Baby bump vs. Timbit belly: Ashley Jardin and competitive eater Takeru Kobayashi compare midsections at yesterday's Canada Day celebration. Kobayashi, who holds several Guinness Book of World Records for speed-eating, chomped 85 Timbits in two minutes as the crowd cheered him on.

And yes, he autographed Jardin's belly and blessed the baby.

Update: Kobayashi's blessing proved timely, as I have received a report that Wellington Snell Jardin, a boy, was born in the wee hours of the morning Tuesday. Congratulations Ashley and Eric! And keep an eye on Wellington's appetite.

Photograph provided by Eric Jardin, admissions officer for the Faculty of Arts and Faculty of Environment.

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New Watcard design unveiled

a message from Retail Services and the Watcard Office

The Watcard office in collaboration with Creative Services is pleased to present a new look for Watcard. Beginning July 2013, all first year uWaterloo Students will receive WatCards with a new design.

The Watcard is the official student identification for access to campus services such as the Library, Athletics and secure access in residences.

The redesign for the front of the card features the uWaterloo shield and wordmark. A distinctive design for student WatCards identifies the individual’s relationship to the campus.

There are no changes to the functionality of the Watcard. Students may add money to their flex funds for use at Retail Services outlets, Food Services, vending machines or off campus vendor partners. The Watcard provides full-time students access to Grand River Transit.

For new Faculty or Staff, Alumni or Guest Watcard cards, a new design will be printed effective July 2.

All existing or old design WatCards that are valid will remain in circulation. WatCards with the old design will not be exchanged. For lost cards, the standard replacement fee is applicable and will be printed with the new design.

Please contact May Yan, Director Retail Services & Watcard, for any questions about the new Watcard design.

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Staff Life Cycle Project report now online

The final report on the Staff Life Cycle has been submitted to Vice-President, Academic & Provost Geoff McBoyle.

The project was coordinated by Dean of Science Terry McMahon, Interim Associate Provost, Human Resources Bruce Mitchell, with support from the University of Waterloo Staff Association (UWSA) and its president, Carlos Mendes.

The purpose of the project is to identify ways to contribute to making the University of Waterloo a “highly attractive destination for staff, including members of CUPE,” and to facilitate “continuous development and growth of staff once they being employment.” The project addresses issues around recruitment, development, career progress, and retention. Specific initiatives are to be developed in the context of the university’s overall strategic plan.

As part of the process that developed the report, staff members in 20 academic and academic support units were invited to provide suggestions related to four key areas: recruitment, staff development, the USG system, and compensation.

In addition, between April 30 and June 17, the UWSA had a webform on their site to collect feedback from all uWaterloo employees (they also accepted submission in writing for employees without regular web access at work).

The results of the information-gathering exercise are available on the staff association’s web page.

Provost McBoyle will be chairing a strategic plan implementation committee in the fall. The report, now with the provost, will, on the recommendation of the Life Cycle Project coordinators, “be used to assist the committee in identifying (short-, medium-, and long-term) and prioritizing the initiatives that will help uWaterloo reach the goals of becoming an exemplary employer.”

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Campus kids camps kick off

The beginning of July usually marks the beginning of the summer programs for children and teens on our campus.

In fact, Waterloo's Shad Valley program started welcoming students on Sunday, June 30. Shad is a four week summer enrichment program, with students spending a month living in residence while attending workshops and lectures that focus on the sciences, engineering, technology and entrepreneurship, and participating in all manner of team-building exercises. Shad runs until July 26.

Engineering Science Quest camps get underway starting this week, and judging from the capacity chart, you'll be seeing a lot of campers wearing brightly coloured ESQ t-shirts around campus over the next few weeks.

Meanwhile, ESQ's off-campus teams are setting up shop in Stratford starting today as part of the program's satellite initiative. Campers enrolled in the Stratford program will be giving the "team van" a unique paint job, with the rest of the week filled with engaging, hands-on engineering and science activities. Campers in grades 1 and 2, and grades 4 and 5 in the science and technology camps, will be enjoying the camp activities this week from Tuesday to Friday.

The first session of the Arts Computer Experience also gets rolling today. ACE camp is a two-week blend of classroom learning and outdoor activities for children ages 7 to 12.

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Administrators begin terms and other notes

A number of new administrators take up new duties, effective July 1, 2013, including:

• Bud Walker, currently Special Advisor to the Vice-President, Academic & Provost, adds the position of Interim Associate Provost, Human Resources to his responsibilities.
• Professor Diana Parry from Applied Health Sciences assumes the role of Special Advisor, Women's and Gender Issues.

The Conrad Business, Entrepreneurship and Technology Centre is holding an info session for its Enterprise Co-op program today from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in rooms 2218A and B in the Tatham Centre.

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