With Saturday, May 13, marking World Migratory Bird Day, it’s an appropriate time to celebrate our avian friends, says Nadia Harduar, the University’s sustainability officer.

She notes that this year’s theme is “Water: Sustaining bird life” and offers suggestions for ways individuals can help.

“The University of Windsor sits right next to an important waterway which is needed both by humans as well as the wildlife which it sustains, the Detroit River,” Harduar says. “Migratory birds use the Detroit River as a flyway during spring migration, accounting for increase in bird populations flying through Windsor during their time.”

She points out that the reflectivity of glass makes it the second-leading cause of death for birds, who collide with windows. To combat this problem, the University has been installing bird-safe glass on new buildings. The Toldo Lancer Centre and Welcome Centre have small dots on windows to make the glass visible to birds, the renovations to the law building address this issue, and some windows in the Leddy Library are festooned with decals representing the silhouettes of birds of prey.

“However, not all buildings on the University of Windsor’s campus are bird-friendly,” Harduar says. “We can use your help to identify windows that cause bird casualties, through a citizen science initiative to help both migratory and native birds on campus.”

Alysha Riquier, a graduate student of integrated biology, assisted in developing a new form that will enable members of the university community to report bird casualties, to help track and identify where efforts should be considered to make the campus bird-friendly. Fill out the form and submit a photo of the bird and the surrounding area. Grounds staff has already started tracking such incidents, Harduar reports.

She suggests other ways to help: reduce light pollution and decrease pollution to waterways by using reusable water bottles and bags.

Biology professor Dan Mennill heads research into urban avian populations.

“We use acoustic recordings to track bird migration, to study social interactions between birds, and to understand bird mating behaviour,” he says. “We record birds that pass over us during migration, and we have found that artificial light serves as a great distraction to migratory birds. We also record birds in different areas of cities, to understand which aspects of urban green spaces are important for birds.”

Windsor received certification from Nature Canada as a bird-friendly city in June 2022, recognizing work to make it a safe haven for wild birds.

The city will hold its first “Urban Birding Challenge” this week to introduce new birders to discovering nature in urban environments. Spot the most birds in a 24-hour period to compete for prizes. See details here.

As a child, Reem Boudali would scamper by the family television set shielding her eyes at the sight of gory medical scenes on the screen.

As she approached post-secondary study, Boudali’s passion to learn how the human body functions and a desire to help others in need led her to the University of Windsor’s Faculty of Nursing.

However, childhood fears re-surfaced during early stages of her academic journey.

“I remember as part of pre-clearance to get into the BScN program, I had to have my blood drawn,” recalls Boudali. “I don’t know if it’s because I didn’t eat much that day, but I became light-headed, things spiralled, and I almost passed out.”

Boudali remembers being in a hospital environment during a clinical placement in her second year of study, and becoming distressed when she saw live wounds or participated in wound dressing changes. Over time, her anxiety became so overwhelming that she considered dropping out.

Instead, she sought help from student success co-ordinator Fran Meloche and former clinical therapist Shannon Mercer. Through discussion and positive reinforcement, Boudali employed gradual exposure therapy: a technique used to help individuals gradually face and overcome their anxieties by slowly exposing them to situations that trigger their fears.

“After that, things became easier to handle,” Boudali says. “What stood out for me was the faculty’s support system. They took the time to make sure I progressed properly.”

And, she adds, she saw that support extended throughout the faculty.

“It’s little things that add up, like instructors learning to enunciate student names, recording extra videos on content that students aren’t understanding, extending office hours or study sessions for students, and answering emails after hours. Another nice surprise is the Clinical Learning Centre, which provides some resource information free of charge.”

Boudali is set to graduate this spring. She plans to enjoy her accomplishment, re-charge, and then evaluate her job prospects.

One thing is certain: Boudali feels that wherever her career takes her, she will emulate her instructors and continue the same passion, understanding, and genuine care that has helped her to overcome challenges and succeed thus far.

—Gam Macasaet

It may be the off-season for members of the Lancer women’s hockey team, but players are still on the ice, bringing their love of the sport to girls in their hometowns.

The team has been awarded a Doc Seaman Amateur Sports Grant from the Calgary Foundation to launch a program called Bringing Hockey Home. Players have fanned out to communities from Essex County to Vancouver Island to help run tryouts, practices, and camps for female hockey organizations in five provinces. The goal of the program is to inspire the upcoming generation of potential varsity athletes, encouraging them to excel in both hockey and in academics.

The program benefits UWindsor student-athletes, the young female athletes in their home communities, and the system of university sports as a whole, said Lancer women’s hockey head coach Deanna Iwanicka.

