News

It is with deep regret and heartfelt sadness that we share the news of the passing of Keiko Belair.

Keiko is a longtime friend to Renison. In addition to being a gifted Japanese instructor for many years at Renison, Keiko, along with her husband Charles, were long-time and generous donors to Renison. The Keiko and Charles Belair Centre for East Asian Studies was named in their honour. The Belair Centre Speaker Series, along with the One Sky Festival (formerly the East Asian Festival) will continue to be important and lasting legacies to the memory of Keiko and her time at Renison. Keiko’s daughter, Miya, has continued to maintain a strong relationship with Renison. Keiko will be deeply missed.

Congratulations to each of our Renison grads who celebrate Convocation this week. We are so grateful and proud to have you as part of the Renison community of alumni – and we can’t wait to see what you do next! Check out a special message from Renison President Wendy L. Fletcher and VPAD Kristiina Montero below.

Convocation is a time of celebration, and we are pleased to announce our Fall Convocation award winners!

Renison University College and its Board of Governors is very pleased to announce that Jodey Porter has been appointed its 10th Chancellor. Porter’s four-year term, effective as of Friday, September 1, 2023, was enthusiastically and unanimously approved during a special meeting of Renison’s Board of Governors on Wednesday, August 30, 2023.

A long and illustrious career as an Ontario public servant, Porter has served as Assistant Deputy Minister of Health for the Province of Ontario; she has held three terms as Ontario Human Rights Commissioner; she was a staff member at the United Nations Human Rights Commission; she was the Executive Director of the Canadian Diabetes Association; and Director of Development for the Canadian National Institute for the Blind.

Renison Social Development Studies (SDS) professor Dr. Kristina Llewellyn and Culture, Language, and Society (CLS) professor Dr. Amir Al-Azraki are part of an important new project, Staging Better Futures, led by a team from Brock University. 

As a co-director of the project, Dr. Llewellyn is supporting community education principles for research and practice. Dr. Al-Azraki, who is a collaborator, brings a wealth of experience from his work in the field of theatre of the oppressed.

The Renison Board of Governors invites nominations for vacancies among the elected members of the Board effective January 1, 2024 for a three year term. To be eligible for nomination, the nominee must be at least 18 years of age and be committed to acting in the best interests of Renison as a whole community. This opportunity is open to members of the community (non-employees).

Around Renison Henry Doucette, Renison’s Manager of Facilities, is known for his quiet smile, friendly presence, and willingness to help with all things Renison. From building a backdrop for the Founders’ Day celebrations to making sure the tap in the staff lounge is in good repair, Henry is an omnipresent figure at Renison, part of a team that keeps the lights on (literally). What many don’t know, however, is that Henry is also an accomplished artist. A true Renaissance (or – Renison-ce, if you’ll humour me) man, Henry has been creating works of art since his very early childhood.

The 2023 edition of Renison Reports is now available!

Dear Renison,

We are all feeling the impact from the horrific attack that happened in Hagey Hall yesterday. We understand and share your additional distress in learning that this was a hate-motivated, gender-based crime.

Robin (right) was a shy, high school teenager when her family left their home in the Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation and relocated to Waterloo. Robin immediately felt as though she had landed on a faraway planet. Being Indigenous without community or familiar symbols around, Robin struggled to find belonging.