(June 17, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH), in partnership with the Kenora Chiefs' Advisory and the Fort Frances-based Gizhewaadiziwin Health Access Centre, has received $100,000 from the Public Health Agency of Canada (PHAC) for a project entitled Improving End-of-Life Care for Aboriginal Elders with Cancer and other Chronic Diseases. The palliative care research project will involve 12 First Nations communities in the Treaty 3 area.

By focusing on community education and program development, and identifying the critical components needed to successfully develop end-of-life care services, the project aims to build capacity to care for people who are dying in First Nations communities. Dr. Mary Lou Kelley, CERAH Director, emphasizes that "participants - not recipients - of this project have much to teach all of us about the process of supporting local capacity-building." Corrina Gagnon, Executive Director of the Kenora Chiefs' Advisory adds, "The keys to the success of this project are based on dedicated and collaborative partnerships between organizations, community workers, and researchers, and maintaining strong focus on building the capacities of the First Nations involved."

Holly Prince, CERAH's Aboriginal Palliative Care Research Coordinator, explains "There are an increasing number of people who want to die at home, but necessary services and support networks are not available to make this wish possible. Elders at the most vulnerable time of their lives may, therefore, need to relocate to urban centers and be separated from the support of their family, friends, and community members."

The PHAC has a distinct public health role to anticipate and respond to the health needs of Canadians by reducing the chronic disease burden. The cancer component of the program supports actions which will increase availability and accessibility to supportive social and physical environments, which could subsequently include improved community infrastructure and more effective policies and programs.

Dr. Kelley expects this project to create knowledge of national relevance to other First Nations communities that wish to develop local palliative care services while generating recommendations for both policy and program development. As a result of this project, First Nations community members who are dying will be better supported in their choice to remain in their home community.

-30-

Media: CERAH spokesperson Dr. Mary Lou Kelley is available for media interview today. Interviews can be arranged by contacting Marita Lehtonen at 807-766-7299. For more information, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177,
807-472-9113, or commun@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 7,500 students and 2,000 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

Research has impact on exploration industry around the world

(June 16, 2008 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University is pleased to announce that Dr. Peter Hollings, Associate Professor of Geology, is the recipient of the 2008 William Harvey Gross Award. The award - a major honour in the field of geology - was presented by the Mineral Deposits Division (MDD) of the Geological Association of Canada at an annual luncheon held in Quebec City in May.

Bestowed each year to a geoscientist less than 40 years of age, the Award recognizes those who have made significant contributions to a field generally referred to as economic geology (in a Canadian context). The contribution on which the Award is based may relate to studies that include all aspects of economic geology, and which represents the broad-spectrum of fields to which William Gross himself contributed. These areas include mineral exploration and development, field-based studies, and either applied or fundamental scientific research.

Hollings has recently returned from a sabbatical in Australia where he was working with a team of international researchers to better understand the formation of mineral deposits in Chile, Mexico, and the Philippines. His research has helped develop better exploration models for companies working to locate major deposits of porphyry copper and gold. Closer to home, Hollings is working with a number of local exploration companies including MetalCORP, Houston Lake Mining, and the Musselwhite Mine.

"It's not really any specific project that earned me this award, but the body of work I've generated to date," Hollings explains. "I was extremely pleased to accept this honour, not only because of the tremendous time and effort that went into the research over the years, and the positive impact it has on the field and the industry it serves, but also because it reflects the global value of research being conducted by Lakehead University researchers."

The Gross Award consists of a medal as well as a cash supplement that is drawn from an endowed fund provided by Corona Corp., a Pennsylvania-based company that provides precision metal-forming design services and manufacturing to a wide range of business sectors.

-30-

Media: Dr. Hollings is available for media interview. For more information or to arrange interview times, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, 807-472-9113, or commun@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 7,500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School 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

(June 10, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University is pleased to announce the renewal of two of its Canada Research Chairs (CRCs), Dr. Ellie Prepas, a Professor in the Faculty of Forestry and the Forest Environment, and Dr. Michel Bédard, Director of the Public Health Program.

Dr. Prepas, CRC in Sustainable Water Management and the Boreal Forest, will have her Canada Research Chair, valued at $200,000 per year, extended until 2015. Dr. Bédard, CRC in Aging and Health, will have his Canada Research Chair, valued at $100,000 per year, extended until 2013.

"Lakehead University takes great pride in its faculty who are Canada Research Chairs and the tremendous impact they have on the advancement of global knowledge," says Lakehead President Dr. Fred Gilbert. "The renewals of CRC terms for Drs. Prepas and Bédard recognize the quality of these two individuals and the research contributions they are making. They are responsible for unique and important areas of study, and allow Lakehead University to continue to build the success of its research-intensive mandate."

Dr. Ellie Prepas, Tier 1 NSERC CRC, renewal for seven years
Dr. Prepas has established a long-term watershed study that links streams on the Canadian Boreal Shield with those of the Boreal Plain. The data from these studies are used to develop a process whereby hydrologic elements within watersheds can be embedded in forecast and planning tools for use by land managers and regulators across the Boreal Forest. In cooperation with research and industry partners, this project links communities and users using modern tools, knowledge of deterministic and stochastic models, and strong connections to other impact assessment groups studying the same land bases such as biodiversity, climate change, and demographics.

Dr. Michel Bédard, Tier 2 CIHR CRC, renewal for five years
Dr. Bédard has designed and established a research program which allows older drivers to remain safe as long as possible through the development of new evidence and best driving practices. The need to focus on older adults in preventing automobile accidents, which to date has been reactive and has focused mainly on the identification of unsafe drivers, has finally been recognized as a crucial component in safe driving education - on a par with drinking and driving and aggressive driving in young drivers.

-30-

Media: Drs. Gilbert and Bédard can be contacted for media interview today. Dr. Gilbert is available from 1:30 p.m. - 3:00 p.m. via 807-343-8200. Dr. Bédard is available by calling
807-343-4300 X 4403. Please leave a message if Dr. Bédard is unavailable at the time of your call. For more information, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, 807-472-9113, or commun@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 7,500 students and 2,000 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 Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

(June 9, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Centre for Education & Research on Aging and Health (CERAH) is pleased to announce $1.7 million in funding from the Ministry of Health & Long Term Care for a provincial project, developed in partnership with the Regional Geriatric Programs (RGPs) of Ontario, which focuses on geriatrics, inter-professional, and inter-organizational care (GiiC).

