Friday, October 4, 2024

Recognizing National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

By Emily Brant. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

September 30th marked the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation — a day to honour the lost children and survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. The University of Waterloo commemorated the day with a Sunrise Ceremony, the official opening of the new Indigenous outdoor gathering space and the annual commitment polishing ceremony, followed by a walk around Ring Road, soup lunch, traditional drumming and a round dance.

Widespread public commemoration and acknowledgement of the tragic and painful history, continued impact and intergenerational trauma of Canada's residential school legacy are vital components of the reconciliation process.

The day began in front of the new Indigenous outdoor gathering space, located on the B.C. Matthews Hall (BMH) Green, at 7:00 a.m. with a Sunrise Ceremony led by Indigenous Elder and Knowledge Keeper Myeengun Henry. The ceremony gave attendees and facilitators a chance to get grounded and connected before an emotional day and head into the events with a good mind, heart and spirit.

At 9:30 a.m., the Eagle Staff carriers, flag carriers and key participants, along with the Waterloo community, made their way into a Cedar Circle with a welcome and honour song by Iron Horse Trail singers. A smudge, prayer and thanksgiving address were offered ahead of the first speaker of the day, Jean Becker, associate vice-president of the Office of Indigenous Relations. Becker kicked off the remarks for the official opening of the new outdoor gathering space by sharing about its purpose and meaning of the space.

Read the fully story on Waterloo News 

Waterloo PhD student wins prestigious PEO Scholar Award

A message from the Office of the Associate Academic Vice President and Teaching Innovation Incubator.

Karmvir Padda, a PhD candidate in the department of Sociology and Legal Studies at the University of Waterloo, has been awarded the P.E.O. Scholar Award by P.E.O. international for her contributions to the field of sociology on online radicalization and extremism. Padda’s research delves into the semantics of extremist movements, analyzing how language is used to justify extremist actions and goals.

This award recognizes the academic excellence and achievement of PhD candidates from across North America for excellence in their contributions to their field of study while maintaining leadership positions to support higher education. After a competitive review process, Padda was one of 100 women out of over 800 nominees to receive this award. She was notified in April 2024 that she was the selected recipient of the P.E.O. Scholar Award.

PEO international was established in 1991 with the aim of uplifting, supporting, and motivating women. Their mission is to help women around the world advance through education. Reflecting on why she applied for this award, Padda identified the importance of securing additional funding for her studies and how her unique perspective as a first-generation, immigrant woman has shaped her experiences in academia. Padda shared:

“My positionality in academia has been deeply influenced by my intersectional identity as a first-generation, immigrant woman. I've faced various forms of discrimination, both inside and outside academia, which often made me question my place in this field. This award represents women supporting women, and my application for this award stemmed from my desire to be a role model and empower other women in academia who may feel unseen or unsupported. This award gives me the platform to inspire women like me, to create community-building programs, and to help them recognize their skills and potential for success.”

With the opportunities and funding provided by the P.E.O award, Padda is eager to develop community-based initiatives aimed at empowering and supporting graduate students navigating academia. In the meantime, Padda is contributing to efforts on campus aimed at upholding equity in the assessment of teaching in higher education through her role as a Research Assistant in the Teaching Assessment Processes Office.

To connect with Karmvir, please reach out via email at kkpadda@uwaterloo.ca.

Teaching and Learning Month - next week at a glance

A message from the Office of the Associate Vice President, Academic and the Teaching Innovation Incubator.

Teaching & Learning Month at the University of Waterloo has begun, bringing awareness to the many excellent offerings our Academic Support Units and campus partners are offering that support teaching and learning. 

Next week, we’ll have a focus on colleagues from the Faculty of Math, with sessions offered about teaching students how to learn, and from the Department of Statistics and Actuarial Science, discussing how to support students engaged in group work. If you’re interested in professional development, a LinkedIn Learning Lunch & Learn is also being offered to showcase how LinkedIn Learning can support your own learning journey. 

Keep checking back in and seeing what sessions may be of interest to you throughout October. 

Ontario Universities Fair tomorrow and other notes

The Ontario Universities' Fair will be taking place this weekend on Saturday, October 5 and Sunday, October 6 at the Metro Toronto Convention Centre. Recruiters across campus are gearing up for this event, which "generates thousands of student leads, allowing us to further nurture a relationship and showcase the value of choosing Waterloo," says a note from Marketing & Undergraduate Recruitment (MUR). "Last year this event saw over 86,000 attendees and we are anticipating another great turnout this year."

Closer to home and across the creek, St. Jerome's University will be hosting its annual Feast of St. Jerome  fundraiser for student scholarships on Saturday, October 5, from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. in the STJ2 atrium. The event's featured speaker is Sister Marie Taylor SSND, who will be giving a talk entitled 'We Are Hope.'