Directors of Safety, Equity named

a message from the Secretariat.

Dr. Logan Atkinson, secretary of the university, is pleased to announce the following senior appointments in the Secretariat group.

Effective September 1, Kate Windsor (left) has been promoted to director of safety, replacing the retiring Kevin Stewart. Since 2006, Kate has been a senior safety officer at the University of Waterloo, a vital part of the Safety Office team. In that role, she managed university compliance with a number of legislative and regulatory obligations, led the university ergonomics program, and performed a variety of key functions in connection with the university’s relationship with the Workplace Safety & Insurance Board. Kate is very well known across the university for the performance of these responsibilities and many others. She holds a bachelor’s degree in kinesiology from the University of Waterloo, and holds the Canadian Registered Safety Professional designation. She lives in Waterloo with her husband and two children.

Mahejabeen Ebrahim (right) will join the University of Waterloo as its first director of equity, effective October 1. Mahejabeen joins us with 17 years’ experience in the strategic development and implementation of human rights and equity initiatives in the university sector, most recently as the associate director of the Human Rights and Equity Office at the University of Guelph. She holds a Master of Science degree from the University of Western Ontario, and certificates in university management, human resources management, and alternate dispute resolution. Mahejabeen is a member of the Canadian Association for the Prevention of Discrimination and Harassment in Higher Education, and the Ontario Universities Educational and Employment Equity Network.

Please join me in congratulating Kate Windsor on her appointment, and in welcoming Mahejabeen Ebrahim as she assumes her new responsibilities in October.

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Skating circles around the competition

A news release by the media relations team.

A University of Waterloo graduate with a passion for hockey has invented a spring-loaded skate that may improve performance and help prevent injuries.

Waterloo Engineering alumnus Jeffrey Azzolin developed Bladetech hockey skates after noticing that some skates on the market boast increased speed due to their lighter construction. He created a new technology in the form of a spring-loaded blade that allows skaters to go even faster and protect against injuries as part of a design project during his mechanical engineering degree.

“Hockey was my passion and I saw a need on the market for improvement,” says Azzolin, a former recreational hockey player. “Depending on the level of player, even a slight increase in speed can make it easier to manoeuvre into different positions quickly and develop more opportunities for scoring. So this technology could make the difference for many between a winning and a losing season.”

Professional hockey players who can’t afford to be sidelined with an injury could benefit from Bladetech skates. Azzolin says an additional benefit to the technology is that it can also prevent injuries to hips, knees, and ankles.

“The spring mechanism reduces the impact on the user’s joints to help prevent joint damage,” he said. “It also allows the player to transition smoothly from the flat-footed to the forward-angled stance, which reduces the likelihood of developing shin splits. The skates are important because people don’t take into consideration the impact on your body when you skate three hours a day every day of your life.”

The new skate has already won praise from hockey players at Waterloo and an NHL veteran.

"I really liked the cushioning effect that the spring mechanism provided,” said former Montreal Canadiens winger Greg Stewart. “I found that when I got older and talked to more players, the one thing that really bothered them was their knees. The constant pounding of the skate on the ice definitely takes a toll on the body and I think that having the spring mechanism will really go a long way in helping to mitigate these injuries; which are a long term effect of playing at an elite level for such a long time.”

When a Bladetech skate strikes the ice, the spring absorbs the energy that would otherwise be dissipated to the knee joint. When the player pushes off the ice at the end of the stride, the spring returns to its original position and provides the user with a propulsive force, which increases acceleration and speed.

“All the power is coming from the balls of your feet and it felt like I could really generate a lot of power in the skates and get the explosion I need to quickly come out of corners,” said Stewart, who was drafted in the fourth round of the 2004 NHL draft by the Canadiens. “I feel that coming fast out of the corners will break or make you; and it gives you that crucial extra step over the competition. So I definitely feel that using skates with this Bladetech technology will provide a great advantage."

The skates may also appeal to older recreational players who are more susceptible to injury. He expects it to be the best injury prevention skate on the market, making it ideal for children and teenaged hockey players as well.

Development of the technology has continued since Azzolin graduated in June but a $60,000 Scientists and Engineers in Business fellowship has given it a jumpstart toward product testing and launching Bladetech Hockey Inc. The fellowship is a University of Waterloo program supported by the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to promising entrepreneurs who want to commercialize their innovations and start high-tech businesses.

Azzolin expects to complete product testing by the end of the year and hopes to see Bladetech skates available to the public in the spring of 2014.

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Move-in Engagement Project cheers success

by Sabrina Hutchison, Housing and Residences.

The fourth annual Move-In Engagement Project occurred on Sunday, September 1 and Monday, September 2 this year – and what a success it was! Almost 60 volunteers came out to welcome new uWaterloo students and their families to our community, and move their belongings into their new homes in residence. Both days were wrapped up with a Family Send-Off that all could attend.

The call for volunteers went out to faculty, staff, senior administration, and executive council, which resulted in a diverse range of volunteers. Deans, lecturers, directors, provosts, managers, career advisors, counselors, and other students all came out to help. Feridun volunteered on Sunday and showed the uWaterloo spirit while engaging with parents and students on a personal level. The volunteers were stationed at all Waterloo Residence communities over the two days.

The department of Housing and Residences was thrilled to see the enthusiasm from the uWaterloo community to welcome its newest members, and to see the Move-In Engagement Project continue to grow and flourish. We think the personal touch of the interactions that occurred are appreciated and valued by the students, families, and volunteers alike. We would like to extend a huge thank you to everyone who volunteered their time to be a part of this project – we hope to see you all back next year!

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Thursday's notes

AHSSIE, the official mascot of the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, is pictured above with members of the university's Marketing & Undergraduate Recruitment department while on a mail run (or hop, if you prefer), with letters stashed in his handy pouch.

Welcome Week continues today with the annual President's BBQ in the Student Life Centre's courtyard from noon to 1:30 p.m. President and Vice-Chancellor Feridun Hamdullahpur and other members of the university's senior leadership will be donning aprons and wielding flippers as they serve up some grilled goodies.

As if the barbecue wasn't meaty enough for you, the Bombshelter will be hosting an all-you-can-eat pig roast from 2:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Entry to this all-ages event costs $3 in advance and $5 at the door.

The Bombshelter will also feature Trivia Night and Karaoke starting at 8:00 p.m. (19+).

The Registrar's Office is reporting that the last day to add online classes is tomorrow - Friday, September 13. The last day for students to add on-campus courses will be next Friday, September 20.

The Fall United Way Bingo Bonanza Engineering Extravaganza gets underway on Monday, September 16. The way it works is as follows: you can purchase bingo cards that come in three colours (yellow, green, and pink), with each colour being used for a round of bingo, which will last for approximately three weeks, with 6 numbers drawn each day. Full rules are available online. Beginning on Monday, numbers will be drawn and emailed to the game's players until one person has a full card. Draws will be published online. Cards cost $3 each, or 3 for $6. The prize will be split with 60 per cent going to the United Way and 40 per cent to the winner.

For more information, contact Karen Dubois at extension 32447.

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