Waterloo-Laurier
Graduate Program in
Geography
Incoming Graduate Students in Geography
Orientation Guide
September 2014
Contents
1
Introduction ................................................................................................................................................... 1
2
Getting Around Waterloo ......................................................................................................................... 1
3
2.1
Bicycle ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
2.2
Transit ...................................................................................................................................................... 1
2.3
Taxis .......................................................................................................................................................... 1
2.4
Vehicle...................................................................................................................................................... 1
Travelling Outside of Waterloo .............................................................................................................. 2
3.1
VIA Rail .................................................................................................................................................... 2
3.2
Greyhound .............................................................................................................................................. 2
3.3
GO Busses ............................................................................................................................................... 2
4
Finding a place to live ................................................................................................................................ 2
5
Other Information ....................................................................................................................................... 3
6
5.1
Student Card (OneCard/Watcard) ................................................................................................ 3
5.2
Internet access and E-Mail ............................................................................................................... 3
5.3
Computing Facilities ........................................................................................................................... 3
5.4
Printing .................................................................................................................................................... 4
5.5
Photocopying ........................................................................................................................................ 4
5.6
Library Access ....................................................................................................................................... 4
5.7
Office Space ............................................................................................................................................ 5
People you Should Know .......................................................................................................................... 5
Joint Program Director .............................................................................................................................. 5
Department Chair ........................................................................................................................................ 5
Department Graduate Officer ................................................................................................................. 5
Graduate Program Administrator ......................................................................................................... 5
7
Student Associations .................................................................................................................................. 6
WLU Graduate Geographers Association (GGA).............................................................................. 6
UW Environment Graduate Student Association (EGSA) ............................................................ 6
WLU Graduate Student Association (GSA) ........................................................................................ 6
UW Graduate Student Association (GSA) ........................................................................................... 6
8
WLU Campus Map ....................................................................................................................................... 0
9
UW Campus Map .......................................................................................................................................... 1
1 Introduction
Welcome to the Waterloo-Laurier Graduate Program in Geography (W-LGPIG). You are
entering a program that provides an enriching atmosphere filled with ample opportunity.
As we all know, coming to graduate school can be stressful. This orientation guide has been
created to hopefully relieve some of that stress. The guide attempts to explain some of the
aspects of your learning experience that should not bog you down. If you require more
detailed information you may consult the W-LGPIG website at geograd.uwaterloo.ca and
graduate calendars for Laurier or Waterloo
2 Getting Around Waterloo
Fortunately, both Wilfrid Laurier University (WLU) and the University of Waterloo (UW)
are located within walking distance of one another. UW and WLU campus maps can be
found at the end of this document. If you wish to venture off campus, here are a couple of
ways to get around.
2.1 Bicycle
A bicycle is a good way to help our environment and get you around town. You will even
see some brave students riding their bikes year round. A map of roads with bicycle lanes
can be found http://www.regionofwaterloo.ca/en/gettingaround/cycling.asp and as you
will see many roads in the city of waterloo already have bikes lanes in each direction. The
university also runs a yellow bike program in which you can borrow bikes throughout the
semester for a $20 fee. More information on bicycling at Waterloo can be found at:
http://www.bike.uwaterloo.ca/.
2.2 Transit
Full time WLU and UW Grad students have a universal bus pass included in their fees every
semester. This allows the use of your student card as a bus pass on any Grand River
Transit busses. Maps, scheduling, and more information on Grand River Transit, as well as
the universal passes can be found at http://www.grt.ca.
2.3 Taxis
All taxis in Waterloo accept cash but most taxis will accept major credit cards as well.
Waterloo Taxi also accepts OneCard or Watcard in their vehicles. Taxi companies in the
waterloo area can be found below.
Waterloo Taxi
City Cabs
United Taxi
(519) 888-7777
(519) 747-7777
(519) 888-9999
http://www.waterlootaxi.ca/
http://www.citycabs.ca/
http://www.unitedtaxi.ca/
2.4 Vehicle
If you choose to drive your own personal vehicle, make sure that you are parking in the
appropriate spaces on campus to avoid being ticketed. You can consult the campus’ maps
for more parking information. Parking services information for WLU campus can be found
HERE, and UW campus HERE. FYI: if you obtain a parking pass at WLU, it may be taken
automatically off your graduate scholarship if you received one
3 Travelling Outside of Waterloo
You may wish to leave the city and explore the unique landscape that is Southern Ontario,
or venture beyond! Waterloo is strategically located between London and Toronto, making
these hubs accessible even for a day trip.
