Tuesday, April 16, 2019


Staff, faculty celebrate employment milestones

by Susan Fish.

The annual recognition reception for new members of the University community celebrating milestone employment anniversaries takes place tonight. The 25-50 Year Dinner will honour 114 faculty and staff members celebrating 25, 30, 35, 40, and 45-year anniversaries.

In honour of the celebration event, the Daily Bulletin has asked a few of them to reflect on their time at the University.

Kim Boucher, Knowledge Integration, 25 years

Kim BoucherKim Boucher has no idea how many lengths she has swum over the years in the PAC, but there’s been no sense of doing the same thing over and over in her 25 years on staff. In fact, when asked what she does as Outreach and Administrative Manager, Department of Knowledge Integration, she says: “I help interesting people make interesting things happen.” She adds, “I’m not sure I could have stayed this long if my job was repetitive. There’s always something different happening.”

For Kim, “the boring part” of her story is that she was born and raised in KW. She always intended on moving away when she studied engineering, but couldn’t find anywhere that would compete with Waterloo’s co-op program. She found co-op jobs in diverse parts of Canada, graduated and went to teacher’s college, and then worked in Mexico for a year before a friend encouraged her to apply for an engineering admissions job.

She returned to the University, expecting it would be a short-term contract, but stayed for fourteen years. She worked with her supervisor, Ed Jernigan, on the Shad high school enrichment program, and then when he began Waterloo Unlimited. When those students expressed a wish for a university experience more like Waterloo Unlimited, Kim was part of the team that helped develop the Bachelor of Knowledge Integration program. She says, “I wasn’t the architect but I was a good supporter of it.” Her role includes outreach and recruitment of students as well as supporting current students and keeping in touch with alumni. She observes, “Students don’t just fall into KI – they choose to be part of it, while the professors are really excited and keen to be part of it. You meet visionaries who need someone to track details and do the logistics so they can dream big.” She adds, “It’s really inspiring and fresh to be around students and to see that the work I do has an effect on creating a great experience they value.”

Keith Peck, Information Systems & Technology, 25 years

Keith Peck.Like many Waterloo students, Keith Peck took on part-time work on campus as a way of earning money toward his tuition and other expenses, but while he describes himself as a lifelong learner, he also is a lifelong Waterloo staffer, having never stopped working on campus.

Today Keith works as a Computing Consultant providing help and advice to several academic support departments, but also to anyone who has a link to the University. One day he helped astronaut Chris Hadfield, but Keith says, “As much as that was a day I’ll never forget, I get just as much enjoyment out of helping anyone I meet who is looking a bit lost or simply watching a new brood of hatchling geese waddle their way across campus.”

Keith’s first job making and delivering pizzas on campus quickly shifted toward the field he has worked in throughout his time at Waterloo when he began working at the Dana Porter Reserves desk, which led to other contract positions until he was hired to drive the Library van in 1994 to transport books between various campus libraries. In 2004 Keith became a Helpdesk Advisor in IST before transitioning to his current role in which he also been involved with hiring, training and supervision of co-op students in IST Client Services and in University Relations, and acting as their mentor.

Originally from Prince Edward County, Keith didn’t plan to stay in Waterloo but says, “It’s been nice to have a job that provides opportunities to learn new skills every day, having an employer that encourages and offers human development sessions, and enjoying daily contact with a diverse community.”

While he has a variety of interests outside work, he notes, “My profile wouldn’t be complete without mentioning that I ride a bicycle nearly every day year-round to and from work, along with many weekends and evenings.” He plans to qualify and compete at the amateur UCI World Road Racing championships within the next three years.

Linda Brogden – Occupational Health Nurse, 30 years

Linda Brogden.In 2019, Linda Brogden celebrates 30 years working at Waterloo, although she began working at the University on a casual basis in 1984, and that milestone will be eclipsed next year when she celebrates 50 years of working as Registered Nurse.

Linda began working at the University after moving to Waterloo and recognizing she wanted to do something different from hospital nursing. When she arrived, Health Services had recently changed from what she describes as a “mini-hospital” approach where students could stay overnight to day services. While she really enjoyed working with students, in 2002 she transitioned into the role of occupational health nurse where she looks after employee health, accommodating health needs on the job, supporting sick leaves and reintegrating employees after sick leaves. One of her biggest observations in the transition was that students and university employees alike struggle with the same issues. She has also observed a shift from a focus on physical to psychological health during her time at the university. She says, “We’ve learned how to make changes in our lifestyles to protect our physical health but we’re still learning how to protect our psychological health.” To this end, in 2013, Linda seized the opportunity to introduce the University to two new programs—the Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and Mindful Employer,which was a pilot collaboration with the Ministry of Labour. Waterloo was one of six early adopters of the Standard for Psychological Health and Safety in the Workplace and this helped encourage other Canadian universities to implement the standard.

