Liam Giles-Hayes, Rita LaCivita, Robert Gordon, Sheri LowrieLiam Giles-Hayes, director programs for United Way Windsor-Essex County, holds the charity’s flag with UWindsor officials Rita LaCivita, vice-president of human resources; president Robert Gordon; and campaign co-chair Sheri Lowrie, prior to sending it up the flagpole outside Chrysler Hall Tower on Monday.

Charity raises flag on campus campaign

The University of Windsor is proud to partner with the United Way, president Robert Gordon told faculty, staff, and officials gathered Monday to watch its “helping hands” flag rise outside Chrysler Hall Tower.

“Our University plays an essential leadership role in our community,” he said, before encouraging employees to donate to the local charity. “We know there are children who truly need our help.”

The annual event serves as a launch for the campus fundraising campaign, which has recruited 30 volunteer champions to solicit support for its anti-poverty programs. Nancy Kuntz, employee relations manager in the Department of Human Resources, won a free day’s vacation in a draw for attendees.

Donors who submit their pledge forms by Nov. 25 are eligible for an additional draw for prizes that include: an extra vacation day, a six-month campus parking pass, a one-year membership to the Forge Fitness Centre, and tickets to University Players performances and concerts by the School of Creative Arts.

Winners will be announced at the Great Faculty Soup-off fundraiser, which promises a taste of eight soups for $8 in the student centre during lunch on Nov. 26.

theatre seatsWinners of Monday’s trivia quiz will each receive vouchers for a pair of tickets to the Windsor International Film Festival.

Contest winners claim film festival tickets

Ten happy DailyNews readers shared a victory in Monday’s trivia quiz. Each winner will receive a pair of vouchers for tickets to the Windsor International Film Festival, continuing through Nov. 10 at downtown venues.

These winners were selected at random from all entrants who correctly answered that the festival is currently celebrating its 15th anniversary, new artwork adorns an alley between University Ave. and Chatham St., and the SoCA Armouries hosts screenings.

Simran Chandan, Noah Diesbourg, Anna Galka, Allan Laporte, Wioletta Niemasik, Shivani Pachika, Laura Pratt, Sarah Racinsky, Wendy Sager, and Taral Soliya laid claim to the prizes, provided by the Office of the President.

students sitting on lawnThe Princeton Review has ranked the University of Windsor among the greenest post-secondary institutions in North America.

UWindsor once again ranked among greenest schools

The University of Windsor has been ranked one of the greenest post-secondary institutions in North America by the Princeton Review.

This is the third time the university has been ranked for its strong commitments for green practices and programs. It is one of the 15 top-ranked Canadian universities that have submitted data to the Princeton Review for this year.

The Princeton Review’s 2019 Guide to Green Schools profiles post-secondary institutions from nearly 700 schools and narrows their list down to the top 413 institutions. The review uses criteria that broadly cover the schools’ academic offerings and initiatives, campus policies and practices, and green-career preparation for graduates.

The University of Windsor’s environmental sustainability advocate, Tanya Basok praised the University for its commitment to environmental research, lighting retrofits, and HVAC improvements.

“I am very proud of our students for supporting the bus passes,” she said. “By taking the bus, students help our community to reduce greenhouse emissions.”

Dr. Basok mentioned how the University’s commitment to sustainability has won the EnWin GreenSTAR Award of Excellence in 2018.

The GreenStar Award acknowledges excellence in conservation initiatives, and is given to organizations that make conservation and sustainability a key part of their business plan. This is the second time the university has won an award through EnWin.

Basok sees the university striving for conservation and sustainable efforts and hopes for it to increase in magnitude.

“Many universities have become energy neutral and carbon neutral and I hope that our University will also commit itself to reducing its reliance on fossil fuels and move towards renewable and clean sources of energy to address climate change emergency,” she said.

The Princeton Review is a U.S.-based college admission services company. It is not affiliated with Princeton University. For more information, visit wwww.princetonreview.com.

—Dana Roe

safeTALK logo

Free session to provide training in suicide prevention

Another session of safeTalk Suicide Prevention training, open to all members of the campus community, is set for 9 a.m. to noon Monday, Nov. 18, in the Collaboratorium on the first floor of Leddy Library.

The Wellness Outreach Office has partnered with the Canadian Mental Health Association to provide a year of free suicide prevention training through a grant from the Centre for Innovation in Campus Mental Health.

SafeTalk is a three-hour certificate program that prepares helpers to identify persons with thoughts of suicide and connect them to suicide first-aid resources. This presentation covers the TALK steps: Tell, Ask, Listen, and KeepSafe. 

To sign up for this training session or find out more information and other training dates, visit the training opportunities webpage: www.uwindsor.ca/wellness/training.

traveller with backpack sporting Canada flag patchThe Registration of Canadians Abroad service helps ensure the personal safety of travellers.

Registration service protects Canadians travelling abroad

Heading to an international conference? Register as a Canadian abroad to ensure you are protected in the event of natural disasters, civil unrest, and other types of emergencies.

The Registration of Canadians Abroad service is provided by the Government of Canada to help ensure your personal safety when travelling. Academics are often in a situation where travel is necessary to disseminate research and share new ideas — and don’t always have a choice in destination for leading conferences.

By registering before attending a conference or otherwise travelling internationally, you ensure that Canadian consular services know how to reach you in case of emergency.

Registering online takes only a moment, and can save you a lot of difficulty down the road, should you be faced with a crisis in a place you are visiting. The Government of Canada will use your contact information to apprise you of any emergencies that are imminent or occurring.

This is critically important if you are travelling to a location where civil unrest is occurring, such as Chile, Hong Kong, or Lebanon, or anywhere experiencing an ongoing environmental emergency, such as Los Angeles or other areas where wildfires are burning.

In the event of an emergency, consular services abroad can aid in evacuation, help you contact loved ones, and assist you in other ways, but only if they know where you are. Take a moment to register before your next academic or personal travel.

Register online today, or if you are already travelling, contact the nearest consular office to register. Read more about registering as a Canadian abroad.

students walking in heavy snowWinter weather brings with it treacherous conditions.

Facility Services warns of cold-weather hazards

Winter is coming, and with it comes potential hazards, warns Facility Services:

  • Slips, trips, and falls;
  • Wet, freezing conditions for walking or driving;
  • Frostbite and hypothermia;
  • Falling objects such as ice; and
  • Poor visibility.

Director of operations John Regier offers the following tips to keep safe.

Get informed. Check weather reports regularly to ensure you are informed. When winter weather is severe, check the University of Windsor website and your University email inbox for school closing reports before leaving for campus.

Check local news sources for bus and traffic reports:

Protective clothing is needed for any outdoor activity at or below 4°C. When selecting a jacket, gloves, or a hat, be sure it suits the temperature, weather conditions, and the level and duration of your activity.

During the winter season, it is imperative that you choose a good pair of winter boots that will enable you to gain traction on slippery and wet surfaces. The outer material of your footwear should be water repellent or waterproof to keep your feet warm and dry.

When walking, be safe, smart, and seen! Allow yourself more time to arrive at your destination. Slips, trips, and fall accidents can be associated with inattention or being in a hurry. When using stairs, always use the handrails.

If you identify any unsafe conditions at the University of Windsor, please report it during business hours (from 7:30 a.m. to 4 p.m.) to 519-253-3000, ext. 2850, or email repair@uwindsor.ca. After hours, on weekends or holidays, call Campus Police at 519-253-3000, ext. 1234.

Visit the University’s Health and Safety website at www1.uwindsor.ca/safety/safetytalks for more information on avoiding Cold Stress and safe Winter Driving.

Regier endorses these additional sources of information: