Monday, December 18, 2023

Thank you: United, we're better

A message from the University of Waterloo United Way Workplace Committee.

Our campaign has ended, and the University of Waterloo United Way Workplace Committee wanted to take a moment to thank every one of you who contributed to this great cause in 2023.

This year we raised over $228,000! This is an incredible accomplishment – especially in these difficult times. We’re truly grateful for your time, energy, and donations. We couldn’t have done it without you. United, we’re better.

Watch the video message from United Way Waterloo Region Communities CEO Joan Fisk.

The United Way Waterloo Region Communities wanted to share their sentiments, so please enjoy this thank-you video they’ve compiled just for the University of Waterloo. In it they note our incredible two-decade contribution of over 4.8 million dollars – an impact we can be proud of. This money has made it possible to support over a hundred local charities and has made our community stronger.

Thank you once again; without you, there is no way. See you in 2024.

Policy 29 now available for review

As part of the University of Waterloo’s commitment to foster a healthy learning, working, and living environment, President Vivek Goel announced on September 20, 2023, that the University would be moving towards a smoke-free campus.  

The Smoke-Free Waterloo website contains a frequently asked questions section, smoking cessation supports, and will have ongoing updates from the University as it transitions to a fully smoke-free campus. A draft of Policy 29 – Smoke-Free Campus is now available for community review. Submit your feedback no later than February 1, 2024. 

If you have questions about Waterloo’s transition to a smoke-free campus, refer to the frequently asked questions or contact  smokefree@uwaterloo.ca. 

Celebrating retirees from 2023's first quarter

Throughout 2023, a number of staff and faculty members have retired from the University. Here are the retirees from 2023’s first quarter (January to March) as reported by Human Resources.

First, a name we missed from November 2022: Debbie Anderson, who started working at Waterloo in April 1999, retired as Library Assistant in the Library.

Now, on to 2023:

January 2023

• Ingrid Sherrer, who joined the University in May 1999, retired as Departmental Secretary in Chemical Engineering;
• Ana Marinho, who began working at Waterloo in October 2000, retired as Custodian II in Plant Operations;
• Dr. Stephan Lambert, who joined Waterloo in January 1985 as a faculty member in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering, retired January 1;
• Dr. Emanuel Carvalho, who joined the University in September 1976, retired as a faculty member in Economics;
• Janet Vaughan , who began working at Waterloo in June 1978, retired as Administrative Manager in Germanic and Slavic Studies;
• Dr. Jonathan Blay, who started at the University in November 2012, retired as regular faculty member in the School of Pharmacy;
• Tony Bairos, who began working at Waterloo in September 1976, retired as Moving and Storage Supervisor in Central Stores;
• Dr. Ian McKillop, who joined the University in January 2004, retired as regular faculty member in the School of Public Health Sciences;
• Dr. Paul Parker, who began working at Waterloo in May 1991, retired as regular faculty in the School of Environment, Enterprise and Development;
• Fatima Costa, who joined the University in September 1997, retired as Prospect Research Data Specialist in Advancement Services;
• Richard Forgett, who began working at Waterloo in August 1997, retired as Manager, Engineering Machine Shop in the Engineering Dean’s Office;
• Dawn Charlton, who started at the University in August 2014, retired as Director, Marketing & Brand at University Relations;
• Dr. Jean Andrey, who began her career at Waterloo in May 1989, retired as regular faculty member in Geography;
• Dr. George Freeman, who joined the University in September 1985, retired as regular faculty in Electrical and Computer Engineering;
• Dr. Edward Vrscay, who started at Waterloo in July 1986, retired as regular faculty in Applied Mathematics;
• Joanne Voisin, who began working at the University in July 1982, retired as Records Systems Solutions Architect in the Office of the Registrar;
• Roland Mueller, who started working at Waterloo in February 1987, retired as Building Attendant in Plant Operations – Custodial;
• Dr. Anna Lubiw, who joined the University in August 1987, retired as regular faculty in the  Cheriton School of Computer Science;
• Tracy Taves, who started at Waterloo in June 1984, retired as Administrator, Graduate Studies in the Faculty of Health;
• Jacob Soica, who began working at the University in January 2006, retired as Custodian in Plant Operations – Custodial;
• Dennis Huber, who started his career at Waterloo in May 1986, retired as Vice-President, Administration and Finance;
• Dr. Colin MacLeod, who joined the University in July 2003, retired as regular faculty in Psychology; and
• Elena Hutuleac, who started at Waterloo in October 1998, retired as Custodian in Plant Operations – Custodial.

February 2023

• Cherilyn Otterbein, who joined the staff at Conrad Grebel University College in April 1990, retired as Food Services Manager;
• Wayne Gadsby, who started at Waterloo in September 1984, retired as Treasury & Investment Analyst in Finance;
• Dina Meunier, who began working at the University in November 2010, retired as Associate Director, Online Learning in the Centre for Extended Learning;
• Christine Tauer Martin, who started at Waterloo in August 2002, retired as Manager, Counselling Services in Campus Wellness - Counselling Services Management;
• Karen Trevors, who began working at the University in September 1979, retired as Executive Officer in the Faculty of Science Dean's Office;
• Gordon Wachtveitl, who started at Waterloo in January 1988, retired as Mechanic I in Plant Operations - Mechanical Maintenance A;
• Zofia Szymczak, who began working at the University in August 2000, retired as Custodian II in Plant Operations – Custodial; and
• Brian MacVicar, who started at Waterloo in October 2016, retired as Supervisor, Controls & HVAC Services in Plant Operations – Utilities.

March 2023

• Scott Davis, who began working at the University in June 1987, retired as Faculty Relations Manager in Co-operative and Experiential Education - Student and Faculty Relations;
• Judith Whitfield, who started at Waterloo in August 1980, retired as Student Advisor in Co-operative and Experiential - International Employment Relations;
• Laurie Peloquin, who began working at the University in July 1989, retired as Student Advisor om Co-operative and Experiential - Employment Relations - GTA West;
• Robert Mader, who joined Waterloo in May 2000, retired as Building Serviceperson I-Carpenter in Plant Operations;
• Bruce Campbell, who began his career at the University in June 1989, retired as Chief Information Officer in Information Systems & Technology (IST);
• Betty Jacobs, who started at the University in December 1976, retired while on leave from Waterloo;
• Linda Wilhelm, who began working at Waterloo in September 1998, retired as Food Services Assistant in Food Services;
• Margaret Burnett, who started at the University in March 1981, retired as Administrative Officer in Kinesiology and Health Sciences;
• Tom Steckner, who began working at Waterloo in March 2020, retired as Corporate Research Partnerships Manager in the Office of Research; and
• Frances Heller, who started at the University in January 2013, retired as Customer Service Assistant in Plant Operations.

Congratulations to all on your much-deserved retirement.