Law professor Julie Macfarlane has been named a member of the Order of Canada in recognition of her work to secure access to justice.

A citation noted Dr. Macfarlane’s contributions as a lawyer and mediator, and advocacy for self-represented litigants. She is director of the National Self-Represented Litigants Project.

Established in 1967 by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II, the Order of Canada is the cornerstone of the Canadian honours system, and recognizes people in all sectors of Canadian society.

Macfarlane’s appointment was one of 120 announced Dec. 28 by Gov. Gen. Julie Payette. Honorees will receive their insignia in Ottawa at a later date.

Career Development and Experiential Learning is looking for professionals to host students for the second Job Shadow Experience, Feb. 18 to 20, aimed at helping participants connect their studies to the workplace.

Job shadowing involves one or two students observing hosts — employers, alumni, professionals — at work. The experience gives students a better understanding of career opportunities, the work environment, and industry, allowing them to gain a clearer picture of their goals after graduation.

“After the success of our pilot program in the fall, we are excited to continue this initiative,” says Kerri Zold, manager of Career Development and Experiential Learning. “Participating students reported that it was an excellent way to explore career possibilities and industries and make connections with professionals.”

Judy Bornais, executive director of the Office of Experiential Learning, notes her staff is seeking UWindsor graduates or others in the community to act as hosts.

“We have many terrific employer and community partners,” she says. “This is a great opportunity for them to give back to our students and help them to learn about different positions that exist which they may aspire to pursue in the future.”

If you know suitable candidates looking to exercise their leadership and mentorship qualities, encourage them to find out more and register by Jan. 15 on the Job Shadow Experience host page.

For more information, contact:

• career consultant Farrah Francis at Farrah.Francis@uwindsor.ca, 519-253-3000, ext. 3866; or
• career advisor Stephanie Dupley at Stephanie.Dupley@uwindsor.ca, 519-253-3000, ext. 3892.

Canadians have come to expect access to safe, clean, and reliable drinking water, as well as access to lakes and rivers for recreational use. However, a legacy of natural resource extraction and industrial use, together with new pressures on freshwater ecosystems, challenge the integrity and sustainable use of the Great Lakes, says a group of UWindsor researchers.

In an article published Dec. 22 in the Conversation, which shares news and views from the academic and research community, Mike McKay, Joel Gagnon, John Hartig, Ken Drouillard, and K.W. Michael Siu write that environmental concerns compromise beneficial uses of the lakes and connecting rivers.

“Most people who call Ontario home live within the watershed of one of our four Great Lakes: Superior, Huron, Erie and Ontario. Over 80 per cent of Ontarians receive their drinking water from the lakes.

“Considering the high dependency within the province on the Great Lakes, we are fortunate that the protection of these source waters is a priority of Ontario’s Clean Water Act.”

However, they raise concerns that current programs may not provide protection in the future, and call for investment in municipal infrastructure to help ensure a safe and secure water supply.

“These investments need to consider old threats,” they write, such as replacing lead service lines and antiquated plumbing, with new tools to address increased storm-induced discharge events, nutrient remobilization, and harmful algal blooms produced under a changing climate.

“The adage holds true — an ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!”

Read the entire piece, “Great Lakes waters at risk from buried contaminants and new threats,” in the Conversation.

Article among publication’s 10 most-read for 2019

The Conversation Canada listed an article by UWindsor kinesiology professor Francesco Biondi among its 10 most-viewed stories published in 2019.

The call for greater public education on the functions and limitations of vehicle automation reached 172,116 readers, placing it seventh on the publication’s year-end list. Read Dr. Biondi’s piece, “A user’s guide to self-driving cars,” in the Conversation.

Tomorrow — Jan. 8 — is the first Windsor Wednesday of the new semester. The Office of Student Experience encourages students, staff, and faculty to show their school pride by wearing their UWindsor gear.

During the Winter 2020 semester, organizers of the UWin Proud campaign will host contests, events, and more, to help promote school spirit on campus tailored towards both students and employees. Find a list of projects on the #UWinProud website, with more to be announced soon.

From first-time championships to dynasties, on the court or the world stage, Athletics and Recreation Services has posted a video recounting top 10 accomplishments by Lancer athletes in the 2010s.

The Blue and Gold expect it will help fans usher in the new decade. Watch it now via YouTube: