October, 2004 - Nr. 10
Centre of German Studies
gets Boost
by Herwig Wandschneider
Paul Tuerr Contribution Raises Centre for German Studies beyond 1/3 of Target
An ambitious plan to create a Centre for German Studies in Waterloo received a significant boost September 15th, when University of Waterloo President Dr. David Johnston announced a $½ million donation to the Centre from Paul Tuerr, P.Eng.
![Dr. David Johnston eloquently addresses participants [photo: Herwig Wandschneider]](410c-HW_03a.jpg)
Dr.
David Johnston spoke at a special celebration dinner, attended by about 70
business and academic leaders in the K-W community, to honour Paul Tuerr for
his outstanding dedication to the establishment of the Waterloo Centre as a
lead donour, founder and volunteer, and to thank him for his generous gift.
The target for the proposed Endowment for the Centre is $3 Million and Mr. Tuerr’s contribution brought the Fundraising campaign to the $1.15 Million level, crossing a significant confidence building threshold.
The Centre, based in the Department of Germanic and Slavic Studies of the University of Waterloo, focuses on teaching and research in German language and culture, as well as providing outreach programs to raise public awareness of the rich Germanic culture in the Kitchener-Waterloo community. (Echo Germanica first covered the proposed centre in its May 2002 Issue – see the article at
http://www.echoworld.com/B02/B0205/B0205bHW.htm on Echo Germanica’s website).
![Paul Tuerr & Dr. David Johnston [photo: Herwig Wandschneider]](410c-HW_10a.jpg)
Dr.
David John, Acting Director and Champion of the Centre eloquently introduced
Mr. Tuerr and his family, supported by digital projection, beginning with
Mr. Tuerr’s early youth, his immigration to Canada in 1948 following
graduation from Stuttgart University to the growth of Paul Tuerr
Construction Ltd and its contribution to the housing and industrial
development in Waterloo Region. In 2002 Mr. Tuerr received the Queen’s
Golden Jubilee Medal to mark his significant contribution to Canada, his
community, and his fellow Canadians.
The dinner was exquisitely prepared by University staff, not only for the palate, but also imaginatively decorated to please the eye.
Kitchener-Waterloo with its distinct German Heritage can call itself fortunate that the Waterloo Centre of German Studies will be located in their own community and that it is associated with such a fine institution as the University of Waterloo.
