Waterloo News - Arts

Tasting the legacy of five Waterloo foodie founders

Angelica Sanchez — Fri, 04 Jul 2025 18:21:24 +0000

From bubble tea to craft beer and delicious bites, Waterloo entrepreneurs are serving up success stories of passion, purpose and community, one food venture at a time

Many of the world’s most vibrant culinary and food innovation scenes are rooted in strong academic communities and the University of Waterloo is no exception. Known for its legacy of entrepreneurship, Waterloo has also helped cultivate a new generation of food innovators who are transforming how we grow, prepare and experience food.

Across the Waterloo-Wellington area, alumni-founded food shops, cafés and breweries are redefining what it means to eat local. These five ventures are more than just places to grab a bite; they’re creating jobs, supporting local food producers and drawing visitors to vibrant, community-driven spaces that offer everything from handcrafted ice cream to bold Egyptian street food.

Elora Brewing Company

Jim Murphy (BASc ’95)
Alum, Faculty of Engineering
> CEO, chairman and co-founder, Elora Brewing Company

In 2015, Jim Murphy (BASc ’95) joined fellow Waterloo Engineering alum, Jonathan Laurencic (BA ’10), along with Matt Lawson, Don Smith and Alex Nicols, to turn a shared passion for home brewing into Elora Brewing Company. Housed in a 160-year-old limestone building, the brewery blends their love of craft beer and locally sourced food with a welcoming community space that’s alive from morning to night.

Murphy, now co-founder, chairman and CEO, has spent more than 25 years driving innovation — building exceptional teams, launching cutting-edge products and shaping the technology landscape. After selling his software design firm, Boltmade, to Shopify in 2016, he led their Waterloo office as director of Engineering.

In a spirited celebration of 100 years of the Iron Ring tradition, Elora Brewing Company partnered with Waterloo Engineering to release the limited-edition Ring Road Lager, with proceeds supporting future engineering students through the 100 Years of Canadian Engineering Fund.

Watch video on YouTube

Four All Ice Cream

Ajoa Mintah (BASc ’01)
Alum, Faculty of Engineering
> CEO and founder, Four All Ice Cream

Ajoa Mintah (BASc ’01) studied chemical engineering at Waterloo and went on to explore different careers from product developer to consultant before becoming an entrepreneur. After 15 years in engineering, she followed her creative instincts and founded Four All Ice Cream, becoming its chief ice cream maker.

Her journey began during a 2003 heatwave, when she bought an ice cream maker instead of an air conditioner — saving money and discovering a passion for hand-crafted, all-natural ice cream. Today, with two scoop shops in Kitchener-Waterloo, Mintah crafts ice cream made with locally sourced ingredients that’s both delicious and health conscious. Four All uses A2 milk — a natural and easy-to-digest option — and offers flavours in four categories: classic, vegan, childhood and foodie, delivering on its mission to bring “a taste of joy for everyone.”

For nearly a decade, Four All has partnered with local farmers and makers to invent fresh and seasonal flavours that celebrate the best of Waterloo region. In 2022, Four All received the Small Business of the Year award from the Greater Kitchener Waterloo Chamber of Commerce.

LenJo Bakes

Lenore Johnson (BA ’13)
Alum, Faculty of Arts
> Owner and cake maker extraordinaire, LenJo Bakes

Lenore Johnson (BA ’13) earned a degree in economics before training as a pastry chef, gaining experience in five-star hotels and Michelin-starred restaurants in London, England. She started LenJo Bakes in 2017 as a pop-up boutique on Waiheke Island, New Zealand, before establishing her bakery in Kitchener.

Since 2020, LenJo Bakes has created local jobs, sourced ingredients from regional suppliers and supported fellow small businesses. With locations in midtown Kitchener and St. Jacobs, the bakery offers bespoke cakes, artisanal pastries and savory dishes that reflects their deep commitment to quality and creativity.

Rooted in values of sustainability, inclusivity and community, LenJo Bakes exemplifies how small businesses can drive both economic and social impact. She also served as a venture coach for the Caribbean Canadian Association of Waterloo Region's LiftOff Program, the region’s first Black-led incubator supporting early-stage and growth-focused Black entrepreneurs. She is currently a venture coach with Conestoga College's Entrepreneurship Collective.

Photo credit: Julie Baxter, JD Photography.

Sweet Dreams Teashop

Jin-Hee (Jinny) Song (BA ’02)
Alum, Faculty of Arts
> Founder of Sweet Dreams Teashop

Founded by Jin-Hee (Jinny) Song (BA ’02) while still a fourth-year student, Sweet Dreams Teashop quickly became Waterloo’s original bubble tea hotspot — known for its authentic Taiwanese tea flavours and East Asian bites. But Song’s vision went beyond drinks; she wanted to create a space where students and locals could relax, connect and feel at home.

Now surrounded by more than 20 bubble tea spots in the region, Sweet Dreams still stands out. Loyal customers — including generations of Waterloo grads — return for the warm atmosphere, nostalgic memories and community spirit.

Tut's Egyptian Street Food

Amr Elmazariky (MASc ’11)
Alum, Faculty of Engineering
> CEO and founder, Tut's Egyptian Street Food

After more than a decade as an electrical engineer, Amr Elmazariky (MASc ’11) traded circuits for spices to pursue his passion for food and hospitality. Founded in 2020 in downtown Toronto, Tut’s Egyptian Street Food brings the vibrant flavours of Cairo to Canadian streets, offering high-quality Egyptian dishes made fresh daily.

Despite launching during a global pandemic, Elmazariky’s resilience and innovation helped Tut’s grow rapidly, expanding to seven locations across Ontario — including a return to Waterloo, the city that helped shape his journey.

While students were adapting to online learning, Elmazariky was taking his own crash course — learning to bake traditional Egyptian bread over Zoom with guidance from an Egyptian consultant. Today, every item on Tut’s menu is made using authentic recipes and served on house-made bread, staying true to its roots while enriching Canada’s culinary landscape.

