The premiere of a new work by Canadian composer Larry Nickel will cap the Festival of Christmas concert of the UWindsor Chamber Choir and University Singers in two performances this weekend.

Nickel says he is pleased and honoured to have the University Singers debut An A cappella Christmas Cantata.

“There are rare and extenuating parts of the Christmas narrative and this cantata touches on a few,” he says. “The tiny baby on a bed of straw is the simple charming picture most of us envision at Christmas. There is hope, love and redemption for us all.”

The program also features selections from the choral canon, seasonal favourites, and a carol sing-along, which will invite the audience to join in.

It is set for two performances in Assumption Hall’s Heritage Auditorium:

• Saturday, December 10, 7:30 p.m.
• Sunday, December 11, 2:30 p.m.

Tickets are $15 general admission, $5 for students. Order by phone at 519-253-3000, ext. 4212, or purchase online at www.uwindsor.ca/music. Tickets also available at the door for cash purchases only.

All students entering the University of Windsor in the Winter 2017 semester will benefit from attending an orientation program just for them on January 4.

The Student Success Centre hosts Winter Orientation in room 104, Odette Building, that day from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. The event will answer your questions and assist in your transition to UWindsor. At Winter Orientation, you will have the opportunity to:

1. Get your UwinCARD (student card);
2. Sign up for your UWindsor webmail account;
3. Learn about UWindsor classroom technology;
4. Get to know the difference between your past educational experiences and UWindsor;
5. Familiarize yourself with the campus, staff members, and all services available to you;
6. Meet other new students and hear current students’ experiences.

Breakout sessions will address the particular concerns of mature or part-time students, transfer students and students coming directly from high school. Register at www.uwindsor.ca/winterorientation.

Members of the campus community are invited to observe a minute of silence today at 11 a.m. for the women killed in the Montreal Massacre.

The Canadian government has designated December 6 the National Day of Remembrance and Action on Violence Against Women in commemoration of the 14 victims gunned down at l’École Polytechnique de Montréal in 1989.

Public commemorations on campus include a candlelight vigil at 5:30 p.m. at the Memorial of Hope between Dillon and Essex halls, and a reception at approximately 6 p.m. in the Ambassador Auditorium, CAW Student Centre.

A free public lecture Tuesday, December 6, will explore the implications of the erasure of librarians’ professional work.

Emily Drabinski, coordinator of library instruction at Long Island University Brooklyn, will deliver “Librarians and Labour: making infrastructural work visible” at 11 a.m. in room 302, Leddy Library West. She will discuss strategies for making the labour of librarians visible.

The Finance Department reminds the campus community that invoices and cheque requisitions requiring payment issued prior to the holiday break should be received in the Accounts Payable office by the end of the day on Friday, December 9, to ensure processing.