Western University

10/01/2026

"The real driver for us has always been supporting excellence."

Siblings Rosamond and Richard Ivey are building on nearly 80 years of family legacy at Ivey Business School, with a combined $13-million investment in business education, leadership research and student success.

Rosamond's and Richard's gifts, combined with Ivey's $5-million contribution through its Dean's Chair Match program, will advance faculty excellence, research, teaching and thought leadership.

New gifts to Western from Rosamond and Richard Ivey, combined with matching support from Ivey Business School, create a $13-million investment

09/30/2026

Today, September 30, we observe National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR). Established as an official holiday in 2021 in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action, NDTR honours the children who never made it home and the Survivors of residential schools. It also raises awareness about the intergenerational impacts these experiences continue to have on their families and communities.

This day was originally recognized as Orange Shirt Day, an Indigenous-led grassroots initiative inspired by the experiences of residential school survivor Phyllis Webstad.

In 1973, six-year-old Phyllis arrived at the St. Joseph Mission Residential School, wearing a new orange shirt for her first day. Unfortunately, the school took her shirt away, replacing it with their institutional uniform.

To commemorate the resilience of the children who survived residential schools, and to remember those who did not, we encourage everyone to wear orange today.

🧡 All are welcome to attend Transforming Insight Into Impact: Advancing Indigenous Health Equity, an interactive space centring Indigenous voices and Survivors, from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. at Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation - SEI 1110.

While NDTR is observed annually on one day, the work of Truth and Reconciliation must be embraced daily to foster meaningful and lasting change.

Flags are lowered today at Alumni Circle in observance of NDTR. UC Tower, Brescia Tower and Alumni Hall are illuminated in orange until October 2 to recognize this important day. For more resources, visit: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/truth-and-reconciliation/index.html

09/28/2026

It was a beautiful weekend on campus as Western Alumni and students celebrated .

From the Western Mustangs football team taking home the win 32-25 to the fun activities at Student Fan Festival, we're feeling extra this week! 💜

📷: Hidden Z Creative and Western Student Experience

09/25/2026

Literary icon Margaret Atwood has made a generous $1-million gift to Western University in honour of Graeme Gibson, BA'58, her longtime partner, celebrated author and champion of bird conservation.

The gift will establish the Graeme Gibson Chair in Avian Biology, with the goal of better understanding the fundamental processes that shape how birds move, behave and adapt in a changing environment.

By honouring Graeme’s legacy, Margaret hopes the story of this gift will inspire others to support the natural world we all depend on.

Learn more about how this gift is advancing bird research at Western and how you can help: https://news.westernu.ca/2026/09/graeme-gibson-chair-bird-research/

09/24/2026

is building a new home for the future of health research.

The Bioconvergence Centre will bring medicine, biology, engineering, computational sciences and AI together under one roof, accelerating the journey from biomedical discovery to real-world interventions and treatments.

Researchers across disciplines will work alongside industry partners in integrated labs to better understand what drives disease. That collaboration will speed up the development of biotherapeutics – tailored therapies harnessing the body’s natural ability to fight disease.

“We've entered a new era of health care, where life-changing breakthroughs are within our grasp."
- Western President Alan Shepard

Western is constructing Canada's first purpose-built Bioconvergence Centre, accelerating health discoveries from lab to patient.

09/22/2026

Patricia Corcoran is tracing the journey of microplastics through the Great Lakes, identifying key sources and uncovering how they move through the environment. Her research provides the evidence needed to inform practical solutions and shape effective policy.



Read more: https://www.theimpactproject.ca/stories/patricia-corcoran?utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook&utm_campaign=The+Impact+Project&utm_content=cutdown&utm_term=Patricia+Corcoran

09/21/2026

Wednesday, September 30 is National Day for Truth and Reconciliation (NDTR) in Canada, honouring and remembering Survivors of residential schools and those who never returned home. At Western, it's observed as a non-instructional day.

Western is honouring with several public events that invite reflection, learning and community connection.

🧡 The Survivors' Flag Raising Ceremony at Concrete Beach will take place on Monday, September 28, at 10 a.m. Everyone is encouraged to attend and wear orange.

🧡 From September 28 to October 2, UC Tower, Brescia Tower and Alumni Hall will be lit orange in honour of NDTR.

📅 Many more events are happening across campus. Learn more about each event and Truth and Reconciliation at Western: https://indigenous.uwo.ca/truth-and-reconciliation/national-day-for-truth-and-reconciliation.html

09/20/2026

“Even though my interests might look contradictory, there are ways they work together. There is no science without creativity.”
– Cadence McGillicuddy, Western’s student writer-in-residence

Cadence McGillicuddy is a computer science major pursuing a minor in creative writing. She said she hopes to encourage her peers to trust their ideas and write without fear.

Cadence McGillicuddy is Western's student writer-in-residence for 2026-27. She encourages her peers to write without fear or perfectionism.

09/18/2026

Award-winning educator and vocalist Sophie Roland is the newly named dean of the Don Wright Faculty of Music - Western University.

She first came to as a graduate student, earning master’s degrees in musicology and performance voice, then returned to join the faculty as a professor. As dean, she's seizing an “immense opportunity to build more human connection through music” by preparing students to succeed in a rapidly changing world.

Faculty of Music dean Sophie Roland brings decades of leadership, teaching and performance experience to her new role at Western University.

09/17/2026

And just like that, is a wrap. 💜 Thank you to the Western USC, sophs, volunteers, faculty, staff, counsellors, performers and everyone who helped welcome our newest Mustangs to . Here’s to everything that comes next. ✨