Friday, March 27, 2026

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• The Waterloo grad helping power the Blue Jays

• Flourish with fibre and fluids

• Renison remembers Shella Zagada

• Friday's notes

The Waterloo grad helping power the Blue Jays

By Sam Charles. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

For most kids, the dream is to hit the game-winning home run. For Jeremy Reesor (BSc ’12), it was to build the roster that made it possible. While his friends played baseball video games one game at a time, Reesor was simulating entire seasons, crafting lineups and imagining what it would take to run a Major League team.

Today, that childhood passion has become reality. As vice-president of Baseball Operations for the Toronto Blue Jays, Reesor is at the heart of the decision-making that shapes one of baseball’s most exciting franchises, a team that came within two outs of winning the World Series last season.

But his path to the front office was anything but straight-forward.

A top student in Stouffville, Ontario, Reesor followed his older brother to the University of Waterloo, enrolling in biology with plans for medical school. Living in residence at Conrad Grebel University College, he found a welcoming community and a program that challenged him to think critically.

“About halfway through second year, I decided to shift gears and go into the ecology side of biology,” Reesor says.

It was in courses related to data science and statistics that Reesor started to link his love of baseball and sports with analytics. At the same time, he began to lean towards graduate studies and possibly a career in academia or industry. 

“I did a field course in the Bahamas with now emeritus professor Ralph Smith and that led to an undergraduate thesis in his lab.”

After graduating, Reesor decided to take a year to contemplate what to do next. He briefly worked for a sports fantasy startup and applied for an internship with the Jays.

The internship didn’t pan out, but he did manage to land a role with the team’s grounds crew where he’d help roll up the turf between events.

“I was a bit naïve to think that the role might lead me to bumping into someone in the front office and talking my way into an operational job with the team,” Reesor explains.

Instead, he applied for another analytics internship and this time, he got it. He then worked himself through the ranks to where he is today.

Read the full story on Waterloo News

Flourish with fibre and fluids

A message from Campus Wellness.

This week’s ‘nutrition by addition’ profile is on fibre and fluids!

With so much attention and limelight being paid to other macronutrients (hello, protein!), the importance of fibre often takes a back seat. In fact, Health Canada estimates that less than 25 per cent of Canadians get enough fibre day to day. This is concerning given evidence of fibre being important for a variety of bodily systems and functions, including:

• Gut health and digestion – fibre helps to slow down how quickly food and nutrients move through our system. This is important for nutrient absorption and for regular, comfortable bowel movements. Fibre also fuels the ‘good’ bacteria that live in the gut and help to contribute to a healthy gut microbiome
• Appetite and satiety – including fibre-rich foods at meals and snacks also helps with lasting fullness and satisfaction after eating. This is crucial for days when we have a lot on the go! We can also feel this in our energy levels, which tend to be more stable between meals when fibre is included
• Blood sugar control – fibre slows down how quickly we break down and digest carbohydrates (sugars and starches) from the foods that we eat. This tends to result in more stable blood sugar levels after eating. Meeting fibre needs daily can help maintain regular blood sugar (“glucose”) levels and can aid in the prevention of type 2 diabetes
• Heart health – adequate fibre intake helps to lower cholesterol levels which is protective of heart health long-term and can help to prevent cardiovascular disease
• Gastrointestinal health – in addition to supporting the gut microbiome, eating enough fibre every day can reduce constipation, hemorrhoids, and risk of colorectal cancers

So, how much fibre do we need, where do we get it from, and how can we add it in ways that are simple and practical? Great questions! We want to aim for 25-35g of fibre daily. Food sources of fibre include fruits, vegetables, whole grains (like oats, whole wheat or whole grain breads and pastas, quinoa, long grain rice, buckwheat, and farro) and pulses (think chickpeas, black beans, lentils, etc. Revisit our post on pulses.). When you plan or select your meals and snacks, try to include fibre as often as you can. Here are some ideas to get you started:

• Adding flax, chia seeds, or hemp hearts to yogurt bowls or smoothies
• Having veggie sticks with hummus, guacamole, or other dip with your lunch or as a snack
• Pairing fruit with your breakfast
• Trying whole grain bread for toast or sandwiches
• Adding lentils or beans (canned or dried) to soups, salads, and stir-fries
• Trying to include at least two types of veggies with your dinner
• Adding a big handful of leafy greens or other veggies to your eggs or omelette
• Trying a new whole grain as a base for a power bowl – or mixing it in with traditional rice

When thinking about ways to add fibre to your day, it is important to start slow and build up over time. For example, start by adding a fibre-rich food to a meal or snack throughout the day where fibre might currently be missing. Be sure to also focus on drinking water/other fluids throughout the day. Increasing fibre intake too quickly can lead to stomach upset, constipation, and bloating. It is okay to take it slow!

We can’t talk about increasing fibre intake without also addressing fluid needs. Fluid is essential for many processes in the body, including digestion. Fibre absorbs water which helps foods to move through the body in a timely fashion (i.e. not too fast, not too slow). Try to make water your drink choice as often as possible. Hydration needs can vary person to person – try to aim for between 2 and 3L (8 to 12 standard glasses (250ml)) daily. If your water intake is low now, this can feel like a lot! It is ok to take it slow and increase water intake slowly over time. Try your best to tune into when your body feels or shows you signs of thirst. Keep water with you and in your sight as often as you can – this visual reminder goes a long way! 

