These photos may also be purchased. Contact Staff Photographer Peter Puna at 807-343-8661 or peter.puna@lakeheadu.ca to place your order.
(June 1, 2010 - Orillia ON) Lakehead University's Orillia Campus is gearing up for a special Convocation ceremony on Saturday, June 5. With over 225 students participating, this year's event will be the largest to date, and for the first time, students will be graduating from the Concurrent Education program. Many of the graduates who will receive their degrees are members of the Lakehead - Orillia charter class.
"We have had an overwhelming number of graduates confirm their attendance at this year's convocation," says Lakehead - Orillia Assistant Dean (Student Affairs) Frank Cappadocia. "Almost 80% of our prospective graduates will attend Convocation. This is at least 10% higher than the typical Convocation attendance numbers recorded at other universities."
According to graduates, this year's Convocation is an event that should not be missed, especially by those who were among the original Lakehead - Orillia student body, known as its charter class. The Lakehead University Orillia Campus opened at Heritage Place in downtown Orillia in 2006 and housed 120 students at that time.
"We are a very close group," explains Lakehead student, Katelyn Fraser. "Convocation will give us a chance to celebrate with each other before we continue with our education, careers, or travel plans."
"This is a special group of graduates," says Dr. Kim Fedderson, Dean of Lakehead University's Orillia Campus. "Many of them are from the charter class, and they are leaving their mark. Through their studies, intramural activities, and community engagement, they have created a vibrant student culture here. They have also charted a course for future students who will come to Lakehead University's Orillia Campus to experience university life. They should feel very proud of their achievements, and they will be missed."
The Lakehead - Orillia student body has grown from 120 students in 2006 to 820 full-time students this year. With a new campus facility scheduled to open in September 2010, Lakehead - Orillia is expecting to welcome over 900 students for the upcoming academic year. Graduating this year are students who have completed the Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science (HBASc), Bachelor of Arts & Science (BASc), Honours Bachelor of Arts & Science/Bachelor of Education (HBASc/BEd), Bachelor of Arts & Science/Bachelor of Education (BASc/BEd), Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW), and Bachelor of Administration (BAdm) programs.
The establishment of Lakehead - Orillia four years ago will also be celebrated at the Convocation by the presentation of the annual Civitas Award. This year's award will be presented to Ron Stevens, Mayor of the City of Orillia, for his leadership in developing the partnership with Lakehead University, which resulted in the opening of Lakehead - Orillia in 2006.
Awards will also be presented to students for outstanding citizenship and academic excellence. A Doctorate of Laws, honoris causa, will be conferred on The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Lakehead - Orillia's Convocation ceremony takes place at Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School at 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, June 5. Graduates, their families, and their friends are invited to the Chancellor's Reception which also takes place at Patrick Fogarty following the ceremony.
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Media: For more information contact Kathy Hunt, Lakehead - Orillia Communications Officer at 705-330-4008 ext 2014 kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.
Lakehead University is a comprehensive university with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia. It offers post-secondary undergraduate and graduate programs as well as research expertise that meet specific regional needs. The University is known for its multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Lakehead-Orillia opened in 2006, and in September 2010 will open the doors of its new Academic Building. This is the first phase in the development of Canada's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum university campus.
Kathy Hunt is the Communications Officer at Lakehead's Orillia Campus and can be reached at kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.
(June 1, 2010 - Orillia ON) Orillia Mayor Ron Stevens will be honoured with the Lakehead University Orillia Campus Civitas Award at the University's upcoming June 5 Convocation.
The Civitas Award is presented annually to a Simcoe County resident who has made significant contributions to the community and to the Orillia Campus. The award was first introduced in 2008 when it was awarded to Sue Mulcahy who spearheaded the Simcoe College initiative in the 1960s and 1970s. In 2009, the second Civitas Award recipient was Lloyd Dennis, distinguished for his outstanding contribution to education in Ontario.
Mayor Ron Stevens was nominated for his leadership as Chair of the Mayor's University Task Force and the role he played in establishing the Lakehead University Orillia Campus.
