Thursday, February 13, 2025

Previous | Next

• Snowpocalypse Now: University closed today

• Fantastic Alumni, Staff, Faculty and Retiree Day was a slam dunk

• Lectures in Catholic Experience looks at How Catholics Govern

• Game on! 2025 International Conference on Games and Narrative opens registration

Snowpocalypse Now: University closed today

Blustery at the muster point: Joe Petrik snapped this pic during a campus closure in 2023.

The roads might be covered with snow, but the Regroup Mobile message is clear: the University of Waterloo is closed today due to significant overnight snowfall.

The winter wallop was indeed significant - anywhere from 15cm to 25cm of snow fell between late afternoon yesterday and early this morning, depending on where in the region you happened to be located, along with high winds, which are continuing today, blowing around all that fresh powder.

The campus closure actually began yesterday afternoon with an announcement sent out at approximately 3:00 p.m. indicating that the main and satellite campuses would close at 5:20 p.m. due to the possibility of inclement weather affecting evening classes. The closure would last until 6:00 a.m. Thursday morning, and was extended for another day. All messages were sent to the campus community via Regroup Mobile and updates on the Campus Status website.

"We are concerned that heavy overnight snow will make travel to and from the campus very challenging or unsafe this morning," was the official word from the provost, who made the call after consulting with Plant Operations, Special Constable Services, University Relations and representatives from the satellite campuses.

Plant Operations is working to clear campus pathways, the ring road, and parking lots.

The closure affects all Waterloo campuses. Athletics and Recreation facilities will also be shuttered.

In addition, the Bright Starts Co-operative Early Learning Centre will be closed due to weather conditions.

By my reckoning, this is the first full-day campus closure since December 23, 2022, when the holiday break began a day early due to nasty weather. But who's counting?

So, what does "closed" mean? According to the University's weather closing guidelines:

• classes will not be held;
• in-person meetings and other scheduled events are cancelled;
• scheduled examinations are cancelled, to be rescheduled; and
• deadlines for assignments and other submissions are postponed until the same hour on the next business day.

For employees in particular, staff, other than those providing "essential services," who can perform their tasks remotely are expected to do so in accordance with the current flexible work guidelines, and, if feasible, meetings, depending on the unit, may be moved to an online platform.

If you're an employee providing "essential services" you likely know that already - essential services are defined as "food service in the residences; policing; the central plant; residence life staff; snow removal; emergency repair and maintenance; animal care."

If you have access to campus via snowshoes or dogsled, you'll be comforted to know that the Student Life Centre remains open 24/7 today, along with the stalwart crew at the Turnkey Desk. The Flock Stop will also remain open. Turnkey's Davis Centre location will be open from 9:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. today.

The University will reopen on Friday, February 14 at 6:00 a.m.

Fantastic Alumni, Staff, Faculty and Retiree Day was a slam dunk

A message from Advancement.

Warriors pride was strong on Saturday, February 8, when more than 1,000 fans packed the Physical Activities Complex (PAC) for the annual Fantastic Alumni, Faculty, Staff and Retiree Day.

This year, Warriors fans cheered both the women’s and men’s basketball teams to victory against the Algoma Thunderbirds. The women won 72-58 and the men 66-43.

“I like cheering on the Waterloo Warriors,” said 12-year-old Nicolas Meunier. He attended the game with his mom, Dr. Sarah Meunier (PhD ’13), who is both a UWaterloo alum and faculty member.

“We come every year because it’s a whole day event for the family,” says Sarah. “We have a lot of basketball players in the family.”

As a special surprise, the women’s halftime show featured a country line dance flash mob with UWaterloo Deans, leaders, mascots, cheerleaders, staff and students.

Read more and browse photos from the event.

Lectures in Catholic Experience looks at How Catholics Govern

A message from St. Jerome's University (SJU).

On February 27, the Lectures in Catholic Experience at St. Jerome's University will host Dr. Gary J. Adler Jr., an associate professor of Sociology and Criminology at Pennsylvania State University. His topic, "How Catholics Govern: Examining the Religiosity and Policy Preferences of Local Government Officials," will explore how Catholicism influences everyday governance.

This talk continues in the spirit of this year's theme for the lecture series, "Solidarity in a time of Solitudes," as Dr. Adler's research examines how culture works at the intersection of religion and politics during a time of increased political and religious polarization.

He is the author of Empathy Beyond U.S. Borders (Cambridge), American Parishes: Remaking Local Catholicism (Fordham), and Secularism, Catholicism, and the Future of Public Life (Oxford).

This lecture is co-sponsored by the Institute for Religion, Culture and Societal Futures (IRCSF) at St. Jerome's University. The institute is non-partisan and oversees social scientific and empirical research related to religion, spirituality and emerging forms of community beliefs and practices.

“Our IRCSF community is very excited to hear Dr. Adler speak about his research into the political importance of Catholicism in North America during these tumultuous times. Religion and politics are key research areas here at the IRCSF, and to have an expert like Dr. Adler come and share his scholarship from South of the border with us is crucial for developing new ideas and findings,” said Sarah Wilkins-Laflamme, director of the Institute of Religion, Culture and Societal Futures.

The free event will take place on St. Jerome's campus in Notre Dame Chapel on Thursday, February 27 at 7:30 p.m. and will be live-streamed for people who cannot attend in person. Please register for the event, as space is limited.

Game on! 2025 International Conference on Games and Narrative opens registration

A message from the Games Institute (GI).

The Games Institute (GI) is proud to announce the 2025 International Conference on Games and Narrative (ICGaN’25). ICGaN’25 provides an interdisciplinary venue for researchers from a variety of disciplines and backgrounds to explore the impact of video games and interactive storytelling.

This year’s conference theme “Adapt, Adopt, Adjust: Interdisciplinary Approaches to Adaptation, Storytelling, and Simulation” asks us to consider the power of adapted and adaptive narratives, experiences, genres, and mechanics.

We invite all academics, researchers, industry professionals, independent scholars, students, like-minded individuals, and enthusiasts to attend! ICGaN’25 supports a hybrid experience, allowing for seamless interaction between in-person and virtual attendees.

Registration fees for ICGaN’25 are as follows:

• In-Person Tenured Professor and/or Industry Professional - $200.00 CAD
• In-Person Non-Tenured Professor, Students, and/or Independent Scholars - $100.00 CAD
• Virtual Presenters and/or Attendees - $50.00 CAD

With this conference taking place at the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada and the University of Melbourne, Australia, we are striving to actively participate in and respectfully continue the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada and the Australian Declaration Towards Reconciliation. We seek to make space for underrepresented voices within academia, games industry, and game creation and study within the public realm, among others. As such, we offer free conference registration for those who self-identify as Indigenous (Inuit, First Nations, and Métis) or as Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander.  Please contact us for a discount code.

Learn more about the registration details on our website.