This month, I invited our Indigenous Knowledge Keeper, Elder Myeengun Henry, to share his reflections on his time since joining the Faculty of Health and University of Waterloo in February. It has been an ongoing transformative experience for me. His presence brings awareness, provokes introspection and critical thinking. Each time I interact with Elder Henry, the messages of Indigenous peoples and their calls to action come alive. The meaningfulness of these messages is even more powerful as we return to in-person and real time interactions. Through Elder Henry, I appreciate the importance of Indigenous ceremonies and taking time to honour people and remember historical events, however uncomfortable. It is important to show up in solidarity. A signature commitment in our strategic plan is to create "an environment that invites and respects Indigenous ways of knowing.”
Myeengun Henry writes:
It is with my utmost honour that I join with you within the Faculty of Health. To date, I’ve been able to engage staff, students, various UWaterloo departments and guests such as Saamdu Chetri, founding member of the Gross National Happiness Centre. We share a vision that will support a goal of implementing the Truth and Reconciliation calls to action and encourage a more decolonized educational institution.
We’ve started identifying opportunities to highlight Indigenous knowledge past, present and future – for example, through wampum belt teachings and sharing circles. We will visit residential school sites and introduce Indigenous art throughout the Faculty and offer insight to current Indigenous news items such as the recent Indigenous trip to Rome for a visit with Pope Francis. I sit on various Indigenous advisory teams such as the Law Society of Ontario and Ontario Provincial Police and I work as a traditional healer at the Southwest Ontario Aboriginal Health Access Centre. I am available to meet with grad students, staff and faculty and I am looking forward to celebrating together with you in time of reconciliation. The work ahead of us will require patience and understanding and I anticipate, at times, a bit of uneasiness as we break a cycle of historical misunderstandings, but in the end I’m confident that we will walk together upon our Mother Earth in unity and respect. Let’s have a chat!
Miigwetch,
Myeengun
Look for upcoming ceremonial events, including Red Dress Day (details below) and a welcoming event for Elder Henry in June, when we recognize National Indigenous Peoples day with a ceremony to mark our signature commitment.
Sincerely,
Lili Liu
This month I Events I Tips and reminders
THIS MONTH
Ellen MacEachen appointed next Director of SPHS
Ellen MacEachen has been appointed Director of the School of Public Health Sciences for a four-year term beginning September 1. She joined the School in 2014 and served as Acting Director from September 1, 2020 to August 31, 2021. Many thanks to Craig Janes, who has been Director for two terms and is stepping down at the end of August.
Heather Keller receives career recognition award
Heather Keller (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) has received a career recognition award from the Canadian Nutrition Society: the Earle Willard McHenry Award for Distinguished Service in Nutrition. Keller's research focuses on improving food quality and nutrition care processes in hospitals and long-term care homes. This award is a result of her 10-plus years working to improve hospital care of malnourished patients in Canada.
Funding spotlight: New Frontiers in Research
Paolo Dominelli (Kinesiology and Health Sciences) and Warren Dodd (School of Public Health Sciences) were two of six Waterloo researchers to receive funding from the Government of Canada’s New Frontiers in Research Fund (NFRF). The NFRF awarded more than $45 million in support for research projects for 751 researchers.
Exceptional teaching by a student
Urszula Pasterkiewicz, a School of Public Health Sciences PhD candidate, was awarded the highest formal recognition by the University for excellence in teaching by a student: the 2022 Amit and Meena Chakma Award. She was recognized for her role in the intellectual development of her students, as well as the time she invested in their health and well-being.
Funding spotlight: PhD candidate Busola Adekoya
PhD candidate Busola Adekoya has received the Alzheimer Society of Canada award with top-up from the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence, valued at $76,000. She will be researching how policies and programs for alert systems at local, municipal and provincial or national levels are developed and implemented in Canada and Scotland.
New faculty member in KHS
Nikolas Knowles joined the Department of Kinesiology and Health Sciences as an assistant professor in April. He was most recently a postdoctoral fellow at the University of Calgary, and holds degrees in biomedical and mechanical engineering from Western and Carleton universities.
