daily news banner
President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada Julia DeansPresident and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada Julia Deans will join in conversation with UWindsor chancellor Mary Jo Haddad on Thursday, March 21.

Habitat for Humanity Canada president to talk building community and building futures

While some say opportunity knocks, Julia Deans says sometimes you need to find the doors, do the knocking, and turn the handle.

President and CEO of Habitat for Humanity Canada, Deans will be speaking with University of Windsor chancellor Mary Jo Haddad on Thursday, March 21. The event is the latest in the Chancellor’s Leadership Series and will focus on the topic of building community.

“Community is creating a place where everyone can live, work, play safely and in comfort, and know they build their future and invest in the future of their families and of that community,” Deans said.

“I think that’s one of the things that really drives us at Habitat. We are interested in people owning their own homes because we know that when you own your own home, you have that sense of safety, security, and stability.”

Deans started her career in law. She practised in Toronto and Hong Kong and built a business in Singapore before making her way back to Canada, where she has worked in non-profit leadership, becoming CEO of CivicAction, Futurpreneur Canada, and the Canada Children’s Literacy Foundation before taking on the role at Habitat for Humanity.

“My real interest is connecting people to opportunity,” she explained. “Anything I can do to connect people to opportunity excites me. I’m not a housing person. I’m not a literacy person. I’m not an entrepreneur person. I like anything that will help people do more with their lives and achieve their potential.”

That excitement is what drove Deans to Habitat for Humanity, to have a platform with many people to work with and address the need for housing while influencing others to help tackle the issue, she said.

Habitat for Humanity makes its mark on communities by addressing a myriad of issues, from home building to improving community spaces and gardens.

“I think of Habitat Windsor-Essex as a great example because it’s an organization that is deeply integrated into every facet of the community. It is working with the University, it’s working with education and with builders and developers,” she said. “In each case, we’re trying to leverage whatever that group has in order to improve the housing situation for people in Windsor-Essex.”

During the discussion, Deans hopes to offer advice to students embarking on their careers. One of those points will include how to be confident enough to open your own doors of opportunity.

“Rather than wait for people to open the doors and pull you in, go in and knock on the doors and turn the handle. I know that that’s easier for somebody like me, who was born and raised in Canada, and for others that may not be a natural thing, and there may be hesitation,” she said. “But I want to encourage people to be courageous and to let them know there are a lot of people who want to help them.”

During the conversation, Deans and the chancellor will also discuss how people can make a difference when it comes to housing, unconventional avenues for those pursuing a law degree, and building a future that incorporates their passions.

Register online for Building Community: In Dialogue with Julia Deans on Thursday, March 21, from 11 a.m. to noon in the Hatch Studio Theatre, Jackman Dramatic Art Centre.

Alumni Awards of Excellence The Alumni Awards of Excellence ceremony will honour six outstanding grads April 11.

Awards to honour excellence in alumni

Registration is now open for the annual Alumni Awards of Excellence ceremony, 5:30 p.m. Thursday, April 11, in the Alumni Auditorium, CAW Student Centre.

The evening will recognize the accomplishments of the 2024 awards recipients.

Alumni Award of Merit for distinguished accomplishments which have brought honour to the University of Windsor.

  • Jennifer Jones (BA 1991) served as president of Rotary International in 2022-23, the first woman in that office in the charity’s 118-year history. A communications executive, she is the founder of Media Street Productions Inc. and has dedicated her life to service and leadership. She has served as chair of the University of Windsor board of governors, Maryvale Adolescent and Family Services, and the Windsor-Essex Regional Chamber of Commerce.

Alumni Ambassador Award for significant achievements in professional, community, and volunteer work.

  • Beth Ann Prince (BA 1991) is the community investment manager at the Windsor Family Credit Union and represents the Alumni Association on the UWindsor Board of Governors. A community advocate, she has dedicated her time to serving on numerous boards and committees in Windsor-Essex, including a three-year term as president of the Windsor Regional Hospital Foundation, Transition to Betterness Comfort Care Tote Program, and the Windsor Yacht Club.

Alumni Odyssey Award for those in the early years of their career path, having distinguished themselves through successes in career endeavours, notable achievements in their local community or the University of Windsor, or through a significant or innovative achievement in their professional or personal life.

