Dear Alumni and Friends,
Welcome to the Fall 2017 issue of St. Paul’s Community Notes.
When you read this issue you will learn about some exciting new developments at St. Paul’s that will set the College on a very successful path in the future. But first, I want to recognize someone who played a big role in getting St. Paul’s to where we are today.
After nine years with the College, Kelly Deeks-Johnson will be moving on to a new and exciting role that will keep her closer to home and family. Kelly joined St. Paul’s in 2008 and quickly became an invaluable member of the team. Reporting to the Principal, she had many responsibilities that spanned from working with the Board of Governors and planning alumni events to overseeing student awards and the annual fund. Over the years, she grew the activities in advancement to a point where she needed help and I am fortunate to have worked closely with her since 2013.
Many of our students, alumni, and friends have gotten to know Kelly over the years and I know that many of you think of her as a friend and vice versa.
I also think of her as a friend, and I am happy that she has found a great position that will allow her to enjoy more time with her young family.
I hope the entire St. Paul’s Community will join me when I say:
“Thank you Kelly and best wishes for the future!”
Stephen Loo, Alumni Relations Officer
Message from the Principal
The fall term has been marked by a number of significant developments at St. Paul’s, but two are especially worthy of note.
We are delighted to welcome a new Chancellor, Mr. JP Gladu. As the President of the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business, Mr. Gladu has a significant national profile in both “Corporate Canada” and in this country’s Indigenous communities.
News of his appointment has been enthusiastically received, not just across the campus, but across the country. In the wake of the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, Canada’s universities are publicly committed to “indigenizing” their activities. The appointment of someone of Mr. Gladu’s stature and talent will nicely position both St. Paul’s and the University of Waterloo to tackle the challenge of indigenization in an innovative and constructive way.
We are also delighted at the completion of some major investments in the St. Paul’s campus. The new eight-floor “Green Wing” was completed in August. It allowed us to welcome an additional 76 undergraduate residents to the College, in rooms that are unmatched anywhere on campus.
The project also permitted us to expand the Watson’s dining facilities, to add beautiful common space for students, and to provide our nationally recognized GreenHouse program with spectacular new quarters. At the same time, the construction gave us an opportunity to create a lovely new entrance to the College from the bridge on Laurel Creek and to make significant improvements to the landscaping on the south side of the College as well.
Finally, we took advantage of the presence of the landscaping contractors to move forward on a project that is very significant for our work in the area of Indigenous student support: the creation of a Ceremonial Fire ground next to the Creek.
If you haven’t been on campus lately, please come visit – you’ll be amazed at what you see!
Best wishes,
Rick Myers, Principal
