Monday, January 4, 2021

Vivek Goel among recipients of Order of Canada

By Pamela Smyth.

Two alumni, a professor emeritus, and Waterloo’s next president are among the people recently named to the Order of Canada in announcements in November and December.

Vivek Goel, who becomes Waterloo’s seventh president and vice-chancellor in July, was named a member of the Order of Canada in the honours list announced December 30. Known globally as an expert in public health, the distinguished scholar recently served as vice-president research and innovation at the University of Toronto. He stepped down from that role last June to support Canada’s response to the pandemic as a member of the federal COVID-19 Immunity Task Force, and as scientific advisor for the CanCOVID Research Network.

Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada, recognized Goel for his contributions as an academic and administrator who is committed to the advancement of public health services, evidence-based healthcare, and research innovation.

“The global crisis that is the COVID-19 pandemic has put a sharp focus on public health research, and I’m grateful for this recognition of my contributions in that area,“ said Goel. “I wish to offer my congratulations to all of the other honourees, and express how proud I feel to be in the company of people doing such important work.”

Frances Westley, professor emeritus and formerly the J.W. McConnell Chair in Social Innovation at Waterloo, was also named a member of the Order of Canada in the same announcement. She is an author, consultant, and renowned scholar in the areas of social innovation, inter-organizational collaboration ,and strategies for sustainable development. Westley’s honour is the result of her global contributions to the study and implementation of social innovation.

The Honourable Monique Bégin, who has an honorary doctor of laws degree from Waterloo, and Peter Warrian, an alumnus of St. Jerome's University who earned his BA, MA and PhD from Waterloo, appear in the announcement on November 27. Bégin’s award is a promotion within the Order to companion, and is the result of her work to support public health, education and human rights around the world. She has served federally as Minister of National Revenue and as Minister of Health and Welfare. Warrian, co-founder and managing director of the Lupina Foundation, becomes a member of the Order of Canada. He was recognized for his expertise and leadership as a researcher in Canada’s steel industry, and for his philanthropy in the area of health.

The Order of Canada is one of the country’s highest civilian honours. The Governor General makes the appointments on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. For more information on the awards, please visit the website of the Governor General of Canada.

We're back for 2021 as the shutdown continues

Campus will begin to rise from its long winter's nap, but the thaw will be slow going as Winter term lectures won't commence until Monday, January 11.

The Centre is currently closed to in-person visits. Connect with them by email, live chat, or at 519-888-4567, ext. 42268 so they can assist you. Official documents continue to be processed for email, regular mail, and courier.

Student residences remain open as normal. Resident move-in will take place between January 2 and January 11.

Print + Retail Solutions will continue to facilitate textbook and course material ordering and offers shipping or curbside pickup options. W Store and W Print will be operating online-only until further notice. W Store’s contactless curbside pickup service reopened January 4, 2021. 

Campus Wellness Services, which includes the Covid Testing Assessment Centre, Health Services, and Counselling Services, reopened at 8:30 a.m. today. 

The Student Life Centre is open and will maintain its hours in January from 7:30 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. on weekdays. The Turnkey Desk will be open during these hours, and the building will be open to access the services and businesses only. All seating for dining and studying has been temporarily removed.

CIBC, Campus Dentist, International News, Student Health Pharmacy, SOS Physiotherapy, and the Watcard Office will remain open. Feds Used Books will be open for purchases via phone and pickup at the Turnkey Desk, and Food Bank hampers will also be available for pickup. WUSA services will be available at Turnkey including bus passes and cheque pick-up. W Store Essentials and Lifetouch Photography will be closed.  

We're a little bit older and a little bit wiser as campus adjusts to the 'new normal' of the provincial shutdown, which went into effect on December 26 and will continue until January 23.

General office activity is limited to work that must occur on campus. Any work that can occur remotely should be done from home. 

In-person course activity will only continue for subject matter or instruction that requires that it be taught in-person, such as clinical or hands-on training, with a limit of 10 students per section, with some exemptions in health care disciplines. 

