��ݮ��Ƶ News - Co-op and Experiential Education

Co-op’s coming of age

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Since 1958, ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-operative education program has been launching successful careers

Many students dream of landing a job that aligns with their passions, inspires real-world impact or even motivates them to launch their own business. For thousands of ��ݮ��Ƶ students, that dream has become a reality thanks to co-operative education (co-op), which combines paid work experience with earning a degree.  

It might, therefore, seem surprising that the idea of co-op was met with skepticism when it was first proposed by the University’s first president, Dr. Joseph Gerald Hagey, who believed in its potential.  

As James Scott, former assistant to Hagey, wrote in the book Of Mud and Dreams: University of ��ݮ��Ƶ 1957 to 1967, the idea came to Hagey “somewhat to his surprise.” Still, he recognized that it could offer valuable opportunities for students and positively shape the future of education at ��ݮ��Ƶ.  

In 1957, the University expanded faculty, classrooms and infrastructure to support the co-op program, securing partnerships with manufacturing companies for work placements. The program’s alternating academic and work terms would allow students to gain real-world experience in industry and commerce through university-arranged placements.  

The first cohort of 74 engineering students began their co-op work terms in 1958, making ��ݮ��Ƶ the first Canadian university to offer co-op.  

To promote the new program, approximately 10,000 brochures were distributed to prospective students. One of those brochures reached Ron Ojanpera (BASc ’69), a high school student from Sudbury, Ontario. 

From co-op to a successful career 

Ojanpera was introduced to ��ݮ��Ƶ's engineering co-op program by a high school teacher who believed he would be interested. “I looked into the program and when it came time to apply, I submitted one application to ��ݮ��Ƶ, and that was it.” 

In 1964, Ojanpera was among the first to benefit from the program, which has since become globally recognized with more than 8,000 employers worldwide.

Ron Ojanpera (BASc ’69)

Co-op allowed him to balance school with paid work while discovering career roles that best align with his goals and skill set.

During his third year, Ojanpera made a pivotal career shift, moving from mining to engineering services, which would later form the foundation of his career. He gained valuable hands-on experience in plant operations, where he developed a deep appreciation for complex industries and customer relations. 

“The world is more complex now but the principle is the same,” he said. “Co-op prepares students to deal with those complexities, by teaching them how to work with people and apply technology to solve problems.” 

��ݮ��Ƶ has remained central to Ojanpera and his family, including his wife, daughters and niece who have all graduated from the University. Ojanpera takes pride in how his co-op experience led to a successful 50-year career in sales, business development and engineering, specifically in steam generation and air emissions control systems related to utility and heavy industrial applications. 

“The world is more complex now, but the principle is the same. Co-op prepares students to deal with those complexities.”

— Ron Ojanpera (BASc ’69) 

A new generation of co-op students finds their passion 

Elsa Patterson
Current Geomatics co-op student

Over the years, the co-op program has expanded to include all six faculties, making it accessible to students in every discipline.

Elsa Patterson, a current Geomatics co-op student, reflects on how she overcame the pressure of choosing the “right” co-op positions. Instead, she embraced the opportunity to explore various fields, build her resume and discover her passion for using data-driven approaches to foster sustainable and resilient communities. 

Through her co-op work terms in research labs, the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs and Indigenous Services Canada, Patterson gained hands-on experience as a geographic information systems (GIS) specialist. 

“I’ve learned through co-op in a different way — realizing how much I care about my work and how invested I am in my role has truly been a game-changer,” she said. 

Co-op also helped her develop a strong work ethic, professionalism, confidence and the ability to troubleshoot — skills she feels are valuable as she advances in her career. Patterson’s final eight-month work term will focus on improving water quality in the Great Lakes and implementing preventative measures to protect the environment. 

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Continuing ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-op legacy 

Every co-op experience at ��ݮ��Ƶ is unique, shaped by the individual’s program, values, desired impact and goals — just as it was for alumni like Ojanpera and current students like Patterson. What remains constant is the profound impact of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-op program over the past 65 years.  

Today, ��ݮ��Ƶ remains a global leader in co-operative education and work-integrated learning, offering innovative programs that meet the needs of both students and industry. With a unique opportunity to apply classroom knowledge in real-world contexts, co-op students are not just prepared for the future ─ they are tackling the world’s greatest challenges with innovation, passion and purpose.

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Co-op and Experiential Education

Magazine

Champions of change

Bernice Ma — Tue, 13 May 2025 04:00:00 +0000

Meet six world-class researchers, alumni and students who are applying boundary-breaking approaches to redefine sports, recreation and tourism

Dr. Michelle Rutty

As Canadians contend with climate-induced environmental changes like wildfires, flooding and melting glaciers, Dr. Michelle Rutty (MES ’10, PhD ’14) has been exploring the relationship between environmental changes and the global tourism sector.

Her research is among the first to use the power of virtual reality (VR) technologies to provide immersive, realistic experiences that enable communities to better understand their current and future climatic risks.

As director of the deTOUR Lab, Rutty supports the use of VR environments where users experience a destination before or after climate-related disasters impact it. “We’ve developed VR environments for ski resorts and golf courses that are experiencing record warm conditions and drought and are currently working on a VR simulation of glacial retreat in Jasper National Park,” Rutty said.

Recognizing that visual content is more persuasive than textual narratives for shifting emotional values, Rutty leverages VR as a public engagement tool to promote dialogue around climate-induced environmental change. “Visual media can both simplify the complexity of climate science while eliciting emotional responses,” she explained.

Rutty is committed to methodological innovation that accelerates environmental action in the tourism sector. Her scholarship has been recognized for research excellence with awards from around the world.

Greg Mittler

When a group of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s Master of Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology (MBET) students pitched the idea of introducing video games and esports at ��ݮ��Ƶ back in 2018, few imagined it would grow to be the largest network of its kind in Canada.

Under the leadership of Greg Mittler (BA ’14), the first full-time esports coordinator at a Canadian university, the program has grown to approximately 60 esports athletes who compete in several collegiate-level titles across North America.

Intent on making space for inclusivity in the sports world, Mittler shared that the initiative is also one of the first to have a marginalized genders team.

“We’re expanding into the community at large, focusing on more comprehensive goals with the ��ݮ��Ƶ Region Esports Commission and the University’s Interdisciplinary Network for Esports. Our ambition is to grow to be a significant influence in the country,” he said.

Last year, in collaboration with Conestoga College, Mittler and his team hosted WaterLAN — an esports tournament — where 16 schools came to the region to compete. The two-day event generated more than $75,000 in economic impact.

