8
view . spring 2010
BEING
INFLUENTIAL
For more UWindsor info, visit
By John Carrington
YOUR UNIVERSITY
–
UWindsor alumni, donors and friends making a difference
Nearly 10 years ago,
Windsor-
Tecumseh MPP Dwight Duncan
called on three community
leaders to approach the Ontario
government to promote bringing
medical education to Windsor.
One of them was Gary Parent,
president of the Windsor & District
Labour Council.
He teamed up with the local
medical officer of health and the
then Windsor & District Chamber
of Commerce president, making
an impassioned clear and insightful
presentation to the Ministry of
Health. It helped open the way for some medical students
from London to do clinical training in Windsor, and
later, for the Schulich School of Medicine & Dentistry –
Windsor Program.
The history of collaboration and partnerships between
the University and the local labour community is long. And
now, its most recent show of support for the University is
the decision to create an endowment that will provide three
$1,000 scholarships each year to University of Windsor
students who hope to apply to medical school.
The Labour Sponsored Gary L. Parent Community
& Health Services Scholarship honours former council
president Parent in recognition of his integral role in
securing a program in which future
doctors could earn their medical
degree in Windsor.
“We wanted to do something
great for Gary that would
commemorate his sense of
solidarity with our community for
years to come,” says Dino Chiodo,
the CAW Local 444 vice-president,
who has replaced Parent as
president of the Windsor & District
Labour Council. “We considered
a number of alternatives. The
idea of a scholarship named for
Gary hit home with us because of
Gary’s strong belief in the importance of having medical
education in Windsor and his involvement in the concept.”
Students eligible for these scholarships will be enrolled
in a traditional pre-med course of study, majoring in
biological sciences, biochemistry, kinesiology or nursing.
Contributions to the endowment will be matched by the
Ontario Trust for Student Support.
It was four decades ago that the CAW first endeavoured
to support the University, providing financial contributions
to the institution’s Program 25 campaign in 1969.
In the 1980s, Dean of Law Ron Ianni, later president
of the University, worked with the CAW when they first
negotiated legal benefits for their members. MP Joe
CAMPUS LABOUR TIES GO BACK LONG WAY
“WE CONSIDERED A NUMBER
OF ALTERNATIVES. THE IDEA OF
A SCHOLARSHIP NAMED FOR
GARY PARENT HIT HOME WITH
US BECAUSE OF GARY’S STRONG
BELIEF IN THE IMPORTANCE OF
HAVING MEDICAL EDUCATION IN
WINDSOR AND HIS INVOLVEMENT
IN THE CONCEPT.”
DINO CHIODO, CAW LOCAL 444
VICE-PRESIDENT
