News

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Max lives in Thunder Bay, Ontario with his partner Amy and their two dogs. Since 2021, Max has worked as director of Pandora Press. He is also a Senior Research Associate at the Centre for Social Accountability at NOSM University. Max is working on a trilogy of books on social critique including Postsecular History (Palgrave Macmillan, 2022), Ontologies of Violence (Brill, 2023), and Critique of Conspiracism (Routledge, under contract). In his spare time, Max enjoys a good cup of coffee with an interesting book, walking his dogs in the forest, and getting out on the water during the sailboat racing season. 

The third Global Mennonite Peacebuilding Conference and Festival (GMP) took place on June 15-18, at Eastern Mennonite University (EMU) in Harrisonburg, VA. A diverse range of scholars, Mennonite practitioners, artists, and theologians from around the world were invited to share about their work for peace and listen to each other’s stories. 

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Savio Wong graduated from the University of Waterloo in 1984 with a degree in Electrical Engineering. After graduation, he obtained his B.Ed. degree from the University of Western Ontario and embarked on a fulfilling teaching career at Waterloo-Oxford District Secondary School in Baden, where he taught for 32 years until his retirement. During the first half of his teaching career, Savio taught both Computer Science and Mathematics, and in the latter half, he transitioned to becoming a full-time Teacher-Librarian. In his retirement, he continues to indulge in his two passions: books and travel. 

On a bright morning in April, Eva Booker and a team of student volunteers rolled out a 25-foot-wide tarp across Grebel’s front lawn in preparation for the College’s recent green initiative: a pollinator garden.

“My life would’ve been totally different if it weren’t for the support of the Grebel community,” said Tom Iagovet, a third-year student double majoring in Computer Science and Combinatorics and Optimization. Tom has been connected to Grebel since his first year in university. He has made many friends at Grebel, actively involved himself in many extracurricular opportunities, and he deeply connected with Grebel’s values and traditions — ultimately transforming his student experience.  

When Timothy Khoo was choosing a university, he was looking for something that stood out. “I kept hearing about this Mennonite residence from my family and church community, and it piqued my interest,” he said. Tim is now a second-year Honours Physics student at the University of Waterloo and a returning upper-year student at Conrad Grebel University College.  

Conrad Grebel University College has set a 35% greenhouse gas reduction target by 2030, supported by Sustainable Waterloo Region’s Impact Network. This is Grebel’s first target as a Pledging Partner, matching the University of Waterloo’s GHG reduction goal. 

Affiliating with the University of Waterloo makes residence at Conrad Grebel University College operate slightly different. With UWaterloo’s Co-operative Education program, the number of returning students often fluctuates based on whether they are on a study term or a work term. Grebel offers flexible housing contracts so that students can stay connected and have confidence that they will be welcomed back for another term.  

Jessica Reesor Rempel has been named Conrad Grebel University College’s permanent Chaplain, starting immediately. She has held the role of Interim Chaplain since August 2021, offering insight, energy, and mindfulness in all her interactions with students, staff, and faculty. The Grebel community strongly affirms this appointment. "Jessica's understanding of chaplaincy is firmly planted in extensive experience and well-rounded training that includes both theological education and practical pastoral care and counselling,” said President Marcus Shantz.

Today we are, all of us, coming to terms with the violent attack on two students and a professor at Hagey Hall yesterday afternoon. This incident is deeply troubling, and it disrupts our sense of safety, security, and trust. Each of us may be affected in different ways. I am sure that you will be graceful and gentle with each other as we each process this in our own ways. This is a time when we are especially fortunate to have a strong community to rely on.