The University of Windsor is inviting the community to tour the new Toldo Lancer Centre, from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 20.

Visitors are welcome to view the state-of-the-art sports and recreation complex, which boasts an eight-lane, 25-metre pool; an indoor walking and running track; a two-level fitness centre; fully-equipped multi-purpose rooms; and more.

“We are thrilled to welcome community members to the Toldo Lancer Centre,” said Linda Rohr, dean of the Faculty of Human Kinetics. “The TLC is truly a place for everyone to connect with their health and wellness journeys, and I can’t wait to strengthen the connection with our surrounding communities.”

Guests will enjoy fun activities, a guided tour, healthy snacks, and a chance to win prizes. Visit the UWindsor Facebook page for details.

This event is free and open to the public. Parking will be free for open house attendees in the two parking lots directly adjacent to the Toldo Lancer Centre.

Please note: Use of the equipment or pool will not be available by attendees during the open house. Minors under the age of 17 must be accompanied by an adult.

After two years online, the Faculty of Science’s ninth annual Science Academy returned to in-person activities this year, July 4 to 8.

Thirty-two top-achieving Grade 11 students from Essex County participated in various on campus activities to learn about the programs offered by the faculty.

Science Academy faculty leader Dora Cavallo-Medved, associate dean of science, says the students spent a great week engaging with peers as well as UWindsor faculty, staff, and students.

“Students visited each of the departments and participated in mini-lectures and labs, toured research labs, competed in the amazing science race, and interacted with our alumni to learn about career paths in science,” says Dr. Cavallo-Medved.

“The idea of the event is to showcase all that we have to offer and for the students to catch a glimpse of their futures as a science student at the University of Windsor.”

Third-year biology undergraduate Josh Mathews was this year’s Science Academy student co-ordinator. He worked with Cavallo-Medved and experiential learning specialist Michelle Bondy to organize and deliver the event, and was responsible for student volunteers.

“Planning the Science Academy program was a fantastic experience. Ensuring that every component was planned out and ready to go made the program run as smoothly as I could’ve imagined,” says Mathews.

“I am very glad I got the opportunity to work with and learn from Dr. Dora Cavallo-Medved and Michelle Bondy to make this program a success.”

Mathews is also a graduate of the program and says he knows first-hand the value that Science Academy provides.

“It enables participants to meet like-minded students from across the county and see what the University of Windsor Faculty of Science has to offer,” he says.

“Giving the students exposure to the school, its programs, and its research opportunities is an invaluable experience that gets them excited about science at UWindsor and guides their post-secondary decision.”

Maryam Al-Shammaa from Assumption College Catholic High School says Science Academy was the best part of summer.

“I personally loved being in the Science Academy because it gave me lots of opportunities to get to know the professors, the university, courses, and programs,” she says.

“My best part of being in Science Academy is that you get to know more about the programs you can be engaged in, and it opens your mind to the different opportunities you can have in the future and the career paths.”

Every student who participated and submitted a reflection of their experience is eligible to receive a $1,000 scholarship to any program in the Faculty of Science.

Two participants received a sponsorship from the Friends of Ojibway Prairie to attend the Ontario Nature Youth Summit this fall.

Reporters have been calling on Gurupdesh Pandher, a professor of finance in the Odette School of Business, for his expertise in explaining inflation and its impact on the economy.

He was interviewed for a column by the CBC, for a discussion on the BBC World Service, and by two radio stations in Western Canada — CHED, Edmonton and RED-FM, Calgary — Aug. 16 and 17.

CBC News interviewed Dr. Pandher for a piece published Aug. 15 entitled “Slowing inflation does not mean you get your spending power back.”

CBC business columnist Don Pitts quoted Pandher as worrying about declines in purchasing power and the impact on business and markets. As wages fall behind inflation, the slump in consumption will hurt Canadian businesses and may signal more economic trouble ahead.

“Keep in mind that if wages are not going up sufficiently, there will be less money by consumers to buy in the future, so that’s going to come back and bite those companies as well,” Pandher said.

Read the full article on the CBC website.

Pandher went global when interviewed by the BBC World Service on Aug. 16 for its World Business Report. He talked about recent changes in the Canadian inflation rate and the likely response by the Bank of Canada.

He pointed out that households will suffer effects from two directions: the loss in purchasing power if their pay does not rise proportionally and, secondly, a reduction in their wealth due to declines in the value of assets like stocks, bonds, and real estate as the central bank raises interest rates to counter inflation.

To access the show’s audio file, click here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sounds/play/w172yk8tpgrkyyl; Pandher’s segment begins at the 12:50 mark.

The turnout for Wednesday’s entry in the President’s Concert Series was so encouraging, organizer Mary-Ann Rennie is planning to extend it to September.

“The original plan was to make it a summer series, but people have been so happy with it, I would like to hold another outdoor concert once the semester starts,” she says.

Vocalist Shahida Nurullah and pianist Mike Karloff, both music instructors in the School of Creative Arts, performed jazz numbers before a crowd of dozens enjoying the mellow sounds and sweet gelato Aug. 17 on the lawn outside Assumption Hall.

Rennie advises those who missed out to stay tuned for details of the next concert in the series, intended to provide a relaxed venue for conviviality among faculty, students, and staff.