Digital Journalism Students Explore Their Ford City "Class Room"

Our 2013 has started off on the right foot.....Marty Gervais, City of Windsor Poet Laureate, photographer, professor, journalist, and publisher of Black Moss Press has arranged, in partnership with the Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal, to host his University of Windsor Digital Journalism class in Ford City. 

The topic of Ford City is one dear to Marty's heart, having spent part of his youth here and many hours with the Border City Boxing Club on Drouillard for his work called Show of Hands: Boxing on the Border(2004). 

The Digital Journalism students will be working once a week from the Atelier Virginianne at 1078 Drouillard. The Atelier is an artist workshop studio and gallery space. 
 
Virginanne, owner and artist said that "some shuffling of the sets that are being worked on by Walkerville Collegiate had to be done, but the workspace here is so versatile, they will fit right in. Using the space as a classroom is a first for the Atelier. I certainly look forward to the work the students will produce during their time here." 

The students will be creating news pieces on various Ford City topics using video, photography, blogging, and hope to create a mini documentary of the overall process. The culmination of their work will be on display at the We Are Ford City event in April later this year. 

We want to welcome theses talented students to the neighbourhood

(Photos below are were taken at Standard Printing at 1076 Drouillard, thank you to Standard for allowing us in at the last minute for a tour.) http://www.standardprintinginc.com/

 

-Karlene Nielsen, Community Coordinator, FCNR Jan 17, 2013

Annual Ford City Tree Lighting December 11, 2012

Join Your Neighbours for the 

3rd Annual Ford City Tree Lighting!

Where: 1168 Drouillard Road, 
Gino & Liz Marcus Community Centre

When: Tuesday December 11, 2012 6pm-8pm

What: Please join the Ford City Residents in Action and Ward 5 Councillor Ed Sleiman for the 3rd Annual Tree Lighting & Hot Chocolate Social. Sing carols, have a Christmas treat (or 4) and sip some hot chocolate!

This event is free and open to everyone! 

Ford City Welcomes Artist Corey Boon November 10th

"We Are" Ford City Film to Premiere February 2013

The count down to the premiere of We Are is on........

The Ford City Redevelopment Committee, BIA and Residents in Action are proud to announce that the film We Are will be premiered in February 2013 at an event hosted in the Ford City area.

The film, shot over the Spring of 2012 in the Ford City area, captures the vibrancy and community spirit that endures in this historic neighbourhood. Local filmmakers Tim Swaddling and Jarrod Ferris partnered with Matt Kraus and the Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal to highlight the uplifting transformation Ford City is experiencing. Their filmmaking mission took them deep into the heart of the community where they captured moments of joy, pride and everyday life in Ford City.

The film was made possible by a small grant from the University of Windsor's Social Work Student Association. The film crew, Tim, Jarrod and Matt put in many volunteer hours to ensure the final product was polished and would be a point of pride for residents and community members.

The premiere event will feature a live performance by an impressive, internationally known, local talent! Please stay tuned for more information including where you can buy your tickets.

Thank you for your interest, hope to see you in Ford City soon!

Gordon McGregor Public School Slated For Closure

Last night the Greater Essex County District School Board was presented with Direct Warren Kennedy and Superintendent Terry Lyons proposal to close Gordon McGregor Public School and  Forester High School.  The report found that  Herman’s utilization rate is 60 per cent and projected to decline to 50 per cent in the next five years.

The report predicts increased enrollment at McCallum because of the popularity of French immersion and says the school will be unable to accommodate such growth.

Herman has several specialized learning programs, including French immersion, according to the report. If the recommendation was accepted and Herman took on McCallum students, the report projects the utilization rate would increase to more than 80 per cent. The kindergarten to Grade 12 program at Herman would depend on provincial funding approval, the report said.

In addition to moving McCallum students to Herman to ease enrollment pressures,the report recommended that, effective September 2013, the western boundary for McCallum be adjusted so that all students living west of Walker Road would attend the Giles Campus French immersion school.

Also recommended was to change the boundaries for David Maxwell school so that all students living east of Pillette Road be moved to Coronation school. That would solve low utilization rates at Coronation and high utilization at Maxwell, according to the report.

