As the Faculty of Nursing concludes its journey through its Black History Month feature series, the spotlight shifts to Lillie Johnson, a trailblazing figure whose impact resonates in Canadian health care.

Born in Jamaica in 1922, Johnson received nursing and midwifery training in her home country and the United Kingdom. She immigrated to Canada in 1960, where she continued her pursuit of excellence in health care.

Johnson earned her BScN from the University of Toronto and became the first Black director of public health in Ontario in the Leeds-Grenville and Lanark district, a community located near Ottawa.

In 1981, Johnson’s advocacy and compassion led her to establish the Sickle Cell Association of Ontario, which aimed at supporting individuals grappling with sickle cell disease — a life-altering genetic blood disorder characterized by abnormal hemoglobin, leading to chronic pain and various complications. In 2006, the association successfully lobbied the government to include the disease in the newborn screening list to ensure early treatment for affected babies and reduce the risk of serious infections.

Throughout her career, Johnson’s dedication garnered widespread recognition and acclaim. She has been honoured with multiple awards, including the Toronto Public Health Champion Award, the Black Health Alliance Legacy Award, and the Order of Ontario, a testament to her enduring impact and perseverance to advancing health-care excellence.

Her commitment to the nursing profession inspired Black Canadian women and fostered increased representation, creating opportunities for Black individuals to attain positions of leadership and influence within the health-care sector.

For her 100th birthday, the Lillie Johnson Excellence in Nursing Award was launched in 2022 to celebrate her legacy by honouring nurses who exemplify compassionate care and advocacy.

As we reflect on her journey, we pay tribute to Lillie Johnson, a nursing pioneer whose legacy continues to inspire future generations in the health-care community.

Find more information on Lillie Johnson and the Lillie Johnson Excellence in Nursing Award.

—Aishwaria Baskar

The Ontario government announced over a billion dollars in new funding for post-secondary institutions and extended the freeze in domestic tuition for another three years.

Minister of Colleges and Universities, Jill Dunlop, announced the nearly $1.3 billion investment on Monday, aiming “to stabilize colleges and universities.”

The investment includes:

• $903 million over three years through the new Postsecondary Education Sustainability Fund starting in 2024-25. This sum includes $203 million in top-up funding for institutions with greater financial needs.
• $167.4 million over three years for additional capital repairs and equipment.
• $10 million in one-time funding for the 2024-25 fiscal year through the Small, Northern, and Rural Grant for colleges and the Northern Ontario Grant for Universities. This funding aims to support financially vulnerable institutions while the government collaborates with them on efficiency initiatives.
• $15 million over three years, starting in 2024-25, from the Efficiency and Accountability Fund to underwrite third-party reviews. These reviews are expected to identify strategies for long-term cost savings and to foster positive outcomes for students and communities, targeting both structural and operational policy improvements.
• $100 million in 2023-24 to support STEM program costs at publicly assisted colleges and universities, addressing enrolments beyond current funding levels.
• $65.4 million to bolster research and innovation, which includes $47.4 million for the infrastructure upgrade of Ontario’s Advanced Research Computing systems and $18 million for their ongoing operations and maintenance.
• $23 million to augment mental health supports, incorporating $8 million for the Postsecondary Mental Health Action Plan over the next three years.

Provost Robert Aguirre said the University of Windsor welcomes the additional support.

“The University of Windsor is encouraged by the Ontario Government’s substantial investment of nearly $1.3 billion in post-secondary education and addressing the needs of the sector,” Dr. Aguirre said.

“UWindsor is eager to work closely with the government to ensure fund allocation continues to serve the well-being and success of our students.”

For more details on Monday’s funding announcement, visit the Government of Ontario’s website.

A one-day multidisciplinary forum will explore the transformative effects of artificial intelligence, particularly within the legal and automotive sectors Friday, March 1.

“Disruptive Technology: AI and its Impact on the Legal Profession and the Automotive Industry – Exploring Paths for Regulation” is presented by the Entrepreneurship Practice and Innovation Centre (EPICentre) in partnership with LTEC Lab and the Faculty of Law. Bringing together leaders, professionals, and experts across various domains, participants will explore the challenges and opportunities presented by AI in these crucial industries.

It will run 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.:

• In person in EPICentre’s Workshop Room on the second floor of the Joyce Entrepreneurship Centre, 2455 Wyandotte St. West. Register here to attend in person.
• Virtually. Register here to attend online.

Attendance is free and will be accredited as 5.5 professionalism hours by the Law Society of Ontario.

All Indigenous UWindsor students are invited to provide input into the development of the University’s first Indigenous Strategic Plan.

A comprehensive questionnaire encompassing topics ranging from personal experiences to suggestions for enhancements will help to ensure that the University of Windsor is a culturally safe environment that respects Indigeneity.

As a token of appreciation, attending students will receive lunch and snacks; participants who complete the questionnaire will receive $20 e-gift cards.

Student consultations are scheduled at the Turtle Island Aboriginal Education Centre in the CAW Student Centre from noon to 2:30 p.m. on March 4 and 25.

A retreat Saturday, March 2, will help students prepare for participating in the UWill Discover research conference.

The free event offers training in preparing presentations, posters, or podcasts. It is running in conjunction with a STEMx policython challenging students to propose solutions to complex societal challenges, and a session on writing position papers for the March 23 Model United Nations.

The all-day event will take place in Windsor Hall and promises lunch for registrants. Find details and sign up on the UWill Discover website.

Let’s talk about mental health! A drop-in, open group for all members of the 2SLGBTQIA+ community will begin Feb. 29 and continue Thursdays from 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. for six weeks.

Using principles of Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, participants will explore the connections between thoughts, feelings, and behaviours, unhelpful thinking styles, building self-esteem, and reframing thoughts all while building connections with other members of the community.

Sessions will be held at the Campus Pride Centre in room 260, CAW Student Centre.

For more information or to express interest in joining, contact the Student Counselling Centre at scc@uwindsor.ca or 519-253-3000, ext. 4616.

Assumption University will confer its 2023 Christian Culture Series Gold Medal on soprano Measha Brueggergosman-Lee at a ceremony April 16.

Originally from Fredericton, New Brunswick, and a descendant of Black Loyalists, Brueggergosman-Lee is a classical singer whose career embraces a diverse array of performance platforms and musical genres and styles.

She began voice and piano lessons at the age of seven with the music director of her home church and made her operatic debut at age 19. Since then, her career has taken her to Carnegie Hall and the Lincoln Center in New York, the Kennedy Center in Washington, Royal Albert Hall in London, the Konzerthaus in Vienna, Teatro Real in Madrid, Parliament Hill in Ottawa, and the Vancouver Olympic and Paralympic Winter Games.

She won the 2008 Juno Award for classical album of the year: vocal or choral performance for Surprise, and her 2010 recording Wagner: Wesendonck-Lieder was nominated for a Grammy for classical vocal performance.

The Christian Culture Series Gold Medal recognizes laypeople for their efforts in contributing to Christian ideals in modern society.