artist's rendering of Lancer Centre poolOne of the all-time stars of Lancer swimming hosts a video preview of the Lancer Centre community pool.

Video promises preview of Lancer Centre pool

Vincent Georgie, acting associate vice-president, external, and Lancer alumnus Matt Butler (BA 1990) lead a video tour previewing the eight-lane, 25-metre Lancer Centre community pool. The facility features a zero-entry ramp; privacy curtains; designated swim times; and universal, men's, and women's change rooms to ensure barrier-free accessibility for students and visitors.

Offering programs and activities for all ages and abilities, this signature space will provide research opportunities, student employment, and community partnerships. The pool promises to be a popular community hub, perfect for Lancer summer camp programs and sport tourism activities.

Butler was an all-Canadian varsity swimmer who received the Olympic Shield in 1990 as male Lancer athlete of the year. His five-year university career garnered seven provincial medals, including two golds in the 100m backstroke, and saw him named team MVP each year. He competed three times in the Olympic Trials and earned a gold medal in the 100m backstroke at the 2009 World Master Games in Sydney, Australia. Butler was inducted into the Alumni Sports Hall of Fame in 2020.

Watch the video:

hand holding rainbow-coloured heart symbolNursing professor Kathryn Pfaff is leading a study aimed at improving the quality of life of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, questioning, two-spirit, or other non-binary identities along their cancer journeys.

Researchers seek to help LGBTQ2+ population navigate cancer journey

If you are a member of the LGBTQ2+ community and have a cancer diagnosis, UWindsor nursing professor Kathryn Pfaff invites you to join the Compassion Cancer Pride intervention project.

Dr. Pfaff is leading a study aimed at improving the quality of life of people who identify as lesbian, gay, bisexual, transsexual, queer, questioning, two-spirit, or other non-binary identities along their cancer journeys. Armed with a $30,000 research grant from the Windsor Cancer Centre Foundation’s Seeds4Hope program, Pfaff says she hopes to enrol 40 participants to learn how to better support these people whose health and social care needs are often invisible.

“There is good data to suggest that people who identify as LGBTQ2+ have a disproportionate cancer burden,” Pfaff said. “Many are hesitant to seek cancer screening and have low social support, and this can result in poorer cancer outcomes.”

It’s unknown how many LGBTQ2+ people in Windsor-Essex have cancer because demographic data related to gender identity and sexual orientation are not collected in the local health care system. Studies have shown that LGBTQ2+ people face discrimination and stigma that lead to social isolation and discourage them from seeking preventative cancer care or other help.

The project uses a compassion communities model developed by a team of Ontario researchers including Pfaff. Together with the Windsor-Essex Compassion Care Community, the Windsor Regional Cancer Centre, and Trans Wellness Ontario, the project aims to improve individual, family, and community wellness.

Pfaff’s team will look for ways to connect participants with supports in the community and to each other. The help the participants receive can be as small as familiarizing them with health apps and trackers, or as large as advocating for supports on their behalf. Participants can use as much or as little of the support as they need, Pfaff said.

Nine graduate and undergraduate students — eight from the Faculty of Nursing and one studying biomedical sciences — have volunteered to be part of research team. All volunteers received training through the provincial compassion communities organization. Shelley Evans, a PhD candidate in nursing, is the team’s gender champion and coached the volunteers in pronoun use as part of their training.

Participants will complete two surveys six months apart and will be invited to take part in interviews. Volunteers will help the participants complete the surveys if necessary.

The study will wrap up in August. The results will be published in a report that will be shared on the WE-Spark Health Institute website and through Hospice Palliative Care Ontario.

Pfaff said she hopes to expand the study in the future.

“We’re looking at outcomes and how applying a compassionate community approach for LGBTQ2+ people receiving cancer care in Windsor-Essex can help improve their quality of life and wellbeing.”

To participate or learn more about the study, visit the team’s Facebook page called Compassionate Cancer Pride.

—Sarah Sacheli

Black History Month superimposed on booksA Black History Month project will compile a reading list of 28 books recommended by members of the campus community.

Project to share recommendations of Black history books

The Leddy Library is seeking help in compiling a reading list for Black History Month.

The digital event will publish one recommendation on its social media channels each of the 28 days in February, then collect all the titles into a spot on its collections page to serve as a resource after the month has ended.