In 2024, Mittler’s team more than doubled those numbers, with help from approximately 50 student staff and volunteers that organized programming for thousands of students.

Christina Sullivan

During the COVID-19 lockdown in 2020, Christina Sullivan (BASc ’23) was introduced to the world of Formula 1 (F1) by her sister Veronica through the Netflix series Drive to Survive, and was instantly captivated by the sport. When her co-op term was cancelled due to the pandemic, Sullivan channelled her new passion into an academic project on F1 cars.

Shortly after, when her social media algorithm pushed an ad for an industrial placement at Williams Racing in the U.K., she applied and was thrilled to secure a one-year contract.

Today, as a full-time wind tunnel systems engineer with the company, Sullivan’s work ranges from designing and fabricating printed circuit boards and electrical harnesses to developing data acquisition systems and ensuring wind tunnel data accuracy.

“My main responsibility is the development and maintenance of our F1 wind tunnel model. All the aerodynamic developments that are seen on the car during races are first seen on this model in the wind tunnel,” she added.

Sullivan’s proudest achievement is leading the electrical design of the new wind tunnel model that Williams will test for the 2026 F1 season. She says that working with many multidisciplinary teams on bespoke systems and innovative control networks was an extremely rewarding experience.

Dr. Daniel Scott

The future of tourism and sports events like the Olympics are highly influenced by global change. That’s why Dr. Daniel Scott’s (MA ’93) research focuses on the transition of the tourism sector to a low-carbon economy and its adaptation to the complex impacts of a changing climate.

In a recent study commissioned by the International Olympic Committee to increase understanding of potential host cities in a warmer world, Scott’s research revealed that only 52 of 93 potential Olympic Winter Games host locations will remain climate-reliable by the 2050s and just 46 by the 2080s.

The outlook is more troubling for the Paralympic Winter Games, with only 22 climate-reliable sites by the 2050s and 16 by the 2080s. “Climate change is altering the geography of winter sports and is a growing threat to the cultural legacy of the Olympic Winter Games,” Scott said.

Still, believing that tourism can be a global force for good, he is committed to advancing global tourism that is compatible with planetary boundaries. As a leading scholar in the field, Scott’s research has been cited in more than 550 policy documents in more than 30 countries and by multiple international government organizations.

Haley Baxter

With her mom as her soccer coach and her dad a strong advocate for women’s sports, Haley Baxter’s (PhD in progress) research on women in volunteer sport coaching was greatly influenced by her parents.

Recognizing that there is little research in this field, her work aims to fill the gap. “My research looks at how to create and support pathways for young girls to become volunteer coaches,” Baxter explained.

Through meaningful engagement with club leaders, coaches and youth, her research highlights the lack of specific targets, strategies and gender-based initiatives for recruiting women and girls to coach.

Noting that club leaders recognize the need for intentional recruitment, she found they also feel unsupported by sports governing bodies, most of which prioritize high-performance coaching instead.

Baxter’s findings underscore the need for targeted recruitment strategies and better support systems to engage women and girls in volunteer coaching roles. She hopes her research helps the sport system recognize the importance of supporting gender-based initiatives at the community level of sport.

Dr. Kristine Dalton

Dr. Kristine Dalton (OD ’07, MSc ’10) is a distinguished leader in sports vision and concussion rehabilitation, with a remarkable track record in Paralympic winter sports.

In 2014, she founded the Sports Vision Clinic at the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ to help athletes improve their performance. After seeing many athletes with vision problems after a concussion, Dalton teamed up with Dr. Tammy Labreche to launch a specialized service focused on treating patients with various brain injuries.

“Our team works collaboratively with physicians, optometrists, physiotherapists, athletic therapists and other health-care providers in the community to support the multidisciplinary care patients with brain injury need in their recoveries,” she said.

In 2015, Dalton pioneered a research project that focused on understanding how athletes use their vision to ski. Her research revolutionized classification rules for Para Alpine and Para Nordic skiing, ensuring fair competition for athletes with vision impairments.

In collaboration with the International Paralympic Committee, World Para Snow Sports and the International Ski and Snowboard Federation, the groundbreaking work has expanded global eligibility for these sports.

Co-op and Experiential Education

Magazine

Research

Protecting wildlife, one road at a time

Chantal Vallis — Fri, 09 May 2025 12:00:00 +0000

Environment student, Katja Kubasta, reflects on her experience safeguarding species at risk during her KEEN Global Citizen Internship at The Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation

Bordering Lake Erie and extending across Norfolk County, Long Point Region hosts many internationally recognized protected natural areas and is a refuge for many species at risk.

The region’s conservation efforts have deep roots, with initiatives dating back to 1866. Today, those efforts are continued through organizations like the non-profit Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation. It’s where Katja Kubasta, a Faculty of Environment student, found a meaningful donor funded work opportunity through the KEEN Global Citizen Internship.

Kubasta grew up with a passion for the environment and a love for the outdoors. “I went camping a lot as a kid,” she says. “My parents always kept sustainability top of mind at our house. That’s been a really big influence and why I decided to join my program. Also, in high school, there was the ecology and evolution unit, and I just wanted to learn more.”

That early passion led her to the School of Environment, Resources and Sustainability (SERS), where she’s now wrapping up her final term. The interdisciplinary program blends ecological science with the problem-solving skills needed to tackle the social, economic, and policy challenges that often accompany environmental issues – a mix that suited Kubasta’s curiosity. "I've always leaned more toward the ecology side of things, but I like how it lets me look at the bigger picture.”

Through ��ݮ��Ƶ's co-op program, Kubasta has explored that broader perspective across a wide range of roles, such as working on environmental assessments for Ontario's Ministry of the Environment, Conservation and Parks, to conducting hands-on oyster research in the Netherlands.

At Long Point, she brought that same passion to a new sector – non-profit environmental conservation. Her primary role was surveying reptile road mortality in and around the biosphere, identifying areas where mitigation strategies could help protect vulnerable species. The timing of her internship also meant she got to support field research during the region’s nesting season; a unique opportunity to observe and catalogue wildlife behavior in real time.

“Reptiles are really important for wetlands and the ecosystem services they provide,” she says. “While we observed many mortalities on the roads, we also had quite a few live reptiles and amphibians that we observed and saved from being hit! These animals put the effect of mortalities into perspective and help us understand the end goals of our project, as we continue to push for stronger mitigation strategies for wildlife on roads.”

