Lakehead University Faculty Promote Sustainable Development through Experiential Tourism Workshop

(November 13, 2007 - Thunder Bay, ON) In an effort to promote sustainable development in northwestern Ontario, Drs. Rhonda Koster and Harvey Lemelin, professors at Lakehead University's School of Outdoor Recreation, Parks, and Tourism, recently partnered with regional funding agencies and the Red Rock First Nation at Lake Helen. These representatives joined to offer a world-class workshop for stakeholders involved with or interested in building regional tourism strategies.

The workshop was headed by Mr. Celes Davar, owner and operator of Earthrhythms, a Manitoba- based company which specializes in learning adventures. More than 30 participants from the north shore of Lake Superior met at Lake Helen to discuss and examine various ways to promote an experiential approach to tourism within northwestern Ontario. Davar is an experiential broker who crafts new and memorable tourism encounters in partnership with local artists, musicians, chefs, guides, woodworkers, teachers, and others in non-traditional tourism locations. His discussion generated emotional, physical, spiritual, and intellectual connections with the Lake Helen and Nipigon regions. The activity-based workshop generates discussion about new tourism experiences, increases understanding of the principles of experiential tourism, and engages participants in key success factors involved in packaging tourism experiences for travelers.

"This workshop engaged local citizens and tourism partners from Superior's north shore in a capacity building exercise," Koster explains. "It introduced participants to experiential tourism and a partnership approach that will assist local organizations with tourism management and future business development." Lemelin adds, "Participants had numerous opportunities to share, celebrate, develop action plans, and capitalize on the rich inventory of tourism activities, locations, places, history, culture, and nature-based experiences."

Stakeholder representatives, including those from Red Rock First Nation at Lake Helen, regional partners, and Drs. Koster and Lemelin are now progressing to the implementation phase of this project; they will devise tourism strategies that showcase this unique region, as well as its people, cultures, food, and landscape. Organizers invite tourism operators, government officials, interested individuals, and decision-makers to join future discussions, and to visit http://web.mac.com/celesdavar/Experience_Superior/Welcome.html for additional information.

Both Lemelin and Koster are committed to community-based research for tourism development, and view their involvement with this initiative as an opportunity to learn more about how communities work toward the successful development of experience-based tourism.
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Media: Drs. Koster and Lemelin may be contacted for interview. Please call Heather Scott at 343-8177 to arrange interview times. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University Forestry Students Win in Wood Works Institutional and Provincial Student Design Competitions

(November 12, 2007 --Thunder Bay, ON) Denis Ayotte, 4th year honours student in Lakehead's Bachelor of Science in Forestry program, has put Lakehead University on the map as the school to beat for future Wood Works student design competitions. The first annual contest, the idea for which was originally conceived by Lakehead Forestry Professor Dr. Matt Leitch, is a project by the Canadian Wood Council. This program, through Wood Works, is open to forestry and wood design students at Ontario's post-secondary institutions, and encourages the creation of an innovative structural wood product while also providing the opportunity to assess its market potential.
Ayotte and Predon - Wood Works winners The competition is two-tiered and is judged at the University and Provincial levels. "Lakehead's submissions were graded by an on-campus panel," Leitch explains. "The top two submissions, presented by Denis Ayotte and Kevin Predon, were chosen according to the quality of the wood products and marketing plans, and were awarded $5000 and $3000 respectively." Leitch adds that each post-secondary institution's first place submission then competes in the provincial round, in which students have a chance to win an additional $5000 if they secure the first place position. Ayotte was successful in both. "The Forestry faculty is extremely pleased not only to have the idea of this competition come to fruition, but also to have two of our students recognized for their quality work at the university level, and for Denis' success in winning first place at the provincial level."

"This is the first year of the Wood Works student competition, and we were extremely impressed by the innovative projects that were submitted," says Marianne Bérubé, Wood Works' Ontario Executive Director. "The products that we saw this year have set a high standard for future competitions, and we are eager to see what students create in years to come."

Ayotte created an innovative leaf shaped table, built with under-utilized boreal species including white birch, white pine, and black ash. The product is multifunctional; it can be separated into different appealing arrangements including a round leaf table for everyday use, an elongated leaf table used for long and narrow living rooms, a coffee table that resembles cascading leaves, and singular leaf tables that can be used as night tables or end tables. If he continues to produce products under the Boreal Furniture brand, Denis hopes to produce different shapes, sizes, and products such as other furniture pieces, boxes, cutting boards, and outdoor furniture.