"I believe that without Mayor Stevens' conviction and commitment to this initiative, that Lakehead - Orillia would not be the reality it is today," says Robert Lamb, Simcoe County Manager of Economic Development. Lamb nominated Stevens for the award, and notes how instrumental he was in developing a successful partnership with Lakehead University to establish the new Orillia campus.
Mayor Stevens began his municipal service in 1974 when he was appointed to the Township of Orillia Planning Board. Following positions as Councillor for the Township of Orillia and then Mayor of the Township of Severn, Stevens was elected Mayor of the City of Orillia in 2000. Upon completion of his third term as Mayor this fall, Stevens will have the distinction of being the longest-serving Mayor in the history of the City. He has declared this will be his final term as Mayor.
Stevens acknowledges the development of the Lakehead University Campus in Orillia as one of the highlights of his Mayoral tenure. "The entire experience involved a group of leaders who all shared a similar vision," Stevens recalls. This vision-sharing experience included Lakehead University President Fred Gilbert. "Dr. Gilbert visited us and made a public presentation, and when I saw the standing ovation he received from the audience, I knew we had clear project direction and ample community support," Stevens notes.
With the new University Avenue campus set to open this fall, Mayor Stevens says he is proud of what Lakehead - Orillia brings to our community and the region. "At the onset of this project, our interest in attracting a university to Orillia was inspired by a statistic we noticed in a census report," explains Stevens. The document reported that the Canadian average of those with post secondary education was 27 per cent, compared with less than twelve per cent in Orillia and Simcoe County. "By establishing the Lakehead Campus in Orillia, we committed to improve this statistic and contribute to the long-term social and economic development of the region."
The Civitas Award will be presented to Stevens at the Lakehead - Orillia Convocation on Saturday, June 5, at which over 200 graduands, including some students from the campus' charter class, will receive their degrees. The ceremony will be held at Patrick Fogarty Secondary School at 10:30 a.m.
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Media: For more information contact Kathy Hunt, Lakehead - Orillia Communications Officer at 705-330-4008 ext 2014 kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca. To set up interviews with Mayor Ron Stevens, contact (705) 326-1177.
Lakehead University is a comprehensive university with campuses in Thunder Bay and Orillia. It offers post-secondary undergraduate and graduate programs as well as research expertise that meet specific regional needs. The University is known for its multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Lakehead-Orillia opened in 2006, and in September 2010 will open the doors of its new Academic Building. This is the first phase in the development of Canada's first Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) Platinum university campus.
Kathy Hunt is the Communications Officer at Lakehead's Orillia Campus and can be reached at kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.
by Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer at Lakehead's Orillia Campus
I rode The Heart and Stroke Foundation's Big Bike last week! The Foundation
calls this their most FUN-raising fundraising event, during which teams of up to
29 riders pedal through the community in support of heart disease and stroke
research.
I was part of the Lakehead - Orillia team, led by the ThunderCATS, a group of
very energetic and community-minded students. Our team raised $1,180,
contributing to the Orillia Big Bike grand total of $62,000.
The Big Bike is just one of the community events that the Lakehead
ThunderCATS (Community Action Team) are involved in as community
volunteers and leaders. The group came about as a result of interest from
community organizations and Lakehead students. When the campus first opened
in 2006, Student Affairs Coordinator Kelli Gray often received calls from
community organizations looking for student volunteers. She began to work with
Concurrent Education student, Rodger Whitman, to develop a means for
students to respond to some of these requests. Whitman was interested in
forming the kind of community opportunities for students like those he saw in
Guelph, where his wife and fellow ThunderCAT member, Ariana, had studied.
"The University of Guelph offered so many different ways for students to get
involved, no matter what their interest, so I thought we could start some similar
activities here at the new Lakehead campus," explains Whitman. Before long,
Whitman met Shannon Green and Katelyn Fraser, two of Lakehead - Orillia's
student ambassadors. Under the leadership of this dynamic student group, the
ThunderCATS became an official club of the Lakehead University Student Union
(LUSU). As president and vice-president respectively, Green and Fraser
spearheaded a number of successful community initiatives under the
ThunderCATS banner.
"We realized we needed to get organized, develop a group of committed student
members, and focus on a few major events per year," says Whitman. With the
help of Green and Fraser, the rejuvenated group developed a vision (see
sidebar) and embarked on a plan of community action.
