Shaping Our Shared Future, Together. Thank you!
Thanks to you, University of Waterloo students are achieving their potential, and researchers are driving groundbreaking discoveries that will transform our world. We’re shaping our future together — see your incredible impact in the stories below.
Nenone Donaldson and Dr. Bill Rosehart share that your generosity enables students and researchers at the University of Waterloo to turn inspiration into life-changing experiences.
Together with our supporters, we can ensure Waterloo continues to share talent, ideas and solutions that matter in Canada and around the world.
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In Kiinomaage-Aki, the land becomes the teacher. Kiinomaage-Aki is a promise that Waterloo will continue to walk the path of reconciliation, guided by the land, community, and teachings that have shaped this territory.
A Space for Learning and Reconciliation
How a family’s connection to Waterloo continues to inspire generations. Her giving was never about recognition. It was about care – about making life better for others in ways that felt tangible and lasting.
Remembering Dr. Desta Leavine
Shaping Modern Library Spaces
Bold Ideas, Brighter Futures
A Game-Changing Investment in Warriors Men’s Hockey
From co-op student to tech CEO, Jeff Shiner (BMath ’92) is championing future Canadian trailblazers through leadership, mentorship and generous support of Waterloo.
Donors across campus and beyond are investing in the Healthy Waterloo Initiative, transforming campus life into a living lab – and building a healthier Canada.
Honouring Dr. Pearl Sullivan’s Legacy and the Future of Engineering
Financial Highlights
Donor support is shaping modern library spaces for every kind of learner. “I’m thrilled to support future generations of students and the life-long skills they develop in the University’s libraries.”
A $500,000 commitment from Waterloo Engineering alumnus and former Warriors Men’s Hockey captain Blair McArthur (BASc ’85) is transforming the future of men’s hockey at Waterloo.
Backing the next generation of Canadian innovators
Creating Canada’s healthiest campus
See the financial impact of gifts to our Waterloo campus community.
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Dr. Bill Rosehart President and Vice-Chancellor
By the Numbers
Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering received a transformational $20-million gift from the Gloria Baylis Foundation – an investment that both honours an extraordinary leader and advances the future of education and health innovation. By investing in the people and ideas that will shape the future, the Baylis family continues to drive meaningful change at Waterloo and far beyond.
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Bill Rosehart (BASc ’96, MASc ’97, PhD ’01) President and Vice-Chancellor
Dr. Bill Rosehart, a nationally respected academic leader, scholar and three-time University of Waterloo graduate (BASc ’96, MASc ’97, PhD ’01), began his term as our eighth President and Vice-Chancellor on July 1, 2026. Dr. Rosehart brings more than two decades of senior leadership experience at major Canadian research universities, including serving as Provost and Vice-President, Academic at the University of Guelph and Dean of the Schulich School of Engineering at the University of Calgary. Dr. Rosehart has a deep appreciation for the University’s bold founding vision and its globally recognized integration of experiential learning, entrepreneurship and research excellence. “Waterloo was founded on a bold idea: that integrating academics with real-world experience could redefine higher education and strengthen society. That spirit of unconventional thinking remains its greatest strength, and I am excited to return to help build on that foundation,” said Dr. Rosehart. “We have an extraordinary opportunity to lead Canada and the world in AI and human-centred digital futures, in health and social innovation, in climate resilience, in the arts and across the full breadth of a comprehensive university. By working together with our supporters, setting ambitious goals and aligning our resources behind clear priorities, we can ensure Waterloo continues to shape talent, ideas and solutions that matter in Canada and around the world.”
Dr. Vivek Goel led the University of Waterloo with a bold vision, advancing innovation, cross-sector collaboration and community impact. We’re grateful to the donors who honoured his tenure with a gift to the President Vivek Goel Tribute Fund, which will support initiatives at the intersection of health, technology and society. During his presidency, Dr. Goel positioned Waterloo for the future through Waterloo at 100 and new institutional values. He advanced sustainability and launched a forward-looking campus plan, including a new regional hospital on north campus. A champion of reconciliation, equity and inclusion, Dr. Goel also fostered lasting change through Indigenous initiatives and anti-racism efforts. His presidency was defined by courage, compassion and conviction, and it will continue to inspire the Waterloo community for generations.
