Tuesday, February 7, 2017

Warriors represent Canada at the World University Games

From top to bottom and left to right: Brian Bourque, Trevor Black, Ari Grossman, Rachel Marriott, Mike Moffat and Stephanie Sluys.

by Dan Ackerman. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Waterloo Stories site. 

Six Warriors have embarked on the journey of a lifetime to represent Canada in Almaty, Kazakhstan for the 2017 Winter Universiade Games, held by the International University Sports Federation (FISU), from January 29 to February 8. 

Ari Grossman, associate director of business operations for Waterloo Athletics was named Chef de Mission for the Canadian delegation. Warriors’ hockey coach, Brian Bourque will serve as general manager and associate coach of men’s hockey, while Trevor Black, coordinator of equipment services for the Warriors, will be the equipment manager for men’s hockey in Kazakhstan. They will join Waterloo student hockey athletes Rachel Marriott, Stephanie Sluys and Mike Moffat in the world’s second largest sporting event, next to the Olympics.

This is Grossman’s fifth time attending the FISU Games, having served on the communications staff for four consecutive Games. 

“I’m excited to once again represent Canada on the international stage and look forward to working with our top calibre student-athletes, coaches, and support staff as they strive for excellence,” said Grossman.  “I’m also thrilled to have five other Warriors joining me for this very memorable experience.”

For head coach of the men’s hockey program Brian Bourque, this marks the second tour of duty. In 2011, he was the general manager of Canada’s bronze medal-winning squad in Erzurum, Turkey. 

"You just can't turn down a chance to represent your country," said Bourque. "This is under the Hockey Canada umbrella, and it's a chance to compete in an international competition. It's exciting."

Joining Bourque on the men’s hockey team is coordinator of equipment services and long-serving equipment manager of the Warriors men’s hockey program Trevor Black. Black's high-energy approach to every piece of his job is known around the league, and Bourque thinks his attentiveness makes him perfect for the Team Canada job.

"Over the past 10 years, Trevor has earned a reputation in the OUA as a relentless worker who pays attention to every detail," said Bourque. "This opportunity for him is well deserved."

Waterloo student hockey athletes trade their black and gold for red and white

Suiting up in the red and white as part of the men’s hockey team will be Mike Moffat who was named to the 22-man roster on January 6 after a selection camp that took place over the Christmas holidays.

Moffat, a third-year Kinesiology student, has six assists and 29 penalty minutes in 15 games in the current season. He's coming off back-to-back seasons where he's earned postseason accolades

On the women’s hockey squad, Team Canada will be in good hands with two of the best Warriors trading in their black and gold for the red and white. Forward Rachel Marriott and goaltender Stephanie Sluys were named to team Canada’s roster back in October.  Both have been crucial parts of the women’s hockey programs’ recent success and are both previous winners of the OUA rookie of the year award.

Read the rest of the article on the Waterloo Stories site.

Environment launches urban studies minor

For the first time in history, more people in the world live in and around cities than in rural areas, and the United Nations predicts that this proportion will only continue to grow. A new minor offered in the Faculty of Environment aims to educate students to lead this transition to an increasingly urbanized world.

Based in the Faculty of Environment, the Urban Studies Minor is open to all undergraduate students. Students pursuing the minor can select one of four themes:

• Urban Economics and Finance explores how economic policies influence the behaviours of governments, businesses and residents of cities.
• Urban Activity and the Environment examines the environmental impacts of urban activity: for example, how transportation and the energy use in buildings affect air and water quality.
• Urban Societies explores the role of governance and political leaders in defining and achieving objectives for an urban society. This theme also examines issues involving race, gender, health, housing, and equity.
• Emerging Global Urban Regions will address developing cities in Asia and Africa, where the economic, environmental and social challenges of urbanization can be the most acute.

"As city populations continue to grow in Canada and around the world, well-crafted policy and governance will be necessary to address the challenges of contemporary urban areas: poverty, inequality, environmental degradation and political unrest” says Jeff Casello, Associate Provost, Graduate Studies and Associate Professor, School of Planning and Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering. “The Urban Studies Minor will provide the next generation of urban scholars, policymakers and professionals with the skills needed to shape effective policy, better manage natural and built environments, and create equitable, inclusive and vibrant societies.” 

Students will learn to tackle complex urban issues by examining them from a variety of perspectives. Building on the Faculty of Environment’s strong interdisciplinary approach, and drawing from expertise across the campus, the Urban Studies Minor combines courses in planning, ecology, environmental studies, geography, sociology, political science, international development and more. The minor will prepare students to pursue careers in both the public and private sectors and increase their competitiveness for graduate programs in a variety of fields.

Learn more about the Urban Studies Minor.

Fantastic Alumni, Faculty and Staff Day Saturday

by Reid McRob, Alumni Relations

Fantastic Alumni, Faculty and Staff Day is coming to the Physical Activity Complex (PAC)! All Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retirees are invited to join us in cheering on the Warriors basketball teams as they take on the Windsor Lancers on Saturday, February 11^th!

The day will feature the woman’s and men’s basketball teams as well as the annual Airplane Toss where you can win fantastic prizes. This is a great way to spend an afternoon with your family and friends.

Make sure you register online and come out to enjoy a day full of Waterloo Warrior pride. Go Warriors go!