Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
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Inaugural Black Film Festival hailed as a resounding success
Left to right: Dr. Christopher Taylor (Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism), Nolan O'Cane (Princess Cinema), Ola Idris (Community Engagement Manager), John Tutt (owner, Princess Cinema), Jennisha Wilson (Director, Anti-Racism), Yasmin Wallace and Stephanie Steph (anti-racism project coordinators).
By Tracelyn Cornelius.
ճEquity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism (EDI-RO) officeteamed up with the(ݮƵ Region chapter) andto host the inaugural Black at ݮƵ: Black Film Festival in March. The purpose of the festival is to expose the ݮƵ Region to the diversity of Black cinematography and to highlight opportunities in the Black Canadian film industry to Black youth. In an effort to reduce barriers to youth participation in the film festival, organizers provided complimentary tickets to high school students in the region, who were desirous of attending and discounted tickets to university students.
“The Black Film Festival was an excellent opportunity for the University of ݮƵ to demonstrate its commitment to community engagement and outreach, particularly with Black youth in the ݮƵ Region,” said Dr. Christopher S. Taylor, associate vice-president, EDI-RO. “What started as a conversation between the Congress of Black Women and EDI-RO, grew to become the region's first Black Film Festival. I am proud to see that our office can support different ways of knowing and expose youth to Black-centred knowledge, culture and thought, that extends beyond our campuses.”
Left to right: Deanna Calford (Member, Congress of Black Women), Dr. Christopher Taylor (Associate Vice-President, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion and Anti-Racism), Dorothy McCabe (Mayor, ݮƵ), Ola Idris (Community Engagement Manager), Marcia Smellie (President, Congress of Black Women).
In addition to the students, youth and seniors attending the Black Film Festival, several leaders from the region, such as MP Mike Morrice, MPP Laura Mae Lindo and Mayor Dorothy McCabe supported the event.
“It was a palpable experience,” said Marcia Smellie, president of the Congress of Black Women, ݮƵ Chapter. “You could see it in the impact on the people who attended as they exited the theatre. They were excited and would share that the Film Festival should have been happening for years, adding that they can’t wait for the next one.”
The festival opened on Wednesday, March 15, 2023 with two short documentaries:, an exploration of Black Canadian filmmaking by emerging filmmakers Christian Anderson and Ajahnis Charley and a rare screening of, a 1997 documentary that looks at the experiences of escaped political prisoner Assata Shakur in Cuba and unique Afro-Cuban practices.
There were also screenings of the debut film of Black Canadian director,which tells the story of a young Jamal who must deal with leaving Jamaica to immigrate to Canada.
As a palette cleanser between the Canadian features, organizers featured the Academy Award-winning documentary from director Questlove (from The Roots), a historical key feature of the 1969 Harlem Cultural Festival with never-before-seen footage of greats such as Nina Simone, Mahalia Jackson and a 19-year-old Stevie Wonder.
As an ode to Black Canadian cinema, organizers closed out the festival with screenings of, a tribute to Black masculinity, family and growing up in Scarborough, by renowned Black Canadian director
The Black Film Festival created and celebrated community, shared learning and a love for the cinematic arts. The Congress of Black Women are hopeful of future successful collaborations in 2024, and beyond.
ݮƵ Staff Conference: meet the 2023 Keynotes
A message fromOrganizational and Human Development (OHD).
The countdown is on! In just one week, theݮƵ Staff Conference(April 11 and 12, 2023) will kick off, ushering in two days of award-winning keynotes, engaging workshops, and opportunities to connect with campus colleagues. We invite you to explore the inspiring professional and personal development sessions that are still open for
Meet the 2023 Keynotes
Neil Pasricha: The Science of Positive Growth Mindset
A Harvard MBA,New York Timesbestselling author, award-winning blogger, and one of the most popular TED speakers in the world,Neil Pasrichais “a pied piper of happiness” who dazzles audiences with ideas that skyrocket happiness into the stratosphere. With infectious enthusiasm, heartfelt authenticity, and a “what works” authority, Pasricha draws on the latest research in happiness to increase individual performance and create a more positive and productive workplace.
Neil will open the conference at Hagey Hall on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 8:45 a.m.Register today!
