The University of Waterloo's Campus Response Team began its journey with a proposal for the creation of an on-campus first aid team, made by Ben Thompson and Chris Mercer during the winter of 1998. The proposed first aid team became a member of ACERT in following fall. It was not until the summer of 1998, however, that the first advisory board for the UWCRT was created, featuring representatives from Health Services, Student Services, the Federation of Students, the Student Life Centre, the Health and Safety office and Kitchener's St. John Ambulance branch. The formation of the board allowed the team to begin operating in fall, 1998.

This early version of the team did not have uniforms, nor did it have enough equipment to provide high quality care, which is why it was awarded over $4,000 in the summer of 1999 for the purchase of team supplies and uniforms by the Student Life Endowment Fund. The growing team then separated from St. John Ambulance to become a new Federation of Students service, in the winter of 2000.

The UWCRT expanded its operations the following fall in assisting Health Services with their first one-week long Flu Clinic, where the UWCRT watched those individuals who were vaccinated to ensure they did not develop adverse effects due to the injection. This marked an important milestone for the team, and revalidated its service as necessary, reliable and responsible. For the team's help with the Flu-Clinic, Health Services generously awarded the team with 2 automatic Blood-Pressure cuffs, which are being put to good until their eventual retirement from old age in 2007. The UWCRT also established a significant presence on campus for orientation week, and purchased its first 6 two-way radios, allowing the responders to efficiently communicate between teams, or amongst same team responders if separated.

The UWCRT sent its first group of representatives to the national ACERT conference in the winter of 2001, as well as participating in the team"s first ACERT Mixer competition the following fall.

Another milestone for the team was the first successful 24/7 first aid post, set up in the Student Life Centre for the 2002 orientation week. Shortly after, in the winter of 2003, the UWCRT co-hosted the national NCCER conference with Laurier's ERT.

Another major change for the team was made during the fall of 2003, when it moved from the bowels of the Student Life Centre to a more accessible and visible office on the second floor Room 2141. The UWCRT has continued growing and expanding its capabilities since, receiving advanced airway management and oxygen administration, as well as AED training from Waterloo Region EMS in winter, 2005, and growing to record breaking size and number of applicants in the following fall.

In keeping with current trends in First Aid and CPR, the UWCRT has recently been approved to begin plans to upgrade their skills, starting with upgrading the CPR standards to the level of CPR-HCP (Healthcare Provider) in the Spring Term of 2008. This allows our members to continue giving the best first aid possible as well as utilize many of the skills no longer taught to lay rescuers. We have also recently purchased new Blood Pressure Cuffs that are more accurate and easier to use ensuring that the transition from CRT's care to EMS is as efficient as possible.

In addition to upgrading the CPR standards, UWCRT has made some leaps forward.  On the advent of our 10-year anniversary, UWCRT created a Fundraising & Promotions Committee to raise awareness on campus both to our presence and of our goal to promote healthy living.  In the Fall term of 2008, UWCRT joined Laurier's and Guelph's response teams to participate in the first ever Tri-U Conference hosted at Laurier.  Finally, and perhaps most strikingly, during the Spring term of 2009, UWCRT uses the SLEF funding granted in the Winter 2009 term to purchase our first portable AED unit, which makes it debut into our standard operational procedures during the Canada Day celebrations here at the University of Waterloo on Wednesday, July 1st, 2009.