Resources to check out: 

• Focus on Fibre
• Dietary fibre: Essential for a healthy diet
• Increase your fibre intake
• The Facts on Fluids

Renison remembers Shella Zagada

“I am deeply saddened to share the news that our MSW Program Manager, Shella Zagada, passed away on Friday afternoon after a brief battle with cancer,” wrote Renison University College President Rev. Dr. Marc Jerry in a memo sent to the Renison community on Monday this week. “On behalf of the Renison University College Community, I offer our sincerest condolences to the entire Renison family and friends who are grieving Shella’s loss.”

Shella Zegada joined Renison University College in December 2013. She had a background in psychology, sociology, and social work and received an MSW degree from Wilfrid Laurier University. She was in the process of completing her PhD studies in Adult Education & Community Development at the Ontario Institute for Studies in Education (OISE) at the University of Toronto. Her research looked at Filipino social, community, and education service leaders in Canada.

“Shella was a Filipina immigrant who lived and worked in Korea and Hong Kong before moving to Canada,” wrote Dr. Trish Van Katwyk, director of the School of Social Work. “Over her career, she served diverse roles across academic administration, field education, family and children's services, migrants' rights training, youth and gender justice, international development work, and human resource development. Most recently, Shella played a key role in our School of Social Work as she oversaw our MSW field education program.”

In a podcast about Social Work Field Education that Shella was a guest on a couple of years ago, she was asked, "What is your advice to Filipino youth or emerging Filipino social workers?" Shella responded: "Having Filipino roots, we can continue to learn deeply about and practice the tools and worldviews that are indigenous to us. We have the tools that do not belong to the master. We need to sharpen them. Our Kapwa philosophy, for example, assumes our shared identity, allowing us to see the humanity of the other and to respect and value one other’s ways of being and knowing, including those who are nonhuman beings. Just like me, you have a place in this world and deserve to have the space to discover yourself in relation with others, always mindful of this connectedness. And because you are a part of me, I wish you well, and I trust that you will hold your piece of our collective future in your hands, with care, compassion, and justice."

"Her answer is just such an inspiring reflection of who Shella is/was and why she is/was such a cherished friend and colleague,” writes Dr. Van Katwyk.

Shella is survived by her husband Manny and her two children.

A public visitation will be held on Sunday, March 29 from 2:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. at Westmount Memorial Celebration Centre on Ottawa Street South in Kitchener. A funeral service will take place on Monday, March 30 at 1:00 p.m. with an hour of visitation prior to the service. The service will be livestreamed on Zoom.

Friday's notes

Join the UW Administrative Professionals Community of Practice on April 22 for the second annual Administrative Professionals Community of Practice event held in-person on Administrative Professionals Day. "This year’s event is all about celebrating you, and the behind-the-scenes work Administrative Professionals do every day," says a note from organizers. "Plus, don’t miss an interactive workshop with Jan Vilaca that will challenge the “always on” mindset and help you work smarter, not longer."

Register on the Administrative Professionals Community of Practice Event 2026 website. Space is limited.

The music department's end of term ensemble concerts continue this weekend. Up first is Coalescence featuring the UWaterloo Balinese Percussion Ensembles. In this concert, experience a blend of the old and new, featuring the energetic interlocking rhythms of Lelongoran – a traditional gong kebyar piece from 1920s North Bali – and original works by students in the Special Topics in Global Music course.

The concert takes place tonight at 7:30 p.m. in the Humanities Theatre. Tickets are a suggested donation of $10 general admission and $5 for students.

On Saturday, March 28, is Journeys featuring the University of Waterloo Choir. This term's concert will explore various human journeys as often recounted through story, tale, or myth. It features opera gems by Verdi along with classics by composers including Mozart and Pärt. The choir is directed by Liska Jetchick and accompanied by Nicole Simone.

The concert takes place Saturday, March 28 at 7:30 p.m. at First United Church on 16 William Street, Waterloo. Admission is $10 general, $5 for students, and tickets are available at the door.

On Sunday, March 29, is the Spring Thaw Jazz Ensemble Concert. Directed by Michael Wood, this term the jazz ensemble will present a mixed program featuring Funk, Rock, Cuban, Swing, Modal and Ballads. 

The concert takes place on Sunday, March 29 at 2:00 p.m. in the Conrad Grebel University College Great Hall. Admission is free.

Finally, the Instrumental Chamber Ensembles Concert takes place on Sunday, March 29 at 7:30 p.m. in Conrad Grebel University College Chapel. Directed by Judith Davenport, six different chamber groups will play a wide assortment of classical pieces.  This term we have a saxophone trio, a brass trio, and a woodwind trio as a change from the usual string groups.

Admission is free.

Amid the hubbub of the March Open House this weekend, the Computer Museum will be hosting the second of two open house events on Saturday in DC 1316 from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Artifacts and vintage computer systems will be on display, including items from the Tom Conrad donation.