Whose house? Our house!

Almost 7,000 visitors darkened our doorstep at the annual Fall Open House on Saturday, a day designed to showcase this university's academic strengths, its co-op program, dynamic student life and leadership opportunities.

"Future students and their families came to learn more about what Waterloo offers," writes Kathryn Fedy, manager of the Visitors Centre. "Visitors could take a tour of the campus and speak with our student ambassadors about their Waterloo experience. Residence and university college tours were also available."

New to this year’s open house was a “Meet the Bloggers” session with first year uWaterloo students who are currently blogging about their transition to university and life at Waterloo.

A live twitter wall with a “Tweet & Win!” contest promoted visitors to tweet photos from their visit to campus, with many images winding up on the Fall Open House 2012 photo album on Facebook.

"This day couldn't have happened without the hard work and dedication to many student volunteers, uWaterloo staff and faculty members," writes Fedy. "Thank you to everyone who made the Fall Open House happen!"

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Waterloo, McMaster partner on dementia site

a news release from the media relations office.

A diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease or a related dementia leaves both the person with the illness and their family members with many unanswered questions. Researchers at the University of Waterloo and McMaster University are leading a project that has resulted in the creation of a new web-based resource that provides valuable information that will help navigate the journey of living with dementia.

Launching today, the Living with Dementia website was designed to provide persons newly diagnosed with dementia and those who care for them with the information and resources needed to live well with an illness causing dementia. This new research-based website, available in both English and French, was created in collaboration with persons living with dementia and their family members and care providers.

“I would have been ecstatic to have walked away from my doctor’s office with this information; something that would allow me to be proactive and give me a sense of direction, instead of sitting in my car crying and feeling hopeless,” said Brenda Hounam, who was diagnosed with dementia 10 years ago. “This website is a lifeline. It is a place to get safe, hopeful information.”

The website covers a wide range of information with topics identified by those living with dementia, including answers to questions surrounding health care, how to continue living well with dementia, how to ensure they are receiving the right care and support to meet their needs, and how to begin the process of planning for the future.

“Persons with dementia and their families can continue to live well and have meaningful lives when they have the information and resources available to support them in doing that.” said Sherry Dupuis, co-investigator and Director of the Murray Alzheimer Research and Education Program (MAREP) at the University of Waterloo. “What makes this resource unique is that it was developed specifically by persons with dementia and their care partners working actively with our extensive team of researchers, educators, health professionals, pharmacists, and family health team representatives. This ensures it is relevant and easily accessible to persons and families diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease or another related dementia.”

Carrie McAiney, co-investigator, and associate professor in the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioural Neurosciences at McMaster University adds that this resource will be a valuable tool for professional health care providers and community organizations supporting those whose lives are touched by dementia. "This project will help physicians, pharmacists, Alzheimer Societies and others find ways to integrate the Living With Dementia resource into their everyday practice so it can be shared with those living with dementia and their family members,” she said.

 

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A United Way campaign in review

by Kirsty Budd, Student Success Office.

The University of Waterloo's United Way campaign has shown the generosity of the campus community along with its creativity as departments, faculties, units and campuses planned events ranging from talent auctions to bingo to raise money.

Some highlights from this year's United Way campaign events include:

• The Office of Research held events throughout the year running everything from bake sales to dress down days and over the course of the year their events raised over $1,600.
• The Office of Development and Alumni Affairs made it even easier for their staff to contribute to multiple events this year by creating the 'Ultimate Ticket'. A system was set up allowing staff members to make a one-time purchase to participate in as many of ODAA's events as they wished to. Each staff member could purchase a different version of the ‘Ultimate Ticket’ depending on which events they wanted to attend.
• The Faculty of Applied Health Sciences raised $2066.45 over the month with many successful events ranging from a pancake breakfast to a silent auction
• Plant Operations and Health and Safety held a BBQ (during much warmer weather) at the beginning of October, raising $311.
• The Centre for Extending Learning in Kitchener also got in on the action raising nearly $1,200 with a samosa launch, 50/50 draws, a Halloween costume party and a silent auction.

Events are another way to make a contribution to the campaign and there is still time to host an easy-to-run event, like a dress down day or 50/50 draw to contribute to the 2012 campaign. You can find more event ideas on the United Way's website.

 

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Thursday's notes

And now for something completely different: tomorrow is Random Act of Kindness Day, organized by the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation. Friday marks the event's fifth anniversary of the event, which, according to a KWCF media release, "started as an out of the box idea on a shoestring budget." Since 2008, it has grown into a full day, set aside to "celebrate kindness with support from close to 300 volunteers and over 30 local organizations." Outside of Waterloo Region, Random Act of Kindness Day is now celebrated in over 30 communities across the country.

"As in years past, cards and posters will be circulated throughout the community. The cards encourage the cardholder to perform a simple act of kindness for someone – a neighbour, a friend, a co-worker, or someone they don’t even know – and hand the card over to that person – encouraging him/her to do the same."

The cards are available throughout Kitchener, Waterloo and area at all Tim Hortons locations, as well as at the Waterloo Region Record, and the Kitchener and Waterloo Community Foundation office. The Federation of Students is also handing out cards and posters this year.

The next VeloCity Pitch Night Socials will be held on Wednesday, November 14 and Thursday, November 15 at 7:00 p.m. in the lobby of Mathematics 3. Student entrepreneurs are invited to pitch their business ideas and qualify for the VeloCity Demo Day scheduled for November 22. Spectators are of course welcome, and admission is free, although viewers must secure tickets for Day 1 and Day 2. Aspiring pitchers should fill out this form to secure a spot in the lineup for this hour-long event.

The following staff members retired effective October 1, according to Human Resources:

David Mason, who started at the university in April 1976, retiring as a Director, Information Systems and Technology (IST).

Judy Richardson, whose start date was December 1982, who retired as an online technologies consultant at the Centre for Extended Learning.

Douglas Barlow, who began working at the university in January 2002, and retired as a Painter, Serviceperson I at Plant Operations.

And the following people retired as of November 1:

Rogerio Saramago, who started working at the university in April 2001 as a Custodian in Plant Operations.

Gerry Dupuis, who started at the university in December 1990, as a Painter in Plant Operations.

Rosemary Anderson, who started working at the university in April 1987, retired as an Administrative Co-ordinator in the Institute for Polymer Research in the chemical engineering department.

Richard Crispin, who began working at the university in August of 1980, retired as IT Support Technician at St. Jerome's University.

Human Resources is also reporting that Recreation and Leisure Studies lecturer Adrienne Gilbert, who started at the university in September 1982, retired effective November 1.

 

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