Judy Bornais, Associate Vice-President External at the University of Windsor, Robert Gordon, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Windsor, Dennis Rogers, Mayor of Kingsville, and John Norton, Chief Administrative Officer of Kingsville, sign a Memorandum of Understanding at Lakeside Park Pavilion on May 26, 2025. The five-year agreement will foster collaboration between the University and the Town of Kingsville in areas such as agriculture, sustainability, automobility, and economic development. It will create hands-on learning opportunities for students and support community-driven research initiatives. (Photo by UWindsor)
KINGSVILLE, Ont. — A new partnership between the University of Windsor and the Town of Kingsville is set to spark innovation, drive community-focused research, and open doors for students to gain hands-on experience tackling real-world challenges in agriculture, sustainability, automobility, and economic development.
Signed today at Lakeside Park, the five-year Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) outlines opportunities for Kingsville and UWindsor to work together on initiatives that benefit both communities and students.
“This agreement brings together local government and academia to drive meaningful, community-focused impact,” said Robert Gordon, President and Vice-Chancellor of the University of Windsor. “Kingsville’s leadership in sustainable growth and innovation aligns with the strengths of our faculty and students. We’re excited to work together to create meaningful opportunities for students while supporting regional development in Kingsville.”
Dr. Gordon speaks during the MOU signing ceremony at Lakeside Park Pavilion in Kingsville on May 26, 2025. He highlighted the importance of partnering with local communities to create meaningful opportunities for students and support regional development through collaborative research and innovation.
The MOU provides a flexible, non-binding framework to support activities including faculty-led research projects, municipal-focused innovation, and student placements. Opportunities may be supported through national research programs such as Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council,
“Our focus as a municipality is on building a thriving, future-ready Kingsville,” said Dennis Rogers, Mayor of Kingsville. “This MOU is about putting students to work on local challenges and inviting fresh thinking into how we grow as a sustainable, inclusive, and opportunity-rich community.
“We’re excited to see where this partnership takes us.”
The collaboration includes potential projects with UWindsor’s Office of Research and Innovation Services, Office of Experiential Learning, and faculty experts across fields like agriculture, automobility, and the environment. The Town will also provide support for student placements and community engagement initiatives.
This MOU supports Kingsville’s vision of becoming a healthy, sustainable, and prosperous community, while helping prepare students to lead in a rapidly evolving world. It also reflects the University of Windsor’s mission to empower positive change through regionally engaged research, learning, and innovation that creates lasting impact across communities.