2024 - 2025 Annual Report

On July 1, 1965, The Lakehead College of Arts and Technology in Thunder Bay becomes Lakehead University after receiving its official charter. Two divisions are established within Lakehead—the Faculty of Arts and Science and University Schools.

During its first year, Lakehead welcomes 1,066 students to campus, which has only two buildings—the Braun Building and the newly-constructed University Centre theatre-lecture hall. This is also the year that Lakehead receives its first National Research Council grant.

The three-storey Chancellor Paterson Library opens. The occasion is celebrated with an opening ceremony led by Lakehead Chancellor Senator N.M. Paterson. Three more storeys are added to the library in 1967.

The Centennial Building opens and the Faculty of Education is established after the Ontario government transfers the Lakehead Teachers’ College to the university. Prof. James T. Angus becomes the first Dean of Education.

The Ryan Building opens, named in memory of Dean of Arts Timothy J. Ryan, and a two-year Post-Diploma Degree Program in Engineering is introduced.

The innovative Native Teacher Education Program (now called the Keewatinase Indigenous Teacher Education Program) is launched to increase the number of qualified Indigenous teachers. The Abitibi-Lakehead University Centre for Forest Resource Studies is established.

The School of Social Work is established as well as Master of Arts programs in Education and Sociology.

The Alumni Office is created to give graduates a meaningful voice in alumni affairs and Lakehead University’s development.

University residences open, including the Robert J. Prettie Residences and the Melville W. Bartley Residences.

The Native Language Instructors’ Program (now called the Indigenous Language Instructor's Program) is founded to provide Algonquian languages teacher certification and to promote the teaching of Indigenous languages in First Nations communities. Two years later, in 1986, the Native Nurses Entry Program (now called the Indigenous Nursing Entry Program, a transition program for aspiring nurses is established.

Lakehead’s first Academic Plan is approved by the Senate, which includes the creation of a Learning Assistance Centre.

Lakehead is chosen to be part of the national network of Centres of Excellence, the Centre for Northern Studies officially opens, and Lakehead opens a regional campus in Kenora, Ontario.

The Native Access Program (now called the Indigenous Transition Year Program), a nine-month course preparing Indigenous students for university degree studies at Lakehead, is also established.

The Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research is launched in collaboration with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Colleges and Universities.

The William H. Buset Music and Visual Arts Centre opens. The Department of Native Studies (now called the Department of Indigenous Learning) is founded to study Indigenous history and culture and to create understanding and trust amongst all peoples.

Lakehead’s first doctoral program, in Psychology, is approved by the Senate.

The Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Laboratory is established. The lab is a pioneer in the application of modern molecular genetic techniques and technologies to study archaeological, degraded, and Paleo-DNA. The lab attracts worldwide attention for its involvement in high-profile cases, such as identifying members of the ill-fated 1845 Franklin Expedition.

Lakehead donates 60 acres of land to build the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. The Northern Clinical Practice Program and Community Health Nursing in First Nations Program are launched via a partnership with Nishnawbe-Aski Nation and Health Canada’s Medical Services branch.

The federal government approves the establishment of seven new Canada Research Chairs at Lakehead.

Lakehead joins The University of the Arctic—an international network of circumpolar educational institutions in Canada, Finland, Sweden, Norway, the United States, Iceland, and Russia. Lakehead Paleo-DNA Lab researchers begin work identifying victims of the Titanic disaster.

The Government of Ontario awards $6 million to Lakehead to create two endowed Ontario Research Chairs in support of cutting-edge biorefining research.

The first Orillia campus convocation takes place with 10 graduating students receiving their degrees in the City of Orillia Council Chambers.

A LEED® cafeteria and residence open at Lakehead Orillia’s 500 University Avenue location.

The Research Centre for Sustainable Communities and the Alumni Commons study lounge open on the Orillia campus. The 500 University Avenue academic centre is named Simcoe Hall to recognize the County of Simcoe’s outstanding support.

The Alumni Association of Lakehead University (AALU) initiates its Alumni Scarf tradition. Each graduating student is presented with a scarf emblazoned with the AALU tagline “Engage Celebrate Share” after they cross the stage at Thunder Bay and Orillia convocation ceremonies.

Bora Laskin of Faculty of Law charter class receives their Juris Doctor (JD) degrees.

The Teaching Commons and the Centre for Advanced Studies in Engineering and Sciences (CASES) open. The 42,000-square-foot CASES building is LEED Gold-certified and houses four of Lakehead’s Canada Research Chairs, three research support units, the Faculty of Graduate Studies, and the Ingenuity business incubator.

The Alumni Commons opens in Thunder Bay, occupying the space between the Agora and the Faculty Lounge. This new space displays the Alumni Art Collection, which contains artworks dating from 1988 to the present acquired from Lakehead’s annual Juried Student Art Exhibition.

Lakehead signs a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with the City of Orillia to pursue opportunities for partnerships, innovation, and incubation.

Bora Laskin Faculty of Law launches the Mino-waabandan Inaakonigewinan Indigenous Law and Justice Institute in response to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Call to Action #50, which calls for the creation of Indigenous law institutes to support access to justice for Indigenous people and the revitalization of Indigenous laws.

Lakehead is ranked the #1 University in the World with fewer than 9,000 students in the Times Higher Education 2023 Impact Rankings.

Lakehead signs an agreement with the University of Guelph to establish the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP). This degree program is created to address the severe shortage of veterinarians in northern and rural communities.

Lakehead becomes only the second university in Canada to receive the Innovation & Economic Prosperity (IEP) University designation, which recognizes North American public research universities that support economic development.

The County of Simcoe commits to investing $15 million over 10 years in the Orillia campus—beginning with a $1.5 million installment. The County of Simcoe’s generosity will help construct a new building at 500 University Avenue, giving students access to expanded program options. The new building will also allow Lakehead Orillia to increase its enrolment from 2,100 to 3,500 students.

In December 2024, the Barrie City Council approves a motion committing $9.9 million to construct the Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub. The Hub will offer undergraduate and graduate degrees, making university education more accessible to Barrie residents and central Ontarians.

Lakehead is ranked Canada’s #1 research-intensive undergraduate university in the area of AI research and publications. With an over 180 per cent growth in published studies in the area of AI from 2018 to 2022, Lakehead researchers are at the forefront of real-world innovation and transformation.

The Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) at the University of Guelph welcomes its inaugural Northern Cohort—20 students from Northern Ontario embarking on their journey to become veterinarians through the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP).