Stories of Impact

Preserving Local History 

In the basement of Leddy Library, behind an unassuming door, relics of the past reside — rows upon rows of documents with ink faded by time, rare and first-edition books, and preserved memories of Southwestern Ontario. 

The space is home to Archives and Special Collections, which holds community records, historic documents, photographs, and other items preserved and cataloged by dedicated archivists. 

Ironworkers from both sides of the border made history this summer by connecting the Gordie Howe International Bridge over the Detroit River, marking a pivotal moment years in the making.

As Windsor’s NextStar Energy plant ramps up battery module production, local engineering students are gaining hands-on experience and honing skills vital to the region’s emerging electric vehicle sector.

A joint venture between Stellantis and LG Energy Solution, the plant is Canada’s first facility of its kind to begin production. Construction on the facility broke ground in 2022, with the project celebrated as a major win for the community, expected to create 2,500 jobs.

At the University of Windsor, two teams — red and blue — are locked in a strategic battle, working toward the same goal: safeguarding the future of automotive cybersecurity.

These teams, operating from the Automotive Cybersecurity Centre of Excellence, better known as SHIELD, are focused on opposing areas of security solutions for the auto sector.

With an eye on the future, SHIELD, the only centre of its kind in North America, has the goal of ensuring vehicles of tomorrow are safe and secure.

Asked what his favourite part of coming to the gym is, Seth Sugarman replied: “everything.”

Sugarman is a participant in the Adaptive Physical Exercise (APEX) program, a partnership between the University of Windsor and Community Living Essex County that connects student volunteers with individuals with intellectual and developmental disabilities.

Two University of Windsor professors will further their innovative work in sexual assault resistance education thanks to a $2.5 million investment from the Public Health Agency of Canada.

Charlene Senn, a professor of psychology and women’s and gender studies, and Sara Crann, an adjunct professor of psychology, will use the funding to expand the Girls - Flip the Script with EAAA program, a sexual assault resistance initiative designed for high school-aged girls across Canada. The funding is part of a larger $14.5 million federal initiative to prevent youth dating violence.

Sylwia Borawski knows what it feels like to be a patient.

At age 13, she received a life-altering diagnosis — Type 1 diabetes.

Among the chaos of the bustling emergency room where she would spend days clouded with confusion as she learned the details of her new diagnosis, one moment of compassionate care stands out to Borawski, helping to shape her own future as a caregiver.

In his home country of Nigeria, civil engineer Samuel Ehikhuenmen worked as a faculty member at the University of Lagos. Moving to Windsor to take up doctoral studies, he soon realized making important connections was key.

That’s where The CUBE came in.

A hub providing resources, networking, and a platform for Indigenous and Black scholars to thrive, it launched in September 2023, led by director Kemi Anazodo, an assistant professor at the Odette School of Business.

Faculty members in the School of Dramatic Art have been working hard to create enriching and engaging learning experiences for students, says director David Court.

“Our first project for the school year will be a works-in-progress class presentation of Jekyll and Hyde in the Hatch Studio Theatre in October,” he says. “It will be presented with minimal technical requirements, offering a unique and immersive experience for performers and the audience.”

Lurking in the depths of the Great Lakes are massive “living fossils” that have been a vital part of the ecosystem for millions of years, but due to human intervention, have long been considered at risk.

That’s why Master of Science student Olivia Galloway is focusing her research on lake sturgeon. These prehistoric, scaleless fish are the largest freshwater fish in Canada, growing up to two metres long and weighing up to 200 pounds. She is working to improve their environment and help reintroduce these “dinosaurs” back into their habitats.