3.1 VIA Rail
An hour and a half on the train will get you to either London or Toronto, which will cost
approximately $40.00-$50.00 for a return trip. These student discount prices are based on
comfort class and require you to obtain an International Student Identity Card (ISIC). For
train schedules and fares, visit www.viarail.ca. You may purchase your ISIC card at Travel
Cuts in the University Plaza (Phone: (519) 886-0400).
3.2 Greyhound
It takes between 1.5 – 2.5 hours to travel to either Toronto or London. Travelling to and
from London or Toronto by bus will cost you approximately $28.00-$34.00. These prices
are based on student discounts. Tickets and scheduling for busses leaving/arriving at UW
campus can be found at the Turnkey desk located in the SLC (Open 24/7). For more
information or quotes, visit http://www.greyhound.ca.
3.3 GO Busses
GO busses can be boarded at either UW or WLU which run several times per day to square
one mall in Mississauga as well as to the Milton GO train station and several stops between.
More information on fares and schedules can be found at http://www.gotransit.com/.
4 Finding a place to live
If you currently do not have a place to live or will need to change accommodations in the
future, here are a few helpful links to guide you in the house hunt. Wilfrid Laurier
University has recently partnered with Places4Students.com - the Off-Campus Housing
website that specializes in providing students, schools and landlords with the highest
quality rental property listing service possible.
https://www.places4students.com/
University of Waterloo Housing Office
Waterloo Cooperative Residence Inc. (WCRI)
GSC Rentals
http://www.therecord.com/waterlooregion/
Kijiji Classifieds
5 Other Information
The following are some tidbits of information from previous geography graduate students
that you will hopefully find helpful. There will be information sessions throughout
orientation week (September 2-5, 2014) that will give you more in-depth information. This
section is meant to act as a general summary and reference point.
5.1 Student Card (OneCard/Watcard)
This piece of identification will be used by you often and is required. The Wilfrid Laurier
student card is called the OneCard. Most matters pertaining to the OneCard can be pursued
at the Laurier OneCard Office located in the Concourse Area beside the Hub and online at
http://www.mylaurier.ca/onecard. UW students who are taking courses at WLU can
purchase a OneCard allowing them access to facilities such as labs, printers, and the gym.
More information OneCard for UW students can be found HERE.
The University of Waterloo equivalent is called the Watcard and can be obtained at the
Watcard office located on the lower level of the Student Life Center (SLC) and at
http://www.adm.uwaterloo.ca/infocard/ As of now, Laurier students are not able to obtain
a Watcard without a Waterloo ID number.
5.2 Internet access and Email
All WLU students have access to wireless capabilities across WLU campus. Information on
how to connect can be found here:
https://www.wlu.ca/page.php?grp_id=47&p=16393
UW students are also able to access the wireless capabilities on WLU campus by completing
the following steps:



Connect to the LaurierWiFi network, once connected choose Public access (options
of Home, Work, or Public)
Open your web browser, which will autodirect to the WLU wireless login page
Insert NOVELL info
Login: first four letters of your last name, followed by the last 3 numbers of
your student ID, followed by the number zero
ie.) Kevin Baker 20198696 > bake6960
Password: date of birth MM/DD/YYY
ie.) February 4th, 1987 > 02041987
All UW students have access to wireless capabilities across UW campus. Information on
how to connect can be found here:
http://ist.uwaterloo.ca/cs/wireless.html
5.3 Computing Facilities
At UW, The ENV computing support team is located within a group called Mapping,
Analysis and Design (MAD). Learn about the services and facilities they offer by using the
left hand menu. Graduate students in Geography have access to the General Use Computer
labs.
At WLU, Graduate students in Geography have access to general use computers.
Information regarding their location is available at:
http://library.wlu.ca/technology/computers
5.4 Printing
PhD and Masters students at Laurier have access to a printer in each of the graduate
student offices. Information on the location, cost, and availability of other printers on WLU
campus can be found HERE. Other information can be found by contacting the helpdesk or
viewing the helpdesk website.
