When the University of Waterloo, then called the Waterloo College Associate Faculties, opened to students in the Spring of 1957, the first class on campus was composed of 74 male engineering students.With a new co-operative education system and modified school year (at the time, four terms of three months each), the University began to grow. Soon after, in 1958, the inaugural engineering classes formed the first formal student organization on campus, the Engineering Council.
Before the University of Waterloo began making headlines for its academic prowess, the engineering students made national headlines in 1958 with a prank they pulled on the City of Waterloo by painting "BEER" on a city water tower. It was this student spirit and unity that would give the Engineering Council the ability to grow, and to continue the tradition of faculty pride.
As time progressed, the Engineering Council became the Engineering Society. In 1971, a withdrawal from the Federation of Students occurred and a Constitution was drafted and approved, creating the Engineering Society as it is known today. While Waterloo grew out of the muddy farm fields into an international academic powerhouse, the Engineering Society grew out of the original engineering huts of the late 50's into the largest, most active student society on campus and one of the most active in all of Canada.
The Crest
For more information on Engineering History, check out this timeline!