Calling All High School Math Wizards

Lakehead University Hosts TD Canada Trust NWO High School Math Competition

(Thunder Bay, ON April 18, 2007) On April 25, 2007, the Department of Mathematical Sciences of Lakehead University will be hosting the 5th TD Canada Trust Northwestern Ontario High School Mathematics Competition. The competition is an all-day event held at Lakehead University and pits the best mathematical minds against others in high schools throughout Northwestern Ontario. In the morning, the students participate in an individual contest, while in the afternoon the students work in teams of three on a series of problems; the former teaches participants to be self-reliant, while the latter teaches them problem-solving through teamwork. Students from regions of Northwestern Ontario who cannot make it to the campus on the day of the contest will be able to write the contest at their schools.

The TD Canada Trust NWO High School Mathematics Competition originally started in 2003 as a contest for high schools in the City of Thunder of Bay. Over the last two years, the contest has grown from 60 to over 150 participants, and the numbers continue to increase. The competition has been able to grow because the Department received a three-year grant from the Canadian Mathematical Society to help include schools from outside of Thunder Bay.

Competition organizer Professor Adam Van Tuyl says, "The language of mathematics is crystalline; it is like classical music in its purity and like poetry in its ability to plumb the depths of emotion. Once our student mathematicians make the connection, they are hooked for life. We hope the competition continues to challenge those who already participate, and to encourage those who have yet to discover the beauty of mathematics as a universal language."

With TD Canada Trust as a principal donor for the competition, the generous support and donations of local businesses and organizations also enable organizers to hold the competition without charging a fee. What drives students to participate and win are the honour and prestige of competing against the best mathematical minds in the region's high schools. About a week after the contest, Lakehead University's Department of Mathematical Sciences will host an awards ceremony to celebrate the achievements of participating local-area high school students.

Date: Wednesday, April 25, 2007
Place: Ryan Building 1042 - Lakehead University
Start Time: 9:30 a.m. - Opening Ceremony

Media: To attend the competition and see participants in action, or for further information about the competition, please contact:

Prof. Adam Van Tuyl of the Department of Mathematical Sciences at 343-8228.


Lakehead University's main campus is located in Thunder Bay, Ontario, on the shores of Lake Superior. With a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a worldwide reputation for innovative programs and research. Lakehead has over 7,600 students and 2,200 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Lakehead University was named Canada's Research University of the Year 2005 in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca