Monday, May 6, 2024

Vivek Goel invested as a member of the Order of Canada

Photo credit: Sgt Anis Assari, Rideau Hall © OSGG, 2024

On May 2, her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, Governor General of Canada, hosted an investiture ceremony at Rideau Hall to invest new Companions, Officers and Members into the Order of Canada. Among the appointees, University of Waterloo President Vivek Goel was invested as a Member. 

President Goel’s appointment was originally announced by Her Excellency, the Right Honourable Julie Payette, Governor General of Canada in December 2020. The appointment recognizes his contributions as an academic and administrator who is committed to the advancement of public health services, evidence-based healthcare, and research innovation. 

At the time of his appointment, Goel said “the pandemic has put a sharp focus on public health research, and I’m grateful for this recognition of my contributions in that area. I wish to offer my congratulations to all of the other honourees, and express how proud I feel to be in the company of people doing such important work.”

The Order of Canada, one of our country’s highest honours, recognizes outstanding achievement, dedication to the community and service in an effort to build a better Canada. Nearly 7,000 people from all sectors of society have been invested into the Order since its creation in 1967. Goel joins nearly forty members of the University of Waterloo community who are Order of Canada recipients.

The Governor General makes the appointments on the recommendation of the Advisory Council for the Order of Canada. For more information on the awards, visit the website of the Governor General of Canada. 

Waterloo marked Red Dress Day with ceremony

By Emily Brant. This is an excerpt of an article originally published on Waterloo News.

On May 3, the University of Waterloo community came together to observe the National Day of Awareness for Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls and Two-Spirit People (MMIWG2S), which is annually observed on May 5, and is also known as Red Dress Day. 

In 2010, Indigenous artist Jaime Black conceived the REDress project, an impactful art installation featuring empty red dresses symbolizing the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls and Two-Spirit People. Since its inception, these red dresses have evolved into a powerful emblem representing strength and honor for Indigenous women who have bravely shared their stories, and for families who have suffered losses. The establishment of Red Dress Day serves as a poignant call to action, demanding attention and justice for the persistent crisis of gender-based and racialized violence that stems from the enduring impacts of colonialism. 

The commemoration ceremony was led by Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Elder Myeengun Henry, inside the Health Expansion Building. Members of the Waterloo community were invited to hang red dresses around the building to represent and honour the lives of the missing and murdered, while showing solidarity with their family and loved ones.  When the weather dries up, the dresses will be hung outdoors in the trees that line the path to what will soon be the Indigenous Outdoor Gathering Space. 

“They tell us from our ancestors, that we have to have these moments of reflection so we don’t forget about the beauty of this world, but we can’t forget about the pain that’s been inflicted either. Especially one group that lives in this country who has repeatedly over and over had to go through the devastation of loss, and in most cases, without any resolve,” Elder Henry said. “How can I look at my daughter and say that your chance of dying by violence is greater than anybody else in this country?” 

Read the rest of the article on Waterloo News

Campus emergency communication system to be tested tomorrow

A message from Information Systems & Technology (IST).

Information Systems & Technology (IST) will be testing the University’s campus-wide emergency communication system on Tuesday, May 7, at 10:15 a.m.

What is the impact?

Emergency communication channels being tested include:

• Tweets to @UWaterloo and @WatSAFEapp;
• WatSAFE mobile app;
• The ‘WatSAFE Desktop Notification’ on-screen pop-up for desktops and laptops; and
• Portal alerts and push notifications.

Messaging

The message displayed will read “TEST of the UW Emergency Notification System. During an actual emergency or threat, you would receive instructions. No action is required.” More information regarding the emergency would be available at alert.uwaterloo.ca.

Approximately 15 minutes after the test activation message is sent, a deactivation message will display, “The test of the UW Emergency Notification System is complete.”

In the event of a real emergency during this test, please contact Police Services at 519-888-4911, or ext. 22222.

Be sure to install the WatSAFE app on your device and WatSAFE Desktop Notification tool on your desktop/laptop to receive this test message, and more importantly, to stay informed of campus emergency situations. Visit the WatSAFE website for more details.

Questions or concerns? Please contact the IST Service Desk via the IST Help Portal.

School of Public Health Sciences celebrates career of Dr. Craig Janes

A message from the School of Public Health Sciences.

The School of Public Health Sciences invites friends and colleagues to a gathering celebrating Dr. Craig Janes’ upcoming retirement and exceptional career as a medical anthropologist, professor and researcher.

The event takes place May 22 in Health Expansion (EXP) 1686 with speeches from 3 to 4 p.m. and reception to follow. In-person attendance is encouraged, but virtual attendance is also an option.

RSVP by May 15 and sign his card to share notes and well wishes.

Notes as the spring term blooms

It's springtime for campus in Waterloo. Lectures and classes have begun, as has the co-operative work term. Most Food Services locations are back up and running to service the incoming student population, and the geese will do their best to stay out from underfoot.

Also blossoming today is the second-annual campus-wide BioBlitz: a community-led effort to identify and record species across campus hosted by the Sustainability Office. Grab your butterfly nets and binoculars and beat the bushes from Monday to Sunday to identify as many animal species as you can. The event get started with a BioBlitz Community Fair in the Student Life Centre (SLC) from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. today, and continues with guided walks all week and tree planting events on May 8 and 9, to name just a couple of events.

Getting a head start on the spring season is the University's Senate, which meets today at 3:30 p.m. in Needles Hall 3407 and on Zoom. Among the agenda items:

• A motion to approve major modifications to the Master of Engineering (MEng) in Civil Engineering – Co-operative Program, effective September 1, 2024;
• A motion to approve major modifications to the Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) and Master of Engineering (MEng) in Chemical Engineering, effective September 1, 2024;
• A motion to approve major modifications to Honours Recreation and Leisure Studies, and Honours Recreation and Sport Business, effective September 1, 2025;
• Senate will also discuss and give its endorsement to the draft Values Statement, and further recommend that the Board of Governors give final approval to the same Values Statement; and
• Senate will also debate a motion to approve the creation of the proposed Academic Quality Enhancement Committee of Senate.

Senate will also hear a report from the Honorary Degrees Committee regarding the list of spring convocation honorands, and winners of the Distinguished Teacher Awards and the Amit & Meena Chakma Award for Exceptional Teaching by a Student will have the opportunity to address Senate about their research.

The full agenda and supporting documents are available on the Secretariat's website.