Kubasta conducted a total of 586 standardized surveys using an application called FieldMaps, part of the ESRI ArcGIS program. During these surveys, she recorded 216 wildlife observations of which 89% were dead on the road and only 11% were alive.

During her 4-month placement, Kubasta developed a deeper appreciation for the people and passion that sustain environmental non-profits. She was struck by how much behind-the-scenes work is carried out by dedicated volunteers and staff who genuinely care about their communities and local ecosystems. It also broadened her perspective on career paths.

“I’m definitely considering non-profits a bit more seriously now. A big thing in our program is looking beyond just the traditional environmental science or government jobs. There are so many ways to be impactful.”

Now in her 4B term, Kubasta plans to take a year off before graduate school to pursue new adventures. She’s applying for jobs with conservation organizations and is travelling to Ecuador and the Galápagos Islands. Meanwhile, the important surveying work she oversaw this past year will continue under the direction of two new Global Citizen interns funded by corporate donor and partner, KEEN. They began this work in April.

“These students are the future leaders of our society in respect to mitigating environmental issues and promoting sound ethics, and the more they learn about it on the ground is just fantastic” says Brian Craig (BES ’73), member on the board of directors at The Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation.

Not only is Craig enthusiastic about the potential for future student involvement, but he also notes the collaboration with the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ extends beyond student placements. With regular meetings with Environment professors like Dr. Derek Armitage and Dr. Chantel Markle, they are able to align Environment 2035 research priorities and connect faculty expertise with community needs.

“It’s how the road mortality surveying project first came about. The internship allowed us to carry out this important work that we wouldn’t have had the money to do otherwise,” he says. “It shows how meaningful connections between universities and community organizations can drive real progress for species at risk.”

Global Citizen Internship program donors enable committed, talented, and passionate Environment undergraduate and graduate students to apply their knowledge in a work setting at Canadian registered charities and non-profit organizations with local and global reach.

Learn more about the Long Point Biosphere Region Foundation and its collaboration with the Faculty of Environment.

Environment

Co-op and Experiential Education

Sustainable Futures

Connecting ��ݮ��Ƶ’s best students with Canada’s best companies

Sam Charles — Thu, 08 May 2025 01:09:34 +0000

True North Fund partners with ��ݮ��Ƶ to develop a Canadian talent pipeline to help strengthen the country’s top 100 tech firms

Chris Albinson, co-founder and managing partner of Canadian venture capital fund True North Fund and co-founder of C100, says Canada is at a critical juncture in its continuing evolution as a global innovator. He says the country and its tech leaders need to work harder to retain the best and the brightest.

“We really need to build the narrative of 'Canada or bust!' The time for 'Cali or bust' that we hear from students has come to a close,” says ��ݮ��Ƶ-based Albinson. “For the first time we have a critical mass of global leaders based in Canada. We need to connect them to our best students. Considering the geopolitical environment we’re in, now is the time.”

Prompted by conversations at last spring’s convocation with University President and Vice-Chancellor Vivek Goel and Faculty of Engineering Dean Mary Wells, Albinson says they started exploring more ways to connect ��ݮ��Ƶ’s best students with Canada’s top private companies. That work has culminated in a partnership between True North and the University.

“As much as we’re proud to see our students thriving around the world, we also have a responsibility to show them they can build ambitious, meaningful careers right here in Canada,” Wells says. “Partnerships like this one with True North connect our students to top-tier co-op opportunities and help them see the possibilities that exist at home. I want them to see themselves not just working in Canada but also helping to build it for the future.”

Team True North is modelled after Canada’s “Own the Podium” Olympic strategy which focuses on providing resources to athletes with the highest potential for success. By merging True North’s roster of tech companies with ��ݮ��Ƶ’s co-op network, it creates a pipeline for growth and innovation in Canada.

Using an objective global standard data, True North identifies the top performing tech companies in Canada. The True North branding will provide students with the knowledge and confidence that they will have a meaningful and fulfilling co-op or full time experience at a global leader, right here in Canada.

At the bottom of each job description for these companies, it will read: “This company is part of Team True North, a comprehensive group of Canadian tech firms with performance and growth rates that match the top 1 per cent of companies worldwide.”

Some students might be surprised to learn that companies such as Arctic Wolf, Clearpath Robotics, 1Password, eSentire, Miovision Technologies and Faire are not only based in Canada but local to the ��ݮ��Ƶ region.

From the beginning, the world’s top high-tech companies have come to the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ to recruit its students. They are frequently drawn to ��ݮ��Ƶ by its track-record of developing leaders and innovators across sectors. For students, especially those seeking co-op experience, they are keen to join these large companies for the prestige and bragging rights.

The University has more than 8,000 employer partners across more than 70 countries including major tech companies such as Microsoft and Google. Despite data that shows every dollar invested by a business in a ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op student creates a greater economic gain, small and medium-sized companies may worry there might not be a critical mass of co-op applicants to draw talent from.

“We’ve heard that all high performing Canadian firms know about ��ݮ��Ƶ, but aren’t sure there are opportunities for them to recruit the University’s top students when competing against the world’s biggest companies,” Albinson says. “The same is true on the other side of the equation, that many students simply don’t realize the global leading opportunities right here in Canada, and we want to change that.”

Of Canada’s top 100 highest performing private companies, two-third are already working with ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op students. Albinson wants to close the gap with the remaining third of companies who he believes are missing an opportunity. “If we want these companies to compete globally, we need to connect them to ��ݮ��Ƶ’s talent pipeline, and vice versa, we need ��ݮ��Ƶ’s students to know and seek out these global Canadian companies.”

Companies like Faire, an online wholesale marketplace for retailers and brands, are already benefiting from its relationship with the University. With offices in San Francisco, Salt Lake City and ��ݮ��Ƶ, it employs more than 200 staff, many with University of ��ݮ��Ƶ connections.

“Our region is fortunate to be the epicentre of innovation in Canada,” Albinson says. “Our new partnership with the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ will help connect Canada’s best students with Canada’s best companies.”

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Funding the future of optometry

Beth Bohnert — Thu, 01 May 2025 12:28:36 +0000

Through gifts to the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute, donors are helping to prepare the next generation of eye and vision care providers

“My wife hasn’t seen my eyes in five years,” the patient told University of ��ݮ��Ƶ student Nina Yan on her first day working in an optometry practice. After suffering a concussion, the man was forced to wear dark sunglasses constantly to alleviate the pain of extreme light sensitivity.

After a thorough assessment confirmed the need for prism correction, Yan recalls, “My supervisor and I put some prism and a blue tint in his glasses. Immediately, you could see the release in his shoulders. He started crying with relief. He was able to go about his day almost like before his concussion.