Of the many projects led by the ThunderCATS during the past year, Green is
most proud of the Walk for Memories event, which was initiated in cooperation
with the Alzheimer Society of North East Simcoe County. "It was an amazing
event," said Green. "We raised over $6,000, surpassing all our expectations. We
were thrilled with the outcome, and now the organization has a model for running
the event in future years."
During the 2008-2009 school year, the ThunderCATS also organized a "Trick- or-
Eat" event that collected over 700 food items for Orillia's Sharing Place Food
Bank; participated in a "30-Hour Famine," which donated $2,600 to Haiti relief
efforts and contributed $500 to other international-aid projects; and contributed
over $1,500 to the United Way Campaign through regular on-campus bake sales.
Both Green and Fraser say their ThunderCATS involvement has enhanced their
experience at Lakehead - Orillia. "The community spirit that has developed
through the club is something that will have long-lasting benefits," says Green.
Fraser adds that the club's community projects have helped bring students
together. "We've also been able to get to know the community, and I know this
sort of insight will help me in my future career," adds Fraser.
Both Green and Fraser are members - with First Class Standing - of this year's
graduating class, and will be attending Convocation on June 5 in Orillia. Both
students can be proud of their academic accomplishments, as well as their
contribution to student life at the Lakehead - Orillia campus.
"As one of the first formally-organized campus groups, the ThunderCATS provide
an opportunity for students to get involved and expand their horizons beyond the
classroom," notes Kelli Gray. "Through the leaderships efforts of the trio,
Whitman, Green, and Fraser have also helped create a campus community that
fosters civic engagement and pride," she adds. "They helped start something that
will inspire future students at the campus and continue to have positive effects on
the local community and beyond."
The ThunderCATS have recently elected a new executive, with Whitman as vicepresident,
and second-year student, Jazmin Beddard, as president. However,
just because this school year has wrapped up doesn't mean the ThunderCATS
will be taking a break. They have entered a team in the upcoming Cancer Relay
for Life on June 18 and will also be volunteering at this year's 50th Anniversary of
the Mariposa Folk Festival, July 9 to 11, as part of Lakehead - Orillia's
sponsorship of the event.
This event is supported by Lakehead University's Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health (CERAH), and takes place:
Date: Monday, May 31
Time: 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m.
Location: Northwest Community Care Access Centre office
961 Alloy Drive, Thunder Bay
(Boulevard Room, back door entrance)
Cost: Free of charge. Open to everyone.
Speaker: Beth Lambie, Director, Erie St. Clair End-of-Life Care Network.
Topic: Creating a Regional System of Hospice Palliative Care
(May 27, 2010 " Thunder Bay, ON) This year's Convocation marks a number of milestones for Lakehead University and its graduands - in Thunder Bay and Orillia.
Students from the Thunder Bay Campus will gather at the Community Auditorium for three Convocation ceremonies from May 28 " 29. One ceremony takes place on the afternoon of May 28, at which time Arthur V. Mauro will be installed as the new Chancellor. Two ceremonies also take place the following day. Students from the Orillia Campus will gather at the Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School for their Convocation ceremony on Saturday, June 5, 2010.
"Convocation is full of proud moments for students, and for their families, their friends, and all of the faculty members and support staff who have guided them through their Lakehead journey," says Dr. Laurie Hayes, Lakehead University's Vice-President (Academic & Provost). "Lakehead prides itself on helping students develop their ability to think critically and independently so they are well prepared in their transition from this institution to their post-education endeavours. Our branding campaign this year profiled several successful alumni, and we're looking forward to seeing members of this class achieve just as much success.
University Registrar Brenda Winter notes that approximately 2,500 degrees in total will be conferred this year, including " for the first time " PhDs in Forest Sciences. As is customary, numerous medals and awards will also be presented, including the Poulin Award for Outstanding Citizenship.
Four honorary degrees will be conferred this year. In Thunder Bay on Friday, a Doctor of Letters will be presented to Tomson Highway, the award-winning Cree novelist, children's author, and playwright. The next morning, a Doctor of Laws will be presented to Tony Belcourt, a leader in Canada's Métis community. In the afternoon, a Doctor of Science will be presented Dr. Temple Grandin, a Professor of Animal Sciences and a spokesperson and advocate for persons living with autism. A week later in Orillia, a Doctorate of Laws will be conferred on The Honourable David C. Onley, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.
