Wednesday, July 24, 2019

Registration open for Alumni Black and Gold Day

A message from the Office of Advancement.

This September 28, when you are looking for the Fun Run, or the Alumni VIP Tent at the Warriors football game, you will find it at Alumni Black and Gold Day. That's right, the University of Waterloo's annual Reunion weekend is now known as Alumni Black and Gold Day. Grab your Warrior wear and get ready to experience our new take on Reunion. In addition to your favourite activities, you’ll find exciting new events to enjoy with family and friends. It’s a great chance to get the gang together and ignite your Waterloo spirit.

While the day has a new name, your favourite events are still here – and some new ones too. Check out this year’s activities:

• Fun Run: One of our longest-standing traditions featuring Bib Tag timing, costumes and fun for all ages;
• Warrior Picnic: Join us for a BBQ lunch, beer tent, live entertainment and activities for the whole family;
• The Modern Athlete: Better, faster, stronger. Join us in an exploratory discussion on advances in health technology, and how they affect sport and the development of athletes;
• Alumni VIP Tent: Be a VIP at the Warriors football game vs. York. Enjoy samples from Waterloo Brewing, tailgate-inspired food and grandstand seating during the game'
• Waterloo Warriors Hall of Fame: Celebrate the outstanding accomplishments of this year’s inductees and relive the moments that have made an everlasting impression on the Waterloo Warriors community.

Not an alumnus? No problem! The event is open to the entire campus community. Check out the full schedule of events and get ready to bring your Warrior spirit back to campus this September 28. Don’t miss out — register today!

Remembering Pat Mihm

Staff member Patrick Mihm (at left) shares the stage with Douglas Wright, Burt Matthews, and other University of Waterloo leaders in this photo.

Patrick Mihm, longtime University of Waterloo employee who was the first sheet metal tradesperson hired on campus and was later named Honorary Member of the University, passed away on July 21.

Mihm worked in the Plant Operations department as a certified sheet metal tradesperson from June 1984 until his retirement in March 2014. He was the first licensed sheet metal worker on campus and played a key role in setting up Plant Operations' Mechanical shop. As the resident sheet metal specialist, Mihm was a familiar face all over campus as he installed, retrofitted, and repaired almost anything that has anything to do with metal, be it ductwork, building flashing, siding, louvres, fire dampers, and supply, return, and exhaust systems.

“If you want to learn how to appreciate an organization, do something to help,” he was once quoted as saying, and put this philosophy into practice. His contribution to the University went well beyond his daily work, with extensive involvement in governance, administrative, social, charitable, and recreational activities on campus and beyond. He was a staff representative on the Board of Governors from 1991 to 1994, a CUPE representative on the Pension and Benefits Committee for six years, a CUPE representative on the Employee Assistance Program Committee, a union representative on the United Way committee for ten years and was involved as a committee member or co-chair of a number of campus groups, including: 

• the Downey Tennisfest, from 1993 to 2008;
• the Matthews Golf Classic, serving as a committee member from its inception and as co-chair from 2008 to 2014;
• the Hagey Bonspiel from 2007 to 2009 and as committee co-chair from 2010 to 2014; and
• the Keystone Committee, serving from 1988 to 2014, and as part of the Treat-A-Gram initiative since its inception to 2014.

Mihm would continue to serve with many of these groups as a retiree member after retiring in 2014.

He was instrumental in originating the CUPE student bursary program, which assists students who are family members of Waterloo CUPE members studying at Waterloo.

In 2015, Mihm was named Honorary Member of the University for his contributions to campus life and service to the University.

A visitation will be held at the Haskett Funeral Home at 49 Goshen Street North in Zurich, ON from 2:00 to 4:00 p.m. and from 7:00 to 9:00 p.m. today. The funeral mass will be held at St. Peter's Catholic Church, 73334 Bluewater Highway, Zurich (St. Joseph) on Thursday, July 25 at 10:00 a.m.

“To honour Pat, please wear bright colours, your best bow tie, golf attire, or all the above," writes Sheila Hurley of the Safety Office. "We want people to dress very casual. After the church service individuals are invited back to the Funeral Home where family and friends will be sharing stories and reflecting on Pat’s Life prior to the luncheon."

Thank you Pat for leaving something better behind.

Tips for self care and other notes

Did you know today, July 24, is International Self Care Day? In a world with constant change and multiple demands, your Healthy Workplace  Committee would like to encourage you to remember to take care of yourself. To help you do so, we suggest you learn more about International Self Care Day and the 7 pillars.

Orchestra@uwaterloo is taking a trip into fantasy with its Fairy Tales and Legends concert on Thursday, July 25. The repertoire this term includes several popular ballet overtures, as well as arias from Massenet, Gounud, Dvorak, Mozart, and Offenbach accompanied by local favourite sopranos Natasha Campbell and Autumn Wascher. Orchestra@uwaterloo is a University-wide orchestra open to students, staff, faculty, and alumni of the University of Waterloo. The event takes place at 7:30 p.m. at Knox Presbyterian Church in UpTown Waterloo.

The deadline to apply to be a Fall 2019 #GRADtalks speaker is this Friday, July 26. There are two GRADtalks sessions currently scheduled for the fall term: The Role of the University in the Modern World on September 26 and the Future of Healing on November 28. 

If you are a graduate student interested in sharing your research, and your studies fall into either of the above categories, consider applying before the Friday deadline.