UW engineering receives multi-million gift to rename building, focus on health care

The University of Waterloo’s Faculty of Engineering was granted $20 million from the Gloria Baylis Foundation to further push the school’s limits in technology and to rename a building.

Outside the Engineering 7 building, alumni Frank and Valerie Baylis made the announcement of the philanthropic contribution to the school. The donation was made to honour the late Waterloo Engineering dean, Pearl Sullivan, the first female to hold the position and a “force of nature” for reimagining studies at the university. She died Nov. 28, 2020, after battling cancer for 12 years.

The Gloria Baylis Foundation is renaming Engineering 7 to the Pearl Sullivan Engineering Building. The charity was founded by the son of the woman who holds its namesake, a nurse, entrepreneur and civil rights advocate, the press release reads.

“Like my mother Gloria, Pearl’s drive and vision expanded opportunities for people to realize their potential,” Frank said. “Pearl’s career and achievements deserve celebration, and this space is a testament to her work in advancing education.”

Mary Wells, the current Waterloo Engineering dean, said that Sullivan is being remembered by being a leader and a driven woman.

“She was laser-focused on making Waterloo Engineering the best not just in Canada but the world,” Wells said in the press release. “She was an empathetic leader, a passionate educator and a bold dean who made things happen quickly and decisively.”

The current dean shared that Sullivan even chose the colours of the stairs and is the reason the Engineering 7 building exists.

“It was always Pearl’s building and now it’s official. I am grateful to the Gloria Baylis Foundation for honouring her incredible legacy this way, it means so much to me and to our community,” Wells said.

The donation money will go not only to changing the building’s name but supporting the university in achieving Waterloo at 100, which is a mission to address some of the world’s largest problems through research and innovation by the school’s 100th anniversary in 2057.

One of those issues is health care, providing better access to services. Advancing technology through engineering, which part of the funds will go to help with recruitment for a position in the Canada Excellence Research Chair in Health Engineering and Technology.

“Waterloo is constantly evolving to remain ahead of its peers,” said Valerie. “Our goal with this gift is to support the University’s culture of embracing positive change and its drive to make a real impact in the world. This aligns perfectly with the Gloria Baylis Foundation’s goals for improved access to better health care and education for all.”