Ironworkers from both sides of the border made history this summer by connecting the Gordie Howe International Bridge over the Detroit River, marking a pivotal moment years in the making.

Two men — one from Ontario, the other from Michigan — met in the middle of the bridge deck and shook hands, officially establishing it as an international crossing and marking an important milestone in their hard work and the new addition to the Windsor-Detroit skyline. The historic moment was documented with the help of alumnus Kiefer Wright (BComm 2018).

“That’s probably one of the biggest, most feel-good achievements we’ve reached on the project — at least in the time I’ve been here,” he said.

The project is shaped by a range of talent, including University of Windsor co-op students and grads like Wright, who now works as a public affairs officer at Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority. Wright documents the bridge’s progress, highlights the people behind it, and shares updates on construction, community, and environmental efforts.

Filming this achievement was no small feat. The communications team began at 11 p.m., with a photographer, Wright, and another team member filming video, and a drone operator, working until 6 a.m. the next day to capture every angle.

“It was an incredible moment for them, and for us, to share their stories and recognize their contributions,” Wright said. “This is probably the biggest announcement we’ve made so far, so with all eyes on the project, it felt meaningful to honour those who have put their blood, sweat, and tears into it over the last four years to finally bring that deck together.”

Another project Wright worked on captured the completion of the tower construction. This video took a different approach, featuring a narrator guiding viewers through the construction site, speaking with workers, and highlighting the progress.

That video earned the communications team an IABC Virtuoso Award in the audio-visual category and the “Best of the Best” category, recognizing excellence in communications, creative strategy and design across southwestern Ontario. The same video also received an IABC Silver Leaf Award of Merit.

“That was a lot of fun to put together,” he said.

“The biggest highlight for me working here has been the privilege of interviewing the men and women working on-site — the ironworkers, operating engineers, labourers — so many dedicated people involved in this project. Being able to share their stories and capture how this bridge is coming together has been truly incredible.”

Wright joined the bridge project five years ago after completing a co-op placement in his final year of study, which he said helped him learn more about himself and develop unexpected skills.

“I discovered what made me tick — what I was truly interested in — which turned out to be working hands-on with the website. Then, of course, I got into video, something I hadn’t explored in my classroom education or maybe hadn’t actively sought out. But through my co-op experience, I was given that opportunity. Not long after graduating, a position opened at WDBA, which is where I am now, and the rest is history,” he said.

The bridge authority, which manages the Gordie Howe International Bridge project for the Canadian government, has hosted more than 240 co-op students from Ontario institutions across various fields, including engineering, business, and computer science.

Construction of the $6.4-billion Gordie Howe International Bridge, which began in October 2018 after planning phases dating back to 2001, is nearing completion and is slated to be finished by September 2025. Since breaking ground, the project has employed approximately 13,550 workers.

Once completed, it is expected to enhance cross-border travel by reducing congestion, create jobs, and boost regional tourism. The 2.4-kilometre crossing will be the longest cable-stayed bridge in North America and among the 10 longest bridges on the continent.

“If a project like this doesn’t make you excited to be an engineer, what will?” said Tad Czubernat (BASc 2021).

Like Wright, Czubernat also began his career at the bridge authority as a co-op student. Now an engineer, he oversees construction, reporting on progress and tracking construction activities.

“The highlight is definitely the work in the field and getting to see the construction up close,” Czubernat said.

His first co-op placement with WDBA in 2019 provided him with valuable hands-on experience and mentorship.

“I had a manager here who played a big role in helping me find happiness in my career. He’d give me tasks he trusted me with and let me build my confidence slowly. He’d start with one task, and if I completed it successfully, he’d give me a bigger one, letting me get used to the working environment,” Czubernat said.

That hands-on approach also helped Czubernat gain a deeper appreciation for the bridge project. His first co-op term gave him a front-row seat to the early stages of construction, an experience that has stayed with him throughout the process.

“I got to see this bridge start-up in my first co-op term when they started putting in the foundation for the towers,” Czubernat said. “I got to see that construction basically from the base level into where it is now, which definitely helps ignite your passion.”

Other students who served co-op placements at the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority have shared how valuable the experience was. They also highlighted how the co-op office played a key role in preparing them for the job, offering support with everything from résumé writing to interview preparation.

Co-op student Charbel Haddad said opportunity in the surrounding community is one of the great things about the University of Windsor.

Charbel Haddad, a fourth-year student of business administration and computer science, worked at the IT facilities during his term, echoing that the experience helped him build confidence in the field as he’s been trusted to lead projects on his own and gain that hands-on, independent experience.

“Working on the Gordie Howe International Bridge project has offered me a lot of exposure to various perspectives and opportunities to learn about the IT space,” he said. “Connecting with professionals in the field has been a valuable experience. The best of the best have given me tips, pointers, experiences, and learning opportunities to help me achieve my goals.”

Haddad highlighted the value of experiential learning, noting how co-op placements and other hands-on opportunities have shaped his career and university experience.