“This program exposes young players to female role models and it offers mentorship to young female athletes. It also exposes our student-athletes to other parts of the game — being on the bench and taking part in player evaluations and other aspects of coaching,” Iwanicka said.

“It also gives us an opportunity to promote U Sports, with the hope of seeing more student-athletes choosing to stay in Canada for their post-secondary.”

Named for the original owner of the Calgary Flames, Doc Seaman grants fund sports initiatives across Canada. The grants support programs in amateur hockey and other sports, especially projects that focus on youth and those needing equal access to amateur sport.

“When women thrive, the future is bright for all,” said Jason Bates, Calgary Foundation vice-president for grants and community initiatives.

“Calgary Foundation understands the power of sport in connecting communities across generations. We are proud to support the Bringing Hockey Home initiative to encourage hockey development in young female players and to help current players maintain valuable connections to their home communities.”

Lancer players are or will soon be on the ice in British Columbia with the Vancouver Island Seals, the Fraser Valley Rush, and the Vancouver Comets; in Alberta with the St. Albert Bauer Slash; in Saskatchewan with the Prince Albert Bears; in Manitoba with Hockey Winnipeg; and in Ontario with the Whitby Wolves, the Lakeshore Lightning, and the Sun Parlour Female Hockey Association.

There is no cost to the host communities to have Lancer student-athletes participate.

While the team has partnered with local girls’ hockey organizations in the past, this is the first time it has been able to offer its expertise elsewhere in the country.

“We want to thank the Calgary Foundation for this opportunity,” Iwanicka said. “This is a wonderful way to support women’s hockey in Canada.”

—Sarah Sacheli

In addition to working to ensure their students receive quality education, teachers in school boards across the region — and the province — have volunteered their time and classrooms to mentor Bachelor of Education teacher candidates as associate teachers.

As a token of appreciation, the UWindsor Faculty of Education is offering a $100 discount on its Additional Qualification (AQ) and Additional Basic Qualification (ABQ) courses to all teachers who have supervised a UWindsor B.Ed candidate during the current academic year.

Ken Montgomery, dean of the Faculty of Education, thanked these important partners for their unwavering dedication to the teaching profession.

“We extend our heartfelt gratitude to the hardworking and dedicated teachers who go above and beyond to create meaningful learning experiences for our students,” Dr. Montgomery said. “Your tireless efforts and commitment to education are truly inspiring and have a lasting impact on the lives of so many.”

For more information, visit the Faculty of Education website.

Leddy Library’s archivist, Sarah Glassford, will join the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s Black History series of online public talks to discuss elements of Black history and heritage on Thursday, May 11.

Dr. Glassford will share some of the interesting Black history documents, images, ephemera, and books available in the Leddy Library’s Archives & Special Collections.

“The centrepiece of our Black history holdings is the E. Andrea Moore archival collection, which documents Black community life in Windsor during the late-19th and 20th centuries,” said Glassford.

She also plans to highlight items from the library’s rare book collection relating to slavery and emancipation, including memoirs of freedom seekers who came to Canada via the Underground Railroad and abolitionists who worked to end slavery in the United States, as well as some small archival collections that shed light on local race relations in the mid-20th century.

“It will be an ‘illustrated talk’ — sort of a show-and-tell presentation in which I show some of the original materials in the collections as well as describing their interesting features,” Glassford said. “Seeing the original documents, images, posters, books, and programs with your own eyes, even if it’s through Zoom, really brings the past to life.”

Glassford looks forward to the opportunity to support a fellow heritage institution in the region, and to introduce the museum’s audience to the Black history items the Leddy Library holds in its archival collections.

“It’s also entirely possible that some of the people in the audience could be descendants of the people represented in these collections,” added Glassford. “As an archivist it is always meaningful when I can help connect community members with evidence of their own ancestors’ activities and experiences.”

The free event is scheduled for 2 p.m. Thursday, May 11, and will take place online. Click here to join via MS Teams.

For more information, visit the Amherstburg Freedom Museum’s website.

UWindsor professor Catherine Febria, director of the Healthy Headwaters Lab and Canada Research Chair in Freshwater Restoration Ecology, joined Canada Research Chairs, Banting post-doctoral fellows, Indigenous scholars, and other emerging researchers to attend the Science Meets Parliament event in Ottawa on May 1 and 2, co-sponsored by Canada’s chief science advisor, Mona Nemer.

The Science Meets Parliament program seeks to strengthen Canada’s scientific and political communities, with virtual and in-person elements designed to make scientists more familiar with policy making. The Canadian Science Policy Centre is a non-profit, non-partisan organization that serves as an inclusive hub for connectivity, convening, and capacity-building.

