Events

We’re excited to let you know that Ideathon is now open for Winter 2026, a fast-paced, creativity-first challenge designed for students who love brainstorming, problem-solving, and building ideas that matter. It’s an opportunity to work on a real urban challenge in Waterloo Region.

Earn a $325 honorarium, as well as a certificate of completion.

This Ideathon focuses on adaptive reuse, where student teams will reimagine vacant commercial, industrial, and heritage spaces into sustainable, community-centred solutions.

You’ll collaborate with students from different programs, apply creative and analytical thinking, and explore how design, sustainability, and economic feasibility come together in the real world.

The Ideathon will run from January 22-29th, and has a time commitment of 16 hours. On the final day, you will pitch your solution to a panel of judges. Mandatory sessions include the virtual kickoff, and the final day of presentations. 

All years and level of study are invited to apply. 

Apply now: https://uwaterloo.ca1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_26u6xf1UGUHmXhc 

The Experience Ventures program, powered by the Hunter Hub for Entrepreneurial Thinking at the University of Calgary, empowers college and university students to make a meaningful impact alongside real-world innovators.

Building cities we care about, together

There is no force for change more powerful than a community that understands what it values and why. This event invites that conversation.

Join the Future Cities Institute for a talk and discussion with Nadine Ibrahim, Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo and Turkstra Chair of Urban Engineering.

Nadine’s work explores how cities can be designed, governed, and experienced in ways that support strong communities and better outcomes for people. She brings a holistic lens to urban challenges, connecting social, cultural, environmental, and economic perspectives to help leaders and practitioners think differently about how cities grow and change.

At FCI, Nadine plays a key role in building communities of practice that bring together municipal leaders, researchers, and practitioners to learn from one another and move ideas into action. Her approach makes complex urban systems understandable and relevant, whether you work in academia, government, industry, or community spaces.

This event is an opportunity to reflect on what we care about in our cities, how those priorities are shaped, and how shared learning can help inform better decisions for the places we call home.

All are welcome.

Urgency matters when cities face real challenges.

We are very excited to support the upcoming Speed Hackathon, run by Velocity, and open to all students at the University of Waterloo, no matter your program or background.

No technical experience required!

In just three hours, you will be matched into teams to ideate, research, and shape early-stage solutions to some of the most pressing challenges facing cities today. This fast format is designed to build confidence and move ideas forward quickly.

Problem spaces include:
• Accelerating housing development and approval processes
• Using AI to improve municipal decision-making
• Rethinking infrastructure through nature-based approaches
• Creating more affordable and efficient mobility options

Join us for the i-Capstone Symposium sometime in March 2026. This annual event showcases the innovative work of fourth-year students from diverse disciplines as they tackle real-world urban challenges in collaboration with industry and community partners.

Explore interdisciplinary projects, engage with students, and witness the future of cities come to life through innovative research and design. Whether you're a student, industry professional, faculty member, or community partner, this is a unique opportunity to connect with the next generation of change-makers.

We look forward to seeing you there!

Ready to make a real impact in the future of cities and communities? Join the Future Cities Institute and Velocity for the second Future Cities Innovation Challenge, sometime in March 2026. Collaborate with fellow students to tackle real-world problems in accelerating housing development, harnessing AI for smarter urban transformation, building sustainable infrastructure and advancing sustainable mobility.