Predon's sister and brother-in-law produce maple syrup, and he created decorative "Maple Staples" display boxes to help them market their products and increase their profits. His sister and her husband donated a Maple tree to Kevin so he could use it for his thesis, which he was also conveniently able to use for his Wood Works contest submission as well.

Ayotte is honoured that Lakehead provided him the opportunity to participate in the competition; he says his awards have given him confidence to explore different avenues of the forestry field and have increased his drive to immerse himself in the wood products industry - especially value adding. "I didn't realize how much creativity, skill, and passion I had for woodworking until I entered the Wood Works contest," he contends. Likewise, Predon is also in his 4th and final year, and hopes to actively pursue a career in the value-added industry. He plans to approach his father and brother in-law about the possibility of making his Maple Staples brand a reality by building and selling his boxes.
Ayotte and Predon both know exactly how they will spend their award money. With his $10,000, Ayotte plans to purchase some woodworking tools and equipment, pay off some of his student debts, and repay his parents some money they were generous enough to lend him. Predon will put his $3000 toward living expenses and notes that "This contest was a bit of a blessing, because money is really tight this year." Denis, Kevin, and Dr. Leitch travelled to Toronto on November 6 to attend the annual Wood Works awards gala. The students were honoured by the University and presented with their cheques during a visit by Marianne Bérubé to the Lakehead campus on Monday, November 12.

When required, Dr. Leitch provided supervision and assisted with all in-house production for Lakehead's Wood Works submissions.

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Media: Dr. Leitch, Denis Ayotte, and Kevin Predon are available for media interview. Please contact Heather Scott to arrange appropriate interview times. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.


About Lakehead

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Orillia Campus Holds Open House on November 10: Prospective students, families, and community invited

(November 6, 2007 --Orillia, ON) Lakehead University - Orillia Campus is hosting an Open House to give potential students, their family members, and anyone interested the opportunity to tour the facility, learn about the programs and courses offered, and meet faculty and staff.

Staff, faculty, and current students will be on-site to discuss academic programming, admissions, financial aid, campus activities, sports, and plans for the future. Also represented will be the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU). A student panel will talk to prospective students to let them know how it feels to be a student at Ontario's newest university campus.

"We hope that all our visitors will take advantage of the campus tours to see our facilities and our labs," says Kelli Gray, Student Services Coordinator. "Our staff, faculty, and students are excited to welcome guests to the campus; this is a time of growth for us, and visitors will get a chance to find out what we're all about."

The Open House takes place from 10:00 a.m. - 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, November 10.

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Media: Kelli Gray is available for media interview. Please contact her directly at 705-330-4005.


If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372 or eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.


About Lakehead

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

World Premiere of Lakehead University Professor's Vimy Ridge Project Airs on History Television

(November 2, 2007 - Thunder Bay, ON) Some of the widely publicized work of Lakehead University's Dr. Carney Matheson and various team members will be broadcast in a world premiere of 1917: The Missing, a documentary that chronicles the team's journey to identify two Canadian WWI soldiers recovered in 2003 from a battlefield in Avion, France.

Upon request from the Canadian Department of National Defence, Matheson headed a multidisciplinary team comprising University colleagues Tal Fisher and David Ratz, geneticists, forensic archaeologists, genealogists, and historians on an excursion to identify the soldiers' remains.

"This piece shows the process involved in determining the identities of the soldiers and telling their stories," says Fisher, Bio-Archaeology Laboratory Technician with Lakehead's Department of Anthropology. "We worked closely with the company while the piece was being developed, which made the experience that much more moving for everybody involved."

Ratz, Sessional History Lecturer, recalls how the investigation team worked with an amazing collection of evidence. "We walked the 1917 battlefield in such close proximity to Vimy Ridge; we analyzed the remains, the associated artefacts, and the historical records." Team members also traced family histories, contacted living kin, and examined DNA evidence.

History Television will air the documentary at 8:00 p.m. on Monday, November 5.
Click here to learn more about the piece.

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Media: Tal Fisher and David Ratz are available for media interview, but are only able to speak about their personal experiences with the project. Please contact Heather Scott to arrange interview times. For additional information about this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-373-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University's 2007 Morris Lecture Deals with Religion-Based Conflict Resolution

(November 1, 2007 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Department of Philosophy presents the 2007 Morris Lecture: The Trials of Job and the Trial of God - The Problem of Evil Revisited, by Dr. Paul Viminitz, guest speaker from the University of Lethbridge's Department of Philosophy.

Professor Viminitz has written extensively about game theory, war, and religion. His talk is based on his book which deals with the Israeli/Palestine situation and resolving differences among Jews, Christians, and Muslims. The book is tentatively titled Children of a Lesser God.

