Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
Convocation turns up the heat to 7,700 degrees

The pomp and ceremony of the University of Waterloo's one hundred and thirtieth Convocation will be on full display on campus this week as more than 7,740 degrees, certificates and diplomas will be awarded to deserving Waterloo graduates over 14 ceremonies from Tuesday to Saturday.
The Convocation ceremonies will all be held in the Physical Activities Complex, which has been decked out in black and gold for the occasion. Convocation proceedings follow a pattern developed over 66 years since the University's first convocation was held in what was then Seagram Stadium in June 1960. First, the graduating students enter, filling up the main body of the hall. After the graduands have come in, the academic procession will begin. At the head of the academic procession is the ceremonial Eagle Staff, a symbolic representation of Indigenous peoples and the University's commitment to indigenization, which will be carried in by Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Elder Myeengun Henry. Next, a selected faculty member will carry the mace, a traditional symbol of the University’s authority. Then, faculty members enter, walking two by two, dressed in their academic finery. The final party to arrive is the Chancellor’s party.
President Vivek Goel (alternately James W.E. Rush, Vice-President, Academic and Provost) will provide a territorial acknowledgement and welcome the Indigenous opening led by Indigenous Knowledge Keeper Myeengun Henry, which includes traditional drumming. Gladwyn Badger will bear the Eagle Staff at each ceremony.
As the ceremonial head of the University of Waterloo, the Chancellor presides over convocation ceremonies every June and October and awards all degrees, diplomas and certificates, including honorary degrees. The Chancellor also offers an inspirational message for the graduands.
14 exceptional students have been selected as valedictorians for each convocation ceremony. Check out the Waterloo News story about their experiences.
Myeengun Henry will conduct an Indigenous closing ceremony.
Following each convocation ceremony, graduates and their guests are invited to the BMH Green to celebrate with their classmates, professors and family members who supported them through their Waterloo student experience.
The June and October Convocation ceremonies form the pinnacle of the University's academic calendar, and this week's ritual celebration represents the culmination of years of effort by students, faculty and staff alike, as the newest members of Waterloo's alumni family take their first steps off the stage as graduates of this institution.
The ceremonies will be livestreamed on the Convocation website.
Congratulations to all Waterloo graduands, their families and supporters.
Convocation begins with the Faculty of Environment

The first graduands to take the convocation stage this year come from the Faculty of Environment in a ceremony that begins at 10:00 a.m. 353 undergraduates, 82 Master's, and 19 PhD candidates will receive their degrees. Watch the live-stream beginning at 10:00 a.m.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Dr. Sarah Burch will bear the mace.
Michelle Anagnostou will receive the Governor General’s Gold Medal for highest standing in a doctoral program.
Putri Cullinane will deliver the valedictory address.

The special guest speaker at the Environment ceremony is Dr. Brent Doberstein. Dr. Doberstein is Associate Professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Management. Doberstein earned a Master of Arts in Geography from the University of Waterloo and PhD in City, Urban, Community, and Regional Planning from the University of British Columbia. For more than 20 years he has dedicated his teaching and research to resource and environmental management, hazard mitigation, and post-disaster adaptation. As an educator, Dr. Doberstein shares his research and passion for community impact through teaching and supervision with an emphasis on getting students out into the field. His accolades include the Faculty of Environment teaching award and the Canadian Association of Geographer’s Award for Excellence in Teaching Geography.
Felicia Mae Watterodt will be named University Finalist for the Governor General's Gold Medal at the Master's level.
Neha Jayesh Lal will receive the University of Waterloo President's Award of Excellence for highest standing in an undergraduate degree program.
Receiving the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement is Eloise Amy Fan, who graduated in fall 2024.
Departmental awards for distinguished academic achievement will go to:
- Salma Ahmed Mohamed Hafez Ibrahim, Environment and Business
- Eloise Amy Fan (Fall 2024), Environment, Resources and Sustainability
- Jason Szilard Simrak, Geography and Aviation
- Benjamin Peter DePetris, Geography and Environmental Management
- Harry Cheung, Geomatics
- Sophia Paige Melody Armstrong, Knowledge Integration
- Ricardo Darius Dabydeen, Planning
- Alexander John Walton, International Development
Faculty of Health ceremony takes place this afternoon

The Faculty of Health Convocation ceremony will begin this afternoon at 2:30 p.m. 454 undergraduates, 60 Master's, and 17 PhD candidates will cross the stage. Watch the live-stream beginning at 2:30 p.m.
Julie-Anne Desrochers will sing the national anthem.
Dr. Kelly Anthony will bear the mace.