Photo credit: Amr Elmazariky.

Next time you’re craving something delicious, look no further than our alumni community — where Waterloo founders are not only feeding communities, but are also fueling local economies and tourism, celebrating culture and building a more sustainable future, one bite at a time.

Keep calm, adapt and carry on

Sam Charles — Thu, 03 Jul 2025 12:10:09 +0000

University of Waterloo economist breaks down the current economic situation in Canada, and says there is light at the end of the tunnel

After emerging from the pandemic on a relatively strong footing, the Canadian economy is now dealing with considerable trade and investment uncertainty because of U.S. policies, including tariffs.

“Coming out of the pandemic, our economy was already facing a cost-of-living crisis, labour market struggling to adapt to demographic and immigration changes, business under-investment and slow-growing productivity, in addition to high inflation,” says Dr. Horatiu Rus, a professor of Economics who specializes in international trade, political economy and the environment. “Starting early this year, and due to policy changes in our largest economic partner, Canada’s challenging economic outlook has become substantially more challenging.”

Faced with this economic instability, Rus says individuals would be well-advised to take a precautionary stance when planning all spending, investments and savings, and should consider in the short to medium run potentially significant swings in prices, interest rates, the exchange rate and employment opportunities economy wide.

There are indications that all sides will renegotiate the Canada-United States-Mexico Agreement (CUSMA), the successor of North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA), which was already set to be reviewed in 2026. “Limiting the amount of tariffs faced by Canadian exporters to the U.S. is the focus of these negotiations, but more importantly, so is reducing the massive levels of uncertainty dragging down investment and thus economic growth.”

According to Rus, American protectionism is making it even more imperative for Canada to diversify its trade relations to reduce its reliance on the U.S. “On the policy side, the government is taking steps to find a negotiated solution, while, simultaneously promising to cushion the blow for exporters experiencing sharp declines in their main export market due to tariffs and working to diversify Canada’s international trade flows.”

“As a trade economist, I do not support a policy of broad tariffs,” Rus says. “The academic literature is clear on the effects of protectionism – tariffs increase prices for consumers, make intermediate goods more expensive for businesses, diminish the efficiency gains from specialization and production at scale, decrease product variety and ultimately reduce the economic potential of the economy over the long run.”

Canada and the U.S. have one of the largest economic partnerships in the world, and this latest economic squabble may have additional implications. Rus says the significant U.S. policy shift is building further divides between the two countries, including in the environmental realm. “Based on my research that investigates the interaction between trade and pollution, and trade and renewable resource exploitation, I believe there are many sustainability-related policy areas in Canada — many of them in fact under provincial jurisdiction — which will have to adapt to the new policy regime south of the border.”

The economic relationship between Canada and the U.S. has fluctuated throughout its history. More recently, the border thinned following NAFTA in the 1990s then thickened following September 11, 2001. “Like a marriage, the relationship between Canada and US will continue to weather its ups and downs, but the North American economy is highly integrated and geography dictates close trade ties going forward: it's hard to fight gravity.”

The soundtrack of your life could be key to memory

Pamela Smyth — Tue, 24 Jun 2025 12:12:36 +0000

Psychology researchers studying music find what cues feelings of nostalgia

Listening to familiar music can trigger vivid memories, and new research suggests that it isn’t just sentimental lyrics or clever rhymes that take us back in time.

Researchers from the University of Waterloo investigated which component of music is most powerful in evoking memories. They compared listener reactions to hearing only spoken lyrics or the produced songs. They found that complete songs were most effective in taking the listener down memory lane because we connect them to specific times and emotions.

This is the first study to propose a reason for why songs can cue detailed memories of our past. It is part of an ongoing series looking at whether individuals with dementia could use playlists from their youth to aid recall of precious memories from their past.

“We found songs were more effective and often brought back personal memories from the time when the song was popular,” said Dr. Myra Fernandes, a professor in the Department of Psychology at Waterloo. “Music helps us remember by connecting memories to a certain period in our lives.”

Using a range of popular songs released between 2017 and 2020, the researchers asked 84 participants to listen to excerpts of pop songs and spoken lyrics. For each clip, they responded as soon as a personal memory came to mind and wrote about it. The researchers analyzed the recall speed, timeframe and the feelings that the participants reported for memories elicited by the songs and lyrics.

The results suggest that songs act as temporal landmarks, or timestamps, that help guide the brain’s search through memory banks.

The study revealed that more positive and upbeat songs were associated with greater likelihood of triggering positive memories.

“Remarkably, song cues also led to stronger feelings of re-living or re-experiencing an event. And this is particularly relevant for older adults who may have difficulty spontaneously recreating past events from their lives,” Fernandes said.

Dr. Pelin Tanberg and Dr. Ryan Yeung, who were PhD candidates working in the Cognitive Neuroscience Lab in the Department of Psychology at the time of this work, are co-authors of the paper. The study, Evidence of temporal and emotional alignment between song cues and their evoked autobiographical memories, appears in Memory & Cognition.

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Waterloo represents within BetaKit Most Ambitious List of 2025

Sam Charles — Mon, 23 Jun 2025 19:38:24 +0000

More than 20 founders from Waterloo highlight the newly unveiled list that celebrates those making the biggest impact inside Canadian tech and innovation

As a hub of entrepreneurship and innovation, it’s no surprise that companies and founders linked to the University of Waterloo have a noticeable presence among those featured within BetaKit’s Most Ambitious List.

Waterloo ranks as the top university in Canada for startup founders and 21st in the world according to the Pitchbook University Rankings. Recently released data shows that Velocity, Waterloo’s core entrepreneurship incubator, has more than 500 companies with a combined enterprise value of $40 billion.

