Thursday, July 2, 2015

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• Celebrating Canada at Columbia Lake
• Pulling back the curtain on Convocation

Celebrating Canada at Columbia Lake

Happy 148th, Canada! More that 60,000 attendees crowded Columbia Lake Field for the 31^st annual University of Waterloo Canada Day Celebration. More than 80 volunteers, 20 food trucks, and 10 Activity World partners collaborated on event programming that started at 4:00 p.m. 

TVOKids sponsored the children's programming, which included performances by Bobs & LoLo and host Gisele. OpenText sponsored the live music stage, which featured The Strumbellas and CanCon rock legend Kim Mitchell.

And then, of course, there were fireworks. Stay tuned for further Canada Day coverage in tomorrow's Daily Bulletin.

Photograph courtesy of @UWaterlooLIVE.

Pulling back the curtain on Convocation

with files from the Registrar's Office.

Convocation. Of all the dates in the academic calendar, it's the biggest. As you can imagine, an incredible amount of coordinated efforts go into making the multi-day, multi-ceremony event held every June and October a success. Ever wonder how it happens and who's involved? Then read on!

The Registrar's Office

The Registrar’s Office runs Convocation and it requires an all hands on deck approach to make the ceremonies happen. Each area of the Registrar's Office is involved as follows:

• Records and Systems - Nancy Pariag runs the student data and manages the student listings and statistics for convocation. Lorie Weinstein arranges for the camera cards and diploma printing.
• Records - The team codes and ensures each student record is reviewed and accurately processed. The team hands out the camera cards on the day of the ceremony and, most importantly, verifies the diplomas and puts them in the right order to seamlessly hand out at convocation.
• Customer Service takes care of the special seating area. Mark Grant, Manager of Customer Service leads and hires ushers.
• Communications manages the convocation website as well as the gown and hood inventory. Joan Marshall and Emily Hudson ensure all presenters and administrators have a gown to wear.
• Marketing and Undergraduate Recruitment assists with messaging – notably Beth Bohnert.
• Scheduling, Examinations & Convocation takes care of the event details-like staging, staffing and running the “show” on the day of the ceremony. The team is led by Charlene Schumm, Director, Scheduling, Examinations & Convocation.
•  The Awards team names the many awards given at Convocation.
• The Administrative team produces the program and print materials, manages the honourand travel itineraries, organizes faculty participation, and manages the Chancellors Reception and Luncheon event. A huge thank you to Debbie Knepper and Alina Achim.
• The Registrar, Ray Darling, leads the stage party into the PAC and assists with on stage presentations (Says the message from the Registrar's Office: "He leads our office, is the master record keeper, and is our go to guy for support and mentorship…if you don’t know him he is the one always smiling.").
• Registrar's Office staff avidly volunteer to run the event.

The Graduate Studies Office

While the Registrar’s Office officially “runs” Convocation, we have a great partner in the Graduate Studies Office, who has a huge stake in convocation; we couldn’t do it without them! They perform many of the same tasks as listed above for their Master’s and Doctoral students, including completing student records, reporting awards and verifying the program and student diplomas. They also manage the diploma presentation area at convocation – ensuring that each undergraduate and graduate student receives their diplomas in a congratulatory exchange with a faculty member. Tasha Glover in particular is our go-to gal on many GSO convocation details. 

Individuals and academic support units

"It truly takes a community to run Convocation," says the note from the Registrar's Office. "We are attempting to list all of those who have helped to make convocation special for our students, award winners and parents. Those who have not been listed but have helped in any way please accept a big thank you from everyone in the Registrar’s Office!"

