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“University is a place where new struggles and challenges arise, and it is easy to get lost and distracted,” Merveille Mwankin reflected at the end of her first year attending the University of Waterloo. “As a Christian community, Grebel has helped and continues to help me nurture my faith by surrounding me with other believers and providing Anabaptist-Mennonite values such as love, peace, non-violence, and justice.”

Faith plays a central role in Sarah Driediger’s life. It has helped her meet new people, grow as a person, and reflect on experiences. Sarah is a first-year virtual resident at Conrad Grebel University College studying Biomedical Sciences. Several members of her family attended Grebel before her, and while growing up, they told her many exciting stories about the College.

There is a story for everything. For students discovering Conrad Grebel University College as their university home, they each carry stories that are interesting and unique in their own ways. Regardless of the discovery experience, all students are welcomed enthusiastically with plenty of activities and exciting experiences.

Even in these difficult times, Conrad Grebel University College continues to find ways to bring the community together to learn, share, and grow through fun and meaningful events. Pre-pandemic, Grebel alumni enjoyed returning to share their stories, give advice, and answer questions from young and eager students.

Grebelites often consider each other to be their chosen family, but it is also quite common for true family—brothers and sisters—to encourage their younger siblings to choose Conrad Grebel University College as a home, while also leaving space for them to forge their own paths.

A fun and enjoyable experience. An awesome way to spend a weekend. One hundred-percent student-run, put together during a pandemic, with so much work put in by the cast and production teams. And best of all, a “once in a lifetime opportunity! This is the first time Big Fish the Musical will be presented as a movie,” Grebel student, and member of the musical production team, Hannah Bernstein said.

Since 1964, Conrad Grebel University College has implemented numerous upgrades and additions into campus. Although the washrooms are among the improved facilities, their accessibility was lacking. More specifically, power-operated doors and washrooms that are easy-to-access are welcome improvements to those with mobility issues. The 2020 “Welcoming Washrooms” project aimed to make this happen.

Rewarding experiences, everlasting friendships, skill-developing opportunities, and even a chance at love—“after everything the Grebel community has given me, giving back in the way of leadership just makes sense,” said Grebel resident, Josh Rampersad.

In September 2020, Grebel’s new kitchen and one section of the dining room expansion were completed just in time for fall term residents to enjoy the more spacious communal area. Since then, the new spaces have received much praise.

“At Grebel there is something for everyone!” Third-year Nanotechnology Engineering student, Sarah Odinotski, has tackled several formative co-op terms and actively participated in many clubs and activities offered by Grebel. She has learned much from her experiences and used her knowledge to strengthen the community, and improve herself and others for the better.