The Most Ambitious List includes several categories including the “Moon Shots” (Canadians reaching for the stars), “Deep Tech,” “World Savers,” “Category Challengers,” “Expats,” “The Products,” and “The Next Generation.”

From student leaders to established founders and companies, the BetaKit list featured some of Waterloo’s best and brightest. Of the four organizations listed among the next generation of Canadian tech was Socratica. The social entrepreneurship collective recently hosted an event in Waterloo that brought together nearly 2500 people to collaborate and share ideas.

"We’re proud to show how when we bring people in, hand them real responsibility and resources, and believe in them, we can do more as an ecosystem," says Jake Rudolph, an engineering student and one of the Socratica’s organizers.

Jetson recognized in the “World Savers” category

Co-founded by Stephen Lake (BASc ’12), Aaron Grant (BASc ’12) and Matt Bailey (BASc ’12), Vancouver-based Jetson is a climate tech product manufacturer that is developing new ways to install heat pumps in residential buildings and homes.

Challengers are breaking open markets and making Canada more competitive

Rachel Bartholomew (MBET ’14), Float, and MappedIn are listed as challengers for reshaping Canadian markets. Bartholomew is the founder and CEO of Hyivy, a company focused on creating therapeutic and remote monitoring devices for gynecological conditions. She is also the founder and lead advisor for Femtech Canada, an advocacy organization for women working in the innovation space.

Former engineering student Hongwei Liu co-founded MappedIn’ while at Waterloo along with Toby Gu (BASc ’15), Mitch Butler and Leander Lee (BCS ’13). Waterloo alum Edward Wei (BCS ’06) is MappedIn’s CTO. The Velocity-linked company is an indoor maps wayfinding platform.

Another Velocity-linked company to make the list is Float which is making waves in the corporate credit card market. Last year, Float co-founders Ruslan Nikolaev (BCS ‘20) and Griffin Keglevich secured $50 million to expand its financial products and innovate business-to-business financial services.

Wealthsimple also made the challenger category. Its Chief Legal Officer is Waterloo arts alum Blair Wiley (BA ’04).

Most ambitious products that have people talking

Among the list of ambitious products are Able Innovations. Able Innovations is a Velocity company that develops solutions for lifting and moving patients within health care settings.

"Being recognized in BetaKit's Most Ambitious list is a great affirmation that Canadian innovation can compete on the global stage when we're willing to take calculated risks and push boundaries,” says Jayiesh Singh, CEO of Able Innovations. “This recognition isn't just about what we've accomplished, it's about the responsibility we have to continue driving solutions that are improving lives and creating better systems."

Rounding out the list are Core Devices, Ideogram, Wave View Imaging and 1Password. Smartware company Core Devices was founded by Eric Migicovsky (BASc ’09). The company recently announced a pair of new smartwatches that run on open-source PebbleOS. Ideogram, a text-to-image platform, was co-founded by William Chan (BASc ’11) in 2022. The following year, it received $16.5 million in seed funding. Wave View Imaging, a non-intrusive imaging system designed to enhance early detection, was co-founded by Elise Fear (BASc ’95) who now serves as CSO.

The CEO of the Waterloo-led unicorn, 1Password, is Jeff Shiner (BMath ’92). The global cybersecurity company protects more than 150,000 businesses and millions of consumers around the world.

The moon shots reaching for the stars

Two companies with Waterloo connections were featured for their Canadian-made innovations that are literally reaching for the stars. Canadian Space Mining Corporation (CSMC) is led by COO Adam Gryfe (MBET ’11). CSMC is an infrastructure and technology company focused on filling key gaps in future space exploration in areas that address Earth’s immediate challenges. The CEO of MDA Space is Mike Greenley (MSc ’97). The space mission partner supports communications satellites, Earth and space observation, space exploration and infrastructure.

Deep tech working on the next big breakthrough

Photonic and Xanadu were among the companies included within the deep tech category. Photonic was founded by Stephanie Simmons (BMath ’08). Today, she serves as the company’s Chief Quantum Officer. The company is building one of the first scalable, distributed, fault-tolerant and unified quantum computing and networking platforms based on optically-linked silicon spin qubits.

Xanadu recently unveiled the world’s first scalable, networked and modular quantum computer. The company’s CTO is Nathan Killoran (PhD ’12, physics).

Since its founding, the University of Waterloo has always been bold and unconventional. It continues to be a place where ambitious innovators and ideas take root. Through transformational research and inspired learning, Waterloo is helping to identify and solve the complex challenges facing humanity and our planet.

The Betakit’s Toronto Tech Week Special Issue also includes an interview with Waterloo professor Larry Smith.

Technological Futures

Congratulations, Class of 2025!

Darren Mc Almont — Mon, 16 Jun 2025 21:45:21 +0000

Waterloo welcomes more than 7,700 new graduates to its alumni club and celebrates their bold new journeys

Spring 2025 Convocation was a spectacular celebration of dedication, resilience and triumph. As graduates crossed the stage, their hard work and perseverance shone brightly after navigating some of the most challenging times in recent history, including beginning their degrees during the height of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Across five days and 14 vibrant ceremonies, Waterloo’s campus came alive with the cheers of proud families, friends, faculty and staff — all gathered to honour the incredible accomplishments of our graduating students.

“I was truly inspired by the remarkable accomplishments of our graduates,” says Dr. Vivek Goel, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Waterloo. “As each new graduate transitions to Waterloo’s remarkable alumni community, they are poised to tackle global challenges and contribute to a more sustainable and equitable future for humanity and our planet.”  

Behind the scenes, the magic was made possible by a dedicated team of 207 staff and alumni volunteers, 94 student ambassadors and seven retirees. From ambassadors and ushers to stage support and accessibility assistants, these incredible individuals ensured that every moment ran smoothly for thousands of graduates and their loved ones.

