News

The run-up to the fall 2020 school year is like nothing Conrad Grebel University College has experienced before. After six months of varying degrees of isolation and social distancing, Grebel is welcoming a small cohort of students to the residence while offering courses remotely. Although summer is traditionally a slower time at the College, this year, faculty and staff spent that time optimizing courses to be taught online, poring over potential residence scenarios, and ensuring that the facilities and opening procedures will provide the most safe and healthy environment possible for the entire Grebel community.

The University of Waterloo’s Music program at Conrad Grebel University College is known for instilling a collaborative mentality among its students. This cooperative culture is cultivated by staff and professors who encourage peer support. One of the core contributors to the Music program and its welcoming atmosphere over the past two decades has been Catherine Robertson.

At the University of Waterloo, innovation and entrepreneurship opportunities are around every corner. Yet in the Spring semester an opportunity arose to rethink how students can be involved in changemaking. What if UWaterloo could provide a space for students to apply their innovative and systems-change mindsets to a real-life, ever-changing problem: the COVID-19 pandemic?

Lowell Ewert, Associate Professor of Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo, has been honoured with one of the four UWaterloo 2020 Distinguished Teacher Awards. This award celebrates exemplary instructors with a record of teaching excellence over an extended period. In addition to intellectual rigour, criteria for the award include impact beyond the classroom, concern for students, and a favourable and lasting influence on students and colleagues.

This week, we witnessed the murder of George Floyd, and waves of both peaceful and violent protests across North America.  I share the same range of emotions that so many have eloquently expressed: sadness, shock, outrage, and a sense of shame that racism and racist violence are still a reality for so many people in both the United States and Canada. 

At Grebel, we are so proud of the compassion, skills, and dedication of our alumni. We know that frontline workers in healthcare have been working ceaselessly during this current global pandemic. Thank you to all who have been taking care of vulnerable people and keeping our communities safe. Here are a few updates from Grebelites on the frontlines. We’d love to hear from more of you! You’re welcome to send us your update to grebel@uwaterloo.ca.

Mike Groh (Grebel 80-81) writes:

The COVID-19 pandemic has created many changes and challenges for Conrad Grebel University College. While construction on the kitchen and dining room expansion continues, many other activities have been curtailed or adjusted.

The high value Laura Gray places on her students is obvious inside the classroom and out. Laura is associate professor of Music at Conrad Grebel University College and the University of Waterloo, serving as chair of the Music Department for nine of her 22 years at Grebel.