"Paul is very active in the Canadian philosophical community," notes Dr. Richard Maundrell, Philosophy Professor at Lakehead University. "He is a senior scholar and has presented papers internationally. Conflict resolution is a topic of great importance, and this presentation is sure to touch on our guests' values while engaging them in a very interesting global issue."

The lecture takes place in Lakehead's ATAC building, in room 1001 at 7:30 p.m. on Friday, November 2. It is a free event, presented with assistance from the William S. Morris Memorial Fund and co-sponsored by the Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities. All community members are welcome to attend.

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Media: Dr. Maundrell will be available for media interview and can be reached at
807-343-8346. Dr. Viminitz will also be available on Friday, November 2. For additional information about this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-373-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University Professor Receives 2007 Career Scientist Award

(October 29, 2007 --Thunder Bay, ON) Dr. Lynn Martin, Assistant Professor in Lakehead University's Master of Public Health program, is one of only nine 2007 Career Scientist Award recipients in Ontario. The Open Provincial Competition, held annually by the Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care, aims to support outstanding research candidates in carrying out their independent studies related to health services.

The Ministry looks for candidates who generate promising research in the early stages of their careers, and provides a salary subsidy to encourage continued focus on health services research, including management, organization, effectiveness of health services, development, planning, delivery, and decision making in policy. "The subsidy allows recipients to devote a minimum of 75% of their time to research, and to establish themselves in their particular research fields," says Dr. Martin. Martin's salary subsidy consists of $50,000 per year, over a five-year period.

This year, particular attention was paid to applicants whose research was high in scientific merit, with focus on the Ministry's own health services research priorities. Martin's research, entitled Integration, Equality, Delivery, and Outcomes in Mental Health Services deals with needs, service use, quality of services, and outcomes of care across the continuum of mental health services. Martin explains that "the objective of the proposed program of applied research is to gain a system-level perspective by improving our understanding of the needs, service use, and care outcomes of persons receiving crisis, inpatient, and community-based mental health care in Ontario. In particular, there will be a focus on whether the needs, service use, and outcomes differ for vulnerable populations, such as older adults and persons with intellectual or developmental disabilities. The overall goal is to build research capacity and maximize the use of RAI-MH (the mandated assessment instrument for inpatient psychiatry) data to improve the health of Ontarians."

"Dr. Martin's award is a wonderful addition to the extensive achievements of Lakehead faculty," says Dr. Laurie Hayes, Lakehead University's Vice President (Academic) & Provost. "I'm sure that Lynn's public health students are extremely pleased to realize they are learning from one of Ontario's most promising health services researchers."

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Media: Dr. Martin is available for media interview. Please contact Heather Scott at 343-8177 to arrange an appropriate interview time. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372 or eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University Researchers Present Papers at Geological Society of America Conference

(October 25, 2007 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University is pleased to announce that two of its researchers will receive the opportunity to present their work at the upcoming 119th annual meeting of the Geological Society of America, which takes place in Denver, Colorado. Geology professor, Dr. Andrew Conly, and Amy Godwin, Biology graduate student, will travel to Denver to present their respective research on Sunday, October 28.

Both Conly and Godwin focus their research on elevated sulphate levels found in Hogarth and Caland pit lakes, water bodies produced by continuous ground water flooding at two inactive mine pits located at the Steep Rock mining area near Atikokan, Ontario.

Conly's research, entitled "Source and Nature of Sulfate Toxicity of Two Pit Lakes at the Former Steep Rock Iron Mine, Northwestern Ontario," summarizes various stages of toxicity testing as gathered from water samples extracted from the water bodies, as well as the possible source of the sulphate toxicity. "Steep Rock provides an excellent opportunity to understand water quality issues surrounding pit lakes, a topic which has surprisingly received little attention from environmental researchers," Conly explains, while adding that Steep Rock is a very unique case study; its poor water quality is not the result of contamination associated with acid mine drainage, which typifies many unremediated mine sites, but rather is due to high sulphate levels introduced by ground waters that continue to fill the two pits. "This work has required the integration of biological and geochemical approaches, and has provided students, like Amy Godwin, the opportunity to cross the traditional boundaries of our scientific disciplines. Our work will have far-reaching consequences as it will help direct remediation measures to mitigate against potential long-term negative impacts on the surrounding area."

