Editor:
Brandon Sweet
University Communications
bulletin@uwaterloo.ca
It's (almost) the most wonderful time of the year
Here we are at the end of what seemed like a very longyear for the University. The examination period is complete, most students are going home for the holidays, and campus is about to settle in for a long winter's nap to close out 2023.
For employees on the monthly pay cycle,today is payday, which should come in handy for those of us doing last-minute Christmas shopping. Employees on the biweekly pay schedule were paid on Thursday, December 21.For a sneak peak at 2024's pay dates, whether you're paid biweekly or monthly,check out the Human Resources website.
Central Storeswill provide normal delivery/pickup services for all departments today from7:30 a.m. to 4:00 p.m.
ѴDzPrint + Retail Operations locationsare having a normal one today, thoughW Store Essentialsin Mathematics & Computer is closed.
ճECEC children’s programcloses today at 11:30 a.m.
2025 ݮƵ operationsare mostly shuttered, withBrubaker's, DC Bytes, The Market at UWP, Browser's, CEIT Café, Chatime,Ev3rgreen Café, Eye Opener Café, H3 Café, Jugo Juice-CIF, Jugo Juice-SLC, Liquid Assets Café, ML's Diner, Mudie's, REVelation, Rolltation HLTH, Southside Marketplace, Starbucks HLTH,the University Club, Tim Hortons - ML, andTim Hortons - EC5already closed for the holiday break today.
What's open today, you might ask?Starbucks STCis open from 8:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.,Tim Hortons DCis open 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m., Tim Hortons SLC is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., and Tim Hortons SCH is open from 7:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.
䲹ܲ±Աwill close today at4:00 p.m.to Monday, January1, 2024. During the break,䲹ܲ±Աphones and emails will not be monitored and documents will not be processed.
Athletics facilitieswill close at 4:00 p.m. today.
IST's physical servicedesksin Dana Porter, Davis Centre, and Village 1, will close at 4:30 p.m. today. "We will be available virtually via live chat, phone and email from 4:30 p.m. to8:30 p.m.," says a note from IST.
Special Constable Serviceswill begin locking up campus buildings at4:30 p.m. today. Buildings with electronic locks will be similarly shuttered. Acting Director of Special Constable Services Mike Becks would like to remind the campus community thatall buildings will be locked during the holiday break.
ճCIBC in the SLC basementwill be open till 5:00 p.m. today.
Front Desks at MKV, REV, UWP and V1are open until5:00 p.m. on Friday December 22. ճCLV Front Deskwill remain open until8:00 p.m.on December 22.
The Safety Office already sent out itsDecember Holiday Laboratory Shutdown Memo(PDF)to faculty health and safety coordinators for distribution to all lab users last week. Due to winter weather conditions, utilities (especially electricity) may be affected. It is a general rule that all laboratory processes be designed to safely survive a service failure. Please review the memo for more information and contact theSafety Officewith any questions.
In the event that youhave a lab incident, the Safety Office asks that you report failures of equipment or physical plant to Plant Operations at x33793. Contact the Safety Office or UW Spill Team through Special Constable Services at 519-888-4911 or x22222 if you have concerns relating to hazardous materials spills.
"This is just a reminder that if you are leaving your office/residence unattended over the holiday season,take your valuables with you and ensure that all doors and windows are locked and secured prior to leaving for the break," says a note fromSpecial Constable Services. "The University of ݮƵ Special Constable Service will continue patrols of the campus over the holiday shutdown period and can be contacted at phone number (519) 888-4911 or email addressuw-special-constable-service@uwaterloo.ca."
What's open and closed on campus over the holidays
ݮƵ's campuses will be closed down from Saturday, December 23to Monday, January 1, 2024, with operations resuming on Tuesday, January 2, 2024. The co-op term begins on Monday, January 8, 2024, with winter term classes and lectures also set to begin on Monday, January 8, 2024. Until then, here's what's going on, or in most cases, what's not going on:
ճSchool of Architecture,theSchool ofPharmacy,and theStratfordSchool of Interaction Design and Businesswill follow the maincampus's holiday shutdown.
The Centrein Needles Hall isclosed from 4:30 p.m. onDecember 22 to 8:30 a.m. on January 2, 2024. "Documents will not be processed, phones and emails will not be monitored, and in-person servicewill not be available during this time," says a note from the Centre. "Have a safe and happy holiday!"
