A tree-trimming party Tuesday in the International Student Centre attracted dozens of participants representing countries around the world.

Aoi Ishimaru, an exchange student in art history from Tokyo’s International Christian University, said she wanted to experience a Canadian Christmas.

“I wanted to taste Canadian-style treats—cookies and apple cider,” she said. “It was very nice.”

The students sampled homemade goodies, built gingerbread houses, and made their own ornaments to decorate the centre’s tree—including a ribbon garland they signed with their names and countries of origin.

Another chance for them to learn about Canadian holiday traditions is the Host for the Holidays program. Now in its fourth year, the program places international students with Windsor families willing to open their homes to guests for a holiday dinner.

More information, including an application form for prospective hosts, is available on the centre’s website.

Japanese exchange student Aoi Ishimaru hangs an ornament on the Christmas tree in the International Student Centre.

Mehedi Hasan, a third-year mechanical engineering major from Bangladesh, signs a garland before placing it around the tree.

Automotive manufacturers apply many of the same technologies as aerospace suppliers, making it a natural source of new business, says Peter Frise, scientific director of AUTO21.

The research network is helping automotive companies explore new opportunities within the aerospace sector, partnering with the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada to host an automotive pavilion at the Canadian Aerospace Summit, which opens today in Ottawa.

“Canada’s auto industry is fast and highly disciplined on cost, quality and reliability,” said Dr. Frise. “These same attributes are valued in the aerospace sector. Many of the latest automotive technologies could transition to use in aerospace components or factories.”

The pavilion will host seven companies ranging from global automotive suppliers to smaller start-ups. In the quest for lighter, stronger vehicles and the most efficient manufacturing processes, many companies have products and services that could be of use in aerospace components and facilities.

Jim Quick, president of the Aerospace Industry Association of Canada, says the partnership with AUTO21 offers an effective way to build connections that benefit both industries.

“Given today’s race for technological improvement and productivity, we are seeing a dramatic increase in opportunities for collaboration between aerospace companies and sectors such as the auto industry that own emerging technologies and manufacturing processes that could be integrated to the aerospace supply chain,” he says.

Pavilion exhibitors include:

• The Narmco Group
• Leggett and Platt Automotive Group
• Magna Exteriors and Interiors
• Radix Inc.
• Valiant Aerospace
• Canadian Light Source
• Jesse Garant & Associates Metrology Center

Canada’s automotive research program, AUTO21 helps companies engage in collaboration and explore new opportunities to help strengthen the Canadian automotive sector. AUTO21 is supported by the Government of Canada through a Networks of Centres of Excellence program, and its administrative centre is hosted by the University of Windsor.

Seven women from the UWindsor faculty, alumni and broader community will read from David Sedaris’ seasonal masterpiece Santaland Diaries Friday in support of the Windsor Youth Centre.

“This is a very adult story,” says University photographer Tory James, who organizes the annual benefit event, “and quite possibly the funniest 33 pages ever written in English.”

The staged reading will start at 7:30 p.m. December 7 at Lefty’s Underground, 89 University Avenue West. The doors open at 6 p.m.; admission is by donation.

The Windsor Youth Centre is a drop-in centre serving homeless and at-risk youth between the ages of 16 and 20.

The staff of the Leddy Library encourages students who are finishing projects and studying for finals to come to them for help.

The Library Assistant Access Services offers students guidance with finding online journals, checking out books, writing formal papers, accessing course reserves, and general reference questions.

“We have several quiet areas and comfortable couches where students can sit back and read,” says library assistant Sue Eberlie. “We are always here to help.”

During finals, December 1 to 17, the library will remain open 24 hours Monday to Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 2 a.m. on Sunday.

“The library is a good place to study because there are quiet floors and I’m removed from distractions,” says fourth-year English student Krista Filipowitz. “I’m going to study for finals in Leddy because I’ll be able to concentrate better than at home.”

Students are allowed to bring covered drinks into the library. Library staff stress that patrons should never leave their valuables unattended.

— article and photo by Madeline Mazak

The Centre for Enterprise and Law invites you to save the date for its Intellectual Property Boot Camp, a workshop providing an understanding of the theoretical and practical principles of intellectual property.

The workshop runs four days, February 19 to 22, on the UWindsor campus. It will feature a number of speakers from the fields of law and business discussing patents, trademarks, commercialization of technology, and other aspects of intellectual property.

The $100 registration fee includes breakfast and lunch each day. Find details, including registration information, on the centre’s website.