  • Franklin H. Ezenwa (BSc 2015) is a cloud developer at IBM Canada. Drawing on his personal experience as an international student, he authored three self-help books to assist other students achieve their goals while navigating life in Canada. He conducts workshops to help others live a life with purpose and fulfillment both personally and professionally.
  • Trevor Fairlie (BA 2015) is a lawyer called to the Bar of Ontario, currently practising securities regulatory law in Toronto and is an instructor at Osgoode Professional Development. A passionate community leader, he serves on the board of Start Proud as chair and Orchestra Toronto as vice-chair. He also co-founded the Canadian Association of LGBTQ2S+ Lawyers and chairs its governance committee.
  • Domenica Mediati (BFA 2015) is an interdisciplinary artist and a sessional instructor in the Faculty of Education and School of Creative Arts. In her role as research assistant and educational co-ordinator at Incubator Art Lab, she is the lead creative and intellectual collaborator on educational outreach programming which includes bioart and art-science workshops.
  • Hakeem Subair (BComm 2016) is the founder and CEO of 1 Million Teachers, dedicated to creating a world with enough high-quality teachers to ensure all children can access a proper education. He is an EDTech Fellow at Cambridge University and an adjunct professor of innovation and change management and artificial intelligence and entrepreneurship at St. Lawrence College.

Learn more about the Alumni Awards of Excellence, awards categories, and recipients on the event website.

The $50 admission includes a plated dinner. Purchase tickets here.

Gaia Martin del Fresno as Amy, Lilly Battista as Jo, Avery Thomas as Marmee, Alexa Dimoulas as Meg, and Sierra Farnham as Beth.Gaia Martin del Fresno as Amy, Lilly Battista as Jo, Avery Thomas as Marmee, Alexa Dimoulas as Meg, and Sierra Farnham as Beth star in the University Players show Little Women. Photo by Knelsen Photo.

Sisterly ranking proffers theatre ticket prize

University Players is offering DailyNews readers a chance to win two tickets to its current production, Little Women, an adaptation by Marian de Forest of Louisa May Alcott’s classic novel.

To enter the contest, just send an email listing the March sisters — Amy, Beth, Jo, and Meg — from oldest to youngest. A winner, selected at random from all correct responses received by noon Wednesday, March 20, will receive two tickets to attend a performance.

Contest is open to all readers of the DailyNews. Send an e-mail with your responses to uofwnews@uwindsor.ca.

The final production of the 2023-24 season, Little Women continues in the Essex Hall Theatre through March 24. Performances Thursday, Friday, and Saturday begin at 7:30 p.m., with a Sunday matinée at 2 p.m. Student tickets are just $10; get more details and visit the box office on the University Players website.

Sustainability MonthCampus events through March promote sustainability.

Activities offer education on environmental issues

Sustainability Month events continue through March, aimed at fostering environmental consciousness and social responsibility.

  • March 19: Learn about fair trade, what it means, and how we can support; from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CAW Student Centre Commons.
  • March 20: Confused about recycling and composting on campus? Join us from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CAW Student Centre Commons to learn the dos and don’ts and how easy it can be.
  • March 21: Join us for the “Make Every Bite Count” food and nutrition session, partnering with the Windsor-Essex County Health Unit and the Campus Food Pantry, from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. in the CAW Student Centre Commons. Bring your own container to assemble a healthy snack and remember to drop off food items for donation to the Campus Food Pantry. 
  • March 26: Get ready to roll up your sleeves for the Community Cleanup hosted by Student Experience. This is your chance to have a positive impact on our environment and community. Register here.
  • March 27: Dive into the Sustainability 101 presentation and Climate Café discussions to explore essential sustainability topics and climate action strategies with a guest speaker on environmental justice; a grounding exercise as well as a Kahoot session. Register here.

Look for more activities, including the Wellness Scavenger Hunt, World Water Day, and Earth Hour, on the Sustainability Month Calendar.

student making W shape with fingersOrganizers of Spring Open House are seeking student volunteers to welcome visitors April 6.

Volunteers needed to welcome open house guests

Organizers of Spring Open House — Saturday, April 6 — are seeking student volunteers to welcome Future Lancers and their families.

Designed for applicants, admitted students, and their families to learn more about programs and campus life, the event will provide attendees with an immersive experience in their faculties of interest.

“This is an opportunity for our current students to show visitors what makes us #WindsorProud — and inspire them to join us,” says Youstina Asaad, student ambassador co-ordinator in the Office of Enrolment Management. “If you’re eager to showcase your enthusiasm and pride, submit your application.”

There are three volunteer roles available:

  • SOH 24 - Building Lead Assistant
  • SOH 24 - Greeter
  • SOH 24 - Wayfinder

Students may apply through the mySuccess portal using posting ID 82592.

