(Thunder Bay - June 15, 2006) Lakehead University has received 16 new Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grants this year totalling $870,295. Five Lakehead University faculty members and 10 students each received research grants from SSHRC (names, projects, and amounts listed below).

"Lakehead University excels in all areas of research, and these grants for the social sciences and humanities exemplify the diversity of projects and excellence in research done on campus" says Dr. Fred Gilbert, President, Lakehead University. "Our University is moving toward becoming one of the top 25 research-intensive universities in Canada, and these research projects are examples of why we will achieve that goal."

The 2006 grant winners join Lakehead's many other SSHRC researchers on campus whose research projects fuel innovative thinking about issues involving social, economical, environmental, and global impact. All current SSHRC projects are listed below.

In addition to faculty member researcher support, SSHRC gives students the opportunity to conduct research by providing Canada Graduate Scholarships. Eight Master's students and two PhD students at Lakehead have received these scholarships this year. These scholarships will support the students research in their area of study.

Jean-Yves Bernard, Department of History, "Relations Franco-Britanniques et Construction Européenne: Luttes Politiques et Rivalités Économiques, 1961-1973 ", 2006-2009, total amount: $58,627.

Judy Iseke-Barnes, Faculty of Education, "Understanding Pedagogies in Indigenous Education", 2006-2009, $167,400.

Brian O'Connor, Department of Psychology, "Item Response Theory, Taxometric, and Five-Factor Model Analyses of Personality Disorders in Clinical and Community Samples", 2006-2009, total amount: $74,832.

Judy Iseke-Barnes, Faculty of Education, "Understanding Stories, Histories, Cultures, and Pedagogies in Indigenous Education", 2006-2009, total amount: $154,958.

Partners:

Aboriginal People's Council of Toronto, Toronto, ON
Alberta Education, Edmonton, AB
City of Edmonton, Edmonton, AB
Institute for the Advancement of Aboriginal Women, Edmonton, AB
Lakehead University, Thunder Bay, ON
Metis Nation of Alberta, Edmonton, AB
Michif Cultural and Resource Institute, St. Albert, AB
Musée Heritage Museum, St. Albert, AB
Ontario Metis Aboriginal Association, Sault Ste. Marie, ON

Connie Nelson, School of Social Work, Jungwee Park, Statistics Canada, "Food security and Social Capital in Northern Canada", 2005-2006, total amount: $39,500.

Lisa Korteweg, Ethel Gardner, John O'Meara, Seth Agbo, Faculty of Education; Margaret Haughey, University of Alberta, "Digital Education with Remote Aboriginal Communities", 2006-2007, total amount: 24,978.

Partner: Keewaytinook Okimakanak, Fort Severn, ON

Raika Abdulahad - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral, Social
Work, $105,000

Sabreena Bola - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Psychology, $17,500

Meagan Bone - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Doctoral, Psychology, $105,000

Jane Gastmeier - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Social Work, $17,500

Karilyn Kempton - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters English, $17,500

Janice Oakley - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Education/Women's Studies, $17,500

Shannon Plumpton - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Psychology, $17,500

Jonathon Scully - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Philosophy, $17,500

Jennifer Seguin - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters Psychology, $17,500

Beverly Soloway - SSHRC Canada Graduate Scholarship - Masters History, $17,500

Keith Brownlee, and Raymond Neckoway, School of Social Work, "Cree, Ojibway and Urban Aboriginal Perspectives on Attachment Theory", (Aboriginal Research Grant), 2005-2008, total amount: $196,120.
Partners: Fox Lake First Nation, Lac La Croix First Nation, Northern Nishnawbe Education Council.

Keith Brownlee, School of Social Work Lakehead University, John R. Graham, University of Calgary, "Localization of Social Work in Northern Canada", 2005-2007, total amount: $39,996 (Northern Research Development Program Grant (NRDPG)).

Matthew Boyd, and Tamara Varney, Department of Anthropology, "Socioeconomic Transformations at the North American Prairie-Forest Interface, ca. 100 BC - AD 1500", 2005-2008, total amount: $93,947.

