Entrepreneurship building opens as union rallies | Administration

Western celebrated the opening of the Ronald D. Schmeichel Building for Entrepreneurship and Innovation on Friday, but not everyone was excited, as CUPE 2361 members rallied for higher wages outside its doors. 

The building has been under construction for two years and is named in recognition of a $10-million gift from Western University Law graduate and Canadian financier Ron Schmeichel. 

“I’m hoping that the students who come through this building for years to come, they’re going to do incredible things that we couldn’t even imagine today. And as I said, there are no barriers to that entry. It’’s a great equalizer,” said Schmeichel at Friday’s opening ceremony.

The building marks a milestone as Western’s first net-zero, carbon-neutral building. Eliminating the use of natural gas completely, the architects — Perkins & Will — wanted to adopt a “robust sustainability approach” to the building.

The 100,000-square-foot building houses Canada’s largest maker space, which is available to students, staff, faculty and alumni interested in inventing and sharing innovative ideas. The maker spaces on the first and second floors feature traditional shop hand tools and metal and woodworking machinery. The modern building features collaborative learning spaces like breakout rooms, classrooms and meeting rooms. 

Eric Morse, executive director of the Western Morrisette Institute for Entrepreneurship Programs, explained master carpenters will be training at the maker space, but the goal is for these spaces to be run by students.

“We want to see students kind of having a place to come together, to talk about ideas, to be creative, to be innovative, and for some of them to start ventures down the road, but really a place for like-minded students to come together,” said Morse.

According to Western president Alan Shepard, more than 2,000 students signed up for building tours at opening ceremonies over the weekend.

“It positions Western as the best university in Canada, providing students with skills, talent research and the development of individuals talents and opportunities as they go forward with their careers,” said Shepard.

As Shepard boasted about the well-funded university’s achievements, horns could be heard in the background. Protestors were standing behind barricades to draw attention to the ongoing strike by the Canadian Union of Public Employees Local 2361, now in its fifth week.

“This is where we can really make some noise and be seen and heard. The senior administration is in there right now for this ribbon-cutting ceremony. They put all kinds of effort and attention into this ceremony,” said CUPE 2361 vice-president Chris Yates. “They put no effort and attention into coming back to the table to negotiate a fair contract.”

Members of CUPE 2361, the Public Service Alliance of Canada and the University of Western Ontario Faculty Association attended the protest.

“Our members are out here in an act of desperation because they can’t afford to work here anymore. The cost of living crisis is hitting all of us, and it’s hitting our members,” Yates said. “Like we’ve told many people, many times before, two-thirds of our members work two or three jobs just to make ends meet.”

According to CUPE 2361, workers at Fanshawe College earn $5 to $7 an hour more for the same work, while the average home price in London has doubled over the last five years. Western told the Gazette that Fanshawe subcontracts its landscaping and caretaking services.

Western said its latest offer includes average wage increases of nearly 22 per cent over four years — more than five per cent per year — meaning all members earn between $52,000 and $99,000 in the first year of the new agreement in a statement to the Gazette.

Attendees and speakers carried on the opening ceremonies, despite the clamour behind them.

With that, the entrepreneurship building is officially open for business.

“There’s room for entrepreneurs in all disciplines, and it’s open to students and alumni. So the building sets foundational investments, guidance and support as a catalyst for the evolution of entrepreneurship.” Shepard said.