Wilfrid Laurier University is an integral part of the Kitchener-Waterloo and Brantford communities. The Waterloo campus is squeezed mostly onto a single city block. The impressive Lazaridis Hall, which has won design awards, houses the school of business and economics, the math department and the StartUp Lab. Brantford campus students enjoy a new athletic and recreation facility jointly run with the YMCA in downtown Brantford. Students at the Waterloo campus benefit from the city’s status as one of the world’s fastest-growing tech sectors in a region with the world’s second-highest start-up density after Silicon Valley.

But it’s not all about profits—Laurier students give back. International Students Overcoming War helps refugees and international students from war-torn countries study in Canada. Last year, nearly 18,000 students participated in experiential learning opportunities, including co-op, field placements, lab experiences, workplace projects and community service learning. The university has 23 research centres and institutes, including ones dedicated to cold regions research, women in science, international migration and sustainable food systems.

“When students enrol at Laurier, they are joining a university that fosters academic excellence and a sense of community,” says president Deborah MacLatchy. “Our emphasis on experiential and entrepreneurial learning ensures students are equipped for a future in an increasingly complex world.”