As part of her own wellness, Linda enjoys reading, spending time with her two grandchildren and other family members, exercising, traveling, and, of course, retail therapy. She also truly enjoys working at the University: “Over the years, I’ve seen a lot of growth and change. Change can frighten people but we need to evolve and at Waterloo, we are doing just that. The University is generous and caring, and supports a healthy workplace. There are always growing pains but we are learning to grow in a healthy way.”

Professor David Wang, Electrical and Computer Engineering, 30 years

Professor David Wang.Curiosity may have killed the cat, but it’s what drives Professor David Wang of electrical and computer engineering who is celebrating 30 years as a professor and 35 years since arriving from Saskatchewan as a graduate student at Waterloo. When his graduate students try to determine a well-defined career path, he explains that the only way to success is by trying new things and often failing.

His own research, he says, has been highly varied, publishing on topics as diverse as robotics to virtual reality to the intersection between psychology and computers.

He has tried to bring that same sense of curiosity to the rest of his life – whether that is in raising his nine children, coaching thousands of children in soccer, or in his involvement in music where he has released five albums, two of which won Best Rock Album at the Canadian Gospel Music Association awards in 2000 and 2005. In 2000, he was involved as president and CEO of a startup, although he decided not to stay on as he was heavily involved in teaching and raising a large family.

Because he came to the university as a Master’s student and was one of the last PhD graduates to be directly hired to stay on at the University, for Wang, it “seems a bit surreal” to think he’s been at Waterloo for so long. “When I started, I had graduate students who were only a couple of years younger than me.”

As he reflects on changes over his time at Waterloo, he notes that not only has the university grown substantially in size, but in recent years, he has observed a significant change in students, particularly over the last five or six years. “We’re now seeing the i-generation,” he says, “where students are reliant on technology.” While Wang sees benefits to technology, he believes not teaching students fundamental skills is crippling the ability of students to succeed.  He says, “I love mentoring graduate students and teaching them to be curious and explore, and to be less afraid of failure.”

Feeding the wellness of international students

Students and volunteers at a wellness meal for international students.

This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Campus Wellness website.

When Linda Zhang attended the Student Mental Health Forum in March 2018, she was struck by the number of international students in attendance that were asking for better supports to help with experiences of loneliness, financial burdens, and challenges with integrating into Canadian culture. Their experiences resonated with Linda, who reflected on her own experience as an international student and her own challenges as a student. From this, the breakfast seminar series was born, which takes place at Claudette Millar Hall. Students gather at 9:30 a.m. to eat breakfast and network and then carry on at 10:00 a.m. with wellness seminars or exercises.

According to Zhang, the intended goal of the series is to create a sense of community for international students and it is supported by volunteers from a variety of departments on campus. Volunteers include staff, faculty, alumni, and retirees and the program has no full time staff. “It gives students the sense that the university and the people within it care about them,” Zhang says. Participants get to interact with people they wouldn’t necessarily encounter in their academic life and make connections.

"I get to know so many wonderful people from so many other departments and faculties across campus that I wouldn't have had the chance to interact with otherwise."

Over time Linda notes that participants have given very positive feedback, speaking of the connections that they have made and how they have continued to be fostered beyond the seminar. For example one of her co-workers got to know a young couple doing their PhD at UW through the breakfast series. Her co-worker invited the couple to her house before Christmas to teach them about Christmas and now they meet bi-weekly outside of the breakfast seminars as friends. Linda herself has experienced her own personal social benefits through the series, “I get to know so many wonderful people from so many other departments and faculties across the campus that I wouldn’t have had the chance to interact with otherwise.” Just as she hoped for her students, she has developed her own sense of community and belonging to the University.

Read the rest of the story on the Campus Wellness site.

Link of the day

Fire at Notre-Dame de Paris

When and where

Examination period, Wednesday, April 10 to Saturday, April 27.

MFA Thesis One exhibition, Thursday, April 11 to Saturday, April 27, UW Art Gallery.

Vision Science Graduate Research Conference 2019, Monday, April 15 and Tuesday, April 16, School of Optometry & Vision Science.

Staff International Experience Fund (SIEF) information session, Tuesday, April 16, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1304. 

Research Ethics drop-in training session, Wednesday, April 16, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Dana Porter Library.

Intro to LinkedIn (for employees only), Tuesday, April 16, 12:00 p.m. to 1:00 p.m., TC1208.

NEW - Waterloo Symposium on Technology and Society: Disruptive Technology – Do Robots Want Your Job? Tuesday, April 16, 7:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m., CIGI auditorium.

Registration opens for Matthews Golf Classic, Wednesday, April 17.

University Club Sunny Bunny Buffet, Wednesday, April 17 and Thursday, April 18, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University Club.

Portfolio & Project Management Community of Practice (PPM CoP) session, "Rowing in the Same Direction: Creating a positive team that gets the project done," Wednesday, April 17, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., East Campus 5 (EC5), 1111. 

CBB workshop: Grand River Hospital: Regulatory Aspects and Standards within Healthcare Institutions, with Carla Girolametto, Director of Research, Innovation and Clinical Trials at Grand River Hospital, Wednesday, April 17, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. Event is only open to faculty, students and post docs. Please Register.

