The Lakehead University Faculty of Education is offering a workshop through its Department of Lifelong Learning. "Making Sense of Math" is a workshop designed for parents of school children in elementary grades.

What: Educational Workshop for Parents
When: Thursday, February 24 from 6:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Where: Lakehead University, Bora Laskin Building, Room 1007
Cost: Lakehead students $35, General Public $45

To interview the instructor or a representative from the Department of Lifelong Learning, call Marla Tomlinson at 343-8177.

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Office of Communications, 807-343-8177 or 807-472-9113

(Thunder Bay - Wednesday, February 16, 2005) Dr. Carney Matheson, Director of the world renowned Lakehead University Paleo DNA Laboratory, has been invited to speak at the 57th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Forensic Science (AAFS) next week.

From February 21 to 26, members of the AAFS will be gathering in New Orleans, Louisiana, to discuss the expanding field of forensic science. The AAFS has over 5,600 members from across North America, and representing over 50 countries worldwide.

Dr. Matheson will be discussing quality assurance and control of processes and procedures of DNA analysis as well as techniques of paleo DNA that can be applied to quality control today. He will be bringing three staff members and six Masters students to the conference.

"This is a wonderful opportunity for all of us to learn something and develop our areas of expertise," Dr. Matheson says. "As well, this is another chance for the Paleo DNA Laboratory to be highlighted. Our lab is world renowned, and requests for our attendance at events such as the AAFS meeting is on the rise. This is indicative that the Paleo DNA Laboratory is recognized globally for its exceptional work."

Members of the Media: Dr. Matheson is available for interviews by calling 343-8862. He will be leaving for the conference at the end of this week.

The Lakehead University Paleo-DNA Laboratory recently became the first university laboratory in Canada to become accredited by the Standards Council of Canada (SCC) for Forensic DNA testing. A state-of-the-art facility, the Paleo-DNA Laboratory, has been a pioneer in the application of modern molecular genetic techniques and technologies as well as the study of archaeological, degraded, and Paleo-DNA.
Lakehead University is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Superior. It is a comprehensive university with a worldwide reputation for innovative programs and research. With over 7,400 students and 1,600 faculty and staff, Lakehead University is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and is developing a satellite campus in Orillia, Ontario, planned to open in September 2006. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Communications Officer, Lakehead University, 343-8177 or 472-9113

(Thunder Bay - Tuesday, February 15, 2005) Lakehead University's Faculty of Education presents the next "Burning Issues in Education" forum on Wednesday, February 16 at 7 p.m. in the Bora Laskin Theatre. The session is entitled "Widening the Horizons of Student Career Success."

Over the past decade, research in the area of student success has prompted a call to action for educational institutions, business, and industry. How have community criteria for student success changed as we enter the twenty first century? What options do the majority of students leaving high school have who choose not to pursue a university education?

Join the panel of distinguished speakers who will explore this area of importance to our society and economy. Panelists include:

Alice Clark -- Manager, Center fro Learning and Teaching, Confederation College
David Farrell -- Quality Assurance Coordinator, Bowater Canadian Forest Products
David Isherwood -- Coordinator, Pathways to Success, Lakehead Public Schools
Sharon Kovacic -- Coordinator, Marketing Promotions YES Employment, Thunder Bay
Bob McEwan -- Coordinator, Secondary Schools Thunder Bay Catholic District School Board
Brian McKinnon -- Coordinator, Passport for Prosperity North of Superior Training Board
Sharon Smith -- Employment for Aboriginal Youth Fort William First Nations YES Employment
Ric Windsor -- Coordinator, Widening Horizons Project Faculty of Education, Lakehead University
Moderator -- Dr. Philip Allingham, Professor Faculty of Education, Lakehead University

Members of the Media are invited to attend the forum and speak with the panelists attending. Dr. Allingham, who has moderated several Burning Issues Forums, is available to do an interview prior to the event.

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Communications Officer, Lakehead University, 343-8177 or 472-9113

(Thunder Bay - February 8, 2005) The Lakehead University Geography Club is hosting an evening of information, handicrafts, and images from the Kyrgyz Republic.

Dr. William Wilson, a faculty member in the Geography Department, says that this will be an exciting opportunity to hear about Kyrgyzstan, which is located in the very heart of Central Asia.

"Our colleagues, Talasbek Mukash-uulu and Alexandr Vereschagin, will be here to answer questions from students as well as the general public," Dr. Wilson says. They will speak about visiting and working in their beautiful country, called the Switzerland of Central Asia."

The presentation is entitled "Snow Leopards, Silk Roads, and Nomads: Research and Tourism Opportunities in the Roof of the World" and takes place on Wednesday, February 9 at 7 p.m. in Lakehead University's coffee house, The Study (by Security, above the Bookstore).

The speakers will have photographs and handicrafts on sale as fund-raising for their visit to Canada.