Dr. Vivek Goel C.M., O.Ont. President Emeritus
Nenone Donaldson Vice-President, Advancement and External Relations
Donors enable students and researchers at the University of Waterloo to turn inspiration into life-changing experiences. Because of your generosity, students tackle real-world challenges in state-of-the-art workshops and labs. Future leaders develop their skills on varsity teams and build their knowledge in welcoming spaces across our campuses. Researchers deliver solutions to complex problems and strengthen connections across cultures and generations. This report reflects the many ways that donors give to the University, from support for Giving Day to monthly donations to estate gifts. However you choose to contribute to Waterloo, please know that we’re grateful for your generosity. Thank you for your profound impact on our community of game changers.
Leadership Inspired by Waterloo’s Unconventional Spirit
Celebrating an Extraordinary Legacy
Dr. Vivek Goel President Emeritus
Your steadfast support fuels so much of what enables Waterloo to thrive: the curiosity in our classrooms, the boldness of our research, the energy of our entrepreneurial spirit and the vibrancy of our communities on and beyond our campuses. Your trust, your belief in our mission and your unwavering commitment have helped Waterloo stay strong through many challenges. For that, I am deeply grateful.
In Kiinomaage‑Aki, the land becomes the teacher.
A Vision Rooted in Reconciliation
Kiinomaage-Aki — the Land of Knowledge — begins with a simple but powerful idea: that reconciliation requires more than words. It requires places where Indigenous students can reconnect with cultural practices, where Elders and Knowledge Keepers can teach in ways that honour tradition, and where non-Indigenous learners can build new relationships with the natural world.
Territorial Acknowledgement
The University of Waterloo acknowledges that much of our work takes place on the traditional territory of the Neutral, Anishinaabeg, and Haudenosaunee peoples. Our main campus is situated on the Haldimand Tract, the land granted to the Six Nations that includes six miles on each side of the Grand River. Our active work toward reconciliation takes place across our campuses through research, learning, teaching and community building, and is co-ordinated within the Office of Indigenous Relations. Learn more about Indigenous initiatives at Waterloo
For Indigenous Peoples, the land is not a backdrop to learning; it is the learning. It holds memory, language, ceremony and relationships that stretch across generations. Within the Environmental Reserve on the university’s North Campus, this understanding is taking physical shape in a new outdoor teaching, discovery and ceremonial space that invites the entire community to learn with the land, not just on it.
The Vision Takes Shape
The vision for Kiinomaage-Aki is now being realized thanks to generous donor support. An anonymous donor has played a foundational role in bringing the project to life. Corporate support from Toyota Motor Manufacturing Canada is also helping move the project forward, reflecting shared commitments to sustainability, community building and reconciliation. A 2.5 hectare site beside Columbia Lake, long a place of quiet refuge for the campus community and beyond, will become such a space. The first phase, scheduled to be completed in late 2026, introduces non-permanent structures — a sweat lodge, tipi and teaching lodge. A proposed medicine trail will wind through the area, inviting students to learn the names, stories and responsibilities tied to traditional plants. These early elements are not simply installations; they are invitations to reconnect, reclaim and remember. The next phases will deepen this experience. Teaching gardens, a ceremonial fire pit, an outdoor kitchen and permanent gathering spaces will support everything from harvesting and food preparation to storytelling, ceremonies and community events. Eventually, indoor learning spaces will allow year-round programming, including classrooms designed for land-based education and kitchens where cultural knowledge can be shared through food. Each step is guided by Indigenous Elders, Knowledge Keepers, students and community leaders — a co-design process that ensures Kiinomaage-Aki reflects Indigenous iconography, teachings and worldviews.
“This work is part of Waterloo’s broader commitment to truth and reconciliation and to embedding Indigenous knowledge into the university’s academic and cultural fabric, but it is also deeply personal,” said John Lewis, interim associate vice-president in the Office of Indigenous Relations. “For Indigenous students, Kiinomaage-Aki will be a place to see themselves reflected in their education — a place to gather, learn, heal and grow. And for non-Indigenous students, it will offer opportunities to shift perspectives, build understanding and engage in conversations that honour the land as a living entity.” Kiinomaage-Aki is more than a project. It is a promise — that the university will continue to walk the path of reconciliation, guided by the land, by community and by the teachings that have shaped this territory. As it grows, so too will the relationships, understanding and care it is designed to nurture — creating space not only for learning, but for listening, connection and shared responsibility for the future.
Transforming Teaching, Learning and Belonging
John Lewis Interim Associate Vice President, Office of Indigenous Relations
“For Indigenous students, Kiinomaage-Aki will be a place to see themselves reflected in their education – a place to gather, learn, heal and grow.”