Athletics facilitieswill be closed from December 23 to January 1, 2024 inclusive.
Library facilitieswill be closed beginning Saturday, December 23through to January 1, 2024.Special Collections & Archiveswill be closed for on-site appointments until January 8, 2024. "Contactarchives@uwaterloo.cafor virtual reference and research support before and after the University’s winter break closure," says a note from SCA.
IST Service Deskswill be closed from Saturday December 23 toMonday, January 1, 2024 inclusive.
W Storein South Campus Hall andW Printin the General Services Complex will be closed from December 23 to January 1, 2024, reopening January 2, 2024.W Store Essentialsin Mathematics & Computer will be closed from December 22to January 5, 2024.
During the winter break, the CLV front desk will be open onDecember 29andDecember 31from9:00 a.m. to2:00 p.m.Regular CLV Front Desk hours will resume in the winter 2024 term at8:00 a.m. on January 1, 2024.
Snow removal on the main campus over the holiday period will be limited, according toGiovanna Zinken, Director of Campus Services, within Plant Operations. "Grounds staff willrespond to snow eventswhen deemed necessary," is the official word, priority areas such as the ring road take precedent and Grounds staff will be on call to do winter maintenance of emergency routes on campus when requested by either Special ConstableServices or Central Plant.”
Plant Operations requests that pedestrians and campus travelersobserve the signs marked on trails and other travel paths around the campus stating that there is no winter maintenanceand that all use is at their own risk.
All parking lots will be open and free throughout the holidays, except for lot D under Needles Hall and the Early Childhood Education Centre (ECEC) lot at the Psychology, Anthropology, and Sociology (PAS) building. Gates to the lots around campus are raised and open.
A major exception to the campus shutdown is theݮƵ Centre. ScottPearson, Facility Operations and Membership Manager of the SLC, writes that the building will be open throughout the holiday season, as always. ճTurnkey Desk(519-888-4434) “will be staffed 24 hour a day with friendly Turnkeys to provide assistance to those who stay on campus,” saysPearson. The exception to the exception of course, is theTurnkey location in the Davis Centre, which will reopen after extended renovations on Wednesday January 10, 2024.
"Only the Ring Road and Turnkey doors will be open during the holiday shutdown, however the building is open for student use," Pearson says. "All other entrances will be exit-only."
Most of the SLC's businesses will shut down entirely throughout the break including Lifetouch Photography, Tim Hortons, Brubakers, Flock Stop, Student Health Pharmacy and SOS Physiotherapy.
ճCIBC branch in the SLCwill beopen on December 27, 28, and 29, for regular hours (9:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) The branch is closed on December 24, 25, 26 and January 1, 2024. Regular hours will return on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
GO Transitwill continue to service campus throughout the shutdown. Full ticketing and travel information is online or available at the Turnkey Desk. GO Transit will operate on a Saturday schedule on December 25, 26 andJanuary 1, 2024.Service is free on the entire GO Transit system starting at 7:00p.m. on December 31until service ends for the day.No ticket is required.
Grand River Transitwill continue to service campus throughout the shutdown.For specific holiday schedules please.
What to expect as we look ahead to 2024
With the winter term not kicking off until Monday, January 8, 2024, there will be a few more quiet days as employees return to campus in January for a short week that begins Tuesday, January 2, 2024:
Winter 2024 move-infor undergraduate students will begin at noon on January 2, 2024, and end on January 8, 2024. Graduate students can move into CLV as of 8:00 a.m. on January 1, 2024.
Front Desks at MKV, REV, UWP and V1will re-open on Tuesday January 2, 2024, at 8:00 a.m.and will resume regular business hours.
- The Front Desks at REV, UWP and V1 are open 24/7.
- The Front Desks at CLV and MKV are open 8:00 a.m. - midnight, daily.
Campus Wellnesswill open at 8:30 a.m. on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Athletics facilitieswill reopen on Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
2025 ݮƵ operationswill open in stages, with Starbucks STC, Tim Hortons SLC, and Tim Hortons SCH all opening for limited hours on January 2, 2024 through January 5, 2024. Tim Hortons DC is also back to it on January 2, 2024.Mudie's in Village 1 re-opens on January 3, 2024. The Market at UWP is closed until January 4, 2024, reopening January 5. The remaining 2025 ݮƵ locations will reopen on Monday, January 8, 2024.