Dr. Paul Stolee will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Dr. Stolee retired at the rank of Professor from the School of Public Health Sciences. His research is recognized for its significant impact on older persons’ experiences with care systems. Dr. Stolee received the Distinguished Member Award from the Canadian Association on Gerontology, the association’s highest honour. At the University of Waterloo, he served in key governance roles including Director of the University’s Network for Aging Research and as Interim Dean of the Faculty of Health. He is the former Director of the Geriatrics Health Systems Research Group (GHS). Dr. Stolee is also known for his exemplary student mentorship, as recognized with the University of Waterloo Award of Excellence in Graduate Supervision.

Dr. Bryan Smale will be named Distinguished Professor Emeritus. Dr. Smale’s distinguished academic career spans nearly four decades of scholarship, service, and leadership. As Director of the Canadian Index of Wellbeing, Dr. Smale led a transformative national initiative that reshaped how policymakers and communities across Canada conceptualize and measure quality of life. Dr. Smale is a prolific scholar and internationally recognized expert in leisure studies, having authored more than 100 publications and delivered keynote addresses across the globe, including to the Government of Scotland. He is a Fellow of the Academy of Leisure Sciences, past President of the Canadian Association for Leisure Studies, and the founding editor-in-chief of Leisure/Loisir, Canada’s premier journal in the field.
Raksha Aravind will deliver the valedictory address.
Fasih Rahman will receive the Governor General's Gold Medal award for highest standing in a doctoral program.
The Governor General's Academic Silver Medal for highest standing in an undergraduate degree program will go to Emiko Okamoto Arshad.
Shreya Chatterjee will receive the University of Waterloo Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement.
Receiving departmental awards for distnguished academic achievement will be:
- Emiko Okamoto Arshad, Kinesiology and Health Sciences
- Jennifer To (Fall 2024), Recreation and Leisure Studies
- Shreya Chatterjee, School of Public Health and Health Sciences
Upcoming office closures
The Arts Undergraduate Office (AUO) will be closed on Thursday, June 12.
Link of the day
When and where
The Campus Wellness Student Medical Clinic offers healthcare visits with Physicians and Nurse Practitioners to current undergraduate and graduate students. Services include: vaccinations, immunity testing, naturopathic services and more. Counselling Services offers appointments with counsellors in person as well as via phone and video. Students can book appointments for these services by calling Campus Wellness at 519-888-4096.
The privately-run Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is now offering new COVID booster shots and flu shots. Covid booster shorts are available by appointment only – please call ext. 33784 or 519-746-4500. The Student Health Pharmacy’s summer hours are Monday to Friday, 9:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Naloxone kits are still available – pick them up in the pharmacy at no charge.
Convocation, Tuesday, June 10 to Saturday, June 14, Physical Activities Complex.
IBPOC Student Writing Cafés, Tuesday, June 10, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., SCH 228F.
Fruit and Veg Market, Wednesday, June 11, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., E7, 1st floor by the C&D.
Rock Your Thesis 3: Revise and Submit, Wednesday, June 11, 1:00 p.m. Register on Portal.
Celebrating Pride: A Community Corner for 2SLGBTQIA+ Students, Staff, and Faculty, Wednesday, June 11, 2:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Office of EDI-R, EC5 2nd floor.
North Campus community garden clean up, Thursday, June 12, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, Columbia Lake greenhouses.
NEW - MFA thesis exhibit opening reception, Thursday, June 12, 5:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m., University of Waterloo Art Gallery.
UW Matthews Golf Classic - faculty and staff golf tournament, Monday, June 16.
Table Talk Series: Collecting and Understanding Queer, Trans and Non-Binary Data, Monday, June 16, 12 noon, - Office of EDI-R, EC5 2nd floor or online.
Menopause Café, Tuesday, June 17, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., DC Fishbowl. No registration required.
Queer Life Fair, Tuesday, June 17, 11:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., SLC Great Hall.
WUSA Thrift Sidewalk Sale, Wednesday, June 18, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., location TBA.
Fruit and Veg Market, Wednesday, June 18, 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., E7, 1st floor by the C&D.
An afternoon with Kai Potts, Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., SLC Black and Gold Room.
Enhancing Accessibility in Teaching and Learning Series: Student Experiences with Assistive Technology (CTE7040), Wednesday, June 18, 1:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m., online.
National Indigenous Peoples Day celebration, Thursday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m., BMH Green.
Buckthorn pull, Thursday, June 19, 10:00 a.m. to 12 noon, meet between Village 1 South 3 building and the forest.
