Peter Frise is celebrating the 60th anniversary of the Queen’s coronation in style.

The UWindsor professor of mechanical, automotive and materials engineering and head of the AUTO21 Network of Centres of Excellence has received a Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal recognizing his outstanding contribution to Canada’s manufacturing and automotive sectors. The Canadian government created the medal to mark significant achievements in celebration of the jubilee year.

Engineering professor Peter Frise shows off his Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal.

Jayson Myers, president of the Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters, nominated Dr. Frise for the honour.

“I am delighted to reward his dedication in educating the next generation of engineers, his leadership in AUTO21, and the many valuable contributions he has made to Canada’s manufacturing and automotive sectors,” Dr. Myers said.

Frise said he was initially stunned but very pleased to receive the honour.

“Most importantly, I was nominated by an industry group based across Canada as the collective body which includes automotive but also other sectors,” he said. “It’s quite a good feeling.”

Frise played a key role in the development of Windsor’s automotive engineering program. Under his leadership, AUTO21 has provided more than $100 million in project funding in collaboration with industry partners. The projects have generated more than 100 patents, licences and commercialization agreements and provided training opportunities to more than 1,600 university graduate students.