Teachers Learn to be Culturally Responsive

Professional Development Course free for some teachers this month
(Thunder Bay - August 11, 2006) From August 14 to 16, 2006, at Fort William Historical Park and Lakehead University, Northwestern Ontario teachers who want to increase their cross-cultural competencies with Aboriginal students and strengthen their understanding of a culturally responsive curriculum, teaching, and learning can register to attend the Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning with Aboriginal Students Professional Development Course.
Dr. Lisa Korteweg, Lakehead University Faculty of Education professor, in partnership with the Northern Ontario Educational Leaders (NOEL), will hold this 47-hour Professional Development Course entitled "Summer Teacher Institute--Culturally Responsive Teaching and Learning with Aboriginal Students" in the immersive setting of the Fort's historical and modern facilities. This institute is both a non-credit Lakehead University Department of Lifelong Learning course and a NOEL-funded research project into culturally responsive curriculum and teacher education.
Teacher-participants will delve into a new learning environment of active participation and empathic role-playing. They will also develop a greater appreciation of different Aboriginal cultures and knowledge, practice teamwork and communication skills, and investigate the means to understand and incorporate greater Aboriginal perspectives into the classroom curriculum.
This course is free and is open only to participants from NOEL and partners. All costs will be paid through NOEL funds and Lakehead University's Faculty of Education. Included are accommodations and meals for 3 days and 2 nights, programming at Fort William Historical Park, plus a 23-week online course.
Media: For further information or to schedule an interview, please call Dr. Lisa Korteweg directly at 343 - 8174.

Lakehead U Announces Research Funding

19 Faculty Members and 9 Students Receive New Grants
(Thunder Bay, July 5, 2006) Lakehead University is pleased to announce the results of the Natural Science and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC) competition. Lakehead University has received 19 new faculty grants and 9 new student scholarships.
In the recent NSERC competition, the total value of new NSERC Discovery Grants awarded to Lakehead faculty is $1,623,100. In addition, three Research Tools and Instruments Grants were also awarded to Lakehead, totalling $112,972. Complete lists of researchers and projects titles are attached.
"Lakehead University is on a trajectory to become one of Canada's top 25 research-intensive universities, and this continued success in the NSERC competitions helps propel us in the right direction," says Dr. Fred Gilbert, President, Lakehead University. "I congratulate all who were successful in the current competition. Lakehead University is building a strong research reputation that will assist us to develop additional graduate programs and attract new faculty and students."
"These faculty members and students join a roster of excellent and successful researchers who are working towards building a better future," says Dr. Rui Wang, Vice President (Research) at Lakehead University. "We are very proud of the many accomplishments of our researchers and faculty members, and we look forward to continued growth in our research development at Lakehead U."
NSERC is the national instrument for making strategic investments in Canada's capability in science and technology. NSERC supports both basic university research through research grants and project research through partnerships of universities with industry, as well as the advanced training of highly qualified people in both areas. NSERC reports to Parliament through the Minister of Industry. It is governed by a council selected from the private and public sectors, and the universities.
The NSERC Postgraduate Scholarships (PSG) provide financial support to high-calibre scholars who are engaged in master's or doctoral programs in the natural sciences or engineering. This support allows these scholars to fully concentrate on their studies and to seek out the best research mentors in their chosen fields.
New Lakehead U NSERC Grant Holders

David Law
, Biology, "Functional genomics and biochemistry of shoot apical meristems," $125,000
Allan Gilbert, Chemical Engineering, "Optimizing control of pulp mill processes," $105,000
Charles Xu, Chemical Engineering, "Production of high purity hydrogen from biomass/wood by catalyst-enhanced and reaction-integrated supercritical water gasification," $82,000
Yanglin Gong, Civil Engineering, "Inelastic analysis-based design optimization of eccentrically braced steel frames," $90,000
Ali Mirza, Civil Engineering, "Structural safety of steel-high strength concrete and steel-normal strength concrete columns" $48,000
Timo Tikka, Civil Engineering, "Behaviour of steel-concrete composite columns at elevated temperature," $90,000
Vladimir Tosic, Computer Science, "Modeling and using business value for engineering and management of service-oriented information systems," $60,000
Ruizhong Wei, Computer Science, "Topics in network security and data security" $100,000
Julian Cheng, Electrical Engineering, "Interference analysis and mitigation for digital wireless communication systems," $105,00
Xiaoping Liu, Electrical Engineering, "Adaptive control of nonlinear systems and applications," $140,400
Abdelhamid Tayebi, Electrical Engineering, "Robust and adaptive control design for nonlinear systems with applications to robot manipulators and aerial robots ," $125,000
Kevin Crowe, Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment, "Decision support models for forest management planning," $90,000
Brian McLaren, Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment, "Predation risk and habitat selection in culturally significant herbivores of the boreal forest," $96,000
Jian Wang, Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment, "Linkage between seasonal photosynthesis and hydraulic acclimation of different paper birch populations in Canada," $96,600
Peter Hollings, Geology, "Petrogenetic and geochemical controls on mineralisation: investigating the role of the archean mantle," $20,100
Yin Chen, Mathematical Sciences, "Analytic multifunctions and operator theory," $40,000
Kefu Liu, Mechanical Engineering, "Continued research on vibration control of mechanical systems and new initiative to study fluid-structure interactions," $85,000
Margaret Hawton, Physics, "Photon-matter interactions," $75,000
Werden Keeler, Physics, "Therapeutic treatment and imaging of live cancer cells and bacteria," $50,000

