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E. Paul Penner, a pillar of Grebel, retired in March 2024, leaving a legacy of commitment, care, and hospitality, as well as memories of pranks, laughter, and classic movie nights. Before his 36-year career in operations, Paul was a University of Waterloo student (BA 1983) who lived at Conrad Grebel University College while studying Economics and Sociology. His service to the College began while a student, serving as Student Council President in 1982-83. After graduating, Paul worked in maintenance in the St. Clair-O’Connor Community as Environmental and Maintenance Services Supervisor and Apartment Rental Coordinator. He completed his Certificate in Business at the University of Toronto in 1987. He returned to Grebel in 1988 as Business Manager, then transitioned to Operations Manager in 1995, and finally to Director of Operations. His primary responsibilities were managing the staff, operations, and buildings of the College, but to Paul, the job was a mission of hospitality, service, and community-building. 

“I really loved the movie, Cars. When I became a member of the Grebel Orientation Committee, I knew straight away that Cars simply had to be the O-Week theme,” explained Isabel Song, a third-year Honours Science student who lives at Conrad Grebel University College. “Planning O-Week required significant time and effort, but when I sat in the Grebel dining hall, watching the movie Cars, surrounded by Cars-themed decorations, people wearing Cars-themed t-shirts, after a week of Cars-themed games, and skits performed by people in Cars-themed costumes, I knew it was all worth it.” 

“In 2004, when we started Orchestra@UWaterloo, we had a conductor, Erna Van Daele, and a concertmaster, new faculty member Romy Shioda, but really nothing else — no budget and no rehearsal space. Luckily, Catharine Scott, Associate Provost of Human Resources and Student Services, was willing to support me — a computer science prof with the unlikely ambition to manage an orchestra,” reflected Anna Lubiw, one of the professors who started Orchestra@UWaterloo. 

Transition is both a natural and challenging part of life, and it is something that PACS alumni Bonnie Klassen has become very familiar with. After 27 years living and working in Colombia, Bonnie recently moved back to Canada, bringing with her years of experience working towards justice and peace in a global context.

Bonnie’s PACS journey began in the 1990s. Short trips abroad in high school had sparked Bonnie’s interest in global learning experiences and motivated her to apply for the PACS internship program. Although Colombia was not at the top of her travel list, encouragement from a trusted family friend motivated Bonnie to take the leap and intern there. Supported by Mennonite Central Committee (MCC), she spent the next 3 months working with an organization called Justapaz, an experience which she describes as pivotal in her life’s journey.

“I've never considered music as a serious option for me until I gave it a try,” Michael Wu reflected. Michael is a third-year Math student at the University of Waterloo who is actively involved in the Music program at Conrad Grebel University College and also lives at Grebel.  

Michael’s interest lies in vocal music, which is why he has immersed himself in all the choirs that Grebel offers: Chapel Choir, Chamber Choir, and University Choir. He was also involved in the production of “Something Rotten!,” a musical put on by Grebel students two years ago. “I enjoy singing much more than just listening to music,” he explained. “Part of that is because I love creating music; when I sing my part and hear it blend perfectly with the other voices to form chords, it feels incredible. Singing those notes myself adds to that joy; it makes the experience even more fulfilling." 

“QuAQ is the group for queer and allied Grebelites!” explained Maxel (Max) White. “It was created with the intent to be a safe space for anyone and everyone, with a focus on creating a community between the queer, trans, and allied residents of Grebel. We hold weekly meetings designed to get people talking and create a space where everyone can be themselves without any judgment.” Max and Katiana Wieczorek are QuAQ (Queer, Allied, and Questioning) reps on the Student Council at Conrad Grebel University College this term. 

Lying on the chapel floor surrounded by electric candles, listening to a chanted service of Compline (night prayer) with other Conrad Grebel University College students, Amani reflected on how this moment was the result of their planning and hard work as a member of the Chapel Committee. 

“Graffiti tells us a lot about what people are thinking about, particularly people who might not have access to wider political or social conversations; people who aren’t in decision-making circles,” explained University of Waterloo Peace and Conflict Studies Professor Eric Lepp. For the 2024 Benjamin Eby Lecture, Lepp will describe how graffiti and street art serve as valuable tools for examining social and political dynamics in conflict-affected societies. This year’s lecture is titled “Paint as a Protest” and will take place at Conrad Grebel University College on Thursday, November 14. The Eby Lecture is an annual event that presents the research of a Grebel faculty member.  

As a parole officer in 1974, Grebel alumnus Mark Yantzi (BA 1969, MASC 1978) worked on the case of two teenaged offenders arrested after a vandalism spree in Elmira, Ontario. Yantzi and a colleague convinced the judge to order the young offenders to make direct restitution to their victims, rather than sentencing them to prison or detention. Yantzi accompanied the offenders in person as they met victims to listen, apologize, and make restitution.  

In recognition of his outstanding accomplishments in the field of restorative justice, Mark Yantzi will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws from the University of Waterloo, in October 2024.

After one last check, the countdown started: five, four, three, two, one—a rocket shot upwards as students erupted in cheers. This was the scene at the Launch Canada Competition on August 20, 2024, where the University of Waterloo Rocketry Team launched the first liquid engine rocket (liquid bi-propellant rocket) in Canada. The rocket, named the Borealis, reached 5,855 meters in altitude and won first place in the Advanced Category. Two students from Conrad Grebel University College were involved in the project: Ash Lang, a second-year Mechatronics Engineering student, and Lucas Shumaker, a third-year Environmental Engineering student.