“That experience put into perspective just how important optometry can be.”

As Canada's population gets older and more people develop vision problems, the need for skilled eye care professionals is growing. ��ݮ��Ƶ donors are helping train students like Yan and her classmate Cassidy Roberts through their contributions to the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute (WEI) at the School of Optometry and Vision Science.

New tools mean new learning opportunities

The WEI, set to open in late 2026, aims to become Canada's leading centre of excellence in optometry, enhancing patient care and serving as a national resource for optometric education and research. It has been made possible, in part, thanks to more than 900 donors who have contributed to equipment and programs. This support helps ��ݮ��Ƶ optometrists advance eye and vision care and provides students with hands-on learning opportunities.

Yan and Roberts are in their final year of the Doctor of Optometry program, in which students rotate through the primary and specialty clinics in the School and private practices across the country. During these rotations, students examine and diagnose patients while supervised by an optometrist.

The two students are currently working at the interim location of the ��ݮ��Ƶ clinic, where the School continues its optometric education and patient care programs during the WEI’s construction.

The School’s clinics — there’s an additional location at the Kitchener Health Sciences campus — are renowned for their advanced care and receive hundreds of referrals each year from across Canada and abroad. One reason for this is the specialty services the clinics offer, made possible by cutting-edge technology funded by donors.

This equipment includes an expanded imaging suite, with tools that enable optometrists to look more deeply into the eye and better diagnose and treat eye diseases and conditions. A corneal topography machine maps layers of the retina and can provide measurements for special contact lenses to treat conditions like corneal scarring.

“Without the topography machine, we wouldn’t be able to fit patients with these lenses. These machines enable us to provide extra care and services that might not be possible elsewhere,” Yan says.

In the imaging suite, optometry student Cassidy Roberts operates a high-precision instrument that measures the length and curvature of the eye. Much of the suite's equipment has been provided through donor support of the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute.

A safe environment to practice skills

Long before Yan and Roberts stepped into the clinic, donors were helping them prepare to care for patients. The School is home to the donor-funded FYidoctors Simulation Lab. This virtual reality lab allows students to see conditions they will encounter in the clinic.

“The simulation lab provides a safe, structured environment where we can practice our skills and learn about different pathologies,” Roberts says. “Having the software go through exactly what we're seeing and explaining it makes for an easier transition to real-life patients.”

Now that they're preparing to graduate, Yan and Roberts still find the lab useful.

“I used it right before my board exam, just to make sure that my techniques were up to par,” Yan says.

The new technology helps students prepare not only for their future as optometrists, but for the future of their profession as well.

“We have an advanced procedures course where we get to use specialty tools, like the YAG laser. Optometrists are not allowed to do these procedures in Ontario yet. It’s good practice if the scope of practice expands in the next few years,” Yan explains.

Leading-edge technology helps the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute's clinics provide the highest standard of care — and gives students like Nina Yan unique learning opportunities that might not be available in private practice.

Funding the future

While Roberts and Yan will have left ��ݮ��Ƶ by the time the WEI opens, they are excited by what the expanded clinic and its equipment will mean for future optometry students and patients.

“Right now, we have modern equipment and modern ideas but a very old space. At a time when we have all these new innovations, the WEI will help students stay on top of them and foster our learning,” Roberts says.

“We’d like to send WEI donors a huge, heartfelt thank you,” she adds. “We wouldn't be able to learn the way that we're learning, and we wouldn't be where we are as clinicians right now without their help.

“They're funding not only the School but the future of optometry in Canada.”

On May 15, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ will launch our first Giving Day. This event encourages you to support the ��ݮ��Ƶ initiatives you care most about — like optometric education and patient care at the ��ݮ��Ƶ Eye Institute— and connect with other donors to increase the impact of your gift. Join us on Giving Day and help ��ݮ��Ƶ build a better tomorrow.

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Science

Co-op and Experiential Education

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Driving economic growth in creative industries

Angelica Sanchez — Wed, 16 Apr 2025 14:12:36 +0000

University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and Progressive Generation Holding partner to deliver world-class media production and boost creative economy

WatSPEED, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s professional, and executive and corporate education arm, announced a multi-year partnership agreement with Progressive Generation (PG) Holding represented by PG Studios at the Education Global Exhibition (EDGEx) assembly in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. The partnership will offer co-branded animation certificate programs designed to equip students in Jordan and Saudi Arabia with the skills and knowledge to excel in competitive global markets.

��ݮ��Ƶ's role in this collaboration includes advising on the structure, content, learning outcomes, assessments of the programs and certification, with significant involvement from the Faculty of Arts, Renison University College and WatSPEED. Students will receive co-branded certificates in media production, specifically animation (both 2D and 3D), filmmaking, documentaries and advertising, and participate in an intensive summer design experience hosted at ��ݮ��Ƶ.

The announcement at EDGEx offered education leaders, innovators and policymakers exclusive insights into how this collaboration will revolutionize media production education and accelerate economic development in the Middle Eastern and North Africa (MENA) region.

"The future belongs to those who build it—and today, PG and ��ݮ��Ƶ are laying the foundation. This landmark partnership reflects PG Academy’s unwavering commitment to equipping the next generation of leaders with cutting-edge, skills-driven education that bridges global expertise with local innovation,” says Ahmad Almasri, CEO of PG Holding.

“We are proud to collaborate with a visionary institution like ��ݮ��Ƶ to support Saudi Arabia’s Vision 2030. Together, we aim to foster a vibrant ecosystem for entrepreneurship and the creative economy, creating transformative opportunities for learners and industries alike. There’s no better platform to unveil this milestone than EDGEx — a powerful testament to our shared dedication to reshaping the future of work and education."

PG Studios, specializing in 2D and 3D animation, music production, audio engineering and video production, is at the forefront of this collaboration. The partnership with ��ݮ��Ƶ will see the establishment of PG Academy — an extension of PG’s School of Animation Arts — designed to create more than 50,000 job opportunities for Jordanian and Saudi youth in fields including animation production, video game development, content creation and more.

��ݮ��Ƶ excels in providing experiential education and fostering entrepreneurship through the University's for-credit programs, WatSPEED's upskilling programs and the startup incubator Velocity. These initiatives ensure that student and researcher innovations yield significant societal and economic benefits. PG Holding’s focus on investing in creative content and intellectual properties complements with ��ݮ��Ƶ’s dedication to IP mobilization and commercialization. Together, they share a vision of leveraging intellectual property to inspire innovation and drive economic growth.