Todd Dufresne, Department of Philosophy, "Trauma and the Birth of Psychoneuroses: Medical Discourse from Railway Spine to Shell Shock", 2005-2008, total amount: $22,513.

Gary Genosko, Department of Sociology, "From Indigent to Indigenous: Alcohol Administration and Social Control in Northern Ontario", 2004-2006, total amount: $38,705 (NRDPG). Partner: Nishnawbe Aski Nation.

Ronald Harpelle, Department of History, "Protestant Churches, Missionaries and Imperialists on the Central American Frontier", 2004-2007, total amount: $86,000.

Margaret Johnston, School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism, JoAnne Zamparo, School of Social Work, Lakehead University, Amornrat Apinunmahakul, University of Windsor, G. David Twynam, University College of the Caribou, Lynn A. Sutherland, Yukon College, "Northern Community and Special Events: Outcomes of Participation, Tourism, and Volunteering for Community Capacity Building and Sustainable Social Capital", (NRDPG) 2005-2007, total amount: $39,815.
Partners: Government of Yukon, Yukon Volunteer Bureau.

Alexandra Lawson, Faculty of Education, "The Development and Progression of Children's Invented Calculation Methods from Direct Modelling to Efficient Algorithms", 2005-2008, total amount: $85,098.

Carney Matheson, Department of Anthropology (Research Development Initiatives grant), "Establishing Protocols for Analyzing Residues and Trace Materials from Archaeological Remains", 2004-2006, total amount: $37,000.

Bruce Muirhead, Department of History, Lakehead University, Greg O. Donaghy, Department of Foreign Affairs and International Trade, "The Development of Canadian Aid Policy, 1945-1989", 2004-2007, total amount: $62,600.

Todd Randall, Department of Geography, "Balancing Density Preferences and Land Use Diversity for Urban Sustainability", 2005-2008, total amount: $45,166.

Constance Russell, Faculty of Education, "Primate-Focused Ecotourism as Environmental Education", 2005-2008, total amount: $85,912.

Chris Southcott, Department of Sociology, Lakehead University, and Simon Laflamme, Laurentian University, "L'utilisation des novelles technologies de communication et la vitalité linguistique et communautaire des francophones dans le Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario", 2005-2007, total amount of grant: $72,790 (Official Languages Research and Dissemination).

Partners: L'Association des Francophones du Nord-Ouest de l'Ontario Le Conseil scolaire de district catholique des Aurores boréales.

JoAnne Zamparo, School of Social Work, Lakehead University, Bruce Minore, Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research, Lakehead University, John D. O'Neil, University of Manitoba, Louis Tapardjuk, Nunavut Social Development Council, Lucy K. Quasa, Royal Canadian Mounted Police, Leah Otak, Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth, Lori N. Idlout, Nunavut Social Development Council, Strategic Grant (Society, Culture and the Health of Canadians II grant), "Inuit Kinship and Well-Being Across the Life Span: Cultural Continuity and Change", 2001-2006, $339,492.
Partners: Department of Culture, Language, Elders and Youth and Nunavut Social Development Council.

(Orillia - June 1, 2006) Lakehead University Orillia Campus welcomed applicants to have a preview of what the University is offering students.

The event was entitled "100 Days To Go!" and highlighted the programs, campus, and life in Orillia. More than 100 people attended, including applicants and their families.

"We had an excellent buzz and a lot of positivity," says Dr. Sally-Ann Burnett, Director of Operations, Orillia Campus. "Our team was on hand answering many questions and showing the applicants why Lakehead University is right for them."

"I think our charter class will be very pleased with their choice to attend Lakehead University's Orillia campus, and I am looking forward to seeing the campus come to life in September," Dr. Burnett adds. "We are now focusing on registering students in courses - everything is taking shape nicely."

For more information on the Orillia Campus, visit http://orillia.lakeheadu.ca/

(Thunder Bay - June 1, 2006) Two Lakehead University researchers have received funding to explore the integration of recreation, tourism, and commercial forest operations in order to reduce conflict, and costs of operations, and provide enhanced certainty in wood supply

.

