Polina Myrox, one of the service coordinators.

As a tribute to Laura, the Feds Student Food Bank plans to design new donation boxes that honour her.

“These boxes are currently placed around campus, and will have a plaque with her name,” says Lavanya Sarathchandran, another coordinator. “It’s a way to show people how much she did.”

The Federation of Students have officially made the donation boxes a permanent fixture at the Feds Food Bank in the SLC.

Library announces research skills workshops

This article originally appeared on the Library News website.

The Library’s spring 2015 research skills workshops cover a range of topics that will help you discover, access, and use resources relevant to your research.break

Our core workshops are short, loaded with helpful tips, and are very popular! Be sure to sign up as soon as possible to reserve a spot in any of the following 50-minute classes:

• LIB 001: Library Foundations - ​Discover why the Library is the best starting point for your research needs
• LIB 002: Searching: The Library Catalogue - Learn how to find resources for your coursework and research
• LIB 003: Searching: Databases - Learn about reliable tips and tools to help you find the best articles on your topic
• LIB 004: Evaluating Information - Learn how to critically evaluate resources to determine their credibility

For a full list of workshop offerings, consult the workshop registration page and consider signing up for classes that focus on special topics such as:

• Citing Properly with Refworks
• Making Sure People Can Find Your Research
• Tracking Other Researchers and Their Work
• … and more!

Learn new skills to optimize your research. Sign up for a library workshop (or several) today!

For more information, please contact Tim Ireland, chair of the Library Instruction Committee.

Canada Day Celebrations seeking volunteers

The University of Waterloo Canada Day Celebration is looking for volunteers for the annual July 1 festivities.

There are a number of positions available, from Spirit Executives, Spirit Squad Members, Artistic Executives, Face Paint Team Members, Event Logistics Executives, Logistics Team, Customer Service Executive, Customer Service Team, Stage Hand Executive to Stage Hand Team. All positions offer the opportunity for hands-on participation in Waterloo's Canada Day celebration. All volunteers will receive a t-shirt to wear during the event and a meal will be provided.

Anyone interested can sign up online by logging in with their CAS credentials, clicking on "Jobs" and then scrolling down to Community Events and clicking on "Canada Day Celebration volunteer opportunities." Applications close at 11:59 on May 18.

Thursday's notes

The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences is welcoming Wanda Deschamps, a fund development professional with a passion for higher education, as its Director of Advancement, effective July 2.

Wanda will provide leadership and direction to Applied Health Sciences’ advancement programs and will build strong relationships with alumni, donors, volunteers and the campus community. 

She most recently served as the Associate Vice-President, Development at the University of Regina from 2011-2014. In her role, she directed the university’s development program and successfully led the team in securing significant support for university priorities. Read more about Wanda's appointment on the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences news site.

Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region has organized a University of Waterloo Day for those who might like to join in the Local Build activities on Monday, June 15. Anyone interested can register online by clicking on Build Volunteering>Ottawa Kehl, Kitchener. The day runs from 8:15 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and there are 25 spots available. 

The David Johnston R+T Park is hosting a Charity Food Truck Rally on Friday from 11:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. in the TechTown Parking lot. For the cost of a donation, attendees will enjoy food from seven local food trucks:

• Mango Chutney
• Ish and Chips
• Breakfast Blues and BBQs
• Fo' Cheezy
• West of Seoul
• Bistro Tour
• Lancaster Smokehouse

Money raised from the charity event will be directed to the R+T Park Tenants Fund at KW Community Foundation in support of local children`s charities and community based projects.

Good night, sweet prince: The crane that has long overshadowed the Science Teaching Complex construction site is set to be dismantled next week, according to Plant Operations. The dismantling will begin on Wednesday, May 13 with a completion date of Friday, May 15. Mobile cranes and flatbed trucks will be on site during the operation, and there will be no access to the NH service road, including Parking Lot D.