On UW campus you can print directly from any of the general use computers directly to one
of the printers located in the environment computer labs provided you have an ENV/XAS
printing account. More information on printing in the Environment computer labs can be
found HERE. Other information can be found by contacting the helpdesk or viewing the
helpdesk website.
5.5 Photocopying
On WLU’s campus, manual photocopying is accomplished by payment with your OneCard.
This means you have to put money on your OneCard before using the photocopiers (see
above Student Card section). Photocopiers are located at the WLU library. The Hub, which
is located in the Concourse Area, is an information and copy centre. They provide the
photocopying service for you at approximately the same cost as the manual photocopiers,
and they take cash as well as the OneCard.
On UW’s campus there are photocopiers located in the University Map and Design (UMD)
Library on the second floor of the Faculty of Environment building 1 (EV1) and there are
multiple copiers located in the Dana Porter Library. Unlike WLU, some of these manual
photocopiers will take coin payments, but all copiers will take your Watcard as payment
(see the Student Card section above). WLU students must purchase a guest copy card in
order to photocopy at Waterloo, coins are also accepted.
Off-campus, you may photocopy at Fed-Ex Kinko’s in the University Plaza (170 University
Ave) or at Staples locations (e.g., 1620 King Street, north of Conestoga Mall).
5.6 Library Access
Both UW and WLU students have access to the Dana Porter Library (UW), the Davis Center
Library (UW), the Map Library (UW), and the WLU Library. Students are permitted to use
their online resources and borrow hard copy materials with the use of a WatCard (all UW
Libraries) or OneCard (WLU Library). Please refer to the following web pages for
information, assistance, or online resources:
http://www.lib.uwaterloo.ca/
http://library.wlu.ca/
5.7 Office Space
This information is given out to you during orientation week. All UW office space is located
in the Faculty of Environment (EV) Buildings (EV1, EV2 and EV3). Contact Susie Castela scastela@uwaterloo.ca if you are a UW student and need more information.
WLU office space is spread out throughout the Arts Building and three offices are located at
202 Regina St. Contact Jo-Anne Horton - johorton@wlu.ca if you are a WLU student and
need more information as to which office space has been assigned to you.
6 People you Should Know
You should be glad to know that you are entering a program with friendly and welcoming
individuals. Faculty, staff and students work together to create a dynamic working
environment. Below are a few of the main contacts of faculty, staff and student groups you
may need to access.
Joint Program Director
Johanna Wandel
Office: EV1-105
Phone: 519-888-4567, ext. 38669
Email: jwandel@uwaterloo.ca
Position
Department Chair
UW
Peter Deadman , UW
Office: EV1-114
Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 33404
Email: pjdeadma@uwaterloo.ca
WLU
Mike English
Office: 3C13, Arts Building
Phone: 519-884-0710, ext. 2159
Email: menglish@wlu.ca
Department Graduate
Chair/Co-ordinator
Brent Doberstein
Office: EV1-220
Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 33384
Email: bdoberst@uwaterloo.ca
Brent Wolfe
Office: 3C8, Arts Building
Phone: 519-884-0710 ext. 3470
Email: bwolfe@wlu.ca
Graduate Program
Administrator
Susie Castela
Office: EV1-123
Phone: 519-888-4567 ext. 32730
Email: scastela@uwaterloo.ca
Jo-Anne Horton
Office: 3E10C, Arts Building
Phone: 519-884-0710, ext. 2325
Email: johorton@wlu.ca
7 Student Associations
WLU Graduate Geographers Association (GGA)
https://www.facebook.com/pages/WLU-GGA-Graduate-GeographyAssociation/135141073205287?ref=stream&hc_location=timeline
UW Environment Graduate Student Association (EGSA)
Presidents: Andrea Minano, Stephanie Piper
E-Mail: egsa@uwaterloo.ca , aminano@uwaterloo.ca , sepiper@uwaterloo.ca
Web: http://env-blogs.uwaterloo.ca/egsa/
WLU Graduate Student Association (GSA)
President: Robert Bruce rbruce@wlugsa.ca
president@wlugsa.ca
Web: http://www.wlugsa.ca/
UW Graduate Student Association (GSA)
President: Maryam Shahtaheri
E-mail: gsa-pres@uwaterloo.ca
Web: http://www.gsa.uwaterloo.ca/
8 WLU Campus Map http://web.wlu.ca/maps/
9 UW Campus Map http://uwaterloo.ca/map/