Walking in a Waterloo Winter Wonderland: Maher Babbili of Campus Tech snapped this snowy shot outside South Campus Hall yesterday. And the season hasn't even started yet!

And with Environment Canada calling for some unsettled weather in the days ahead, be sure to review the university's weather/emergency closing guidelines and keep watching the homepage and official Twitter accounts for more information as needed.

 

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A holiday message from CECA

A message from Co-operative Education and Career Action. Here's the video link if the above embed isn't working.

As the end of the year approaches and a new year begins, Co-operative Education & Career Action would like to take a moment to thank one special group of people that helped us during employer information (info) sessions.

Information sessions serve as a recruitment opportunity for employers to promote their organization, increase brand awareness on campus, and inform students of their job openings. There were 148 sessions this term, with 90 already scheduled for next term – and CECA would like to thank these individuals from other UWaterloo departments for helping make the info sessions so successful!

• Karen Majaury for UW Catering / SCH bookings,
• Vera Korody for DC bookings,
• Erin Cronin for QNC bookings,
• Jake Riesenkonig for Bomber bookings,
• Gary Molson for UC bookings,
• Scott Pearson for SLC bookings, and
• Donna Schell for rentals and extra bookings. 

Finally, we thank all of you around campus who help make our program so successful. We certainly could not have done it without you! Enjoy your holidays, and have a very happy new year from CECA!

 

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Staff association hosts open house

The University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) is inviting employees to its open house and one-day on-campus sale of Chicopee Ski Club lift tickets.

The open house event will take place today from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. in DC 3608.

You can enter your name to win a door prize as you stay and mingle with the UWSA, enjoy hot chocolate and cookies.

The lift tickets, which are $30 with UWSA membership card and $40 otherwise, are valid for use any day and time until March 16, 2014. Payments are accepted in cash, cheques, or credit card (but not American Express).

The door prizes include two free lift tickets.

 

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The verdict for November: cold and dry

For the first time since April, the overall temperature was below average—1.2 degrees below, to be exact—making it the coldest November since 1996, according to the latest report from the University of Waterloo Weather Station.

In addition, with only 48.8 mm of precipitation in November, it was only the second time this year that we've experienced a drier than average month (the average is 82.3 mm). The 3 cm of snow that fell in November was less than the 14 cm seen on average.

"So here is the deal," writes weather station co-ordinator Frank Seglenieks. "We are still less than the record year for total precipitation, but we are also looking at some of the precipitation readings from this year that are a bit suspect. Examining the data from other rain gauges in the area, the readings generally agree, however some of the bigger events may have some problems. We hope to have a resolution of this situation by the end of the year."

Some highlights from the monthly summary:

The maximum temperature was 15.6°C, with the minimum -13.6°C. The average daily high was 4.8°C (Long term average 5.9°C) and the average daily low -3.0°C (Long term average -1.6°C).

The University of Waterloo weather station is supported by the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, the Department of Geography, the Climate Research Branch of Environment Canada, and Campbell Scientific Canada.

As always, comments are welcome on the weather station's blog.

 

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Office party closings and other notes

Don't forget that Health Services will not be opening until 11:00 a.m. today. In addition, the Graduate Studies Office will be closed from 2:30 to 4:30 p.m.

While we're on the subject of reminders, be aware of heavy equipment in use at the Science Teaching Complex construction site as a large crane will be offloading steel beams from transport trailers today and tomorrow. To ensure student and staff safety, the Needles Hall road will be closed completely to all vehicle and pedestrian traffic, from the Ring Road to the north side of the Dana Porter Library.

Service vehicles and deliveries will be rerouted to the north side of Environment 3, and no parking under Needles Hall will be available. Barricades will be in place, along with flag persons to direct pedestrians and vehicles.

Food Services has published a schedule of its operating hours during the exam period, which winds down on Friday, December 20. Hang in there, students.

The Faculty of Environment is seeking applicants for a SSHRC CRC Tier 2 with a specific focus on the theme of Society, Science and Sustainability.  Potential candidates should be SSHRC eligible and have an established record of research excellence, currently be at the Rank of Assistant or Associate Professor at the University of Waterloo and be within 10 years of receipt of the PhD degree at the time of the CRC nomination.  

Details can be found on the Faculty of Environment's website.

And a little holiday birdie has informed me that for anyone seeking houses with an impressive array of Christmas lights, it's worth the short drive to Conestogo, where the residents of 33 Weberlyn Crescent are putting on a music and light show. Take Northfield Drive to Conestogo, take a left at Sawmill Road at the lights, and the first left after that is Weberlyn.

 

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