Overview

Established in 1911, originally a Lutheran foundation, this public university focuses on integrated and engaged learning. It calls this experiential learning; alongside academic programs co-curricular activities are encouraged and students are awarded a Co-Curricular Record on graduation. The main campus is in the heart of Waterloo, but in 1999 a campus in Brantford was opened. This is about 105km southwest of Toronto. At this smaller site, with some 3,000 students, Liberal Arts and Human Social Sciences are offered. Laurier also operates a China Office. Waterloo, which is adjacent to the city of Kitchener and often referred to as Kitchener-Waterloo, has some pleasant sandstone buildings and the largest community museum in Ontario. It is also at the heart of Canada’s Technology Triangle, the Silicon Valley of Canada. Home to BlackBerry Software, Waterloo is an entrepreneurial city with a high density of start-ups and two major universities. The tightly-integrated metro area of Waterloo, Kitchener and Cambridge has a small international airport and is just 74km west of Hamilton and 116km east of Toronto.