The future of the Windsor-Essex region following the pandemic is the subject of a six-part virtual speaker series hosted by the University of Windsor and the City of Windsor beginning in June.

“Envision a Post-COVID Future” will feature guest speakers with expertise in areas such as business, social justice, innovation, policy, and technology. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions following the presentations.

“Over the past year, COVID-19 disrupted nearly every aspect of our lives,” said UWindsor president Robert Gordon.

He said that while the immediate response to COVID-19 continues to dominate the conversation, it’s time to start looking with optimism toward a future of opportunities — using what we’ve learned and how we’ve been transformed as a community.

Windsor mayor Drew Dilkens said that with the vaccination roll-out well underway, we’re seeing the light at the end of the tunnel for our battle against the pandemic.

“This is an important time to consider the opportunities and challenges ahead,” he said. “This partnership with the University of Windsor and our virtual speaker series will help us go beyond recovery — moving toward envisioning how to thrive in a post-COVID world.”

Irvin Studin, author, Rhodes scholar, and one of the leading international policy thinkers and strategists of his generation, will launch the series June 3. Among his accomplishments, Dr. Studin has led policy-making committees at senior levels of government both nationally and internationally. He is editor-in-chief and publisher of Global Brief magazine, president of the Institute for 21st Century Questions, and chair of the Worldwide Commission to Education All Kids (Post-Pandemic).

The community is invited to join Studin for his talk “After the Pandemic: the State and Future of Canada” online at 8:30 a.m. on Thursday, June 3.

The Envision Speaker Series is free and open to the public, hosted virtually on Microsoft Teams. No special software or login is required. Visit www.uwindsor.ca/envision-series to RSVP and learn more about the upcoming featured speakers, including YWCA Canada chief executive officer Maya Roy, Smart Prosperity Institute senior director Mike Moffatt, and more.