Spring has arrived in Waterloo and as the days grow longer, we find ourselves both looking ahead with enthusiasm and taking a moment to recognize the people and milestones that shape who we are as a School.
This season also brings a note of sadness. We recently lost Karen Kawawada, our communications manager and the editor of this newsletter for the past two years. Karen brought care, thoughtfulness, and quiet leadership to everything she touched. She believed deeply in the power of storytelling to connect people and purpose, and her impact will continue to be felt across our community. She is profoundly missed.
Even as we pause to reflect, there is also much to anticipate in the months ahead. We look forward to welcoming many of you back—virtually or in person—for opportunities to learn, reconnect, and grow together. Our upcoming continuing education offerings include two distinct courses, one in glaucoma and another in oral therapeutic pharmaceutical agents (TPA) and lab testing, that are designed to build confidence through real‑world clinical scenarios and evidence‑based insights. We are also excited to see many familiar faces at our CE Weekend and Alumni Reunion in June, now a single‑day event that blends professional learning and a chance to reconnect with colleagues and friends across our community.
In this issue, we highlight one example of research that connects our work to events on the world stage. Dr. Kristine Dalton’s research shows how vision science at Waterloo helps inform fair competition at the 2026 Paralympic Winter Games.
We also share how the Waterloo Eye Institute continues its longstanding commitment to accessible eye care for newcomers and refugees in our community. Led by Dr. Lisa Woo, this work supports community integration while also providing meaningful learning experiences within a teaching clinic environment.
At the same time, construction of the Waterloo Eye Institute is moving steadily forward and on schedule. With the structure now rising and interior clinical and research spaces taking shape, the Institute is becoming tangible in a way that is both exciting and humbling. We are deeply grateful to everyone who has helped bring it to this point.
Our campaign has successfully raised $30.3 million toward our $35 million fundraising goal to establish the Waterloo Eye Institute. We are deeply grateful for the generous support received from our alumni, industry partners, charitable foundations, and government. If you haven’t donated to the Waterloo Eye Institute, please consider supporting this once‑in‑a‑generation facility that will redefine eye and vision care in Canada.
Thank you for staying connected to the School of Optometry & Vision Science. Your continued engagement—as alumni, mentors, and donors—supports the work underway today and the progress we are building toward together.
Warmly,
Ben Thompson
Director, School of Optometry & Vision Science