Thursday, March 11, 2021

Donation of $1 million launches Future Cities Initiative

By: Adam Segal, Faculty of Environment 

The Faculty of Environment at the University of Waterloo has received a donation of $1 million to launch the Δ Program (Delta Program) and provide pivotal funding for the Future Cities Initiative, a multidisciplinary endeavor focused on grooming the future leaders of city building and harnessing research, knowledge and innovation to create just, healthy and sustainable communities. 

The landmark gift comes from Waterloo alumni Frank Cairo (BES ’05) and Troy van Haastrecht (BASc ’93) co-founders of Caivan Communities, the centerpiece of Environment’s new Future Cities Initiative.  

“This extraordinary gift from Caivan Communities is a catalyst to realize our goal of preparing talented, highly skilled and innovative future leaders with the tools and systems-focused knowledge needed to transform cities,” said Jean Andrey, dean of the Faculty of Environment. “The University of Waterloo and Caivan Communities have a shared vision for this seed investment to blossom into a trailblazing program that empowers students, researchers and experts from business, the private and public sector and society, to ask questions, challenge assumptions and imagine futures that shape sustainable, just and modern communities in Canada and across the globe.”  

Deeply passionate about the challenges of sustainable development, Cairo, a real estate developer, notes this donation has a professional and philosophical purpose for him. 

“Establishing this partnership with Jean Andrey and the University is an opportunity to make a positive impact on future generations,” said Cairo. “It is our hope that Waterloo students, motivated by the threats and opportunities that come with future cities, work together to discover solutions that are economical, scalable and improve the lives of people. After all, where we live directly affects who we are and how we live our lives.”  

Caivan’s funding of the program is, “a catalyst that we hope will precipitate a framework for identifying the tools and techniques required to positively shape future cities,” Cairo said.  

Linked directly to Environment’s priority to develop tomorrow’s leaders, Cairo added that, “recipients will need to be prepared to address the threats and opportunities associated with big data, advanced synthetic intelligence and the proliferation of automation across all sectors.  These, along with a changing climate, are truly some of the tough nuts to crack with respect to the shape of future cities. Qualitative and quantitative tools will be required for future leaders to build or, at minimum, facilitate cities that are resilient, adaptive and inclusive.” 

The donation will be directed to the following initiatives within the Δ Program (Delta Program): 

• The Caivan Communities Professor, who will lead the program, including program design, industry partnerships and teaching over the next three years. 

• Caivan Communities Student Support will fund 40 undergraduate and graduate scholarships over four years, rewarding those who achieve academic excellence, leadership and perseverance. 

• Caivan Communities Global Citizenship Internship will support one student annually over the next five years to work in collaboration with an Ottawa-based, non-profit organization, applying their knowledge in real-world settings, while developing critical leadership skills. 

• Caivan Communities International Postdoctoral Fellowships will attract top-tier postdoctoral talent who will contribute to the Δ Program (Delta Program) through a combination of teaching and applied research.                                                          

• Δ Program (Delta Program) Enrichment funds will fund guest lectures and professional training for students, while also expanding cross-sector partnerships through public engagement opportunities, such as events and webinars.  

“Troy and I value Caivan’s partnership with the University of Waterloo,” said Cairo. “We believe strongly that resilient cities of the future will require thoughtful and informed leadership in social, economic and environmental realms, as the pace of unparalleled change remains exponential.” 

Caivan Communities is an integrated land development and home building company with communities based in Ottawa and the Greater Toronto Area. 

Flags lowered in remembrance

A message from Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor

To mark one year since the World Health Organization declared the global pandemic, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau designated March 11 a national day of observance to remember those who have died from COVID-19.  

The University has lowered its flags to half-mast today to commemorate the many people who succumbed to the virus. So many people lost so much over the past year, and our thoughts are with you.

Let us take this time of remembrance to acknowledge the need to redouble our efforts to keep others safe, to support vaccination efforts, and to move towards a time when we can all be together again.

1,000 flu shots and counting: Pharmacy student reflects on being a vaccinator

March is Pharmacy Appreciation Month. This month, in our #PAM2021 series, the School of Pharmacy is highlighting the unique ways the pharmacy community has supported Canadians through the pandemic.

