Latest news with #UniversityofWindsor
Hamilton Spectator
5 days ago
- Business
- Hamilton Spectator
Lakeshore, UWindsor sign deal to boost innovation, housing and learning
The University of Windsor and the Municipality of Lakeshore have signed a new agreement to promote innovation, improve local planning and boost housing development while creating learning opportunities for students and businesses. The five-year memorandum of understanding (MOU), signed at the Atlas Tube Recreation Centre, sets the stage for collaboration in research, experiential learning and community development. 'This agreement marks an exciting step forward in our commitment to fostering innovation, education and community impact,' said Dr. Robert Gordon, president and vice-chancellor of the University of Windsor. 'By partnering with the Municipality of Lakeshore, we are building new pathways for research collaboration, student learning and regional development. Supported by our Centre for Cities, Office of Experiential Learning and dedicated researchers, we will drive meaningful change and create opportunities that benefit both our students and the broader Lakeshore community.' The partnership will focus on tackling housing, environmental and economic challenges, and will be supported through various university units, including the Centre for Cities and Office of Experiential Learning. It will also involve faculty and student placements, community-based projects and innovation programs. 'This partnership is an incredible opportunity to bring the energy, talent and expertise of the University of Windsor into our communities,' said Lakeshore Mayor Tracey Bailey. 'While the initial focus will be on our housing initiatives, I look forward to seeing this partnership grow in the spirit of collaboration and public service.' The MOU outlines a wide scope of joint efforts, including access to national research funding, knowledge sharing, community outreach and joint workshops. It provides a framework to create project-specific agreements that support research, innovation and student development. The agreement also aims to address shared priorities like housing development, environmental sustainability and economic growth, using the strengths of both institutions to create local impact. Error! Sorry, there was an error processing your request. There was a problem with the recaptcha. Please try again. You may unsubscribe at any time. By signing up, you agree to our terms of use and privacy policy . This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google privacy policy and terms of service apply. Want more of the latest from us? Sign up for more at our newsletter page .
Economic Times
29-05-2025
- General
- Economic Times
Canada is at war, and no, it's not against another nation; Windsor is battling a feathery enemy
Windsor is taking action on its Canada goose problem. The city will remove 150 goose eggs from key locations. This is part of a larger $30,000 plan. The goal is to reduce goose-related issues. Experts suggest using non-lethal methods. These include nest destruction and goose-chasing dogs. Officials want long-term improvements. They also emphasize habitat changes and public awareness. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The story of the Canadian goose Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The City of Windsor has initiated a concrete plan to manage its burgeoning Canada goose population. The city has secured a federal permit to remove 150 goose eggs from nests across seven key locations, including the riverfront parks and Ganatchio initiative is part of a broader $30,000 annual strategy approved in the 2025 municipal budget to address the challenges posed by these geese , once a symbol of national pride, have become a significant nuisance in urban areas. Their aggressive behavior during nesting season and prolific droppings have led to numerous complaints from residents. In one incident, a cyclist suffered serious injuries after swerving to avoid geese on a trail, highlighting the urgent need for effective Frankian, a seasoned expert from Hawkeye Bird and Animal Control Specialists, emphasizes the necessity of a rigorous approach. "They're coming after you and you're going after them, and we know how militant they can be," Frankian stated. He advocates for not only egg removal but also the destruction of nests in the presence of the geese to deter future nesting in the same areas .The city's strategy includes various non-lethal methods. At the University of Windsor, a St. Bernard-Mastiff mix named Winston patrols sports fields to chase away geese, a tactic that has proven effective without harming the birds. "Ultimately it's just to annoy them so that they're not nasty," said Rick Daly, the university's manager of athletic Chacko, Windsor's Executive Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities, acknowledges that this is a long-term endeavor. "We believe that with persistence and continued action year after year, there will be positive improvements in terms of the overall goose population in the city of Windsor, coming back down," he federal government supports Windsor's plan, noting that it aligns with strategies employed by other cities in Ontario. However, officials stress the importance of habitat modification and public education to mitigate human-goose conflicts Windsor embarks on this multi-year program, the city encourages residents to report goose-related issues via the 311 service
Time of India
29-05-2025
- General
- Time of India
Canada is at war, and no, it's not against another nation; Windsor is battling a feathery enemy