As a delegate — the first Canada Research Chair from the University of Windsor to participate in the program — Dr. Febria trained for several weeks through virtual sessions to learn about decision-making across the federal government and considerations for science and policy.

Given her involvement with the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) and locally-grounded research with decision-makers and communities including at the Ojibway National Urban Park, Febria expects this program will help to bridge science with policy making here.

Febria had the opportunity to meet with local MPs Brian Masse (Windsor West) and Irek Kuczmierczyk (Windsor-Tecumseh), along with Canada’s National Focal Point for IPBES, the International biodiversity science-policy platform, and new science-policy peers who share her interest in applying knowledges to engage and change policy, funding, and decision-making at all scales.

“Given the multiple challenges facing society today — climate change, biodiversity loss, pollution, and more — it is necessary to understand how scientific research findings can be mobilized into actions as soon as possible,” she says.

“We have no time to waste. Engaging in decision-making is an important responsibility of publicly funded researchers, especially in my field where legislation and policy at all levels will have significant impacts on our environment, health, and well-being.”

Over the two-day experience, Febria met with key funding agencies and research partners at Parks Canada, Environment and Climate Change Canada, and Canadian representatives involved with the UN science-policy platform IPBES.

She lists as highlights her individual meetings with water engineer and Senator Rosa Galvez, whom Febria shadowed, Windsor MPs Masse and Kuczmierczyk, and a private tour of the House of Commons lobby.

Faculty, staff, and students welcomed more than 500 Master of Engineering (MEng) students to the University of Windsor at an orientation session Tuesday, May 2.

The day included a cricket match on the big screen, a light lunch, and presentations on academic policies, course requirements, faculty advising, immigration guidance, student rights, peer support, mentorship, and clubs and social events.

“It is great to see so many bright students coming to Windsor from around the world to earn their Master of Engineering degree,” said Peter Frise, associate dean of engineering for professional programs.

“These students worked hard to get here, with the support of their families, and we are proud that they chose the University of Windsor’s MEng program as an entree into an engineering career in Canada.”

Following the formal program, attendees got a chance to meet new friends and explore the Centre for Engineering Innovation.

—Naomi Pelkey

Awards of up to $5,000 are available to UWindsor faculty and librarians through the University Diversity, Indigeneity, and Anti-Racism Professional Development Funds.

Depending on the availability of funds, the committee may consider awards over $5,000.

Applications for the June 2023 disbursement are due by June 15. Find more information, including the application form, on the Office of the Vice-President, Equity, Diversity & Inclusion website.

The UWinsite Student Update Project has reached the testing phase and finds a refreshed platform look. This project also includes updates to the latest security-related features, functionality, and fixes which will enable the University to respond swiftly to the evolving campus needs.

A team of staff from the Student Accounts Office, Student Awards and Financial Aid, Information Technology Services, and the Office of the Registrar have been collaborating on this project. While the group is currently testing the updated UWinsite Student platform, they are tracking the differences found in the new site.

“The update that will be released at the end of July will bring about visual changes to the platform,” says Lorraine Chandler, acting registrar. “For example, the search function is now displayed more prominently in the centre of the interface. There will also be technical aspects of the update that will position the University to address more effectively any issues that may arise.”

Chandler expresses gratitude for the campus community's patience during this project. She states that the project team is also reviewing the documented UWinsite Student knowledge articles and job aids to help the campus transition with the update.

The UWinsite Student portal will be unavailable July 21 to 24 while undergoing updates. The campus community can expect regular project implementation information through the DailyNews, emails, and the UWinsite Systems website.

The International Mother Language Festival, hosted by the Windsor-Essex chapter of the Bangladesh–Canada Association, promises to showcase the rich tapestry of languages and cultures from around the world on Saturday, May 13, at the Caboto Club, 2175 Parent Ave.

The event is sponsored by the Odette School of Business and will feature an address by its dean, Mitchell Fields, as well as performances by singers and dancers representing the Oneida and Mohawk Nations, China, India, Bangladesh, Sri Lanka, Iraq, Iran, the Philippines, Ukraine, Nigeria, Congo, Ghana, Pakistan, and Lebanon.

Organizer Fazle Baki, a professor of management science, says the festival serves as a powerful platform for fostering a sense of unity and appreciation for linguistic and cultural diversity.

“Through this celebration, Windsor showcases its commitment to promoting multiculturalism and strengthening the bonds that unite communities around the world,” he says.

The festival received support from the City of Windsor through its Arts, Culture, and Heritage Fund.