Welcome to Grebel
Residence
Grebel is home to an enthusiastic residence community on the campus of the University of Waterloo. Join this friendly community of people who are dedicated to making Grebel an amazing place to live and grow. Meet some of Grebels current students. Take an in-person or virtual tour. Discover leadership opportunities. Apply now to live in the residence.
Academics
Study with and get to know professors in a community-oriented learning environment. Grebel teaches within the Arts faculty at the University of Waterloo, administering the Music and Peace and Conflict Studies departments at Waterloo, and offering additional undergraduate courses in Arts, History, Mennonite Studies, Religious Studies, and Sociology. Grebel also offers two masters level graduate programs in Theological Studies and Peace and Conflict Studies.
News
Distinguished Alumni Award Winner Bears Witness to the Stories of Others
Larry Cornies is a master of his craft. Over the span of 45 years, he has sustained a distinguished career in journalism, teaching, and community service. His vocational path wasn’t direct, but his choices contributed to the depth and perspective that he brings to his work. Cornies is the recipient of Conrad Grebel University College's 2024 Distinguished Alumni Service Award, recognizing his significant contributions to the field.
Grebel Students Gain Insights at MEDA's New Horizons of Impact Conference in Atlanta
In early November, seven students from Conrad Grebel University College attended the New Horizons of Impact conference by the Mennonite Economic Development Associates (MEDA) in Atlanta, Georgia. "I had good conversations with the representatives at the conference. They actively tried to connect with the younger generation and inspire us,” reflected first-year student Jonathan Issak.
“I constantly encounter learning that happens outside of classrooms at Grebel,” shared Paul Heidebrecht, Director of the Kindred Credit Union Centre for Peace Advancement at Grebel, who accompanied students to the conference. “I am always eager to help students find contexts such as the MEDA convention where theory and practice are brought together.”
Peace and Conflict Studies students visit the United Nations in New York City
"It's hard to describe, but it hit me right in the heart. I just thought, sometimes things can look one way, but then with a little more context or information, it can completely change your perspective," reflected Nancy Williams on a statue she saw at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City during a multi-day student seminar hosted by Mennonite Central Committee. The statue, pictured on the left, was recovered from the 1945 Nagasaki bombing. "How can something look so perfect from one side but then on the other side, you know there's just absolute tragedy?"
Nancy Williams, a Master of Peace and Conflict Studies student at the University of Waterloo and Conrad Grebel University College, and Natalie Nichol, an undergraduate UWaterloo student minoring in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS), attended the seminar along with several other students from Grebel. The theme was “Peacebuilding: Does the United Nations Matter?” This unique educational opportunity featured several UN speakers, a tour of the building, and daily group discussions.
Events
Friends of Grebel Community Supper
During this hour-long event, we will enjoy a hot, homemade Community Supper-style meal prepared by Grebel kitchen staff (including the famous bread!). A few students will share about how Grebel has shaped their university experience, and Marcus Shantz will give an update about the College. You are welcome to visit with other friends and alumni before and after the meal.
Youth Night @ Grebel
Grebel invites Youth Groups with students in grades 9-12 to join us for a youth night.
Living on Borrowed Time? The Settlement of Mennonites in Imperial Russia after 1789
A public lecture with Leonard G. Friesen, celebrating the publication of Leonard Friesen’s book, Mennonites in the Russian Empire and the Soviet Union: Through Much Tribulation (University of Toronto Press, 2022).