Odette School of Business marketing professor Vincent Georgie is sharing his expertise in marketing and film with students in his event marketing class. The special topic course examines critical issues that surround the conception, planning, and execution of a successful event, while using as a key example the Windsor International Film Festival (WIFF).

Dr. Georgie is also executive director and chief programmer of WIFF, a cultural, charitable organization that celebrates the art of cinema by showcasing Canadian and international film and filmmakers each year.

“Odette students have had experiential learning opportunities at WIFF since the early days of the festival,” Georgie says. “Again this year, Odette students have the chance to see the behind-the-scenes of the planning and operation of a major event and be a part of a high impact community institution.” 

The students in Georgie’s class gain first-hand knowledge and experience by participating in the leadership and organization of the festival’s schedule. In 2023, WIFF sold 45,000 tickets across 307 screenings of 186 films. Running this year from Oct. 24 to Nov. 3, the event continues to grow.

Tickets are available for purchase on the Windsor International Film Festival website.

Quiz winners

The winners of Wednesday’s DailyNews WIFF trivia contest are Kris Fielding, Kristen Siapas, Clinton Hamilton, Behzad Bolandi, Janice McAdam, and Ashley Jun. Each received a pair of tickets to see a show for correctly answering that the University of Windsor is a sponsor of the festival’s Closing Night, WIFF is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year, and the closing night film Conclave is a thriller about the selection of a new pope.

Law students Kosheen Mehndi Ratta and Reilly Norman have been selected to represent Windsor on a national stage through the Social Justice Fellowship Program, which provides recipients with paid placements to engage in transformative systemic change ameliorating the lived experiences of marginalized people.

Their project focuses on the ongoing debate surrounding the inclusion of mental health conditions within the framework of Medical Assistance in Dying (MAiD) legislation. They’ll be working closely with professor Tess Sheldon to create a comprehensive policy report that delves into this complex issue. The team’s research will culminate in a presentation at the Toronto Summit in February 2025, where they’ll join top students from across Canada to share insights and advocate for informed policy considerations.

With the program’s funding, training, and support, their work will result in a published report through Level Justice, highlighting their findings and recommendations. They are also eligible for the Social Justice Fellowship Award and the Journal of Law Student Scholarship.

The Challenge Course at the Toldo Lancer Centre offers valuable lessons to participants, says facilitator Adetomiwa Ishola, a master of education student.

“As they take on these challenges, they learn leadership skills, communication skills, and teamwork,” she says. “We try to teach them in a way the students can understand.”

The course hosted dozens of students from Holy Names Catholic High School on Oct. 30. Besides the outside activities, they toured labs and learning facilities in the Human Kinetics Building. Professor Adriana Duquette, acting head of the Department of Kinesiology, explained the variety of paths for teaching and research undertaken by its faculty.

“Even local students are not necessarily exposed to everything we have to offer here,” she says. “Bringing them in gives us a chance to demonstrate so they gain a better understanding of the teaching and research that we do.”

Chris Spadafora (B.Ed 2022) teaches hospitality and tourism at Holy Names. He says the day’s activities were a good fit for his students.

“Teamwork and co-operation — these are all things we do in our classes,” he says “I try to stress to them these are life skills they will take with them.”

And Grade 10 student Patrick Abou El Ella says the lessons hit home.

“When you’re trying to balance on a log, you have to work with your assigned partner no matter who they are,” he says. “If you’re trying to go one way and they’re going another, that’s not going to work.”

He says the key takeaway for him is: “In a work environment, you have to be able to work with everyone.”

The Challenge Course, now in its third year of operation, has hosted more than 60 groups and 3,000 participants. Elementary and high schools, University groups, sports teams, and businesses have all used the course for team building, enhancing such skills as strategizing, problem solving, trust, leadership, and delegation. To book a session, visit the Lancer Recreation website.

Students will have a chance to meet support advisors for Jewish and Palestinian students during drop-in sessions on main campus and downtown this month.

Jewish Student Support Advisor meet-and-greet

• Nov. 6, 2 to 4 p.m. – Leddy Library

• Nov. 12, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Windsor Hall

Palestinian Student Support Advisor meet-and-greet

• Nov. 5, noon to 2 p.m. – Windsor Hall

• Nov. 13, 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. – Leddy Library

Advance registration is encouraged. Visit the Jewish Student Support Advisor website and the Palestinian Student Support Advisor website for more details.

Hundreds of happy students collected treats from locations across campus during the Halloween Treat Trail.

“We had amazing participation from offices and clubs that joined in this year, too, which is a great addition,” said organizer Sandra Riccio-Muglia. “We may have set a record for students hitting the trail.”

The annual trick-or-treat activity proved a hit for teacher candidates Alyssa Brunone, Dynarah Boggs, and Amber Patten, who set out together in search of snacks.

“We’re having a lot of fun and learning about services at the University we don’t normally access,” Boggs said.

Patten seconded the thought, acknowledging that the life of a student can sometimes seem circumscribed.

“If it wasn’t for this, we’d never get out of the Education Building!” she exclaimed.

The Biotechnology Entrepreneurship Symposium, hosted Oct. 1 by the Master of Medical Biotechnology (MMB) program, offered valuable insights into the intersection of academia and business, highlighted employment in the Canadian health and bioscience industry, and guided attendees to achieve their career goals, says chair Tranum Kaur.

The one-day symposium brought together approximately 200 participants — including experts, industry leaders, alumni, faculty, and students — for discussion, networking opportunities, and career development sessions.

“Overall, the BE Symposium was successful in connecting academia and industry, providing exceptional student experiences, and celebrating alumni successes,” says Dr. Kaur, a faculty member in the Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry.

She praised the keynote address by Charles Boulakia, principal at the law firm Smart & Biggar, which provided insights on patent protection and intellectual property rights and was followed by an engaging question-and-answer session.

“Alumni panel discussions provided attendees with first-hand accounts of career opportunities and success stories in varied industries ranging from nutraceutical to pharmaceutical to clinical research to infection prevention to quality control,” she adds.

MMB graduate student Negar Andisheh calls the symposium a great experience that was well-organized, and provided a perfect balance of learning and networking.

“The sessions were particularly interesting, especially on how to turn biotech ideas into products and protect them with patents,” says Andisheh. “I found the alumni panel discussion very inspiring as it offered practical advice on various career paths. I also picked up some valuable job search strategies, with the best part being how to handle rejection and stay motivated.”

Mustafa Misri, business manager of True Phantom Solutions, which designs and manufactures synthetic models mimicking human tissue and bones for training and testing, said the symposium was a “truly enlightening experience” for industry partners.

“We are deeply impressed by the growth and achievements of the program and are eager to continue our relationship long term,” Misri said.

The University has declared glasses, tables, chairs, and other restaurant items for sale by bid as Disposal File 2051.

Available are:

• a Toastmaster warming table;
• a Frymaster fryer;
• an MKE fryer;
• a Vulcan flat top griddle;
• a Royal stove;
• a bar refrigerator;
• an underbar dump sink;
• an underbar ice bin;
• an ice making machine and storage bin;
• black bar tables and stools;
• patio umbrellas, tables, and chairs;
• pitchers, buckets, and glasses for beer, wine, and whisky;
• beer taps;
• an industrial coffee maker and RCA microwave oven.

Click here for more photos, item details, and instructions on submitting bids.