How a family’s connection to Waterloo continues to inspire generations
For Dr. Desta Leavine, the University of Waterloo was never just a place of higher learning — it was part of her family’s story, a connection rooted in service and enduring values. Following her passing in August, 2025, that connection, and the legacy she upheld, continues to shape the university community in meaningful ways. She was a physician defined by empathy — someone who listened carefully, who showed up fully, and who believed that care extended far beyond diagnosis or treatment. Patients trusted her not only for her expertise, but for her presence. Friends and family describe a woman who was thoughtful, principled and quietly generous, with a deep sense of responsibility to others.
A Father’s Influence
That sense of responsibility was shaped, in part, by her father, Dr. Stanley Leavine. Through his service on the University of Waterloo’s Board of Governors, he helped guide the institution in its early years, contributing both his leadership and his belief in education as a force for good. His involvement in establishing the university mace — a symbol of scholarship, continuity, and shared purpose — reflected values he carried into every part of his life. Those values stayed with Desta. They informed her work, her relationships and how she chose to give back.
The University of Waterloo remained a meaningful part of that story — not as an abstract institution, but as a place filled with memory and meaning. In honouring her father, she created the Dr. Stanley Leavine Award, ensuring that his commitment to leadership and excellence would continue to encourage future students. Also honouring her father’s role in the founding of the university, her support of Founders Hall in the Hagey Hall Hub reflected something equally personal to Desta: a belief in spaces where people can come together, feel connected and grow. Her giving was never about recognition. It was about care — about making life better for others in ways that felt tangible and lasting.
Giving with Intention
Even as she looked to the future, that care remained central. Through a planned gift supporting both the university and Renison University College, Dr. Leavine ensured that her care for others would continue beyond her lifetime. It was a decision rooted not only in legacy, but in a belief in the generations still to come. Today, the symbolism of the University mace endures, just as her father intended. But alongside it is another kind of legacy — less visible, perhaps, but no less powerful. It lives in the students who will benefit from her generosity. In the spaces she helped shape. And in the simple, enduring example of a life lived with purpose, compassion and service to others. In remembering Dr. Desta Leavine, we are reminded that legacy is not only what we leave behind, but what we choose to carry forward. Learn more about Convocation traditions here.
An Enduring Legacy
Her giving was never about recognition. It was about care – about making life better for others in ways that felt tangible and lasting.
Dr. Desta Leavine (left) and Pauline Leavine present Dr. Gerald Hagey with the sterling silver mace in memory of their father, Dr. Stanley F. Leavine, former mayor of Kitchener and founding member of the University of Waterloo Board of Governors.
For Prannoy Chaudhury (BMath ’07), his time as a Faculty of Mathematics student at Waterloo left a lasting impression — not only his time in the classroom, but the friendships he built and the moments they shared across campus, including many hours spent studying in the Dana Porter Library. While many of his friends preferred the group study tables, Chaudhury gravitated towards the individual carrels on the upper floors overlooking the Arts Quad. “The study carrels allowed me to disconnect from the world and focus,” says Chaudhury. Since graduation, Chaudhury has remained a champion of Waterloo by helping current students access the kinds of experiences that shaped him. His most recent gift supported new study carrels and chairs on the seventh floor of Dana Porter Library. “That focused study time built the discipline and academic foundation that benefits me to this day in all aspects of my life,” he says. “I’m thrilled to support future generations of students and the life-long skills they develop in the University’s libraries.”
Prannoy Chaudhury (BMath ’07) Donor
“I’m thrilled to support future generations of students and the life-long skills they develop in the University’s libraries.”
After 60 years of intermittent updates, the University of Waterloo Libraries has recently created a 15-year strategic space plan aligned with the University’s One Waterloo vision, ensuring the Libraries can continue to meet the needs of students and researchers today and into the future. With a future-focused framework, this plan prioritizes student experience, increasing study space and introducing flexible, technology-rich spaces that support hands-on learning, workshops and collaboration. The Libraries is excited to begin the first phase of this plan with the creation of an after-hours space, which is a top priority identified by students in a recent Libraries user survey. Funds from the University, the Libraries, and generous donors like Prannoy Chaudhury allow the Libraries to be responsive to student need, providing inclusive, accessible space for all.