Joint PhD in Educational Studies Third Annual Conference "Globalization, Equality, and Education"

The Joint PhD in Educational Studies will host the third annual conference entitled "Globalization, Equality, and Education" on July 6 and 7, 2006. Members of the media are welcome to drop by any session, as outlined below. Please note that on July 6 the conference is at Hazelwood Lake Centre and on July 7 the conference continues at Lakehead University. The on-site contact is Dr. Fiona Blaikie, Director of the Joint PhD in Educational Studies Program and a faculty member at Lakehead University. The Joint PhD in Educational Studies is offered by Lakehead University, Brock University, the University of Western Ontario, and the University of Windsor.
Conference Schedule
THURSDAY, JULY 6 -- HAZELWOOD LAKE CENTRE
8:00 - 9:00 am Registration & Breakfast
9:00 - 9:10 am Opening Remarks: Dr. Fiona Blaikie, Director of the Joint PhD in Educational
Studies Program, with Janis Cox and Dwayne Wessel
9:10 - 10:30 am Session One: Panel Presentation:
Dr. Sonja Grover - "Street-Involved Children as Functionally Stateless: An Example of Global Equity Issues in Education"
Dr. Yvette Daniel - "Education policy in a globalized economy: The changing Rules of Engagement and its Impact on the Social Justice Agenda"
Linda Weber: "Internationalization at Canadian Universities"
10:30 - 10:45 am Refreshment Break
10:45 - 12:00 pm Session Two: Panel Presentation:
Leisa Desmoulins - "E/raced: Aboriginal Youth Identities and Schooling"
Dr. Robert Sweet - "Educational Planning and Preparation in Vulnerable Families"
Dr. Joe Engemann - "Equity Issues within Large-Scale Assessment"
12:00 - 1:00 pm Lunch Break
1:00 - 2:15 pm Session Three : Keynote Address:
Dr. Rishma Dunlop, Faculty of Education, York University -sdf "Pump with Blood and Bread: The Professor's Diaries"
2:15 - 2:30 pm Refreshment Break
2:30 - 3:45 pm Session Four: Panel Address:
Lan Zhong - "Communication Apprehesion/Anxiety Among Chinese Visiting Scholars in A North American University"
Roger Fisher - "Implementing Research Cultures at Community Colleges: New Opportunities, New Challenges"
Carol Maingot - "Ontario School Boards Collaborate to Promote International Education
3:45 - 4:45 pm Session Five: Panel Address:
Sherry Ramrattan Smith - "Are My/Your Actions Based on Love or Fear? Considerations
For Educators Concerned About Equality and Social Justice"
Dr. Dragana Martinovic & Jelena Magaliaro - "The Technological Perspective and the Role of Educators"
FRIDAY, JULY 7 -- LAKEHEAD UNIVERSITY - FACULTY LOUNGE
8:15 - 9:00 am Breakfast
9:00 - 10:15 am Session One: Keynote Address
Dr. Donal O'Donoghue, Mary Immaculate College, University of Limerick, Ireland
"Un/doing Research: Multiplying and Diversifying Processes and Practices of Inquiry"
10:15 - 10:30 am Refreshment Break
10:30 - 12:00 pm Session Two: Panel Address:
Catherine Bates - "Educational Equity Through Educational Policy: Where the Rubber hits the Road"
Dr. Connie Russell - "Generous scholarship and working across methodological
Difference"
Frances Chandler - "An Analysis of Ontario Educational Policy 1990-2005 - Employing a Feminist-Foundationalist Framework"
12:00 pm Closing Notes: Dr. Fiona Blaikie, with Lan Zhong