Other people being honoured this year include Lyn McLeod, Lakehead University graduate and former leader of the Liberal Party of Ontario, who will be made a Fellow of Lakehead University on Saturday, May 29, and Ron Stevens, Mayor of the City of Orillia, who will be presented with the 2010 Lakehead University Orillia Campus Civitas Award on Saturday, June 5.
As well, four outstanding alumni will be honoured in Thunder Bay: Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu and Anthony LeBlanc will receive Young Alumni Awards, and James W. Sanders and Larry Hebert will receive Alumni Honour Awards. All Alumni awardees were honoured at the annual Alumni Relations' Annual Alumni Awards dinner on the evening of May 26, 2010.
Graduates and their family and friends in Thunder Bay are invited to attend the Chancellor's Reception in the Main Dining Hall from 12 noon to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, May 29. Likewise, those in Orillia are invited to the Chancellor's Reception at the Patrick Fogarty Catholic Secondary School from 12:30 p.m. to 2:00 p.m. on Saturday, June 5.
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Media: A full list of medal winners is available upon request. Dr. Hayes is available for media interview from 1:00 p.m. " 1:30 p.m. today. For more information or to arrange interview times with Dr. Hayes, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, 807-343-8177, 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 7,700 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
(May 26, 2010 " Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead is pleased to recognize a significant bequest from the estate of long-time Thunder Bay resident, Ms. Alma Jaakonaho, to Lakehead University's Chair in Finnish Studies. This announcement comes in the midst of FinnForum IX, a much anticipated conference which embraces various aspects of the social and political dynamics of the historic and ongoing Finnish presence in the world.
The Chair in Finnish Studies is a rotating position which generally lasts one or two terms. The individual who occupies this particular position, along with their associated academic unit, is expected to carry out teaching and research duties, and to interact with the community on matters related to Finland and Finnish Canadian affairs.
"Lakehead University truly appreciates Ms. Jaakonaho's generosity," says Lee Gould, Lakehead's Vice-President (University Advancement). "By making a gift in her Will to the institution, she has created a lasting legacy in support of Lakehead University education and its connection to Finnish Studies."
The bequest will be put into the permanent capital fund, from which any interest earnings will be used to help support the Chair. "Our initial goal in creating the endowment fund that supports the Chair was to reach $1 million," says Dr. Reino Pulkki, Chair of the Chair in Finnish Studies Advisory Committee. "We've surpassed that goal, and are pleased that Ms. Jaakonaho's gift puts us well on our way to reaching our ultimate goal of $2 million." The fund pays the full or partial salary of the individual Chair holder (amounts depend on the conditions of leave from the visiting professors' home universities), as well as costs associated with the Chair's accommodation and research. It also covers travel expenses for the Chair and members of his or her immediate family.
The FinnForum IX conference takes place at Thunder Bay's Prince Arthur Hotel from
May 26 " 27, 2010. It is one of many efforts by the Chair in Finnish Studies Advisory Committee, which works to engage academics, both Canadian and international, as well as the local community, in conversations regarding a wide range of issues on Finland and the Finnish diaspora. "The FinnForum IX conference is a prime example of the opportunities that can be leveraged through gifts provided to the University," says Dr. Antti Hakkinen, Lakehead's current Chair in Finnish Studies. "Opportunities like this would not be made possible without the support of donors such as Ms. Jaakonaho, and we are pleased to recognize a gift of this magnitude at an event that celebrates a variety of elements related to Finland and its people." Dr. Hakkinen is the sixth holder of the Chair in Finnish Studies. He came to Lakehead from the Department of Social Science History at the University of Helsinki, and holds the position of Chair until May 31, 2010.
Ms. Jaakonaho was born in 1930 in Haapajärvi, Finland and later lived in the city of Turku. In 1951 Alma moved to Sweden from which she emigrated to Canada in 1960. Alma worked for Domtar Woodlands (Nipigon) until her retirement in 1995, after which time she settled in Thunder Bay. In 1996, Alma married Heimo Hanhisalo, who predeceased her in 1997. Alma is survived by three siblings who live in Finland.
