Amid a busy year of research, virtual public events, and growing collaboration with academic and community partners locally and across the country, the Windsor Law Centre for Cities will receive funding from the University of Windsor’s Office of the President. Earmarked for strategic planning, $10,000 will be awarded from UWindsor’s Research Support Fund.

Founded in November 2019, the Windsor Law Centre for Cities supports research, teaching and public engagement on the legal and policy tools related to municipalities and local institutions. According to its website, the centre provides avenues for students, faculty, municipal governments, community organizations, and advocates to exchange ideas and to work together to achieve the goals of sustainable and inclusive local governance.

Fourteen Windsor Law faculty members are affiliated with the centre. The centre also plays host to the Cities and Climate Action Forum, which was the recipient of a $125,000 Climate Action Fund grant from Environment and Climate Change Canada in 2019.

“I’m delighted to see the growth and energy of the Windsor Law Centre for Cities,” says Laverne Jacobs, associate dean, research and graduate studies. “This research centre exemplifies Windsor Law’s commitment to being community engaged.”

This winter, the Centre for Cities will move to temporary quarters in SoCA’s Armouries building in downtown Windsor — staying true to Windsor Law’s commitment to community engagement. The two-year relocation is coming at a time when the Ron W. Ianni Faculty of Law building will be decommissioned to allow for extensive renovations to support the Transforming Windsor Law project.

“SoCA has the mission to engage the community in creative and entertaining ways, but also in ways that drive responsible discussion and action about pressing issues,” says Vincent Georgie, UWindsor acting associate vice-president, external. “To be able to welcome engaged scholars and students from the Centre for Cities is a natural choice. Better communities are a priority for all of us.”

According to director Anneke Smit, the funding and relocation will help the centre to grow and to promote interdisciplinary collaboration on important community engagement, research, and student-focused initiatives.

“We have been thrilled with the response since we launched a year ago, and this institutional support will help us to move forward in an intentional and principled way,” says Dr. Smit.

—Rachelle Prince