Community

You could call architecture alums Deborah Wang (MArch ’15) and William Elsworthy (MArch ’15) a real-life power couple … specifically in the realm of Canadian design and architecture.

Will is an associate at chic Toronto architectural studio Superkül, while Deborah is artistic director and co-founder of DesignTO, a non-profit that produces Canada’s leading annual design festival. Both have resumes crammed with some of the most impressive building and design projects in Canada.

It’s not an exaggeration to say that Sharon Lamont (BA ’80) has touched the lives of hundreds of people, both through her work at the University of Waterloo Library and through countless acts of generosity. It’s also not surprising that she chose to mark her retirement in May 2021 with a gift that reflects more than 45 years of experiences as a Waterloo student, staff member and volunteer.

There were celebrations among Warriors football fans when Tre and Tyrell Ford announced in December 2020 that they would defer their CFL draft year and play a final season with the Black and Gold. The twin brothers say they wanted one last opportunity to help Waterloo capture its first Vanier Cup.

Jack Scott never had the opportunity for a postsecondary education. But this successful business leader, recognizing the importance of a revolutionary concept called co-operative education, helped found the University of Waterloo.

In April 2020, Helen Feng’s (BMath ’21) dream co-op term in Dubai turned into a nightmare when she contracted COVID-19. “I was alone. I had no medical care. Nobody knew what would happen to me,” she says.

Thankfully, Helen recovered, and she returned to Canada. But her COVID-19 journey was only beginning.

Through gifts to buildings, donors create supportive environments where students and researchers can develop skills, ideas and technologies that translate into healthier lives and economic prosperity. Here, we highlight three of these recent capital projects.

Fill the Table
Waterloo Eye Institute
Innovation Arena

For many of us, navigating information on COVID-19 is increasingly difficult as the pandemic – and the science behind the pandemic – evolves over time and as the information available grows. With so much information at our fingertips, it can be hard to work out what’s real, and what’s not.

We asked some leading Waterloo experts to help sort through some common misinformation and myths on the pandemic and give us the latest facts. Our experts cover issues from transmission of the virus, the side effects of vaccination and the legalities of vaccine mandates.

As a staged return to campus approaches, the University of Waterloo has implemented measures to keep faculty, staff, students and visitors safe.

Under the guidance of provincial and local public health guidelines, Waterloo continues to follow instructions provided by the Ontario Ministry of Colleges and Universities. In these efforts, Waterloo’s Safety Office has worked closely with campus partners to develop strategies for a safe re-opening.