ALUMNI BLACK AND GOLD DAY SCHEDULE

FRIDAY SEPTEMBER 24, 2021

What exactly is possible in a 5G world? …And how will it change our individual experience? …In Canada and around the world? 
What innovations has UW had a hand in, and are we developing research and talent for this ecosystem? 

Join us for the fourth and final installation of the successful “Humans and…” panel event series in partnership with the Faculty of Arts, featuring guests from the Stratford School of Design and Rogers Communications - founding corporate partner of the Gateway for Enterprises to Discover Innovation (GEDI) at the University of Waterloo.

Moderator


​Christine McWebb, Director and Professor, Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business

Professor McWebb has been Director of the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business at the University of Waterloo since 2016 and is a Professor in the School as well. As founding director of the academic programs at the Stratford School (2011-2016), she was responsible for the development of new programs in the Digital Arts, Technology and Business space and has enjoyed this work tremendously. Building a wonderful campus community and brand-new programs from the ground up has been challenging and extremely rewarding. She also served as interim Associate Vice-President, International in Waterloo International in 2020.

Before joining the Stratford School, she was a faculty member in the Department of French Studies at the University of Waterloo and in the Department of Modern Languages and Cultural Studies at the University of Alberta. She has published extensively in the areas of late medieval literature/culture, the interaction between text and iconography, scientific discourse in literature, and the Digital Humanities. As director and a researcher of the MARGOT project, she lead several international collaborative projects in the area of Digital Humanities, such as the development of image annotation software and the creation of enriched databases of medieval manuscripts. Her teaching spans undergraduate and graduate courses in Digital --Humanities, Digital Experience Innovation, Digital Cultures as well as in French literature/culture.


Panelists

 

Alexander R. Brock, SVP, Technology Strategy, Innovation and Partnerships, Rogers Communications

Alexander is responsible for analyzing, determining and recommending medium to long-term technology strategy at Rogers. He is accountable for Rogers’ technology innovation programs including the technology research and development relationships with universities (such as UBC and University of Waterloo) and incubators (such as Communitech and ENCQOR). In addition, Alexander also administers Rogers’ radio spectrum portfolio, and leads the company’s spectrum strategy and auction team.

Since joining Rogers in 1994, Alexander has worked in the Cable, Wireless and Enterprise Business divisions on a wide variety of projects spanning technology and business strategy and M&A. Alexander represents Rogers on several external organizations and boards including: the GSM Association Technology Committee; the Cable Television Laboratories (CableLabs); HP Communications Advisory Board and the Orion Wireless Partnership.

 

 

Catherine Burns, Executive Director, Health Initiatives and Sponsored Research

Catherine M. Burns is a Professor in Systems Design Engineering at the University of Waterloo, Canada where she directs her research lab, the Advanced Interface Design Lab and holds a Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Human Factors and Healthcare Systems.

Catherine is well known for her work in Cognitive Work Analysis, Ecological Interface Design and the development of decision support systems. In this area she has contributed over 250 publications and is the co-author of seven books. She is a Fellow of the Human Factors and Ergonomics Society. Catherine’s recent research projects have been exploring how naval crews work with data fusion systems, how people might work with artificial intelligence systems, interactions with automated vehicles, and support for improved medical decision making.

 

 

Leah Zhang-Kennedy, Assistant Professor Stratford School of Design

Leah teaches User Experience Design and Research at the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, University of Waterloo. She joined Waterloo from an interdisciplinary background bridging academic areas such as human-computer interaction, computer science, and graphic design.

In her teaching and research, Leah believes in an interdisciplinary approach, integrating methods and analytical frameworks from multiple disciplines to examine a topic. In particular, she is interested in the forces at play in technology, users, and experiences. As technology changes rapidly, UX design and research will inevitably evolve with it. She is excited to share what she has learned with her students, and as young people are the next generation of users and technologists, she hopes that they will have something to teach her as well.


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Alumni, family and friends are you ready for some friendly competition? Join us for Happy Hour Trivia at Alumni Black and Gold Day (@home). Six Faculties, three rounds, 60 questions, nine prizes and a whole lot of fun! Are you up to the challenge?

Round 1 at 4:15pm: Going for Gold, Sci-Math Olympics Trivia

Join the Faculties of Math and Science as the go behind Going for Gold! This Olympics trivia based competition will provide fun for the whole family with questions based on the math and science behind Olympic greatness. Do you have what it takes to stand on top of the SCI-MATH podium in the gold medal spot?