Windsor is taking action on its Canada goose problem. The city will remove 150 goose eggs from key locations. This is part of a larger $30,000 plan. The goal is to reduce goose-related issues. Experts suggest using non-lethal methods. These include nest destruction and goose-chasing dogs. Officials want long-term improvements. They also emphasize habitat changes and public awareness. Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The story of the Canadian goose Tired of too many ads? Remove Ads The City of Windsor has initiated a concrete plan to manage its burgeoning Canada goose population. The city has secured a federal permit to remove 150 goose eggs from nests across seven key locations, including the riverfront parks and Ganatchio initiative is part of a broader $30,000 annual strategy approved in the 2025 municipal budget to address the challenges posed by these geese , once a symbol of national pride, have become a significant nuisance in urban areas. Their aggressive behavior during nesting season and prolific droppings have led to numerous complaints from residents. In one incident, a cyclist suffered serious injuries after swerving to avoid geese on a trail, highlighting the urgent need for effective Frankian, a seasoned expert from Hawkeye Bird and Animal Control Specialists, emphasizes the necessity of a rigorous approach. "They're coming after you and you're going after them, and we know how militant they can be," Frankian stated. He advocates for not only egg removal but also the destruction of nests in the presence of the geese to deter future nesting in the same areas .The city's strategy includes various non-lethal methods. At the University of Windsor, a St. Bernard-Mastiff mix named Winston patrols sports fields to chase away geese, a tactic that has proven effective without harming the birds. "Ultimately it's just to annoy them so that they're not nasty," said Rick Daly, the university's manager of athletic Chacko, Windsor's Executive Director of Parks, Recreation, and Facilities, acknowledges that this is a long-term endeavor. "We believe that with persistence and continued action year after year, there will be positive improvements in terms of the overall goose population in the city of Windsor, coming back down," he federal government supports Windsor's plan, noting that it aligns with strategies employed by other cities in Ontario. However, officials stress the importance of habitat modification and public education to mitigate human-goose conflicts Windsor embarks on this multi-year program, the city encourages residents to report goose-related issues via the 311 service
CBC
06-05-2025
- Health
- CBC
Millions of migrating birds pass through southwestern Ontario. Here's how researchers are tracking avian flu
The researchers plan to continue sampling the region until at least the end of the year Image | Birds at Holiday Beach Conservation Area Caption: Geese are some of the wild birds that will pass through Holiday Beach Conservation Area, in Amherstburg, Ont. or make it their home. (Jennifer La Grassa/CBC) At a conservation site in southwestern Ontario, research student Cam Chevalier lies down flat on his stomach on a wooden bridge and reaches over the edge to scoop some water into a bottle. The sample he collects at Holiday Beach Conservation Area is the final one for the day — he's already been to nine other locations where migrating birds stop along the northern shore of Lake Erie. On top of the samples, Chevalier also makes note of the birds he sees out and about that day. He then delivers a case full of the labelled samples to the University of Windsor, where researchers test it for highly pathogenic avian influenza (H5N1). The disease, which is commonly known as bird flu, has been surging in the United States. Millions of birds have been impacted by the H5N1 strain, which has also crossed species and infected mammals like cows, cats and dogs. There's also been other strains circulating. The start of spring migration in February means that millions of birds from the U.S. have been moving north into Canada. "Essex County lies at the crux of two major migratory flyways," said Chevalier. And that means that the region is, "a hotspot for understanding which species of birds move into our region, whether they carry the virus [and] whether they shed that virus into our waterways so that we can detect it," according to Dan Mennill, Chevalier's supervisor and University of Windsor ornithologist. Many of the birds that stop over in Essex County after crossing Lake Erie will head to other parts of Canada, like northern Ontario, Quebec and Manitoba, says Mennill. For Mennill, what's unique about this project is that it's one of few to look at how wild birds, like a Canada goose or a mallard duck, can spread avian influenza. "We need to be ready for if avian influenza becomes a serious risk to human health," said Mennill. "For us to be ready to handle that kind of situation, we need to know which birds are the primary vectors that transmit this virus, we need to know how it moves in wild birds [and] how it moves between wild birds and domestic birds." What are the researchers tracking? University of Windsor chemistry professor Kenneth Ng had actually pitched this project. Ng and his team are not only checking for the virus in the water samples they receive, they're also closely tracking any changes to the virus' structure. "What we are definitely concerned about, and what a lot of people are concerned about, are changes in the virus that allow it to infect people more easily and then to spread among people more easily," said Ng. While there have been 70 people infected in the United States, there's only been one reported in Canada. For now, there's been no reported spread of bird flu between people. But the strain of H5N1 circulating in cows in the U.S. is just one mutation away from being more transmissible between humans, suggests a study recently published in the peer-reviewed journal Science. "The virus is constantly changing," said Ng. "There are a lot of changes that happen that don't increase the ability of the virus to spread and then there are these rare changes that do." What have they found so far? What's hard, says Ng, is knowing which changes could be consequential. "There are some changes that are known that would improve transmission, but I would have to say that there are many other changes that are not known," he said. While they've been making note of any changes they find, Ng says the information they're gathering right now is creating a baseline for them to compare future samples to. If bird flu becomes a bigger public health problem, where the disease is easily infecting people and spreading, Ng says that's where their data could play a role. "The information that we have would help to define like the start of a pandemic more quickly than like if you didn't have that information," he said. The researchers plan to continue sampling the region until at least the end of the year.