“Ideally, we would like to highlight books in the Leddy Library collection, but we can also try to order titles that we do not have,” says organizer Heidi Jacobs.

The definition of a Black history book is broad, she adds, encompassing formal histories, memoirs, collections of poetry, novels, books of visual art, graphic novels, children’s or young adult books.

Jacobs hopes to receive a full slate of submissions by Jan. 20, but notes that there are only 28 openings and so cannot guarantee that a recommendation will be included.

To suggest a title for “Black History Month: 28 Days, 28 Books You Should Read,” fill out the form here with a title, author, and summary of no more than 300 characters.

Valarie WabooseLaw professor Valarie Waboose will discuss her research into compensation for residential school survivors Friday.

Discussion series to bring awareness to impact of residential school system

As an Anishinaabe Kwe woman, law professor Valarie Waboose believes that sharing her knowledge with non-Indigenous law students may allow them to better serve their clients once they enter the legal profession. In an effort to bring awareness to the impact of the residential school system in Canada, members from the Paul Martin Law Library’s Truth and Reconciliation Reading Circle will kick off a three-part discussion series online Friday, Jan. 14, at 2 p.m.

During Friday’s session, a discussion of Dr. Waboose’s doctoral dissertation, “Re-Living the Residential School Experience: An Anishinabe Kwe’s Examination of the Compensation Processes for Residential School Survivors,” will begin by covering chapters one and two. The discussions are scheduled to continue Feb. 11 and March 25, and participants are encouraged to read the chapters ahead of each session to facilitate discussion.

The event organizers include access services administrator Lisa Milne, reference librarian Vicki Jay Leung, and Indigenous legal orders co-ordinator Michelle Nahdee. As members of the Windsor Law community, the trio is committed to ensuring Indigenous legal traditions and perspectives are fully acknowledged and respected in their teaching, research, and community engagement. By hosting these types of events, the group hopes to recognize the work of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee and its calls to action.

While this event series is free and open to the public, advance registration is required on Attend.

cartoon representation of survey on clipboardAn anonymous survey seeks campus perspectives on the role of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation.

Survey to consult on role of vice-president for research and innovation

The consultation team responsible for exploring campus perspectives on the role of the Vice-President, Research & Innovation, is seeking the feedback of the UWindsor community.

K.W. Michael Siu’s second term in the role will end in the fall, and this consultation will help inform the process to appoint his successor as well as future directions for the office.

UWindsor president Robert Gordon notes that the results will be incorporated into the University’s strategic planning process.

“The landscape of research and innovation in universities is constantly evolving,” says Dr. Gordon. “This is an opportune time for us to hear from our community on future directions and the changing priorities and needs of scholars across campus.”

Faculty, students, and staff may share their perspectives via an anonymous survey, which will be available until 4 p.m. Jan. 21. The team consulted the Research Ethics Board which determined that this survey is exempt from its review.

Direct questions or additional comments regarding the consultation process to Kate Hargreaves at mthsta1@uwindsor.ca.

Hippo at the Antwerp ZooWhen veterinarians at the Antwerp Zoo noticed hippopotamuses with runny noses, they didn’t just offer them tissues: they tested them and found COVID-19.

Pandemic points up need for cross-species approach to health: professor

Since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic almost two years ago, humans have not been the only species to contract the virus. Instead, its spread has revealed how health connects humans, animals, and the environment, says anthrozoology professor Beth Daly.

In an article published Tuesday in the Conversation, which shares news and views from the academic and research community, she argues that responding to the pandemic has been a model of the “One Health” approach considering these relationships.

“It is important to remember that animals are the likely source of the current pandemic,” Dr. Daly writes. “There are concerns that the COVID-19 virus has the potential to remain undetected in an animal and could mutate and become more infectious or dangerous to humans.”

She notes that an estimated three of every four new infectious diseases in humans originated in animals, and concludes that the current pandemic has been a wake-up call for recognizing how a commitment to the health and well-being of humans, animals, and the environment can thwart future global health crises.

Read the entire piece, “Understanding how animals become infected with COVID-19 can help control the pandemic,” in the Conversation.

computer deskThe University has declared 30 metal frame desks for sale by bid.

University offers metal desks for sale by bid

The University has declared 30 metal frame desks for sale by bid as Disposal File 1040.

The desks were previously used in a computer lab and measure 67" long x 30" deep with a height of 29.5". Click here for details.