Tuesday, March 31, 2026

A new economic impact assessment by EY reveals that the University of Waterloo contributes nearly $7 billion to Ontario’s GDP through its co-op program, alumni activity and research enterprise. For every dollar invested in Waterloo, $8.16 in economic activity is returned to the province.

“This independent analysis reinforces Waterloo’s role as an economic engine for Ontario,” says Vivek Goel, Waterloo’s president and vice-chancellor. "From our founding, Waterloo was built to connect education, research and industry. That model continues to translate talent and entrepreneurship into measurable economic value and deliver strong returns on public investment."

Read the Waterloo Impact Report

Waterloo’s innovation ecosystem, powered by Canada’s largest co-op program, cutting-edge research and a culture of creator-owned intellectual property, continues to accelerate business creation and growth across Ontario.

In Waterloo Region, the University contributes $1.7 billion in GDP and more than 14,000 jobs. This includes research partnerships with municipal governments, the Waterloo Regional Health Network and local industry.

Waterloo entrepreneurs generated $405 million for the provincial economy and created more than 3,350 full-time jobs. It’s no surprise that the 2025 Unicorn Report ranked Waterloo as the number one institution in Canada for producing unicorn founders.

Alumni entrepreneurs have founded more than 67,000 for-profit and nonprofit companies that together employ 1.7 million people and generate $397 billion in annual global revenue.

Waterloo graduates are also reinvesting in Canada. Alumni have directed $7.5 billion into Ontario and another $6.2 billion across the country, often in fast growing sectors, such as artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and advanced manufacturing.

The EY analysis took a comprehensive approach to assess Waterloo’s full economic footprint.

Waterloo is one of the province’s most reliable engines for workforce development. According to EY, for every $1 invested in hiring a Waterloo co-op student, employers generate $2.29 in economic output, totalling $505 million in value across Ontario.

Waterloo students bring job-ready skills, fresh perspectives and research-informed problem solving to their workplaces. They help fill critical labour gaps while gaining experience that sets them on a path to future leadership.

Alumni are more widely represented in knowledge-based and innovation-driven sectors of the Canadian economy than the national average. More than 94 per cent of Waterloo’s 263,000 alumni work in jobs related to their university-developed skills and the majority have an annual income above $100,000.

Through Waterloo’s Global Futures framework, the University is mobilizing expertise across disciplines to address the world’s biggest challenges, from building sustainable communities and advancing future-ready health systems to the ethical development of transformative technologies. This forward-looking approach ensures that Waterloo’s impact is measured not only in today’s GDP, but in the long-term prosperity, resilience and well-being of communities at home and around the world.

EY conducted its analysis using data from Statistics Canada and the University of Waterloo, applying its proprietary economic impact model based on input-output principles. This method captures the full scope of Waterloo’s influence — from direct operational spending to the indirect and induced impacts generated by students, alumni and research activities.

Nominations open for honorary degrees

A message from Vivek Goel, President and Vice-Chancellor.

I am pleased to invite all members of the University community to submit nominations for honorary degree recipients for 2027.

An honorary degree is the highest honour conferred by the University. Through the conferring of honorary degrees, the University of Waterloo seeks to recognize outstanding achievement, whether academic or through service to society. These achievements are celebrated at Convocation where they inspire those in attendance, particularly our newly graduating students.

Complete nomination packages should be submitted by June 30, 2026 to the secretary of the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee, c/o Secretariat, NH 3060 or senate@uwaterloo.ca.

Download the nomination form

Guidelines for awarding honorary degrees, including selection procedures and considerations for assessing a candidate's qualifications, as well as details on what to submit in a nomination package can be found on the Senate Honorary Degrees Committee website. You are also welcome to contact the committee secretary for more information and assistance.

