Events
Join us as we celebrate our 100th year. All events are open to the public unless otherwise noted. Visit the university event calendar for more.
In March 1925, the seed of Wilfrid Laurier University's Faculty of Arts was planted when an agreement was signed between Western University and Laurier's precursor, the Evangelical Lutheran Seminary of Canada, constituting a College of Arts.
Today, Laurier’s Faculty of Arts offers over 20 undergraduate and nine graduate programs spanning the humanities and social sciences. It’s one of the largest Faculties at Laurier with average enrolment of nearly 5,000 students per year and close to 50,000 alumni.
Throughout 2025, we’re sharing our stories: researchers who are making a difference at home and around the globe; students who are challenging themselves with experiential learning, co-op programs, international experiences and more; and alumni whose Laurier Arts experience paved the way for lives of leadership and purpose.
Join us for treats and connect with Arts students, faculty and staff.
Lecture with Bryan Van Norden, James Monroe Taylor Chair in Philosophy at Vassar College (USA), and Chair Professor in the School of Philosophy at Wuhan University (China).
Laurier's Lifelong Learning Lecture series is open to everyone. All lectures take place at the Waterloo Memorial Recreation Complex. Below are lectures featuring Faculty of Arts faculty.
Author Thea Lim will offer guest lectures, workshops, and manuscript feedback to Laurier students and writers as the 2025 Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence for the winter term. Lim's 2018 novel An Ocean of Minutes was shortlisted for the Giller Prize and ALA Reading List for Science Fiction, longlisted for Canada Reads, and named a Globe and Mail “favourite book of the year.” Learn more about the Edna Staebler Writer-in-Residence.
Charlotte English is a recipient of Laurier's most prestigious entrance scholarship, which provides high-achieving students with $40,000 for their degree. She chose Laurier because of a program that combines a Bachelor of Arts degree in Political Science and Bachelor of Laws from the University of Sussex, which she could not find anywhere else. Learn more about the Laurier Scholars Award.
Offered by the Department of Global Studies, this course immerses students in hands-on opportunities to conduct research and design and test solutions to municipal challenges identified by the City of Waterloo. Recent challenges included traffic in school zones, youth civic engagement, and short-term rental housing. Learn more about Social Innovation in the City.
ISOW is a multi-faceted initiative that brings Laurier students, staff and faculty together to enable students from war-torn countries to study in safety and security in Canada. Since its formation in 2013, ISOW has supported 43 scholars to study at Laurier from nine different countries including Syria, Gaza, Lebanon, Egypt, Myanmar, Türkiye, Somalia and Afghanistan. The initiative is student-led and primarily funded through a student levy.
"Though I graduated from Laurier in 2013, it feels like just yesterday—those semesters filled with late-night study sessions and a variety of club and committee events. From travelling with the Model United Nations Delegation and exploring world politics for The Cord, to representing students on the Students' Union Board, Laurier was my launchpad to a world beyond the classroom. It sparked my curiosity about the world, which ultimately took me from Canada to California, and now to The Netherlands, where I live and work today.
"After earning my degree in Global Studies and Sociology, I ventured into the tech world by pursuing a Master’s in Digital Experience Innovation. However, it was at Laurier where my passion for research truly took root—an interest that has shaped my career ever since. The critical thinking and research skills I developed at Laurier didn’t just aid me in academia; they laid the foundation for my current work. I’m deeply grateful to the Sociology department for introducing me to the transformative power of quality research! Today, I help tech companies foster cultures of data-driven decision-making, making an impact in ways I never imagined during those late-night study sessions."
"I graduated in 2022 with an Honours BA in Film Studies. I transferred to Laurier in my second year and it was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I loved every minute and learned so much from my professors. During my years at Laurier, I was the VP of Marketing for the WLU Film Society, presented a paper at the Film Symposium, and served as a student rep on the Film Studies Advisory Group.
"After completing my MA in Cinema Studies at the University of Toronto and an internship at the Toronto International Film Festival, where I helped to coordinate a conversation series with industry members like Cate Blanchett, I started my current position as a Programming Assistant at the Academy of Canadian Cinema and Television, where I support the planning and execution of the 2025 Canadian Screen Awards. My Laurier Arts degree in Film Studies gave me the confidence and skills necessary to jumpstart my career in my field of study."
Instructor, Archaeology and Heritage Studies
2024 Early Career Excellence winner Elaine Cheng shares how she guides students through classroom and field experiences that blend real-world challenges with a mix of career-integrated and experiential learning.
Associate Professor, Languages and Literatures
2024 Excellence in Internationalization Award winner Simona Pruteanu shares her passion for creating a multicultural and inclusive curriculum that incorporates guest speakers, creative assessments like storytelling and comic book creation, and career-integrated learning opportunities.
Associate Professor, Communication Studies
2024 Innovation in Teaching Award winner Jeremy Hunsinger shares his approach to creating a student-centered, studio-like classroom environment that fosters critical thinking and passion for lifelong learning.
Professor, Philosophy
How does a historian of seventeenth century philosophy become a climate ethicist? Philosophy Professor Byron Williston discusses the links between philosophy, ethics, and the climate crisis.
Associate Professor, History
As an Anishinaabekwe member of Serpent River First Nation, Lianne Leddy has dedicated her career to the decolonization of Canadian history. She has been awarded the Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Histories and Historical Practice in Canada.
Associate Professor, Sociology
Why do young people typically make it sound like bad news when they come out of the closet? Jeffrey Aguinaldo is analyzing real-life recordings of “coming out” conversations to understand what we convey when we say, "I’m gay."
Meelad Moaphi, an assistant professor in Laurier's Department of English and Film Studies, premiered his first feature film at the Toronto Reel Asian International Film Festival.
His Father's Son, a family story set within Toronto’s Iranian community, won the Audience Choice Award and Moaphi won the Directors Guild of Canada’s Best Direction prize.