Christine Robinson & Kris MacQueen: Interactive Keynote with Juice Inc
For over a decade, Christine Robinson has led organizational development and HR leadership teams committed to transforming and humanizing workplace culture. She believes that humanity in workplace design is our most important pursuit.
Kris MacQueen is a seasoned facilitator and experienced people leader. He has extensive experience building and managing diverse teams in both brick-and-mortar establishments and nationwide remote teams.
With Juice Inc, Christine and Kris will host an interactive keynote,that looks at innovation and how your ideas can shape the future at ݮƵ!
Register herefor this interactive session on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 10:30 a.m
President Vivek Goel: President's Forum - ݮƵ at 100 Vision
We are excited to include a special feature session of the President’s Forum: ݮƵ at 100 Vision.Join President Goel as he shares ݮƵ’s vision and guiding principles, discusses the differentiators enabling success into the future, reviews the Global Futures, and shares forecasted areas of focus for our University’s 100thanniversary.
President Vivek Goel will take the stage on Tuesday, April 11, 2023, at 1:15 p.m.Register for his session here.
Cassie Holmes: Happier Hour
Based on her wildly popular MBA class at UCLA, Professor Cassie Holmeswill share how to immediately improve your life by changing how you perceive and invest your time. Through her groundbreaking research, Cassie will teach you how small changes can have an enormous impact—helping you feel less overwhelmed, more present, and happier in your life overall—things that money can’t buy. It all starts by transforming just one hour into a happier hour.
Cassie will close this year’s conference on Wednesday, April 12, 2023, at 2:30 p.m.Register today!
For more information, check out the ݮƵ Staff Conferenceagendaand theknow before you gopage.
AI in health care challenges us to define what better, people-centred care looks like
By Catherine Burns. This article wasoriginally published on ݮƵ News.
From faster and more accurate disease diagnosis to models of using health care resources more efficiently, AI promises a new frontier of effective and efficient health care. If it’s done right, AI may allow for more people-centred care and for clinicians to spend more time with people, doing the work they enjoy most. But to achieve these aspirations, foundational work must occur in how we operate today and in defining what health care looks like in the future.
AI technologies are only as reliable as the data that drives them. To unlock the power of AI, it requires us to become better at sharing health data between primary care providers, specialists, hospitals, research universities, health companies and patients to develop reliable and accurate models. Without this data, AI technologies may make mistakes, generate inappropriate solutions and encourage inappropriate trust in their answers.
Our health data will also need to be better quality. Issues with noisy sensors, incomplete documentation and different data types must be solved. Health data will have to travel across individual health journeys through multiple providers to avoid reaching solutions that are limited in time and context. In some cases, AI solutions are being developed from clinical trial data. Clinical trial data sets are well known to exclude participants of certain ages, demographics or with multiple morbidities.
Our community and small hospitals can be a solution to this, and they need a louder voice in the health care conversation. More Canadians visit community hospitals than academic hospitals, so their data and experience must be part of the solution. Our small hospitals provide many services to our remote and often underserved communities. For this reason, the voices of those working in our remote communities are critically important at this time, where they are overworked and under-resourced. AI must be designed with a goal of promoting greater access and equity in health care. This means AI must be designed to support equity, be broadly inclusive and be designed to partner with our communities.
We need to understand what it means to have successful health care. Without understanding what a high-performance health-care system looks like, technologies will not be developed to align for effective solutions. We must define the right metrics to get the right results. Do we want to reduce the cost of surgery? Or do we want to reduce the likelihood of follow-up surgery years later? Those goals may have different solutions.
Similarly, do we believe strongly in growing towards a coordinated and shared health care vision? If we do, and I hope we do, AI must be people-centred and designed from an interprofessional lens. It means we must learn and teach each other more about practices of care, outcomes, technology, decision-making and quality of life.
AI learns from our data, so we must provide the proper foundation. Our next generation of AI designers will design their technologies for the problems we tell them are important. We need to define what those problems are and what success would mean.
IST's winter 2023 newsletter now available
A message from Information Systems & Technology (IST)
ճ. There are several new, exciting projects underway that we’re excited to share with you. We're actioning the IT Review recommendations, sharing an update on our LMS Review consultation findings, discussing Vice Society ransomware attacks, and introducing new work including our asset management initiative, the JSM usability project, the IT services for researchers’ initiative, and an intranet project.
