Wednesday, January 3, 2024


Dr. John Hirdes named to the Order of Canada

The Order of Canada medal against a red background.

A message from the Faculty of Health.

Dr. John Hirdes.Dr. John Hirdes, a professor in the School of Public Health Sciences, has been appointed a member of the Order of Canada for his “contributions to evidence-based health care practice and policy, notably through the research and development of standardized assessments and decision support tools.”

A fellow of the Royal Society of Canada and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, Hirdes is known for his research in geriatric assessment, mental health, health care and service delivery and health information management. He is the senior Canadian Fellow and a board member of interRAI, an international consortium of researchers from more than 40 countries. He chairs interRAI's International Network in Mental Health, and he chaired the University’s Committee on Student Mental Health (CoSMH). In addition, he recently received a 2022 University Professor designation.

“It is wonderful and humbling to be recognized with this honour,” Hirdes said. “It has been a privilege to contribute to making things better in a country that welcomed my family and me many years ago.”

Dr. Ian Burton, who received an honorary doctor of environmental studies from Waterloo in 2013, was named an officer of the Order of Canada. Burton, a policy advisor and influential scholar, was recognized for the scientific contributions to climate change adaptation. 

"I wish to congratulate each and every person invested into the Order of Canada," said Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of Waterloo. "Dr. Hirdes has spent his career working to make the provision of geriatric services and mental healthcare evidence-informed, more efficient and effective in Canada and around the world. He is also passionate about mentoring graduate students so that they can continue this important work. This is a tremendous honour and I’m proud to see that the University of Waterloo continues to be affiliated with individuals who are working to make a difference to our country."

Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, announced 78 new appointments to the Order of Canada, which has three levels: companion, officer and member. Officers of the Order of Canada are recognized specifically for service to Canada or to humanity at large, and members of the Order of Canada are honoured for distinguished service in or to a community, group or field of activity.

Visionary inventions for eye disease

Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR) personnel pose for a group photo.

By Karen Kawawada. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

Navigating the world safely can be a major challenge for people with vision impairments. One award-winning new invention aims to change that, while another aims to diagnose a common eye disease earlier, potentially preventing vision loss in the first place. 

The Centre for Eye and Vision Research (CEVR), a Hong Kong-based collaboration between the University of Waterloo and the Hong Kong Polytechnic University, recently won gold medals for both the inventions it entered in the Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong. 

“It’s encouraging for our teams to be recognized in this way and an indication of the maturity of these inventions,” said Dr. Ben Thompson, a professor at Waterloo’s School of Optometry & Vision Science and CEO and scientific director of CEVR. “This recognition will help accelerate the transition of these projects from research to commercial success.” 

CEVR people at the Asia Exhibition of Innovations and Inventions Hong Kong.

Detecting macular degeneration earlier 

One of the inventions is the world’s first piece of quantum technology in vision science. It’s a collaboration between quantum optics experts, particularly Drs. Dmitry Pushin, David Cory and Dusan Sarenac of Waterloo, and Waterloo and Hong Kong vision researchers led by Thompson. The underlying technology is a structured light beam that people even at the earliest stages of macular degeneration perceive differently than those without the disease.  

Read the rest of the article on Waterloo News.

January's first batch of notes

A woman smiles as she works out with resistance bands.The Metabolism, Exercise Training and Sex Differences (METS) lab in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences at the University of Waterloo is seeking sedentary, overweight males and females aged 18-45 years for a research study investigating whether the addition of two nutritional supplements to an exercise regime can improve the effects of exercise training on ‘high-quality weight loss’.

For more information, read the full Daily Bulletin article from August 8, 2022 regarding the launch of this ongoing research study.

If you are interested in participating in this study or have any questions, please contact Thabie Lechesa, Department of Kinesiology at 519-498-2151 or tlechesa@uwaterloo.ca.

Two Waterloo students walk down a flight of stairs.

Warriors Recreation registration opens today at 9:00 a.m., with Aquatics registration opening at 12 noon today. Athletics and Recreation will be running free Try-It opportunities (fitness, clubs, and instructional) from January 8 to 14, with an Athletics and Recreation Open House set for Tuesday, January 9 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre Great Hall. "Stop by to find out how to get active and engaged with your fellow Warriors this term," says a note from Athletics.

The intramural and instructional registration deadline is January 15 at 1:00 p.m.

The University's Undergraduate Calendar is temporarily offline for maintenance until Friday, January 5.

Link of the day

The 150 greatest Science Fiction movies of all time

When and Where

Warriors Game Day Tickets: Season Passes, Black and Gold Alumni Passes and Single Game Tickets now available for the 2023-24 varsity season. Purchase your tickets today!

Waterloo Warriors Youth Camps. Winter, March Break and PD Day camps available for boys and girls ages 5-18. Baseball, Basketball, Football and Multi-Sport and Games camps available. Register today!

The Student Health Pharmacy (located in the lower level of the Student Life Centre) is offering flu shots with no appointments needed daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call 519-746-4500 or extension 33784 for more info. COVID shots will be available beginning October 23. You can register online at studenthealthpharmacy.ca.

Master of Taxation Virtual Information SessionThursday, January 4, 4:00 p.m. 