A total of 230 PhD, 957 master’s and 6,155 undergraduate degrees were conferred to new alumni during Spring 2025 Convocation. Here are some of the memorable moments from the ceremonies.

‘Curiosity is my own superpower’

In the chancellor’s address to the Class of 2025, Dr. Jagdeep Bachher (BASc ’93, MASc ’94, PhD ’00) encouraged graduates to unlock new possibilities by remaining curious and embracing the changes occurring around them.

“Waterloo is a place of change, innovation and new, bold beginnings. ‘What supercharges new beginnings?’ Curiosity,” he said. “That means asking audacious questions of yourself and of others.”

Bachher further encouraged graduates to be steadfast in their values in the face of injustice and external pressures.

“What makes me proud to be your chancellor is your courage. The courage to stand up for what’s right, to challenge the status quo, to be kind when it’s easier not to be, and to choose inclusion, humility and decency … even when the world doesn’t reward those things. These are my Sikh values, these are Canadian values, these are human values,” he shared.

Watch the Chancellor’s full speech on YouTube

‘The perfect year to graduate’

On June 11, Faculty of Mathematics valedictorian Keeley Isinghood (BMath ’25) delivered a creative address on why 2025 is the perfect year to graduate from Waterloo. As her fellow mathematicians would appreciate, Isinghood used numbers, equations and percentages to inspire her peers.

“There is something special about the number 2025. 2025 is a perfect square — 45 times 45 gives you 2025,” she explained “Some of you may be thinking that this is not so special, but only those aged 89 or older were alive for the last perfect square year, 1936, and it will be 91 years until the next perfect square year, 2116,” she said. “So, for the majority of us in this room, 2025 is the only perfect square year we will live to see.”

Isinghood also encouraged the graduating class to make the most of every moment even when things don’t seem to add up.

“Our lives are the sums of all the events, the perfect and the imperfect.”

Watch Isinghood’s full speech on YouTube

Remembering Mana Mao (BSc ’25)

After passing away suddenly from a medical issue in December last year, Mana Mao (BSc ’25) was posthumously awarded a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology, which was accepted by her mother, Anisa Mohamed and father Hussein Haji. Mao is remembered by her colleagues and professors in the Faculty of Health as a dedicated student and active member in university sports, who also served as a trainer for the women’s volleyball team. In a show of support, the audience stood and applauded for more than two minutes to honour Mao’s achievement.
Watch the moment her degree was awarded

‘You get to carve your own path’

Learning is continuous. This was the message Faculty of Engineering valedictorian Chinemerem Chigbo (BASc ’25) shared with his graduating colleagues on June 14.

“Real learning happens beyond the lectures and labs, in moments when you face problems that weren't listed anywhere on the syllabus,” he shared. “If at any point we stop learning, we stop growing. So don’t just think of yourself as a graduate of the University of Waterloo. Think of yourself as a lifelong undergraduate. Embrace each day with curiosity and a sense of adventure.”

Watch Chigbo's full speech on YouTube

A moment to remember

A proud Faculty of Science graduate celebrates convocation with a heartwarming selfie alongside his baby and the chancellor.

Sarah Dupuis (BA ’25), who graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Social Development Studies (Honours), shares how the accessibility of online education at Waterloo connected her with opportunities she thought to be out of reach.

Together, we celebrated not just a milestone, but the beginning of your bold new journeys. Congratulations, Class of 2025 — your future is bright, and the world is ready for your brilliance.

Celebrating Waterloo’s Class of 2025 valedictorians

Angelica Sanchez — Tue, 10 Jun 2025 11:00:00 +0000

Meet the 14 exceptional students representing Waterloo’s newest grads

Convocation marks a significant milestone for University of Waterloo graduates. This year, 14 outstanding students have been chosen to represent the graduating Class of 2025.

Their selection as valedictorians demonstrates their dedication and creativity within their faculties. Below, they share parts of their academic journeys filled with inspiring tales of overcoming challenges and embracing opportunities for growth.

Congratulations to our 2025 Waterloo valedictorians and fellow graduates, who now join a powerful network of more than 255,000 alumni who are making an impact on the world.

Watch video on YouTube

Why did you choose to study at the university of Waterloo?

Raksha Aravind (BSc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology.

Raksha Aravind’s (BSc ’25) was drawn to Waterloo for its remarkable Kinesiology program.

“The program mixes everything — biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, nutrition and even social sciences — and it gave me the full picture of human movement,” Aravind says.

She completed three co-op terms as a research assistant in the Nutrition and Aging Lab, earning the NSERC Undergraduate Student Research award. Her work focused on nutrition risk in older adults and supports the development of screening tools to improve early health assessments for underserved communities.

Aravind is preparing to write the MCAT and aspires to practice medicine in Canada as a surgeon. “For me, medicine is not just about diagnosing or treating — it’s about understanding the humanity of each patient,” she says.

Daisy Birch (BA ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Arts and Business in Honours Sexuality, Marriage and Family Studies, and a minor in Human Resource Management, and certificates in Global Experience and Community Leadership.

Daisy Birch (BA ’25) chose Waterloo for its interdisciplinary Arts and Business program, which allowed her to combine her deep interest in business with her passion for sexuality, marriage and family studies.

A standout moment in her academic journey was studying abroad in Athens, Greece — an experience she describes as transformative. On campus, Birch served as a Student Ambassador for four terms and a Residence Life Don for nine terms. Another highlight was presenting at the 2020 Ontario Association of College and University Housing Officers Residence Life Conference, where she earned a Top 5 Presenters award for her work on fostering consent culture.

“One thing you should know about me is that I always have at least five plans in the works, so don’t be shocked if you see me on Broadway or on your television someday,” she says.

Putri Cullinane (BES ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Environmental Studies in Environment, Resources and Sustainability.

For Putri Cullinane (BES ’25), Waterloo’s renowned co-operative education program and interdisciplinary pathways made it the ideal place to combine her passions in environmental studies and economics.

