In a world of political divides, social tensions and information overload, finding common ground can seem more challenging than ever.
But at Western, connection remains at the heart of what we do, and it’s happening constantly in every corner of our campus.
Some of these connections are more formal—faculty and students teaming up in labs, guest speakers sharing their expertise, research groups tackling big challenges. Others are in the moment—a debate over coffee at The Spoke, a chat between students from different countries before a workout, a thought-provoking question in class.
Whether planned or spontaneous, these exchanges build understanding and spark new ideas.
Our new Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation was designed with this in mind. It’s a space built for collaboration, where students work with experts to take on pressing challenges, from improving health care to advancing sustainability.
This spirit of connection extends beyond campus, too.
We’re committed to ensuring every Western student has the opportunity to apply their learning in real-world settings, whether it’s studying abroad, entrepreneurship, research, collaborating with industry and community partners on project-based learning, or internships, co-ops and practicums.
We also partner with industry leaders, organizations and other universities around the world. For example, our Western Academy for Advanced Research brings international, interdisciplinary teams of scholars together to address critical issues facing humanity, from fostering global peace to building smart cities.
This issue of Western Alumni Magazine highlights the many ways the Western community connects to create change, from undergraduates gaining hands-on research experience, to experts reimagining how to best support an aging population, to an annual event that brings our student-athletes together with local Indigenous youth.
As our global network of over 370,000 alumni continues to grow, so too do our connections and our collective impact.
Thank you for being part of it.
Alan Shepard
President & Vice-Chancellor