Population aging presents significant challenges to Ontario's health care system as over 80% of seniors have one or more chronic health conditions, and approximately 43% have three or more health conditions. The latter group of seniors is at risk for frailty, increased health system usage, loss of capacity for independent living, and subsequently a lowered quality of life. Within our aging population, frail seniors may be the fastest growing demographic across the province, particularly in the northern regions.

"CERAH will collaborate with St. Joseph's Care Group (SJCG) to implement this project, which serves as an excellent opportunity to build on the expertise of both organizations while developing stronger partnerships with primary care providers across the region," says CERAH Director Dr. Mary Lou Kelley. Mieke Busman, Chief Nursing Officer at SJCG adds, "St. Joseph's Care Group is excited to partner with CERAH on this project and to continuously improve the quality of care provided to our frail seniors."

Over the next few months, project consultants will be contacting the region's Family Health Teams, Community Health Centres, and other primary health care providers to present more detail on this project and to identify local needs. Organizations will later have the opportunity to identify members of their staff who are interested in becoming local leaders in geriatric care. These individuals will assist their organizations in the important task of caring for frail seniors.

"We agree with the provincial health ministry that quality geriatric care is based on an inter-professional team approach and requires collaboration across a variety of organizations," Kelley emphasizes. "These will be core elements of the training, coaching, and support provided to local geriatric leaders."

The long-term goal of this project is the development of a network of professionals and knowledge-sharing process that will result in the ongoing provision of quality care for frail seniors across both the province and the region.

-30-

Media: CERAH spokesperson Dr. Mary Lou Kelley is available for media interview from
12 noon - 1:00 p.m. this afternoon. Interviews can be arranged by contacting Marie Lehtonen at 766-7299. For more information, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, 807-472-9113, or commun@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 7,500 students and 2,000 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

(June 6, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Dr. Josephine Tan, Director of Clinical Training in Psychology and Associate Psychology Professor, is the recipient of the CCPPP Award for Excellence in Professional Training (Academic).

Presented by the Canadian Council of Professional Psychology Programs (CCPPP), this honour recognizes Tan's exemplary efforts and leadership in developing excellence in the science and practice of Psychology among students enrolled in Lakehead's Clinical Psychology program. The nomination was secretly initiated by Psychology graduate students and supported by the Psychology faculty without Dr. Tan's knowledge.

With assistance from her graduate students and fellow faculty, Dr. Tan achieved CPA accreditation for Lakehead's Clinical Psychology program. She was also actively involved in obtaining collaborative, multi-institutional, large-scale funding and equipment to support psychology-related research, and continually highlighted the value of mentoring when teaching students.

"This award is a major honour in the field, which I am delighted to accept on behalf of Lakehead University's Psychology Department," says Dr. Tan. "It is wonderful to look back on the last three years and see how something very positive can develop when people work together. The graduate students were always there to help out, and the faculty were always supportive of these endeavours. This award is a true tribute to our Department - especially to the students who inspire us to improve in our teaching, training, and research methods. One cannot excel as Director of Clinical Training without excellent graduate students."

When asked about the contribution that Dr. Tan has made to Lakehead's Psychology Department and to the overall learning experience, James Brazeau, Masters in Clinical Psychology Student and Research Assistant at Lakehead's Centre for Biological Timing and Cognition says, "It's due to Dr. Tan's tremendous efforts as Director of Clinical Training and as a faculty member that Lakehead's Psychology Department now offers a Clinical Psychology program that is equivalent, if not superior, to those offered at the larger universities." Brazeau also notes that taking one of Dr. Tan's classes does not simply involve learning course material. As her other students have indicated, her teaching approach focuses on growing - both as an individual and as a professional. Graduates believe she models what is expected from professionals in the field. She emphasizes the development of both clinical and research skills in order to evolve into a high-calibre psychologist who is equally competent in both the practice and research of psychological science.

The CCPPP Awards Committee will present Tan with the award at the CPA convention and Annual General Meeting in Halifax on June 11.

-30-

Media: Dr. Tan and James Brazeau can be contacted directly for media interview. Dr. Tan can be reached from 1:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. at 807-343-8168 or 807-346-7751. James Brazeau can be reached at 807-343-8418 or 807-983-3284. For more information, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, 807-472-9113, or commun@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 7,500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

(June 5, 2008 -- Orillia, ON) Lakehead University's Orillia Campus is gearing up for its first convocation ceremony on Saturday, June 7, at which 10 graduands will receive their degrees. The ceremony will be held in the Orillia City Council Chambers at 11:00 a.m.

Graduating are those who have completed the one-year Honours Bachelor of Social Work program, and the one-year Business Administration program for college transfer students.

"This event is yet another benchmark for Lakehead's Orillia Campus, and seeing our first graduands receive their degrees is only a glimpse of what is yet to come," expresses Orillia Campus Dean Dr. Kim Fedderson. "Administration, faculty, and staff are happy to see this first group of students realize their post-secondary goals. We look forward to seeing how the knowledge and leadership qualities they have obtained during their time here will impact the community."

"I'm happy to be part of the Lakehead community in Orillia, and sincerely grateful for the opportunities my business degree presents," says Justin De Haan, Business Administration graduand. "It's humbling to know that as a charter Lakehead University - Orillia graduate, I will belong to the first group of students that represents the concrete realization of Lakehead Orillia's vision to deliver quality education in the Simcoe region."

As community members have become well aware, Orillia Campus developments and programming have come a long way over the last two years. Development will continue into 2010 and thereafter when the permanent location will open its doors.

"This marks one of what will be many milestones at the Orillia Campus," says Lakehead President Dr. Fred Gilbert. "This small group of Lakehead University degree recipients presages what in a few years will be hundreds of graduates annually. However, no one else will be able to lay claim to being among that first class to attend an Orillia Convocation. Thus, these first graduates will always have a special place in the history of Lakehead University - Orillia."

During Convocation, Ms. Sue Mulcahy will be honoured with the Civitas Award. This award recognizes a member of the Orillia Community for longstanding community engagement which has benefited Lakehead University. Ms. Mulcahy is a former Orillia City Councillor who spearheaded the Simcoe College initiative in the 1960s and 1970s. At that time, she served as Chairman of the Simcoe College Foundation and worked tirelessly to bring a university to Orillia and Simcoe County. "I am overwhelmed to receive this honour, and am extremely pleased to see such a long-time goal finally come to fruition. This award is a true tribute to all of the dedicated members of the former Simcoe College Foundation."

