The Gloria Baylis Foundation made a transformational investment of $20 million to the University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering to advance education and health-care innovations, and pay tribute to exceptional leadership. Waterloo alumni Frank Baylis (BASc ’86) and Valerie Baylis (BA ’86) made the announcement today at a public event held at the University.
In recognition of the late Dr. Pearl Sullivan, former dean of Waterloo Engineering, the gift honours her legacy by renaming the Faculty’s flagship building, Engineering 7, to the Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building.
Gloria Baylis, a nurse, entrepreneur and civil rights advocate, founded Baylis Medical, a Canadian health-care company. Her son Frank Baylis, co-executive chairman of the board at Baylis Medical Technologies and president of the Gloria Baylis Foundation, and his wife Valerie Baylis, the foundation’s director, established the foundation to continue Gloria’s commitment to community-focused education and health care.
“Like my mother Gloria, Pearl’s drive and vision expanded opportunities for people to realize their potential,” Frank said. “Pearl’s career and achievements deserve celebration, and this space is a testament to her work in advancing education.”
Dean Mary Wells reflected on Sullivan’s lasting impact. “Pearl was a force of nature,” Wells said. “She was an empathetic leader, a passionate educator and a bold dean who made things happen quickly and decisively… It was always Pearl’s building and now it’s official.”
An initial impact of the gift will support the establishment of a Canada Excellence Research Chair (CERC) in Health Engineering and Technology, with recruitment underway. The investment also advances Waterloo at 100, the University’s vision to tackle global “wicked problems” through interdisciplinary research and education by its centennial in 2057.
“Waterloo is constantly evolving to remain ahead of its peers,” Valerie said, noting the alignment with the foundation’s goals for better access to health care and education. President Vivek Goel added, “Philanthropy challenges us to do more… Thank you to the Gloria Baylis Foundation for investing in education… honouring two extraordinary, trailblazing leaders — Dr. Pearl Sullivan and Gloria Baylis.”
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