Investing in Spaces for Tomorrow’s Students
Since 1965, Dana Porter Library (originally called the Arts Library) has been at the heart of the Waterloo campus, offering a welcoming space for all students, regardless of discipline or affiliation. As campus life has changed and evolved, the Libraries have remained a constant, adapting to how students learn and work. Computers, collaboration spaces, Wi-Fi – the Libraries have been retrofitted with new ways of studying while retaining the atmosphere beloved by students, complete with bookshelves and study carrels with views of campus. "The library is a reliable space for me to be productive,” says current Faculty of Health student, Lakshmi Muralidhar. “When I need to focus, I can rely on the study carrels. For group projects, there are spaces to collaborate. Having access to both at the Libraries makes a huge difference.”
Donor support is shaping modern library spaces for every kind of learner
At the Heart of Student Life
On average, students spend 86 minutes at the Libraries per visit.
86 min
Average time students spend at the Libraries per visit.
A $500,000 commitment from Waterloo Engineering alum and former Warriors Men’s Hockey captain Blair McArthur (BASc ’85) is transforming the future of men’s hockey at Waterloo.
Inspiring a Culture of Excellence
Waterloo’s men’s hockey program is defined by high performance and academic achievement. Student-athletes consistently demonstrate that success in sport and studies can go hand in hand, with the team achieving an academic average of between 80 – 86 per cent for the past ten years. This culture of discipline, teamwork and leadership development is at the heart of the program’s impact.
The gift — the largest ever to Athletics and Recreation — will support program enhancements and athletic financial awards to help student-athletes excel on the ice and in the classroom. For McArthur, the investment reflects a belief in the lifelong value of varsity athletics. “The teamwork and discipline the Warriors learn will stay with them for the rest of their lives,” says McArthur, CEO of Miller Waste Systems. “The men’s hockey program will prepare them for leadership in their sport and their careers.”
Building on a Legacy of Giving
The McArthur family has long been dedicated to advancing Warriors Athletics and Recreation. Their contributions have supported initiatives including the McArthur Family Press Box and the Leo & Blair McArthur Athletic Excellence Award. This latest gift builds on that legacy, offering new opportunities for student-athletes. To rally support from the community, the gift includes a matching opportunity for selected program funds and athletic financial awards. “We’re truly grateful for Blair’s leadership within our alumni community and his landmark investment in the men’s hockey program,” says Roly Webster, Director of Athletics and Recreation. “Blair is a longtime champion of the Warriors. This gift demonstrates his steadfast commitment to the leaders of tomorrow while inspiring others to contribute to their future success.” By investing in programs like men’s hockey, Waterloo donors are helping to create environments where students can achieve excellence throughout their university journey — and carry those skills into their careers and communities. Based on a story by Claire Mastrangelo. Read the original Waterloo News article here.
Blair McArthur (BASc ’85) Donor
“The teamwork and discipline the Warriors learn will stay with them for the rest of their lives. The men’s hockey program will prepare them for leadership in their sport and their careers.”
Warriors Men’s Hockey team Blair McArthur (front row, third from left), February 1984. University of Waterloo Archives. Graphic Services fonds.
2025-2026 Warriors Men's Hockey team in front of the McArthur Family Media Box. Photo: Courtney Caird.
A Game Changing Investment
Last November, Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering received a transformational $20-million gift from the Gloria Baylis Foundation — an investment that both honours an extraordinary leader and advances the future of education and health innovation.
In recognition of this landmark gift, Engineering 7 (E7) has been renamed the Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building, celebrating the late Dr. Pearl Sullivan, former dean of Waterloo Engineering. A visionary and passionate educator, Sullivan championed experiential learning and student success, and played a pivotal role in bringing E7 to life as a hub for collaboration, technology and innovation.
The gift was announced by Waterloo alumni Frank Baylis (BASc ’86) and Valerie Baylis (BA ’86), who have demonstrated a deep commitment of their own to Waterloo through many gifts to the Faculty of Engineering, the Waterloo Fund, the President Vivek Goel Tribute Fund, the Gloria Baylis Entrance Award, and others. The Gloria Baylis Foundation was created to honour Frank’s mother, Gloria Baylis — a nurse, entrepreneur and civil rights advocate who founded Baylis Medical. This investment reflects the Baylis family’s long connection to Waterloo and a shared belief in education as a catalyst for opportunity and progress. It also aligns with the University’s long-term vision, Waterloo at 100, which focuses on addressing complex global challenges through interdisciplinary research and education.
A Family’s Legacy of Giving to Waterloo
One of the first initiatives of the funding will be the creation of a Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Engineering and Technology. This prestigious position will attract a globally recognized leader to drive research that improves access, efficiency and patient outcomes in health systems. The initiative underscores the growing importance of engineering solutions in tackling health-care challenges worldwide.
