Glen Anthony Schnarr (BES '74), a graduate of the School of Planning at the University of Waterloo, left an indelible mark on the lives of those who knew him.
Glen Schnarr's journey began in Waterloo, where he was born and raised in a loving family of eight children. He credited his strong work ethic and determination to his parents, Cyril and Rita Schnarr.
Excelling in Waterloo's planning program, Glen, affectionately known as "Lemmer", graduated at the top of his class in 1974, forging lifelong friendships along the way.
As General Manager of the Credit Valley Conservation Authority (CVCA) and later as the founder of Glen Schnarr & Associates Inc. (GSAI), Glen exhibited unwavering determination and visionary leadership. Leveraging these qualities, he grew GSAI into one of the premier planning firms in the western GTA, managing vast areas and creating communities for thousands of residents who live, work and play in the region.
Glen's influence extended beyond planning; he shaped landscapes and enriched lives, living his dreams and supporting young entrepreneurs as an angel investor. Family and friends were paramount to him, and he would do anything for the people he cared about.
To mark his legacy, his classmates with support from his family and colleagues, created an endowed fund to recognize fourth-year students in the School of Planning who embody some of the wonderful qualities Glen was known for: leadership, entrepreneurship, visionary thinking, collaboration, and giving back. Because of the generosity and foresight of Glen's community, the initial endowment of $50,000 to establish the scholarship was exceeded.
"Having known Glen as a friend, classmate and as a business colleague after graduation, I was aware of the extensive family, friends and professional contacts that he had who admired his charm, professional integrity and work ethos," says classmate John G. Jung (BES '74). "I felt that a scholarship of this magnitude was only possible by reaching out to his extensive list of admirers. We are all thankful to his family and former office colleagues for their commitment to seeing this scholarship grow well over $50,000."
Congratulations to the inaugural award recipient, Yasseen Mobada
This April, Yasseen Mobada, was named the inaugural recipient of the award. Through his four years on campus, he has been heavily involved in extracurriculars. He sits on the Planning Student Association as the director of events and served as an Environment Ambassador representing the program to prospective high school students. He also wrote several articles on planning topics for Imprint, such as Why Waterloo Should Further Improve Its Cycling Infrastructure and Is the UW main campus a good pedestrian zone?
A scholarship that connects past, present and future
"Our hope is that this award will play a part in the next generation of leaders achieving their dreams, just as Glen worked tirelessly to live his own dreams and create a legacy of perseverance and excellence," says Tedd Schnarr. "On behalf of the Schnarr family and Glen's colleagues and friends we would like to congratulate Yasseen on being the first recipient of the Glen Schnarr Memorial Scholarship Award. We have no doubt that Yasseen and other future award recipients will continue to follow in Glen's footsteps, using this opportunity to excel in their education at the University of Waterloo and make their own lasting impacts on the world."
Thank you to all those supporting this initiative, your donation helped create a permanent legacy, continuing Glen's impact far into the future. Moving forward, the initial investment will ensure the award will be granted to a deserving student for years to come. In this way the past and present remain interconnected, inspiring future generations.