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MEDIA: Lee Gould, Dr. Reino Pulkki, and Dr. Antti Hakkinen are available for media interview. To arrange interview times, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, at 807-343-8177 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 7,700 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
(May 21, 2010 " Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University's Formula SAE Team placed 39th out of 120 international teams at the FSAE International Competition, which took place at the Michigan International Speedway from May 12 - 15. Scores for the team's static and dynamic events improved vastly over those from last year " when the team was named "Rookie of the Year."
Before any teams could participate in the static and dynamic events, they underwent a rigorous technical inspection process, during which compliance with technical requirements, braking, noise level, and other safety specifications had to be demonstrated. Each team's race car prototype was judged for design, cost, manufacturing and analysis as well as a business presentation. The dynamic events involved evaluating performance of each car according to acceleration, skidpad, autocross, fuel economy, and endurance.For a detailed list of all team standings and components involved in the static and dynamic events, please visit the Formula SAE website.
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MEDIA: To arrange interviews with FSAE team members, please contact Dr. Sultan Siddiqui, or the FSAE Team's Project Manager Trevor Farrow, at 807-251-9573 and 807-252-7167 respectively.
About Lakehead
Faculty Hiring and its Importance to Campus Sustainability
The excitement surrounding Lakehead - Orilia's new campus is growing as the September 2010 opening of the University Avenue campus draws nearer. The new campus will be Canada's first LEED? (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Platinum university campus, the very highest standard of energy efficiency and environmental design.
While this prestigious designation is very impressive, the facility itself represents only a portion of Lakehead University's investment in its Orillia campus.
Currently underway at Lakehead - Orillia is what is likely one of the largest faculty hirings to take place across the province this year. This spring, the Orillia campus advertised seventeen full-time positions, including twelve tenure track positions and five term positions.
To understand the significance of this new Orillia faculty complement, I spoke with Dr. Kim Fedderson, Lakehead University's Orillia Campus Dean
What does this current faculty hiring mean to Lakehead - Orillia?
Faculty are the heart and soul of a university, and a university is only as good as the faculty it is able to recruit and retain. The investment we are making in new faculty this year is almost as large as the capital investment we are making to build our new campus. With each tenure track position, we are committed in perpetuity. The total investment could be estimated at $36 million, when, for example, you multiply the salaries of each of the 12 tenure track positions by a 30-year tenure.
Why is such a major hiring taking place right now?
We are committed to expanding programs at the Lakehead - Orillia campus. As student numbers increase, we will also increase the number of qualified full-time faculty. In 2006, Lakehead - Orillia opened its doors at Heritage Place with a charter class of 120 students. The following year, enrolment grew to 308. In the current 2009-2010 school term, we have 750 full-time students. We started out offering three programs, including the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science, Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science/Bachelor of Education, and Bachelor of Arts and Science/Bachelor of Education. We now offer degree programs in Social Work, a Masters of Business Administration, and one-year post-graduate programs in Education and Social Work. In 2010, we will introduce an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environmental Sustainability, and in 2011, degree programs in Media Studies and Criminology.
Can you describe the process involved with hiring faculty?
Faculty hiring at Ontario's universities is very complex and exacting. The process is governed by a series of regulatory frameworks involving, but not limited to, the Faculty Collective Agreement, the University's Board of Governors, the University's Senate, the Council of Ontario Universities, and the Canadian Association of University Teachers.
We established a separate hiring committee comprising faculty from both the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses for each competition. These committees follow detailed protocols to narrow down the applicants and shortlist potential interviewees. The committees' recommendations are forwarded to the Deans at each campus, then to the President and Vice-President before candidate offers can be made.
It has been a huge organizational task for the human resources department. Heidi Berry, who has overseen the process, reported that 600 applications were received for the seventeen positions. Heidi's task was to ensure the process was well organized and that applicant information was efficiently delivered to the seventeen hiring committees. The committees are currently interviewing candidates and we hope to have the process completed by mid-June.
What types of applicants have expressed interest in these positions?