The committee will consider a broad range of achievement in exceptional service or significant contribution to the university, the community, the nation, or the world, in areas that include research and scholarship, the arts, business, and professional and voluntary service. Nominations can be made for individuals from Canada or abroad, whose presence will bring honour and distinction to the University of Waterloo and whose achievements will be seen as important and exemplary to the graduating students. The University embraces and appreciates diversity and wants to ensure the pool of candidates reflects our student body and local, national, and global communities. Decisions taken by the committee will seek to reflect the diverse social and cultural character of Canada as well as the academic diversity embodied in the university itself.  Nominations should also consider how candidates relate to the University and align with our strategic priorities and institutional values. Recipients of Honorary Degrees are expected to participate in, and inspire graduates at a Convocation ceremony. 

With our community's input we can continue to recognize deserving individuals whose achievements the University would be delighted to celebrate and honour.

Thank you in advance for your contribution to this important tradition.

Custom merchandise and print solutions for your department

A message from Print + Retail Solutions.

Looking to elevate your department, event, or initiative with custom-branded items? W Store Custom Orders and W Print provide a personalized, end-to-end experience to help you source, design, and deliver exactly what you need with quick, reliable, and convenient on-campus service.

Our experienced team offers guidance at every step, from product selection to production, ensuring the best fit for your goals and budget. We offer a wide range of innovative merchandise options and can create fully customized, UWaterloo-branded products tailored to your department or faculty.

Popular custom items this term:

• Sublimated Lanyard: $3.75 for 250-499 (2-3 week turnaround time)
• Basic 1-Colour Screen Print Tee Shirts: starting at $9.70 (3-4 week turnaround time)
• Branded Colourful Pens: starting at $1.10 for 300+ (2-3 week turnaround time)
• 5” x 7” Notebooks: starting at $3.00 for 300+ (4 week turnaround time)
• Branded Sticky Notes: starting at $0.95 for 250+ (4 week turnaround time)
• Branded Tote Bags: starting at $3.00 for 100+ (2 week turnaround time)
• Wireless Chargers: starting at $9.65 for 100+ (3 week turnaround time)

W Store Custom Orders is happy to quote on any item to support your department’s needs. From event swag and student engagement pieces to appreciation gifts and team apparel.

W Print services

W Print supports events and conferences with professional printing solutions, including business cards, brochures, custom notepads, retractable banner stands, signage and more. All produced with fast turnaround, high-quality results and convenient on-campus pick-up.

Why work with us?

We are the University’s trusted, one-stop shop for departments, student groups, and campus entrepreneurs seeking high-quality, affordable custom merchandise and print solutions. Our streamlined ordering process ensures:

• University-compliant procurement
• Transparent pricing with no hidden fees
• Free on-campus shipping
• Expert branding guidance
• Ethical sourcing practices
• Reliable production timelines
• Tax-free with an internal account number

Whether you are planning a conference, coordinating bulk swag, sourcing appreciation or retirement gifts or simply exploring ideas, our team will handle vendor coordination and secure preferred pricing, saving you time and hassle.

If you’re planning to order for the end of term, now is the perfect time to get started. Not sure where to begin? Email wstore@uwaterloo.ca or wprint@uwaterloo.ca and we’ll connect you with the right expert to support your project.

Notes as March goes out roaring

Quite the thunderstorm last night, eh? A strong storm whipped through the area in the early morning hours with a rather enthusiastic lightning display, thunder, winds and reports of hail. Did it wake you up like it woke me up? Now, to business:

"Register ASAP because theUniversity of Waterloo Teaching and Learning Conference is now at 80 per cent of capacity for lunch," says a note from the Integrated Teaching Support Unit. "Registration for the in-person day will remain open until April 15, or until we reach capacity for lunch in-person at Federation Hall." 

"Once we reach capacity, you will still be able to register for the online day, and for the in-person day without lunch. Please note that food options will be limited on campus, as most Food Services locations are closed between the winter and spring terms."

A reminder that Nomad: Correcting the Narrative featuring Susan Aglukark takes place tonight from 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. in QNC 0101. The event promises to be an immersive multimedia journey through the past generation of Canadian Inuit life. Blending Inuktitut and English with her signature contemporary sound, Aglukark will share personal stories and cultural history while shedding light on the impacts of rapid change, colonization, and community resilience.