Daily News
Public Affairs & Communications
Quick Links
© Copyright 2012
University of Windsor
Advancement office to open in heart of Toronto's financial district
Opening an office in the heart of Toronto has the potential to be “transformational” for the University of Windsor, says Vice-President University Advancement John Bergholz.
Shibley Righton LLP, a law firm with offices in both Windsor and Toronto, donated space at the firm’s Toronto office, located at 250 University Avenue. Bergholz says the move will allow the University to engage alumni and friends in a deeper way.
“This is about wearing out some shoe leather,” he says. “It sends a clear message to our 16,000 alumni in the Toronto area that we are serious about reaching our graduates there.”
He said the key was establishing a Toronto presence “at the right price—and free is a very good price.”
Sheila MacKinnon, a partner in Shibley Righton and a member of the University of Windsor’s Board of Governors, coordinated the donation of the space. She said the University will also have access to meeting rooms and administrative support.
“I had heard that the University would like to have a Toronto office, so I said, Why can't this be Shibley Righton's contribution? and all of my partners agreed,” MacKinnon says. “Everybody thought it was a great idea."
Four lawyers in the firm's Windsor office and two partners in Toronto are Windsor law grads.
“We thought this would be an excellent way to give back to the University of Windsor community," says MacKinnon. “UWindsor President Alan Wildeman exudes such enthusiasm that it's hard not to get behind him and his team."
The project also drew a $180,000 contribution over three years from the University of Windsor Alumni Association to support alumni engagement in Toronto and in other key cities and regions across the country. Alumni Association President Tom Porter said the Toronto office will improve future efforts in student recruitment and fundraising.
“The Toronto office will be one more way in which we can reach out to prospective students, to tell them about the great education and experience they can get in Windsor,” he said.
To learn more about use of the Toronto office space, contact Nancy Parker in University Advancement at 519-253-3000, ext. 4056, or e-mail nparker@uwindsor.ca.
Read the official announcement, UWindsor expands outreach to alumni and prospective students in the GTA, on the advancement Web site.
The University's new office, on University Avenue near Queen Street, is steps away from major Toronto landmarks.
Foundation to ease American friendships
University Advancement also announced it is in the process of establishing a US foundation, Friends of the University of Windsor, which will make it more convenient for donors in the US to contribute to the University.
“This is one more step in making it easier for people to be engaged,” Bergholz said. “We have more than 3,500 alumni across the US who remain grateful for what the University of Windsor has done for them.”
Learn more on the Web site of fund development.