Innovation, Entrepreneurship, and Changemaking

You care about the world and you're ready to make a difference. 

Whether you're passionate about climate action, equality, or social justice, you already have what it takes to lead change. All you need is a community of like-minded peers, the tools to get started, and the support you need to make it happen.

At Laurier, you’ll find just that. As a recognized AshokaU Changemaker Campus, we’re part of a global movement that believes everyone can be a changemaker and help build a better world. 

Start Your Journey

Learn about changemaking, Try it out, and Do it!

Track your changemaking journey on Laurier’s Experience Record to document your changemaking skills and experience for employers and graduate schools.

Learn

To start on your changemaking journey, the first step is to build your changemaking toolkit. Starting with the Ashoka Changemaker Index asessment, this quick five-minute self-assessment will reveal your strengths and areas for growth as a changemaker. Remember everyone can be a changemaker, you just have to want to make a difference in the world.

At Laurier, we offer lots of opportunities for building your changemaking toolkit.

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Workshops

Check the events calendar for Changemaker Workshops to build your toolkit. Find your passion, and learn how to turn it into action. The workshops will help you get ready for our changemaker competitions and provide guidance for creating your own impactful venture. 

Certificate

Stay tuned for more information on how you can earn a Changemaker Certificate while you're at Laurier. 

Courses

Explore courses you can take to help build the fundamental skills to tackle global challenges, create innovative solutions, and explore how you can take entrepreneurial action to make a positive change in the world. 

Enhance Your Degree

Take your changemaking to the next level and enhance your degree with a minor or option related to changemaking. These opportunities are available to all students at Laurier.


Try

To truly become a changemaker you’ll need to get your feet wet and try out your changemaking skills. There are lots of opportunities at Laurier where you can engage with other innovators and entrepreneurial thinkers who want to build a better world. Check out the diverse ways that you can experiment, play with different ideas, and get creative.

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Activities

Throughout the year there will be a number of different activities you can engage in that will allow you to see what being a changemaker is all about and try out your changemaking skills.  Check out the Changemaker Events calendar to see what’s coming up.

Opportunities 

If you want to get involved further you can join the Changemaker Hub, apply to be part of the Laurier Change Team, or join one of the enterprises being built in the incubator.

Innovation Spaces

Interested in seeing what you can make and testing your potential ideas through prototyping? Head to our maker spaces on the Waterloo campus to make it happen.

On the Brantford campus if you’re looking to meet and collaborate with other like-minded students and community partners developing purpose-driven solutions to community challenges, make your way over to the Laurier Hub for Community Solutions.


Do 

Ready to take the next step? Join one of our incubators to receive support from industry experts, faculty, and fellow students to bring your changemaking ideas to life.

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Build a Better World

What change do you want to see in the world?

Check out the UN Sustainable Development Goals below to find your passion and what you can do today to get involved and start making a difference. Meet and connect with Laurier changemakers who are making an impact and who share your vision for a better world.

Contact Us

Changemaker Hub

Laura Allan, Director of Innovation and Entrepreneurship

E: lallan@wlu.ca 

Library Makerspace

Darin White, Library Experiential Learning Spaces Coordinator

E: dawhite@wlu.ca

Science Maker Lab

E: ScienceMakerLab@wlu.ca

StartUp Lab

Waterloo and Milton

E: startuplab@wlu.ca

Brantford

E: startuplabbrantford@wlu.ca