News

On Wednesday, March 25th  the C. Henry Smith Peace Oratorical Contest took place at Conrad Grebel University College. The event was organized by the Peace and Conflict Studies Department and the Grebel Chaplaincy office. Of the submissions, four contestants each took the podium to present their speeches relating to the application of the Christian peace position to contemporary concerns.  

While Jaden completed his undergraduate degree in Geography and Aviation with a minor in PACS, he also became a pilot and photographer. He was drawn to Peace and Conflict Studies while exploring potential options for a minor during his bachelor’s degree. 

“Different perspectives on peacework gave me an opportunity to look at forms of community building that are not traditional, specifically art as a form of peacebuilding.” Jaden expressed. As a photographer, he understood the power of art as self-expression but had not considered its value for building communities. 

The Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) program at the University of Waterloo and Conrad Grebel University College prides itself on the flexibility that it offers students. The PACS401: Senior Research Seminar is one of the keys that allows PACS to offer such a range of subjects to its students. Fourth-year student Dylan-Paige Andres is a testament to this fact.  

Originally studying political science at Carlton University, Dylan-Paige transferred to the PACS program in her second year. She wanted a program that allowed her to pursue her  interest in human rights and World War II history more specifically and found that PACS would be a good fit.  

Imagine the dreams that become possible when financial barriers are removed for students: a term abroad, an immersive language program, a globally focused internship, or research grounded in another culture. Students might find themselves volunteering in a refugee settlement, researching an issue they care about, immersing themselves in global music, taking a field course in environmental justice, working with a governmental think tank, or collaborating with an NGO overseas. Experiences like these broaden a person’s perspective, change career paths, and contribute to the kind of leadership that Canada will need in the future. 

The journey of figuring out what you want to do after high school isn’t linear, and Abigail Persaud is an example of how seizing new opportunities can lead to the most profound experiences of self-discovery and impact. As she completes her final term of her undergraduate degree at the University of Waterloo, the experiences she has gained through her time at the university have provided a strong foundation for her to be a part of the meaningful change that Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) alumni are making around the world. 

Fueled by her passion for mediation and advocacy, Zoe knew the Master of Peace and Conflict Studies (MPACS) program at the University of Waterloo offered her the perfect opportunity to deepen her knowledge and create meaningful change. After earning her undergraduate degree in social justice and peace studies, she began exploring new opportunities and fell in love with the program and the warm community at Grebel. The small class sizes and seminar-based courses were a big part of what shaped her decision.

“It’s not just ideas about peace, Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) gives you the tools to know how to make it happen in your community and the world”, says Willow Carmount, a recent graduand of the Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) program at the University of Waterloo. Her journey at the university began as a Social Development Studies student, however after taking her first PACS course, she knew immediately it was the perfect program for her. She felt empowered to challenge the way she sees things; something she was not getting from her other courses.

On March 12, 2025, three University of Waterloo students based at Conrad Grebel University College competed in the Annual C. Henry Smith Oratorical Speech Contest established by the late C. Henry Smith in 1974. Each student presented their speech to a panel of judges along with an audience of staff, faculty, and students. Teena Faust, a second-year Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) and Philosophy student, was awarded first place and a cash price of $1000. She will represent Grebel and the University of Waterloo at the bi-national speech competition later this year. Ella Funk, a fourth-year creative and professional writing student, won second place and a cash prize of $500. Finally, in third place, winning a cash prize of $300 was Lucas Shumaker, a third-year international student studying environmental engineering.

If there’s anyone who likes breaking down barriers and seeing what’s on the other side, it’s Benny Skinner (BA 2019, MA 2023). They are a human rights advocate, award-winning rugby player on an inclusivity-driven Premier League team, and Indigenous Research Advisor who positively affects the world through activism. Benny’s commitment to social justice was enhanced by Conrad Grebel University College’s Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS) program, the place where they learned how to challenge and change a society where injustice runs deep.

B.B. Adewusi initially accepted her offer in the Faculty of Engineering at the University of Waterloo, however, her journey would lead her through three different faculties, ultimately deciding to pursue an arts degree with a major in Peace and Conflict Studies (PACS). Her decision was driven by the practical benefits of the PACS program and its significance in making a positive impact on students and the world. Finding a program that was meaningful and intellectually stimulating was important to her. She felt that the other faculties could not provide the unique opportunities and perspectives that PACS offered.