“There are so many opportunities to get involved in the community, which is one of the greatest things about studying at the University of Windsor. Our campus is tight-knit, and programs like co-op, volunteer work, and study abroad really help you gain hands-on experience while also building lasting memories and relationships for me, which continue to benefit me today.”

WDBA has played a key role in supporting experiential learning, earning the University of Windsor’s Co-op/Internship Employer of the Year award for four consecutive years. Since the program started in 2016, the bridge authority has hosted 289 co-op students from UWindsor.

To learn more about co-op opportunities and partnerships at the University of Windsor, visit uwindsor.ca/coop-workplace-partnerships.

Engineering professor Jeff Defoe has been interested in human flight for a long time, looking for ways to make airplanes more efficient while still allowing people to travel and experience the world.

The design of aircraft hasn’t changed much over a century of commercial flight, and most engineering advances have focused on small gains, which Dr. Defoe believes are close to the limit: “Aviation engineers throw a parade over half a per cent efficiency gain in a jet engine.”

Now he and Peter Voyer from the Odette School of Business are reimagining what the aircraft of the future could look like — and what airline passengers might think of it.

Defoe envisions planes that dispense with large engines hanging under the wing, and instead have small electrical generators on wingtips, powered by cleaner burning fuels like hydrogen. These generators would operate small engines all along the wing, spreading out drag so that each engine requires less fuel.

Although these new designs may be decades away from runways, he notes the additional advantages of greater redundancy of engines, which could improve safety, and therefore consumer confidence in air travel.

Learn more in the full article, “Flying greener skies,” published in the Research and Innovation in Action report.

Faculty, staff, and students stepped up once again in support of the Windsor-Essex Children’s Aid Society Holiday Program, which collects gifts for distribution to the charity’s clients.

Volunteers filled a truck with boxes of gifts, Tuesday outside the Welcome Centre.

This year, 27 departments and individuals sponsored some 37 families, collecting over $27,000 worth of gifts, said campaign organizer Sabina Howell, administrative assistant in the Office of Public Affairs and Communications.

“It’s always nice to see how people at the University respond to the call to make the holidays special for children,” she said.

It’s a cause that is well-established on campus, said UWindsor president Rob Gordon.

“This campus tradition is a way to demonstrate that we are doing our part to make the holidays a little brighter for families and youth in Windsor-Essex,” Dr. Gordon said.

When reviewing the top items sold through campus food service outlets, one thing is evident, says general manager Joseph Moore: students still love the classics.

Tim Hortons coffee is the single best seller, with customers buying more than 40,000 medium cups and almost 30,000 smalls over the course of the first 11 months of 2024. Accompanying them were more than 25,000 doughnuts and 22,000 muffins.

“Those would be perennial big sellers,” Moore says. “Students always seem to need caffeine and sugar to power through.”

Of hot prepared foods, the most popular was French fries, which sold more than 17,600 servings from the Ambassador Grill in the student centre through the end of November. Pepperoni was the favourite topping at Pizza Pizza, with more than 13,000 slices sold.

A new feature of the Leddy Library will better support the needs of student caregivers.

The Child Friendly Study Room, located on the third floor of the Main Building (Room 3169), is designed to create a welcoming environment for parents and guardians studying with young children.

The room is equipped with comfortable seating, a desk, and a table to facilitate focused work or study sessions. To make visits even more engaging for little ones, library staff put together Child Friendly Kits — children’s backpacks filled with books, puzzles, art supplies, and toys — that caregivers can check out.

“By offering a dedicated space where parents can care for their children while accessing academic resources, we hope to support caregivers and address their unique needs,” says Dave Johnston, head of the Access Services Department.

The Child Friendly Study Room is available during regular library hours and accommodates varying schedules and study habits. Bookings can be made online for time slots ranging from 30 minutes to three hours. The space operates on a first-come, first-served basis and can host one adult and up to two children.

For more details or to reserve the room, visit the Leddy Library booking site.

The Lancer Leadership Team at the Student Success and Leadership Centre invites students to an interactive day engaging traditional, current, and emerging leadership approaches on Saturday, Jan. 11.

The conference theme challenges student leaders and aspiring student leaders to consider the impact of massive online and interpersonal networks — “Fearless: Leading opportunities within networks of social comparison, AI bots, outrage, and Taylornomics.”

During the conference, students can enhance their leadership toolkits and practices to enhance opportunities in their daily lives.

“Our post-pandemic reality is filled with prescriptive narratives followed in our subconscious and in our daily routines,” says conference chair Tim Brunet. “Narrative networks impact the leaders we endorse, the choices we make, and the opportunities available to us.”

A unique feature of the 2025 conference is that participants may contribute to the conference material and be recognized in the 2025 UWill Discover journal. The itinerary also includes a text-based simulation where students climb Mount Everest, network with current and future student leaders from across the campus, and some surprises along the way.

Sign up today.

The University has declared six Microsoft Surface Go tablet computers for sale by bid as Disposal File 2095.

All are in excellent condition and each comes with its own adapter.

Click here for item details and instructions on submitting bids.