"Sue is an exemplary individual," Fedderson adds. "We have been inspired by the story of Simcoe College and know that Lakehead University - Orillia will realize the potential of that compelling vision."

-30-

Media: For more information or to arrange interview times with Drs. Gilbert and Fedderson or Justin De Haan, 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 7,500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School 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

(May 29, 2008 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Alumni Association is pleased to hold another much-anticipated Annual Alumni Awards Dinner. This event recognizes the achievements of talented and noteworthy alumni who maintain a connection with the University and bring it prestige and honour.

Each year, the Association celebrates the Young Alumni Award and the Alumni Honour Award. For the first time this year, four recipients will be awarded. These recipients are Catherine J. Bird, BEd 1994; Dr. Elizabeth Murray, BSc 1988; Duncan Weller, BA 1989; and Glenn A. Miller, BSc 1969.

"I am looking forward to attending this event for the first time in my new role as Vice-President, University Advancement," says John Singer. "The Alumni Awards Dinner is a great opportunity for the University and the community to recognize the achievements of these four very accomplished Lakehead graduates."

This year's event starts at 6:00 p.m. in Lakehead University's Faculty Lounge on Thursday, May 29. Approximately 100 guests will be in attendance.

About the Awardees

Catherine Bird, Adult Education Entrepreneur
Catherine (Kate) Bird's interest in teaching led her to the Faculty of Education at Lakehead University, where she earned her B.Ed. in 1994. She worked as a physical education teacher for a few years, but found a better fit when she turned to teaching adult education in the private sector. When the company she worked for folded, Kate decided to start her own adult education business, which she called Career Essentials Inc. In 1998, she opened her fi rst three Career Essentials schools in Toronto, Woodbridge, and Scarborough. Through Career Essentials, Kate helps adult learners learn new skills and prepare for the job market. Some of her students have disabilities, and many have been injured on the job. The programs she offers include literacy skills, academic upgrading, English as a Second Language, computer training, job search skills, customer service training, and GED (General Educational Development) test preparation. Each student receives a thorough assessment and an individualized program. Kate's goal is always to help people get back into the workforce as quickly and smoothly as possible. Career Essentials also works with private companies to upgrade the skills of their existing employees, including literacy in the workplace, customer service training and computer skills. After ten years, Kate has 34 Career Essentials locations across Ontario (including Thunder Bay) and is expanding into Nova Scotia. Already, her company has trained about 6000 adults. She prides herself on providing quality service: small classes, dedicated teachers, and a supportive atmosphere. Kate and her business have won numerous honours. In 2000 Kate received PROFIT magazine's Young Entrepreneur of the Year Award. In 2001 and 2002, PROFIT named Career Essentials one of Canada's Hottest Start-ups. In 2002 the Joseph L. Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto awarded Kate the prestigious Start-up Award, which is one of the Rotman Canadian Woman Entrepreneur of the Year Awards. In each of the past fi ve years, PROFIT has ranked Kate as one of Canada's Top 100 Women Business Owners. While Kate's career path has been different from that of most B.Ed. graduates, she shares every teacher's enthusiasm for seeing students succeed. From this foundation, she has built a booming business in adult education. She lives in Ajax with her husband, Shaun Young, and their daughters aged three and five.

Elizabeth Murray, Life Scientist
Dr. Elizabeth (Liz) Murray is an accomplished researcher in life sciences. She graduated from Lakehead University with a B.Sc. (1986) and H.B.Sc. (1988) in biology, with Dr. John Ryder as her thesis supervisor. She went on to earn her M.Sc. (1989) and Ph.D. (1994) in pathology at Queen's University, focusing her research on the genetic causes of von Willebrand's Disease, a bleeding disorder. In post-doctoral research at the University of Calgary, she studied how hormones and growth factors communicate with cells, and how the disruption of these processes can play a role in the development of cancer. Liz has received numerous academic awards, including the R. Samuel McLaughlin Fellowship from Queen's University; a Health Research Personnel Development Program Fellowship from the Ontario Ministry of Health; post-doctoral fellowships from the Alberta Cancer Board and the Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical research; and the prestigious national fellowship from the Medical Research Council of Canada (now the CIHR). In 1999 Liz joined SemBioSys Genetics, a new biotechnology company in Calgary. SemBioSys makes protein-based pharmaceutical and non-pharmaceutical products, using genetic engineering and an internationally known technology platform. For the first few years, Liz helped formulate DermaSphere®, a compound that has come to market in a variety of personal care and topical pharmaceuticals. Since 2005 she has been the company's Group Leader of Efficacy and Pharmacology, where she oversees the testing of all new products. These include plant-produced insulin, designed to help meet the burgeoning demand for insulin; apolipoprotein AI (Apo AI), a cardiovascular therapy; and ImmunoSphere, a feed additive for shrimp farming. Throughout her career, Liz has earned a reputation as a highly skilled and innovative scientist. She has contributed to 11 peer-reviewed research papers and has presented her work at numerous national and international scientific conferences. Outside work, she serves as president of St. Andrew's Heights Community Association in Calgary and is the community representative for the Foothills Hospital Community Working Group. She was a community representative appointed to the City of Calgary Low-Density Land Use Bylaw Committee, which wrote the low-density residential portion of new development bylaws for the City of Calgary. Liz Murray's dedication and leadership skills have served her well both in university settings and in industry. She has become an outstanding contributor to the biotechnology boom.

