Tuesday, June 30, 2026

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• University Pension Plan information session recap
• Extreme heat and health: What communities need to know
• St. Jerome's welcomes Dr. John English as Historian in Residence
• What's open and closed on Canada Day

University Pension Plan information session recap

On Monday, June 22, the University hosted an information session which explored the possibility of converting the University of Waterloo’s registered pension plan (RPP) to the University Pension Plan (UPP), a jointly sponsored pension plan for Ontario’s university sector. A recording and materials are now available: 

• Session recording and slides 

• Additional FAQs 

As a reminder, the University remains in the exploration phase. No decisions have been made, and this process is focused on ensuring that you have clear information and opportunities to engage. If a conversion were to be considered in the future, it would require approval from plan members through a formal consent process. 

The FAQ section of the website has been updated, and additional responses to the questions that were submitted both before and after the information session will continue to be added over the coming weeks.  

There will be ongoing opportunities to learn more, ask questions, and be part of the conversation. We encourage you to review the materials, attend future sessions and continue sharing your questions and feedback. Visit the University’s UPP exploration website for the latest information, updates and FAQs. 

Extreme heat and health: What communities need to know

This is an excerpt of an article that was originally published on Waterloo News.

Blistering temperatures exacerbated by high humidity are not just uncomfortable but dangerous. Across Canada, and in communities throughout Southwestern Ontario, rising temperatures are affecting people’s health in profound and uneven ways. New research led by the University of Waterloo Climate Institute is calling for urgent, equity-focused action to address public health risks from extreme heat.

Heat records were broken on every continent in 2022, the highest global temperatures in over 100,000 years were recorded in 2023, and average global temperatures exceeded 1.5°C for the first time in 2024.

Developed in partnership with Southwestern Public Health, APolicy Guide of Best Practices: Addressing Extreme Heat Through a Health Equity Lens brings together international research, Canadian case studies and regional expertise to help communities respond to one of the fastest growing climate risks. While extreme heat affects everyone, it does not affect everyone equally.

“We know that extreme heat is already an important climate health risk in Canada, and it’s only going to become more significant,” says Yuki Yeung, a PhD candidate in the Faculty of Environment and lead author of the guide. “It affects everyone, but the health impacts are not evenly distributed. Certain populations, such as older adults, children and outdoor workers, face higher exposure with fewer resources to cope.”

Heat is already the leading cause of weather-related deaths in Canada, and climate change is increasing the frequency, intensity and duration of extreme heat events. In Southwestern Ontario, hotter days, warmer nights and prolonged heatwaves are becoming more common, with neighbourhoods lacking tree cover or modern infrastructure at greater risk.

The health impacts can be severe, including heat exhaustion and heat stroke, worsening cardiovascular and respiratory conditions, and increased hospital visits. Older adults, young children, outdoor workers, people experiencing homelessness and those facing social or economic barriers are among the most vulnerable.

Read the full article on Waterloo News.

St. Jerome's welcomes Dr. John English as Historian in Residence  

A message from St. Jerome's University.

The St. Jerome’s University Department of History is delighted to announce that Dr. John English will be joining us as a Historian in Residence for the 2026-2027 academic year. Dr. English is one of Canada’s most acclaimed, best-selling historians and experts in international relations. He is an Officer of the Order of Canada, a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, and has the Order of Merit of Germany. English was the Member of Parliament for the federal riding of Kitchener from 1993 to 1997, serving with distinction as the parliamentary secretary to the Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs. 

He earned a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Waterloo, was an outstanding member of Waterloo’s History department for four decades, and founding executive director of the Centre for International Governance Innovation. He is now a Senior Fellow at Trinity College at the University of Toronto and chairs the Canadian International Council.  

Dr.  English will be based in the History department where he will continue to research and participate in department seminars and mentoring of upper-year history students with an interest in national politics and international relations. 

What's open and closed on Canada Day

Wednesday, July 1 is Canada Day, and many of the operations at the University will be affected by the mid-week statutory holiday:

Most Food Services operations will be closed on Wednesday, July 1, with the exception of The Market at CMH which will be open from 9 a.m. to 10:30 p.m. All other Food Service locations that are open for the summer will reopen on Thursday, July 2 at their regular hours. 

The SLC, SLC Turnkey and Flock Stop are all open 24/7 throughout the holiday, but the Turnkey@DC will be closed.

Print + Retail Solutions, the Libraries, Counselling Services and Health Services, and the Physical Activities Complex, CIF and Field House will all be closed.