Community

As more of the world’s population migrates to cities, our global community is faced with complex questions: How can we make our streets smarter, and safer? How do we feed our growing urban centres? And are our cities making us sick?

The latest issue of Waterloo Magazine delves into these questions with alumni and researchers who are reimagining how we live. The print edition will hit mailboxes soon. Until then, check out the digital version for exclusive online extras like this interview with illustrator and alumnus Kathleen Fu.

Waterloo students know that outstanding classroom experiences are just one part of a transformational education. Co-op, athletics, clubs and volunteer work — not to mention life-changing friendships — all contribute to the learning that empowers our future alumni to make their mark on the world. 

With spring convocation just around the corner, we asked three graduating students to reflect on the insights they gained during their time at Waterloo. Here’s what they had to say.

She noticed him as soon as she walked in, a handsome young man with blonde hair and a beaming smile at the back of the room.

It was the fall of 1974, the first day of classes for 90 incoming students in the University of Waterloo’s systems design engineering program.

And for two of them - teenagers Cille D’Eon and Rob Harris - it was the start of a 45-year partnership that would see them all the way through school, careers, marriage and parenthood.

This month, doors open at a new school in one of India’s most rural and impoverished regions to provide 300 children with a formal education— something many of their parents never had the opportunity to experience.     

The Steele Family Foundation, led by Michael Steele, a 1980 civil engineering alumnus, helped fund, design and build the school in the town of Mathigiri, just south of Bangalore, India, for young students from three to 10 years old. 

Throughout her two degrees at Waterloo, Christina Hassan (MPH ’16) developed strong connections in the Waterloo community. After moving to Calgary, she and her husband Hyder Hassan (BA ’12) joined their local alumni chapter to keep that connection alive. 

Read on to see three things you can gain from joining an alumni chapter, according to Christina.

If you told high school me that one day I’d become someone who loves numbers and deals with them for a living... I can vividly see the frowning look on my face and an “ew” bursting out.

Tina Roberts (BSc ’80) is continually inspired by her University of Waterloo community. To make her own contribution, she went beyond her role as an employee, and became a donor as well.

After more than 40 years on campus, Tina Roberts has created an interesting career and fulfilling life at Waterloo. Inspired by her experiences as an employee and alumnus, she also became a loyal donor to our community.