News

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Katie Gingerich graduated from the University of Waterloo with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Peace and Conflict Studies and Religious Studies, and she completed a Master of Education from Wilfrid Laurier University. Today, she is a skilled facilitator, mediator and designer, working as a Manager of National Program Operations at Shad Canada.  

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Greg Culp graduated from the University of Waterloo in 2006 with a degree in Fine Arts. He now lives in Burbank, California with his wife Andrea and three daughters. Since 2012, Greg has worked at Disney Animation Studios in Cinematography Lighting. In his free time, Greg enjoys plein-air digital painting and sketching, photography, and taking the family to Disneyland or to Malibu for a beach day. 

Jessica Reesor Rempel has been appointed as Conrad Grebel University College’s new Director of Student Services. She has already served with distinction as Interim Chaplain, Chaplain, and, for the past few months, as Acting Director. Jessie brings a wealth of experience in pastoral care, social services, and organizational leadership. 

Another of the former Kitchener-Waterloo Symphony youth orchestras is set to continue practicing together as Conrad Grebel University College offers them rehearsal space amidst the symphony’s recent bankruptcy.  

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Devon Spier is a 2012 PACS and Religious Studies graduate from the University of Waterloo, a bestselling author, theologian, and rabbi-to-be. They currently teach students to write their own theology through poems, prose, and digital images. A recipient of peacebuilding awards from YMCA and Interfaith Grand River, they were recently honoured by the Ontario Government with a "Leading Women, Building Communities" award. Devon's poetry books are currently used in religious communities and academic courses taught in Asia, Europe, and North America.

The number of Christian-affiliated Canadians has dropped by more than 200,000 people. 800,000 affiliates have left the United Church of Canada since 2011. Canada’s Catholic representation is down 15% since 1996 and statistics predict the Anglicanism could be gone by 2040. While a selection of media reports may sound daunting, is the situation really that dire?  

Brad is a member of the Peter Ballantyne Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and a survivor of the Sixties Scoop. In his distinguished career as a lawyer spanning more than 25 years, he was part of the legal team that successfully defended a challenge to a First Nation’s tax laws under the First Nations Fiscal Management Act, is a Partner for Maurice Law in Winnipeg, and is the first Indigenous lawyer to hold office as President of the Canadian Bar Association. Brad is also the Chair of the Indigenous Advisory Group for United College at the University of Waterloo and was recently appointed King’s Counsel by the Province of Manitoba.

Hundreds of UWaterloo staff, faculty and students gathered in the Arts Quad this past Wednesday to advocate and raise awareness for “The Urgency of Social Justice.” Initiated by the Arts Faculty and co-hosted by the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) department and the Gender and Social Justice (GSJ) program, booths from various departments were setup with educational materials on gender, equality, equity, and social justice.  Dr. Laura Mae Lindo, former NDP Member of Provincial Parliament for Kitchener Centre, activist and UWaterloo Philosophy Professor, opened up the event with vitalizing words on racial equality.  

Grebel's 60 Stories Project | Ron Tiessen has lived for 44 years on Pelee island where he has farmed and led a variety of community initiatives, like the Heritage Centre. He and his wife Kathryn, also a retired teacher and native of Pelee Island, raised 3 boys there.  

The first week of September brought an atmosphere of excitement to Conrad Grebel University College as a new batch of Grebelites arrived at the residence, joined by their parents and greeted by enthusiastic upper-year students. A spirit of new possibilities could be felt in the air—a spirit that has been gracing Grebel’s doorstep for the last 60 years.