News

This summer, a celebration of hymnody will coincide with the 500th anniversary of the Reformation at the annual Hymn Society conference to be held at Conrad Grebel University College in Waterloo, July 16-20. Attracting hundreds of hymn aficionados, the conference will revolve around the theme: “Now Thank We All Our God: Celebrating Congregational Song since the Reformation.”

Marcus Shantz will serve as Conrad Grebel University College’s eighth president, taking office October 1, 2017. The Board of Governors, in making this announcement, cited Shantz’s outstanding leadership skills, his significant contributions to local business and arts organizations, his engagement in the local and global church, and his first-hand knowledge of Grebel and its stakeholders. The board highlighted his understanding, respect, and support for higher education, as well as his creativity and integrity.

In a quest for increased and updated kitchen and dining room space, the Conrad Grebel University College Board of Governors has approved a kitchen and dining room expansion and renovation architectural feasibility study.  After careful review, the College has engaged Moriyama and Teshima Architects (MTA) to lead the study.  MTA is one of the most prestigious architectural firms in Canada. They have led similar studies for organizations around the world including many colleges and universities in Ontario. They also have significant experience with the assessment, renovation and adaptive reuse of existing buildings.

In an inspirational welcome to 12 male Grebel students on a March Saturday, Chaplain Ed Janzen announced, “This workshop begins our commitment to change the world!”

Billed as a “train the trainer” type event, men were invited to not only participate in a Male Gender Identity and Leadership workshop that addresses sexual assault on the Waterloo campus, but also to become change agents. “The idea is that these young men will take the skills and tools they learned today, and be equipped to recognize and fight against gender inequality and rape culture wherever they are – in classrooms, in workplaces, and in society,” added Ed. Running the workshop was Lexi Salt, the GreenHouse Program Coordinator at St. Paul’s University College on campus, and Stephen Soucie, the Male Allies Program Coordinator at the Sexual Assault Support Centre of Waterloo Region.

A strategic plan vision is realized for Mennonite Studies at Conrad Grebel University College as the new "J. Winfield Fretz Fellowship in Mennonite Studies" is announced.  The Fellowship, to be awarded annually, will support visiting scholars as they engage in research, teaching, and relationship building between the College and academic and community audiences around Anabaptist and Mennonite Studies themes. Funding from the Fellowship will also provide support for special projects at the College initiated by the Institute of Anabaptist and Mennonite Studies (IAMS).

Dr. Kyle Gingerich Hiebert has been appointed Director of the Toronto Mennonite Theological Centre (TMTC), beginning July 4, 2017. 

University of Waterloo students and staff gathered for a vigil on Friday, March 31, 2017 at the Student Life Centre to honour the lives of students lost to suicide and raise mental-health awareness.

Since graduating from the University of Waterloo just over a decade ago, Amanda Kind (BA ’06) has grown into an inspirational leader for young performers in her community. In recognition of her generous and dedicated service, Conrad Grebel University College has named Amanda the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Service Award winner.

Dr. Karen Sunabacka will be Conrad Grebel University College’s new Associate Professor of Music at the University of Waterloo. Beginning July 1, 2017, she will teach music theory and composition, and continue her active work as a composer, performer, and scholar.