Lakehead Hosts Ontario’s University Leadership in Thunder Bay
Thursday, April 3, 2014 – Thunder Bay
Lakehead University President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson, is pleased to host a two-day Council of Ontario Universities (COU) meeting of the province’s University Presidents and Academic Colleagues at its Thunder Bay campus, April 2-3.
“I am thrilled to have this rare opportunity to showcase Thunder Bay and Lakehead University to so many of Ontario’s university presidents and academic colleagues,” said Dr. Stevenson. “Bringing together our sector’s leadership to discuss common issues and challenges serves to ensure that we move forward, together, to enhance the university experience for generations of students to come.”
COU Chair and President of Wilfrid Laurier University, Dr. Max Blouw, said, “It is important for university presidents to understand, deeply, each other’s institutions and we are extremely pleased and impressed to be at Lakehead University in beautiful Thunder Bay.
“Our universities are very distinct from one another, so it’s important that we come together, whenever possible, to discuss how our different institutions are addressing diverse and common issues,” Dr. Blouw added.
A Wednesday evening dinner at Thunder Bay’s Bight Restaurant treated guests to wonderful views of Lake Superior as they enjoyed a performance by the Lakehead University Chamber Choir and its Conductor, Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans.
Event attendees included Deputy Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs and Special Advisor: Strategic Mandate Agreements (Universities), Dr. Paul Genest; Acting Thunder Bay Mayor, Councillor Paul Pugh; current Lakehead Board of Governors’ Chair, Cameron Clark; recently-named incoming Lakehead Board Chair, Murray Walberg; COU President and CEO, Bonnie Patterson; and numerous Academic Colleagues.
Academic Colleagues are university professors and researchers who have been elected by their respective Senates to represent their university on council. Council consists of two representatives from each Ontario university: the university’s President, and an Academic Colleague. Council meets twice each year.
“Academic Colleagues contribute to the work of council by reflecting on province-wide university issues, together,” said Lakehead University Geology Professor and COU Academic Colleague, Dr. Mary Louise Hill. “I’m delighted that Colleagues enjoyed the opportunity to meet in Thunder Bay and see Lakehead University, firsthand.”
For more about the Council of Ontario Universities, visit www.cou.on.ca.
PHOTO CAPTION: Ontario university presidents gather at Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus for COU meetings.
Top row, from left: Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada President & CEO, Paul Davidson; Nipissing University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Michael DeGagné; Carleton University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Roseann O'Reilly Runte; COU Chair and President of Wilfrid Laurier University, Dr. Max Blouw; Algoma University President, Dr. Richard Myers;
Front row, from left: COU President & CEO, Bonnie Patterson; Laurentian University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dominic Giroux; OCAD University President, Dr. Sara Diamond; University of Ontario Institute of Technology President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Tim McTiernan; Trent University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Steven Franklin; Lakehead University President & Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson.
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In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years (Fall 2013) and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine's West Campus, Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1st in Ontario and 2nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Our Orillia campus is the first in North America to be built entirely to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. Share your Lakehead story as it relates to our Strategic Plan at www.lakeheadu.ca/presidents-office/nurturing-passion, and learn more about Lakehead at www.lakeheadu.ca.