Individual staff with roles at the ceremonies:  Alice Law, Alina Achim, Amanda St. Marie, Amilyn Kebezes, Andre Jardin, Andrea Graystone, Andrew Smith, Ann Wendt, Annette Ertel, Annette McNicol, Becky Ewan, Beth Bohnert, Bettina Wahl, Binah Straker, Breean Belton, Brenda Denomme, Brian Bailey, Brooke Lyons, Brooke Sterritt, Caitlin Irwin, Carrie Nickerson, Chantel Franklin, Charlene Schumm, Christina Treusch, Claire Taylor, Debbie Knepper, Emily Hudson, Eneria Mucaj, Erin Rakita, Heather Bond, Heather Norris, Heather O’Leary, Heather Rellinger, Heidi Mussar, Ishari Waduwara-Jayabahu, Jamie Ontiveros, Jan Weber, Jeanette Nugent, Joan Marshal, Jordyn Gray-McInnes, Jordyn Gray-McInnis, Julia Jones, Julie MacMillan, Karen Zehr, Katherine Pyke, Katherine Starr, Kerri-Lee Lewis, Krista Osmond, Lannie Butler, Laura Bland, Lauren Ward, Laurie Hanley, Lee Chandler, Linda Bloos, Lisa Brackenridge, Lynne Wight, Marilena Strambu, Mark Grant, Marta Bailey, Mary Lynn Benninger, Mat Brown, Matthew Morgan, Maureen Jones, Maureen Turco, Michael Klein, Michelle Smith, Munin Kim, Patty Robinson-Angel, Paul Harnack, Priscila Carrara, Ray Darling, Rita Bandyopadhyay, Rosalind Stroh, Sam Vandekerckhove, Samantha Murray, Sarah Hildebrandt, Saritha Racharla, Scott O’Neill. Shannon Oliu, Shelby Davies, Siobhan Stables, Stephanie Bromley, Tanya Pompilio, Tasha Glover, Tatum Bizony, Taylor Ertel, Tina Obediah, Tom Graham, Tom Kelly, Tony Munro, Tracey Sinclair, Tracy Ranville, Tracy Sinclair, Trevor Clews, Vanessa Hall, Vishal Soni, Wendy DesChamp, Will Shuck.

