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Communications and Public Affairs

Keep on rolling on a ‘River’ .. and more

Keep on rolling on a ‘River’ .. and more

By Helen Connell, Western Communications  Read. Watch. Listen. introduces you to the personal side of our faculty, staff and alumni. Participants are asked to answer three simple questions about their reading, viewing and listening habits – what one book or newspaper/magazine article is grabbing your attention; what one movie or television show has caught your eye; and what album/song, podcast or radio show are you lending an ear to. Helen Connell is the Associate Vice-President (Communications and Public Affairs). Today, she takes a turn on Read. Watch. Listen.

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Read. When Nora Lawrence wakes to find that her 46-year-old husband is lying stone-cold dead beside her, she screams, something author Joan Barfoot tells her readers is out of character for Nora. That’s Luck for you. Luck was Barfoot’s 10th novel and I love the way she used her wit and wisdom to remind readers that all of us are subject to the whims of chance to some extent. And what feels unlucky can prove later to be a great piece of luck. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IN4gS00ZnT8 Watch. I’m partial to British drama and mysteries, but the show I most often recommend is a funny, heart-warming miniseries called Last Tango in Halifax. Set in northern England, it’s the story of two elderly people who had a brief romance when they were young. When they meet decades later, they fall in love all over again. Their romance is challenged by all the emotional baggage they’ve collected over the years, including that each has a well-meaning daughter. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DXg6UB9Qk0o Listen. I don’t have a preferred musical genus, let alone a favourite song. It can be Motown, country, rock, jazz or reggae. It all depends on how I am feeling. As I write this, I’m listening to Julie London’s version of Cry Me a River. Very mellow. Very nice.

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If you have a suggestion for someone you would like to see in Read. Watch. Listen., or would like to participate yourself, drop a line to [email protected].  

ProjectPlay works toward a stronger community

Almost three years ago while noshing on some chicken wings, two tech-savvy and game-friendly family men, Mathew Hoy and Greg Picken, came up with a brilliant idea. So splendid, in fact, the charity that idea spawned is now a finalist for the 2013 Pillar Community Innovation Awards.

Are you the face of Western?

Why not share your most memorable moments as a Western University student and become the ‘Face of Western.’

Western rolls out new branding

In some ways, it’s back to the future for Western University.

Today, Western rolled out a new visual identity – and with it a ‘new’ name – top administrators say will project a more unified brand as well as better position the university on the global stage.

Western names Award of Excellence winners

Western University defines excellence in many ways, but with one award – the Western Award of Excellence. This year’s seven top staff members will be honoured at a special ceremony on Feb. 16.

Website redesign survey coming

Starting tomorrow, visitors to Western’s homepage will have a chance to contribute to its redesign by filling out a short survey.