Leadership expert to share his insight at fundraiser for Miracle Park project

A former University of Windsor dean will share his research and stories about exceptional leadership during a Feb. 28 fundraiser for the Farrow Riverside Miracle Park. Jim Weese was dean of human kinetics at the University of Windsor from 1999 to 2004 and was dean of health sciences at the Western University in London from 2004 to 2015.

In his most recent book, The 5C Leader — Exceptional Leadership Practices for Extraordinary Times, he lays out the five qualities of a great leader: credibility, compelling vision, charismatic communication, contagious enthusiasm and culture building.

He is currently dean of leadership at Western University. His talk is part of an evening of “fun and food” starting at 6 p.m. at the St. Clair Centre for the Arts and featuring baseball-themed foods. It’s being organized by Windsor’s Rotary Clubs to raise funds for the Miracle Park. To purchase $40 tickets, email johnweese2525@gmail.com. Former Ontario cabinet minister Dave Cooke, a member of the Miracle Park team, will be giving an update on the project. A groundbreaking ceremony at the former Riverside Arena property was held last year. The City of Windsor is leasing the property to a volunteer group that’s raising $3 million to transform it into a recreational mecca with special attention paid to kids with disabilities. It will include a Miracle Field ball diamond for those with special needs to play baseball, accessible washrooms (paid for by the City of Windsor), an existing accessible swimming pool, accessible playground, a wellness exercise path around the park’s perimeter with three exercise stations, a pavilion, plus the relocation and a more prominent display of the park’s cenotaph.

“It’ll be a great transformation of that property,” said Bill Kell, co-chairman of the Miracle Park steering committee. He said $2.3 million of the $3-million target has been raised so far. Once the good weather arrives, work will begin on the Miracle sports field, followed by the pavilion, the cenotaph and the wellness track. The playground is largely finished, though the rubberized surface still needs to be installed. Kell said the entire project should be done by the end of August.