University of Western Ontario

The university was founded in 1878 by Bishop Isaac Hellmuth[?] of the Anglican Diocese of Huron as "The Western University of London Ontario." It incorporated Huron College, which had been founded in 1863. In 1916 the current site of the university was purchased from the Kingsmill family. The first two buildings constructed were the Arts Building (now University College) and the Natural Science Building (now the Physics and Astronomy Building). Today the university covers 155 hectares of land on the North Branch of the Thames River.

The university has over 1000 faculty members about 30 000 undergraduate and graduate students in over 60 programs. Its Chancellor is Ellen Clitheroe, and its President is Dr. Paul Davenport.

The university has faculties of Arts, Education, Engineering Science, Graduate Studies, Health Sciences, Information and Media Studies, Law, Medicine & Dentistry, Music, Science, and Social Science. It also includes the Richard Ivey School of Business, Brescia University College (Catholic; the only university-level women's college in Canada), Huron University College (Anglican; includes the Anglican seminary), and King’s College (Catholic; includes St. Peter's seminary).

Notable buildings on the campus include the University Campus of the London Health Sciences Centre, the John P. Robarts Research Institute, the Lawson Health Research Institute, Middlesex College, University College, the D.B. Weldon Library, the John Labatt Visual Arts Centre, Alumni Hall, the Boundary Layer Wind Tunnel Laboratory, Hume Cronyn Memorial Observatory, and T.D. Waterhouse Stadium.

Western has over 20 sports teams and over 100 clubs; sports teams are known as the Mustangs. The school colours are purple and white, and the school's motto is Veritas et utilitas.

Famous Alumni

• Paul Beeston[?], former president of Major League Baseball
• Roberta Bondar, astronaut
• Sheila Copps, Minister of Heritage in the federal Liberal Party
• Duncan Coutts[?], bass player for Our Lady Peace
• Janet Ecker[?], Ontario Minister of Finance
• Elliotte Friedman[?], sports reporter
• Dianne Haskett[?], former mayor of London
• Jennifer Hedger[?], sports reporter
• Gar Knutson[?], Liberal Member of Parliament
• Silken Laumann[?], Olympic rower
• Marnie McBean[?], Olympic rower
• Alice Munro[?], author
• Kevin Newman[?], reporter for Global News
• Steve Rucchin[?], hockey player for the Mighty Ducks of Anaheim
• Scott Russell[?], commentator for Hockey Night in Canada and figure skating
• Al Waxamn[?], actor

There is also a fictional alumnus - Michael Patterson from the comic strip For Better or For Worse.

External Links

• University of Western Ontario (http://www.uwo.ca)