Watercooler Talk was created when the student body at the University of Waterloo first faced long-term closures of their facilities at the outset of the Covid pandemic. Our student-run publication galt. made the decision to put our printed matter on hold and initiate a month-long project that would exist exclusively online.

Once a week, we would release a prompt based on the evolving situation and headlines, asking students to respond with a piece of writing or imagery. At the end of the week we shared these responses on our social media, creating a dialogue between the now scattered student body. It highlighted the importance of the written word—whether printed or digital—in helping us navigate massive change, while also providing a forum to connect over shared experiences.