“This partnership reflects ��ݮ��Ƶ’s commitment to preparing learners for the future of work through globally recognized, skills-based education that’s rooted in real-world impact," says Sanjeev Gill, associate vice-president of Innovation at ��ݮ��Ƶ. "We are proud to work alongside forward-thinking partners like PG Academy in Saudi Arabia to support the Kingdom’s Vision 2030. This cross-border collaboration will strengthen the creative economy and entrepreneurship across the region, and so we’re delighted to be able to announce this partnership for the first time at EDGEx in Riyadh.”

Dr. Monica Leoni, professor and chair of Spanish and Latin American Studies and chair of Fine Arts, and Dr. Gerald Vorhees, professor and chair of Communication Arts, are dedicated to bridging the connection between ��ݮ��Ƶ and PG Holding by facilitating curriculum development aligned with ��ݮ��Ƶ’s Alternative Credits Approval Committee.

Animation has the ability to transcend cultural barriers and evoke empathy, offering a unique opportunity for students to create animations at PG Academy that present more authentic storytelling and views of the MENA region. ��ݮ��Ƶ and PG Holding also strive to challenge misinformation and reshape perceptions of the Middle East. Their co-branded certificate programs in media production will encourage students to create content that resonates with local audiences and reflect their realities. The international partnership aims to enhance global viewers’ understanding and appreciation of the Middle East’s rich cultural heritage, diverse traditions and daily life.

��ݮ��Ƶ’s Faculty of Arts programming in game studies, digital and studio arts has long been recognized for excellence in nurturing creative talent. ��ݮ��Ƶ has produced graduates like Chris Williams (BA ’90) who have continued to pursue their passions in animation, having a career as an intern at Disney working on numerous projects and as co-director of Big Hero 6, which received an Oscar award for best animated feature in 2015.

The collaboration between PG Holding and ��ݮ��Ƶ marks a significant milestone in animation education in the MENA region. With state-of-the-art facilities, local faculty in Saudi Arabia trained by Leoni and Vorhees, and a curriculum designed to meet international standards, PG Academy is set to become a beacon of excellence in animation education in the Arab world.

Campus

Arts

Co-op and Experiential Education

Six award-winning solutions for urban challenges

Angie Docking — Fri, 11 Apr 2025 19:25:18 +0000

��ݮ��Ƶ's Interdisciplinary Capstone and Future Cities Institute awarded student groups cash prizes for their creative solutions to real-world challenges

From AI-powered civic tools to sustainable housing solutions, University of ��ݮ��Ƶ students came together to present interdisciplinary projects tackling real-world issues at this year's i-Capstone symposium.

Held on March 26, the event showcased student creativity, teamwork and dedication to solving real-world urban challenges. Designed to unite students from every faculty, i-Capstone — the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s first interdisciplinary undergraduate capstone program — enables students to tackle complex problems facing Canadian communities while working with real world partners, all for academic credit. This includes areas like sustainable housing, infrastructure and integrated urban planning.

“The i-capstone symposium was simply inspiring. It was an honour to be a judge and engage with students to learn about how they worked closely with community and industry partners,” says Dr. Robin Mazumder, a symposium judge, who presented the awards to students at the end of the night. “The experience instilled a profound sense of hope about our future, and I am excited to see what these brilliant minds do for our society.”

All projects were thoughtfully designed to make an impact on cities and communities across Ontario, Canada and the world. The Future Cities Institute (FCI), founded by CAIVAN, partnered with i-Capstone to help organize the event and played an active role throughout the year — connecting community partners, curating projects and fostering collaboration. Six winning teams were awarded $1,000 by the FCI in recognition of their outstanding innovation.

The event drew an enthusiastic audience, including University President Vivek Goel and Provost James Rush, Kitchener Fire Chief Robert Gilmore and City of Kitchener Councillor Margaret Johnston, among several other project partners.

These six teams ultimately wowed the crowd and walked away as winners:

1. OddBox: Tackling the opioid crisis

Team: Julia Cosma, Jennifer Tsai, Larhya Miller, Patrick Kim, Bruce Wang

OddBox presented an innovative solution for marginalized communities contending with little to no support during the opioid crisis. Their device cleverly detects physiological signs of opioid overdoses and sends immediate alerts to a pre-selected group of individuals. Judges were very impressed with the team’s close collaboration with community organizations and technology experts and found the project both practical and accessible. The team effectively highlighted the depth of their research as well as the urgent necessity of their product, capturing the interest of symposium attendees and leading to many important discussions about harm reduction.

2. Illume: Transforming urban planning through AI

Team: Benie Matoka Mabondo, Jessica Farias Medina, Chaitya Ankur Patel, Devanshi Paliwal, Maia Grace Tse, Elizabeth Victoria Smyth

As e-bikes and micromobility vehicles are used by more and more travellers each year, transporting them safely on public transport has become an important concern for many municipalities — particularly following a 2024 GO Train fire involving lithium-ion batteries. The Titan team introduced an innovative thermal monitoring system designed specifically for public transit environments. Making use of infrared cameras and gas sensors, their solution is designed to quickly detect potential battery fires and then alert train crews via a mobile app. The team’s inspiring presentation demonstrated the system’s key role in improving public safety on the Go train while still encouraging sustainable, active transportation.

3. Asphalt Avengers: Affordable pothole detection

Team: Liam McArdle, Connor Bechthold, Rishit Daru, Safwaan Chowdhury

The Asphalt Avengers team addressed the nation-wide issue of potholes. Focusing on a cost-effective, technology-based solution, their system revolves around an easily attachable camera module that can be placed onto existing municipal vehicles. The hardware utilizes computer vision and machine learning to automatically detect and record potholes and is paired with a user-friendly web application for data analysis. Judges commended the project's remarkable use of existing resources and highlighted the significant cost savings achieved by avoiding the purchase of expensive specialized vehicles or the need to hire more road crew staff. Symposium attendees enjoyed the team's engaging demonstration and the illustration of their concept's practicality and potential impact on urban infrastructure management.

4. Illume: Transforming urban planning through AI

Team: Shane Hsieh, Ryan Chan, Adam Lam

Illume introduced an intelligent AI-driven platform to make urban planning more efficient. By significantly minimizing procedural paperwork, the platform allows city planners the ability to leverage their expertise more efficiently, by spending less time reviewing repetitive bureaucratic documents and more time making informed strategic decisions. Judges enjoyed Illume’s alignment with the UN’s Sustainable Development Goals and praised the thoughtful approach to transforming qualitative community feedback into actionable insights. The compelling demonstration of their platform’s capabilities was enjoyed by many symposium attendees, including city officials eager to adopt more efficient planning processes into their own municipalities.

