Wednesday, July 3, 2024


Waterloo wins awards of excellence for advancing higher education

Children interact with the Travelling STEM exhibit making things out of cardboard and drinking straws.

Children participate in the Faculty of Engineering's Travelling STEM project.

A message from the Office of Advancement. This announcement was originally published on the Office of Advancement website.  

The University of Waterloo has been recognized with awards of excellence from the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE) and the Council for Advancement and Support of Education (CASE).  

CASE and CCAE serve educational institutions and professionals working in advancement services, alumni relations, development, marketing and communications, external relations and related areas. The associations’ annual awards recognize creative ideas that successfully engage communities to advance higher education.   

   This year, Waterloo received these accolades:   

 These awards demonstrate our collective leadership as strategic partners and community builders, and they’re wonderful reminders of the talent across our University. Congratulations to everyone who was recognized for their work! 

KDE Hub receives $2.25M in funding to support youth substance use prevention

KDE Hub logo featuring an illustration of an illuminated lightbulb.

The Minister of Mental Health and Addictions, the Honourable Ya'ara Saks, has announced funding for community-based youth substance use prevention in communities across Canada.

The Public Health Agency of Canada has awarded $2.25 million to the Knowledge Development and Exchange Hub for Youth Substance Use Prevention (KDE Hub). The KDE Hub will support the implementation of the IPM in Canada, lead a pan-Canadian youth substance use prevention community of practice, and facilitate sharing of information, knowledge, and best practices.

The Youth Substance Use Prevention Program (YSUPP) is a national initiative funded by the Public Health Agency of Canada that seeks to prevent substance use and promote wellness among Canadian youth. YSUPP is based on the Icelandic Prevention Model (IPM), an internationally recognized community-based approach aimed at identifying risks and mobilizing protective factors to prevent substance use and related harms.

"As Scientific Co-Directors, we are proud of the extensive mental health promotion work undertaken by the Hub team in amplifying new knowledge that will benefit communities across Canada," said Dr. Alice Schmidt Hanbidge and Dr. Colleen McMillan, Scientific Co-Directors of the KDE Hub. "The YSUPP funding allows our team to extend this work supporting projects to implement the Icelandic Prevention Model and support wellness for youth and their families in the context of substance use prevention."

The KDE Hub will capture the Canadian experience and adaptation of the IPM by consolidating evaluation results across funded projects at the pan-Canadian level. Initiated in 2019 by the Public Health Agency of Canada and hosted by Renison University College, the KDE Hub is a national entity, engaging many disciplines, sectors, and experiences. The KDE Hub supports a wide range of projects funded through federal programs and those with shared interests in promoting wellness in Canada.

"I am delighted that the KDE Hub, located at Renison University College, has been selected by the Public Health Agency of Canada, to support the implementation of the Icelandic Prevention Model in Canada," said Dr. Wendy Fletcher. "Established in 2019, the Hub team has supported over 60 mental health projects spanning coast to coast to coast. This new funding initiative will extend the capacity of communities to support their youth in meaningful and healthy ways."

P3 Showcase issues call for proposals

Presentation boards set up in the DC 1302 fishbowl.

A message from the P3 Community of Practice.

Do you have a project you are proud of? Do you have a project that your team learned from? Did you make a contribution toward your department's productivity? Is there a change on your team or in your unit that went well or that you learned from and you’d like to share with campus to enable further improvements? We would like to hear from you!

The P3 Community of Practice is excited to announce that we will be hosting our 5th annual Showcase on Wednesday, September 25 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. in DC 1302 (the ‘fishbowl’) and we are seeking proposals.

The Showcase is a free, drop-in over a half-day event that brings campus colleagues together to connect, share best practices, and hear about successes and lessons learned. With your contribution, the event will feature poster exhibits and poster flash talks supported by those involved in the project —all centered around ideas and practices that contribute to continuous improvement, change management, and project management. The Showcase is open to all employees and students.  

We invite you to submit a proposal for a poster exhibit and/or flash talk by July 26. Proposals will cover topics related to Continuous Improvement, Change Management, and/or Project Management. Past posters can be viewed on the Showcase event page. 