A highlight of her student journey include a two-week field course in Atlantic Canada and completing her undergraduate senior thesis on the experiences of women entrepreneurs in informal water markets. Being a valedictorian has very special meaning for Cullinane.

"With both my parents still living in Indonesia and having sacrificed a lot for me to be here, I feel incredibly honoured to have been nominated,” she says.

After convocation, Cullinane will join the Canada Water Agency as a policy analyst, a role she worked in part-time while completing her final year at Waterloo.

Keeley Isinghood (BMath ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Mathematics in Honours Biostatistics and a minor in Pure Mathematics.

Keeley Isinghood (BMath ’25) came to Waterloo to pursue her love of numbers and problem-solving. In the Biostatistics program, she discovered a meaningful way to apply math to real-world challenges and a supportive community who deepened her passion.

“I remember one night, I finally solved a problem that I had been stuck on all week — it was a wonderful feeling to figure it out on the whiteboard with the help of my friends,” Isinghood says. “Working on mathematics collaboratively has always been a highlight of my degree.”

Isinghood was active in student life, from Women in Mathematics and MathSoc to participating in the curling club and intramural sports teams. She is especially proud of mentoring 20 first-year students as a peer leader in the Honours Math Living and Learning Community.

Isinghood will begin her Master of Mathematics in biostatistics at Waterloo this fall.

Salahuddin Said (BASc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Mechanical Engineering.

Salahuddin Said (BASc ’25) vividly remembers attending a university fair in Grade 11 and asking every booth about their co-op programs. Waterloo’s emphasis on real-world experience quickly made it his top choice.

“Waterloo has a prestigious name in engineering, and co-op really helped me find what I enjoyed working on and finding my place in engineering as a whole,” he says.

While at Waterloo, Said supported classmates with resume critiques, job applications and mock-up interviews. He also created a technical interview question database, which more than 30 students contributed to and used for their full-time job applications.

“The achievements I feel the proudest are not so much what I have done myself, but what I have been able to do for others,” Said says. “I’ve been incredibly lucky with my co-op experiences and opportunities across different avenues, and because of that, I’ve been able to pay it forward to other students.”

Lyvia Yanover (BSc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Physics and Astronomy.

After attending one of Waterloo’s fall open houses, Lyvia Yanover (BSc ’25) knew she found the right fit.

During her undergraduate studies, she served as a Science Ambassador for three consecutive years and volunteered as a tutor at the Physics Tutorial Centre.

“I’m proud of finishing both PHYS437A and B research courses, where I worked on researching a hypothetical model of the Big Bang with Dr. Niayesh Afshordi,” she says. “I also managed to fit a minor in Mathematics into my degree, which I’m extremely happy with.”

Being named valedictorian holds both a deep and personal meaning for her. “It means I pushed through the difficulties of my university experience, despite everything that happened in my personal life that made it harder,” she says. “It’s something I know my mom, who passed away in 2023, would be proud of.”

She will be returning this fall to pursue a Master of Science in Physics, supervised by Dr. Will Percival, a distinguished research chair in astrophysics.

Tell me about some of the achievements you are most proud of to date.

Chinemerem Chigbo (BASc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Computer Engineering.

Chinemerem Chigbo (BASc ’25) chose Waterloo for its strong reputation in innovation, co-operative education and academic excellence — especially in computer engineering.

He found joy in hands-on learning like building a hair-cutting robot with a friend. Through UW Blueprint, Chigbo helped develop technical products for nonprofits and later founded his own organization, providing pro bono software maintenance to keep essential tools running effectively.

“Being chosen as valedictorian is deeply humbling,” he says. “It reflects not only my own efforts, but also the support of my peers, professors and family. It’s a privilege to represent our shared journey, struggles and successes.”

After convocation, he will volunteer in Nigeria teaching technical skills to youth.

“I’m passionate about creating opportunities through education,” Chigbo says. “Access to technical skills can empower young people to shape their own futures.”

Viren Pandya (BA ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Arts in Economics.

One of Viren Pandya’s (BA ’25) proudest achievements is co-founding the Hindu Students Council, which grew from a simple idea into a vibrant community that fostered cultural connection and belonging.

“It wasn’t just about creating a cultural club,” Pandya says. “It was about creating a space where students could connect, celebrate their culture and find support.”

Pandya sees his selection as valedictorian as a testament to the support he received from friends, family and professors. Representing his class and all they have overcome is a memory he will cherish forever.

“It isn’t just a title, but a reflection of my university journey — how much I’ve grown, how many times I have struggled and how every setback was just a steppingstone to something bigger,” he says.

Pandya will be starting a full-time position at Ernst and Young in Toronto.

Mankirat Singh Sains (BASc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Civil Engineering.

Mankirat Singh Sains (BASc ’25) describes being named valedictorian at one of the world’s leading universities as deeply meaningful, especially coming from a small school in Uganda.

“It’s more than a personal milestone — it’s a tribute to the sacrifice and unwavering support of my family, to whom I owe everything. Their belief has carried me here, and this moment is for them,” he says.

At Waterloo, Sains was nominated for Co-op Student of the Year by five employers and won an intramural championship. But it was the friendships and memories — like Engineering Day, with purple ring toss, laughter and professors in the dunk tank — that he cherishes most.

Nina Tan (BCS ’24) graduated with a Bachelor of Computer Science.

Before coming to Waterloo, Nina Tan (BCS ’24) carefully planned her ideal university experience, aiming to complete each co-op term in a different city. She succeeded by living and working in Vancouver, Boston, Mountain View and Munich.

“I’ve always loved adventures and exploring new places, so the co-op program really appealed to me,” Tan says. “I still look back fondly on the memories and friendships I made in each one.”