Godwin's research paper, "Predictive Modeling of Water Quality Issues of Two Pit Lakes at the Former Steep Rock Iron Mine, Northwestern Ontario," outlines various methods used to predict and interpret the results of water-rock reactions occurring as the pits fill, as well as the impact of the eventual mixing and outflow of the combined pit into the Seine River on the area's aquatic life. "Being a biology student, I am a little bit nervous that I'll be out of my element at such a large conference. However, I also see this as a valuable opportunity and learning experience that will allow me to network with those doing similar research, and to learn from their work."

Over 6000 Geoscientists are expected to attend the upcoming meeting.

Established in 1888, the Geological Society of America (GSA) is a global and professional organization comprising more than 20,500 members in over 85 countries. The GSA provides access to elements that are essential to the professional growth of earth scientists at all levels of expertise and from all sectors, including academic, government, business, and industry. Its growing membership unites thousands of earth scientists around the world, fosters continued study of the planet, and provides opportunity to share scientific findings.

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Media: Dr. Conly and Amy Godwin may be contacted for interview. Please call Heather Scott at 343-8177 to arrange interview times. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372, eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.


About Lakehead

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca


Lakehead University's Facility Renewal Project: Union Gas Recognizes Green Initiative with $71,783 <i>Energywise</i> Incentive

(October 19, 2007 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University has received a cheque for $71,783 from Union Gas in recognition of its focus on energy efficiency, evidenced by the Institution's Facility Renewal Project. Energywise is a program that promotes the efficient use of natural gas to Union Gas' large commercial industrial customers.

"This incentive recognizes Lakehead University's commitment to high efficiency, under its recent Facility Renewal Project," explains Hugh Briggs, Manager of Mechanical and Electrical Systems at Lakehead University's Physical Plant. In conjunction with Lakehead's Facility Renewal Project, the University's Centennial Building, Fieldhouse, Avila Centre, and University Centre saw improvements in building heating ventilation systems, process heat recovery, insulation, new high-efficiency equipment installations, and a 40 percent reduction to its energy consumption levels. "The various stages of this project have subsequently resulted in lower annual utility costs, annual natural gas savings, and a healthier indoor environment for our students, staff, and faculty," Briggs notes.

The $71,783 arrives in concert with National Waste Reduction week, and will help offset some costs that Lakehead University incurred when making energy efficient upgrades from 2006 - 2007.

"Union Gas' Energywise program directs investments into new and retrofitted energy efficient equipment, technologies, and training for large commercial industrial customers," says Ruth Dekker, Manager, Industrial Demand Side Management, Union Gas Limited. "We are pleased to partner with Lakehead University to help the Institution lower its energy consumption and realize significant cost savings."

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Media: Hugh Briggs and Ruth Dekker are available for media interview. Please contact Heather Scott to arrange an appropriate interview time with Hugh. Ruth Dekker can be reached directly at 519-436-4600 ext. 4588 or by cell at 519-365-0927.

If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact:
Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca
Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372 or eabaya@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University Business Student One of Ten Canadian Students to Receive Futures Fund Scholarship

(October 18, 2007 - Thunder Bay, ON) LakeheadUniversity is pleased to announce that Megan Ott, 4th year Bachelor of Commerce student, has been chosen as one of ten 2007 Futures Fund Scholars. The Futures Fund Scholarship was established by the Caldwell Partners of Toronto, an organization which also honours Canada's Outstanding CEO of the Year. Each year, only ten business students across Canada receive this honour.

Recipients are chosen by Deans of Business at Canadian universities, and the award is presented to students who demonstrate exemplary leadership in their academic pursuits and extracurricular initiatives. Ott majors in Marketing and minors in Finance, maintaining a cumulative 87.92% average. Over the past three years at Lakehead, she has been the recipient of the Doug Heikkinen Memorial Bursary, the William H. Buset Memorial Bursary, and the Ontario International Education Opportunity Scholarship. She has also maintained her original entrance scholarship as awarded to her in high school. Among many of her extracurricular achievements, Megan is particularly proud to have represented LakeheadUniversity in 2007; she attended CharlesSturtUniversity, one of Lakehead's partner institutions, located in Bathurst, Australia, where she studied advertising. "I think studying business overseas is what set me apart from other Futures Fund applicants," Ott notes. "Since businesses are becoming more and more global, all students shouldstart obtaining knowledge from different global perspectives." Ott is also the Vice-President of Marketing for Advancing Canadian Entrepreneurship (ACE) Lakehead, a student organization that develops business initiatives in the local community.