5. RoboNav: Advanced pipeline monitoring

Team: Liam Senych, Araf Khan, Anirudh Kilambi, Youngwoo Lee

RoboNav’s tech-forward solution enhances preventative maintenance for sewer pipeline systems. Their focus was on changing how faults are discovered in municipal pipeline infrastructure. Their prototype uses advanced LiDAR alongside stereo cameras and provides precise location tracking for automated fault detection. This ultimately helps municipalities avoid expensive infrastructure failures, such as those experienced in Calgary last year. Judges were impressed with RoboNav’s versatility, sharing that they think it has possible applications beyond pipeline infrastructure. The RoboNav team did a great job sharing the significant advantages of their approach over the slower and costly traditional monitoring methods used today.

6. UW Access: Accessible indoor navigation

Team: Carter Ibach, Soha Khan, Elize Kooij, Mateo Alvarez, Shrinjay Mukherjee

The UW Access team unveiled a highly intuitive, crowdsourced indoor navigation solution tailored right for ��ݮ��Ƶ’s complex campus. Developed in collaboration with Plant Operations, this mobile web application provides personalized routes for users with diverse accessibility needs. With real-time updates, judges and attendees alike praised the user-friendly and intuitive design of the app. Judges were excited by its adaptability to various indoor environments beyond the campus setting. The team was able to clearly showcase the app's capabilities and sparked many enthusiastic conversations about expanding its use during the symposium.

Campus

Co-op and Experiential Education

Community

Societal Futures

Transforming lives and communities through co-op

Beth Bohnert — Tue, 01 Apr 2025 14:40:50 +0000

Students, charities and communities all benefit when donors support work terms abroad

Students often dream of working in another country where they can explore a new culture while growing their skills. However, salaries for co-op positions abroad may not cover the costs of flights and housing, making these roles inaccessible for some students.

Fortunately, ��ݮ��Ƶ donors recognize the value of a work term abroad. Through gifts of all sizes, they are helping more students access international and non-profit opportunities they might not otherwise consider. The resulting co-op experiences can transform the lives of both students and the communities they work in.

In the winter 2025 term, University of ��ݮ��Ƶ Math students Rewa Shukla and Bruce Wu worked in Thailand for Inclusive Education Foundation (InEd). The non-profit organization helps to provide access to education to nearly 200,000 migrant children whose families have fled violence and political instability in neighbouring Myanmar.

The need is pressing. More than half of all migrant children in Thailand don’t go to school, leaving them vulnerable to exploitation and abuse. InEd works with families, youth and teachers in various ways, from helping families enrol their children in school to creating training and resources for migrant teachers.

Funding from the Steele Family Foundation’s Change makers in co-op program made Bruce and Rewa’s work terms possible. The program enables the University’s co-operative education program to offer meaningful co-op opportunities with the Foundation’s partner organizations — non-profits like InEd that are eager for ��ݮ��Ƶ talent but may not have the budget to hire. Thanks to the Foundation’s investment, Rewa and Bruce received financial support to develop their skills, explore careers in the non-profit sector and make a difference for hundreds of kids.

Thanks to donor support, ��ݮ��Ƶ Math students Rewa Shukla and Bruce Wu spent a rewarding co-op term helping improve access to education for migrant children in Thailand. Here, children are enrolling in school at a migrant learning centre.

Looking beyond “traditional” math co-op terms

Rewa is in her first year of the honours Math program at ��ݮ��Ƶ. Bruce is pursuing a double degree in mathematics at ��ݮ��Ƶ and business at Wilfrid Laurier University. The two students reacted differently when they saw the posting for media and communication interns funded by the Steele Family Foundation.

“I have always been someone who has given back to the community,” Rewa said. “So, when I saw the posting, I thought, ‘This is great because it's a nonprofit organization. I could get paid for doing something I love.’”

While he also enjoys volunteering, Bruce was looking for a work term in big tech or finance. What he learned about InEd during the recruitment process changed his mind about working for a non-profit.

“The work sounded interesting and fulfilling. I decided to try something that wasn’t related to my degree but could open up my perception of the world.”

Math student Bruce Wu developed an app to help InEd, a non-profit operating along the Thailand-Myanmar border, enrol hundreds of migrant children in school.

Sharing tech expertise

Even though this role was far different from the work terms he’d initially pursued, Bruce still found ample opportunity to use his knowledge of coding and project management.

He developed two apps — a digitalized inventory system and another to track children’s enrolment information. He applied his knowledge of organizational behaviour to help identify team goals, create a clear project plan and replace a cluttered document with a well-structured Excel sheet.

Bruce also helped prepare materials for a major research conference. By sharing formatting tips, he saved staff members hours of work.

For Math student Rewa Shukla, the most meaningful part of her co-op term in Thailand involved helping migrant teachers upgrade their skills.

Teaching teachers

In communities along the Thailand-Myanmar border, teaching is often seen as a community service, not a profession. Many migrant teachers acquire their skills through hands-on experience rather than formal training. And like other migrants, they are dealing with the challenges and trauma of displacement.

Bruce explained that most of these teachers work at migrant learning centres. They teach primary school-aged children or adults who want to improve their literacy or prepare for General Education Development (GED) exams.

As part of their responsibilities during their co-op work terms, the two ��ݮ��Ƶ students helped teachers improve their English proficiency and math skills. For Rewa, this was one of the most meaningful parts of her role.

“I was able to help them build the necessary knowledge so they can teach their students. It creates a ripple effect. Students get access to quality education and an opportunity to improve their future. It all ties back to InEd’s mission of bridging those gaps in the education system.”

A mindset shift

Even though they faced challenges like language barriers and homesickness, both Rewa and Bruce say the experience changed them for the better.

“This was my first work term and it’s been a great experience,” Rewa said, “I'd never lived alone before coming here. I’ve stepped out of my comfort zone and learned a lot of new things.

“Professionally, I've had a mindset shift,” she continued. “Being here in this culture has made me realize there is more to life than the corporate hustle. Seeing first-hand how education can directly change lives has reinforced how small efforts can make big impacts and lasting changes on people's lives. This experience helped me realize that no matter what career path I take, I want to continue giving back to the community.”

Bruce still wants to try corporate life but “this has been such an eye-opening experience for me. I’ve seen how an individual can affect global issues. For instance, in the enrolment app’s database, there are the names of more than 1,000 kids who are getting better access to education and the help they need. It’s something I'll take with me for the rest of my life.”

