Celebration of Winter: Lakehead University Offers Day of Fun-Filled Activities

(January 9, 2009 - Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Orientation Office is kicking off second semester with a celebration of winter.

As students return to classes amid frigid weather conditions, the Orientation Office has arranged a one-day event of winter activities called WinterLUde, featuring the first ever appearance of a dog sledding team on campus, outdoor boot hockey, indoor 'mini-stick' hockey, curling, snow shoeing, and more.

Brendan Hughes, New Student Orientation and Commuter Services Officer at Lakehead explains, "Some of our students have never experienced a Thunder Bay winter before, and we wanted to give them a taste of what can be done in the north as well as some activities inside, in case the weather is a little low on the centigrade."

Participants will have the chance to learn how to build a quinzhee. Built with loose snow, a quinzhee is an alternative to an igloo, which is constructed out of blocks of snow. A quinzhee will keep you cozy in the brutal cold, freezing wind, and heavy snow.

Joey Welsh, a second-year forestry student and a Student Ambassador who helped to organize WinterLUde 2009 says, "Last year I was able to snow shoe 10 kilometres out of town and build a quinzhee to sleep in that night, and I was very comfortable. We thought it would be neat to show others how to make them."

All Lakehead University students are welcome to participate in WinterLUde 2009.

Activities will run from 12:00 noon to 7:00 p.m., all starting from the Agora in the University Centre. For more information, and a description of program times, visit the Orientation website.


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Media: Brendan Hughes is available for media interview by calling 766-7290 or 251-6333. For more information, contact Lisa Pelot, Communications Officer, at 343-8177, 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 7,900 students and 2,250 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