Dr. Mike Yuan and Dr. Norman McIntyre, both with the School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, have received $177,000 from the Forestry Futures Trust, Enhanced Forest Productivity Science Program, and an additional $20,000 from the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources. The title of their research is, "Reducing Uncertainty of Wood Supply Through Better Understanding of Recreation Use: An Application of the Spatial Recreation Planning Framework."

The study, which focuses on Lake Superior's North Shore region, will test the transferability of the recently developed Spatial Recreation Planning Framework into a new geography that is used both for general purposes (including tourism and recreation) and for enhanced management areas. The researchers will also look at the potential of this framework to act as a forecasting tool to identify spatial recreation places. Dr. Yuan and Dr. McIntyre hope to gain a better understanding of key criteria that exist within already identified spatial recreation places as well as identify the seasonal importance of spatial recreation places.

"This project is one of the first of its kind to integrate recreation and tourism values in forest planning in Canada," says Dr. Yuan. "Until our original research, recreation and tourism on Crown lands were seen as just an afterthought in Ontario. It is hoped that future planning on Crown lands will use the model to better address non-timber values on the resource. Obviously the importance of tourism development and Crown land management in this region are interconnected. This is especially true given the desperate economic state of many rural communities."

Assisting with the study will beLen Hunt, a Research Scientist with the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, and Jeff Moore, a PhD student in the Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment at Lakehead University.

(Thunder Bay - May 31, 2006) After placing second overall at the American Institute of Steel Construction/American Society of Civil Engineers Mid-West Regional Student Steel Bridge Competition in March, Lakehead University's Civil Engineering Steel Bridge team went to Salt Lake City, Utah, with a new bridge design and a drive to succeed.

In competition at the 15^th Annual US National Student Steel Bridge Competition against 45 other university teams, Lakehead's team placed 5^th overall and took home 1^st place in the aesthetics category.

"This is an incredible accomplishment and a tribute to the fantastic work and dedication of the team," says Dr Tony Gillies, Faculty Advisor to the team and Chair of the Department of Civil Engineering at Lakehead U. "To have the team place above 40 other teams representing the best US universities, and have the best-looking bridge in the competition - it just makes me feel proud of our students, and it demonstrates the excellent calibre of both our faculty and civil engineering program."

The 15^th Annual AISC/ASCE US National Student Steel Bridge Competition was hosted by the University of Utah in Salt Lake City from May 26 to 27. For the National competition the team fabricated an entirely new bridge after the regional competition in an effort to be more competitive at the National level.

The goal of the competition is to design a 1/10 scale model for replacement of a century-old bridge that crosses an emergent wetland. The models, approximately 21 feet long, are erected under simulated field conditions and then load tested. The specification for the bridge changes from year to year, constantly challenging the engineering skills of Civil Engineering students from universities all over the United States and Canada. Not only does the event test the students' structural design capabilities, it also challenges them to fabricate and construct their design. The bridges are judged based on lightness, construction speed, stiffness (deflection), aesthetics, efficiency (combination of bridge weight and stiffness), and economy (combination of bridge weight and construction time - materials plus labour in a real bridge).

The bridge is designed and the components fabricated at the University by the students prior to the competition. At the competition, the spectators watch as the team assembles their bridge as quickly as possible. After construction, the assembled bridge is weighed to determine which is the lightest bridge in the competition, and then loaded using 100 25 lb lengths of angle iron to simulate a loaded truck crossing the bridge, with a total applied load of 2500 lbs (more than ten times the weight of the bridge). This tests the strength and stiffness. The placement of the loading was determined by two rolls of a dice. The team had to design their bridge by examining thirty-six possible load cases.

The Lakehead bridge weighed 206 lbs and was assembled in 7.5 minutes by the five student constructors. The bridge took 1st place for aesthetics, 14^th for assembly time, 11^th for construction economy, 3^rd for lightness and 3^rd for structural efficiency - placing 5^th overall.

