Monday, March 23, 2026

Patients of all ages receive eye exams, ongoing eye care, and eyeglasses supported through federal and provincial benefit programs that are now being reduced. “For many of my patients, this is their first eye exam,” Woo says.  

For Woo, giving back to the community through this service is deeply personal. She arrived in the U.S. as a young refugee from Vietnam and recalls that the journey to her new home was only the start of an onset of challenges that come with moving your life to a new country.  

“Once you’re in a new country, there’s the challenge of learning a new language, and adapting to a new culture and community,” she says. “Health concerns make that adjustment even more difficult.”  

Woo has treated infants and toddlers with congenital eye conditions and eye turns, as well as adults with more complex vision problems due to limited access to care in their home countries. For patients that require tertiary care or surgery, they are referred to surgeons or specialty care ophthalmologists. 

“Eye care shouldn’t be an additional issue that newcomers have to worry about,” Woo says. “Through providing this service to them, it is assisting them with being successful here in Canada.”  

Receiving proper eye care can be critical to helping newcomers integrate into their new community. Healthy vision is essential for learning English, finding employment, driving, and contributing to the community. Routine exams also help detect eye diseases and prevent further complications.  

Over the next few weeks, the clinic is adding additional days to its schedule to accommodate even more patients prior to government funding changes that will require Interim Federal Health Program beneficiaries to pay 30 per cent of their vision care costs. From now until the changes take effect on May 1, they hope to help as many patients as possible with eye exams and eyewear, knowing the upcoming changes will create new barriers to care. 

The clinic will offer additional days for refugees and newcomers on March 30, April 6 and April 13. To learn more about the clinic, visit their website. 

It's the end of the line for the HelpLine - emergency poles to be removed

A message from the Safety Office.

You may have noticed one of 13 emergency poles across campus. 

These emergency poles were a helpline that connected to Special Constable Services if someone needed immediate emergency assistance. Installed in the 1990s, these poles have not kept pace with advancements in safety technology and were not always reliable. In October 2024, the helplines were temporarily taken out of service. Since that time, we have continued to monitor whether the temporary decommissioning of the helplines has resulted in any complaints, concerns, or incidents and have received none.

The help line poles were once part of a network of safety resources that included emergency buttons on campus payphones and desk phones that would connect to UW Police (now Special Constable Services).

After a comprehensive review of their usage and relevance in today’s safety landscape, Waterloo has decided to permanently disable and remove these poles. 

Today, individuals typically carry a phone and can make a call while remaining mobile. These factors, in conjunction with the significant cost of repairing or replacing the helplines, further supports the decision to remove the poles. This work will begin in spring 2026. 

Alternative safety measures

Regroup Mobile, an emergency notification app, is the main means of communicating about emergencies on our campus. Please download Regroup mobile from the Apple Store or Google Play to ensure you recieve emergency communications from the University. In an emergency, call 911 or Special Constable Services at 519-888-4911 for campus assistance.

Until April 2, WUSA is piloting WalkSafe, a peer-led service where trained volunteers accompany students to their destination across campus after dark. Feedback is welcome to help shape the future of the program. The University will continue to focus on safety improvements like parking lot lighting.  If you have any safety concerns or questions, please contact Special Constable Services.

Experiences in Political Science Symposium showcases student learning

A message from the Integrated Teaching Support Unit.

Looking for a fresh perspective on how political science education is prepping Waterloo students for the real world? We are calling all faculty, staff, and students to join us for an afternoon of discovery, dialogue, and free food at the Experiences in Political Science Symposium.

Experiences in Political Science Symposium details

• Who: Undergraduate students enrolled in PSCI 424 will showcase their self-directed learning experiences.
• When: Thursday, March 26, 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
• Where: EC5, Rooms 1026-1027

What is the PSCI 424 Experience?

PSCI 424: Experiences in Political Science Beyond the Classroom is not your average course. Using the SLICC Framework (a self-directed, experiential, and reflective framework), students take the driver's seat of their own education. From the initial proposal to the final evaluation, these students have managed their own learning journeys, set their own goals, and navigated the uncertainties of real-world applications of their education.

What to expect at the Symposium

This drop-in event is your chance to engage directly with undergraduate students who have spent the term connecting theoretical political science to hands-on experiences. You’ll see a wide variety of creative final outputs, including:

• Posters
• Websites, blogs, videos, and podcasts

Explore projects covering a diverse range of topics, such as:

• Internships in MP offices and volunteer positions with Ontario non-profits
• Deep dives into current political issues
• Community engagement and governance projects

Come learn about the skills these students have developed, the deep reflections they've captured, and how experiential learning opportunities are increasingly equipping UW students with critical transferrable skills for the workforce.

Map the System finals coming up and other notes

"Students from across all faculties are taking part in this year’s Map the System competition, using systems‑thinking approaches to explore global health, social, economic, and environmental challenges," says a note from the Centre for Peace Advancement. "On April 7, five finalist teams will present their work to a panel of judges. The winning team will advance to the Global Finals at the University of Oxford, while the remaining finalists will receive up to $500 to continue their research. Faculty, students, and community members are invited to attend."

The latest event in the Critical Tech Talk series takes place tonight. Critical Tech Talk 13: The Digital Data Divide: Speculative Futures of Technology, Care, and Society. "Technological innovation increasingly shapes how we live, care, decide, and relate to one another," says the event blurb. "Yet conversations about these futures often revolve around regulations, technical feasibility, or business models. What happens if we create spaces where these futures can be felt, questioned, and collectively imagined?"

The talk features Sjors Groeneveld, a senior lecturer at Saxion University of Applied Sciences (School of Nursing) and a PhD candidate at the University of Twente in the Netherlands. His work explores how emerging technologies, particularly AI and data-driven systems, reshape professional practice, education, and our understanding of care. The Digital Data Divide is an immersive speculative project that invites audiences to experience contrasting futures shaped by personal data and AI. Rather than arguing for or against technology, the project creates moments for reflection on autonomy, dignity, surveillance, and solidarity.

The event runs from 4:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. in ECH 1205. 

"Should social media be banned for teens under 16? As social media has become a large part of how people interact, we have also begun to understand its downsides. Although we have never been more connected and informed, social media brings trade-offs that may outweigh the benefits: addiction, self-esteem issues, and vulnerability to predators. Some jurisdictions have already started to act with Australia introducing a ban on social media for those under the age of 16. The Waterloo Forum asks, should Canada implement such a ban? Might it have unintended consequences?"

Come and see this relevant and engaging debate on Thursday, March 26, at 4:30 p.m. in E6 4022. The event is free and open to the University community but registration is required as food will be provided to attendees.