LGBTQ+ Making Spaces workshop, Wednesday, April 17, 12:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., STC 2002.

FemPhys: Does Physics Need Ethics?, Wednesday, April 17, 5:30 p.m., QNC 1201.

Good Friday holiday, Friday, April 19, most university operations closed.

Advanced Manufacturing Consortium (AMC) Showcase, Tuesday, April 23, 8:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., Engineering 7 second floor event space.

SEE Canada Grant Information Session, Tuesday, April 23, 12:00 p.m., DC 1304.

Research Talks: A new reality: Exploring dimensions of immersive learning featuring Waterloo researchers Neil Randall and Jennifer Boger, as well as Ben Sainsbury of Marion Surgical and Evan Jones of Stitch Media, Tuesday, April 23, 11:45 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., DC 1302. Please register as seating is limited.

Tenure & Promotion Workshop Series, Wednesday, April 24 and Thursday, April 25, various times and locations.

NEW - Book launch: Distinguished Professor emeritus Kenneth McLaughlin, "Race, Religion and Politics: The 1896 Election in Canada," Thursday, April 25, 7:00 p.m., St. Jerome’s Academic Centre. Reception to follow. For more details, or to register, please contact thirstan.falconer@uwaterloo.ca.

Staff appreciation menu at the University Club, Wednesday, April 24 to Friday, April 26, 11:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., University Club.

Pharmacy Research DayWednesday, April 24, all day, Pharmacy Building. RSVP. 

FAUW workshop, Navigating your First Probationary Term, Wednesday, April 24, 10:00 a.m., M3 3103.

Research Ethics drop-in training session, Wednesday, April 24, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., Dana Porter Library.

FAUW workshop, Applying for contract renewal, Wednesday, April 24, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., M3 3103.

WISE Public Lecture: Utility of the Future – Perspective from a Local Distribution Company featuring Umar Waqas, P.ENG, CEM, Director, Engineering Services, Energy+ Inc., Wednesday April 24, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., CPH 4335.

NEW - Senior Women Academic Administrators of Canada Conference 2019, Thursday, April 25 to Saturday, April 27, Fed Hall.

FAUW workshop, Applying for Tenure, Thursday, April 25, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., QNC 1506.

Transnational Talks featuring Professor Shamus Khan, “The Sexual Health Initiative to Foster Transformation”, Thursday, April 25, 11:00 a.m. to 12:20 p.m., HH 1108.

FAUW workshop, Applying for Promotion to Full Professor, Thursday, April 25, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., QNC 1506.

David Sprott Distinguished Lecture featuring Damir Filipović, "A Machine Learning Approach to Portfolio Risk Management," Thursday, April 25, 4:00 p.m., STC 0020.

LGBTQ+ Making Spaces Train-The-Trainer, Friday, April 26, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., COM 116E.

NEW - QPR Mental Health Training, Monday, April 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m., NH second floor.

NEW - W Store, W Store Essentials and W Print locations closed for inventory, Tuesday, April 30.

NEW - See the unseeable: A black hole discovery conversation with physicist Avery Broderick, Tuesday, April 30, 6:30 p.m., Humanities Theatre.

NEW - 2019 Teaching and Learning Conference, Thursday, May 2, 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., Science Teaching Complex and Federation Hall.

NEW - Distinguished Lecture Series, Systems research — construed broadly, Margo Seltzer, Canada 150 Research Chair in Computer Systems, University of British Columbia, Tuesday, May 7, 3:30 p.m., DC 1302.

NEW - Webinar: Authors' Rights, Wednesday, May 8, 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.

NEW - Coping Skills Seminar - Challenging Thinking, Wednesday, May 8, 4:00 p.m., HS 2302.

PhD oral defences

School of Planning. Matthew Quick, "Spatiotemporal crime patterns and the urban environment: Evidence for planning and place-based policy." Supervisor, Jane Law. On display in the Faculty of Environment, EV1 335. Oral defence Wednesday, April 24, 9:30 a.m., EV1 221.

Sociology & Legal Studies. Patrick Lalonde, "Border Security on the Frontline: Examining Official and Non-Official Knowledge Concerning Frontline Social Interactions and Technologization Within the Windsor Borderland." Supervisor, Daniel O'Connor. On deposit in the Arts graduate office, PAS 2428. Oral defence Wednesday, April 24, 1:00 p.m., PAS 2030.

Geography and Environmental Management. Qinghuan Li, "The influence of winter time boreal forest tree transmissivity on tree emission and passive microwave snow observations." Supervisor, Richard Kelly. On display in the Faculty of Environment, EV1 335. Oral defence Thursday, April 25, 1:00 p.m., EV1 221.

French Studies. Julien Defraeye, "Perspectives écopoétiques dans le écrit québécois contemporain." Supervisor, Élise Lepage. On deposit in the Arts graduate office, PAS 2428. Oral defence Thursday, April 25, 1:00 p.m., HH 1104.