I remember Silvia fondly from the time that she spent studying in the Peace and Conflict Studies Program at Conrad Grebel University College, affiliated with the University of Waterloo. At the time, Silvia had recently returned from some work in Africa that made a profound impact on her. We had numerous conversations about how her experiences in Africa, and her connection with Cuba, influenced her. She was passionate about peace, justice, and how our program (and students) could make an impact on the world. Though I lost touch with her the last number of years, she remains one of the most memorable students I can recall, always prodding us to be more effective in teaching peace. She challenged and taught me much even as she was a student. I experienced our little part of the world in the peace studies program to be better because of her.

— Lowell Ewert