When pharmacy student Michelle Liang started her first work term at a Costco pharmacy in January 2020, she hadn’t been trained to administer vaccinations. Today, she has given more than 1,000 influenza vaccine injections in the 2020 flu season.

Michelle after giving an injection to Kris Mendoza, a pharmacy alumnus.

Injections training usually occurs in the second year of pharmacy school, in the Professional Practice Lab. But COVID-19 snarled those plans, and while Michelle was able to complete her winter and fall terms on co-op at Costco, her spring 2020 courses were delivered online.

Pharmacy is a co-op mandatory program, and many work terms have pharmacist supervisors who are trained to give injections. To ensure Michelle’s cohort was able to provide vaccinations while working in the fall, the professional practice team knew they’d need help. They worked with the school’s experiential and administrative staff to recruit co-op supervisors to train students directly. 

School staff assembled injection training supply kits and mailed them to students. Co-op employers received training materials, and students registered to complete their practical training at sites throughout the province while they were on co-op. Professor Allison Tario, who normally facilitates injection training in class, assisted co-op employers in preparing for training, tracked student progress and saw more than three-quarters of the cohort complete their injection certification this way.

Michelle was one of these students. She completed her training at a local Rexall in Waterloo, under the supervision of Joe Neureuther, an alumnus of Waterloo Pharmacy. The lessons stuck and Michelle had ample opportunity to give injections through fall 2020, both on her second work-term at Costco in Guelph, and working part-time at a Rexall flu clinic.

“Throughout the flu season, patients ended up referring family and friends to me because they were surprised at how painless it was,” she said. “Children didn’t realize I injected them until I was finished, which was a testament to the amazing technique and training from Joe and my mentors at Costco.”

When Michelle passed the 1,000-vaccine mark, a vice-president from Costco Pharmacy visited her team and congratulated her. Later in the season, vaccine supply issues slowed Michelle’s injections rate.

Giving flu shots during the COVID-19 pandemic helped Michelle appreciate how important pharmacists are as providers of health services.

“Some of my flu-shot patients were vaccine hesitant and were receiving the shot for the first time,” she said. “The transparent answers to questions, clear communication, and the confidence that I showed in my day-to-day work, in turn, it all gave them confidence. It’s a role that has a lot of trust involved, and each action or word may play a part in impacting that patient’s life.”

It’s an important takeaway, especially given that pharmacists, pharmacy technicians and pharmacy students are part of Ontario’s Phase Two rollout plan of the COVID-19 vaccine.

“Patients recognized me months after receiving their vaccination and told me how they hoped to receive their COVID-19 vaccination from me in the future,” said Michelle.

Her work-terms during the pandemic have helped her become comfortable with uncertainty.

“Those early days in March and April 2020 involved being the rock that patients could lean on while trying my best to learn about a disease that the world knew very little about,” she said. “The shift into providing reassurance, answering questions that no one really knew the answer to, sifting through misinformation, and biting down on any fear I was feeling for myself, my team, and my family was what made my job even more fulfilling.”  

As she looks ahead to pharmacy’s role in providing COVID-19 vaccinations, Michelle is undaunted.

“Pharmacy is an essential piece in the intricate puzzle of Canada’s health-care system. As we prepare to begin immunizing the community, I look forward to playing a role in providing COVID-19 vaccines.”

Ready to welcome incoming students for Fall 2021

By Lisa Brackenridge, Student Success Office

Last year, in response to the move to online learning due to the pandemic, we quickly pivoted and launched two new, fully online, pre-arrival initiatives to welcome our new students:

• Waterloo Ready, led by the Student Success Office (SSO), for incoming undergraduate students
• Waterloo Grad Ready, led by Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Affairs (GSPA), for incoming graduate students

Based on the success of Waterloo Ready and Waterloo Grad Ready, and the ongoing impacts of the pandemic, both programs will continue and welcome the incoming class of Fall 2021. This year, both Waterloo Ready and Waterloo Grad Ready will be led by the SSO in partnership with all six Faculties and other campus partners. Both international and domestic students are invited to participate, and there will be specific programming to support international students.

Waterloo Ready 2021 will be fully online, from June through to Orientation, and will help new students navigate becoming a Waterloo Warrior. It includes four main aspects:

Community – New students get the opportunity to meet and connect with others from their faculty through online discussions led by an upper-year peer (Orientation leader).  