Procedure for submitting proposals

Successful proposals will meet some or all the following criteria. The poster / flash talk will: 

  1. Address projects or initiatives and the application of best practices in one or more of Continuous Improvement, Change Management, and/or Project Management. 
  2. be geared to employees as the primary audience. 
  3. Promote tools, methodologies, or practices others can use, apply, and are supported by the campus. 
  4. Identify clear learning outcomes and key takeaways. 
  5. Focus on innovations or emerging trends, practices, or knowledge. 
  6. Offer a mix of information-sharing and engagement. 

Submissions will be reviewed and evaluated on the above criteria. You will be notified by July 29 to confirm the status of your proposal. Support, including printing of posters, will be provided for all approved submissions. Anyone with questions is invited to contact Breanna Michael.

Wednesday's notes

Chris Hadfield next to a WISA banner.Among the latest inductees into the Canadian Science Fiction and Fantasy Association (CSFFA) Hall of Fame is Commander Chris Hadfield, who was appointed a professor in Waterloo's geography and aviation program in 2013 and today is an honorary advisor for the Waterloo Institute for Sustainable Aeronautics (WISA). 

Colonel Hadfield is a renowned Canadian astronaut who commanded the International Space Station. "Hadfield’s distinguished career spans over three decades with the military, NASA, and the Canadian Space Agency, during which he flew three space missions, built two space stations, and performed two spacewalks," says his CSFFA award citation. "His contributions have earned him numerous awards including the NASA Exceptional Service Medal and the Order of Canada."

"He is a best-selling author of five books and a global speaker, with his TED talk garnering over 20 million views. He co-hosts the BBC series “Astronauts: Do You Have What It Takes?” and National Geographic’s “One Strange Rock” documentary series. His album, “Space Sessions: Songs from a Tin Can,” was the first to be recorded in space."

Hadfield was nominated alongside authors Nalo Hopkinson and Jo Walton.

Food Truck Wednesdays continue today in the Arts Quad with vendors from Conestoga College.

Employers hosting Employer Information Sessions next week include Rippling. Make sure to register through WaterlooWorksand check the calendar for any updates.

Link of the day

Bow Wow Wow: the Dog Days of Summer are here

When and Where

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 on appointment basis only. You can register online at studenthealthpharmacy.ca.

Warriors Youth Summer Camps. Basketball, Baseball, Football, Hockey, Multi-Sport and Volleyball. Register today!

Safeguarding Science workshop and more, throughout May and June. Public Safety Canada invites faculty, staff and students to attend a series of virtual event via MS Teams. Register to receive a link.

Food Truck Wednesday, Wednesday, May 8 to Wednesday, July 24, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., Arts Quad.

WatITis 2024 call for proposals, Saturday, June 15 to Friday, August 30.

Student Life Tours, Monday, July 8 to Thursday, July 11, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., SLC Multipurpose room.

Safeguarding Science: Raising awareness of security risks and mitigation tools in the research ecosystem, Tuesday, July 9, 1:00 pm. to 2:30 p.m.

NEW - Midterm Meltdown, Wednesday, July 10, 12 noon to 4:00 p.m., SLC Green Space.

NEW - Chemistry Seminar, "How electron poor can we make gold(III)?"  featuring Dr. Jason L. Dutton, Department of Biochemistry and Chemistry, La Trobe University, Melbourne, Australia , Friday, July 12, 2:30 p.m., C2-361 Reading Room.

NEW - Gaining Insight into SSHRC merit review: a Q&A panel with SSHRC Insight Grant and Insight Development Grant Committee Members, Tuesday, July 16, 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., virtual. Please register by July 9.

Free Public Astronomy Lecture, “The Gravity of Tinkering with Einstein” featuring Dr. Cliff Burgess, Tuesday, July 16, 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., Fed Hall. Register today.

NEW - Tim Hortons Camp Day, Wednesday, July 17.

NEW - Student Life tours, Wednesday, July 17, 11:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., SLC Multipurpose room.

Exploring CIHR Project Grant Committee Culture: A Q&A panel with Reviewer Committee Members, Wednesday, July 17, 1:30 p.m. to 3:00 p.m., Microsoft Teams. Email the UW CIHR team to register for the session.

NEW - Wild Forces: University of Waterloo Choir, Saturday, July 20, 7:30 p.m., St. John the Evangelist Church, 22 Water Street, Kitchener. $5 students/$10 general
tickets available at the door.