Ford City BIA chairman Randy Diestelmann said to solve overcrowding in some areas, school closing may be the only option, but closing McGregor wouldn’t be right because it is on the heritage registry. Also, sending students from McGregor to McCallum would mean most of them will have to bus to school.

He said closing Maxwell and McCallum would make more sense. He said McGregor, the largest of the Herman feeder schools, could accommodate students from Maxwell. McGregor is within walking distance of Maxwell, so not as many students would have to be bused.

“At a school like McGregor, you could stabilize the entire enrolment rate for the entire area in the Herman family of schools,” said Diestelmann. “It has the best property, it requires very little money to actually get the renewal done and if you look at everything, there could be savings.”

The Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal presented to the school board asking to reconsider their position and reverse the closure back in June.  We began a petition which can be found here: Gordon McGregor Petition

The board is expected to vote on the recommendations Nov. 19.

If you would like to find out more information you can call our offices or contact the school board.  

The closure report can be downloaded here: https://publicboard.ca/Parents/PARC/Herman/Documents/Director's%20Report%20to%20Trustees.pdf

Souce: http://blogs.windsorstar.com/2012/10/16/recommended-school-closures-in-public-board/

Ford City Arts & Heritage Fest

Ford City Arts & Heritage Fest 2012
September 30 2012 1am-4pm FREE EVENT
The Adventure Starts @ 1078 Drouillard Road

The Historic Ford City Neighbourhood in Windsor invites you to explore....several businesses and historic buildings are opening their doors and each will offer you a unique and exciting way to interact with Ford City. The event also features an artisan market, live music, local food and arts activities in the Ford City Community Garden.


Participants will receive an Explore Ford City Map when they visit 1078 Drouillard or Our Lady of the Roasry Roman Catholic Church at Riverside Drive and Drouillard. The map will detail the locations and activities which will include:

1) Doors Open Sites:

• Three Historic Churches; St. John the Divine Orthodox Church, Descent of the Holy Ghost Romanian Orthodox Church Our Lady of the Rosary Roman Catholic Church will be open with free guided tours. This will be the first time Our Lady of the Rosary church has been open to the public in over 5 years!
• Atelier Virginianne, artist workshop and studio, will be holding a "Meet the Artist" event. You will encounter some of the accomplished artists that created the over 20 murals that grace the sides of buildings along Drouillard Road in Ford City.
• Voltair Heating and Cooling, will be displaying a collection of historic photographs of Ford City as well as antique camera equipment.
• Spirit of Excellence(SOE), Creativity Training Centre, will be opening their studios to teach participants expressive flag dancing. Not a dancer? Try your hand at drumming in one of their drum clinics or have your make up, nails or a temporary tattoo done by one of their Make Up Artistry graduates! SOE will have their smoothie bar open during the event. There's something for everyone at SOE.
• Standard Printing Inc, print company, will be open to show you what happens inside a print company. Standard has been in business for more than 40 years.
• Border City Boxing Club will be open to the public, come see where Justin Trudeau recently boxed and where World Champs are made!

2) Art in the Ford City Community Garden: Join us for family friendly arts activities in the garden and leave your mark on Ford City! The garden will also feature a reading of her new book "Grasshopper on My Shoulder" by local children's author JoAnn Loeffen-Thompson.

3) Artisan Market: Shop an eclectic mix of local artist's creations along the 1000 block of Drouillard.

4) Live Street Music by Local Talent including Livi, Chris Ould and more!

5) Self Guided Historic Mural Tours with free full colour booklet

6) Local Restaurant The Sunflower Organic Cafe will be selling organic bbq items.

Organizer:
Ford City Neighbourhood Renewal

Date(s) & Time(s):
Sunday, September 30, 2012 — 11:00 AM - 3:00 PM

Location
1078 Drouillard Windsor, Ontario View Map of this Activity
Directions
From the EC Row Expressway take Walker Road going North to Seminole Ave. Turn right onto Seminole until you reach Drouillard Road. Turn left onto Drouillard. Head North until you reach 1078 Drouillard.
In case of rain
Most events are in-doors or will move in-doors. Most aspects of the event are wheelchair accessible.
 

Gordon McGregor School Possibly Closing- Sign Petition

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