Students’ Views

“I was reading my alumni report and learned about your retirement September 1, 2007. I was happy for you when I learned you had completed 42 years of service at the University of Waterloo. Congratulations on your long awaited and richly deserved retirement.

For many of us, your career has been a model to follow. One of my favorite courses taken in my undergraduate studies was your distance education course in the History of Canadian Economics. Although, I did not have the opportunity to enroll in a class lecture of yours I appreciated the wisdom you shared in the one course I did take of yours. You have made the department of economics the success it is today, and I think I can speak for all of us when I say we are sad to see you leave.

Retirement will be an adjustment but also an opportunity. May you retire knowing that you have made a remarkable contribution and have touched the lives of your students in immeasurable ways. Congratulations on the completion of 42 years of excellent service.” RS

“I found your course of high value-add to any Econ student, as it exposes one to an alternative way of thinking.  Not only does this course show the student alternative thinking, it also helps tie the econ theory we learn to the real world.  The essays were a great, refreshing marking approach to the standard "multiple choice" route - essays, versus multiple choice, truly let the student explain their full comprehension of material (versus just memorizing terms and formulas to answer tricky multiple choice wording).  I myself teach, and find that essays are one of the only ways of showing true knowledge.



I firmly believe your course should be considered mandatory for any Econ major - I am copying Prof. Burbidge and Prof. DeJuan on this note in the hopes that they carry on this course when you leave (I understand from Prof. DeJuan that you will be retiring shortly).  I believe your departure from the Econ department could leave a big hole, if this course does not remain alive.“ WR

"This term (Fall 2006) has bestowed on me with a gift of enlightenment, You made me believe that a proud man can stand up against the hegemony no matter the cost, Thank you for your genuine love for the people. I wish you a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. You will be missed at UW, Sincerely, KK.

“I would like to take this opportunity to thank you for your 
excellent teachings in both 310 and 410. I can't describe to you how
 refreshing it is to engage in the healthy criticism of our discipline. I 
believe your view point and your genuine interest in students will be sorely 
missed on campus. Thank you for taking the time to listen to me and my
 conjectures, both in class and on the march (to your office).”JDG

“From all of the Economics courses that I have taken here at Waterloo, I have learned the most from your Contemporary Canadian Problems, and the recent History of Canadian Economic Development.  These have been the only classes where I've been able to get a grasp on the issues by means of discussion, writing papers, and reading various texts.

I feel that the point of an education is to learn to look at things from the leftist perspective, and not only from the right (which we are bombarded with through news media).  I feel certain that I have progressed a lot during the past two years that you have taught me.  Last year I could hardly squeak a peep out, but this year I was arguing with the best of them.” JY