Driving Health Innovation
For the Baylis family, this contribution is both personal and forward-looking. Their own experiences at Waterloo inspired their commitment to ensuring future generations have access to the same transformative opportunities. The gift also demonstrates the powerful role philanthropy plays in advancing higher education. By honouring the legacy of leaders like Dr. Sullivan and Gloria Baylis, and by investing in the people and ideas that will shape the future, the Baylis family continues to drive meaningful change at Waterloo and far beyond. Based on a story by Charlotte Danby. Read the original Waterloo News article here.
The Power of Philanthropy
Frank Baylis (BASc ’86) Donor
Waterloo and its people gave me an incredible foundation. We want to ensure that by investing in the future of education, such opportunities remain available and accessible to as many talented people as possible.
Dr. Pearl Sullivan, Dean of Engineering (2012-2019)
Gloria Baylis, a nurse, entrepreneur, and civil rights advocate, founded Baylis Medical in 1983.
Frank Baylis (BASc '86) and Valerie Baylis (BA '86) of the Gloria Baylis Foundation in front of the Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building.
Honouring Dr. Pearl Sullivan
Thank you, Giving Day Donors!
$1.06M Dollars raised*
1,525 Donors
175 Funds supported
In May 2026, our generous community of alumni, faculty, staff, retirees, friends, parents and students came together for our second annual Giving Day. Alongside more than a thousand donors, you made a meaningful difference on campus and across our broader community, shaping student experiences, fueling teaching excellence, propelling research and innovation and strengthening our local and global connections. Together, we’re building a lasting tradition of giving that empowers our future leaders to build a better tomorrow. Thank you for being part of this remarkable collective impact.
Mark Schaan (BA ’02) Marlies Loewen Schaan Scholarship Donor
“As a Waterloo alum, I recognize the formative role the University played for me. Waterloo was where I cut my teeth on policy issues and where I learned the power of leadership. It is also where I learned the importance of building and being in community. This is a hidden underpinning of Waterloo’s success.”
Student Award Recipient (anonymous) 2025 Hallman Foundation Scholars Award Recipient
“Being the first in my family to attend university, I worried about how we would manage financially. Receiving this award has lifted a weight off my shoulders and allowed me to focus more on my university experience without constant financial stress. It also motivates me to be a positive role model for my younger siblings, showing them that, with hard work and support, pursuing higher education is possible. I will always be grateful for the generosity of donors who make opportunities like this possible.”
Ron Champion (BA ’79) President, University of Waterloo Retirees Association
“Making ends meet when you're a student can be pretty tough. One day, as a first-year student, I went to the bank and took out 50 cents for a one-way ride to downtown Kitchener. I didn't have the 50 cents to get back, so I walked back to campus. That's a funny story now, but it wasn't then. I give because students face financial pressures every day.”
Student Participlant (anonymous) 2025 Co-op for Social Good Program Participant
“Co-op for Social Good connected me with the Toronto Fringe, an organization that aligned with my passion for theatre and the arts, and gave me the chance to develop real-world skills and build lasting relationships. I'm incredibly grateful to Waterloo donors.”
$47.3M
Programs
$12.1M
Research
Chairs and Professorships
$1.5M
$4.7M
Buildings
$11.6M
Scholarships
$38.2M
Foundations, Corporations and Organizations
$31.5M
Honorary Alumni and Alumni
$3.1M
Students
Raised from the following groups
$77.2M Raised from the following groups
$3.9M
Parents and friends
$0.5M
Faculty, Staff and Retirees**
These figures represent dollars RAISED and include cash, pledges, gifts-in-kind and other revenue promised or given May 1, 2025 to April 30, 2026. Figures exclude payments on pledges made prior to the current year. All figures are unaudited. ** Overall, Waterloo’s Faculty, Staff and Retiree campaign raised in excess of $1.2M. This figure comprises gifts from all sources, including the Board of Governors, faculty, staff, retirees and alumni who work for Waterloo.
1,278
monthly donors
907
individually named endowments
30
new endowments established in 2025/2026
Total raised
$77.2M Total raised
$707,600,000
Total endowment market value, as at April 30, 2026. The value at which investments in the endowment pool could be sold in the open market.
$525,900,000
Total book value, as at April 30, 2026. The value of all contributions and capitalized earnings that have been deposited in the endowment principal.