Duncan Weller, Artist and Writer
Duncan Weller is an energetic and multi-talented artist. Born in Lennoxville, Quebec, he moved to Thunder Bay as a young child when his father, Geoffrey Weller, became a Political Science professor at Lakehead University. After graduating from Sir Winston Churchill High School, Duncan enrolled in Fine Arts at Lakehead University. In his second year, he switched his major to English, where his love for children's stories was rekindled in Dr. James Gellert's Children's Literature course. While at Lakehead University, Duncan contributed photography, cover art, and cartoons to the student newspaper, The Argus. When he completed his B.A. in 1989, Duncan moved to British Columbia, where he worked at various jobs to support himself as he completed manuscripts and illustrations for several children's books. He also spent some time in Toronto and Montreal, but returned to Thunder Bay in 2005. Three of Duncan's children's books, which he both writes and illustrates, have been published by Simply Read Books: Space Snake (2004), Night Wall (2005), and The Boy from the Sun (2007). The Boy from the Sun was awarded the 2007 Governor-General's Literary Award for Children's Literature - Illustration. The Governor-General's Awards are the oldest and most prestigious awards for Canadian literature. Duncan Weller's The Boy from the Sun, with its striking mix of techniques, lures the unsuspecting reader away from a dark, gloomy and featureless industrial-urban milieu into a brilliantly coloured alternative world of light, colour and hope, which, in a twist in a pictorial narration, turns out to be the real world they were living in all along. This charming, fresh and joyful book perfectly melds story and image, to both deliver its message and form a thoroughly satisfying whole. Duncan also has an interest in fi lm. In 2007 he created a seven-minute animated short for the Thunder Bay Police Department, which is part of a package given to victims of break-and-enter crimes. With the help of his brother, Eric Weller, he made an animated, high-defi nition DVD version of Night Wall, which premiered at the Bay St. Film Festival in September, 2007. Currently, he is working on a script for a fi lm to be made in collaboration with Rodney Dwira. His fi rst major art show, with over 70 works for children and adults, was presented at Thunder Bay Art Gallery from April 4 to May 18, 2008. He teaches in local schools as part of the Learning Through the Arts program and is currently seeking a publisher for several more children's books, a young adult novel, and a book of poetry. In all his work--visual art, writing, and fi lms--Duncan Weller observes the world in a fresh, insightful way that delights and inspires both children and adults.

Glenn A. Miller, Real Estate Developer
Glenn Miller is Chairman of PenEquity, a leading real estate development and management company. He received his B.Sc. (1967) and Graduate Diploma in Business (1968) at Lakehead University and his M.B.A. (1971) at the Ivey School of Business at the University of Western Ontario. After a number of years in the financial sector, Glenn founded PenEquity Management Corporation in 1984. PenEquity is a private Canadian company that provides asset management to pension funds and institutional investors. It specializes in large-scale retail and entertainment projects, as well as traditional retail, commercial, and residential development. PenEquity's retail and entertainment development projects across Canada total more than 4.2 million square feet. A current PenEquity project is Toronto Life Square, a retail, office, and entertainment complex on the northeast corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets in Toronto. When complete, it will have 500,000 square feet of floor space, filled with restaurants, stores, and 24 movie theatres. The outside of the building features 20,000 square feet of outdoor signage, including Canada's largest high-definition video display, measuring 30 by 52 feet. Glenn is passionate about the Olympic movement and has attended the games in Sydney, Salt Lake City, and Athens. Through PenEquity and Toros Entertainment Inc. (a related company), Glenn headed up the development of The Olympic Spirit visitor centre in Toronto. The centre, which operated from 2004 to 2006, combined interactive sports simulators, multimedia presentations, and Olympic artifacts to give visitors--especially children--a taste of the Olympic experience. At a gala held at Disneyland, this project won the Themed Entertainment Association's 2005 Thea Award for Outstanding Achievement in the Branded Visitor Center category. An avid athlete in his own right, Glenn has skied the "Haute Route" over the French and Swiss Alps and also enjoys snowboarding and golf. Glenn and his wife Linda are extensive and enthusiastic travellers. They have completed multiple treks in the Kumbu/Everest area of Nepal and regard the late Sir Edmund Hillary as a hero. For ten years, Glenn served as a director and major fundraiser for The Sir Edmund Hillary Foundation, which builds schools and hospitals in Nepal. Glenn and Linda have also reached the summits of Mt. Kilimanjaro and Mt. Sinai. As head of PenEquity, Glenn is committed to seeking new investment opportunities for his clients and creating innovative retail landscapes. However, he believes that true success is found not on a balance sheet, but in creating a balance between work and family life. The greatest satisfaction for Glenn and Linda comes in time spent with their sons, Neil (Barbara) and Ian (Sophie), and grandchildren, Melissa and Austin.

-30-

Media: John Singer is available for media interview. Elizabeth Murray, Duncan Weller, and Glenn Miller will also be available for media interview prior to this evening's event start time. For more information or to arrange interview times, 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 7,500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School 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

(May 29, 2008 --Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University is gearing up for another Convocation, at which 1,800 graduands will receive their degrees.

Two ceremonies will take place on Saturday, May 31. The first ceremony begins at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium at 9:00 a.m., and the second at 2:30 p.m. The largest group of graduates are from Lakehead's Faculty of Education.

"We are all quite proud of these students who are soon to be alumni. Each of them has come to Lakehead University and committed time and talent for serious study, and each now leaves better prepared for personal and professional success," says Dr. Laurie Hayes, Lakehead's Vice-President (Academic) and Provost. "Our motto for the year was Do Something, and we fully expect these graduates to do the University proud in their future endeavours."

At this year's Convocation ceremonies, four exemplary individuals will be honoured (see bios attached).

Gordon Pinsent and Dr. Joseph MacInnis will be presented honorary degrees. Pinsent is a 50-year veteran of theatre, film, television, and radio, and one of Canada's best known and most beloved actors. Pinsent will be presented with a Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, in absentia. Dr. MacInnis is a University of Toronto Graduate (Medicine), author, deep sea diving guru, and Order of Canada recipient. MacInnis will be presented with a Doctor of Science, honoris causa.

Silvio Di Gregorio and Stephen S. Hessian will be named Fellows of Lakehead University. Di Gregorio is one of Thunder Bay's most respected business executives and an exemplary friend of Lakehead University. Hessian is a manager and consultant in the pulp and paper industry, has played a prominent role in the region's economy, and was a member of the Lakehead University Board of Governors from 1987 - 2002.

Additionally, at its annual gala dinner which takes place on Thursday, May 29, the Alumni Association celebrates the Young Alumni Award and the Alumni Honour Award. For the first time this year, four recipients will be awarded. The Young Alumni Award recipient is Catherine J. Bird, BEd 1994. The Alumni Honour Award recipients are Duncan Weller, BA 1989; Dr. Elizabeth Murray, BSc 1988; and Glenn A. Miller, BSc 1969.