MEMBERS OF THE MEDIA: Dr. Wilson is available to speak with the media about this interesting learning opportunity. Call 343-8357 to set up an interview with him.

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Contact:Dr. Wilson, Lakehead University, 343-8357
Marla Tomlinson, Office of Communications, 807-343-8177 or 807-472-9113.

(Thunder Bay, January 28, 2005) There have been some reports of suspicious calls being made in the name of Lakehead University to the Thunder Bay community. Lakehead U is currently conducting a phone campaign; however, these reported "scam" callers are asking for personal information (Social Insurance Number, annual income, etc.), which Lakehead's legitimate callers do not require.

Here are some important facts:

LAKEHEAD U'S ANNUAL PHONE-A-THON FACTS

?The students phoning Alumni on behalf of the University use an established script.
?This is an Annual Phone-a-thon Campaign that takes place from October through March.
?Alumni are contacted for the purpose of updating their contact information; callers then share news about what is taking place at Lakehead, and finally ask for a contribution to the University.
?All callers are current students
?A student supervisor is always on duty to monitor the callers and deal with any issues that may arise
?Callers are trained in how to make a phone call and are provided with an approved script that outlines the format of the call
?Callers are required at the beginning of the conversation to identify themselves by name and say they are calling on behalf of the Lakehead University Annual Fund.
?Lakehead does not require personal information such as your Social Insurance Number.

KNOWN FACTS ABOUT POSSIBLE SCAM

?Callers are either male of female.
?They seem to be working from some sort of list as they do have some information which they use to qualify their questions.
?If this is as it appears -- a scam to obtain personal information which can be used to defraud someone or steal identity -- it should be reported to the police. If you get such a call, hang up and dial *57 on your phone to have the number traced. Then contact the police.

For more information on our Annual Campaign, contact Bonnie Moore at 343-8747.

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Lakehead University, 807-343-8177

New Laboratory Assists Students to Develop Language Skills

(Thunder Bay - January 27, 2005) Lakehead University's Department of Languages has opened a new languages laboratory which will make learning a new language much easier.

The Sanako Lab 300, equipped with an information and communication manager and a Computer Supervisory System network, has been installed in the Language Lab (Braun Building, Room 2001). This new lab is an interactive, easy-to-use language lab system that provides students with a versatile learning experience. By a simple click on the student icon, the teacher is able to monitor the selected student's work unnoticed. The student's voice, the programme soundtrack, and the screen's image can be monitored from the teacher's station. With a second click of the mouse, the teacher can assist students in their work.

Offering high-quality audio, video, and multimedia components, the laboratory enables teachers and students alike to make use of a variety of language learning resources. It allows the teacher to supervise the classroom on the master screen, to create and deliver lessons, and to collect and evaluate exercises. Other devices such as CD, DVD players, and VCRs are also integrated in the lab. The system allows the transfer of video images from these devices to student monitors, an operation that gives a new dimension to language learning and the delivery of cultural material in civilization and literature courses.

Faculty members and students have quickly adapted to the new technology in the lab, which opened in September 2004.

"By engaging students more actively in the very process of acquiring language and discovering other cultures, we are clearly adopting a student-centered approach to learning," says Alain Nabarra, Chair of the Languages Department. "The lab is quickly becoming an indispensable tool at Lakehead University, and both our students and faculty are excited about this new facility."

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Lakehead University, 343-8177

(Thunder Bay - January 19, 2005) Forestry professionals, students, and members of the public will be coming together to discuss current issues in forestry at the 37th Annual Forestry Symposium at Lakehead University on Saturday, January 22, 2005.

This year, the theme of the Symposium is "Moving Forward: Enhancing Canada's Wood Supply and Utilization."

"The issue of wood supply and utilization has been at the forefront of concern within Ontario's forestry sector," says Karen Jackson, Chair of the Symposium Committee. "The purpose of this symposium is to gain insight into how Ontario's wood supply and wood utilization can be improved. One of our goals for the symposium is to find ways to address these issues."

Each year, the students in the Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment organize a symposium dealing with relevant issues in forestry. This one-day symposium is free to the public and takes place in ATAC, Room 1003.

