uOttawa News

OTTAWA, May 8, 2013  —  With Alumni Week celebrations underway at the University of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa is paying special tribute to its 80,000 uOttawa alumni. The City has officially proclaimed May 10, 2013 uOttawa Alumni Day. Grads are encouraged to mark the day by wearing their garnet and grey colours to work, and showing their pride on social media.

“The uOttawa Alumni Day proclamation is a tremendous tribute to all that our graduates contribute to our city,” says Louis de Melo, uOttawa’s VP external relations and himself a proud alumnus. “I hope our alumni wear their colours with pride, and come to campus to celebrate with us during Alumni Week.”

This year’s uOttawa Alumni Week promises to be the university’s largest.  Louis de Melo says the theme for this year’s celebration, A NEW ENERGY, reflects what he hears from alumni who have visited campus recently and are blown away by just how much it has grown and changed.

“This is a chance for uOttawa grads to hear from some of our very best professors, meet fellow alumni like Lisa LaFlamme, and see new features like North America’s tallest living wall. There are even science demonstrations for the kids.”

Alumni should visit uOttawa.ca/alumniweek to plan their weekend. There promises to be something for all alumni and friends: class reunions, young alumni events, interesting discussions with professors, campus tours, events for families and the Destination 2013 celebration on Saturday evening.

Watch the A New Energy video.

Follow uOttawa Alumni Week on Twitter: @uOttawaAlumni. Hashtag: #uOenergy.

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INFORMATION:

Néomie Duval
International Media Relations Officer
University of Ottawa
Office: 613-562-5800 (2981)
Cell.: 613-863-7221
neomie.duval@uOttawa.ca

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HIGHLIGHTS OF A NEW ENERGY: UOTTAWA ALUMNI WEEK MAY 6 – MAY 12, 2013

Refresh Your Mind

Saturday’s special lecture series—uO Insights: A day of learning about health and wellness—takes attendees deep inside the minds of eight of uOttawa’s most renowned researchers. The two keynote presentations are especially noteworthy.

• The morning keynote features Dr. John Bell. This extraordinary medical scientist will outline how he is creatingvirus-based therapeutics designed to seek out and finish off cancerous tumours. He will also present the results of his work from early tests on cancer patients.

• The luncheon keynote turns the spotlight on Dr. Marc Ruel. Chief of cardiac surgery at the University of Ottawa Heart Institute, he will provide a fascinating look into recent and looming innovations in cardiac surgery and the leading role our city and the institute play in fostering new approaches and spreading them around the world. Dr. Wilbert Keon, who performed the institute's first heart transplant in 1976, will then join Dr. Ruel to answer questions in a moderated question-and-answer session.

• The breakout sessions will address a variety of interesting health and wellness topics: Is “Dr. Google” the right physician for you? Should you really be following Canada’s Food Guide? How are genetics and environmental adversity during puberty linked to mental illness? And more!

Science Rendezvous will make the wonders of science come alive for the whole family. The Science and Engineering Alumni Speaker Series will explore innovations in science and engineering. And faculty lectures throughout the week will showcase the insights of some of uOttawa’s most original thinkers.

Rediscover the campus
Campus tours and lab tours will be offered at different times throughout the week. Visit old haunts, see what has changed and, most of all, explore what is new—the Advanced Research Complex, now under construction, and the spectacular new Social Sciences Building and its 100-foot living wall.

Reconnect with friends
Alumni will have plenty of opportunities to catch up with old friends and make new ones. Reunions for graduating classes, faculties and groups will be held at different spots throughout the city, including My Condo Cocktail Lounge and Kitchen, and the Fairmont Château Laurier.

Destination 2013 will cap off uOttawa Alumni Week. Hosted by CTV news anchor Lisa LaFlamme and La Presse columnist Patrick Lagacé, this year’s extravaganza will see the Canada Aviation and Space Museum transformed into a cool urban lounge. Alumni and their guests will salute the achievements of remarkable alumni and then celebrate with Les Trois Accords and the Alan Doyle Band —two of Canada’s most acclaimed musical acts.

Visit the Alumni Week website to get a sneak peak at the events to come. Access updates, photos and comments throughout the week on Twitter @uOttawaAlumni(hashtag: #uOenergy).