2007 - 2008 MEDAL RECIPIENTS

The Dean Braun's Medals are awarded to the highest-ranking graduating students in the following programs: Bachelor of Administration, Anthony DeAgazio BAdmin; Honours Bachelor of Commerce, Megan Ott BComm (Hons); Bachelor of Engineering, Matthew MacDonald BEng; Engineering Technology, Brittany McNeice Dipl Mech Eng; Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Becky Fawcett BES (FCon)(Forest Conservation); Honours Bachelor of Environmental Studies, Alain Joseph BES (Hons)(FCon)(Forest Conservation); Honours Bachelor of Science in Forestry, Laurie Thompson BScF (Hons); Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Sherice Almgren BScN; Honours Bachelor of Outdoor Recreation, Kelsey Agnew BOR (Hons); Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology, Tyler Hyvarinen BK (Hons); and Honours Bachelor of Social Work, Marianne Berner BSW (Hons).

The William A. West Education Medals are awarded to the highest-ranking students in Education. Recipients are Bachelor of Education (Primary-Junior), Mary Swainson BEd; Bachelor of Education (Junior-Intermediate), Rebecca Penner BEd; Bachelor of Education (Intermediate-Senior), ex aequo-Ilka Milne BEd, and Andrew Bryce BEd; Bachelor of Education (Native Teacher Education), Marlo Dahl BEd, BA; Native Language Instructors' Diploma, Francine Lee Dip. Lat. Lang. Inst.; Master of Education, Carlos Zerpa MEd; and PhD in Educational Studies, Paul Berger PhD.

The Dean of Science and Environmental Studies Medals are awarded to the highest-ranking graduating students in Science and Environmental Studies. Recipients are Three-Year Program, Gerald Bell BA; and Four-Year Program, Joseph Del Paggio, BSc (Hons).

The Dean of Social Science and Humanities Medals are awarded to the highest-ranking graduating students in Social Sciences and Humanities. Recipients are Three-Year Program, Kim Bortolin BA; and Four-Year Program, Vasilinka Tsar, BSc (Hons).

The Chancellor's Medal is awarded to the highest-ranking part-time student in an undergraduate degree or equivalent. Recipient is Anthony DeAgazio, BAdmin.

The Vice-Chancellor's Medal is awarded to the highest-ranking graduating student in the three-year Bachelor's degree. Recipient is Jessica Brinkman, BA.

The Governor-General's College Bronze Medal is awarded to the highest-ranking student in the graduating class of the Diploma Program. Recipient is Brittany McNeice Dip, Mech Eng.

The Governor-General's Silver Medal is awarded to the highest-ranking student in the Honours Bachelor's degree or equivalent. Recipient is Chanel Parent, BEd BA (Hons).

The Governor-General's Gold Medal is awarded to the graduate student who achieves the highest academic standing in a Master's degree program. Recipient is Andrew Roberts, MSc Eng.

The President's Award is given annually to the graduating students who have occupied positions of responsibility in student organizations and who, by their activities and achievements, have earned the gratitude of the University. Recipients are Undergraduate, Kelsey Agnew, BOR (Hons); Krystin Kempton, BA (Hons); and Graduate Islai Côté, MA.

The Poulin Award is awarded for outstanding citizenship and presented to the full-time student selected by his/her fellows, the faculty, and administration as contributing most to the welfare of the University through student activities. Recipient is Krystin Kempton, BA (Hons).

ABOUT THE HONORARY RECIPIENTS

Gordon Pinsent, Doctor of Fine Arts, honoris causa, in absentia
A 50-year veteran of theatre, film, television, and radio, Gordon Pinsent is one of Canada's best known and most beloved actors. Born in Newfoundland, Pinsent began his career by bluffing his way into a part at the Manitoba Theatre Centre. He quickly learned his craft, working onstage and in the first live radio drama out of Winnipeg. In 1959 he headed east, and was soon appearing at the Stratford Festival and in theatres in Toronto. He became a national star in the late 1960s in the television series Quentin Durgens, M.P., where he played a rooky Member of Parliament. Since then he has become known for directing and acting in the film The Rowdyman and for the CBC television series A Gift to Last in which he starred as Edgar Sturgess, a bombastic sergeant. Pinsent has received two ACTRA Awards for television work, including the ACTRA Award for Excellence (2004); three Genie Awards for achievements in Canadian film; six Gemini Awards, including the Earle Grey Award for Lifetime Achievement (1997); a Dora Mavor Moore Award for stage work; and Lifetime Achievement Awards from the Banff International Television Festival, the Summer Institute of Film and Television in Ottawa, and the Canadian Academy of Cinema and Television. At the age of 77, Gordon Pinsent is still hard at work. On March 3, 2008, he won his most recent Genie Award, this time for Best Actor for his portrayal of a man coping with his wife's Alzheimer's disease in the film Away from Her. He has said, "I don't believe in retirement, but if I had retired, I'd have missed doing this movie, which would have been one of the great losses of my life."

Dr. Joseph MacInnis, Doctor of Science, honoris causa
Dr. Joseph (Joe) MacInnis graduated in medicine from the University of Toronto in 1962 and soon gravitated to the world of deep-sea diving. During his career, he has led 30 expeditions and logged more than 5,000 hours under the Great Lakes and the Atlantic, Pacific, and Arctic oceans. In the 1960s, he was medical director of the American Man-in-Sea program and worked on the U. S. Navy's Sea Lab project, where he gained an international reputation for his research into the physiology of deep-sea diving. In 1985 he was an advisor to the Titanic discovery team and two years later became the first Canadian to set foot on the wreck. In 1991 he was co-leader of an expedition to make the film Titanica in the IMAX giant-screen format. Director James Cameron has said that it was this expedition that inspired his 1997 Hollywood movie Titanic. The International Joint Commission hired MacInnis in 1993 to conduct a study on using new media techniques to enhance the cleanup of the Great Lakes and St. Lawrence River. In 1994, he led a team that made the first multiple research sub dives to the wreck of the Edmund Fitzgerald in Lake Superior. MacInnis has written ten books and numerous articles for newspapers and magazines, including Scientific American, National Geographic, and Wired. His books include Underwater Man, Saving the Ocean, Fitzgerald's Storm, Titanic in a New Light, Surviving Terrorism, Breathing Underwater, and Aliens of the Deep. In recognition of his work, Dr. Joe MacInnis was awarded the Order of Canada in 1976. He has also received the Queen's Golden Jubilee Medal (2002), the Admirals' Medal for outstanding achievements in Canadian maritime activities, and five honorary doctorates.

