Friday, November 28, 2025

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• Professor Larry Smith's legacy of possibility
• We're open today, but let's talk about storm closings
• Remembering Tiuley Alguindigue
• A day with(out) art on Monday and other notes

Professor Larry Smith's legacy of possibility

By Tori Coles and Charlotte Danby. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

This year, University of Waterloo professor Larry Smith marks 45 years of teaching students to think critically about the world and act courageously to build a future of their own making. 

Smith, a professor in the Faculty of Engineering’s Conrad School of Entrepreneurship and Business, specializes in forecasting and the economics of innovation. His wildly popular lectures resonate among students and alumni from across campus — many of whom credit Smith for pushing them to realize their entrepreneurial potential.  

From economics to entrepreneurship 

Smith began his teaching career in the University’s Department of Economics where he became known for his sharp wit, storytelling-style of teaching and relentless drive to help students connect theory to the real world. He has reached thousands of students with diverse interests and ambitions through teaching appointments in the faculties of Arts, Science, Environment and Engineering, including a long-term partnership with the School of Architecture. 

“I feel a deep need to acknowledge those who have supported me over the years,” Smith says. “The colleagues who challenged me, the mentors who guided me and the students whose curiosity and courage continually inspire me. Their influence is woven into every idea, every project and every venture I’ve had — and have — the privilege to be part of.” 

Professor Larry Smith. Credit: University of Waterloo Library. Special Collections & Archives.

Now, as founder of the Problem Lab, Smith focuses on two of his favourite research areas — innovation and problem-solving. His work bridges arts and engineering, helping students see that understanding people, systems and ideas is as essential as building new technologies. He also helped launch Enterprise Co-op (E Co-op), a program that lets students build their own startups while earning a standard 16-week co-op credit.

Lessons that last a lifetime 

Waterloo alumni often name Smith as one of their most memorable professors. Having worked with more than 500 local startups, Smith’s expertise resonates long after graduation, influencing the decisions his students make, the careers they pursue and the ventures they build. 

“Larry was the most important part of my University of Waterloo experience, and without him, I would not be where I am today,” Michael Litt (BASc ’11), co-founder and CEO of Vidyard, says. 

“He completely reshaped how I thought about my co-op terms — the jobs I chose, the experiences I chased, even the friends I made. His teaching shaped my entire entrepreneurial journey and helped me lay the groundwork for starting a business.” 

Litt studied Systems Design Engineering and credits Smith with giving him permission — and a push — to invest his energy in side projects and entrepreneurial problem-solving rather than chasing perfect grades. Litt recalls how Smith’s evening lectures would officially run for two or three hours, yet he would stay until midnight talking with students. Like many others before him and since, Litt frequently sought Smith out in his office, where founders like Mike Lazaridis had once sat, to troubleshoot the problems facing society. 

A teacher’s legacy of excellence 

In recognition of his exceptional teaching, Smith received the University of Waterloo Distinguished Teacher Award in 1993, honouring his energy, optimism and ability to make economics relevant to everyday life. 

"Larry's ECON101 class inspired me, and I suspect many of the tens of thousands of students who took his class, to pursue economics as a major and career," says Waterloo Arts alum Rosalie Wyonch (BA '14, MA '16), associate director of research at the C.D. Howe Institute. "His decades of service at Waterloo and the many hours he spent with students exhibit his never-ending enthusiasm and dedication.”

Professor Larry Smith has been teaching students since the days of overhead projectors. Remember overhead projectors? Credit: University of Waterloo Library. Special Collections & Archives.

Having taught more than 30,000 students, Smith says the greatest compliment they give him is their time. “They come to class, they’re engaged, they ask fascinating questions. I find that remarkable, and it reminds me of the responsibility that comes with being a professor.” 

His classes are always full, reflecting the power of curiosity and the deep connection between teacher and learner. He often describes this bond as a “harmony of interest,” one that continues to motivate him, “through my work, I try to pay tribute to them.” 

Read the full article on Waterloo News

We’re open today, but let’s talk about storm closings

With Waterloo under a snow squall warning (as well as several centimetres of the white stuff), now is the perfect opportunity to review the University’s Weather Closing Guidelines. 

According to the guidelines, the University and the affiliated and federated institutions of Waterloo will close "because of severe weather when normal operation would pose a significant danger to students and employees, or would prevent large numbers of them from coming to campus or returning safely to their homes.")

The decision to close or remain open in severe weather is made by the Vice-President, Academic and Provost in consultation with the Associate Vice-President, Communications and Institutional Relations, who convenes a Severe Weather channel on Teams whenever severe weather is in the forecast to get input from the Special Constable Service, Plant Operations, Campus Housing, the Safety Office, satellite campuses and the AFIW, to name but a few stakeholders.

The advisory group evaluates:

• multiple sources of weather information and radar, as well as actual outside conditions, and the forecasted conditions throughout the day;
• the condition of campus, including pathways, roadways, and buildings - and how long it will take to make movement on campus safe; 
• the status of local and regional roads, with input from the local city governments;
• community impacts, such as what other local institutions including the school boards and the City of Waterloo are doing;
• whether local and regional public transportation is running including GRT, ION, and GO; and
• the conditions at Waterloo's satellite campuses.

The guidelines define the condition of "closed" to mean that "classes are not held; meetings and other scheduled events are cancelled; scheduled examinations are cancelled, to be rescheduled; deadlines for assignments and other submissions are postponed until the same hour on the next business day on which UW is not "closed"; staff, other than those providing "essential services," are not expected to be at work, but are paid for a normal day."

Unless messaging indicates otherwise, the University’s default status is “open.”

“When UW does not close in severe weather, the University will strive to ensure the safety and accessibility of the campus,” say the weather closing guidelines. “Entranceways to all buildings and all accessibility paths will be cleared, on a priority basis, by 8:00 a.m.”

Notice of the University's status will be posted on the Campus Status page on days where severe weather is forecast, normally at 6:00 a.m., to allow faculty, staff and students time to decide their course of action that day. As the guidelines indicate, "those who judge that it may be unsafe to come to campus should discuss alternate work and study arrangements with their instructor or supervisor."

In the event of severe weather that warrants a closure, all members of the University community should check the Regroup Mobile app to learn whether or not the University has closed. Information will be posted on the University’s homepage, social media, and the Campus Status page, which features real-time status updates for each of Waterloo's campuses, links to the Eric D. Soulis Memorial Weather Station on the north campus, Environment Canada weather notices for the region and safety tips that will be updated in the event of severe weather.