Round 2 at 4:45pm: People, Pop Culture and the Planet

What famous Dr. Seuss book included important themes of pollution, climate change and deforestation? In the TV show The Office, what cause did Michael Scott fundraise for by hosting a Fun Run? Join the Faculties of Health and Environment and test your pop culture trivia chops on topics related to the health of people and the planet.

Round 3 at 5:15pm: Marvel vs DC

Are you Team Marvel, or Team DC? Join the Faculties of Arts and Engineering as they go head to head to settle the longstanding debate over who wins the superhero battle of Marvel vs DC!

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Come join the UWaterloo Toronto Alumni Chapter for a virtual meet and greet information session! Alumni chapters offer a wide variety of activities for local alumni and students abroad on co-op and exchange terms. Through a variety of events and initiatives, these Alumni Chapters are keeping Waterloo grads connected to Waterloo by getting involved in an alumni community beyond Ring Road.

The Toronto Alumni Chapter represents the largest concentration of alumni in a region. Join Chapter leaders and members before the concert for a drink and to learn more about how you can become involved in Chapter events and networking, to give your feedback and receive UWaterloo swag.

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Come join the Waterloo Region Alumni Chapter for a virtual meet and greet information session! Alumni chapters offer a wide variety of activities for local alumni and students abroad on co-op and exchange terms. Through a variety of events and initiatives, these Alumni Chapters are keeping Waterloo grads connected to Waterloo by getting involved in an alumni community beyond Ring Road.

The Waterloo Alumni Chapter represents the second largest concentration of alumni in a region. Join Chapter leaders and members before the concert for a drink and to learn more about how you can become involved in Chapter events and networking, to give your feedback and receive UWaterloo swag.

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Featuring music from Waterloo alumni and friends, the Virtual Concert will be streamed live from campus to alumni backyards and living rooms around the world. The concert is paired best with a Concert in a Box (available for purchase), full of Waterloo swag and treats to unbox alongside the live music performances.

$5 from each box will be donated to the UW MATES peer support program.

 

Host - Amanda Kind (BA '06)

Amanda Kind is a singer, songwriter, vocal coach, entertainment marketer, and a proud UW alumna. Her work in the arts and music community has garnered her a Waterloo Region Arts Award, the Rogers Television Woman of the Year Award, and recognition as one of the region’s Top 40 Under 40. She’s passionate about community, culture, and kindness and loves connecting with people. Learn more about her at www.amandakind.com or on Instagram @missakind.

 

 

Lyle Kam (Current Student)

Student by day and musician by night, 21 year-old Toronto-based singer-songwriter Lyle Kam is just getting started.

Lyle’s curiosity for creating something different led him to sound design and production, allowing him to develop his sound to reach mainstream audiences without losing sight of where he came from. With sonic comparisons to Ed Sheeran, LAUV, and Shawn Mendes, Lyle pours his heart into his music, tackling the experience of life, love, and loss, all while working toward his university degree.

On his latest EP “Folly”, he says “I really wanted to focus on recreating what it feels like to experience all these stages of a failed relationship. I originally wrote these songs as a way to just get my own emotions out, but I've seen the effect that music can have on people, and the comfort it can bring to those going through something similar.”

 

 

Safe as Houses

Safe as Houses is a five-piece alternative-folk outfit from Kitchener, ON.

Fresh off the release of their critically acclaimed 3rd studio album, Lucky Lucky, Safe as Houses continues to push boundaries in the folk world with their genre-splicing alternative-folk sound, infused with flecks of pop and rock.

Armed with a collection of youth-driven anthems, this kinetic quintet has amassed a cult following, spiralling out from their hometown of Kitchener, ON, where bandmates Elliot Anton (guitar, vocals) and Bensen Carter (cello, bass, vocals), along with brothers Andrew Laughton (guitar, vocals) and Thomas Laughton (drums, vocals), laid the bands monumental foundation.

Chasing a more expansive sound, Safe As Houses enlisted Lauren Taylor (violin, vocals) to round out their signature string-centric arrangements and soften the edges of their soul-stirring harmonies. Since their debut on the music scene in 2014 with their freshman album, The Fall of a Sparrow, and further fuelled by their follow-up releases, Hurricane (2016), and Lucky Lucky (2018), audiences and critics alike have celebrated their undeniable musical aptitude, praising theirtight performances and likening them to legendary artists: “Their music follows in the footsteps of Mumford & Sons with orchestral arrangements and big builds...will leave you with goosebumps.” - BAM Productions.