Silvio Di Gregorio, Fellow of Lakehead University
Silvio Di Gregorio is one of Thunder Bay's most respected business executives and an exemplary friend of Lakehead University. Together with his brother, Bruno Di Gregorio, he has built Bruno's Contracting into a major road and highway contractor and one of the city's largest residential and commercial land developers, employing 300 people. In 2005, when Whitewater Golf Club opened for its first full season, Silvio and Bruno achieved their dream of creating a world-class golf course in this region. Di Gregorio is a past president and current director of the Italian Business and Professional Association of Thunder Bay, which promotes the recreational, cultural, social, artistic, business, and professional activities of Italian Canadians. He is a founding director of the Institute of Italian Studies at Lakehead University, which organizes lectures, publishing, exchanges, and other initiatives to promote and celebrate Italian language, culture, and history. The Institute of Italian Studies has also taken a leading role in fundraising, most notably accepting Arthur Mauro's challenge to the local Italian community to match his donation of $150,000 to the ATAC ~ Future of the North Capital Campaign. Di Gregorio became a major contributor, and his enthusiasm inspired others to give. As a founding director of Ambassadors for Business Development Northwest, he contributes his time and expertise to encouraging new businesses to move into the community. Without fanfare, he has assisted enterprises such as the Molecular Medicine Research Centre (MMRC) and Genesis Genomics. He is an active member of the board of Thunder Bay Ventures, a non-profit organization that provides business services to local groups and funds economic development projects.

Stephen S. Hessian, Fellow of Lakehead University
As a manager and consultant in the pulp and paper industry, Steve Hessian has played a prominent role in the region's economy. Highlights of his career include serving as Domtar's Resident Manager at its Red Rock Mill from 1974 to 1979 and again from 1984 to 1993, and serving as President of Thunder Bay Packaging from 1995 to 1999. Since 2005 he has been a partner in Thunder Bay Fine Papers and has put tremendous energy into reviving the former Cascades paper mill, with the goal of boosting the Thunder Bay economy and creating up to 300 jobs. He also continues to work as a consultant in the pulp and paper industry. At the same time, Hessian has put great effort into promoting the interests of Lakehead University. From 1987 to 2002, he was a member of the Board of Governors. He was Chair for two consecutive terms, 1998-1999 and 1999-2000, and also served on all Standing Committees. In all his roles on the Board, Steve focused on finding solutions and developing plans to move forward on a wide range of matters, such as donating university land to build the new hospital, laying the groundwork for the Northern Ontario Technology Centre and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, encouraging national corporate representation on the Board, and developing partnerships with Confederation College. He served on the search committees for a President and a Vice-President and also on the board of the Lakehead University Foundation. After stepping down from the Board of Governors, Hessian became a strong and effective member of the ATAC ~ Future of the North Capital Campaign to finance the Advanced Technology and Academic Centre. He gave generously himself and urged others to do the same.

-30-

Media: A list of medal winners and honorary recipient bios are attached. For more information or to arrange interview times with Dr. Hayes or various medal winners, 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 7,500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School 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

(May 26, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University faculty members have received nine new Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada (SSHRC) grants this year, totalling $442,081. The projects span various disciplines including Sociology, Economics, Business Administration, Education, Psychology, History, Philosophy, and Social Work. Grants will be used to build upon each researcher's field of study. In addition, 16 Lakehead graduate students have received Postgraduate Scholarships, one of whom is the recipient of a Canada Graduate Scholarship. The total value of these graduate student awards is $515,000.

Dr. Rui Wang, Lakehead's Vice President (Research), discusses the University's commitment to cultivating and fostering an enriched research culture and becoming one of the top 25 research-intensive Universities in Canada. "The benefits of social sciences and humanities research to the University, the community, and the region are ongoing," Wang explains. "Lakehead is pleased with this funding as it will allow our researchers and affiliated graduate students to continue working toward building increased understanding and awareness related to the premise and findings of their respective areas of study."

Research in the social sciences and humanities builds understanding about individuals, groups and societies -- what we think, how we live, and how we interact with each other and the world around us. Dean of Lakehead's Faculty of Graduate Studies, Dr. Gary Boire, notes the importance of graduate student work on the impact of this branch of research as well as that of SSHRC's various research, training, and funding programs. "SSHRC fosters the development of talented and creative people who become leaders in private and public sectors at local, regional, provincial, and international levels. We are pleased that our Lakehead graduate students are able to participate in these programs, and can subsequently contribute to advancing knowledge in a number of subject areas."

New Lakehead University Researcher SSHRC Grants are:

Research Development Initiatives Grant (one grant awarded)

Applicant: Mirella Stroink, Department of Psychology, Lakehead University
Title: "The Marketplace Ecosystem: Theoretical and Methodological Development"
Years: 2
Funding $15,915

Image, Text, Sound & Technology (two grants awarded)

a) Applicant: Judy Iseke-Barnes, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Education, Faculty of Education, Lakehead University
Title: "Digital Technologies in Indigenous Education"
Partners:
Arts & Heritage Foundation of St Albert, St. Albert, Alberta
Michif Cultural and Resource Institute, St. Albert, Alberta
Years: 1
Funding: $50,000

b) Applicant: Alexandra Lawson, Faculty of Education, Lakehead University
Title: "The Impact of Video in Pre-service Programmes on Teacher Candidates' Understanding of Children's Mathematical Development in Reform Classrooms"
Years: 1
Funding: $29,845

International Opportunities Fund (one grant awarded)

Applicant: Thomas Dunk, Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Sociology, Lakehead University
Title: "Adaptation and Resistance to the Information Age in Natural Resource Dependent Regions in Canada and Norway"
Co-Applicants:
Bruce Muirhead, University of Waterloo
Chris Southcott, Department of Sociology, Lakehead University
Ronald Harpelle, Department of History, Lakehead University
Collaborators:
Ingar Kaldal, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Katrina Ronningen, Norwegian University of Science and Technology
Ketil Skogen, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Olve Krange, Norwegian Institute for Nature Research
Years: 1
Funding: $71,721

Research Grants - Management, Business and Finance (two grants awarded)

a) Applicant: Robert Petrunia, Department of Economics, Lakehead University
Title: "Growth and Survival of Nascent Firms and the Role of Financial Frictions"
Collaborators:
Kim P. Huynh, Indiana University, Bloomington
Marcel C. Voia, Carleton University
Years: 3
Funding: $79,200

b) Applicant: Nikola Gradojevic, Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University
Title: "The Microstructure of the Canada/U.S. Dollar Exchange Rate"
Years: 3
Funding: $59,250

