Events

Many of us find ourselves wondering: Where do I fit? What’s my next step? How do I show up in a meaningful way when so much around me is shifting? In a time of evolving structures, shifting priorities, and ongoing change across campus and beyond, these questions can feel both important and overwhelming. This workshop offers space to explore how our personal career stories intersect with Waterloo’s evolving institutional story, and to begin orienting and finding our way by identifying the stories that truly serve us.

Grounded in Waterloo’s long‑term vision and informed by real sentiments shared by staff from across campus, this session invites you to examine which stories are currently serving you, which may no longer fit, and how you might reimagine or adapt your narrative as you move forward. Through movement-based activities* and brief conversations with colleagues, you’ll be introduced to practical strategies and tools to support you in wayfinding your career at Waterloo.

Food costs and average global temperatures are rising, but there still is hope. In this workshop hosted by Food Services and the Sustainability Office, you will learn how to reduce your food carbon footprint and food waste, while saving money. Participants will also have the opportunity to sample a curried lentil soup and make and take a soup kit to cook at home.

Panel of three experts from supporting units on campus (Catering and Event Services, W Print, W Store Custom Orders) answer questions about how to run events smoother. Planning events at UWaterloo can be complex. Timelines shift, resources are limited and budgets don’t always stretch as far as planned. This session is designed to help staff plan with confidence by combining a high-level overview of key campus services with real, practical examples of how those services support successful events.

Discover how a grassroots community of practice centered around data has reshaped how staff connect, collaborate, and engage with University resources. The Data Analyst Forum was formed after the pandemic with two simple goals: build a sense of belonging among staff and share knowledge to improve our work. Through real “data stories” participants will learn how data literacy grows through knowledge sharing and how collective learning can spark cultural change. The stories will also showcase examples of connecting data from different sources, practical ways to keep data safe, and how to find and use institutional data and resources more effectively. You don’t need to be a data expert—this is about how data becomes a shared language that brings people, units, and ideas together. Join us to see how knowledge sharing can reduce duplication, improve quality, and create meaningful connections across the University.

Artificial intelligence is rapidly becoming part of everyday work and life, and learning to use it responsibly is essential. This workshop offers a practical approach to help University of Waterloo staff build confidence with AI tools while protecting privacy, data, and personal well‑being. Participants will explore a 5‑step framework—rooted in the University’s AI Principles—for responsible AI use, with guidance on understanding purpose, navigating privacy requirements, and keeping people in control when working with university data. A short optional hands‑on activity will give participants a chance to try a simple AI prompt and practice applying key concepts, with alternate resources available for those without a laptop or who prefer not to participate interactively. The session will also touch on emerging AI‑related risks that can affect personal digital wellness, and will direct staff to appropriate mental‑health and cybersecurity support resources.

One's sixth decade, or 50s, can be an important time of tremendous change and loss, but also opportunity! As in our teens and 20s, we have time to take stock, set goals, and go after our dreams. However, this time around we've got the advantages of wisdom and experience to apply, we are better resourced, and we know time is precious! Through sharing her own story of moving from evading exercise to teaching yoga, fearing risk to seeking mountain adventures, and grieving losses to finding her way back into love, fun, and purpose, Cynthia wants to inspire you to look at the later stages of life in a new and hopeful way.

This session focuses on how university staff handle data in their everyday work and why privacy matters beyond rules and compliance, especially when using digital and AI enabled tools. It looks at who staff are protecting trust for, including students, faculty members, research, colleagues, partners, and the public, and how routine data decisions can create risk if not handled responsibly and carefully. Using practical university examples, the session shows how data reflects responsibility and values, and where legal and ethical concerns often arise when information is shared, reused, or processed manually or through technology. Participants will learn to recognize common privacy risks, understand the difference between legal obligations and ethical responsibility, and leave with practical guidance for using data and emerging technologies responsibly in their day-to-day work despite their roles.

As more employees return to in-person work and commuting patterns continue to evolve, this session invites you to discover the many travel options, supports, and benefits available to make your commute to campus healthier, more affordable, and more sustainable. Whether you’re curious about transit discounts, cycling routes and bike parking, or how to mix and match different modes of travel, you’ll find practical tools and services designed to support your daily journey. You will hear from Region of Waterloo / Grand River Transit staff and City of Waterloo active transportation staff about community services, infrastructure, and employee-specific benefits that shape the daily travel experience for campus members. You’ll also get an introduction to Shift:Mobility, the University of Waterloo’s first Sustainable Transportation Plan, presented by Sustainable Transportation and the Sustainability Office. The plan outlines a coordinated vision for supporting all modes of travel across our campuses, including key outcomes and targets guiding future mobility decisions.

Leadership isn’t just about titles—it’s about how you show up every day. This interactive session will explore what leadership really means , whether formal or informal, and how you can intentionally develop your skills to lead from any role. We’ll challenge traditional notions of leadership, discuss pathways beyond the “obvious” ones, and share practical strategies for building your leadership brand, protecting your well-being, and aligning your values with your work. Whether you aspire to a formal leadership position or simply want to lead by example, this session will help you reflect on your ambitions, identify your strengths, and take actionable steps toward becoming the kind of leader you want to be.

This session will introduce fundamental tips to advance accessibility and disability inclusion in our workplaces and communities. Drawing on lived experience voices of disability and neurodivergence, the presentation will describe the impact of accessibility barriers in the workplace as experienced by members of our University of Waterloo community. The presentation will highlight real-world examples of workplace accessibility barriers and provide guidance on easy practices to advance both accessibility and a culture of disability inclusion. Participants will leave with practical strategies for creating environments that go beyond compliance to eliminate common barriers and promote inclusive and equitable experiences.