 

 

the Water Boys

Founded in 2008, the Water Boys are the University of Waterloo's premier lower-voices a cappella group and band of (non-gendered) brothers.

They sing musically intricate arrangements of top 50, pop, rock, contemporary, and classic songs and put on fun performances on and off-campus. They also compete in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella and were finalists in 2017!

​ In 2021, the Water Boys placed 3rd in the International Championship of Collegiate A Cappella Central Quarterfinal and received the Outstanding Mix award!

 

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The Alumni Black and Gold Day at home Virtual Concert is paired best with a Concert in a Box, full of Waterloo swag and treats to unbox alongside the live music performances. Boxes are available for delivery across Canada, with a limited number available for shipping to the United States. Boxes must be purchased by September 16, 2021 to deliver in time for Alumni Black and Gold Day.

Each Concert in a Box contains:

$5 from each box will be donated to the UW MATES peer support program.

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The Concert in a Box is proudly supported by Manulife


Come join the UWaterloo Vancouver Alumni Chapter for a virtual meet and greet information session! Alumni chapters offer a wide variety of activities for local alumni and students abroad on co-op and exchange terms. Through a variety of events and initiatives, these Alumni Chapters are keeping Waterloo grads connected to Waterloo by getting involved in an alumni community beyond Ring Road.

Join Chapter leaders and members before the concert for a drink and to learn more about how you can become involved in Chapter events and networking, to give your feedback and receive UWaterloo swag.

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SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 25, 2021

Join instructors from the University of Waterloo Engineering Science Quest program for an all-new one hour workshop! 

Using the complimentary materials kit, you'll have to chance to make your very own, one-of-a-kind musical instrument! We'll cover conductivity, block coding, and some Engineering design principles to help you create your own at-home musical masterpiece.

Required tech: A laptop or PC
Recommend grade: Grade 2 and up (parental assistance may be required)

A limited number of complimentary materials kits will be available for shipping to participants in Ontario.

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The ESQ Kids' STEM Workshop is proudly supported by Manulife


Cheer on the Warriors Women's Rugby team as they take on the Trent Excalibur in an exciting game streamed live from Warrior Field. Celebrate our student-athletes with exclusive interviews, live commentary, and a celebration of Warrior spirit and the return to sport!

Interested in attending the game in person? Reserve your free seat now - spaces are limited!

ON-DEMAND PROGRAMMING

The Great Waterloo Goosechase is a Waterloo-themed scavenger hunt that will be available on the Goosechase app. Participants can work with friends and family as a team, or go solo to complete missions and score points that help them climb the leaderboard. ​The game will run from Monday, September 20 to Sunday, September 26, 2021. 

Missions can be completed from anywhere, and prizes will be awarded by random draw from all those who participate! The more missions you complete, the more entries you get into the draw! See full contest rules and regulations

How to Play:

  1. Get the app - Download the GooseChase app on the App Store or Google Play.
  2. Join the game - Once in the app, choose to play as a guest, sign up or if you already have an account, log in.
    • Tap the search icon and enter The Great Waterloo Goosechase Scavenger Hunt. Or use the game code, 7ZZBE4.
    • Select how you'll appear in the game, as an individual player or as part of a team, and away you go!
  3. Complete missions - To earn points, choose a mission from the game list and follow the instructions. Mission types include photos, videos, checking-in at specific locations, or answering questions and riddles.
  4. See the action... live! - Use the live activity feed to scope out the competition. You can pull inspiration from what others are doing, or give big thumbs up to the submissions you think are awesome.

Prizes:

  • 2 x Peace Collective Prizes - Up to $200.00 CAD to spend on any in-stock apparel and goods from The Peace Collective, founded by Waterloo alumnus Yanal Dhailieh (BSc ’12).
  • 2 x W Store Gifts - Up to $200.00 CAD to spend on any in-stock apparel and goods from the W Store, featuring exclusive Waterloo Alumni branded swag.
  • 2 x Instacart Gift Card - $200.00 CAD gift card for Instacart grocery deliveries, founded by Waterloo alumnus Apoorva Mehta (BASc ’08).

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Join professors, researchers, students and other members of the campus community as they offer a crash course in their area of study. From an in depth look at the human brain to exploring how psychedelics are being used in mental health treatments, experts from the University of Waterloo will offer a glimpse into their labs and classrooms to provide a fast-paced learning opportunity to viewers at any knowledge level.

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The Back to the Classroom video series is proudly supported by BMO University of Waterloo Mastercard