Warriors Men’s Hockey vs. Laurier, Friday, January 5, 7:00 p.m., CIF Arena. Battle of Waterloo, Think Pink in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Buy your tickets today

Athletics presents Free Try-It Week, Monday, January 8 to Sunday, January 14. Fitness Classes, Club sessions, Instructional sessions and more. 

Pharmacy Phrosh Week, Monday, January 8 to Friday, January 12.

Winter 2024 lectures and classes begin, Monday, January 8.

Co-operative work term begins, Monday, January 8.

MDEI Virtual Open House, Monday, January 8, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. Register on Ticketfi.

Athletics and Recreation Open House, Tuesday, January 9, 9:30 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., SLC Great Hall.

Liability for Environmental Harm to the Global Commons: Book launch and panel discussion, Wednesday, January 10, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Zoom.

Warriors Basketball vs. Laurier, Wednesday, January 10, (W) 6:00 p.m., (M) 8:00 p.m., PAC. Battle of Waterloo, RBC Three Point Thrills for Tuition Contest. Buy your tickets today

Open event: Is Palestinian Solidarity Anti-Semitic? Exploring Anti-Zionism Through Forum TheatreThursday, January 11, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., St. Bede's Chapel, Renison University College.

What is Self-Compassion and How Can We Use it? Thursday, January 11, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Central Library branch, Kitchener.

Combining Two Cultures (C2C) 2024: Jack of All Trades, Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 14.

Warriors Volleyball vs. York, Saturday, January 13, (W) 4:00 p.m., (M) 6:00 p.m., PAC. Think Pink in support of the Canadian Cancer Society. Buy your tickets today.

Warrior Rec Instructional and Intramural registration deadline, Monday, January 15, 1:00 p.m. Other programs are ongoing. Find out more. 

Policy 76/77 Faculty Town Hall, Monday, January 15, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., NH 3407 and online via Microsoft Teams.

NEW - Friesen lecture with Dr. Zulfiqar Bhutta, "Addressing maternal and child health and sustainable development: the do's and don'ts of doing so equitably," Tuesday, January 16, 9:30 a.m. to 12 noon, HLTH-EXP 1686.

UW Staff Board Foundations Workshop, Wednesday, January 17, 4:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. 

Métis 101, Thursday, January 18, 1:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.

Queer Film Series presents "The Celluloid Closet," Thursday, January 18, 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.

University of Waterloo Knowledge Mobilization Community of Practice: “Research Impact Canada Network Overview and plans for our CoP for 2024,” Friday, January 19, 10:30 a.m to 12 noon. Contact Nadine Quehl at nquehl@uwaterloo.ca to request a Teams invitation for this session.

Positions available

On this week's list from the human resources department, viewable on the UWaterloo Talent Acquisition System (iCIMS):

  • Job ID# 2023-11519 – Groundsperson - Plant Operations, CUPE
  • Job ID# 2023-11509 - Administrative Coordinator, Undergraduate Studies - Applied Mathematics, USG 5
  • Job ID# 2023-11529 - Outreach Coordinator, WiCS - Cheriton School of Computer Science, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2023-11142 - Technical Manager - Cheriton School of Computer Science, USG 14
  • Job ID# 2023-11511 - HR Partner - Human Resources, USG 9 – 11
  • Job ID# 2023-11531 - Information Privacy Analyst - Legal and Immigration Services, USG 10
  • Job ID# 2023-11534 - Legal Assistant, Privacy and Immigration - Legal and Immigration Services, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2023-11307 - Legal Counsel - Legal and Immigration Services, USG 17
  • Job ID# 2023-11541 - Talent Acquisition Specialist - Human Resources, USG 7 – 9
  • Job ID# 2023-11507 - Student Service Specialist and Lead, Technologies - Student Service Centre, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2023-11313 - Associate Director, IT Operations - Engineering Computing, USG 14
  • Job ID# 2023-11327 - Associate Director, Undergraduate Operations - Science Undergraduate Office, USG 10
  • Job ID# 2023-11187 - Corporate Research Partnerships Manager - Office of Research, USG 14
  • Job ID# 2023-11121 - Manager, Research Ethics - Office of Research Ethics, USG 10
  • Job ID# 2023-11328 - Student Engagement Officer - Science Undergraduate Office, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2023-11502 - Instructional Digital Media Developer - Centre for Work Integrated Learning, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2023-11501 - Instructional Digital Media Developer (WE Accelerate) - Centre for Work Integrated Learning, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2023-11500 - Instructional Support Coordinator (WE Accelerate) - Centre for Work Integrated Learning, USG 8 – 10
  • Job ID# 2023-10507 – Cook - Food Services, CUPE
  • Job ID# 2023-11513 - Manager, Operations - Food Services, USG 8

Secondments/Internal temporary opportunities

  • Job ID# 2023-11425 – Buyer - Procurement & Contracts, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2023-11514 - Administrative Assistant to the Chair - Mechanical & Mechatronics Engineering, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2023-11469 - Research Coordinator & Data Analyst - Kinesiology and Health Sciences, USG 6
  • Job ID# 2023-11293 - Financial Analyst – WatSPEED, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2023-11479 - Learning Technologies Analyst - Centre for Extended Learning, USG 8 - 11

Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo opportunities

https://uwaterloo.ca/careers/current-opportunities/affiliated-and-federated-institutions