Face-to-face human participant research on campus has paused and will be restarted when conditions permit. All other research on campus can continue during the provincial shutdown period following approved safety plans.

Food Services operations have been modified with regard to the provincial shutdown.

• The Market at Claudette Millar Hall reopened Sunday, January 3, 2021 as an essential service from 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. The Market's hours for the first week back will be 8:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m., Monday to Friday. 
• Catering will only be producing delivered meals to the Radisson Hotel for the International Student Quarantine program and for any students self-isolating at CLV who have signed on for the food package.
• The Tim Hortons in the Student Life Centre will open on Monday, January 4, 2021 with reduced hours; 8:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• Other locations, including Starbucks STC, Brubakers, DC Bytes, and Tim Hortons DC will remain closed during the provincial shutdown until at least January 25, including the mobile order and delivery app locations (Pizza Pizza, Shawarma Hub, Subway, Catering and UC Eats, and Rolltation).
• All food services are take-out and/or delivery only. Dine-in seating is not permitted. 

Athletics facilities are closed. Athletics will continue to offer online programming as well as the new Warrior Reset program. The fees for Personal Training Consultation and the Warrior Reset program will be waived during the lockdown. Visit the Healthy Warriors at Home page or the Warrior Reset program for more information.

Libraries can be open for curbside, delivery and pick-up. Visitors may be permitted to enter libraries for contactless drop-off and pick-up, or similar services. Most research-related services may continue. The Library's DC Study Space service was anticipated to resume on the first day of classes, January 11, 2021, but will likely not be available during the provincial shutdown. Book Pickup @ Porter and Conrad Grebel services will resume on January 4, 2021. Musagetes service occurs once per week on Fridays and will resume on the first Friday, January 8, 2021. The Book Pickup @ Porter service will continue during the shutdown.

At this time, the shutdown does not impact the arrival of international students and does not change any of the federal or provincial quarantine requirements or the provincial COVID-19 testing requirement. The Ontario government is strongly recommending that anyone travelling between provinces self-isolate for 14 days upon arrival. Students arriving in Waterloo from outside of Ontario can check Campus Housing’s short-term accommodations page for alternative self-isolation options. 

New Hallman Director begins term at the School of Pharmacy

A message from the School of Pharmacy.

This month, Andrea Edginton (BSc and PhD, University of Guelph) begins her term as Hallman Director of the School of Pharmacy. 

“Waterloo Pharmacy’s PharmD students, graduate students, staff and faculty have consistently inspired me and, in this new role, I am excited to support them in reaching their goals,” says Edginton.
“I aim to push forward our education and research agendas in concert with our exceptional community partners to ensure that the School remains the innovative centre of excellence it is known to be.”

Professor Edginton is a globally recognized leader in physiologically-based pharmacokinetic modeling and simulation, specializing in dose-exposure extrapolation to special populations.  She was a founding member of Waterloo Pharmacy and served as the School’s Associate Director, Graduate Studies and Research (2018) and member of the Executive leadership team (2015).

Edginton is also a seasoned entrepreneur with a strong research program. As such, innovation and knowledge translation are central to her vision for the School.

“There are vast opportunities within this University and the Kitchener-Waterloo start-up ecosystem to advance the ideas of our members, and this is an area of particular interest to me,” she says. “We are also excited to launch our Women in Pharmacy Leadership Program to support the next generation of women leaders and to help them move their ideas forward.”

Throughout her career at the University of Waterloo, Edginton has been involved with the Association of Faculties of Pharmacy and the Canadian Council for Accreditation of Pharmacy Programs (CCAPP) and looks forward to bringing her unique perspective to working with professional and regulatory organizations including the Ontario College of Pharmacists, Ontario Pharmacists Association, Canadian Pharmacists Association and Canadian Society of Hospital Pharmacists.   

Professor Edginton is Waterloo Pharmacy's third Hallman Director. She succeeds David Edwards, who held the position from 2011-2020.