Tom Jenkins will be Waterloo's next chancellor

The University of Waterloo has appointed Tom Jenkins, chair of OpenText Corporation and a noted Canadian technology leader, as the institution’s 10^th chancellor.

Jenkins, 54, who served as president and chief executive Officer of OpenText from 1994 to 2005, succeeds Prem Watsa, chair of Fairfax Holdings.

As CEO of OpenText, Jenkins took the company from a University of Waterloo startup company to the first Internet IPO in Canada, and only the third Internet IPO on the NASDAQ in the United States.

“Tom Jenkins has enjoyed an enviable career as a leading innovator and business leader that many students here at Waterloo can aspire to and can learn from,” said Feridun Hamdullahpur, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “I can think of few people who embody the innovative and entrepreneurial spirit of this university to the extent that Tom does. Tom has taken a keen interest in the future of Canada through our students and I am delighted to welcome him as chancellor.”

Prem Watsa will step down from the role of chancellor after six years in the position. Jenkins’ term as chancellor begins May 1, 2015.

“As chancellor, Prem Watsa has seen this university advance through an exciting period of growth and change,” said Hamdullahpur. “Prem is a business leader, a community builder and a strong supporter of Waterloo. I thank him for the advice, support and guidance he has provided to me and for his deep care for the students at Waterloo over the last six years.”

Elected by the University’s Senate to a three-year term, the chancellor presides over convocation ceremonies, conferring degrees, diplomas and certificates on graduating students. He also serves as a leading ambassador for the University.

Jenkins has been active for more than 30 years in innovation and economic development in both the private and public sectors in Canada.  He is also a member of the board of Thomson Reuters Inc. and of TransAlta Corporation , a director of the C.D. Howe Institute, appointed member of the National Research Council of Canada and director of the Canadian Council of Chief Executives.

Prior to his work in the private sector, Mr. Jenkins served as a commissioned officer in the Canadian Forces Reserve and currently serves as honorary colonel of the Royal Highland Fusiliers of Canada (RHFC), a reserve infantry regiment in the Waterloo Region. Mr. Jenkins is a member of the board of the Canadian Forces Staff

College Trust in Toronto.

Mr. Jenkins holds an Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the Schulich School of Business at York University, an Master of Applied Science (MASc) in electrical engineering from the University of Toronto and a Bachelor of Engineering and Management (BEng. & Mgt) in engineering physics and commerce from McMaster University. Mr. Jenkins also received an honorary doctorate of laws (LLD) from the University of Waterloo and an honorary doctorate of philosophy (PhD) in military science from the Canadian Forces College (Royal Military College).

Mr. Jenkins was appointed an Officer of the Order of Canada (OC) in 2011 for his contributions to education and innovation in Canada and the Canadian Forces Decoration (CD) in 2013.

Past chancellors of the University of Waterloo include Mike Lazaridis, co-founder of Research In Motion (now BlackBerry) and Valentine O’Donovan, founder of COM DEV Intl.

 

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Doors Open explores common threads

The doors of three University of Waterloo buildings will be among those thrown open on Saturday for Doors Open Waterloo Region, which will be taking place at 41 locations across the region on Saturday, September 20.

Doors Open Waterloo Region is a free heritage and architecture tour of special, occasionally "secret" places in the region, held on the third Saturday in September every year. The theme for this, the 12th edition of the event, is "Common Threads."

"The theme Common Threads is inspired by the participation of the University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge, housed in the former Riverside Silk Mill," says a statement from the event organizers. "Ten years ago the school transformed the old textile mill into its new home. The image of threads connecting different parts of a fabric suggests the way in which the stories of many of this year’s DOWR sites are related to one another."

Waterloo's participating buildings are described in the Doors Open tour guide as follows:

University of Waterloo School of Architecture in Cambridge (the former Riverside Silk Mill)
Architect: Levitt Goodman Architects, Toronto (2004)
Year Built: 1919-1938; renovated 2004

The last industrial plant built on the Grand River in Galt, Riverside Silk Mill had large open spaces flooded with natural light. Its industrial atmosphere, spacious interior, and spectacular town and river views were preserved and enhanced in its School of Architecture transformation. As the School celebrates ten years at this location, the on-site Cambridge Galleries/Design at Riverside exhibit Ex Industria – part of the region-wide 2014 program Building Waterloo Region – will examine our area’s industrial architecture.

University of Waterloo School of Optometry and Vision Science
Architect: Rounthwaite Dick and Hadley Architects, Toronto
Year Built: 1974; 1995; 2009

Learn all about human vision and the eye by visiting Canada’s only English language optometry program, including stops at the TLC Laser Eye Centre, the Centre for Contact Lens Research, the Centre for Sight Enhancement, and Optical Services. The original 100,000 sq. ft. building was designed with few windows for light control in clinic and research areas. To compensate, curved reflectors direct daylight from roof windows downward into spacious vestibules.

The 2009 addition includes a roof opening, or oculus, as an optical reference and connection to the buildings of antiquity.

University of Waterloo School of Pharmacy

Architect: Siamak Hariri, Hariri Pontarini Architects, Toronto
Year Built: 2009

Distinctive for its colourful curtain wall featuring images of medicinal plants, the School of Pharmacy represents a unique investment in downtown renewal.

This building optimizes natural light and uses organic materials such as wood and stone to create a welcoming environment for students, staff and the community.

Winner of the Ontario Association of Architects Design Excellence Award, the building is a striking architectural landmark in Kitchener.

Most of the participating sites included in this year's edition of the tour will be open from 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. A full list of sites is available on the Doors Open Waterloo Region website.

 

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Student Teams to host open house

There will be a Student Team Open House on Wednesday, , September 17 in the Sedra Student Design Centre in Engineering 5 starting at 3:00 p.m.

Whether you like working with your hands or you are more computer-savvy, if you have a creative imagination or prefer to work with people or numbers, if you want to make some new friends while joining one of the innovative student design teams, then this open house is for you.

Students from all six faculties are invited to participate in the design and construction of projects, attend local and international competitions and trade shows, and gain valuable experience in business, communications, marking, accounting, and fundraising, and this open house is a great way to break the ice and step out of your comfort zone.

Refreshments will be provided.

 

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Tuesday's notes

The latest Strategic Plan Mini Town Hall focused on the vibrant student experience theme will take place today from 11:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. in the Student Life Centre's Great Hall. Members of the Vibrant Student Experience working group will be on hand to report on their progress and answer questions from the audience. The event will be webcast.

The Secretariat & Office of General Counsel has issued a call for nominations for a pair of vacant Senate seats.

Nominations are requested for the following seats on Senate:

• One faculty member to be elected by/from the members of faculty in the Faculty of Applied Health Sciences, term to 30 April 2016 –
• One undergraduate student to be elected by/from the full-time undergraduate students in the Faculty of Mathematics, term to 30 April 2015 –

At least five nominators are required for the faculty seat and 25 nominators for the undergraduate student seat.

Completed nomination forms should be submitted to the Chief Returning Officer, Secretariat & Office of General Counsel, Needles Hall, Room 3060, no later than 3:00 p.m., Monday, September 29. 

The University of Waterloo Retirees Association’s Annual Fall Reception will be held on Thursday, September 25 from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m. in the University Club.

 

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