Lakehead University Tuition Increase Below Government Cap

Administration and Student Union Refute False Statement by CFS Ontario
(June 28, 2006 Thunder Bay, Ontario) Lakehead University administration and the Lakehead University Student Union emphatically state that a recent claim by the Canadian Federation of Students (CFS) is patently false and misleading.
In a recently released statement, the CFS Chair, Jesse Greener, claimed that Lakehead University is one of three universities that has "budgeted for tuition fee revenue for students in regulated programs that will exceed the 5% institution-wide average increase allowed by the McGuinty government's Reaching Higher framework on tuition fee increases."
On the contrary, Lakehead University has made a special effort to ensure that the cost of tuition for its programs is below all caps provided by the provincial government. Lakehead University's domestic tuition increases range from 3.9% to 4.5%, and this cost is well below the 5% average cap established by the McGuinty government. This is a deliberate strategy undertaken by Lakehead University to ensure that students at Lakehead continue to obtain a quality education at fair "market value" when considering the continuing escalation of the costs of operating a quality institution of higher learning.
According to Dr. Fred Gilbert, President of Lakehead University: "Lakehead University has made every effort to ensure that this institution is accessible to every student who qualifies academically. This has been our strategy in the past, and it will continue to be in the future. We look at this government policy as a clear limit to tuition increases, and our institution has committed to maximize access over tuition revenue. That is why we have deliberately kept the cost of our programs at approximately 4% on average, well below the government cap of 5%."
Isabelle Poniatowski, President of the Lakehead University Student Union adds: "As Lakehead University's representative to the CFS, I am disappointed that no consultation took place before CFS released its statement."
Students at Lakehead University can obtain the cost of their programs by visiting the Lakehead University website at www.lakeheadu.ca and click on the A to Z index and go to "Tuition Fees" where program costs are available to anyone who wishes to see them.
For further information, contact Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications at 807-343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca

Major Natural Science and Engineering Research Grant Announcement at Lakehead

Members of the Media are invited to an announcement regarding major research funding from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) on July 5 at 10 a.m. in ATAC 3004, which will enhance the research activities of 19 faculty members and 9 students at the University.
What: NSERC Funding Announcement
When: Wednesday, July 5, 10 a.m.
Where: Lakehead University, ATAC 3004
Faculty members, students, and Lakehead U administration will be on-hand to discuss these new grants and research activities at the University.

Over 50 of Canada’s Brightest High School Students at Lakehead U for Shad Valley 2006

(Thunder Bay, June 29, 2006) For the month of July, Lakehead University will host some of the brightest young minds in Canada during Shad Valley 2006.
The official welcome of the Shad Valley students takes place on Monday, July 3, at 9:30 a.m. in Lakehead's Senate Chambers. Shad Valley is a program geared to develop innovative leaders of tomorrow. The program runs until July 27, and Shads (participants) live in residence throughout the session.

Shad Valley puts Shads through a rigorous academic program with a focus on Engineering, Entrepreneurship, Information Technology, Medicine, and Science. During the month-long program, students attend presentations on various topics, participate in workshops, and complete projects in different areas. Shad Valley is held at 11 university campuses across Canada.
This year, the students at Lakehead will be taking part in workshops and lectures from various departments on campus as well as visit the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, the Cancer Centre, Canadian Blood Services, and more. There will also be field trips to the Sleeping Giant and River Rat Rafting. Students will host music ensembles in the Agora throughout the month, and will end the month off with a display of their major projects.
Last year, Lakehead University's Shad students took home a national award for the best Business Plan award at the RBC Shad Cup Competition - a competition designed to showcase entrepreneurship, science, and technology skills of Shad students who won the regional entrepreneurship competitions after the month-long program is over.
For further information and a schedule of events, please contact Shad Valley 2006 organizers Dr. Sultan Siddiqui, Program Director, Faculty of Engineering, at on his cell phone at 251-2162, and Mr. Lynne Sevean, Program Manager, Faculty of Forestry and Forest Environment at 343-8301.

Traditional Welcome for Lakehead U’s Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Education and Chair of Aboriginal Education

On July 1, 2006, a traditional welcome will be held for Dr. Judy Iseke Barnes, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Education, and Ethel Gardner, Chair of the Department Aboriginal Education, both with Lakehead University's Faculty of Education. There will be an honour song and a procession led by Dr. Iseke Barnes, Dr. Gardner, and the Elders. A feast will follow. Everyone welcome to this event at the Fort William First Nation's Annual July 1 Pow-Wow on Mount McKay. The Welcome takes place at 4 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday at 2 p.m.)
This special event will officially introduce Dr. Iseke Barnes and Dr. Gardner to the community, and will introduces Lakehead University's initiatives in Aboriginal Education. As well, this Welcome acknowledgesthat Lakehead University sits on Fort William First Nation traditional territory, and aims to foster mutual accountability and trust concerning education for Aboriginal peoples of this land.
For more information, contact Dr. Lauri Gilchrist, Associate Vice-Provost, Office of Aboriginal Initiatives, Lakehead University, at 766-7177.