Jump over to Sway to learn more about what we've been up to.
Link of the day
When and Where to get support
Studentscan visit theStudent Success Officeonline for supports including academic development, international student resources, immigration consulting,leadership development, exchange and study abroad, and opportunities to get involved.
Instructorslooking for targeted support for developing online components for blended learning courses, transitioning remote to fully online courses, revising current online courses, and more please visitAgile Development | Centre for Extended Learning | University of ݮƵ (uwaterloo.ca).
Faculty, staff, post-doc and graduate student instructorscan find upcoming teaching and learning workshops, self-directed modules and recordings of previous events onCentre for Teaching Excellence Workshops and Events page.
Instructors can access theEdTech Hubto find support on ݮƵ’s centrally supported EdTech tools. The Hub is supported by members ofIST’sInstructional Technologies and Media Services,Centre for Teaching Excellence,Centre for Extended Learningandsubject matter expertsfrom other campus areas.
Supports are available foremployeesreturning to campus. Visitandworkplace protocolsto assist with the transition.
Studentswith permanent, temporary and suspected disabilities and disabling conditions (medical conditions, injuries, or trauma from discrimination, violence, or oppression) can register withAccessAbility Servicesfor academic accommodations (classroom accommodations, testing accommodations, milestone accommodations).
Instructorscan visit AccessAbility Services'Faculty and Staff web pagefor information about the Instructor/Faculty role in the accommodation process. Instructors/Faculty members are legally required to accommodate students with disabilities. AccessAbility Services (AAS) is here to help you understand your obligations, and to offer services and resources to help you facilitate accommodations.
Did you know that theWriting and Communication Centreoffers manyin-person and virtualservices to supportyouwithanywriting or communication project? This term we've addedThe Write Spot: a new student space in South Campus hall, complete with bookable workspaces, drop-ins with our peer tutors, and free coffee and tea. We also havewith our writing and communication advisors and peer tutors,email tutoringfor grads and undergrads,,,,, and even. For any communication project, the Writing and Communication Centre is here to support you.
Research Ethics:Find yourself with an ethical question, unsure if your work requires an ethics review, or need advice about putting together a research ethics application? Reach out to one of our friendly staff bybooking a consultationoremailus with your questions.
Co-op studentscanget help finding a joband find supports to successfully work remotely, develop new skills, access wellness and career information, and contact a co-op or career advisor.
The Centre for Career Action (CCA)hasservices and programstosupport undergrads, grad students, postdocs, alumni, and employees in figuring out what they value, what they’re good at, and how to access meaningful work, co-op, volunteer, or graduate/professional school opportunities. Questions about CCA's services?, call 519-888-4047, or stop by our front desk in the Tatham Centre 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.,Monday to Friday.
Drop-in to in-personon Thursdays from5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in DC and DP. Join a Peer Success Coach to set goals and work independently or in groups each week.
Renison's English Language Institutecontinues to offervirtual events and workshopsto help students practice their English language skills.
If you feel overwhelmed or anxious and need to talk to somebody, please contact theUniversity’s Campus Wellness services, eitherHealth Servicesor Counselling Services. You can also contact the University'sCentre for Mental Health Research and Treatment.Good2Talkis a post-secondary student helplineavailable to all students.
The Libraryis here to help, both in person and online. Our spaces are open for access to book stacks, study spaces, computers/printers, and the IST Help Desk. For in-depth support, meet one-to-one with Librarians, Special Collections & Archives and Geospatial Centre staff. Visit theto access our online resources for anywhere, anytime learning and research.
ճFaculty Association of the University of ݮƵ (FAUW)continues to advocate for its members.for more information.
ճUniversity of ݮƵ Staff Association (UWSA)continues to advocate for its members.Check out the UWSA blogfor more information.
The Office of Equity, Diversity, Inclusion & Anti-racism (EDI-R)works with students, faculty and staff across campus to advance equity and anti-racism through evidence-based policies, practices and programs.If you have a concern related to anti-racism and/or equity, please complete ourintake form.
