Wednesday, May 6, 2020

W Store wants you to buy the shirt off its back for charity

A message from Print + Retail Solutions.

In an effort to raise funds for local COVID-19 response programs, W Store has released two limited-edition tee shirts.

100 per cent of the proceeds from the sale of these shirts will benefit programs in the Waterloo Region, such as the program established by St. Paul’s University College and their initiative to support local hospitals that are being impacted by the COVID-19 crisis.

“We are pleased to be partnering with the UWaterloo community to support local initiatives that directly impact frontline efforts during the COVID-19 crisis,” says Ryan Jacobs, director, Print + Retail Solutions.

The tee shirts retail for $12.99 and are available in two different styles – one which promotes social distancing (with reference to UWaterloo’s iconic geese).

The collection is available now at wstore.ca.  

Three Warriors drafted into CFL

This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Athletics and Recreation website.

The Warriors football program saw three of their stars drafted to CFL clubs last week, tying the highest number of players drafted in one season. Tyler Ternowski, Kurtis Gray, and Dion Pellerin all got to live out their childhood dream of hearing they named called out on draft night.

"I could not be more proud of these three Warriors," said head coach Chris Bertoia. "They have all come so far in their careers and have worked so hard to earn this feeling. I know when the chance presents, they will do everything they can to earn rosters spots on their respective clubs."

"Unfortunately for some of our guys it was not meant to be on this draft night. Those young men will be dissapointed but they all need to hold their respective heads high. Their football journey will continue, they'll just have to take a different path, their doors are certainly not closed."

Fourth year receiver and 2020 Male Athlete of the Year Tyler Ternowski was the first to go, selected in the third round, 27^th overall by his hometown Hamilton Tiger-Cats. In his career, Ternowski finished with three OUA first-team all-star nods, two U SPORTS first-team all-Canadian nods and holds the University of Waterloo records for most receiving TD's (26) and reception yards (2,949 yards). In the 2018 season, Ternowski broke the OUA single season record for most TD's with 14.

Read the rest of the article on the Athletics website.

Unicorn sighting: ApplyBoard reaches $2B in funding

Velocity alumnus and local entrepreneurial success story ApplyBoard has reached a major monetary milestone. The international student-focused school application company is now valued at $2 billion after ending its second round of venture capital financing.

"ApplyBoard is the story of three immigrant brothers from Iran, leveraging insights from their personal experience applying to schools in Canada, and wanting to make it easier for other international students to do the same," says an article on Velocity's website. "Co-founder and CEO Martin Basiri came to the University of Waterloo in 2010 to earn a Master’s degree in Mechatronics, and was followed several years later by brothers Meti (Co-founder and CMO), and Massi (COO), who both studied at Conestoga College."

ApplyBoard launched from the Velocity Garage in 2016.

President Feridun Hamdullahpur reached out to ApplyBoard on Twitter with this to say:

Read individual Tweet on Twitter

"Based in Kitchener, Ont., ApplyBoard has become one of the fastest-growing companies in the Waterloo region’s hotbed tech sector—and all of Canada—as a growing number of international students use its platform to apply to English-speaking universities, colleges and high schools," says a note in yesterday's Advancement Research News e-newsletter.

Read more about ApplyBoard on TechCrunch

iPad donation drive and other notes

Partnerships in Dementia Care is currently running a tablet donation drive to help family members connect with their loved ones in an age of physical distancing. "During the COVID-19 pandemic, it is challenging for family members and friends to connect with residents living in long-term care and retirement homes," says a note from the research team. "Using technology is one of the ways that residents can still make meaningful connections with their family or friends, yet many homes do not have enough iPads or similar tablet devices. The PiDC Alliance are accepting donations of new or used iPads or other devices and will deliver them to long-term care and retirement homes."

If you are interested in donating a device please contact Sherry Dupuis to arrange pick up, mailing or delivery by calling 519-888-4567, ext. 36188.

Here are some of the latest bits and bytes out of the Library:

A new resource called Project Syndicate is now available. Stay on top of current affairs with this new resource from the Library that lets you tap into the opinions of thinkers from around the world. Contributors include Nobel laureates, heads of state, grassroots campaigners, and academic specialists.

Find "op ed" pieces, videos, and podcasts on current affairs relating to economics, politics, sustainability, innovation, health, development, and more. Translations of many English commentaries are available in Arabic, Czech, Dutch, French, German, Hindi, Indonesian, Italian, Kazakh, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian, and Spanish.

You are also invited to visit the Library's newest art exhibit, Imaginarium. Virtually, of course. Imaginarium is the latest in the Art in the Library exhbit initiative and features works by Andrew McKay, Teresa Walker, Ni Zhan, and Chris Shantz (pictured). The physical artworks will be available for viewing in the Davis Centre Library at a later date.

Finally, Special Collections & Archives (SCA) has expanded its statement regarding language in archival descriptions to meaningfully integrate equity and reconciliation work into the department’s archival practice.

While we're on the subject of art and artifacts, Communitech is currently collecting children's artwork to share with staff and residents in long term care and retirement homes in Waterloo Region as part of a larger initiative to collect unopened and unused supplies of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE), personal hygiene products, furnitures and fixtures, and other items.

The community drive takes place on Friday, May 8 from 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. at the Westmount Golf Club Curling Club lounge entrance at 50 Inverness Drive in Kitchener. Check out the Communitech website for more information.

Plant Operations has announced that an exhaust unit atop the Mike & Ophelia Lazaridis Quantum-Nano Centre will be replaced on Wednesday, May 20, which requires a complete building lockdown from 6:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

The entire building will be closed and inaccessible while the exhaust unit replacement is carried out, and there will be a closure of the Ring Road between the Physical Activities Complex's lower parking lot and the entrance to the Needles Hall parking lot to make room for the crane and support vehicles during the operation. (editor's note: any geese in the neighbourhood should adjust their routes accordingly.)

You know them, you love them: the Good Buddies of the University

"This is Elliot," writes Julia Burke, online learning consultant in the Centre for Extended Learning. "He reminds me to stretch more often. His curly tail has made a few cameo appearances in my Teams meetings."

"This is Ruby, my WFH colleague," writes Tanya Snyder, marketing specialist, special events & student-run services at WUSA. "She’s always happy to provide input during meetings. However, compared to my other WUSA colleagues, her opinions are mainly about squirrel antics and duck flight paths. 12/10 on cuddles though!"

"This is Kudo, one of my recently acquired co-workers," writes Melissa Campbell, workday analyst at Human Resources. "While I do enjoy working with him, someone from HR should have a chat with him about personal space…"

“This is my 8-year-old Rosie girl who sticks by me through thick and thin," writes Tracy Taves, administrator, graduate studies in Applied Health Sciences. "She’s finding this work-from-home thing a tad wee bit boring and thought it was time for some beauty sleep.”