October marked the grand opening of the John F. Wood Centre with the Gordon S. Lang School of Business and Economics at the University of Guelph. This new space marks a significant milestone for our campus community, strengthening our combined vision of providing students with an entrepreneurial education and equipping them with the tools they need to succeed in any path they choose.
This new space was made possible thanks to the generosity of the Wood Family. In 2018, the University of Guelph’s Centre for Business and Student Enterprise received a transformative gift from John F. Wood, allowing the University to play a leading role in developing a new generation of business leaders focused on entrepreneurship and innovation. This new space is a dedication to John and his vision for the students at U of G, as it is a space where student entrepreneurs in any discipline can receive a business education. Located on the first floor of Macdonald Hall, we can proudly say that this space is at the forefront of fostering innovation, collaboration, and entrepreneurship on campus.
The opening party was a great opportunity for Lang and the wider campus community to experience everything the Wood Centre has to offer, learn about the resources available to students and shop at our Hub Incubator Alumni market. The feedback from guests, alumni, faculty, and staff was overwhelmingly positive, echoing Dean Sara Mann's sentiments about the Centre's impact:
"The opening party was such a fantastic way to bring together the Wood Family, community members and students, we’re thrilled to have the doors to this beautiful space open! The Wood Centre has opportunities not only for our Lang students but for students from across the various disciplines at the University of Guelph and will prepare them with the skills and knowledge they need to be future business leaders."
Over the last few months, the team has settled into their new space and there has been an overwhelming level of excitement amongst the students. Students from various degree programs (including Ontario Veterinary College, Bachelor of Science, Bachelor of Engineering, Landscape Architecture and more) have come to access the available resources the space has to offer. Students can use any equipment or materials the found in the Makerspace, which is equipped with 3D Printers and scanners, Cricut's, embroidery and sewing machines, and soon a laser engraver, for free at any time. The Wood Centre also offers a co-working space, 1-1 mentor sessions, workshops, equipment tutorials, design help courtesy of our MakerSpace assistants, and a variety of other resources that will help students bring their ideas to life.
“I am incredibly proud of this space and the opportunities it offers to students at the University of Guelph. We are honoured to continue John F. Wood's legacy through this Centre and to support the next generation of innovative and entrepreneurial leaders.” says Jessie Kennedy, Manager of the Wood Centre.
If you’re interested in seeing the space, stop by Monday-Friday between 9am-12pm and 1pm-4pm and learn more about the winter semester workshops at uoguelph.ca/wood-centre [1].
