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University of Waterloo -- Waterloo, Ontario, Canada

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Friday, May 31, 1996

Building opens this afternoon

The new west wing of Matthews Hall will be officially opened with a 2:30 ceremony today, and with broad smiles from dean Bob Norman and his colleagues in applied health sciences. VIPs expected to be on hand include Elizabeth Witmer, the Waterloo MPP and Ontario minister of labour, and Andrew Telegdi, Member of Parliament for Waterloo -- representing the two levels of government that helped finance the $2.8 million project under the Canada-Ontario Infrastructure Works program.

The Centre for Occupational Health and Safety has its permanent home in the lower level of the new wing, while most of the main floor is occupied by laboratories and clinic space that will be available for project groups in applied health sciences. Among the first occupants: researchers from the Canadian Memorial Chiropractic College, working jointly with people from UW's kinesiology department.

The building also has a lobby with fireplace, an enclosed area that will one day be a garden, and a 100-seat auditorium.

Goodbye to DCS staff

Half a dozen people who are taking early retirement from the computing services department will be guests of honour at a reception this afternoon, from 4 to 6 p.m. at the University Club. Hearing goodbyes and best wishes are the director of DCS, Paul Dirksen, as well as Jerry Bolce, Cory Burgener, Gwen Burgess, Ron Hurdal and Peter Sprung.

It's also goodbye to the "computing services" and "DCS" names, by the way. As the computing services Web page puts it:

Effective May 1, 1996, the facilities and services provided under the label "Department of Computing Services" are now a part of IST, the new "Information Systems and Technology" unit amalgamating Computing Services, Data Processing, and Telephone Services. Further changes will be occurring within this webspace as the shape of the IST unit evolves.

Math competition starts today

Canada's brightest and youngest mathematical minds are competing here today and Saturday for a spot on the national team in this year's International Olympiad in Informatics. Canada will compete for the first time in the Olympiad, hosted by Hungary starting July 25. The Olympiad is an annual competition in the discipline of informatics (computing science) for high school students from all over the world.

"We hope to select the best and brightest young minds in the country to represent Canada on our team," says Jo Ebergen of UW's computer science department.

Twenty students from high schools across Canada are vying for a position on Team Canada as part of the second stage of the Canadian Computing Competition. They were selected from more than 1,000 students who took part in the first stage competition in March. The Centre for Education in Mathematics and Computing, based in UW's math faculty, is hosting the contest.

Winners will be announced at a banquet Saturday night and the makeup of the Canadian team will be decided on Monday, Ebergen said.

Happening on a summery weekend

Among events today through Sunday:

Wilfrid Laurier University holds its spring convocation ceremonies today and tomorrow starting at 1:15 at the Waterloo Recreation Complex. Receiving an honorary degree from WLU tomorrow will be Burt Matthews, president of UW 1970-1981.
A one-day conference about the effects of torture on survivors, their families and their communities is taking place today at Conrad Grebel College.
The Humanities Theatre hosts performances by the Moree School of Dance at 7 on Saturday evening and 1:00 on Sunday afternoon.
An alumni-and-family brunch is scheduled for 11:30 on Sunday at Renison College (following a special worship service at 10:30 in St. Bede's Chapel).
The annual meeting of the Statistical Society of Canada runs from Saturday through Thursday at the Village II conference centre. About 350 number-crunchers are expected; Steve Brown of UW's stats department is the chair of the local arrangements committee.
On Sunday at 3:00 and 7:00, "Heart 2 Heart" performs in the Theatre of the Arts -- otherwise described as "Father Mark Curtis and the Paul Bulla Band". It's a benefit concert for the Catholic Family Counselling Centre. A publicity blurb says that "the singing priest" has the flavours of "Elton John, Harry Chapin and Bruce Cockburn" in his music -- country, pop, Celtic and show-tunes. Tickets are $12.50.

And today's the last day before early retirement for quite a number of staff and faculty. Among those saying goodbye: Rose Schilling of the user services department in the Dana Porter Library; Norma Chippier of Brubaker's, the food services outlet in the Student Life Centre.

Chris Redmond -- credmond@watserv1.uwaterloo.ca
Information and Public Affairs, University of Waterloo
(519) 888-4567 ext. 3004

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