University President

The Commitment Ceremony that took place this morning was truly an historic and momentous occasion for our institution as we affirmed our commitment to Reconciliation, Indigenization and decolonization. I was honoured to offer both my personal commitment and my commitment as president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo.  

The challenges facing humanity are increasingly global in scale and require a more interdisciplinary and collaborative approach to uncovering solutions. It is why we work hard to build and foster international collaborations with institutions around the world. Recently, I travelled to Europe with Professor Ian Rowlands, Associate Vice-President, International, to deepen and expand connections with key partners.

Over the past week, our community came together to mark some significant milestones in the lives of our alumni and graduating students. More than 7,000 degrees, diplomas and certificates were awarded during 16 convocation ceremonies and 4 celebrations. Never before have we celebrated convocations for three classes – from 2020, 2021 and 2022 – in one week. Perhaps most significant was the opportunity to once again connect in person with our friends and colleagues.

Yesterday, many of us across Ontario exercised our democratic right to vote in the provincial election. It can be easy to take this simple, recurring action for granted, but in recent years we have been reminded just how precious this fundamental right is and the importance of our civic duties.

You may have noticed that at University of Waterloo events, we begin with a land acknowledgement that recognizes that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg and Haudenosaunee peoples. We also highlight that our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. I often expand upon the acknowledgement by personally encouraging attendees to deepen their own understandings of Indigenous cultures and histories.

This weekend many of us will have watched and read the news from Buffalo of another devastating mass murder motivated by racial hatred and an ideology of white supremacy. 

To anyone in our community that is affected by this senseless tragedy, please know we are here to support you, and we have resources you can draw on to help you cope.

Events like these force us all to confront the horrible reality of gun violence in the United States, but most importantly the reality that racialized people, particularly Black people, face every day. 

Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity to recognize the many accomplishments and contributions that Canadians of Asian heritage, including our colleagues and students here at the University, continue to make in our country and communities.

Every day university researchers across Canada and around the world are conducting extraordinary research, but Canada still isn’t making the most of these discoveries by turning them into innovative products to sell globally.   

Innovation requires momentum. It requires not only concerted effort by researchers pursuing bold and risky ideas but also deep connections with those who can develop the ideas for application, particularly in industry.