The team is grateful for the support of the many local and national sponsors who made participation possible at the regional and national competitions. The team members are: Rick Brannan, Tyler Brake, Richard Gillies, Brett Halicki, Travis Fillier, Duane Odenbach, and Tom Lovric (regional team). The faculty advisors are Dr. Tony Gillies and Dr. Timo Tikka, both with the Faculty of Engineering at Lakehead U. Technologist support was provided by Conrad Hagstrom and Kailash Bhatia.

(Thunder Bay - May 25, 2006) Approximately 2,000 students will be graduating from Lakehead University for the 2005-2006 academic year. The 42nd Convocation takes place on Saturday, May 27, 2006.

Two honorary degrees will be awarded -- one to Dr. Jerry F. Franklin, a university professor and researcher who has been active in a wide range of environmental issues in the United States, and one to Paul Weiler, a law professor and author of books and publications on topics ranging from medical malpractice and tort reform, to labor and employment law.

Weiler will receive a Doctor of Laws, honoris causa, and will address the graduands during the morning ceremony. Franklin will receive a Doctor of Science, honoris causa, and will address the graduands in the afternoon.

Tracy Buckler (BScN'99) will receive the Alumni Honour Award, and the Young Alumni Award will be presented to Herpreet Lamba (BSc'98).

This year, Lakehead will celebrate a special milestone ? degrees will be awarded to the first graduating class of the collaborative nursing program with Confederation College.

Dr. Jerry Franklin received his Bachelor's and Master's degrees in forest management from Oregon State University, and a PhD in Botany from Washington State University. He has been a researcher for the Forest Service and at academic institutions including Oregon State University and, since 1986, the University of Washington. He has authored over 300 scientific articles and books. In 1993, he was named Program Director of the Wind River Canopy Crane Research Facility. In addition to his teaching and research responsibilities, he is active in a wide range of environmental issues including serving on the Board of Trustees, National Institute for Global Environmental Change, and on national boards of The Nature Conservancy and The Wilderness Society. Franklin has received the Heinz Foundation Award for the Environment, an honorary degree from Simon Fraser University, and has been recognized for his contributions to science and conservation by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Society of American Foresters, The Wilderness Society, American Forests, Society for Conservation Biology, and the George Wright Society.

In his capsule biography, Paul Weiler says his official title is "the Friendly Professor of Law at Harvard Law School." Weiler is a Canadian from Thunder Bay, who received his BA and MA degrees from the University of Toronto, then at the advice of Bora Laskin, his LLB degree from Osgoode Hall Law School and his LLM from Harvard Law School. Weiler taught at Osgoode Hall from 1965 through 1973, then was Chair of the B.C. Labor Relations Board from 1974 to 1978, before going back to Harvard at the request of, by then, Chief Justice Laskin, as its MacKenzie King Professor, in the fall of 1978, to create the Canadian Studies Program there. Weiler has taught and written in a host of fields of law and public policy in both Canada and the United States.

His new book project, titled Radically Moderate Law Reform, pulls together, and updates for the general public, his views about a wide range of issues including gay marriage and affirmative action.

Tracy Buckler began her nursing career at St. Joseph's Care Group after graduating from Sault College as a registered nurse in 1985. Afterwards, she went back to school and received her BScN from Lakehead University in 1999. From there, she went on to receive her Master's degree in Health Studies from Athabasca in 2004. Now she is the President and CEO of St. Joseph's Care Group, having been appointed to the position December 1, 2005. Despite her busy schedule, Buckler is currently working on a certificate in Catholic Leadership from St. Michael's College at the University of Toronto. She is also a certified health executive and a surveyor with the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation.

Herpreet Lamba is the youngest Division Director for Investor's Group Financial Services, having graduated from Lakehead with a BSc in Mathematical Sciences in 1998. Lamba has worked to develop partnerships between Lakehead University and Investor's Group, and is active in recruiting, hiring, and mentoring Lakehead graduates. He is an active member of the volunteer community and is committed to ensuring that Investor's Group plays a significant role supporting many charitable causes in Thunder Bay.