IST will re-open all service deskson Tuesday January 2, starting at8:30 a.m. ճV1 service deskwill be open physically from 8:30 a.m. to 8:30 p.m. beginning January 2, 2024, according to a note from IST.
ճLibrarywill be operating under intersession hours from January 2 to January 7, 2024 as follows:
- Dana Porter and Davis Centre:Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.;
- Chat With Us: Monday to Thursday, 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday - not available;
- Email Us: Monday to Friday, 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m., Saturday and Sunday, 11:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.
For full details.
From January 2 to January 5, 2024,IST's physical service desksin Dana Porter and Davis Centre will be open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., and virtually available from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. On January 6 and 7, 2024, the physical service desks in DP and DC will be open from 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., and virtually available from 4:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
ճECEC children's programwill re-open on Monday, January 8, 2024 with regular hours.
ճDaily Bulletinwill return Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
Marking the passing of retirees and employees in 2023
A number of former ݮƵ staff and faculty members, as well as active employees, have died this past year, and here are notes about some of them who have not been previously noted in theDaily Bulletin.
Mike Mehta, who started at ݮƵ in January 1990 and retired in January 2015, died on December 31, 2022.
, who began working at the University in July 1971 and retired from the Geography department in July 1996, died on January 31, 2023.
, who joined the University in November 1969 and retired in April 2007 as Mechanic-Millwright in Plant Operations, died on February 2, 2023.
Dr. John Whiton,who began his academic career at ݮƵ in July 1969 and retired from Germanic and Slavic Studiesin July 1996, died on February 28, 2023.
, who started at the University in September 1972 and retired from 2025 ݮƵ in April 1986, died on April 1, 2023.
Eileen Neil, who began working at ݮƵ in November 1984 and retired from Finance in July 1994 died April 19, 2023.
, who joined the University in March 1969 and retired in April 1992, died on April 20, 2023.
,who started at ݮƵ in December 2000 and retired as Equipment Operator in Plant Operations in August 2016, died on April 22, 2023.
, who began working at ݮƵ in September 1978 and retired in September 1994 died on May 15, 2023.
Former faculty member in Electrical & Computer Engineering,who worked at the University from January 1998 to April 2020, died on May 16, 2023.
, who joined the University in September 1976 and retired in June 1996, died on June 21, 2023.
,who started at the University in December 1987 and retired as Service/Surplus Co-ordinator in Central Stores in January 2016, died on June 5, 2023.
, who started at the University in August 1990 and retired in June 1999 as Instructional Support Coordinator in Computer Science, died July 11, 2023.
Mary Schaefer, who joined the University in September 1979 and retired in September 1993, died on July 29, 2023.
who began working at ݮƵ in June 1987 and retired as Office Assistant at Ron Eydt Village in Campus Housing, died on August 4, 2023.
, who began working at ݮƵ in December 1966, died on August 12, 2023.
,who began working at the University in May 1981, and retired as a Custodian in Plant Operations in October 2009, died on August 15, 2023.
, who joined the University in February 1991 and retired as Custodian in Plant Operations in November 2007, died on September 10, 2023.
, who joined the University in January 1979, died on September 29, 2023
Ker-Ai Lee, who started working at ݮƵ in September 1997, most recently as a Statistical Programmer and research associate in Statistics and Actuarial Science, died on October 9, 2023.
, who worked in the Registrar’s Office before her retirement, died on December 17, 2023.
Thanking Daily Bulletin contributors
Throughout 2023, I have had the privilege of working with many talented people across campus and beyond who have written material for theDaily Bulletinand who have helped keep the campus community informed about life at the University of ݮƵ.