Learning – Live chat events with their faculty and customized modules in LEARN help new students to build skills and know what to expect academically and socially as a Waterloo student.  

To-do list - From setting up their email to paying tuition, we help guide students through everything they need to do to prepare for their first term.

Experience – New students learn about what to expect from their Waterloo experience. Which may include co-op, volunteering, getting involved in clubs, leadership opportunities, and more.

The Waterloo Ready 2020 final report (requires CAS login) provides participation details, key takeaways, and recommendations about last year’s program. Overall, Waterloo Ready succeeded in helping incoming students to develop a sense of belonging and feel like a part of the Waterloo community and their Faculty.

Waterloo Grad Ready 2021 will run from June to November and gives new graduate students access to a virtual transition and orientation program to support them as they begin their graduate program. It offers students a suite of resources to prepare them for graduate studies at UWaterloo, including:

• new student checklist
• resources to help students transition to graduate life at Waterloo
• live sessions to welcome students to the University and support their ongoing graduate experience.

Waterloo Grad Ready will be delivered through UWaterloo’s online learning management system, LEARN. A full schedule of online programming and live events will be available in LEARN, when the program launches.

Waterloo Grad Ready key findings page (requires CAS login) shares insights and takeaways from what students told us about last year’s program. Overall feedback was very positive and our focus for 2021 will be on ensuring that we continue to build out a sense of community for students in addition to keeping them informed and prepared.

On a related note, staff and students supporting Orientation are meeting regularly to plan Fall 2021 Orientation. They're considering contingencies that may need to be in place as the details of the Fall 2021 term are finalized. Stay tuned in the coming months when we will have more details to share.

If you have questions about pre-arrival programming for Fall 2021, please contact the Student Success Office.

Waterloo Centre for German Studies announces diversity and inclusion grants

A message from the Waterloo Centre for German Studies (WCGS).

The Waterloo Centre for German Studies (WCGS) is pleased to announce grants to support initiatives aimed at diversifying German studies and making it more inclusive. This news will be of interest to programs, instructors, faculty members, and graduate students who are pursuing projects that will facilitate diversity and inclusion in scholarship, teaching, and public outreach.

The grants will be a maximum of $5,000, and the number and size of the grants will depend on the types and number of projects proposed. The application deadline is April 1, 2021.

For a complete description of the program and how to apply, please go to the Diversity and Inclusion Grants page.

If you have questions or need other information, please contact James Skidmore, director of the Waterloo Centre for German Studies.

Thursday's notes

Here's the latest Nutrition Month Myth vs Fact supplied by Sandra Ace, Health Services Dietitian:

Myth:  A detox diet is a good way to clean out the toxins in your body. 

Fact:  There is no scientific evidence to support the need for, or effectiveness of, detoxification diets. 

Detox diets are typically do-it-yourself products or programs that claim to cleanse your body of toxins that are allegedly responsible for many common complaints. A quick Internet search pointed me to thousands of products that not only claim to remove toxins, but are also marketed to promote weight loss, smooth cellulite, melt belly fat, treat aching joints, strengthen hair and nails, boost energy, decrease bloating and vanquish headaches. Don’t believe the hype. They are unproven and unregulated. Not only do detox diets not clean your system, they actually might do harm. Some contain potent ingredients that are known to be laxatives, diuretics or stimulants. Detoxing can lead to diarrhea, dehydration, or a dangerous electrolyte imbalance as well as side effects like digestive upsets, increased heart rate, headaches or low blood sugar. Detox teas or products that claim to help you lose weight may help you shed some pounds temporarily, but it’s soon regained when you return to your regular diet.

Your closets may need a spring cleaning but your body doesn’t. Your liver, kidneys, and intestines already do that for you. Consuming a balanced, nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, abstaining from smoking, following safe drinking guidelines, being active, managing stress, and getting enough sleep all help to maintain your body’s robust cleaning network in tip-top shape. If you are thinking about using cleansing or detox products, first check with your health-care provider. Try this checklist to set realistic, sustainable healthy living goals. If you would like reliable and tailored nutrition advice, speak with a registered dietitian.