(Thunder Bay - May 17, 2006) A new initiative at Lakehead University has students and researchers focusing on food security. Food security looks at food safety, biotechnology, the culture of food, community development, and more.

The Food Security Research and Service Exchange Network involved many community and campus partners to create Community Service Learning (CSL) opportunities. CSL focuses on community-based research projects that can be incorporated into university credit courses.

Recently, Lakehead has been awarded $985,000 from The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation to fund the Network. Dr. Connie Nelson of the School of Social Work and Dr. Doug West of the Department of Political Science have been working together to create the Network.

"The Food Security Research and Service Exchange Networkserves as the hub for faculty and community members to work together to build community-based research projects and service opportunities which foster student leadership, enhance connections to the broader community, and build capacity in civil society around the theme of food security," Dr. Nelson says. "Our premise for this program is that the knowledge gained helps the community build confidence to act on food security issues. This confidence for action arises because in the process of building partnerships, we strengthen trusting relationships, increase the density of social networks, and share community norms and sanctions."

Food Security Research and Service Exchange Network will give students the opportunity to learn more about their environment and their community with hands-on active participation with community groups. These groups are focused on a variety of food security topics including availability (adequate and reliable food supplies), accessibility, acceptability (respectful of human dignity, social and cultural norms), adequacy (production, distribution, waste), and policies and processes to sustain food security.

"Lakehead has chosen a CSL theme of food security because of the high level of enthusiasm throughout the community, and because there are numerous existing credit courses with food security themes, such as food safety, biotechnology, the culture of food, community development, and women and food," says Dr. West. "The Network will build on Lakehead's past experience in community service-learning, where students who partner with community groups to fulfill educational objectives emerge with increased self-confidence and a greater connection to their communities."

Over the next five years, Lakehead will serve as the hub for faculty and community members to work together to build curriculum-based research projects and service opportunities that foster student leadership, enhance connections to the broader community, and build capacity in civil society around the theme of food security.

Members of the Media: For additional information, contact Dr. Nelson at 343-8447 or Dr. West at 343-8304.

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Lakehead University has won two national awards from the prestigious 2006 PRIX D'EXCELLENCE awards program of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education (CCAE).

The Lakehead University Annual Report was selected as the Gold award recipient of the CCAE PRIX D'EXCELLENCE "Best Institutional Annual Report" category. The Northern Lights Recognition Program, held in November 2005, was selected as the Silver award for "Best Donor or Volunteer Recognition Program." Both awards will be accepted by the Office of Communications at the CCAE's annual conference in Ottawa from June 3 to 6.

The awards are based on goals, content, creativity, outcomes, and quality. Last year, Lakehead received a Silver award for the Best Institutional Homepage a Bronze award for a Forestry video in the Best Audio, Video, or Multimedia Presentation category, and a Bronze for the Annual Report 2003/2004.

"Lakehead University was competing against universities from across Canada, and to have our Annual Report take gold and the Northern Lights Recognition Program win silver is an exceptional accomplishment," says Eleanor Abaya, Director, Communications, Lakehead U. "We are very pleased to see our hard work and innovative ideas be honoured in a national competition."

The CCAE is a national organization whose members aim to increase public awareness of the issues that face Canada's post-secondary institutions. The members represent post-secondary institutions including community colleges, universities and their affiliated colleges, institutions, and related agencies. All areas of the post-secondary advancement field are represented including: alumni relations, communications, fundraising and development, government relations, student recruitment, media and information services, marketing, and public affairs.

The PRIX D'EXCELLENCE is the prestigious annual awards program of the Canadian Council for the Advancement of Education, which recognizes outstanding achievement in alumni affairs, public affairs, development, student recruitment, and overall institutional advancement. But this program does more than honour excellence - it provides a chance to have entries assessed by judges comprising advancement colleagues and external professionals. All entrants receive constructive comments from the judges, who take a thorough and thoughtful look at each submission. There are more than 170 members of the CCAE, and the PRIX D'EXCELLENCE awards are keenly contested -- it is considered a great honour to win these awards.

