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• The curtain rises on the Humanities Theatre's upgrades

• Reporting changes coming for Writing and Communication Centre

• Celebrating retirees from 2025's��second quarter

• Safety Office issues holiday lab shutdown notice

The curtain rises on the Humanities Theatre's upgrades

This is an excerpt of an article originally published on the Faculty of Arts website.

If you’ve attended a town hall, a major public lecture, your child’s dance competition, or taken PSYCH 101, you’re likely familiar with the Humanities Theatre in Hagey Hall. In 2021 the Faculty of Arts took over the management of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s main venue for large-scale events, which started with closing the theatre for extensive renovations to improve the experience for audiences, staff, students, and external rental groups.

Reporting changes coming for Writing and Communication Centre

As a result of the 2024-2025 review of the Associate Vice-President, Academic (AVPA) portfolio, the Writing and Communication Centre (WCC) will transition from the AVPA portfolio to that of the Associate Provost, Students effective January 1, 2026.

One of the review’s recommendations was to align and share services that support similar objectives to enhance effectiveness and increase efficiency. “During the review, the WCC was identified as a service that could transition from the AVPA portfolio to the Associate Provost, Students, as it provides support directly to students and its impact can be amplified through the other student services within the AP, Students portfolio,” wrote Dr. David DeVidi, Associate Vice-President, Academic and Chris Read, Associate Provost, Students in a memo circulated to Executive Council on December 10. “The Provost accepted this recommendation and directed us to develop a transition plan for the WCC.”

The Writing and Communication Centre was established as the Writing Clinic in 1976 and was later renamed the Writing Centre. Initially, the centre was affiliated with the Faculty of Arts and ran the English Language Proficiency exam as well as a program of lectures and tutorials for students, primarily focused on essay writing.

The Writing Centre became part of the Associate Vice-President, Learning Resources and Innovation’s portfolio until that position was eliminated in 2007, when the Associate Vice-President, Academic’s portfolio was expanded to include it and other units like the Centre for Teaching Excellence (CTE) and WatPort, a faculty attraction and retention program.

The Writing Centre was renamed the Writing and Communication Centre in 2017. The name change reflected its growth in size and programming that met increasingly diverse needs of students, postdocs, and faculty in a changing communications environment. The WCC’s programming includes coaching and support for a range of communication activities, from digital design to presentation skills and beyond.

“The proposed WCC transition plan was developed by the directors of the WCC and Student Success Office (SSO), and meets the goals outlined by the Provost,” the memo continues. “The plan has now been approved, and the WCC will transfer to the AP, Students on January 1, 2026.”

Celebrating retirees from 2025’s second quarter

Human Resources has reported that the following faculty and staff members have retired between April and June 2025:

April 2025

• Simon Courtenay, who started at ��ݮ��Ƶ on November 1, 2013, retired as a Professor in the��School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability;
• Jane Johnson, who joined the University on July 3, 2007, retired as Research Assistant in the School of Optometry and Vision Science’s CORE administration.

May 2025

• Juan Ulloa, who began working at the University on October 31, 2005, retired as Lab Assistant/Custodian in Mechanical and Mechatronics Engineering;
• Kimberly Dunne, who started at ��ݮ��Ƶ on January 18, 1999, retired as Graduate Recruitment and MSci Online Administrator in Management Sciences and Engineering;
• Valerie Wilson, who joined the University on March 31, 2003, retired as Co-op Advisor in Co-operative and Experiential Education; and
• Sheila Goodwin, who began working at ��ݮ��Ƶ on November 3, 2003, retired as Coordinator, External Services in Campus Housing.

June 2025

• Brian Forrest, who started at the University on September 1, 1989, retired as Professor in Pure Mathematics;
• Stephen Markan, who began working at ��ݮ��Ƶ on September 5, 1986, retired as Senior Computing Consultant in Information Systems and Technology (IST);
• Lorretta Brown, who started at the University on December 1, 2007, retired as Research Financial Analyst in the Office of Research;
• Carlos Radic, whose career at ��ݮ��Ƶ began on February 1, 2012, retired as Senior Mechanical Technician/Lead Designer in Plant Operations;
• Kerry Brown, who joined the University on August 3, 1982, retired as IST Specialist in Information Systems & Technology (IST);
• Donald Johns, who started working at ��ݮ��Ƶ on April 20, 1992, retired as Building Serviceperson I/Locksmith in Plant Operations;
• Robert Wagner, who began working at the University on May 19, 1997, retired as RoboHub CNC Laboratory Technician in Engineering;
• Slavko Roman, who started at ��ݮ��Ƶ on December 1, 2012, retired as Residence Attendance in Campus Housing; and
• D’Arcy Delamere, who joined the University on June 1, 2023, retired as Definite Term Lecturer in the School of Accounting and Finance;

Congratulations all on your much-deserved retirement!

Safety Office issues holiday lab shutdown notice

The Safety Office has circulated its annual holiday lab shutdown notice to health and safety coordinators for laboratories across campus.

“Due to winter weather conditions, utilities (especially electricity) may be affected,” reads the memo from Director of Safety Andrew Scheifele. “It is a general rule that all laboratory processes be designed to safely survive a service failure. During the holiday shutdown this is particularly important.”

Prepare your laboratories

Here are the highlights from the Lab Temporary Shut-down Checklist:

• Suspend lab operations by��Tuesday, December 23 at 4:00 p.m., resuming no earlier than��Monday, January 5, 2026.
• Shut down all processes vulnerable to failure of utilities.
• Remove hazardous waste from the lab.��The waste facility will be closed for the holiday shutdown. Users will be notified via the����prior to the shutdown. See the chart below for the last day and return date of each waste facility.

Hazardous Waste Facility schedule

Location	Last day	Return date	Note
E6	December 16, 2025	January 6, 2026	January 6��will be shortened hours with normal service starting January��13.
DWE	December 16, 2025	January 6, 2026
ESF	December 18, 2025	January 5, 2026	December 16-18 will be extended hours. January 5-9 will be shortened hours with normal service starting January 12.
PHR	December 22, 2025	January 12, 2026	Extended hours will be provided on December 22.
Satellite Waste Pick-Ups	December 16, 2025	January 6, 2026	��

• Store hazardous materials properly in containment areas. Close or seal containers containing hazardous materials.
• Shut off compressed gases and gas supply lines to equipment.
• Turn off and unplug non-essential electrical equipment such as hot plates, computers and fume hoods/ environmental chambers not��containing hazardous materials. This prevents damage to equipment due to power surges while reducing energy waste.
• Update lab contact information with current names, phone numbers and addresses in a location accessible to emergency response��personnel (e.g., inside of door), and provide emergency contact information to UW Special Constable Service via email (uwscs@uwaterloo.ca).��If applicable, include documentation on contents of sensitive freezers and refrigerators in the lab.
• Anyone approved to work in a lab during shutdown must have supervisor and departmental approval and adhere to the��Working Alone Guidelines��posted on the Safety Office website. Building access keys and named authorized persons must be arranged with UW Special Constable Service.
• If you have any questions about preparing your lab for shutdown contact the Safety Office at x35755 or��safety@uwaterloo.ca.

What to do if you have a lab incident

• Report failures of equipment or physical plant to Plant Operations at x43793.
• If a lab or building has been without power, allow the lab exhaust systems to operate for at least 2 hours before entry to the��lab or building.
• Contact the UW Spill Team through UW Special Constable Service at 519-888-4911 or x22222 if you need emergency assistance related��to hazardous materials spills.