The Sexual Violence Prevention and Response Office (SVPRO)supports all members ofthe University of ݮƵcampuscommunitywho have experienced, or been impacted, by sexual violence.This includes all students, staff,facultyand visitorsonthemain campus, the satellite campuses, and at the affiliated and federated ݮƵ Institutes and Colleges.For support, email:svpro@uwaterloo.caor visit theSVPRO website.
ճOffice of Indigenous Relationsis a central hub that provides guidance, support, and resources to all Indigenous and non-Indigenous campus community members and oversees the University's Indigenization strategy.
ճݮƵ Indigenous Student Centre, based at United College,provides support and resources for Indigenous students, and educational outreach programs for the broader community, including lectures, and events.
WUSAsupports for students:
Peer support -,,,-Click on one of the linksto book an appointment either in person or online for the term.
food hampersare currently available from the Turnkey Desk 24/7 in the ݮƵ Centre. Drop-off locations are also open again in SLC, DC, DP, SCH, and all residences.
all available online.
-CAPS is here to assistݮƵ undergraduates throughout their experience in navigating academic policy in the instances of filing petitions, grievances and appeals. Please contact them atcaps@wusa.ca.
-Seeking legal counsel can be intimidating, especially if it’s your first time facing a legal issue.The legal assistance helpline provides quick access to legal advice in any area of law, including criminal. Just call1-833-202-4571.
is a confidential mental health and wellness service that connects students with qualified counsellors 24/7. They can be reached at1-833-628-5589.
GSA-UW supports for graduate students:
ճsupports students’ academic and social experience and promotes their well-being.
Advising and Support-experiencing challenges and can help with navigating university policies & filing a grievance, appeal, or petition.
Mental Health covered by the Health Plan- ճnow has an 80 per centcoverage rate (up to $800/year) for. Your plan includes coverage for psychologists, registered social workers, psychotherapists, and clinical counselors.
Dental Care- ճcovers 60to 70 per centof your dental costs and by visiting dental professionals who are members of the, you can receive an additional 20to 30 per centcoverage.
Student Legal Protection Program- Your GSA fees give you, accessible via a toll-free helpline: +1-833-202-4571. This advice covers topics including housing disputes, employment disputes, and disputes with an academic institution.
The Graduate House: Open Monday to Tuesday 11:30 a.m. to7:00 p.m. and Wednesday to Friday 11:30 a.m. to9:00 p.m.We’re open to all students, faculty, staff, and community members. ճis a community space run by the GSA-UW. We’re adding new items to the menu.Graduate students who paid their fees can get discounts and free coffee.
When and Where
Fitness andPersonal Training -Registrations opened January 5this winter withandas well as a.
Spring and Summer camps available for Boys and Girls ages 5-18. Baseball, Basketball, Football, Volleyball, Hockey and Multi-Sport and Games..
Student Health Pharmacyin the basement of the ݮƵ Centre is now offering Covidbooster shots (Pfizer and Moderna)and flu shots. Call 519-746-4500 or extension 33784 for an appointment. Walk-ins always welcome.
Instrumental Chamber Ensembles, Monday, April 3, 7:30 p.m., Conrad Grebel University College chapel. Free admission, reception to follow.
Karlsruhe Institute of Technology (KIT) presentationby Dr. Klaus Rümmele, Tuesday, April 4, 10:00 a.m., EC5 – GEDI Boardroom.
Board of Governors meeting, Tuesday, April 4, 1:30 p.m., NH 3407.
Getting out of the garage, Tuesday, April 4, 4:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.
Continuous Improvement and Change Management Community of PracticeProcess Mapping Session, Wednesday, April 5,1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.
UW A Cappella Club End of Term Concert Winter 2023, Wednesday, April 5, 7:30 p.m., Theatre of the Arts.
NEW -Good Friday holiday, Friday, April 7, most University buildings and operations closed.
NEW - Lectures and classes end, Monday, April 10.
NEW -ݮƵ Staff Conference, Tuesday, April 11 and Wednesday, April 12.
NEW -President’s Forum: ݮƵ at 100, Tuesday, April 11, 1:15 p.m. to 2:15 p.m., Humanities Theatre.Staff registration.