Monday, March 24, 2025

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• Socio-demographic data collection for students in Quest launches

• Velocity executive director to step down

• Warriors take silver at national hockey championships

• Sun's up: annual sunshine list published

• Monday's notes

Socio-demographic data collection for students in Quest launches

A message from The Centre.

Students now have the option to include their socio-demographic information in Quest. By sharing information, students will help the University better understand the diverse needs of its community. This will allow the University to improve support services and programs for all students.

What is socio-demographic data?

• Disability
• Gender
• Sexual identity
• Racial identity
• Religion/Spiritual Affiliation

Why participation matters

In 2021, students at the University completed an equity survey, which contributed to improvements in areas such as:

• Counselling services, including culturally specific support
• Accessible course accommodations
• Diverse food service options
• Athletic programming (including sports like cricket)
• Inclusive washrooms
• Course and examination scheduling that respect days of observance

Participation is voluntary

Students are encouraged to, but not required to provide this information, and they can update or delete their data at any time by selecting “prefer not to answer” in Quest.

Providing the data

Students can visit the How do I view or update my personal information web page on The Centre website to learn how to update their socio-demographic information in Quest.

Privacy and security

To learn more about how the data is used and protected, visit the Notice of Collection/Disclosure web page on the Information and Privacy website.

If you have questions, contact askthecentre@uwaterloo.ca or privacy@uwaterloo.ca.

Velocity executive director to step down

A message from Velocity.

Under Adrien Côté’s leadership, Velocity soared to new heights. After expanding the University of Waterloo’s internationally recognized startup incubator to include a dedicated team and resources for student experiential entrepreneurship learning, more than 1,300 students take part in its program each year. That number translates into 200 active student teams today — ten times the number engaged five years ago who now participate in Velocity’s distinctive Cornerstone sprint to validate business opportunities.

To steer Velocity effectively, a visionary leader has always been essential — someone who can bridge the University and the startup ecosystem. As Velocity continues its evolution, Côté (BSc '99) will be stepping down from his role to take on a new professional opportunity. Karim Karim, the associate vice-president of Commercialization and Entrepreneurship at Waterloo and a professor of electrical and computer engineering,will handle Velocity’s executive director duties on an interim basis. 

“Adrien Côté has been instrumental in driving the success of Velocity. As executive director, he has made significant strides in advancing innovation and fostering a thriving entrepreneurial community. Waterloo is grateful for his invaluable contributions. From the opening of the Innovation Arena to the development of students in their entrepreneurial ambitions to providing wisdom to the Waterloo community as a whole,” says Charmaine Dean, vice-president, Research and International

Côté has spearheaded Velocity’s momentum alongside a team that includes many former Velocity founders and staff recruited from industry. He navigated Velocity through the global pandemic and enabled strategy to accelerate health-tech and other deep-tech commercialization by startups based at the Velocity incubator. 

"While most of the world had to shut down, it was our job as problem solvers to ensure that essential technical work to develop medical technologies and more continued. We chose to focus on sustaining the opportunities we could seize and aimed to bring people in person as soon as we could,” Côté says.

In addition to growing Velocity’s on-campus network, a significant milestone was achieved in 2023 when Waterloo became the first Canadian post-secondary institution to invest from its endowment into a venture capital fund launched by its affiliated startup incubator. 

The 2024 incubator expansion is another of Velocity’s most recent accomplishments, with Côté instrumental in securing $25 million in funding to support Velocity programming and the development of the University’s new commercialization facility called the Innovation Arena — a purpose-built facility to fast-track founders’ commercialization efforts. Velocity started 2025 with more pre-seed companies building than ever before. 

The student-first and founder-first approach is a philosophy that continues to be instrumental in attracting high-caliber startups and fostering a supportive environment for innovation, helping Velocity grow into a top university-linked entrepreneurship ecosystem. 

“It’s been a privilege to support the next generation of entrepreneurs who will change the world,” Côté says.

Warriors take silver at national hockey championships

This is an excerpt of an article published on the Athletics and Recreation website.

In a thrilling showdown at the 2025 Miller Waste U SPORTS National Championship, the Waterloo Warriors faced off against the Bishop's Gaiters with the national title on the line. With passionate fans from both sides packing the stands, the stage was set for a great night of hockey.

The Warriors opened the game on the penalty kill, with Jalen Duffy making key blocks and Nikki McDonald and Madison Pritchard using their speed to create pressure, even generating offensive chances. The team's relentless back check reflected their determination, capped off by a crucial shutdown by Carly Orth. After 20 minutes, the score remained locked at 0-0.

Read the full game recap on the Athletics and Recreation website.

Sun's up: annual sunshine list published

There may be fresh snow on the ground, but one of the surest signs of spring has arrived: The University of Waterloo has released a list of the 2,245 employees who were paid more than $100,000 in 2024.

Public-sector employers in Ontario are required to publish the list every March since the Public Sector Salary Disclosure Act was passed in 1996. Other universities, school boards, hospitals, colleges, municipalities, and the government itself are now making similar information for last year public.

The $100,000 list includes most of Waterloo's professors, and a number of staff members and senior administrators. It includes people employed by Conrad Grebel University College, Renison University College, and United College. St. Jerome’s University reports its salary disclosure list separately.

In addition to the salary, a figure is given for taxable benefits received by each individual, for such extras as employer-paid life insurance.

Last year's salary disclosure is also available online.

Monday's notes

"The VR for Workplace Wellness program, offered collaboratively by the Conflict Management Office and the SEF, is pleased to now provide access to Ovation VR," says a note from the Conflict Management Office. "Staff can practice challenging conversations, such as performance reviews, job interviews, or conflict resolution, using AI-driven avatars. Join us for a Zoom orientation session on Tuesday, March 25, from 12 noon to 1:00 p.m. Contact Lynn Long (l3long@uwaterloo.ca) to register."

The School of Accounting and Finance and the Hub for Sustainability Integration are hosting a Spring Lunch & Learn series in Toronto.

"As the world faces the growing challenge of climate change, businesses aren’t just adapting—they’re innovating," says a note from the Hub for Sustainability Integration. "The impact of climate change is reshaping industries, transforming traditional business models, and opening the door to new opportunities for growth and sustainability. Join us for our Spring Lunch & Learn series, where thought leaders, industry experts, and like-minded professionals come together to explore the intersection of business, innovation, and sustainability."

The session dates are as follows:

• Session 1: May 8, 2025
• Session 2: June 5, 2025

Both sessions will be held at the MTax office in downtown Toronto. Registration is free to the first 30 people. Lunch is included.

"Tax season is here and the University of Waterloo's Accounting and Finance Student Association is back with its free Tax Clinic 2025!" says a note from AFSA. "A group of trained volunteers will provide free tax return services for low-income individuals and families. To see if you qualify for our free services, please visit the tax clinic website today! The link also includes information on how to receive our tax-filing service.