Tuesday, June 2, 2026

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• Celebrating Pride at Waterloo
• Planning for today and tomorrow: the Libraries Strategic Space Plan
• The Hat Tile Collection

Celebrating Pride at Waterloo

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

Pride Month is a time to recognize and celebrate the incredible diversity of Two-Spirit, lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, intersex, asexual, and additional sexual orientations and gender identities across our campuses and beyond.  

This June also marks National Indigenous History Month, a reminder of the many intersectional identities within our community and the importance of ensuring that everyone feels seen, respected, and supported. We acknowledge and celebrate Two-Spirit and IndigiQueer individuals whose experiences and perspectives are essential to the strength and vibrancy of our campuses. 

Across Canada and around the world, many members of 2SLGBTQIA+ communities continue facing discrimination, exclusion, and threats to their safety and well-being. At the same time, we see powerful examples of advocacy, solidarity, and community leadership that remind us why Pride continues to matter.  

At Waterloo, we know that creating a truly inclusive University requires working together with purpose and accountability. It means listening carefully, learning continuously, and thinking differently to remove barriers so that every member of our community can thrive. 

We opened Pride Month on June 1 with the re-raising of the Intersex-and Two-Spirit Inclusive Pride Flag at H Lot, joined by students, staff, faculty, and community members. It was a meaningful start to the month and a reflection of our shared commitment to building a more inclusive campus for Two-Spirit, trans, non-binary, queer, and gender non-conforming members of our community. 

I am also pleased to share an update on the Trans and Non-Binary Equity Strategy, developed through consultations with 2SLGBTQIA+ students, staff, and faculty. It was endorsed by the University in June 2025.  

As of June 2026, twenty-nine projects are underway and the Strategy is on track to complete approximately 15 per cent of its initiatives in its first year, with early progress led by Campus Wellness, Information Systems and Technology, the Inclusive Communications Team, and the Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-R).  

As part of this progress, we are launching a new resource hub to help students, staff, and faculty explore available supports, services, and programs. It is a vital resource for anyone looking for guidance on pronoun usage and inclusive practices, or for those who want to better understand what is available. The hub offers meaningful tools to support learning and connection. Updates and access can be found on the Trans and Non-Binary Equity Strategy webpage.  

Specifically, I would like to thank the Office of EDI-R, and a special thank you to Glow for your leadership and partnership in advancing this work. Beyond Pride Month, the work of these offices takes place every single day of the year. 

I encourage anyone looking for support, guidance, and information to connect with the Glow Centre for Sexual and Gender Diversity, located in SLC 3103. Through peer support, advocacy, community-building, and student leadership opportunities, Glow plays a vital role in fostering a sense of belonging for many members of our campus community.  

I also want to thank the QueerTrans Alliance, EngiQueers, QTPOC KW and the many faculty, staff, and community partners whose ongoing commitment continues to move Waterloo forward. 

As this is my final Pride Month message as President and Vice-Chancellor, I want to note that it has been a privilege to serve this community. I have witnessed the care, courage, and determination of so many people committed to making Waterloo a place where everyone belongs.  

There is still more work to do, and I know it will continue to be met with the same dedication and purpose that has defined so much of what we have built together. 

Wishing you a joyful, meaningful and safe Pride Month. 

Planning for today and tomorrow: the Libraries Strategic Space Plan

A message from the office of the Associate Provost, Campus Support and Accessibility.

It is National AccessAbility Week (NAAW), and each day this week we are featuring a different University initiative that demonstrates a commitment to advancing accessibility and disability inclusion. Today, we are featuring the Libraries Strategic Space Plan, with Associate University Librarian, Administration and Strategic Initiatives, Jude Doble.

The Libraries Strategic Space Plan describes the long-term renovation strategy to redesign supportive and accessible library services, resources, and spaces that meet the ongoing needs of all University community members. Working closely with library staff, architects, and community feedback, this plan will bring forward transformed approaches to creation, discovery, use, sharing, and preservation of information that is open and equitably accessible.

The 15-year plan is set to meet the current and evolving needs of campus. Jude Doble, Associate University Librarian, Administration and Strategic Initiatives, described how the project engaged almost 1000 campus members, including students, faculty, and staff. The project’s community engagement sessions included “focus groups with Indigenous community members, accessibility and equity-seeking groups on campus, faculty members who are connected to the library, academic support unit partners, and student government,” all to help bring forward a library that supports diverse needs at different points of the semester.

The plan captures accessibility, sustainability, and equity, driven by user experiences. Future changes may include spaces with adjustable lighting, dynamic spaces for individual and group work, and integrating new technology to support a range of uses, including diverse study modes, teaching formats, and evolving academic needs. As Jude Doble describes, the plan aims to “meet the needs of today, but also the unknown needs of the future.”

The Libraries Strategic Space Plan is currently underway, with the library team and architects working hard to introduce exciting changes on a rolling basis.

National AccessAbility Week is just one opportunity to learn about accessibility and disability inclusion initiatives at the University of Waterloo. To stay connected year-round, join the Accessibility Ally Network Microsoft Teams channel or contact aoda@uwaterloo.ca for more information.

The Hat Tile Collection

A message from the W Store.

The Hat Tile Collection celebrates a groundbreaking mathematical discovery involving University of Waterloo professor, Craig S. Kaplan and his collaborators, who helped identify the world’s first known “einstein tile” — a single shape that can tessellate infinitely without ever repeating in a regular pattern. For decades, mathematicians searched for a single shape capable of creating a nonperiodic tiling on its own, and this discovery marked the first successful example. The specific 13-sided shape uncovered by the research team became known as “the hat,” and its discovery opened the door for future exploration into whether other einstein tiles may still exist.

Inspired by this remarkable achievement in geometry and design, the Hat Tile Collection brings the iconic “hat” pattern into a wearable and collectible format for the University of Waterloo community. The collection includes a tee, mug, hat, lanyard, stickers, and pins, featuring all six University of Waterloo faculty colours. Blending mathematics, creativity, and school spirit, the collection highlights how innovative research can inspire design beyond the classroom and laboratory. The Hat Tile Collection is available at W Store, W Store Essentials, and online at wstore.ca.