NEW - Instrumental Chamber Ensemble concert, Sunday, July 21, 7:30 p.m., Chapel at Conrad Grebel University College. Free admission.

Biomedical Engineering and Technology Research Day, Wednesday, July 24, 11:00 a.m. to 12 noon, poster showcase from 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m. Register on the Centre for Bioengineering and Biotechnology website by July 10 to reserve a poster space.

Shad Waterloo 2024 Open Day Exhibits, Thursday, July 25, 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 p.m., Conrad Grebel Great Hall. 

NEW - Sweet Dreams: UWaterloo Jazz Ensemble, Sunday, July 28, 2:00 p.m., Great Hall (room 1111) at Conrad Grebel University College. Free admission.

NEW - Serenades, Ships, and Tombs: Orchestra@UWaterloo, Sunday, July 28, 7:30 p.m., Knox Presbyterian Church, 50 Erb St. West Waterloo. Free admission.

NEW - Last day of lectures and classes, Tuesday, July 30.

NEW - Pre-examination study days, Wednesday, July 31 and Thursday, August 1.

NEW - Safeguarding Science: Raising awareness of security risks and mitigation tools in the research ecosystem, Wednesday, August 7, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

Ontario Mennonite Music Camp, Sunday, August 11 to Friday, August 23. 

Positions available

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

  • Job ID# 2024-12108 - Clinic Operations Manager - School of Optometry and Vision Science, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2024-12115 - Patient Care Coordinator – Optometry, USG 5
  • Job ID# 2024-12167 - SHARCNET Systems Administrator - Office of Vice President Research and International, USG 11
  • Job ID# 2024-12158 - Director, AccessAbility Services - Campus Support and Accessibility, USG 15
  • Job ID# 2024-12144 - Faculty Events Manager - Dean of Mathematics Office, USG 9
  • Job ID# 2024-12117 - Instructional Support Coordinator - Statistics and Actuarial Science, USG 8 – 10
  • Job ID# 2024-12110 - Project Manager - Statistical Consulting and Survey Research Unit, USG 8
  • Job ID# 2024-12047 – Receptionist - Campus Support and Accessibility, USG 4
  • Job ID# 2024-12147 - Administrative Coordinator - Combinatorics & Optimization, USG 5
  • Job ID# 2024-12120 - Integrated Planning and Budgeting Analyst - Integrated Planning and Budgeting, USG 10
  • Job ID# 2024-12105 - Graduate Program Manager - Recreation and Leisure Studies, USG 7
  • Job ID# 2024-12145 - Research Graduate Programs Coordinator - School of Public Health Sciences, USG 6

Secondments/Internal temporary opportunities

  • Job ID# 2024-12113 - Development Officer - Dean of Engineering Office, Advancement Unit, USG 9 – 11
  • Job ID# 2024-12156 - Assistant Supervisor Temporary - Food Services, USG 5

Affiliated and Federated Institutions of Waterloo opportunities

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

    Upcoming service interruptions

    Stay up to date on service interruptions, campus construction, and other operational changes on the Plant Operations website. Upcoming service interruptions include:

    • MC to QNC Pedestrian Bridge temporary closure, Monday, June 17 to Friday, September 27, no access to bridge between QNC to MC due to construction.
    • B.C Matthews Hall, Lyle Hallman Institue., Applied Health Science, Energy Research Centre, Math 3 fire alarm testing, Wednesday, July 3, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
    • Minota Hagey Residence, Ron Eydt Village, Mackenzie King Village, Wednesday, July 3, 1:00 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
    • Arts Lecture Hall, Hagey Hall Humanities, Psychology, Tatham Centre fire alarm testing, Friday, July 5, 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
    • East Campus 1, East Campus 2, East Campus 3 fire alarm testing, Friday, July 5, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., fire alarm will sound, building evacuation not required.
    • ESC Main Path crane operation, Saturday, July 6, 6:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Main Path from Rock Garden to the Greenhouse intersection will be closed, temporary closures in D Lot throughout the day, access to ESC bridge closed for duration.
    • William Lyon Mackenzie King Village electrical shutdown, Sunday, July 7, 8:00 a.m. for six hours, normal power will be off including west elevator, emergency power will be available, east elevator will be operational.