Changing the face of communication

BlackBerry: Our game changer

In 1984, while Mike Lazaridis was a fourth-year Waterloo electrical and computer-engineering student, he founded his own company.

You may have heard of it: Research In Motion.

The BlackBerry, now a household name, has changed the face of communication for millions around the world.

U.S. President Barack Obama made headlines when he was first elected for refusing to give up his BlackBerry.

Even the Queen of England is a fan of the BlackBerry. On a recent visit to the City of Waterloo the Queen was presented not only with flowers, but also with a new white BlackBerry Bold 9700 Smartphone from Lazaridis himself.

Investing in tomorrow’s innovations

To help make other great ideas happen, Lazaridis, co-CEO of RIM and chancellor of the University of Waterloo from 2003 to 2009, is still having an impact on campus. He and his wife Ophelia, herself a Waterloo grad and a member of the university’s board of governors, have donated more than $100 million toward the university’s Institute for Quantum Computing.

“We are excited to add support to what is becoming the epicentre of quantum research and experimentation," Lazaridis says. "Our investment in fundamental research at the Institute of Quantum Computing will help researchers tackle some of today's most challenging problems and seed some of tomorrow's biggest innovations.”