Research Seeks to Increase Public Involvement in Forestry Management Planning

Community members invited to take part in research study
(Thunder Bay - June 22, 2006) Lakehead University researchers from the School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism are investigating ways to increase the effectiveness of public involvement in forest management planning in Northwestern Ontario.
Dr. Mark Robson, Dr. Harvey Lemelin, and Dr. Norman McIntyre are launching the second year of the three-year research project in partnership with Dr. Len Hunt from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources (OMNR). Their research project, entitled "Evaluating the Effectiveness of Communication Processes for Public Involvement in Forest Management Planning," is funded by a $100,000 grant from the Living Legacy Trust.
Past research on public participation in forest management planning suggests that several barriers hinder the effectiveness of the public involvement process. One barrier is the difficulty of effectively communicating information to the public. While forest management planning information is understood by managers, much of this information is in a form that is relatively meaningless to the general public.
This summer, the research team is interviewing people who participated on Local Citizens Committees, attended OMNR Open Houses and Information Centres, or who have a general interest in forest management planning in the Thunder Bay area. These interviews will help to assess the effectiveness of the current public consultation process.
The next research phase will present management scenarios using different media to help the public understand the likely effects of proposed management activities. One medium is computer visualizations of forest conditions, which is part Lakehead University Forestry student Jeff Moore's PhD dissertation. The second medium is a visual model that simulates the behaviours of resident recreational anglers. Through a carefully controlled experiment, the research team will assess whether these media enhance the public's ability to comprehend and provide input in forest management decision-making.
"This research will help to improve communication of scientific and technical information in a way that makes it more understandable, so that the public can become more meaningfully involved in forest management planning," says Dr. Robson, principal investigator for the project.
Members of the public who have who participated on Local Citizens Committees, attended OMNR Open Houses and Information Centres, or have a general interest in forest management planning in the Thunder Bay area are invited to contact Julie Rosenthal, Research Assistant, at 807-343-0314 if they are interested in participating in the study.
Members of the Media: Dr. Mark Robson is available for interview after May 23. He can be reached at Lakehead University at 807-343-8057.

Lakehead University Wins CIS Bid to Host 2009 & 2010 Hockey Championships

TBayTel Signs on as Presenting Sponsor
(Thunder Bay, June 20, 2006) Lakehead University, Lakehead Athletics, and Thunderwolves Hockey are delighted and very proud to announce that Lakehead University has won the right to host the CIS Men's National Hockey Championships for 2009 and 2010. Lakehead University's proposal won over a strong bid by the University of New Brunswick, who had hosted the championships in 2003-2004. The championships will be held in Thunder Bay in March of 2009 and 2010, and will be sponsored primarily by TBayTel, along with strong support from other organizations that have been key to the success of Lakehead University hockey.
"I am elated that the CIS committee chose Lakehead University and Thunder Bay to host the Nationals," says Tom Warden, Director of Athletics, Lakehead University. "Thunder Bay is a great hockey city with fantastic fans, and the fans have always come out in full force to support our games. It is well known that we have one of the highest attendance at varsity hockey in the country."
According to Fred Gilbert, President of Lakehead University, "I am pleased that the efforts of our proposal team have been successful. This was made possible because of the contributions of our private sector partners and our major sponsor, TBayTel. It would be nice if Thunder Bay had a new multiple-use entertainment facility in place by 2009."
When alerted of the win, Ken Esau, Acting President and CEO of TBayTel, said: "We congratulate Lakehead University Thunderwolves Hockey for being selected to host the CIS Nationals in 2009/2010. Bringing together Canada's top university men's hockey teams is an outstanding opportunity for the Thunderwolves, our community, and sports in Northwestern Ontario.
"At TBayTel, we are privileged to support the Thunderwolves as they continue to play a significant role in inspiring our residents to invest in sporting activities and healthy lifestyles. Because our market is our home, our commitment to building a strong community is fundamental to TBayTel," Ken Esau continued.
Adds Rory Cava, President of the Thunderwolves Varsity Hockey Corporation, "We are really pleased and excited to host the CIS University Cup. It is a tribute to our program and to our great hockey fans. It was only with the support of our fans and corporate partners that we were able to submit the winning bid. The Thunderwolves hockey program has grown into one of the elite programs in Canada."
Lakehead University Director of Athletics Tom Warden said Lakehead's successful bid is tremendous news for Lakehead University and the City of Thunder Bay, and reflects a lot of hard work by all involved with Lakehead Hockey over the past five years. He adds, "I'd like to thank all those who worked on this effort - it was truly a wonderful piece of collaboration, and it has obviously paid off. We are very excited to start the work," added Tom Warden.
For further information, please call Mike Aylward at 344 7025. Tom Warden is available for interview by calling him directly at 474-8333.