She also held several executive leadership roles within Women in Computer Science (WiCS), which include serving as director of Publicity, Outreach and Mentorship. Over the course of her degree, Tan helped organize numerous professional, mentorship and community-building events that became a meaningful part of her university experience.

Tan will be returning to Google, one of her former co-op employers, as a software engineer. In the long term, she hopes to build solutions in sustainability, education and women’s health, while reacquainting herself with old hobbies like singing and arts and crafts.

What is one of your fondest memories as a Waterloo student?

Matthew Jones (BAFM ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Accounting and Financial Management with a specialization in Financial Markets.

Like many Waterloo students, Matthew Jones (BAFM ’25) used the co-op program to explore different industries and roles, learning more about himself with each experience. Jones was actively involved in the School of Accounting and Finance (SAF), supporting first-year students and leading peer initiatives.

“Mentorship played a pivotal role in my own development early on, so it’s been incredibly meaningful to contribute to that same supportive SAF community,” he says.

One of his most cherished memories is playing on Waterloo’s frisbee team, where he eventually became team captain.

“Being part of the [team] allowed me to connect with an incredible group of people from across different programs. It was a highlight of my university experience,” he says.

He will be starting a full-time position at BMO Capital Markets in Toronto.

Michael Hanley (BASc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nanotechnology Engineering with a Nanoelectronics Specialization and a Physical Science Option.

Michael Hanley (BASc ’25) remained deeply engaged in campus life throughout his time at Waterloo. His fondest memories are the friendships he built — late-night study lounge talks, game nights, snowball fights, parties and countless shared moments that reminded him there’s more to university life than academics.

“I’m very lucky to have met people that I can call life-long friends during my time here at the University,” he says.

Hanley placed second at the Nanotechnology Engineering Capstone symposium and led Waterloo’s Midnight Sun team in building a solar-powered car from scratch for three years.

“Being able to make something so complicated from nothing, while doing it with a great group of people was amazing,” Hanley says. “I was even able to drive the car during the competition at the Formula Sun Grand Prix — one of the most rewarding things I have done.”

Hanley will be moving to California to join Tesla as an associate manufacturing engineer.

Karen Abdel Sater (BMath ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Mathematics in Honours Mathematical Economics.

Karen Abdel Sater (BMath ’25) began her degree during a global pandemic, balancing her studies and extracurricular activities while adapting to a new environment. She turned these challenges into motivation, becoming deeply involved on campus — joining student clubs, serving as a residence life don and leading the Waterloo Arab Student Association.

“Building connections and creating spaces where people felt at home added a whole new dimension to my university experience,” Abdel Sater says. “It made me stay grounded in my own culture while encouraging others to embrace both our similarities and differences.”

For Abdel Sater, being named valedictorian is about representation. As a Lebanese woman in mathematics, she hopes her story inspires others to pursue unconventional paths.

Abdel Sater will join the Royal Bank of Canada, where she previously worked as a co-op student, to work full-time as a data engineer.

Meera Thavarajah (BSc ’25) graduates with a Bachelor of Science in Biomedical Sciences and a minor in Medical Physiology.

Meera Thavarajah (BSc ’25) reflects on her many different roles during her time at Waterloo. She held executive positions in student clubs like Make-a-Wish Canada, Big Spoon Lil Spoon, Waterloo’s Lion’s Club, hera.co and the Science Society. Thavarajah also worked with Campus Housing, research labs and shared her student experience as a TikTok creator.

“As the daughter of immigrants who did not have the opportunity to attend post-secondary, I’m proud to dedicate my degree to them in recognition of all their efforts and sacrifices that paved my way for success,” she says.

Thavarajah will be attending the University of Toronto this fall to pursue a Master of Kinesiology. In the future, Thavarajah plans to pursue medical school and advocate for inclusive, compassionate health care — especially for children.

“I want to make people feel seen, heard and cared for, regardless of their background or circumstances,” Thavarajah says. “As a person of colour myself and second-generation immigrant, I am passionate about bridging communication gaps in the medical field to create more inclusive care for all.”

Awards, Honours and Rankings

Co-op and Experiential Education

Community

Talent

From puck drop to brain pop

Ryon Jones — Mon, 09 Jun 2025 19:12:49 +0000

New study from Waterloo researchers shows how a hockey fan’s brain reacts to key moments in games

What’s happening inside the brain of a passionate hockey fan during a big game? A new study from the University of Waterloo gives us a closer look at how the brain functions when watching sports, with data showing how different a die-hard fan’s experience is from that of a casual viewer.

The researchers found that during offensive faceoff opportunities, fans deeply invested in hockey showed more activity in a part of the brain called the dorsal medial prefrontal cortex. This area is connected to emotional involvement and evaluative thinking — the mental processing we use to judge and interpret what’s happening around us.

“We found that for fans who really love the sport, these faceoffs were moments of intense mental engagement,” said co-author of the study, Dr. Luke Potwarka, a lead researcher in Waterloo’s department of Recreation and Leisure Studies.

“It seems these plays signalled that something important was about to happen, something casual viewers may not notice in the same way.”

The Waterloo research team (from L to R): Nur Gurbuz, Adam Pappas, Dr. Luke Potwarka, and Adrian Safati. (University of Waterloo)

Using a non-invasive brain imaging method called Functional Near Infrared Spectroscopy (fNIRS), researchers tracked brain activity in 20 participants as they watched a professional European ice hockey game. Their goal was to understand how fan engagement shows up in the brain and whether intense fans respond differently during key game moments.

Surprisingly, the researchers noticed that no brain difference was seen during more obvious events like scoring chances, likely because even casual fans recognize when a goal is significant. However, faceoffs, which require more knowledge of the game’s strategy, seemed to trigger deeper cognitive engagement in passionate fans.

This research is important because it moves beyond traditional methods, like surveys and self-reports, which can miss real-time and subconscious reactions.

