
Welcome to your 50-year reunion!
The 50-year anniversary reunion in 2019 at Alumni Weekend is for the Waterloo Engineering class of 1969.
You will find detailed information about your upcoming Golden Anniversary reunion on these pages - or see the official invitation (coming soon!). We hope that you will be able to attend this milestone reunion to reconnect with your classmates, your professors, your Faculty, and your University and we're making it very special. You will also have an opportunity to learn how the campus has changed since you graduated as well as meet current students and learn about current student life on campus.
Browse this page to learn all about your reunion, or choose a link to go directly to:
Reunion program
Friday, May 31, 2019
Informal Reunion Gathering at POETS
6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.
POETS (main floor)
CPH/Engineering 4
Join your classmates for an informal gathering in the evening at POETS in CPH (also know as Engineering 4) or another event as organized by your Reunion Class Representative. This is a perfect time to start your Reunion festivities with your engineering classmates over some refreshments (cash bar) and light complimentary bar snacks for reminiscing about your time as an engineering student at the University of Waterloo. Make plans with friends to drop-in at POETS, no registration required.
Saturday, June 1, 2019
Engineering Reunion Headquarters and Open House
9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
Atrium (1st floor)
Engineering 7 Building, University of Waterloo
The Engineering Open House is the place to be with so much to do for the whole family! Reunion Headquarters will be your one stop shop for all things Reunion including name badges, maps, event information, engineering tours and so much more.
Activities include:
- Mingle with classmates and fellow alumni from the classes of 1964, 1969, 1974, 1979, 1984, 1989, 1994, 1999, 2004, 2009 and 2014.
- Meet the Dean of Engineering.
- Connect with current EngSoc executives.
- Take a student-guided tour of this brand new building, Engineering 7, including the new 3D printing centre, RoboHub, and pitch area, plus new research labs and your old stomping grounds.
- Check out the student-built vehicles such as the Midnight Sun Solar Car, the Alternative Fuels Vehicles, and the Concrete Toboggan in the world-class one-of-a-kind Sedra Student Design Centre in Engineering 5.
- The Novelties Shop will be open to purchase EngSoc souvenirs.
- Test your skill at the Engineering Ideas Clinic!
- Need a new Iron Ring? The Camp 15 Iron Ring Wardens will be in attendance to fit you with a new Iron Ring.
- For the kiddies: Engineering Science Quest will be on-site providing various fun and educational activities for children of all ages.
- Light refreshments of ice cream and doughnuts as well as coffee and tea will be served.
- While walking down memory lane, enjoy a glass wine or beer with your classmates from the cash bar.
Advanced registration preferred.
Cost of Open House: complimentary
Engineering Tours
10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
Atrium (1st floor)
Engineering 7 Building, University of Waterloo
Take a guided tour through the newest halls of Waterloo Engineering: the Engineering 7 building! Then see your old stomping ground and new state-of-the-art research labs and hear about the transformational research taking place within the Faculty of Engineering. A current student will be your tour guide. This is a walking tour.
Tours depart at a regular basis throughout the day. Meet your tour guide at the marked spot in the Atrium. Last tour leaves at 3:00 pm!
Cost of tours: complimentary
DISCOUNT: The Waterloo Store in South Campus Hall will be open from 12:00 noon to 4:00 p.m. for an opportunity to purchase your University of Waterloo apparel with a 15% discount for alumni.
Engineering Reunion Lecture with the Dean of Engineering
10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.
Room 3102
Engineering 5 Building, University of Waterloo
The reunion lecture will be delivered by Pearl Sullivan, the Dean of Engineering at the University of Waterloo. The Dean will deliver a visionary lecture about the future of engineering at the University of Waterloo. Q&A to follow the lecture. Advanced registration recommended due to limited seating.
Cost of lecture: Complimentary
Engineering Back-to-the-Classroom Lecture #1 with Prof. Alexander Wong
11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m.
Room 3353
Engineering 7 Building, University of Waterloo
"Toward Operational Artificial Intelligence: Anywhere, Anyplace, Anytime"
Professor ALEXANDER WONG
BASc 2005, Computer Engineering
MASc 2007, Electrical & Computer Engineering
PhD 2010, Systems Design Engineering
Deep learning has given rise to a major revolution in the field of artificial intelligence (AI). As a result, a number of important questions arises with respect to how AI would impact our lives: What are the practical uses of artificial intelligence and how can it give the Canadian economy the push it needs without relying on the giant tech companies? A major challenge with the democratization and proliferation of deep learning as operational AI for all is the sheer complexity of current deep neural networks, making them ill-suited for operational use in a large number of scenarios. This talk explores the idea of how we can take the big ideas in AI and bring it into operational scenarios that can benefit anyone, anywhere, anytime, any place.