A single donation has such a big impact. It's a trickle-down effect … You're not just helping one person. You're helping a person, an organization and a community — and in this case, the next generation.
BRUCE WU, Co-op student

Generosity’s trickle-down effect

Both students said that without the support of the Steele Family Foundation, this work term would not have been financially possible for them.

Before accepting the role at InEd, Bruce was offered a job in Turkey. “It paid $300 a month and as much as I wanted an opportunity, I was going to come back to university broke. When I saw the Change makers role, what it was about with funding attached, I knew I had to compete and apply for the opportunity.”

“I’d like to thank the donors from the bottom of my heart for making this experience possible for students like me,” Rewa said. “Their support has allowed me to grow professionally and personally. It truly has been life-changing.”

But as Bruce noted, students’ lives aren’t the only ones that change when donors invest in co-op education.

“A single donation has such a big impact. It's a trickle-down effect,” he said. “You're not just helping one person. You're helping a person, an organization and a community — and in this case, the next generation. It's such a big impact and it's so appreciated.”

On May 15, the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ will launch our first Giving Day. This event encourages you to support the ��ݮ��Ƶ initiatives you care most about — like helping our students and communities reap all the benefits of co-op — and connect with other donors to increase the impact of your gift. Join us on Giving Day and help ��ݮ��Ƶ build a better tomorrow.

Campus

Math

Co-op and Experiential Education

Talent

Societal Futures

Social and Economic Prosperity

From campus to community

Angie Docking — Thu, 27 Mar 2025 17:10:43 +0000

Interdisciplinary initiative allows students to bring real-world impact to Canada’s North

A new collaboration between the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ and the City of Iqaluit is allowing students to apply their skills to real-world challenges — all while making a tangible difference in the North.

The partnership was possible through i-Capstone — the University of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s first interdisciplinary undergraduate capstone program. Designed to unite students from every faculty, i-Capstone enables students to tackle complex problems facing Canadian communities — like sustainable housing, infrastructure and integrated urban planning — all for academic credit.

Practical solutions for real-world problems

With an Arctic environment presenting a unique set of challenges for local government, the City of Iqaluit partnered with four student teams to address some of the municipality’s most pressing challenges.

Student teams met biweekly with City of Iqaluit staff over the course of two terms to pitch their ideas, gather feedback and refine their projects. Students also received counsel from faculty advisors, Velocity, Future Cities Institute and fellow classmates.

A new partner to ��ݮ��Ƶ, representatives from the City of Iqaluit made the long journey to meet with i-Capstone leadership in the fall term and have since made plans to begin hiring ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op students.

Building resilient solutions

Faculty of Environment student Carlo Smokowich’s team focused on improving the city’s roads, which suffer from dust accumulation and potholes due to the harsh climate.

Smokowich emphasized the team’s strength in bringing diverse perspectives from different faculties. "We were lucky to have a business student to focus on community impact, an environment student looking at sustainability and engineers to manage the technical side,” Smokowich says. “It was helpful to learn from my teammates and to experience a completely different way of learning and problem-solving."

After researching alternative paving solutions — such as chip-seal and polymer-modified asphalt — and examining successful examples from Alaska and the Yukon, the team ultimately proposed a novel, durable and cost-effective solution for the city.

Left to right: Rafeael Llorin, Carlo Smokowich, Sarah Nicole Knoblauch, Matthew Andreas Scheinder

Faculty of Math student Ao Shen’s group took on the challenge of enhancing the city’s outdated asset management system, which struggles to maintain vehicles and infrastructure efficiently. According to Shen, one of their greatest challenges was the ‘real-world’ learning component, considering how their tool would live beyond their final presentation.

"This project made us really consider beyond just developing a functional tool," Shen says. "We really had to think about its longevity and impact on the community." Ultimately, they developed a predictive maintenance tool that tracks usage and automates part ordering, saving both time and money.

Left to right: Lucas Yurcich, Ao Shen and Katie Burt

Faculty of Health student Roger Chan’s group tackled water delivery—a crucial issue in Iqaluit, where residents depend on trucks to fill household tanks. Their mobile app solution tracks water levels in real time, using predictive analytics to optimize deliveries and reduce emergencies, giving residents peace of mind.

Chan, who had previously worked in government through co-op roles, noted that this experience felt different. "Usually, it isn’t just one team that gets to propose, develop, and present a solution and then expect change," he says. "That’s why working with Iqaluit was special — we had direct access to decision-makers so we could develop our solutions faster."

Kenneth Luong, a Faculty of Engineering student and Chan’s teammate, echoed that sentiment. “This was my first time leading a project and being responsible for an outcome that really mattered,” he says. “That level of accountability was challenging, but it pushed us to grow our skills together.”

Left to right: Kenneth Luong, Grace Zhang, Roger Chan and Karen Eng.

A lasting impact

After i-Capstone wraps up in the winter term, the City of Iqaluit will begin exploring how to put these ��ݮ��Ƶ student innovations into practice to better serve local residents.

Faculty of Math students Ivena Yeung and Vedhant Sarma, whose team developed a much more user-friendly GIS-based tool designed to help local governments streamline access to policies and zoning regulations, were very grateful for the unique experience i-Capstone has given them and recommend it to other students looking to work beyond the classroom.

"This is the kind of project you dream of as a student—to take on a challenge that matters and see your work make an impact," Yeung says. Sarma agrees, adding, "This project is something I’ll carry with me long after graduation."

Left from right: Ivena Yeung, Furogh Abidi and Vedhant Sarma.

Photo credit: Shutterstock (banner image)

Campus

Co-op and Experiential Education

Community

Societal Futures

Made by ��ݮ��Ƶ

Angelica Sanchez — Tue, 25 Mar 2025 20:03:10 +0000

Discover how ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni are driving Canada’s economy with five tech companies making a local and global impact

Many of the world’s leading innovation ecosystems share a common feature: a world-class research university at their core. The University of ��ݮ��Ƶ has played a pivotal role in establishing the ��ݮ��Ƶ region as a premier innovation ecosystem in Canada.

You have probably heard of game-changing success stories like Blackberry, OpenText and Desire to Learn (D2L). But did you know that more than 562 ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni have raised venture capital in the last decade? It’s why Pitchbook ranks ��ݮ��Ƶ as the top Canadian school for entrepreneurs — where groundbreaking ideas become a reality.

