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“I always find hope in the resilience of the Rohingya people — in their dignity in the face of incredible abuse,” remarked the Honorable Bob Rae, in a CBC interview in early March. Currently working as Canada’s Special Envoy to Myanmar, Rae has spent four months traveling to Indonesia, Bangladesh, Myanmar, Vietnam, and the UN in New York. Tasked with investigating the humanitarian crisis, Rae is actively assessing efforts required to ensure the secure return of refugees to their homes, and gathering evidence of breaches of law and human rights. He reports that Canada has been “publicly associated with the peace process, with the dialogue on governance and pluralism, and with a number of other critical issues, and this engagement needs to continue.”

Have you ever been in a place, space, or community where you have been encouraged to try something new? Have you been challenged to take risks and leap out of your comfort zone? Have you tasted the confidence that comes with mastering new skills?

At summer camp, youth often have the opportunity to take these risks in the form of tackling a high ropes course, canoeing for the first time, or performing in a talent show. These experiences at summer camp are transformative and life-long confidence builders.

At Peace Camp, jumping out of your comfort zone looks a bit different. It’s practicing a new conflict resolution strategy and learning how to advocate for an issue you’re passionate about. It’s having a dialogue with someone who has different experiences and learning that together, we can make a difference.

It is with great pleasure and anticipation that we announce the winners of the orchestra@waterloo concerto and aria competition. 

Eric Liang performed spectacularly with Brahms 2nd piano concerto, winning him the 1st place position. Eric will be performing the 1st movement with the orchestra@waterloo on our upcoming concert on March 29, 2018. 

With an air of celebration, in a hall filled with support from over 400 friends, family, alumni, students, staff, faculty, University of Waterloo representatives, and community members, Marcus Shantz was installed as Conrad Grebel University College’s eighth president on October 29, 2017.

With deep sadness, Conrad Grebel University College announces the passing of Ralph Lebold (1934-2017) on Tuesday, October 31. Lebold followed Frank H. Epp as the third president of Grebel from 1979 to 1989. Ralph is survived by his wife Eileen, and his children, Cindy and Scott, Connie and Tony, Marvin and their families. The funeral service will be held at Waterloo North Mennonite Church on Saturday November 4, 2017 at 11 am.

Peace has been an important value in the lives of Aden and Joanne Bauman and their sons Barry, who passed away in 2016, and Michael.  Lifelong members of the Elmira Mennonite Church, Aden and Joanne were fixtures in the community at their Arthur street jewelry store.    “Peace is a Mennonite thing,” observed Joanne. “Peace is important to our family, and our boys remember that their uncle Elias was a conscientious objector during WW II,” noted Aden.  

Students at the University of Waterloo are an incredibly diverse group, with interests spanning math, health, engineering, science, environment, and arts. Many of these students have spent hundreds of hours of their life learning a musical instrument and, instead of giving up their love of music while at university, they have found a collective place to express it. The orchestra@uwaterloo is a full-sized symphony orchestra whose players are students, staff, faculty, and alumni of Waterloo.

Living in Toronto for 46 years, Mary Groh was increasingly surrounded by a multi-cultural society. As an active member of the Danforth Mennonite Church, following the closure of Warden Woods Mennonite Church, she witnessed the growth of various Mennonite congregations in the east end of Toronto.