With an expected 15,000 attending Western University’s annual Homecoming this weekend and the Mustangs (www.westernmustangs.ca/) celebrating their 100th anniversary of sports excellence, four days of festivities (Sept. 26-29) officially kick off at the grand opening of Western Outdoor Sports Complex.
Two new multisport, artificial grass fields have been added to the campus landscape this fall, one of which will be known as Alumni Field in recognition of generous contributions from Foundation Western and Alumni Western. Construction of these fields is also made possible by a very significant commitment from Western’s students.
Media are invited to attend the special kickoff event and grand opening on Thursday, September 26th at 4 p.m. at Alumni Field, which is located directly behind the south end zone of TD Stadium.
Speakers for the opening include Western Provost & Vice-President (Academic) Janice Deakin, Homecoming Chair Mark Millar and University Students’ Council President Patrick Whelan.
Bas van den Berg, Commercial Director, Edel Grass (www.edelgrass.com/) is also expected to attend the launch and will be available for interviews to discuss Western’s latest state-of-art sport and recreation facility.
Highlights of Homecoming 2013 include:
Alumni Western Annual General Meeting (Thursday, September 26, 7 p.m.)
TD Stadium
Gemini Award-winning broadcaster Scott Russell (BA’80, BEd’82, MA’85) from CBC Sports Weekend delivers the keynote address on “The Field of Play: Why Sport Matters” at Alumni Western’s AGM as the university celebrates 100 years of the Mustangs.
39th Annual Alumni Awards Dinner (Friday, September 27, 6:30 p.m.)
The Great Hall, Somerville House
Western honours extraordinary alumni, including Dr. Robert Farley (BA’50, MD’54),
Dr. Margaret Kavanagh (BA’74, MD’78), Hugh John Cook (BA’56) and Ritu Bhasin (LLB’00), at a gala dinner hosted by President Amit Chakma and emceed by Gemini Award-winning broadcaster Kevin Newman (BA’81, LLD’11) from Kevin Newman Live on CTV News Channel.
Homecoming Football Game (Saturday, September 28, 1 p.m.)
TD Stadium
Two undefeated teams – the Western Mustangs and the Queen’s Golden Gaels – battle for OUA supremacy. Soccer, rugby, tennis, baseball and track and field are also set to compete on this busy Homecoming weekend.
Cultures of Leadership (Sunday, September 29, 10 a.m.)
Paul Davenport Theatre, Talbot College
Anna Maria Tremonti, host of CBC Radio’s “The Current,” moderates a panel discussion with some of Western’s leading faculty, including Joel Faflak, Director, School for Advanced Studies in the Faculty of Arts and Humanities, Betty Anne Younker, Dean, Don Wright Faculty of Music, Pam Bishop, Associate Dean, Graduate Studies, Faculty of Education, Michael Bartlett, Associate Dean (Academic), Faculty of Engineering, Sandra Smeltzer, Associate Professor, Faculty of Information & Media Studies and Mitch Rothstein, Chair, DAN Management and Organizational Studies, Faculty of Social Science.
For a complete lineup of Homecoming events, please visit: www.westernhomecoming.uwo.ca