Caroline Hamm with studentsA program helping cancer patients find clinical trials of treatments is expanding.

Program boosting participation in clinical trials among Canadian cancer patients

A local research team has been leading a made-in-Windsor program to help connect cancer patients with clinical trials nationally.

Only seven per cent of Canadians with cancer end up enrolling in a clinical trial, and the rate is lower in small cancer centres that run fewer trials than larger hospitals.

Caroline Hamm, a medical oncologist at Windsor Regional Hospital and clinical associate professor in the UWindsor Department of Biomedical Sciences, has spent years investigating why more people don’t participate in clinical trials, and exploring ways to increase patient accrual — the number of patients who have completed or are actively in the process of completing a trial.

“Clinical trials represent hope for many cancer patients, offering access to promising new treatments and a chance to impact the future of cancer care,” says Dr. Hamm.

Access to trials depends on where the patient lives and whether they meet the eligibility criteria. Patients are often left to search for trials on their own. Smaller centres have an enrolment rate of less than five per cent as compared to 18 per cent in larger centres. Sixty per cent of Ontario’s population lives outside the catchment areas of large academic centres and have significantly lower access to clinical trials.

Hamm has been leading a program to help connect cancer patients with relevant trials, with support from the Canadian Cancer Clinical Trials Network. Developed with former Windsor Regional Hospital board chair and cancer patient Ron Truant, the program created the Clinical Trials Navigator, dedicated to helping people find their way through a clinical trials system.

“Of the total 302 patients since the launch, 24 per cent were referred to a clinical trial and eight per cent were enrolled,” continues Hamm.

The project has secured research grants including $10,000 in seed funding from WE-Spark Health Institute, $40,000 from the Cancer Research Collaboration Fund — a local initiative in partnership with the WindsorEssex Community Foundation, $100,000 from TD Bank through the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation, and $120,000 from MITACS to support trainees.

It has now been awarded its first national grant: $198,000 from the Canadian Institutes of Health Research. Hamm is the first clinician in Windsor-Essex to be the primary investigator on a CIHR grant.

The program will now expand to additional sites in Winnipeg and Thunder Bay.

“I am grateful for the incredible support we have received for this project, and over the moon about being funded by a national program, and for a national initiative,” Hamm says. “People see the value in what we’re doing here in Windsor. It’s very exciting to be able to bring this to so many patients.”

The research team includes co-Investigators Megan Delisle of CancerCare Manitoba and Nicole Laferriere of Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Research collaborators include chair Roaa Hirmiz and Renee Nassar of Windsor Regional Hospital; Devinder Moudgil, Mahmoud Hossami, Rhonda Abdel-Nabi, Kayla Touma, Olla Hilal, Dora Cavallo-Medved, Youshaa El-Abed, Milicia Paunic, and Abdulkadir Hussein of the University of Windsor; and Sanghyuk Claire Rim, Farwa Zaib, Maegan Miklas, and Melissa Fenech of the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry - Windsor Campus.

“We are excited for the funding to expand the program and the recognition it brings to Windsor-Essex,” said Dr. Cavallo-Medved, interim dean of science. “This project highlights the great impact of our collaborative efforts across our region to lead clinical health research nationally. More importantly, we will be able to better serve and support cancer patients across Canada.”

The Clinical Trials Navigator has helped about 380 patients identify potential clinical trials outside of their treating centre. Patients, patient families, and clinicians can access the service here.

GurpreetGurpreet requires a stem cell transplant to treat her myelofibrosis, a rare type of blood cancer.

Swabs to help identify potential lifesavers

Stem cell transplants require a one-to-one genetic match between the patient and donor, which occurs more commonly among those with a similar ethnic background.

Only seven per cent of people registered as stem cell donors with Canadian Blood Services are of South Asian descent, making it especially hard to find a match for patients like Gurpreet, a 42-year-old wife and mother with myelofibrosis.

She is calling on the community to come forward and help identify potential donors for her life-saving bone marrow transplant.

A “Get Swabbed” event on the UWindsor campus Thursday, March 21, will help. The UWindsor Blood Club and the Katelyn Bedard Bone Marrow Association will be in the CAW Student Centre Commons that day from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.

All they ask of registrants is they be in good health and between the ages of 17 and 35 years old. A simple swab of the inside of a cheek and less than 10 minutes is all it takes to enter the stem cell registry. The need spans all ethnicities.

Learn more at blood.ca/match4gurpreet.