Aid to Small Universities (one grant awarded)

Applicants: Ron Harpelle, Department of History, and Todd Dufresne, Department of Philosophy, Lakehead University
Title: "Development of a Regional 'Advanced Institute for Globalization and Culture' to Facilitate Interdisciplinary Research Capacity in the Social Sciences and Humanities"
Co-Applicants:
Michel Beaulieu, Department of History, Lakehead University
Isaam Dawood, Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University
Thomas Dunk, Dean of Social Sciences and Humanities, Department of Sociology,
Lakehead University
Doug Ivison, Department of English, Lakehead University
Jane Nicholas, Department of History, Lakehead University
Clara Sacchetti, Department of Anthropology, Lakehead University
Chris Southcott, Department of Sociology, Lakehead University
Batia Stolar, Department of English, Lakehead University
Years: 3
Funding: $81,500

Northern Research Development Program (one grant awarded)

Applicant: Teresa Socha, Faculty of Education, Lakehead University
Title: "Food Availability and Pricing in Rural and Remote Northwestern Ontario Aboriginal Communities"
Co-Applicants:
Lori Chambers, Women's Studies, Lakehead University
Mehdi Zahaf, Faculty of Business Administration, Lakehead University
Partners:
Matawa First Nations Management, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Northwestern Health Unit, Sioux Lookout, Ontario
Years: 1
Funding: $34,650

Community/ University Research Alliances (CURA) - Letter of Intent (one awarded)

Applicant: Mary Lou Kelley, School of Social Work, Director, Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health, Lakehead University
Title: "Improving Quality of Life for People Dying in Long-term Care Homes"
Co-Applicants:
Carrie A. McAiney, McMaster University
Elaine C. Wiersma, Public Health Program, Lakehead University
Joan M.R. Sims Gould, The University of British Columbia
Kevin Brazil, St. Joseph's Healthcare, Hamilton
Michel Bédard, Public Health Program, Lakehead University
Sharon Kaasalainen, McMaster University
Sonja Habjan, Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health,
Lakehead University
Patricia A. Sevean, School of Nursing, Lakehead University
Collaborators:
Jean Francois Kozak, The University of British Columbia
Pierre Allard, SCO Health Service
Susan Brajtman, University of Ottawa
Partners:
Accueil francophone de Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay
Alzheimer Society of Canada, Hamilton, Ontario
Alzheimer Society of Canada , Toronto, Ontario
Canadian Auto Workers, Toronto, Ontario
Confederation College, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Dilico Anishinabek Family Care, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Hospice Northwest, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Lutheran Community Care Centre, Thunder Bay, Ontario
North West Community Care Access Centre, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Ontario Multifaith Council, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Ontario Palliative Care Association, Newmarket, Ontario
Regional Municipality of Halton, Burliington, Ontario
Regional Municipality of Halton, Milton, Ontario
St. Joseph's Care Group, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Thunder Bay Multicultural Association, Thunder Bay, Ontario
Veterans Affairs Canada, Charlottetown, PEI
Years: 1
Funding: $20,000 (development funding for full application)

2008-2009 SSHRC Postgraduate Scholarship Recipients

Name: Ms. Loretta Blanchette
Department: M.A. Psychology
Title of Project: Stage of Change: A relationship between Action Stage and Internal Locus of Control Decreasing Body Dissatisfaction

Name: Ms. Jessica Brinkman
Department: M.A. English
Title of Project: Gender Stereotyping in Modern Children's Literature

Name: Ms. Jocelyn Burkhart
Department: M.Ed Education
Title of Project: The Relationship between Permaculture Practice and the Ecological Literacy of Learners in Outdoor, Ecological, and Experimental Education Programs

Name: Ms. Sara Craig
Department: M.A. Psychology
Title of Project: Patterns of Problematic Gambling Activity

Name: Ms. Tara Gauld
Department: M.A. Sociology (specialty in Women's Studies)
Title of Project: Reflecting the Needs of Urban Aboriginal Women in Breastfeeding Policy and Promotion

Name: Ms. Maija Lamminmaki
Department: M.Ed Education
Title of Project: Learning from the Land: An inquiry into the Time Allocation of Cree Culture within the Cree School Board

Name: Mr. Ryan McInerney

Name: Ms. Emily Russell
Department: M.A. Psychology
Title of Project: Examining the Relationship between Self-perception of Partner Support during the Postpartum Period and Negative Affectivity

Name: Ms. Missy Teatero
Department: M.A. Psychology
Title of Project: Female Romantic Jealousy and Extra-pair Desire across the Menstrual Cycle

Name: Mr. Stephen Trochimuchuk
Title of Project: Cultural Theory and Contemporary Liberalism: Problems of the Self, Power and Technology

Name: Mr. John Vanderwees
Department: English
Title of Project: Masculinity in Tim Obrien's Vietnam Fiction

Name: Mr. Cameron Willis
Title of Project: The Impact of the Franco-Russian Alliance Upon the Domestic Policies of the French Right Wing, 1890-1895

Name: Ms. Sabreena Bola
Department: PhD Psychology
Title of Project : Impact of Media Images on the Food Consumption, Affect and Body Dissatisfaction of Binge Eaters: Examining Social Comparison Via Mirror Exposure

Name: Mr. Gregory Lowan
Department: PhD Education
Title of Project: Navigating the Wilderness between Us: Cross-Cultural Learning Opportunities in Outdoor Education

Name: Janice Oakley
Department: PhD Education
Title of Project: Perspectives on Animal Dissection as a Science Education Activity
*Awarded a Canada Graduate Scholarship*

Name: Julie Riendeau
Department: PhD Psychology
Title of Project: The Role of Personality in Predicting Unsafe Driver Behaviours in Young and Older

Total value of new SSHRC researcher funding: $442,081

Total value of new 2008-2009 postgraduate SSHRC scholarships: $515,000

-30-

Media: Dr. Wang and various grant recipients are available for interview. For more information or to arrange interview times, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372.