Lakehead University-Based Forestry Research Program Receives Over $2 Million in Funding

(Thunder Bay, Ontario - June 15, 2006) A major boreal forest research initiative based at Lakehead University has received funding of more than $2 million over five years under the NSERC Collaborative Research and Development Grant Program. This funding was matched by industry partners to bring the total to $5 million over five years.
Led by Dr. Ellie Prepas, Canada Research Chair in Sustainable Water Management and the Boreal Forest in the Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment at Lakehead University, the project entitled "Technology transfer from small watersheds to managed watersheds in the Canadian Boreal Forest: application of watershed disturbance models to an industrial landscape," constitutes Phase II of the Forest Watershed and Riparian Disturbance (FORWARD) initiative. The new NSERC award will support FORWARD research and student training through 2010.
Initiated in 2001, FORWARD uses a collaborative, multi-disciplinary approach to study and model the land-water interface and the impact of soil disturbance and forest removal on hydrology, surface water quality, and aquatic biota. FORWARD is administered by Lakehead University, and includes co-investigators and students from the University of Alberta (Dr. Daniel Smith) and the University of Saskatchewan (Drs. Gordon Putz and James Germida). Study sites are located in the Legacy Forest of Ontario and the Swan Hills area of Alberta. Field studies in western and central Canada will provide data and modelling tools to enhance forest management planning across the Canadian boreal forest.
Phase I of the FORWARD initiative was completed in 2005 and has already yielded impressive results that are finding practical application in the field. For instance, the project's major industry partner, Millar Western Forest Products Ltd. of Edmonton, AB, is now integrating water values in its 2007-2016 detailed forest management plan currently under development.
Millar Western's Chief Forester Jonathan Russell notes that FORWARD will contribute to sustainable economic development, benefiting aboriginal and other rural and northern communities, while helping ensure that Canada's forest industry remains internationally respected and globally competitive.
"By working collaboratively on long-term research aimed at protecting forest values, this partnership is promoting better forest management practices and better forest policy across Canada, and will provide environmental, social, and economic benefits for future generations," says Russell.
Dr. Prepas also announced at this year's workshop that the Northwestern Ontario forest industry, represented by Bowater Canadian Forest Products Ltd. and Buchanan Forest Products Ltd, will be joining the funding partner base for Phase II.
"On behalf of the FORWARD team, I would like to welcome our new industry partners, whose involvement will help to broaden the scope of the initiative," says Dr. Prepas. "This is an exciting initiative, and it's through partnerships like this that we will be able to better enhance the future of our boreal forests."
Under the Collaborative Research and Development program, NSERC funds are matched by Industry Partners. FORWARD is composed of 11 industry, 2 government partners, and 2 First Nation partners, all with an interest in management of the boreal forest and related resources (e.g., wood, hydrocarbons and minerals) in Alberta and northwestern Ontario. In addition to Millar Western, which initiated the research project, industry partners currently include ANC Timber Ltd., Bowater Canadian Forest Products Inc., Buchanan Forest Products Ltd., Buchanan Lumber (a division of Gordon Buchanan Enterprises Ltd.), the Forest Resource Improvement Association of Alberta (FRIAA), Real Resources Inc., Talisman Energy Inc., Vanderwell Contractors (1971) Ltd., Vaquero Energy Ltd., and West Fraser Mills Ltd. (represented by Blue Ridge Lumber Inc.). The Province of Alberta, through the Alberta Forestry Research Institute, and the Province of Ontario, through the Ontario Living Legacy Research Program, round out the funding partner base. First Nation partners - the Alexis Nakota Sioux Nation and the Lac des Mille Lacs First Nation - have traditional lands in the study areas. FORWARD is also supported by the Canada Foundation for Innovation, the Ontario Innovation Trust, the Ontario Ministry of Economic Development and Trade, and the NSERC Discovery Grant program.

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