Yahoo
05-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
More newcomers are learning French in hopes of improving their chances to stay in Canada permanently
After spending $42,000 on his masters in mechanical engineering at the University of Windsor, Harbal Deep Sidhu is now paying $2,000 a month to learn French to advance his chances at getting Permanent Residence (PR) in Canada — an increasing trend among newcomers. "I'm very much concerned. From the time I've graduated, I have seen extreme changes to the laws and regulations to get permanent residency now. The cutoff points are very high, which is very difficult even for a masters or PhD student," the 25-year-old said. "So, we get points for learning French and we can use it in our PR application." The pursuit for PR is becoming cutthroat. As of January, Canada is estimated to have 3.02 million temporary residents but there are only 395,000 PR spots available this year. Hence, Sidhu said, the rush to learn French. While struggling with the language, the international student from Punjab, India, said he has been practicing it rigorously "around two hours every day" to bolster his application. He worries that in the next draw, the cutoff points would be higher and hopes learning French becomes his saving grace. From getting a premium Duolingo subscription to YouTube videos, Sidhu is leaving no stone unturned, including "a very expensive" private French tutor. Sidhu said his 16-month master's "was not worth it" and now more expenses await for him to gain PR. He suspects it will take him at least six months to reach the proficiency levels needed by the immigration department. He wants to apply for his PR later this year, as he has only two years left on his work permit. "I think speaking and listening are difficult, but reading is difficult because it's a completely different language, different alphabets and all other things. It's really hard work." He said the government should reduce the cutoff points or have exceptions for master's and PhD students and help applicants who "are already contributing to the economy of Canada." "I'm going for a French certification that will again cost me money. I'm still investing in this country. I'm not getting back anything in return." Gurasees Singh, who is pursuing computer system technician networking at St. Clair College, is also eyeing online French programs. He said while the government has increased PR pathways under education and health-care streams, he would not qualify. "But because we are IT professionals, we definitely need to consider French. We won't be able to get into trades or health pathways. So, French is the only option that becomes feasible for us," he said. Singh said many data and networking companies also prefer bilingual candidates and learning French is an asset overall. "French is one of the best options right now," he said. His friend and classmate, Abhoo Kabil, agrees. He is also considering French-related immigration pathways. "Some people I know have succeeded in French," he said. "It would be great scope for becoming a permanent resident of this country." Lou Janssen Dangzalan, a Toronto-based immigration lawyer, said he has been advising his clients for two years now to learn French as one of their backup plans to improve the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) scores. CRS is a ranking system used by Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) for immigrants applying for a permanent residency, using factors like age, level of education, English proficiency and work experience. Every two weeks, IRCC draws a CRS rank and applicants with that score or higher are invited to submit documents to receive a permanent resident card. "The most apparent reason being if you pursue French as a second language, essentially you stand to increase your CRS points, and that increases your chances to get drawn," he said. "The other thing is that you receive the possibility of being classified as a Francophone under Express Entry and that means that you could benefit from Francophone category based selection, which has a lower cutoff score." He said that's what he advised a client of his, a year and a half ago, and it "significantly increased" his points for PR. "I've successfully been trying to convince more and more of the people who consult with me or who are clients with us to pursue French as an alternative, as their ultimate backstop." Dangzalan said many international students, holding postgraduate work permits which have a limited validity maximum of three years, are opting for this route. If one speaks French at a Canadian Language Benchmarks (CLB) level equivalent to five out of 10, Dangzalan said they can qualify for a Francophone mobility work permit. "People should aim for a minimum of five and then work their way up to seven. [Higher] the points that you get as a matter of bilingualism for your CRS under Express Entry, increases dramatically by a factor of 50 points." Dangzalan suggests immersing in the language and not just approaching it as "a requirement for immigration." For others like Amangel Bhullar, a PhD student at the University of Windsor, it's about getting access to better opportunities, especially governmental jobs that need French speaking candidates. Speaking about international students and work permit holders learning French "to be competitive in the PR process." Bhullar said it is "surely an edge." The 32-year-old became a citizen in 2022 and said in the present job market, knowing an extra language gives the competitive edge. "I'm learning French, which could help me open doors in my R&D, research and the government side of things," she said. "Nowadays, I see a lot of bilingual jobs are coming up. Since the job market is changing and they're looking for more competitive people, I am learning French to keep myself in the competition." Bhullar said her only hurdle with French is learning correct pronunciations and that it might take her three years at Boreal College to be fluent enough. Simon Goulet, the campus director at Windsor's Boreal College, said their seven campuses across the province have been feeling the increasing demand for French programs from newcomers. "We are seeing an increase right now in international students registering into our French as second language program," he said. Province wide, he said there is a "222 per cent increase in registrations of international students in the program." "That's good news. There's a lot of interest in learning French for many reasons. Immigration is one, but also there's a curiosity for official languages as well and a desire to partake in that." Goulet said many newcomers are realizing that being fluent in French is an advantage in Canada. "Our program is really focused on conversational skills, so it's more so the speaking and listening components," he said. "But it's only one part of the puzzle. You need to find that immersion outside too." Due to the rising interest, Goulet said their Windsor site will soon join the suite of Hamilton, London, and Sudbury sites to offer French examinations required by IRCC.