New definite-term lecturer in RLS
Brendan Riggin joins the Department of Recreation and Leisure Studies for a two-year definite term as Lecturer beginning May 1. He was most recently with Western University's Sport Management program, where he specialized in corporate social responsibility in sport, social impact of sport and program evaluation.
AGE-WELL graduate student and postdoc awards
Master’s students, doctoral students and postdoctoral fellows may apply to the AGE-WELL Graduate Student and Postdoctoral Award in Technology and Aging. For the first time, the Faculty of Health will partner with AGE-WELL in this round of awards. These awards provide funding and access to training and mentorship opportunities through the AGE-WELL Network of Centres of Excellence and applications are due May 31. In accordance with the Faculty's strategic plan Priority D – to expand the number of funding opportunities, including endowments, for student scholarships and research in the Faculty – the Ontario Teachers Village Retirement (OTRV) endowment will be used to match these master’s and PhD awards. Researchers can use industry funding to match postdoc awards.
Remembering Michael Stones
Michael Stones, who played a vital role in the growth of gerontology and research on aging at University of Waterloo and in Canada in general, passed away unexpectedly on April 22. He was known for seminal research on happiness, physical activity and aging and was a UWaterloo faculty member from 1994 to 1998. His life was a reflection of his work. He was a Canadian champion race-walker and an avid fan of the Nottingham Forest football club. He is remembered as a kind, generous spirit who was always supportive and positive in his approach to his students and colleagues.
Starbucks reopening: May 1
Food Services reports that Starbucks in the Health Expansion building will be reopening on May. FRSH remains closed for the spring term.
Red Dress Day: May 5
May 5 marks the National Day of Awareness of Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women, Girls and Two-Spirit People, also known as Red Dress Day. It will be observed on the BMH Green at 1 p.m. All are welcome.
LEARN for TAs: May 5 and 12
This workshop is a Question and Answer session focusing on the effective use of LEARN for Teaching Assistants. There are two sessions: one on Tuesday, May 5 from 1 to 2:30 p.m. and another on Thursday, May 12 from 9:30 - to 11 a.m. Please register in advance.
PebblePad workshop: June 2
The PebblePad Users Group is an opportunity to hear how your colleagues across campus are using PebblePad. The next session is June 2, from 1 to 2:30 p.m. Please get details about registration on the PebblePad Users Group web page.
Alumni Weekend: June 4
Faculty, staff and students are welcome to participate in Alumni Weekend, which will be in person this year. Registration is open for Faculty of Health activities throughout the day on June 4 and into June 5 for a community BBQ (see below).
CCCARE community BBQ and open house: June 5
Please join the Centre for Community, Clinical and Applied Research Excellence (CCCARE) for a barbecue and celebration of the UW WELL-FIT exercise program's 20th anniversary. There will be family games, music and food courtesy of KW's Chef D. Sunday, June 5, 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Toby Jenkins building, You are encouraged to pre-order your lunch here. Donations go toward UW WELL-FIT.
Convocation ceremonies: June 11, 12, 14
With three ceremonies to be held June 11, 12 and 14, please consider helping out behind the scenes as staff or by participating in the procession if you are faculty. Staff may volunteer for convocation here, and faculty members will receive a direct link to register for the procession. The ceremonies on June 11 and 12 are for graduands from 2020 and 2021, and June 14 is for 2022 graduands. A calendar invitation will be sent out to invite everyone to attend the reception after the June 14 ceremony at 12 p.m.
TIPS AND REMINDERS
Winter term TA award nominations
A reminder that today, April 29, is the last day to nominate TAs for the winter term Teaching Assistant Awards. A $500 award is available for an outstanding TA in each of the academic units each term.
LITE seed grants deadline coming soon
The next Learning Innovation and Teaching Enhancement (LITE) seed grant round is coming up, with applications due on June 1. These seed grants aim to help you investigate small-scale teaching and learning research projects and activities to develop your instructional skills.
Note about e-classrooms
The Centre for Teaching Excellence is encouraging instructors using e-classrooms to review IST's support page for e-classrooms. Urgent requests should be sent to the ITMS Hotline (ext. 33233) and non-urgent requests can be sent to eclass@uwaterloo.ca.
Do you have a news item to share? Please email it to Eugenia Xenos Anderson.