Here is 2023's honour roll:
Michelle Angkasa; Agata Antkiewicz; Heather Bean; Jean Becker; Amy Bender; Emily Brant; Jenna Braun; Catherine Burns; Brian Caldwell; Bruce Campbell; Sam Charles; Janice Cooke; Tracelyn Cornelius; Asia Dale; Charlotte Danby; David DeVidi; Fram Dinshaw; Angie Docking; Donald Duff-McCracken; Nenone Donaldson; Michael Dorr; Anna Esselment; Jordan Flemming; Claire Francis; Dana Francoeur; Vivek Goel; Naomi Grosman; Roan Haggar; Nancy Harper; Krista Henry; Michelle Hollis; Ellen Hou; Ryon Jones; Rachel Jou-ter Woort; Farah Jurdi; Matthew King; Alex Kinsella; George Labahn; Scott Leatherdale; Stephanie Longeway; Bernice Ma; Milana Madzarac; Fred W. Martin; RJ McArthur; Carolyn McCoey; Megan McGarry; Ashley Rose Mehlenbacher; Namish Modi; Neal Moogk-Soulis; William Muir; Kaitlin O’Brien; Jon Parsons; Joe Petrik; Wendy Philpott; Nicole Pin; Lata Punetha; Michelle Radman; Chris Read; Elizabeth Rogers; Melodie Roschman; Ian Rowlands; James W.E. Rush; Angelica Sanchez; Rose Simone; James Skidmore; Graeme Stewart; Christopher Taylor; Monika Terzic; Zoe Tipper; Sam Toman; Chantal Vallis; Ian VanderBurgh; Olivia Vanderwal; Valerie Vaz;Emma Vossen; Rebecca Wagner; Lauren Ward; Mary Wells; Melanie Will; Courtney Wilson; Jeff Wilson; Selah Woelk; Megan Vander Woude;and Christine Zaza.
My apologies if I have missed giving someone a byline. In addition, I would like to thank communications staff in the Faculties, departments, academic support units, committees, and other organizations who havecontributed material to theDaily Bulletinthis year without credit. I know who you are, and you know who you are, and you deserve thanks for your continued efforts to support the University.
I would also like to thank my podcast co-host Pamela Smyth for her incredible work on theBeyond the Bulletin Podcastthis year running the interviews and doing the behind-the-scenes production work, in other words, making us sound good!We switched things up in 2023 and went biweekly, publishing16 episodes this year.While I'm on the subject, a special thank-you to all our podcast guests in 2023for their insights andperspective. Here they are in reverse chronological order, with repeat appearances removed:
Marcus Shantz;Dr. Jenna Gilchrist; Dr.Suzanne Kearns;Mathew Thijssen;Jake Chateauneuf;Jeremiah Hyslop;Rastin Rassoli; Dr.Geoffrey Fong; Dr.Rebecca Rooney;Dr. Dillon Browne;Tracelyn Cornelius;Jess Roque; Dr.Charlie Clarke;Nasif Chowdhury; Dr.Ashley Mehlenbacher;Darrell Adams; and Jennisha Wilson.
As previously mentioned,Beyond the Bulletinwill be on hiatus in the first half of 2024 as the communications team tackles other priority projects. To celebrate, on Monday nightthe University Communications team suprised Pamela and me with a celebratory cake commemorating the first 166 episodes we produced from 2019 to 2023. Much like the podcast, it tasted as good as it looked. If you miss the podcast, check out our archives and give the episodes there a listen.
The Internal and Leadership Communications team is here to amplify the many voices on campus that contribute to the daily life of the University in print, online and on the Beyond the Bulletin Podcast. We wouldn't be able to do it without you. We look forward to continuing that tradition into the new year.
And so, as we close the book on 2023: athank-you to all, and to all a good night.
Links of the days
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When and Where
:Season Passes, Black and Gold Alumni Passes and Single Game Tickets now available for the 2023-24 varsity season.
Winter, March Break and PD Day camps available for boys and girls ages 5-18. Baseball, Basketball, Football and Multi-Sport and Games camps available.
ճStudent Health Pharmacy(located in the lower level of the ݮƵ Centre) is offering flu shots with no appointments needed daily from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Call519-746-4500 or extension 33784 for more info. COVID shots will be available beginning October 23.You can register online at.
Holiday lunch buffet, Monday, December 18, Tuesday, December 19, Thursday, December 21 and Friday, December 22, 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., Federation Hall. Book today by calling 519-888-4700 or emailing your request tocatering@uwaterloo.ca.
Fall co-operative work term ends, Friday, December 22.
University holiday closure, Saturday December 23 to Monday, January 1, 2024. Regular operations resume Tuesday, January 2, 2024.
,Thursday, January 4, 2024,4:00 p.m.
Warriors Men’s Hockey vs. Laurier,January 5, 2024, 7:00 p.m.,CIF Arena. Battle of ݮƵ,Think Pink in support of the Canadian Cancer Society..
