Students from Catholic schools across Windsor-Essex will soon have access to the facilities at the University of Windsor’s new Toldo Lancer Centre thanks to a new agreement signed today.

“This agreement will help us fulfill our commitment to our students to promote their well-being, while providing them with access to such beautiful learning environments like the $73 million Toldo Lancer Centre,” WECDSB Director of Education Emelda Byrne said just before adding her signature to a new joint use agreement with the university.

Under the conditions of the agreement, WECDSB schools will have access, at reduced rates - based on availability during the day - to the track and courts in the fieldhouse at the Toldo Centre, as well as the multipurpose room, the gymnasium, and the pool from September to June. It will also allow them to use the stadium, including the turf field and the track, as well as the grass soccer fields in the spring and the fall.

In return, the university will have access to WECDSB gym facilities at Assumption College Catholic High School and Holy Names Catholic High School at reduced rates when the Toldo Centre is being used for convocation, as well as in the evening and on weekends between Oct 1 and June 15. It also allows for the university to use the athletic fields at Assumption from May 15 to Oct 31.

Byrne was joined for the signing agreement event held at the university’s Alumni Field Stadium by Executive Superintendent John Ulicny and Executive Superintendent of Business Penny King while hundreds of students from Assumption were using the track for the annual Terry Fox walk. She noted that one of the school board’s key priorities is to “understand and know each student, in order to better promote their intellectual, spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.” while focusing on its most vulnerable students.

“So while this new reciprocal arrangement is one that will be of mutual benefit to both partners, we're particularly excited about what this will mean for our students, some of whom don’t always have access to such beautiful, modern facilities as the ones here at the University of Windsor,” she said.

Also on hand to sign the agreement on behalf of the university were Dr. Linda Rohr, Dean of the Faculty of Human Kinetics and Dr. Robert Aguirre, Provost and Vice-President, Academic.