Wednesday, January 2, 2019

And we're back for 2019

Welcome back! With the campus reopening after a holiday break, the Winter 2019 term is upon us.

Campus operations are reopening their doors as we prepare for lectures to begin on Monday, January 7, including:

The Waterloo Residences office, which reopened at 8:30 a.m. All MKV, REV, UWP, Village 1, Minota Hagey, and Columbia Lake Village-South residents can begin moving in today after 12:00 p.m. Anyone with questions about move-in is invited to email housing@uwaterloo.ca.

Some Food Services locations are open as of today, including Bon Appétit, Browsers Café, Brubakers in the SLC, Mudie's, Starbucks STC, Subway, Tim Hortons DC, Tim Hortons ML, Tim Hortons SCH, Tim Hortons SLC, and Tim Hortons Express DC, while other locations won't reopen until the weekend, or Monday, January 7. Check the hours and locations page for more details.

Print + Retail Solutions locations including the Book Store and the Waterloo Store will be open for extended hours starting today. Check the Print + Retail Solutions website for more details.

The Physical Activities Complex and CIF are open today.

The Library will be open for intersession hours between January 2 and January 6, with Dana Porter open Wednesday to Friday from 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. The Davis Centre will be open from Wednesday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. and on Saturday and Sunday from noon to 5:00 p.m. Regular hours commence on Monday, January 7. Check the Library's website for full hours and location information.

Feds Used Books will be open today at 9:00 a.m.

Several other businesses in the Student Life Centre, including CIBC, Campus Dentist and the Student Health Pharmacy, are open today.

AC JumpStart funding returns, applications due January 7

Recent University of Waterloo grads will again have an opportunity to apply for funding to commercialize an innovation and start a business through AC JumpStart-University of Waterloo.

New funding means five new rounds will take place during 2019 and 2020 with the first round of applications due January 7.

Funded by FedDev Ontario and delivered through the Accelerator Centre in partnership with University of Waterloo, AC JumpStart provides early stage technology startups with the seed capital, mentorship, and market-readiness tools needed to build a business in today’s knowledge economy.

AC JumpStart funding is available to graduates who earned their last Waterloo degree (in any discipline) within five years. Graduates and alumni entrepreneurs who are passionate about creating new businesses that will turn their ideas and innovations into commercial reality (and based in Southern Ontario) are encouraged to apply for the first round by January 7, 2019.

The doctor and the dragon: entrepreneurial visions

This article was originally published on the School of Optometry & Vision Science's news site.

On November 26, 2018, more than 200 students, staff and faculty at the School of Optometry & Vision Science gathered for an evening full of practical career advice mixed with inspiration, offered by two of the industry’s key influencers.

Waterloo alumnus Dr. Alan Ulsifer kicked the evening off with a discussion of the challenges and opportunities facing independent optometrists in Canada. Ulsifer shared the perspectives he’s gained both as an optometrist and as the founder of FYidoctors, Canada’s largest eye care provider.

Ulsifer then introduced venture capitalist Arlene Dickinson, who serves on FYidoctor’s Board of Directors but is best known for her appearances on Dragon’s Den. She was warm and engaging, joking with students who responded with laughter and applause.

While Dickinson is now a successful entrepreneur who owns one of Canada’s largest independent marketing firms, it wasn’t always that way. She came from humble beginnings and faced challenges as a single mother of four kids. But, inspired by her father’s insistence that “life is a series of lessons”, she built a thriving business and a future for herself and her children.

Her message to students? Live a life of purpose.

"You are lucky. You woke up this morning in the best city, in the best country in the world,” she said. "Take that luck and turn it into something meaningful. If there’s something in your way, go look in the mirror, and then tell yourself that you can do it."

The event was organized by the Waterloo chapter of the Canadian Association of Optometry Students (CAOS) with support from FYidoctors, which recently made an $800,000 gift to create the FYidoctors Simulation Lab.

“We were excited to bring these two high-calibre speakers to the School. They provided us with valuable business insights gleaned from their years of experience with the profession,” said optometry student Tristyn Lautner. Tristyn organized the lecture with Madilyne Kevany, who added that, “Arlene Dickinson and Al Ulsifer's passion and optimism is contagious. This event was the pep-talk we need before we all go into final exams."

For the full story, including more photos of the event, visit the Optometry & Vision Science website.