The schedule is as follows:

9 a.m. Opening Remarks

9:10 a.m. Mr. Patrick Corbett, Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources Forest Industry Liaison Officer - Forest Industry Unit, " Ontario Provincial Wood Supply Strategy/Implementation Plan and significance to Northwestern Ontario"

9:40 a.m. Ms. Maureen Kershaw, Consulting Ecologist and Ontario Forestry Futures Trust Representative

10:10 a.m. Round Table Discussion Period 10:35 a.m. Break 10:50 a.m. Feedback Period

11:15 a.m. Mr. Al Stinson, Forestry Research Partnership Specialist, Southern Science and Information Section, "Augmenting Wood Supply Through Applied Research and Development"

11:45 a.m. Round Table Discussion Period 12 p.m. Feedback Period 12:15 p.m. Lunch

1:30 p.m. Faye Johnson, Woodlands Manager, Grant Forest Products Inc., "Ontario's Wood Supply and Utilization: Using our forests more wisely"

2 p.m. Round Table Discussion Period 2:15 p.m. Feedback Period 2:30 p.m. Break

2:45 p.m. Dr. Mathew Leitch, Professor in Wood Technology, Lakehead University Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment, "Wood Quality and Value-adding in NW Ontario"

3:15 p.m. Round Table Discussion Period 3:30 p.m. Feedback Period

3:45 p.m. Dr. John Naysmith, Chair, Ontario Forestry Futures Trust, Summarizing the Days Events

4 p.m. Closing Remarks

The symposium takes place on Saturday, January 22 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. in ATAC, Room 1003.

Members of the media are welcome to attend the event. To set up interviews with the event chairs or the speakers, please call Marla Tomlinson at 343-8177 or 472-9113.

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Office of Communications, 807-343-8177 or 807-472-9113.

(Thunder Bay - January 18, 2005) Lakehead University and the City of Orillia are pleased to announce that an agreement in principle has been reached to develop a satellite campus of the University in Orillia. Such a collaboration would offer, initially, academic courses and programs that can be partnered with Georgian College; would respond to the City of Orillia's interests in international studies, aboriginal studies, and tourism; and are linked to the distributed learning capacity of Lakehead University's Thunder Bay campus.

These courses and programs would require physical facilities in Orillia that are compatible with the learning technology of the Advanced Technology and Academic Centre (ATAC) in Thunder Bay.

Dr. Frederick Gilbert, President of Lakehead University says: "The City of Orillia is an ideal community to partner with our institution. Over the next months we will be working with the City, Georgian College, and our own faculty and staff to develop academic and business plans for the delivery of university education in Orillia. We are very positive about the enormous potential this initiative has for the community of Orillia as well as for Lakehead University."

The partnership with the City of Orillia is intended to bring the capacity of Lakehead University to the community of Orillia in a way that will be mutually advantageous to the City and the University, and would tap the potential of Lakehead University in a meaningful, progressive, and innovative way.

Ron Stevens, Mayor of the City of Orillia states: "While much serious planning and dialogue need to be done, once in place, the collaboration will provide a university presence in Orillia that will have a long-term positive socio-economic impact on Orillia, leveraging at the same time the experience and presence of Georgian College in the community. This will absolutely be great for our community profile."

As part of the dialogue, a joint task force with Georgian College will be established to explore collaborative opportunities. The joint task force will include Georgian College President Brian Tamblyn, and representatives from Georgian College, Lakehead University, and the City of Orillia.

The target date to start the satellite campus in Orillia is the fall of 2006.

Media: Dr. Frederick Gilbert, President Lakehead University, and Ron Stevens, Mayor of the City of Orillia, are available for interview.

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Contact: Lakehead University, Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications at 807.343-8372, eleanor.abaya@lakeheadu.ca;
City of Orillia, Robert Lamb, Manager of Economic Development at 705. 325-4900, rlamb@city.orillia.on.ca

(Thunder Bay -- January 13, 2005) Jackie Dojack, Chair of the Board of Governors of Lakehead University, today announced the renewal of the contract of Dr. Frederick Gilbert, President of Lakehead University.

The unanimous vote of confidence by the Board of Governors extends Dr. Gilbert's current contract, which was due to be completed on December 31, 2006, to May 31, 2010.

"A committee had been specially struck to obtain input from the University community to inform the decision process of whether Dr. Gilbert's contract would be extended or whether a search for a new president would take place following the completion of Dr. Gilbert's current term," says Dojack. "The Board was unanimous in its decision to extend Dr. Gilbert's contract."

The unanimous motion was passed on Friday, January 7, in a meeting and conference call of 28 members of the Board of Governors of Lakehead University.

"Lakehead University has experienced many challenges over the last few years, many of which are directly attributable to inadequate funding and a declining university student population in the northwestern region, the primary catchment area of Lakehead University," Dojack adds. "Despite these challenges, Dr. Gilbert has leveraged the strengths of the University faculty and researchers, staff, and alumni to embark on a vision of academic excellence and technology-assisted learning. Some of these challenges will continue to tax the University's limited resources, passion, and creativity, but the Board, with broad support from the University community, believes Dr. Gilbert will continue to lead the University to enable it to carve a special niche among institutions of higher learning, while enhancing its economic impact on the City of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario."

Members of the Media: Jackie Dojack may be reached for an interview directly at 807-345-3840.

To reach Dr. Gilbert for comment, please call the Office of Communications at 807-343-8177.

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Contact: Marla Tomlinson, Communications Officer, Lakehead University, 343-8177 or 472-9113