Media may contact Eleanor Abaya at 343-8372 or Frances Harding, Editor, Publications, at 343-8193.

(Thunder Bay - May 3, 2006) Dr. Rongo Wetere, former CEO for Te Wananga O Aotearoa (a Maori University) and Executive Host for the World Indigenous People's Conference on Education in New Zealand in 2005, will be making two presentations on Literacy Alternatives for All: The Pathway Out - The New Zealand Maori experience.

In New Zealand, the program is called "Green Light Learning for Life." This program uses a method that originated in Cuba where university education is mandatory and free for all people to the first degree level. This method has been adapted to the Maori culture and circumstance. Dr. Wetere is working with British Columbia Aboriginal peoples and possibly with North Western Ontario First Nations to adapt the literacy method to the Canadian Aboriginal experience.

The community presentation is tonight, Wednesday, May 3, at 5:30 p.m. in the KIHS Office on the Fort William First Nation Reserve. This presentation will be webcast to Northern Ontario Aboriginal communities

This is a community event sponsored by Lakehead University's Aboriginal Initiatives and Aboriginal Education Departments, and Negahneewin College at Confederation College.

On April 26, during Premier Dalton McGuinty's visit to Lakehead University and the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM), a major individual donation was announced. Dr. Serafina (Penny) Petrone donated over $1 million to the NOSM Bursary Fund. To honour Penny and her generous contribution, the NOSM Health Information Resource Centre will be named the Dr. Serafina "Penny" Petrone Health Information Resource Centre.

"NOSM is successful in large part because of the numerous supporters who have contributed expertise, time, energy, and resources to the School, and Penny's gift is a wonderful example of this," says Dr. Fred Gilbert, President, Lakehead University. "This is the largest single donation to NOSM by any one person to date."

Dr. Petrone had already donated a large portion of her research work to Lakehead University's Chancellor Paterson Library.

"We are extremely grateful for Penny's donation, and feel it's fitting to name our Health Information Resource Centre in her honour," says NOSM Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser. "Dr. Petrone was an inspiring individual, dedicated to her community and passionate about both education and health."

Celina Reitberger and Brittany Shanks, members of Dr. Petrone's family, were in attendance for this announcement. An official launch and reception will be taking place in the near future to celebrate the naming of the Centre.

(Thunder Bay - April 26, 2006) The Ontario government is strengthening the health care and prosperity of northerners by investing in a new Cancer and Cardiac Research Centre in Thunder Bay, Ontario Premier Dalton McGuinty announced at the Lakehead University campus of the Northern Ontario Medical School on April 26.

(l to r) Premier Dalton McGuinty, Lakehead University President Dr. Fred Gilbert, and NOSM Founding Dean Dr. Roger Strasser.

"All of us know family and friends receiving cancer or cardiac care, and we all know how important research is to bringing our loved ones back to full health," said Premier McGuinty. "This research will not only benefit northerners, but Ontarians and Canadians whose health care could depend on the answers this type of research will provide."

The Northern Ontario Heritage Fund Corporation will provide $2,214,167 to make the former site of the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Cancer Centre suitable for the new research facility.

The Cancer and Cardiac Research Centre is expected to house several different research initiatives that will be supported by educational institutions (such as Lakehead University), local medical professionals, and private-sector partners.

"The new centre will enable researchers to compile a wealth of oncological and cardiac-related knowledge that will contribute immensely to ongoing research efforts," said Thunder Bay-Superior North MPP Michael Gravelle. "We are pleased to bring such research excellence to the North."

"Creating jobs in new emerging technology and health care sectors throughout the North is a priority for our government," said Thunder Bay-Atikokan MPP Bill Mauro. "This project will create more than 25 jobs within the health care sector in the pursuit of life-saving modern medical treatment."

"By bringing first class health care research to northern Ontario, we are strengthening the health and prosperity of hard working northerners and their families," said Premier McGuinty.