Athletics presents,Monday, January 8 to Sunday, January14, 2024.Fitness Classes, Club sessions, Instructional sessions and more.
, Monday, January 8 to Friday, January 12, 2024.
Winter 2024 lectures and classes begin, Monday, January 8, 2024.
Co-operative work term begins,Monday, January 8, 2024.
MDEI Virtual Open House, Monday, January 8, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 11:30 a.m..
Athletics and Recreation Open House,Tuesday, January 9, 2024, 9:30 a.m. to2:00 p.m., SLC Great Hall. Stop by to find out how to get active and engaged with your fellow Warriors this term.
Liability for Environmental Harm to the Global Commons: Book launch and panel discussion, Wednesday, January 10, 2024, 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m., Zoom.
Warriors Basketball vs. Laurier,Wednesday,January 10, 2024 (W) 6:00 p.m.,(M) 8:00 p.m.,PAC.Battle of ݮƵ, RBC Three Point Thrills for Tuition Contest..
,Thursday, January 11, 2024, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., St. Bede's Chapel, Renison University College.
What is Self-Compassion and How Can We Use it?Thursday, January 11, 2024, 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m., Central Library branch, Kitchener.
Combining Two Cultures (C2C) 2024: Jack of All Trades,Friday, January 12 to Sunday, January 14, 2024.
Warriors Volleyball vs. York,Saturday,January 13, 2024, (W) 4:00 p.m.,(M) 6:00 p.m.,PAC. Think Pink in support of the Canadian Cancer Society..
, Monday,January 15, 2024, 1:00pm. Other programs are ongoing.
University Winter Holiday Project celebrates success
The University Winter Holiday Project (formerly the University Christmas Project), long run out of Co-operative and Experiential Education, sponsored over 400children in 225families across ݮƵ Region this year.
Departments, units or individuals across campus take on families to sponsor as part of the project. The projectget its list of children from Region of ݮƵ, Home Care Services.
If you would like to sponsor your own family either individually or with your co-workers next year please reach out toShannon Taylorin CEE.
When and Where to get support
Check out the support listings for faculty, staff and students.
Affiliated and Federated Institutions of ݮƵ closures
Please note that this information is subject to change.
Conrad Grebel University Collegewill be closed over the holidays.Grebel will be openJanuary 2, 2024 through January 5, 2024 from 8:30 a.m. to5:00 p.m.Regular hours will resume on January 8, 2024 (8:00 a.m. to 10:00 p.m.).
Renison University Collegeclosed as of noon on Thursday,December 21, 2023, and willre-open on Thursday, January 4, 2024.
St. Jerome's Universitywill be following the same holiday closures as the University of ݮƵ.
United Collegewill be closed from December 23toJanuary 2, 2024.
Upcoming utility shutdowns
Fire alarm testing, School of Architecture, Friday, December 22, 9:00 a.m.The fire alarm audibles will sound for approximately 1 minute and building evacuation is not required.
Fire alarm testing,Digital Media, Friday, December 22, 12 noon to 1:00 p.m.The fire alarm audibles will sound for approximately 1 minute and building evacuation is not required.
Hot and cold water shutdown, Needles Hall 2nd floor 2201 and 2069A, possibly the surrounding area, Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28. No domestic hot and cold water in sinks, etc.
Electrical shutdown, Needles Hall 1st and 2nd floors, Wednesday, December 27 and Thursday, December 28.No receptacle power for NH 1st and second floors.
Steam shutdown,Environment 1 (EV1), Environment 2 (EV2), and Environment 3 (EV3), Wednesday, December 27 to Friday, December 29.There will be no heating or hot water in the buildings at intermittent times throughout the duration of this shutdown.
DI water shutdown,Earth Sciences & Chemistry, 6:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m., January 2, 2024.The building will not have DI water during this time.
Fire alarm testing,Arts Lecture Hall, Hagey Hall Humanities, Psychology, Tatham Centre, Wednesday, January 3, 2024 between 7:30 a.m. and 8:15 a.m.The fire alarm audibles will sound for approximately 1 minute and building evacuation is not required.
Fire alarm testing,East Campus 1, East Campus 2, East Campus 3, Wednesday, January 3, 2024, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m.The fire alarm audibles will sound for approximately 1 minute and building evacuation is not required.
