May 11, 2026

Staying Connected at Western Apartments

We’re excited to share a few upcoming community events, seasonal reminders and helpful resources to support your time at Western Apartments. From kite decorating and summer safety reminders to important tenant resources, this newsletter has everything you need to stay informed and connected this month.

Mark Your Calendar

Apartments Pizza Party | Thursday, May 14 

Tenants of Bayfield, Ausable and Beaver Hall are invited to join us at the Ausable and Beaver Hall Courtyard on Thursday, May 14 between 6:30–7:30 p.m. to meet your Community Development Coordinator, Sam and enjoy some free pizza.

In the event of rain, the gathering will move to the Saugeen Main Lounge. Pizza will be available while supplies last.

 Kite Decorating | Wednesday, May 20

Visit the Platt’s Lane Estates Community Centre on Wednesday, May 20 between 6:00–8:00 p.m. to decorate your own kite and get it ready for the skies!

 Important Reminders

Stay safe in the sun

As temperatures rise and more time is spent outdoors, remember to stay safe in the sun and heat.

The sun’s UV rays are typically strongest between 11:00 a.m.–3:00 p.m., so try to stay in the shade during these hours when possible. When the UV Index is 3 or higher, wear light-coloured, breathable clothing, a hat and broad-spectrum sunscreen with SPF 30 or higher. Reapply sunscreen every two hours or after swimming or sweating.

Staying hydrated is equally important during hot weather. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and watch for signs of dehydration or heat-related illness such as dizziness, headaches or fatigue.

Stay safe and stay cool this summer!

 Submitting maintenance requests

A friendly reminder that all maintenance and repair requests must be submitted through the Western Apartments team at western.apartments@uwo.ca.

For safety and infrastructure reasons, tenants are not permitted to complete repairs themselves or hire third-party contractors. Unauthorized work may result in additional damage and associated repair costs being charged back to the tenant.

Please note that maintenance requests are prioritized based on urgency. The Apartments team will provide notice once Facilities Management has received the request.

BBQ safety reminder

With warmer weather approaching, we’d like to remind tenants at Beaver, Ausable, Bayfield and Platt’s Lane Apartments about safe and approved BBQ use.

Propane BBQs are not permitted on apartment balconies or inside units due to fire safety regulations. Only electric BBQs may be used on apartment balconies. Tenants living in Platt’s Lane Townhouses may use propane BBQs on their patios, but are reminded to fully turn off the propane at both the tank and BBQ after use.

If using a BBQ in approved outdoor ground-level areas, please be considerate of others by minimizing smoke and odours and properly disposing of ashes and waste.

Thank you for helping keep our communities safe and enjoyable for everyone.

 Tenant Tips & Resources

Bug and tick season incoming

Warm weather brings us outdoors but it also means an increased presence of ticks, which are commonly found in long grass and wooded areas. The London-Middlesex Health Unit reminds residents that some ticks in our region can carry illnesses such as Lyme disease.

To reduce your risk when spending time outside:

  • Stay on cleared paths and trails whenever possible
  • Wear closed-toe shoes and consider long sleeves and pants
  • Apply insect repellent as directed
  • Keep children and pets out of long grass and brush

After being outdoors, be sure to check yourself, your clothing, children and pets for ticks.

If you find a tick and need guidance on safe removal, visit the Government of Canada's website to learn how to safely remove a tick.

Download Alertable for Alert WesternU

Western University’s emergency mass notification system, Alert WesternU, is now powered by the Alertable app to provide faster and more reliable emergency communications across campus.

All current Western community members are automatically subscribed to receive emergency notifications through their official Western email address. To receive instant push notifications on your mobile device, students are strongly encouraged to download the Alertable app from the Apple App Store or Google Play Store.

Once downloaded, open the app and follow the setup instructions. When prompted for a location, search for “Western University” and add any campuses you regularly visit. Be sure to enable push notifications so alerts are delivered directly to your device.

Campus community members can also customize their notification preferences through the Alert WesternU configuration portal by adding personal phone numbers, additional email addresses and family contacts.

 Protect your bike

Please ensure bicycles are properly locked and not left in lobbies, community spaces or on the lawn. These areas must remain accessible and safe for everyone.

To help protect your bike from theft or damage, ensure it is securely locked at all times. You may also want to consider renting a bike storage space for added security.

Visit Western's Campus Safety site for additional bicycle safety tips and campus resources.