News

This is a copy of a Trespass Notice issued to all encampment participants under the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O.1990, c. T. 21. on Friday, June 21, 2024.

It provides notice that members of the encampment are immediately prohibited from:

1.    Occupying and remaining in the field in front of the Graduate House on the University of Waterloo campus in Waterloo, Ontario (the "Encampment");
2.    Erecting, installing, or maintaining unauthorized tents, shelters, equipment, or other structures on University of Waterloo property, including in the Encampment;
3.    Occupying, gathering, or remaining at the University of Waterloo property, including at the Encampment between the hours of 10 p.m. and 8 a.m. unless specifically authorized; and,
4.    Gathering for the purpose of an Encampment at the University of Waterloo or in a manner inconsistent with our policies.

Today (Friday, June 21, 2024), the University of Waterloo issued a legal Trespass Notice to members of the OccupyUW encampment that has been in place since May 13 on the Grad House Green. 

This notice means that members of the encampment must leave the Grad House Green immediately and must not return the encampment to University property. If they fail to comply, they risk facing consequences consistent with the Trespass to Property Act, R.S.O. 1990, c. T. 21.  

At the University’s regularly scheduled Board of Governors meeting earlier today, a sit-in and demonstration by protesters who have set up an encampment on the University's main campus resulted in safety concerns for the staff and Board members present in the senate room. As a result, we requested and received assistance from the Waterloo Regional Police Service. 

Today’s action crossed the line from protest to intimidating behaviour and harassment of individuals. This limits our ability to have further constructive dialogue.   

Last week, members of the OccupyUW encampment asked to resume dialogue with University senior administrators after rejecting our most recent invitation to dialogue (on June 5, 2024). Throughout our interactions since the encampment began, the University has aimed to engage with members of the protest movement to:

• productively discuss the concerns that they have raised,  
• reach an amicable and peaceful conclusion to the encampment, and   
• continue productive and respectful dialogue on the substantive issues long after the encampment ends.   

We last wrote to the community to share an update on the University’s engagements with the members of the protest encampment on May 21. In this update, we continue to provide information to our community in line with our commitment to be transparent in our interactions with encampment protesters. 

For several months, members of the University community have raised and discussed issues related to the ongoing situation in the Middle East. The University acknowledges the pain that members of this community are experiencing about what is happening in Gaza and Israel, and victims of armed conflict everywhere. Help resources for people in our community who are struggling are available at the end of this email. 

Dear Senators,  

What follows was going to be part of the President’s report scheduled for the June 10th Senate meeting as a follow up to the May Senate questions raised about how Waterloo approaches investments and partnerships. 

In light of issues raised with respect to the Special Senate meeting, it is presented here.  

More than a week ago, we let you know that members of our University and the wider community had come together to form an encampment to protest issues related to the ongoing conflict in Israel and Gaza. We updated you on our approach to the encampment on Friday, May 17. We remain committed to communicating with the University community transparently as we engage in work on the issues the protestors are raising and as we seek an end to their encampment.

We continue to reiterate our commitment to supporting the right to speak and assemble freely on our campuses. This right requires everyone at Waterloo to act responsibly, to reject intolerance and to remain open to dialogue at all times.

The encampment located on Grad House Green and associated events (including the May 20 community BBQ event) violate several items listed on our list of prohibited activities (published online and on signs around the campus on Tuesday, May 14, 2024) and also violate various University of Waterloo policies. The following is a non-exhaustive list of University policies of which members of the encampment are, or may be, in violation.

I’m writing today to share more information about the University’s approach to communicating with the members of our community who have come together to form an encampment outside the Grad House on main campus.  

This group of students and community members has questions related to how the University manages its institutional investments and how we evaluate international partnerships related specifically to Israeli institutions and companies.