OpenText celebrates 35 years by giving back

R+T Park is excited to celebrate a major milestone for one of our anchor tenants. OpenText, a global leader in Information Management and a pillar of the David Johnston Research + Technology Park, is marking its 35th anniversary. It’s a proud moment—not just for the company, but for the entire R+T Park and the Waterloo innovation community.

OpenText was founded in 1991 by University of Waterloo professors Frank Tompa, Timothy Bray, and Gaston Gonnet. It began as an ambitious collaboration between students and faculty to index the Oxford English Dictionary. That early project laid the groundwork for what would be widely considered the world’s first search engine.

Since then, OpenText has grown into Canada’s largest software company, operating globally in 35 countries. In 2006, the company made R+T Park its global headquarters—a place that continues to drive innovation and support the next generation of tech leaders.

What sets OpenText apart is their commitment to giving back. Over the years, they’ve led major philanthropic efforts, from global campaigns like 100 Acts of Kindness to local programs that directly support the Waterloo Region. 

To mark their 35th anniversary, OpenText donated $35,000 to Habitat for Humanity Waterloo Region, reinforcing their deep connection to the community they’ve called home for over three decades.

OpenText’s commitment to building a better world is just one example of how R+T Park tenants give back. This spirit of giving back is a core value at R+T Park—whether it’s supporting the David Johnston R+T Park Community Impact Fund, participating in giving campaigns, or launching new ways to support employees and neighbours. Our tenants believe innovation and community go hand in hand.  

Congratulations to OpenText on 35 years of leadership, vision, and impact—here in Waterloo and around the world.