Master of Taxation Virtual Information Session, Wednesday, June 18, 10:00 a.m. Thursday, June 19, 12 noon. Please note the new date and time.
Juggling Institutional Priorities: Strategies for Instructors - Online (CTE7700), Thursday, June 19, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., online.
Inuit Identity: Who Is Resilient Inuk by Resilient Inuk, Thursday, June 19, 2:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., East Campus 5, Room 1111 and Zoom.
Libraries Indigenous Mural Unveiling, Friday, June 20, 1:00 p.m. to 1:30 p.m., Dana Porter Library lobby.
Engineering the Future: design, build & maintain your workforce, Tuesday, June 24, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m., online.
IBPOC Student Writing Cafés, Tuesday, June 24, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., SCH 228F.
In-person Grad Writing Cafés, Wednesday, June 25, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., SLC 3216.
Glow at the Toronto Pride Parade, Sunday, June 29.
University holiday, Monday, June 30, most operations and businesses closed.
Canada Day, Tuesday, July 1, most operations and businesses closed.
In-person Grad Writing Cafés, Wednesday, July 2, 2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., SLC 3216.
IBPOC Student Writing Cafés, Tuesday, July 8, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m., SCH 228F.
PhD oral defences
School of Planning. Sana Hayat, “Analyzing Linguistic, Educational, and Socio-demographic factors for Economic Integration of Immigrants in Canada: An Exploratory Sequential Mixed Methods Study”. Supervisor, Dr. Philip Bigelow. Available upon request from the Faculty of Environment, Administrator, Graduate Studies. Oral defence Monday, June 16, 12 noon.
Recreation and Leisure Studies. Eden Rose Champagne, "Dance/Movement Therapy for Dementia Caregiver Resilience: A Mixed-Methods Study." Supervisor, Dr. Steven E. Mock. Email Health Graduate Administration for a copy. Oral defence Wednesday, June 18, 9:00 a.m., online.
Computer Science. Ferreira Pinto Junior, "Directed Isoperimetry and Monotonicity: Properly Testing in the Analytic Setting." Supervisor, Dr. Eric Blais. Thesis available from MGO - mgo@uwaterloo.ca. Oral defence Wednesday, June 18, 10:00 a.m., DC 2314.
Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering. Matheus Augusto Correia, "Investigation of Neck Posture and Muscle Activity on Cervical Spine Impact Kinematics: Using a Finite Element Human Body Model." Supervisors, Dr. Duane Cronin, Dr. Stewart McLachlin. Thesis available via SharePoint - email eng.phd@uwaterloo.ca to request a viewing link. Oral defence Thursday, June 19, 9:00 a.m., EC4 - 1104.
Upcoming service interruptions
Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:
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Village 1 localized steam shutdown, Monday, June 2 to Friday, June 13, 7:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., steam to the various portions of the building will be isolated at the beginning of each day, impacting equipment serviced downstream, including AHUs, space heating will still be available at wall radiators.
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Villages Road sidewalk repair, Friday, June 6 to June 18, the sidewalk along Villages Road (around V1 West section) will be closed for construction, pedestrians are advised to find alternate routes around the construction zone, the road to the V1 loading dock will remain open with minor bottlenecks where construction equipment is active, vehicles on the construction side of the road will be expected to yield to oncoming traffic. A contractor flag person will be on-site to coordinate traffic where required.
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Engineering 2 and 3, Davis Centre, Math & Computer fire alarm testing, Monday, June 9, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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CSB electrical panel shutdown, Thursday, June 12, 4:00 a.m. to 4:15 a.m., electrical panel shutdown will affect CSB and steam boilers.
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Carl Pollock Hall replacement of backflow preventer, Thursday, June 12, 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., water will be turned off to the building during this time, domestic hot and cold will not be available as the backflow presenter is replaced on the fire suppression system.
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Environment 1, 2 and 3, Modern Languages, Dana Porter Library, Needles Hall fire alarm testing, Friday, June 13, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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East Campus 4 and 5 fire alarm testing, Friday, June 13, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
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Physical Activities Complex, Student Life Centre, RAC 1 and 2, Federation Hall fire alarm testing, Tuesday, June 17, 6:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m.
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Ring Road between the Commissary (COM) building and the General Services Complex (GSC) building road closure, Tuesday, June 17, 8:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., one lane will be closed, vehicle traffic may be backed up within this section of Ring Road throughout this time.