The 2007 Futures Fund Scholarships will be presented at the CEO of the Year gala in Toronto on November 21. Megan will receive a $5000 grant and will put some of the money toward the balance of her student debt. "It feels wonderful to be honoured for all of the work I have put into my University career," says a blushing and awestruck Ott. "The fact that my efforts were recognized is reward enough, but the impact that this will have on my resume and my finances is more than I could ever ask for. Hopefully, having a Lakehead student at this year's award ceremony will raise more awareness about LakeheadUniversity and its business programs. A lot of success stories emerge from our programs, but sometimes we lack the exposurethat businessschools in Southern Ontario seem to get."

Ott also plans to put some of her $5000 award toward upcoming moving expenses. The time she spent in Australia triggered her passion for travel, and she wants to continue to learn about, experience, and appreciate other cultures around the world. Her chance will come with an anticipated and temporary move to Britain after she graduates in May, 2008. She knows she will eventually complete her Masters in Business Marketing, but first wants to focus on building some valuable career experience before furthering her academic portfolio.

Megan considers herself to be incredibly lucky as she knows that many of her fellow students work as hard and excel as well as she does. She attributes her achievement in part to ongoing flexibility and support from her supervisors and co-workers at Illingworth & Illingworth Law Office, her part-time employer for the past three years. As far as her career and business goals are concerned, Ott hopes to one day own and operate a record label or entertainment company. Music is her true passion; she says "the thought of working in the music industry just feels so right."

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Media: Megan Ott will be available for media interview and can be reached at 807-577-1344. Please feel free to leave a message if she is unavailable at the time of your call. For additional information about this media release, please contact: Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications,
807-373-8372 or eabaya@lakeheadu.ca

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

Lakehead University Receives $372,500 in FedNor Funding

(October 18, 2007 - Thunder Bay,ON) LakeheadUniversity has received a collective total of $372,500 in FedNor funding. The Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment has been awarded $345,000 to provide technical support to the wood products industry, and the Biotechnology Research Program has received $27,500 to fund a future Youth Internship position. Both funding announcements are part of FedNor's recent $10.6 million investment that supports 78 economic development projects that will benefit hundreds of Ontario's northern communities.

Dr. Reino Pulkki, Dean of the Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment says that the $345,000 in funding will be used to support the wood products industry as well as its dependent communities located across Northern Ontario, and to further develop connectivity between Northern Ontario value-added manufacturers, communities, organizations, agencies and LakeheadUniversity. "The benefits of this funding are extensive and multi-faceted," says Pulkki, who explains that the money will: enhance Lakehead's research capacity and a partnership with FP Innovations - Forintek Division; provide opportunities to work with First Nations and other communities in Northern Ontario to identify the needs and capabilities of producing wood products for local consumption and export while providing state-of-the-art forest management planning tools to achieve this; build market intelligence to develop wood products industries appropriate to the forest, financial, and human resources available in First Nations and Northern Ontario communities; and consolidate government, industry, academic, and community support for an NSERC Industrial Chair in Wood Products Marketing Intelligence at Lakehead's Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment.

LakeheadUniversity's Biotechnology Research Program will use $27,500 in FedNor funding to provide an internship position for a successful graduate applicant, who will have the opportunity to gain the skills required to secure permanent employment in the north. "This funding will support the successful intern applicant by providing them with paid, valuable, on-the-job experience that helps with the transition from campus to career," says Dr. Heidi Schraft, Associate Professor of Biology at LakeheadUniversity. Lakehead's intern will work on outreach programs that promote biotechnology research to youth in Thunder Bay and the region, and will support various faculty members in promoting their biotechnology research activities while networking with potential industrial partners. The University hopes to complete the application process and hire the intern by November 1, 2007.

The intern will also help the Lakehead University Centre for Analytical Services (LUCAS) build awareness of LakeheadUniversity's ability to contribute to development projects that require access to advanced analytical facilities and expertise. The funding will improve liaison with potential regional, national, and international clients - eventually leading to new opportunities for companies and LakeheadUniversity's researchers. Through a new awareness in Lakehead's expanding capabilities, the region will have increased options for their innovative research and development programs. According to Allan MacKenzie, Director of Lakehead University's Analytical and Research Services, "To improve technology delivery, the region needs to know what Lakehead can offer, and Lakehead endeavours to learn how it can assist the region with its experts and advanced facilities."
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Media: Drs. Reino Pulkki and Heidi Schraft may be contacted for interview. Please call Heather Scott at 343-8177 to arrange interview times. If you have any questions regarding this media release, please contact:
Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca
Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372 or eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.


About Lakehead

Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. With a main campus located in Thunder Bay, Ontario and a campus in Orillia, Ontario, Lakehead has over 7,700 students and 2,250 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the NorthernOntarioSchool of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on LakeheadUniversity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

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