Fanny Patterson The Patterson Rozee Family Foundation
“Establishing endowed awards was a way to celebrate and honour my parents by helping to continue the work they did. You put it out there, and then you get to have the fun of seeing what happens next.”
*Funds collected for 2026 Giving Day were received after the 2025-2026 fiscal year and will be reflected in next year’s overall financials. Giving Day activity was a time-bound dedicated fundraising event held between May 1 to May 21, culminating on May 21.
Jean Andrey (PhD ’89) Former Dean, Faculty of Environment
“Waterloo has been like a second home to me. Since 1983, the Faculty of Environment community has given me so many opportunities and relationships. Now, in retirement, I focus on giving back by supporting student scholarships, like the Jean Andrey Environment Leadership Scholarship. The Faculty is a place with heart and mission, and belonging connects my past, present and future. Being actively involved is the only way to give back, and it’s a way to help build a better future.”
“As somebody who was a student in the Faculty of Mathematics when there was only one math building, I believe a new building is a big leap forward. The Statistics and Actuarial Science Lab in M4 will provide a better learning environment and better support for graduate students in those disciplines. When I went to the University of Waterloo as a student, I felt that it was a really excellent institution. Now, going back and looking at the University from a governance perspective, I can see that it is orders of magnitude better than it was. It’s important to me to be part of the University’s evolution to the next level.”
Melanie Hannaford Administrative Officer, University of Waterloo Libraries
“I donate monthly to the Libraries because I believe in what we do and see its impact every day. Supporting our students and programs is something I'm proud to be part of - both in my work, and through giving.”
Russell Hiscock (BMath ’75) Former Board of Governors
6,687*
donors in 42 countries
*Figure does not include the thousands of students each year who make voluntary contributions.
I'm currently in the Czech Republic, where I have the opportunity to work in one of the most impressive laboratories I've ever seen. This endowed award has given me the chance to meet wonderful researchers, explore new scientific ideas, and learn from an environment that is truly inspiring.
175,000+
Giving Day game plays
Negar Rajabi Dehnavi 2025 David Johnston International Experience Award Recipient
For the year ending April 30, 2026, our endowment fund achieved a total return of 16.92%, and over the past ten years, it has delivered an annualized return of 8.51%. Note: Figures are net of fees.
16.92%
Aida Kamel, University of Waterloo Retiree
“When you give to the Waterloo Fund, you're backing opportunities that shape our student experience in so many meaningful ways. Thank you.”
Kelly McManus (PhD ’25) Associate Vice President, Community Relations and Events
“I'm proud to contribute as a new member of our University of Waterloo alumni community. I support the Faculty of Health because health research, student experiential learning, and knowledge mobilization make our communities and our residents stronger, together.”
Jordan Bauman Waterloo Senate Student Representative
Endowed Awards: Created to Endure
Generous donors help Waterloo students achieve their educational goals through endowed scholarships and awards. Miriam Palmer received the Jenny Francis Graduate Award in Architecture in 2025. Recently, we caught up with Miriam to learn more about her Waterloo experience, career ambitions and how this endowed award has supported her journey.
Miriam Palmer BAS ’24, MArch Candidate 2025 Jenny Francis Graduate Award in Architecture Recipient
Tell us a bit about yourself. I'm a Master of Architecture candidate at Waterloo, where I chose to continue my education after an incredible undergraduate experience at the School of Architecture. Being part of a small, close-knit program allowed me to develop meaningful friendships, build a professional network, and really get to know my professors. This depth of connection brought me back to the graduate program, where I have the freedom to conduct self-directed research.
What’s been your most rewarding experience at Waterloo? I had the opportunity to be part of an elective taught by Prof. Tara Bissett that examined the archival afterlives of the Mercer Reformatory for Women in Toronto, an institution that had been largely hidden from public memory but whose traces lived on in the form of drawings, documents and photographs. We analyzed this material to paint a fuller picture of life in and around the reformatory. This work extended beyond the course into a final exhibition at a local architecture firm, parts of which are now showing at the Museum of Toronto. Other university galleries across Canada have also expressed interest in our work. It was a deeply impactful experience to be exposed to this style of research and to see it reach such a large audience.
What has this award meant to you? This award has widened the geographical and intellectual scope of my research, enabling me to access archival collections in Berlin and connect with the archivists and activists who manage these rare materials. The opportunity to explore these material ephemera and think more deeply about the act of archiving has clarified my ambitions and areas of research interest post-graduation, as I look towards a career outside of traditional architectural practice.