Advanced registration recommended due to limited seating.
Cost of lectures: complimentary
25-, 50- and 55-year Anniversary Lunch
12:00 p.m. to 2:00 p.m.
Federation Hall, University of Waterloo
Celebrate your 50-year Reunion over a delicious buffet lunch with your 1969 classmates, as well as those celebrating 55-year and 25-year Reunions, with congratulatory remarks from the President of the University of Waterloo. Vegetarian options available.
Cost of event: $25 per person (includes one alcoholic beverage, tax and gratuities); cash bar thereafter
Engineering Back-to-the-Classroom Lecture #2 with Prof. Larry Smith
2:30 p.m. to 3:30 p.m.
Room 1351
Davis Centre, University of Waterloo
"The Canadian Economy: Are We on Our Own?"
Rapidly shifting trade agreements, unstable export flows and mounting political pressures around the world are leaving Canada increasingly vulnerable to the wishes and whims of others. Traditional allies are distracted by their own challenges. "New" friends turn cold. Where can Canada find its leverage?
Professor LARRY SMITH
BA 1968, Economics
MA 1975, Economics
A discussion of what the world's economy will look like at the end of the next five years. Will the European Union regain its momentum? Will China maintain its economic growth and social stability? Will India's growth rival China's? Will American economic policy become coherent? Will Canada have much to celebrate?
See the legendary Professor Larry Smith deliver one of his famous addresses. You'll feel like a student all over again in DC 1351, the classroom where you may have taken one or more of Larry's economics courses.
Can't wait to hear Prof. Smith speak at Reunion? Check out his outrageously popular TEDxUW talk, "Why you will fail to have a great career", which has over 6.2 million views.
Cost of lectures: complimentary
Engineering 25-year and 50-year Reunion Iron Ring Ceremony: Obligation Renewal
5:30 pm to 6:30 pm
Room #2004
Engineering 5 Building, University of Waterloo
Sanctioned by Camp 15 Waterloo of the Iron Ring Wardens, this special obligation renewal ceremony is exclusively for the Waterloo Engineering Class of 1969 and 1994 to celebrate your Golden and Silver Anniversaries!
Advance registration required; spouses and guests are welcome to attend.
Cost of ceremony: complimentary
Engineering Reunion Marché-Style Dinner Party
6:30 pm to 10:00 pm
Atrium (1st Floor) and Event Space (2nd Floor)
Engineering 7 Building, University of Waterloo
At this reception-style dinner, you will travel around multiple levels of the brand new Engineering 7 building enjoying unique and delicious food and dessert stations. Your reunion year will have a gathering point within the space to meet, mingle and connect. Each level will feature casual seating areas and a cash bar with beer, wine and cocktail selections. There will also be live music on the 2nd floor as well as some interesting sights to see throughout the space, including our new Robohub.
Advance registration required; spouses and guests are welcome to attend. Note: adults only due to language and content
Cost of event: $50 per person (includes tax and gratuities)
Sunday, June 2, 2019
Note: HST #R119260685
If you have any questions about your reunion, please email or call 519.888.4567 ext. 37827.
Registration
Online registration will open on February 6, 2019!
Registration deadline: May 24, 2019.
Make a Gift
Your reunion anniversary provides an excellent opportunity to support your alma mater in a way that is personally meaningful to you. Thank you for taking the time to consider making a gift in support of the future engineer in honour of your reunion!
Accommodations
Make the most of Reunion weekend and book your stay in town! Be sure to mention "University of Waterloo Alumni Weekend" to get the special rates for alumni and guests at the accommodations listed below.
Available dates: Friday May 31 and Saturday June 1, 2019.
Reservation deadlines: April 12, 19, 30 and May 16 and 24, 2019.
Note: After this date rooms may be booked based on availability but rates cannot be guaranteed.
Preferred hotel:
Delta Waterloo
110 Erb Street West, Waterloo, ON N2L 0C6 (1.7 km)
$173 per night
Call 519-514-0404 for reservations or book online
Book before April 30 for guaranteed rate
Additional accommodations with special Reunion rates are available!
Helpful hints
Maps and directions
Campus Maps, Directions, and Parking
Campus parking
Complimentary parking will be available on Saturday, June 1, 2019 in parking lots A, B, C, L, M, N, Q, R, W and X. Pay parking is available in Lot H ($5 in coins required).
Dress code
Daytime events are casual.
Business or business casual attire recommended in the evening.
Other things to do on campus & tourist information