��ݮ��Ƶ region has become celebrated as Canada’s tech capital with some of the country’s fastest-growing companies planting their roots in the city. Here are five companies founded by ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni — whose offices may even be in your neighbourhood — that are making waves locally and globally.

Alchemy

Alchemy's ExoShield windshield protection film being applied to an automotive vehicle.

What began as a fourth-year capstone project for ��ݮ��Ƶ alumni Chong Shen (BASc ’13) and Khanjan Desai (BASc ’13) to keep windshields frost-free has blossomed into a remarkable success story for Alchemy. ��ݮ��Ƶ supported Alchemy’s journey, providing initial funding through the Velocity incubator and access to on-campus lab space. As Alchemy began to take off, Shen and Desai received additional funding from the University. They successfully applied to the renowned Y Combinator business accelerator in California, while maintaining their offices in Kitchener.

Today, Alchemy develops cutting-edge nanotechnology products for the automotive and defense industries. Their ExoShield windshield protection film offers abrasion-resistant and frost prevention coatings, providing a best-in-class windshield-protection solution with 500 active installers across 57 countries. Their nanocomposite coating provides next-generation multi-spectral camouflage for defense purposes. Over the past two years, Alchemy has partnered with the Canadian Armed Forces to develop this technology for uniforms and shields. In 2025, Alchemy received $1.8 million in funding from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario) to grow and scale their business.

Avidbots

��ݮ��Ƶ alumni, Pablo Molina (BASc ’11) and Faizan Sheikh (BASc ’11), are revolutionizing the cleaning industry with Avidbots — the world’s smartest autonomous floor scrubbing robots. Their flagship product, NEO, is equipped with advanced mapping and navigation capabilities, allowing the robots to clean large areas autonomously. The company’s vision is to make robots more widespread in the cleaning industry, unlocking human potential and improving cleanliness standards locally and globally.

��ݮ��Ƶ alumni, Pablo Molina (BASc ’11) and Faizan Sheikh (BASc ’11) with Avidbots' flagship product, NEO, the world’s smartest autonomous floor scrubbing robots.

In 2014, Avidbots joined Velocity as an early-stage startup to develop their product and maintained their relationship with the incubator over the years. Despite their global success, Molina and Sheikh decided to stay close to the University by keeping their headquarters in Kitchener to access the startup ecosystem, and the region’s research and engineering talent.

Avidbots’ partnership with ��ݮ��Ƶ RoboHub leverages the expertise of researchers and students to enhance the company’s robotics technology. Since 2018, the company has continued to hire co-op students and full-time employees, many of whom are ��ݮ��Ƶ Engineering graduates.

In 2020, Avidbots partnered with DHL to deploy NEO in commercial spaces such as airports, warehouses and shopping malls. Avidbots was recognized among Deloitte’s 2020 Technology Fast 50, and 2021 Technology Fast 500. In 2023, the Narwhal Project included Avidbots as part of the Narwhal List of Canadian technology companies that received more than $10 million of capital and are on their way to unicorn status. With customers in over a dozen countries across five continents, Avidbots has global offices in Chicago, Hong Kong, Japan, South Korea and Colombia.

Axonify

Co-founder and CEO of Axonify, Carol Leaman (BA’89, MAcc ’89, DLitt ’22) is a trailblazer in the software sector, specializing in personalized learning solutions for frontline employees. Axonify provides businesses with employee training software that uses brain science and AI for microlearning and daily reinforcement, catering to various industries.

Axonify's software on a mobile device. Axonify provides businesses with a personalized learning solution for frontline employees.(Photo credit: Axonify).

Axonify hires ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op students in various roles and many students have returned to the company upon graduation as full-time employees, enabling Axonify to streamline their recruitment process and build a talented workforce. In 2022, Leaman received an honorary doctorate from ��ݮ��Ƶ for her impact as an entrepreneur and thought leader in the region.

In 2021, Axonify celebrated a milestone by increasing its workforce by 15 per cent across North America and Europe, with a focus on Eastern Canada. Currently, 780 full-time employees work at Axonify, which is headquartered in ��ݮ��Ƶ. Axonify’s software is used by more than 250 companies, including Lowe’s, Kroger, Walmart and Citizens Bank.

GeoMate

GeoMate, co-founded by Dr. Nastaran Saberi (PhD ’19) and Dr. Amin Gharebaghi, is at the forefront of innovating urban planning and autonomous driving mapping solutions with artificial intelligence (AI). GeoMate’s technology enables precise and cost-effective mapping of mid-sized cities in just four weeks, all without any fieldwork. Their innovation provides high precision and regular updates, tailored for urban planners and leaders in autonomous driving.

GeoMate's technology captures high resolution geospatial imagery (Photo credit: GeoMate).

In 2019, Geomate joined the Grebel Peace Incubator at ��ݮ��Ƶ’s Conrad Grebel University College. Through the incubator, GeoMate completed pilot projects in Stratford and Kitchener, working with local political leaders to help them improve their accessibility. In 2020, Saberi presented GeoMate at the Velocity Fund Pitch Competition. GeoMate was selected as part of the ten finalists and joined the incubator.

More recently, GeoMate secured funding from FedDev Ontario to develop an advanced simulation platform for autonomous driving across 10 major cities in Ontario, further fueling their mission to transform urban landscapes. GeoMate’s headquarters are in the Communitech building in downtown Kitchener, where they employ ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op students and alumni as employees.

Miovision

Founded by Kurtis McBride (BASc ’04, MASc ’07), Miovision addresses traffic problems by collecting multimodal traffic data and uncovering actionable insights, helping municipalities optimize their road networks and improve traffic flow. Miovision’s technology enhances overall mobility, reduces vehicle congestion and user delays on city roadways, resulting in better fuel economy and lower CO2 emissions.

Miovision Scout, the first portable solution that collects multimodal traffic data and video at the roadside.

McBride came up with the idea for Miovision while on a co-op work placement at a transportation consultancy. Since 2005, Miovision’s systems have assisted nearly 2,000 customers in 63 countries, including five major cities in Canada. Miovision was recognized among Deloitte’s 2024 Technology Fast 50 list and received the Canadian Innovation award from the Canadian Innovation Exchange. Currently, Miovision employs 400 employees including ��ݮ��Ƶ co-op students.

These five companies exemplify the entrepreneurial spirit and innovative mindset fostered by ��ݮ��Ƶ. However, they are only a small reflection of ��ݮ��Ƶ’s broader impact on nurturing talent and providing support to entrepreneurs at each stage of their journey.

Co-op and Experiential Education

Technological Futures