view . summer 2012
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The 300,000 square-foot facility housing the Faculty
of Engineering will be named the Ed Lumley Centre
for Engineering Innovation (CEI) to honour the
UWindsor chancellor.
Lumley was a willing target of endless barbs about
everything from his hair to his football skills, delivered by
former prime ministers, premiers and federal and provincial
cabinet ministers during a May 30 roast that helped raise
$5.3 million for the CEI.
During the event, held in Toronto’s Royal York Hotel,
President Alan Wildeman announced that the $112-million
facility will be named the
Ed Lumley Centre for
Engineering Innovation. The
new home for the Faculty of
Engineering will be a world-
class hub for innovation
when it opens this fall.
The largest contribution
announced during the event
was a $2.5-million gift from
BMO Financial Group to
fund the BMO Collaborative
Learning Forum within the
new facility. This 350-seat,
flexible classroom will
feature state-of-the-art
audio and video technology
that will set a new
benchmark for the teaching
and learning experience.
“BMO is proud to support a strong and vibrant future
for the University of Windsor,” said Tom Milroy, chief
executive officer of BMO Capital Markets. “Ed Lumley has
made a remarkable contribution to both the public and
private sectors throughout his career, and we’re thrilled to
see his name honoured with this important new facility. We
hope that the BMO Collaborative Learning Forum, located
in the building named for Ed, is worthy of his vision for
the University.”
Details of other corporate and personal donations
pledged at the event will be announced in the months
ahead.
Dr. Wildeman said, “Ed played a vital role in bringing
the Centre for Engineering Innovation to life. I thank
BMO Capital Markets, and all of the donors and friends
who joined in this great evening of celebration. They are
all valued partners, along with our provincial and federal
governments, in helping us shape the future of innovation
in Canada. It is an honour to us and a tribute to Ed’s friends
and family that his name will be on the building.”
“It’s a great honour to have my name attached to this
important new facility at the University of Windsor,” said
Lumley. “I’m proud to be closely associated with two
institutions – the University and BMO – that have joined
with others to ensure the long-term strength and vitality of
this essential centre of innovation. This is indeed a great
day for Windsor.”
Peter Mansbridge, host of CBC’s news program The
National, was the master of ceremonies for the event that
saw over 500 in attendance, representing Canada’s top
politicians, business leaders
and friends and alumni of
the University of Windsor.
Sandra Pupatello,
director of business
development and
global markets for
PriceWaterhouseCoopers,
former Windsor West MPP,
and the former Minister of
Economic Development and
Trade, chaired the event.
“The engineering
school was a big part of
my work as an MPP, so to
now assist in raising funds
for it through a roast of
our chancellor seems very
appropriate,” she said. “This
dinner allows us to poke
some fun at Ed, while raising important donors and new
relationships in the Toronto market. I hope this is just the
beginning of corporate Canada getting to know the gem of
southwestern Ontario – the University of Windsor.”
Ed Lumley was born in Windsor and graduated from
Assumption University of Windsor in 1961. He has served
as a Member of Parliament and as a Minister of the Crown
in several portfolios including Industry, International
Trade, and Science & Technology. His career has also
included board directorships at BMO Nesbitt Burns, Magna
International, Bell Canada Enterprises, Canadian National
Railway and DaimlerChrysler. Lumley has served as the
University of Windsor’s chancellor since 2006.
LUMLEY ROAST RAISES $5.3 MILLION FOR CEI
Chancellor Ed Lumley BComm ’61 and Sandra Pupatello BA ’86,
LLD ’12 at the Toronto roast.