“Thoughts and feelings often happen below the surface,” said Potwarka, director of Waterloo’s Spectator Experience and Technology Laboratory. “Brain imaging gives us a more accurate look at how fans are actually experiencing the game as it unfolds.”

The findings could help broadcasters, sports marketers and content creators better understand what keeps fans engaged and improve how live sports are presented.

“This is just the beginning,” said Adrian Safati, a PhD candidate in Waterloo’s Department of Psychology who contributed to the study. “Future studies could use this approach across different sports to learn more about what keeps fans truly hooked.”

The study, Understanding the sport viewership experience using functional near-infrared spectroscopy, was recently published in Scientific Reports.

Arts

Health

Research

Shaping the financial future for the next generation

Wendy Philpott — Fri, 06 Jun 2025 14:26:57 +0000

How Global Business and Digital Arts prepared Naimah Venezia for the multiple disciplines required to be a founder

At the age of seven, Naimah Venezia (BGBDA ’25) was reading highlighted portions of the book “Rich Dad, Poor Dad” that her older brother had given her. While other kids were playing, Venezia was planning to profit from her passions – selling custom-made, repurposed jewellery and baked goods door-to-door. “If I had a sibling that was closer to my age, I might not be the way I am because I'd probably be playing,” noted Venezia, who attributes her foundation in finances to her brother. “He would teach me a lot of things about money, like saving, what assets are, what liabilities are, and how credit cards work.”

As Venezia grew older, she realized that her peers did not have the same understanding of finances that she did. “I realized that not everybody's families teach these things, and most importantly, schools don't teach us about [personal finances]." This insight, paired with her entrepreneurial drive was what Venezia needed to begin building CoinWa – a gamified financial literacy app for teens. “I know it’s a pretty intimidating topic for some people, so I wanted to make an interactive and fun way for kids to learn about finances.”

Fit for a founder

When it came time for Venezia to choose a university, she ultimately chose Waterloo for its entrepreneurial ecosystem and reputation in technology. Venezia saw that the Global Business and Digital Arts (GBDA) program combined business, technology and design into one degree, and thought it was the right mix for her. “I liked how there were some Computer Science courses as well, since it’s more like a mix of business, with tech and design.”

GBDA prepared Venezia for the multiple disciplines required to be a founder, including building business models, pitching effectively, understanding market needs, applying design thinking to create human-centred experiences, and communicating effectively with technical fluency to developers and investors.

“I feel the program is made perfectly for anyone who wants to start a brand or startup – whether it’s in tech, or fashion or anything”.

During her studies at Waterloo’s satellite campus, the Stratford School of Interaction Design and Business, Venezia participated in activities that further connected her to industry, such as attending uXperience Design Jam, the BLEND Conference, and presenting at local female entrepreneur networking events.

Venezia accessed the Ginny Dybenko Experiential Learning Fund – a Stratford specific initiative that supports students in pursuing real-world learning experiences beyond the classroom, to attend TechWeek in Miami, where she hosted an exclusive founders’ brunch to foster connections among young female entrepreneurs.

The Coinwa Co-op continuum

As Venezia was building CoinWa, she used many of the supports available to her as a student at Waterloo. Instead of taking the conventional co-op pathway, she chose the Enterprise Co-op (E-Co-op) program, which allowed her to build, test and grow her own venture, with full support from Waterloo’s entrepreneurial ecosystem. E-Co-op provided Venezia, access to experienced mentors, guiding everything from product development to pitching. As CoinWa grew, Venezia employed students through Co-op to continue the platform’s development.

As Venezia graduates with her class in June, she has big plans. CoinWa currently employs three engineers and one designer, as Venezia strategizes to have CoinWa be a tool that prepares Grade 10 students for the financial literacy graduation requirement. “I want younger people to grow up with more financial literacy.” And she is not alone.

Banner graphic by Noah Pratt. Images supplied by CoinWa.

Arts

Entrepreneurship

Merging theatre and environmentalism earns student top academic honour

Chantal Vallis — Wed, 04 Jun 2025 15:45:08 +0000

Environment and Arts student, Eloise Fan, reflects on how studying her twin passions led not only to a BES, but also to academic distinction

For Eloise Fan, studying at the University of Waterloo was never about choosing a single path — it was about creating one that merged her passions for theatre and climate change.

As she graduates with a joint honours degree in Environment, Resources and Sustainability and Theatre and Performance (co-op), she is being awarded the Alumni Gold Medal for outstanding academic achievement in the Faculty of Environment as well as the Departmental Award for distinguished academic achievement.

Raised in Hong Kong and born in Australia, Fan came to Waterloo as an international student, drawn by the rare opportunity to study both her passions at a high level, and to test those interests in the real world through co-op.

Over her four co-op terms, she worked with Crown-Indigenous Relations and Northern Affairs Canada on First Nations climate adaptation and environmental policy, taught outdoor education and collected ecological monitoring data at the rare Charitable Research Reserve, and supported backstage operations and stage management at Tarragon Theatre and the University’s own Theatre and Performance program.

“I don’t think I’ve ever had two jobs that looked the same,” she laughs. “But all of them taught me something about how people work together, how stories are told, and how we care for the places we live.”

That spirit of interdisciplinarity carried into her coursework. Her final-year thesis in the Faculty of Environment used forum theatre, a participatory form of performance, to explore climate anxiety and community-based resilience. On the flip side, she brought in climate change themes through essays in her theatre courses.

“ERS318: Photography for Sustainability was another course highlight,” she says. “I used photography to explore how sustainable material choices in set design could reduce environmental waste in the arts. It was a class that let me see environmental communication through a different lens. I think those moments of crossover helped define my degree.”

Her academic work was only one part of a vibrant campus life. From serving on the Environment Resources and Sustainability Student Association (ERSSA), to mentoring younger students at orientation and helping shape curriculum through the SERS Undergraduate Education Committee, she was an anchor of community for many peers.