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 7,500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead University Canada's Research University of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca

(May 21, 2008 - Thunder Bay, ON) Today, Industry Minister Jim Prentice announced approximately $535 million in Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Canada (NSERC) funding and scholarships, to be distributed to more than 9,900 professors and students at more than 60 higher education institutions across Canada. Lakehead University is a proud recipient of this funding. Twenty-two of its researchers, 11 graduate students, and 21 undergraduate students have been awarded NSERC's 2008 Discovery Grants, Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants, Postgraduate Scholarships, or Undergraduate Student Research Awards totalling $2,425,837.

Discovery Grants, typically paid out over five-year periods, support research in the natural sciences and engineering fields. Research Tools and Instruments (RTI) Grants foster and enhance the discovery, innovation, and training capability of university researchers in the natural sciences and engineering by supporting the purchase of research equipment and installations. Scholarship Grants allow young university researchers at the graduate level to pursue their studies in the natural sciences and engineering fields, while Undergraduate Student Research Awards give undergraduate students hands-on research experience in a laboratory setting.

18 Lakehead researchers have been awarded new Discovery Grants totalling $1,936,290, four Lakehead researchers have been awarded new RTI Grants totalling $185,347, and 11 Lakehead graduate students have received Postgraduate Scholarships totalling $209,700. Lakehead has also received 21 NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards, and each is guaranteed to receive $4,500 in NSERC funding, with additional money that comes from the faculty supervisor's existing NSERC grant(s). Another six NSERC Undergraduate Student Research Awards are currently in the process of being filled. Recipients are currently working during the 2008 spring/summer session under the supervision of NSERC grant holders.

Research fields include Biology, Chemical Engineering, Chemistry, Civil Engineering, Computer Science, Electrical Engineering, Medicine, Forestry and the Forest Environment, Geology, Mathematical Sciences, Mechanical Engineering, Physics, and Psychology, and Software Engineering.

"Lakehead University is on a trajectory to becoming one of Canada's top 25 research-intensive universities, and this continued success with NSERC funding helps propel us in the right direction," says Dr. Rui Wang, Lakehead's Vice-President (Research). "We are very proud of the many accomplishments of our researchers and faculty members, and we look forward to measuring the impact these projects will have on the growth of research development at Lakehead, as well as in the community and the region."

A recently conducted international review of the NSERC Discovery Grant Program found that the program encourages a high degree of research excellence across a broad range of fields; it allows creative individuals to seize the moment and rapidly elevate their research to a new level.

"NSERC's grants and scholarship programs are aligned with the vision of our Science and Technology Strategy, strengthened in Budget 2008. Investing in our university research is also an investment in our future, since this will enhance Canada's competitive position in the global economy," said Minister Prentice. "This funding will help ensure that the best university professors and their students across the country can continue to engage in research that will directly contribute to our national stock of knowledge, and to our prosperity."

Lakehead's 2008 NSERC Discovery Grant, Research Tools and Instruments (Equipment) Grant, and Postgraduate Scholarship Awardees are:
(Please note:Ongoing grants are not included in this list)

Dr. Stephen Hecnar
Biology
Discovery Grant
$45,000

Dr. I. Zehbe
Biology
Discovery Grant
$150,000

Dr. Baoqiang Liao
Chemical Engineering
Discovery Grant
$100,000

Dr. Aicheng Chen
Chemistry
Discovery Grant
$235,000

Dr. Zi-Hua Jiang
Chemistry
Discovery Grant
$96,000

Dr. Stephen Kinrade
Chemistry
Discovery Grant
$225,000

Dr. Robert Mawhinney
Chemistry
Discovery Grant
$66,000

Dr. Eltayeb Mohamedelhassan
Civil Engineering
Discovery Grant
$90,000

Dr. Carlos Christoffersen
Electrical Engineering
Discovery Grant
$120,000

Dr. Zhiwei Mao
Electrical Engineering
Discovery Grant
$87,710

Dr. Mohammad Uddin
Electrical Engineering
Discovery Grant
$140,000

Dr. Brian Ross
Faculty of Medicine (West Campus)
Discovery Grant
$60,000

Dr. Z. Suntres
Faculty of Medicine (West Campus)
Discovery Grant
$100,000

Dr. Qing-Lai Dang
Forestry and the Forest Environment
Discovery Grant
$170,900

Dr. Andrew Conly
Geology
Discovery Grant
$60,000

Dr. Tianxuan Miao
School of Mathematical Sciences
Discovery Grant
$70,000

Dr. Basel Ismail
Mechanical Engineering
Discovery Grant
$84,860

Dr. Apichart Linhananta
Physics
Discovery Grant
$36,000

Dr. David Law
Biology
RTI Grant
$84,835

Dr. Heidi Schraft
Biology
RTI Grant
$55,291

Dr. Wa Gao
Civil Engineering
RTI Grant
$10,281

Dr. Han Chen
Forestry and the Forest Environment
RTI Grant
$34,940

Ashley Thomson
Forestry and the Forestry Environment
Postgraduate Scholarship
$25,000

Christopher Chlebovec
Mathematical Sciences
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,300

James Brazeau
Psychology PhD
Postgraduate Scholarship
$21,000

Joel Symonds
Forestry and the Forestry Environment
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,500

Josip Vrbanek
Electrical Engineering
Postgraduate Scholarship
$21,000

Kristen Keyes
Biology
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,300

Lyle Chamarette
Computer Science
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,300

Patrick Joanis
Physics
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,500

Stephen Hart
Forestry and the Forestry Environment
Postgraduate Scholarship
$21,000

Susanne Walford
Biology
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,300

Zachari Medendorp
Physics
Postgraduate Scholarship
$17,500

-30-

Media: For additional information or to arrange interviews with NSERC grant recipients, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, Lakehead University, 807-343-8177, commun@lakeheadu.ca; or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, Lakehead University, 807-343-8372,eabaya@lakeheadu.ca.

About NSERC
NSERC is a federal agency whose vision is to help make Canada a country of discoverers and innovators for the benefit of all Canadians. The agency supports some 25,000 university students and postdoctoral fellows in their advanced studies. NSERC promotes discovery by funding more than 11,000 university professors every year and fosters innovation by encouraging more than 1,400 Canadian companies to participate and invest in university research projects.

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, 500 students and 2,000 faculty and staff, and is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. In 2006, Research Infosource Inc. named Lakehead UniversityCanada's ResearchUniversity of the Year in the undergraduate category. For more information on Lakehead University, visit www.lakeheadu.ca.