A $3 million legacy donation by lifelong Windsor resident and patron of the arts, Eleanor Catherine Courtney Wallace, will provide scholarship opportunities to dozens of students for years to come through the newly established Eleanor C. Wallace scholarship.

Mrs. Wallace died in 2012 at 104, following a lifetime of travel, art, music and a keen interest in business and investing, says long-time friend and lawyer Roger Skinner.

Skinner says Eleanor’s business acumen and thoughtful planning will benefit several organizations in addition to the University of Windsor, with her university gift earmarked primarily for students in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Social Science.

The scholarship will be awarded annually to full-time undergraduate students entering directly from a Canadian high school. The scholarship is based on academic merit (minimum entering average of 80%); leadership potential; commitment to community; and participation in school activities. Students must submit a short essay demonstrating their worthiness for the award. The university will be allocating 18 awards for 2015/2016.

Skinner’s wife Libby Skinner, a close friend of Mrs. Wallace, remembers her as cheerful and generous of spirit.

“She really had quite a life. She was gentle, kind, and had a very dry sense of humour.”

WHIRLIGIG, Windsor's newly established professional theatre company, provides a perfect platform for School of Dramatic Art grads and alumni to enter the theatre profession here at home.

WHIRLIGIG came to life about six weeks ago through the talents of six BFA graduates and current students. The group’s premiere performance, Mary’s Wedding, by Stephen Massicotte, is a moving love story about two young Canadian lovers caught in the vortex of World War One.

Company Founder, Artistic Director, and Associate Professor of Drama Gordon McCall says that when BFA acting students graduate, they typically head to Toronto to attempt to begin their careers in a highly saturated and competitive theatre market. He calls that move a daunting challenge for emerging theatre artists.

"The company is a rare opportunity for recent grads and alumni to have professional work opportunities here at home where there is less market saturation and their network is already established. The company’s intention is to always hire UWindsor BFA and BA grads and alumni.”

The company also holds professional status from the Canadian Actors' Equity Association. Although the artists are not yet full members, being part of an equity company will give them entry to the profession, McCall says.

McCall says the name WHIRLIGIG came from, “Thinking of sitting in a chair suspended in mid-air - whirling in circles at the end of a rainbow rope. That is the theatrical journey we strive to achieve at WHIRLIGIG - it is a little daring, a little dangerous, a lot of fun.”

He says the group’s mission is to produce provocative and engaging plays that speak to the human condition with humour, insight, compassion and bold theatrical expression, all reflected in the company’s first production.

Mary's Wedding is a powerful, poignant love story of Mary and Charlie, two country kids caught in the vortex of The Great War and the super-charged passion of their love.

UWindsor actors Daniela Piccinin; Erik Helle; Margaret Parkhill; Eric Branget; Erika Downie; and Rocky Russo appear in the play under the director of McCall.

Mary's Wedding  runs 90 minutes without intermission and has four performances remaining - June 5,6,7 with two performances on June 7 at 2 p.m. and 8 p.m., at Mackenzie Hall, 3277 Sandwich Street East.

For tickets, please call Daniela at 519-819-5905 or the Mackenzie Hall box office at 519-255-7600

The Women’s Campus Safety Grant Committee is accepting applications for funding for initiatives to promote safety for women on campus.  Initiatives must be completed and invoices paid by March 31, 2016.  The Committee encourages creative, innovative proposals from members of the university community, including individuals or groups, faculty, staff and students organizations.

The Women’s Campus Safety Grant Committee is a Presidential standing committee established to address women’s safety issues on campus, and in so doing, to establish, promote and improve facilities, programs and services at the University of Windsor.  The annual Grant has been provided by the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities since 1991. 

In accordance with the parameters set by the Ministry, submissions are required to support one of the following broad categories/objectives:

• Facilities and Equipment  (e.g., lighting, mirrors, security cameras)
• Public Education (e.g., workshops, flyers)
• Activity Support (e.g., T-shirts/Jackets for Campus-Walk programs, resource materials, programs)

Applications for funding requests are available at the Office of Human Rights, Equity and Accessibility: Click on www.uwindsor.ca/ohrea/ohreaforms, www.uwindsor.ca/ohrea/womenssafety, email ohrea@uwindsor.ca, or call extension 2056.  The deadline for submission is June 19.