Tuesday, March 18, 2025

The latest exhibit in the Office of the President highlights the upcoming 2025 Miller Waste U SPORTS Women’s Hockey National Championship. For the first time in its history, the University of Waterloo is hosting the event. This tournament marks the first championship hosted by Waterloo since the 2008 U SPORTS (then CIS) Curling Championship, and the 11^th in the institution’s history.  

For the nearly 70 years, athletics has played an integral role in the fabric of our institution and forged a powerful connection with our community.  

Through a strong partnership with the Township of Woolwich, the University of Waterloo’s Department of Athletics & Recreation has been acting with purpose and working together to prepare for what is sure to be a memorable experience for all competitors and fans.  

The theme for this tournament is “See Them, Be Them” with a focus on empowering girls and women in sport.  

The Warriors will be among the teams from across the country competing for a national championship. Waterloo’s women’s hockey team has been one of our most consistent varsity programs over the last decade. Not only have they excelled on the ice, but these student-athletes continue to make their mark in the classroom. In the 2023-24 season, 18 of the roster’s 30 student-athletes earned a spot on the President’s Academic Honour Roll.  

Based on the trajectory of this program, including a fourth-place finish at Nationals last season, they are one of the favourites heading into the tournament. 

Learn more about the tournament that runs March 20 to 23. 

Every month, the Office of the President’s display case features University of Waterloo excellence through exhibits that showcase ground-breaking work by students, faculty, staff and researchers. The exhibits are a great opportunity for partners, donors, international delegations to get a sense of what’s happening on campus when they visit the President in his office. 

Loran Scholars Foundation, Waterloo celebrate 35 years of partnership

Hilus Keay (back row, third from right) with Dr. Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor, University of Waterloo (centre, right); Meghan Moore, Chief Executive Officer, Loran Scholars Foundation (centre, left); and members of the Loran community at the University of Waterloo.

By Claire Mastrangelo. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

Partnerships play a critical role in educating the leaders of tomorrow.  

Since its inception, the Loran Scholars Foundation has worked with the University of Waterloo to support some of Canada’s most promising students. Selected for their leadership qualities and their commitment to serve their communities, Loran Scholars receive awards worth up to $100,000 over four years to support their education and their vision for a better world.   

“It's incredible to attend the University of Waterloo with the support of the Loran Scholars Foundation,” said Hilus Keay, a computer engineering student and Loran Scholar, at a recent event celebrating the Loran community. “I feel truly grateful for the opportunities offered by both parties: the University, a hub for collaboration and innovation, and the Foundation, which has consistently supported me along the way.

“Seeing how wide the community is ... it makes me feel like I'm part of something bigger than myself.”

Celebrating more than 35 years of collaboration

The Loran Scholars Foundation (originally known as the Canadian Merit Scholarship Foundation) was founded in 1989 by Dr. Robert Cluett, an English professor with an aim to foster leaders who demonstrated integrity, courage, and dedication to positive social change. When he shared his vision with potential partners, Waterloo was one of five universities that came forward to support the program.

Over the last 35 years, Waterloo has hosted a total of 51 Loran Scholars.

Read profiles of some of the past Waterloo Loran Scholars

Knowledge Integration Global Futures Capstone exhibition this week

A message from the Department of Knowledge Integration.

Discover the Knowledge Integration Global Futures Capstone Exhibitions from March 17 to 22.

The Knowledge Integration third and fourth-year students invite you to discover their capstone projects, themed on Waterloo’s Global Futures, from March 17 to 22 at the St. Jerome’s gymnasium. There, you’ll discover two 225 square-foot museum exhibits exploring the benefits of hobbies and the perception of safety in cities at night, along with 20+ senior honours projects highlighting students’ interests in AI, social media, food security and more!

How did these exhibitions come to be?

Third-year KI students work in small teams to identify a topic of interest, develop learning objectives for their visitors, and design information and activities to accomplish those objectives. They go on to prototype, refine, and produce the exhibits you’ll discover. The design of museum exhibits requires project management, collaboration, research, and communication skills, which allow students to practice combining knowing and doing across the disciplines.

In fourth year, KI students reflect on the different knowledge they’ve acquired throughout their undergraduate experience, and carry out an eight month independent project as an ultimate demonstration of their skills as knowledge integrators. These projects take on a variety of forms, from a traditional thesis to a design project or artistic creation. These projects stand as evidence of the effectiveness of the KI education in training effective interdisciplinary problem-solvers.

Students were asked to relate their work to one or more of Waterloo’s Global Futures, identified by their stickers throughout the exhibitions. We hope these exhibits spark conversation and curiosity – enjoy!

When and where

• March 17 to 20: 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
• March 21: 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
• March 22: 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.

The exhibitions take place  in the St. Jerome’s University Siegfried Hall Residence Wellness Centre Gym.

Waterloo Centre for German Studies to host Book Prize Lecture

A message from the Waterloo Centre for German Studies.

The Waterloo Centre for German Studies is pleased to announce a special lecture with the most recent winnner of the annual WCGS Book Prize. Held in conjunction with German Studies Canada, this online event features Dr. Andrea Rottmann and her prize-winning book Queer Lives across the Wall: Desire and Danger in Divided Berlin, 1945-1970 (University of Toronto Press, 2023).

"Divided postwar Berlin was home to people of different non-binary genders. They found or made spaces for living dignified lives, even in the deeply queerphobic societies of Cold War Germany. In her talk, Andrea Rottmann will introduce us to some of them and to the pleasures and problems of writing their histories."

The event takes place Wednesday, April 2 at 12:30 p.m. online via Zoom.

Register now.

Hagey Hall attacker sentenced; other notes

The former student responsible for the Hagey Hall attack in June 2023 has been sentenced to 11 years in prison. Various news outlets covered the 11-year sentence awarded to Giovanny Villalba-Aleman for his hate-motivated attack on a gender studies class at Waterloo.

"As the judicial process draws to a conclusion, I know many of you are revisiting the trauma of that terrible day," wrote President Vivek Goel in a memo circulated to the campus community yesterday. "Our first thoughts are with the people who were present during the attack. The courage they showed that day and throughout the trial and sentencing hearings was powerful. It is heartbreaking that such bravery would ever be needed on a university campus. We must recognize that the gender-based violence they experienced has left many lasting effects."

"As the legal process unfolded, we were all re-exposed to the disturbing details of the attacker's motivations. We were also reminded of the experiences of those who were in the classroom that day. I encourage everyone in our community who needs support to access the resources available through Campus Wellness or the Employee and Family Assistance Program."

Faculty and staff can read the president's full statement on the Employee Communications website.

The University of Waterloo Computer Museum's open house, “Computers @ The Movies,” runs today from 11:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. in the DC 1301 fishbowl. Attendees will have the opportunity to interact with artifacts and computers, some of which have been featured as props on the big screen. All members of the University community are invited to drop by.

Trivia buffs should visit the second floor of the Grad House tonight for the Climate Cafe, which takes place from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

"Looking for a fun way to unwind, enjoy free food, and test your climate trivia knowledge?" says a note from the Waterloo Climate Institute (WCI). "Join us for an evening of pizza, games, and great conversations. Connect with like-minded people, challenge yourself with climate-themed trivia, and win exciting prizes."