We were very impressed by the quality of applicants, including a good number from some of the most highly-esteemed universities in North America. We received applications from all over the world, including Australia, Korea, Germany, and Egypt. The minimum requirement for applicants is a PhD, university teaching experience, evidence of research potential and publication, and a service commitment to the University and the community.
What is Lakehead - Orillia looking for, in addition to the required qualifications?
At the Orillia campus, we offer a unique interdisciplinary program and an inquiry-based teaching approach - both designed to produce independent, critical thinkers. This represents a change in the way universities offer programs. In order to prepare our students for the future, we can no longer only focus on training with narrow specializations. Students today need multiple skills sets. We're looking for teachers who understand and are able to teach the social, cultural, and political context of their subject areas and research.
Do current faculty members have an opportunity to apply for the new positions?
Yes. We have been fortunate to attract a great group of scholars to Lakehead - Orillia. As tenure track positions become available, existing faculty have the opportunity to apply for them. Two of our original faculty members, Tim Kaiser and Nanda Kanavillil, applied for and successfully competed for tenure track positions, and were granted tenure by the University last fall. With tenure, a colleague who meets the teaching, research, and service responsibilities has a job for life. For the other original faculty members, we were able to extend their three-year term contracts by one additional year. Like most universities, our collective agreement limits the number of years a faculty member can hold a term position. For many of our original faculty, that time limit is now up. Some of them are currently competing for the positions we have advertised. Some will likely succeed in these competitions, and for those who don't, but want to continue working with us, I hope there will be teaching or administrative opportunities they might consider exploring. We certainly don't want to lose the expertise all these gifted scholars have brought to Lakehead - Orillia.
Can you sum up what this major addition to the faculty will mean to Lakehead - Orillia in the long-term?
We are hiring faculty for all of our programs, including Arts and Science, Education, Social Work, and our new Bachelor of Arts and Science in Environmental Sustainability. We are also hiring faculty to create our new programs in Criminology and Media Studies. This long-term investment in faculty will allow us to develop and deliver quality programs that will help our students realize their dreams, and, moreover, will provide us with the expertise necessary to realize the great expectations and high hopes this community has for Lakehead University - Orillia.
Community invited to see why film made waves
(May 20, 2010 " Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University professors Drs. Ron Harpelle and Michel Beaulieu have participated in the making of a short film entitled "Life Is But A Dream"¦," which has received the "Best of Genre for Sport" award within the International Documentary Challenge. It was the only Canadian entry to make it to the finals, receiving an honourable mention by the jury at the Hot Docs event, the biggest documentary film festival in North America, which took place in Toronto in early May.
Both Drs. Harpelle and Beaulieu are hopeful this experience will increase interest among potential Thunder Bay team members next year. "This is a great opportunity to raise Thunder Bay's filmmaking profile," says Dr. Harpelle. "Local filmmakers can use upcoming competitions as mentoring and learning opportunities, and the world will begin to appreciate the stories filmmakers in Thunder Bay tell through their artistry."As a result of its high standing, "Life Is But A Dream"¦" has been selected as one of the few films from the competition to be broadcast on The Documentary Channel (USA) for the next two years. It will also be played at film festivals that tour around the world. The film is about Charlie Wilkins and his latest adventure in rowing across the Atlantic Ocean among a group of other rowers while attempting to break the 33-day crossing record.
"The exercise of making a short film in only five days demonstrates how working together, volunteering time, and streamlining a group's creative abilities pays off for everyone," says the film's director, Kelly Saxberg. She adds that contributions by Drs. Harpelle and Beaulieu were pivotal in the film's reception by jury panellists.Community members are encouraged to watch the films from the 2010 International Documentary Challenge online at http://www.docchallenge.org, and to rate the films for the Audience Voting Award.
"Life Is But A Dream"¦" hits the Thunder Bay stage at the 2010 Bay Street Film Festival.
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MEDIA: Drs. Harpelle and Beaulieu are available for media interview. For more information, please contact Heather Scott, Communications Officer, at 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca, or Eleanor Abaya, Director of Communications, 807-343-8372 or eleanor.abaya@lakeheadu.ca.
About Lakehead