• AccessAbility Services – Marianna Denes was on hand for each of the ceremonies, assisting graduates who needed a little extra help crossing the stage.
• Alumni Relations - Alison Boyd and her team run the diploma frame area, run the post convocation receptions, name Alumni Awards, and arrange for alumni award presenters. Emily Huxley Osborne takes care of the many details for Alumni during Convocation, and is always a joy to work with!
• Awards contacts within the Faculties.
• Catering provides food and beverages for the post-ceremony receptions, supplies for the nurses, and cater our staff/volunteer lunches.
• Central Stores - A special thanks to Tony Bairos and his team, who move everything and have a great sense of humour while doing it, as well as Bev who delivers the programs and numerous program edits – she always has something kind and encouraging to say during our stressful times.
• The Centre for Teaching Excellence.
• Our new Chancellor, Tom Jenkins, and his assistant Donna Pearson who tirelessly answered the Registrar's Office's numerous emails.
• Citation readers and Award Presenters – Bernard Glick, Bruce Muirhead, Colin MacLeod, David DeVidi, David Rose, Donald Cowan, Feridun Hamdullahpur, Ian Orchard, Penny Haxell, Peter Deadman, Sheila Hurley, Sherry Schiff, Terri Boake, Emanuel Carvalho, James W.E. Rush, Grace Yi and Mark Giesbrecht.
• Citation writers – Mike Grivicic, Peter Deadman, Gary Bruce, Shannon Dea, Diana Parry, Colin MacLeod, Jasmin Habib, Sherry Schiff, Bernard Glick, David Rose, Chris Godsill, Penny Haxell, Alfred Menezes, Grace Yi, Richard Cook, Lawrence Folland, Terri Boake, and Tom Galloway.
• Convocation photographers – GradImages did a fantastic job (as always) taking photos of our grads just before they crossed the stage, as they received their diplomas and again after they had their diplomas in-hand. Light Imaging takes fantastic photos of our honorary degree, title and award winners.
• Convocation Soloists - Maggie Wang, 2^nd year Waterloo student,  Gwyneth Bergman, Master's student and Distinguished Professor Emeritus Reinhold Schuster.
• Convocation Winds Band – Led by Harry Currie, now in his 36^th year here at Waterloo.
• The Creative Services team, who design and print the Convocation program books, among other things.
• The Custodial team who kept the PAC, SLC and the areas around them clean and well-supplied throughout the week of convocation.
• Diploma Presenters – Leeann Ferries, Heather Mair, Bruce Frayne, Ian Rowlands, Eric Breugst, Stephanie Bromley, Eric Breugst, Suzan Ilcan, Eric Fillion, Stefan Idziak, Vivian Choh, Heidi Swanson, Barbara Csima, David McKinnon, Justin Wan, Leilei Zeng, Giovanni Cascante, Gordon Stubley, Ehab El-Saadany, and Bill Bishop.
• Faculty and Senior Administrative Staff procession and stage participants - There are too many to mention!
• Graduand readers - Andrew Morton, Bill Chesney, Bruce Hellinga, Cristina Vanin, Douglas Peers, Eric Croiset, Ian P. Goulden, Ila Berman, James W. E. Rush, Jan Huissoon, Jean Andrey, Katherine Acheson, Manoj Sachdev, Marlee Spafford, Neil Thomson, Paul J. Murphy, Paul Parker, Robert Hill, Samir Elhedhli, Scott Kline, Steven Furino, Susan Cadell. Suzanne Tyas. Terry McMahon, William Melek, Xiaowu (Shirley) Tang, Yuying Li, Pearl Sullivan, Carolyn MacGregor, and Judi Jewinski.
• Health Services – Our excellent nursing staff provided care during our convocation ceremonies to anyone in need of medical assistance.
• Members of the Honorary Degrees Committee.
• Hooders – Anwar Hasan, Barbara Moffatt, Bruce Greenberg, Clarence Woudsma, Colin MacLeod, Craig Janes, George Freeman, James Skidmore, John North, Judi Jewinski, Mark Giesbrecht, Michael Hudson, Monica Leoni, Richard Culham, Rob Gorbet, Serge D'Alessio, Stefan Steiner, Sue Ann Campbell, Tina Roberts, and Wayne Parker.
• Hosts for Honorary Degree recipients - Bernard Glick, Chris Godsil, Colin MacLeod, David DeVidi, Grace Y. Yi, Lawrence Folland, Penny Haxell, Peter Deadman, Sheila Hurley, Sherry Schiff, and Terri Boake.
• ITMS – This diverse team is responsible for filming and webcasting the ceremonies, managing the sound system in the PAC and the coaching of our speakers and soloists.
• Mace Bearers- Bill Chesney, Bruce Hellinga, Chris Read, Ian P. Goulden, Jeff Casello, Logan Atkinson, Mark Haslett, Rick Haldenby, Steven Furino, and Terry McMahon.
• Marketing and Strategic Communications - We must mention Matthew Bondy, speechwriter extraordinaire and his assistant Kaylee Lock-O’Connor, as well as Brandon Sweet, Pamela Smyth and Nick Manning who focus on getting the “word” out about Convocation.
• New Media Services.
• PAC staff – This patient bunch were responsible for answering the same questions, over and over again, through the course of the week!
• Parking Services – Sharon Rumpel and her staff ensure that graduates and their guests are able to find a place to park. They also provide shuttle service for elderly guests. Special mention to parking staff who stood in the rain and assisted guests with a smile!
• Plant Operations – Dozens of Plant Operations staff are responsible for many aspects of our ceremonies including the set-up and teardown of the PAC, grounds maintenance, signage, and re-keying of the venues.
• Police Services – Special thanks to Sgt. Alan Binns and his team who provided a number of valuable services throughout the week, assisting the nurses with medical issues, maintaining calm in the gym while guests found their seats during a crowded Saturday morning ceremony, and assisting our ushers with whatever delicate issues arose.
• The President’s and Provost’s Office – Feridun Hamdullahpur and Ian Orchard have a huge role in presenting and speaking at Convocation and their administrative teams double checked our scripts and cheered us on. Thank you Andrea Kelman, Kim Gingerich and Lori Gamble. George Dixon must be mentioned as well, as he took on a special role on stage at the Thursday and Friday ceremonies.
• Retail Services is responsible for making our graduates look the part!  They manage the hoods and oversee the company that provides the gowns for our graduates.
• Secretariat & Office of General Counsel - Mike Grivicic in particular ensures that the honorary awards and titles are managed well, and University Secretary and General Counsel Logan Atkinson who swore in our new Chancellor.
• Student Life Centre staff – Besides accommodating our receptions, Scott Pearson and his staff provide us with our wonderful Chancellor’s and Faculty Robing Rooms and a terrific place to hold our staff lunches.
• University Club - Gary Molson, Leslie Schaefer and their great team serving incredibly delicious lunches at the Chancellors Reception and Luncheon (and under tight timelines).

"If we’ve somehow missed your name, it was not on purpose," says the note from the Registrar's Office. "Thanks to all who make this most important event in the Academic Calendar a success."