Based on the information currently available, the University of Windsor sadly confirms that at least five individuals who appear on the passenger list of Ukrainian International Airlines’ Flight PS752, which crashed in Iran on Jan. 8, are members of the UWindsor student and research community.

“The entire University of Windsor is heartbroken by this news and we extend our heartfelt condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of everyone impacted by this terrible tragedy,” said president Robert Gordon.

“At this very difficult time we will support each other as a university family and will provide counselling and additional support services to anyone on campus in need.”

Resources available on campus include:

• Student Counselling Services, located on the second floor of the CAW Student Centre, room 293.
• Student Health Services, located on the second floor of the CAW Student Centre, room 242.
• My Student Support Program, a 24/7 telecounselling and text service that offers counselling services in more than 140 languages. It can be reached by phone at 1-844-451-9700, or by downloading the app through the App Store or Google Play.
• If you are a member of a group of students and want to participate in an organized debrief as a group, contact the Office of Student Experience at studentexperience@uwindsor.ca to arrange a session.
• Human Resources - Employee and Family Assistance Program – grief and trauma support services will be available for anyone on Thursday, Jan. 9, in room 3000, Centre for Engineering Innovation. Group sessions from 10 to 11 a.m. and 1 to 2 p.m. Individual sessions will be offered from 11:15 a.m. to noon and 2:15 to 3 p.m. For further information, contact Tom Puskas in Human Resources at 253-3000, ext. 2048.

Additionally, Morneau Shepell is now offering a new Crisis Support Line for anyone in the community in need of emotional support in relation to these events. The Crisis Support Line is open 24/7 and can be reached at: 1-866-885-6540. Those who call will receive professional emotional support and/or referral to community resources. 

The University will provide additional information as it becomes available, and further details on a memorial service will be shared with the campus community in the days to come.

The Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) has joined a consortium to support social enterprises in the tri-county region.

The Southwestern Ontario Regional Consortium is now accepting applications for the Investment Readiness Program, a $50 million fund launched by the federal government in June 2019 to support social purpose organizations (charities, non-profit organizations, co-operatives, and social enterprises) to become “investment ready” in the social finance market. Eligible organizations could receive from $10,000 to $100,000 in non-repayable capital to develop their enterprises.

EPICentre director Wen Teoh says the organization is excited to be part of the consortium.

“Our social enterprise programs have helped over 25 entrepreneurs launch their social enterprises since 2017,” she says. “This funding will help many of them move to the next stage and become sustainable.”

Under the leadership of the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, the partners include the Sarnia Community Foundation, the Windsor Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce, Workforce WindsorEssex, and the Downtown Accelerator.

Find information on the program on the WECF website.

The Lancer track and field teams will take to their home turf for the Can Am Classic tournament, Jan. 10 and 11.

A full slate of competitions will begin at 5 p.m. Friday and continue through Saturday in the Dennis Fairall Fieldhouse. Find the complete schedule of events at goLancers.ca.

Hockey will also play at home, taking to the ice in the Capri Pizzeria Recreation Centre. The women will host Ontario Tech at 7:30 p.m. Friday; the men will face off against the Waterloo Warriors at 4 p.m. Saturday.

Other varsity squads will compete on the road Saturday. Basketball will be in Waterloo to play the Laurier Golden Hawks; the women at 2 p.m. and the men at 4 p.m. Volleyball will take on the Ryerson Rams in Toronto. The women play at 6 p.m. and the men at 8 p.m.

All these contests will be webcast live via OUA.tv.

International students represent about 3.3 per cent of the Windsor-Essex population — more than twice the national level.

A public forum Jan. 23 will consider the challenges and opportunities this poses to policymakers, educators, and service providers.

The Building Migrant Resilience in Cities Windsor City Network will host the discussion of how to promote international students’ resilience, employment, and transition to permanent residence. From 9 a.m. to noon in Katzman Lounge, Vanier Hall.

Geography professor Valerie Preston of York University, principal investigator, will moderate a discussion by panelists:

• Chris Busch, UWindsor acting associate vice-president, enrolment
• Ron Seguin, vice president of international relations, campus development and student services, St. Clair College
• Paul Davidson, president of Universities Canada
• Sutama Ghosh, associate professor in the Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Ryerson University
• Wesam AbdElhamid Mohamed, international students’ commissioner, Canadian Federation of Students

The event is free and open to the public; register at https://tinyurl.com/uu5xh4w.

Members of the University community were saddened to learn this week of the Jan. 3 death of Mary Olivia Rohmer, wife of 72 years to former chancellor Richard Rohmer, who served in the role from 1978 to 1989 and again from 1996 to 1997.

A native of Windsor, she taught elementary school and held volunteer positions with the Royal Ontario Museum.

Funeral services are scheduled for Saturday, Jan. 11, in Collingwood. Find details in her obituary online.