“I found so much meaning in giving back — helping others feel welcome, helping them find their footing,” she says. “Student organizations create this special kind of intergenerational knowledge. It was really powerful to be part of that. As students, we hold so much collective strength, and we need to remember that.”

In 2023, she spent a double work term abroad on academic exchange at the University of Wollongong in Australia, taking courses in environmental crime and justice, Indigenous Peoples and the environment, ocean policy, and theatre and politics. “It was an incredible chance to apply everything I’d learned at Waterloo in a new context. It helped me realize just how connected my disciplines really are.”

Blending theatre and environmentalism has become more than just an idea — it is her mission. Since finishing classes, Fan has begun work in the theatre industry. Her first show was The Assembly, a production that uses theatre and a board game format to teach sustainability and decision-making to middle school students. The show was recently nominated for multiple Dora Awards. Now she is working on Waitress at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope and plans to stay in Canada for the foreseeable future to explore what’s next. Wherever she lands, collaboration will be at the center.

“If I’ve learned one thing, it’s this: working across disciplinary boundaries is one of the greatest strengths we can develop. We are living in a world where the extractive systems of capitalism and colonialism are intrinsically linked to climate catastrophe and genocide in Palestine, Sudan, Congo and so many more places. You can teach hard skills, but how we solve problems together, how we relate to each other, that’s what the world needs more of.”

“There’s no official job called ‘climate change theatre,’ but I think that’s part of the point,” she says. “Our generation is inventing new kinds of work, and I want to make art that contributes to change. Art is what makes us human, and art is also resistance. I’m figuring out how to keep merging these worlds.”

When it comes to looking back at how she got here, she is quick to credit others: Environment professor, Dr. Rob de Loë, and Director of Production & Theatre Operations, Janelle Rainville, who mentored and encouraged her, fellow students who inspired her and, above all, her parents.

“They’ve supported me from the other side of the world — every step of the way. I literally wouldn’t be here without them.”

As for what she’ll miss most about Waterloo? It’s the little moments. “Hanging out at the ESS coffee shop or in the theatre green room… sometimes getting work done, sometimes not. Seeing the geese on campus.”

Fan along with 400 of her peers will have their achievements celebrated at the Faculty of Environment convocation on Tuesday, June 10. As a parting thought to her fellow classmates and future students, she offers: “Don’t be afraid to follow two passions, even if they don’t make sense at first. There’s strength in crossing boundaries. That’s where some of the most meaningful work begins.”

Arts

Environment

Awards, Honours and Rankings

Co-op and Experiential Education

Community

Creating belonging, opportunity and momentum

Elizabeth Rogers — Tue, 03 Jun 2025 13:27:25 +0000

“I’m excited to be in a place where I’m adding value, learning fast and living up to the Waterloo reputation of pushing boundaries.”

From fostering student engagement on campus through the Arts Student Union to winning an interdisciplinary Velocity pitch competition, Sehaj Raj Singh has spent five years at Waterloo driven by a passion for connection and a desire to improve himself and the world around him. He’s excited to graduate this spring with an Honours degree in Economics and Business and a minor in Entrepreneurship.

What drew you to Economics and Business at Waterloo?

What sealed the deal for me was Waterloo’s entrepreneurship ecosystem. There’s an energy here, a startup mindset to experiment, build, fail fast and bounce back faster. I knew if I was going to hustle, this was the place to do it.

Economics was a discipline I genuinely enjoyed, not just because it made sense, but because it made everything else make sense too. It’s one of the most transferable subjects out there. It trained me to think clearly, act rationally and break down complex problems, and that’s a skill set that quietly wins in any room.

Between the Model UN Club, the UW Entrepreneurship Society, and the Arts Student Union, you’ve done a lot of work in student engagement. Why is that important to you?

The drive to be in the room, to contribute, to shape things, is what first pulled me into student engagement. Over time, I realized these roles were about something much bigger. The little things – organizing events, rebuilding societies, showing up for students – they add up. They create belonging, opportunity and momentum.

I’m proud to say that I was part of the leadership when two of these student societies went from completely dormant to thriving. From “no budget, no buzz” to becoming real communities for like-minded people to grow, share and lead. It might sound cheesy, but I say this with real humility – maybe my own hustle gave or will give someone else a platform. Maybe someone found their voice in something I helped build. That thought? It stays with me.

You recently won the Velocity Future City Innovation Challenge. What made you decide to enter the competition, and what was the process like of collaborating with an interdisciplinary team?

This was hands down one of the most fulfilling moments of my undergrad. I used to sit in the audience at Velocity pitch competitions, completely inspired by students turning bold ideas into real solutions. In my final year, I stumbled upon the Future City Innovation Challenge. No pre-existing team or startup required, just ambition and a good idea.

I met three incredible teammates – one in architecture, one in urban planning and one in computer science. We came up with the idea of Permitly, a platform to tackle Canada’s housing crisis by fast-tracking planning and building permits. Tech, policy, design and business all coming together.

That didn’t just get us to the finals. I got to pitch to two mayors … and we won. One of the judges, a huge home developer in Ontario, even invited us to Ottawa to explore making it real. Standing there, pitching Permitly, felt like the perfect full-circle moment. From being in the crowd to being on stage, I’m just glad I bet on myself.

What are you most excited for post-graduation? What’s next?

My family is here from India for my convocation, so I’m looking forward to spending time with them. I also just accepted an offer from Caivan Communities where I’ll be working as an Analyst in their Land Development Engineering team. Their CEO, Frank Cairo (UW BES '05), was one of the Velocity judges who we visited in Ottawa, so in many ways Permitly led me to this opportunity. And so that drive to be a part of something bigger sparked conversations, opened doors and gave me a taste of what it means to turn ideas into action.

I’m excited to be in a place where I’m adding value, learning fast and living up to the Waterloo reputation of pushing boundaries.