Claudette McGowan, chief information officer for enterprise technology employee experience at BMO, will deliver a keynote address, “Driving diversity: Moving the dial in tech and beyond,” to kick off Tech Woman Day on Thursday, Oct. 24, part of Tech Week YQG.

A series of events will bring together industry leaders, researchers, and investors to promote the local tech community.

“The week is about celebrating our diverse, innovative and growing region, and showing the world why Windsor-Essex and surrounding regions are a great place to start, grow and invest in technology companies,” says Yvonne Pilon (BComm 2007), president of WEtech Alliance.

McGowan’s breakfast keynote will begin at 7:45 a.m. in the St. Clair Centre for the Arts; get the details.

Other highlights of the week include:

• a panel discussion on finding and landing tech jobs;
• a social and networking event at EZY Mode gaming lounge; and
• an awards ceremony recognizing technology innovators.

Find a guide to all the action on the WEtech Alliance website.

UWindsor students had the opportunity to participate in Manufacturing Day thanks to the Office of Experiential Learning.

On Oct. 4, Career Development and Experiential Learning organized a bus tour for 46 engineering students to tour manufacturing facilities and learn about their career options.

The annual event is coordinated locally by Workforce WindsorEssex.

Stephanie Dupley, career advisor in CDEL, said students were enthusiastic about their visits to Active Industrial Solutions and Valiant TMS.

“If Manufacturing Day has to described in one word, I would say it was an ‘impeccable’ experience,” says fourth-year Electrical Engineering student Usman Chughtai.

“We get a chance to look into the industry challenges and how the individuals are working to overcome them. We also got up to date knowledge from industry about different certifications that could be beneficial while starting your career after graduation.”

Students observed what happens in a manufacturing facility on a variety of levels, learned about new innovations, and asked questions to employees and managers, gaining valuable insight into the industry.  

“Manufacturing Day is a fantastic opportunity for students to see first-hand how what they learn in the classroom is applied in industry.  The insights they gain from seeing theory in action can help to make them more competitive in the labour market, as they better understand what they can contribute to the industry,” says Stephanie Dupley, career advisor in CDEL.

 “Our unit is committed to providing students with opportunities to make connections between the classroom and the workplace and we were thrilled to bring this initiative to campus for the first time.”

Reading Week may have slowed down use of the Armouries by students of the School of Creative Arts, but it will see plenty of traffic during Bookfest Windsor 2019.

The literary festival, now its 18th year, will run Oct. 17 to 22. It will feature readings, panel discussions, and workshops for adults and children.

“We have worked hard to plan a program that will inspire and intrigue all with various genres such as graphic storytelling, poetry, fiction, and non-fiction,” says planning committee chair Colleen Mitchell.

Among the highlights are a pair of events led by UWindsor alumnae at 1 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 19: a writing workshop for kids by Vanessa Shields (BA 2002) and a discussion on poetry with panellist Melanie Janisse Barlow.

Find more details, including the full program, author bios and pics, sponsors, and how to purchase event passes and tickets on-line on the Bookfest website at bookfestwindsor.com.

Campus flags were lowered Thursday, Oct. 10, in memory of UWindsor retiree Udo Sautter, who died Sept. 25.

Dr. Sautter started at the University of Windsor on Aug. 1, 1969 as an Assistant Professor in the Department of History. In 1971, he was promoted to Associate Professor before being promoted to Professor in 1976 — a position he held until his retirement on Sept. 1, 1996.

Service arrangements for Dr. Sautter have not yet been announced.