Tuesday, November 21, 2023

Giving Tuesday is one week away but you can donate starting today

A note from the Office of Advancement.

On Giving Tuesday (Tuesday, November 28) people around the world will come together to support the communities and causes they love, to create a better future for everyone.

UWaterloo’s 2022 Giving Tuesday campaign was a record-breaker, with more than 1,700 alumni, parents, faculty, staff, retirees and friends donating over $800,000 to support our students.

From November 21 to 28*, please make a charitable donation through the Giving Tuesday website.

Your support makes a meaningful impact on the University of Waterloo community - thank you!

*Donations made between November 21 at 12:01 a.m. ET and November 28 at 11:59 p.m. ET will count towards the Giving Tuesday challenges.

Keeping Well at Work keynote speaker event coming up November 29

This year’s Keeping Well at Work program starts on Wednesday, November 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., with virtual keynote speaker Solange Tuyishime. Solange was born and raised in East Africa, surviving war and genocide in her early childhood years. As she moved between refugee camps, she became determined that the story of her life would not be one of tragedy, and she would become an agent for meaningful change.

Welcomed to Canada as a teenager, Solange started to bring her vision to life through volunteerism and community change. Today, she leads Elevate International, where she’s earned the honour as 2022’s Business Innovation Champion of the Year and a 40 under 40 award recipient in Ottawa. 

During this event, Solange will share three key learnings from her life experiences that can assist you with the power to elevate through your struggles and make the impossible possible.  

Organization and Human Development invites you to register for this kick-off keynote for the Keeping Well at Work program. More events will follow throughout the year to support your health and well-being.

Inspiring our youth, advancing society

A message from Waterloo International in support of International Education Week. This article was originally published on Waterloo News.

Waterloo International works to connect the University of Waterloo campus community to global partners of all types including, but not exclusively, post-secondary institutions, governments and industry. This effort facilitates meaningful exchange of information through research, faculty and staff mobility and entrepreneurship that lead to the cross-pollination of ideas that spark impactful activities both here and in the global community.

Students are a cornerstone of these activities. Their hard work, thoughtfulness and curiosity create a ripple effect that leaves an indelible impression both locally and globally. One student who perfectly embodies this is Darren Harry Baine. An exceptional international undergraduate student who’s been named one of Uganda’s top 40 under 40 in 2021 and the founder of the Young Eye Foundation, he exemplifies how global connectedness can lead to impactful change.

Read about Darren’s work and why he chose to study at Waterloo.

You can access rapid antigen tests now on campus

Rapid Antigen tests are conveniently available at the Turnkey Desk in the Student Life Centre for the current UWaterloo community. Campus Housing also offers these tests for resident students - simply inquire at the Residence Front Desk.

Please note: these tests are designed for symptomatic individuals and are not meant for general screening. It's crucial to be aware that rapid antigen tests may sometimes yield false negatives. If you're experiencing symptoms and receive a negative result, complete the Ontario Self-Assessment and adhere to the provided guidance.

Ensure safety for yourself and others by maintaining frequent hand hygiene, wearing masks if unwell, and staying home when necessary.

Annual Stanley Knowles Lecture featured Jody Wilson-Raybould

By Rebecca Wagner.

On a cold November evening, United College alumni, friends, and students, came together for an evening of warm celebration, reflection, and gratitude, at the annual Stanley Knowles dinner and lecture. 

The evening was a celebration of another successful year of impact and a recognition of the people who played an integral role in crafting a 60-year United College legacy.    

This signature event derives its name from former Canadian parliamentarian Stanley Knowles, a figure whose commitment to advancing the social good remains integral to the values and mission of United College, a full 60 years after his service in Parliament. These social values were reflected in the themes of the evening’s fire-side chat, and in the local and global impact made by the alumni and student award recipients who were honored throughout the celebration.      

The event featured a fireside chat with United College Chancellor Michaëlle Jean and special guest, former Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada, Jody Wilson-Raybould (Puglaas). The subject of discussion was Jody Wilson-Raybould’s most recent book, “True Reconciliation,” a topic which serves as a tangible reminder of the University of Waterloo’s commitment to Indigenization and its dedication to addressing inequity through education.  The discussion was an opportunity to learn and share truths, and to reflect on what true reconciliation means to each one of us and where to find strength for this journey.      

Prominent alumni and exceptional students were recognized throughout the evening for their contributions to the vibrancy of United College life and to the well-being of the broader community, an impact that was felt within the walls of Alumni Hall and reverberated in the community and around the world.       

As United College alumni, friends, and students braved the cold autumn night at the end of the evening, they did so armed with memories and rekindled connections, and a commitment to continuing the United College legacy of community, reconciliation, and social impact for the next 60 years.    

Tuesday's notes

The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism's Gender Equity Lecture Series continues with Faculty-specific sessions taking place this month. "These sessions are for those who are interested in exploring foundational Gender Equity concepts as it highlights some significant personal, interpersonal, and systemic barriers to gender equity across UWaterloo's campus and it explores the harms of gender inequity, when it arises," says a note from EDI-RO. Dates include:

• Faculty of Science: Epistemic Injustice, Personal Responsibility, and Gender Equity in Academia, Tuesday, November 21, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.; and
• Faculty of Mathematics: A Way Forward?: Dispositional Barriers to Gender Equity, Wednesday, November 29, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. 

"The 28^th annual UWSA Craft Sale is this week!" the staff association reports. "Do your holiday shopping or just treat yourself to a range of items handmade by UWaterloo staff members, including chocolate, plushies, jewelry, knitting, planters, and more! The sale runs Thursday, November 23 from 9:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Friday, November 24, from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. in the "fishbowl" in the Davis Centre." 

10 per cent of all proceeds are donated to UWSA's student awards.