With shovels in hand, representatives of the University of Windsor and Tilbury Capital ushered in a new future for housing on campus and in the local community Monday.

During an event to mark the official groundbreaking of the new student residence, University of Windsor president Robert Gordon said the project will enhance the student experience and address a critical need for housing in Windsor.

“The new student residence will be a beacon of inspiration for our future students in the years to come,” Dr. Gordon said. “As a locally grounded, globally connected University community, we are also an institution for the Windsor-Essex region, meaning we have capacity to help transform the housing landscape in Windsor for a better future.”

The six-storey student residence will feature 452 beds, including 68 barrier-free beds, distributed across 226 suites with shared bathrooms (2:1 student to bathroom ratio), and 12 private residence life suites. Spanning 150,000 square feet, the project has been designed to cater to the needs of students. Its amenities include six community lounges, a house lounge, shared laundry facility, and a 275-seat food hall.

Located on Sunset Avenue between Wyandotte and Union streets, the state-of-the-art residence will be positioned to welcome Lancers ahead of the Fall 2025 semester. The project is the result of a public-private partnership with Tilbury Capital, a real estate investment and development company with a focus on purpose-built student accommodation.

“As we put shovels in the ground, this marks the beginning of the excitement and impact that this transformative project will bring to the University, the region, and most notably future University of Windsor students for decades to come,” said Michael Kaye, partner at Tilbury Capital.

“Creating a win-win outcome for all stakeholders has been immensely rewarding for our team and, as an alumnus, it has been extremely purposeful to have the opportunity to return to Windsor and collaborate on such a vital venture.”

The University currently accommodates students in three residence buildings— Alumni, Cartier, and Laurier halls. Each year, these buildings welcome 150 to 350 students, in addition to the thousands residing in private, off-campus rental accommodations.

In celebration of National Indigenous People Day — June 21 — the Department of Human Resources has developed a list of resources celebrating the unique voices and rich heritage of Indigenous Peoples in local communities and across Canada.

Visit the National Indigenous Peoples Day website to discover, learn, and connect with films, reading materials, and relevant events and activities.

Following a highly competitive search process, Clinton Beckford will begin a five-year appointment as vice-president, people, equity, and inclusion, effective July 1.

Reporting to the president, Dr. Beckford will be the University’s leader in executing a progressive approach to supporting people and cultures, empowering faculty, staff, and student efforts to advance the University’s commitment to cultivate an equitable, inclusive, respectful, and healthy campus environment and organizational culture.

Formerly a dean, associate dean, and professor in the Faculty of Education, Beckford took on the role of vice-president, equity, diversity, and inclusion in June 2021 on an interim basis while the University worked towards a Senate-governed leadership role at the vice-president level.

In January of this year, the position title was updated to “Vice-President, People, Equity, and Inclusion” to better reflect the leadership portfolio. A refreshed VP PEI website will launch on July 3 in recognition of the title change.

“Dr. Beckford brings extensive experience, expertise, and institutional knowledge to the EDI portfolio,” said president Robert Gordon. “I look forward to continuing to work closely with Dr. Beckford as he settles into the position.”

Beckford said he is also looking forward to the continuation as the University becomes a more inclusive, safe, and welcoming campus.

“I am honoured to be given this opportunity to serve the university and broader community,” said Beckford. “This is a watershed moment for us as we seek to build on the gains we have made, especially over the last three years or so, to be a more inclusive and just place to learn and work. I am excited by what we could be and looking forward to working together to make it happen.”

Winning a draw for a semester’s paid tuition during the 2019 UWindsor Welcome Week really allowed her to expand her horizons, says Kayla Jakobszen, who graduated May 30 with her baccalaureate in environmental studies.

“By not having to pay for that semester, I was able to put that money towards going on a student exchange in Wales during my third year and a recent trip to the Dominican Republic,” she says. “It allowed more money to stay in my education savings and I’m now looking at pursuing a master’s degree.”

The University of Windsor Alumni Association has sponsored the annual prize for 20 years. The Student Success and Leadership Centre celebrated that record of support with the presentation of an award of appreciation to the alumni board — and sharing stories of the impact on its recipients.

Jakobszen says it has made a lasting difference to her.

“The first memory that comes to mind from starting at the University of Windsor is the photos I have of me standing in front of a massive crowd of students that would become my peers and accepting that gift from the Alumni Association that I still have displayed on my shelf to this day.”

The Law Library will move back into the law building during the month of July. This means that the current physical library space will be closed as it relocates its collection from storage back to the shelves in the newly renovated Faculty of Law building.

To speak with a reference librarian, reach out via email at lawreference@uwindsor.ca or visit the website to leave a message on LiveChat.

For any circulation-related services, including borrowing and returning materials, contact lawcirc@uwindsor.ca.

In the event that you require a specific item that is not available in the library, librarians can assist in obtaining it from another institution. Email requests to lawill@uwindsor.ca.

The library staff appreciates the patience of patrons during this transition and looks forward to welcoming users to its new space in the near future.

—Dalia Mazhar

On June 15 and 16, University of Windsor alumni from the Bachelor of Commerce class of 1970 celebrated their 50-year reunion, postponed from gathering in person in 2020 due to the pandemic.

Dean of business Mitchell Fields says the class eagerly awaited the first opportunity to celebrate.

“I am so pleased this group of alumni could finally reunite for this milestone,” says Dr. Fields. “It was heartwarming to see so many of them gathered together again in fellowship.”

Reunion activities included golf, lunch, a celebratory toast to the class, and a tour of the Odette Building, concluding with dinner at Fourteen Restaurant and Sky Lounge.

The activities were organized by the Class of 1970 Reunion Committee, including alumni Terrence Connoy, Neil Donnelly, Richard Peddie, Mike Mueller, and Gus Mumby, and supported by the Odette School of Business.

Connoy says the class is a very special one and reunites every five years.

“It’s been an absolutely wonderful experience, we’ve made so many friends, and we’ve stayed in each other’s lives. It’s hard to express the joy of being with these people all these years.”

He says this will probably be the group’s last meeting but hopes that a future class will follow in their footsteps and remain as connected as they have.

“We are all grateful we had the opportunity to go to the University of Windsor,” Connoy says. “It’s been a delight.”

—Sienna Ducharme