(October 19, 2011 " Thunder Bay, ON) Lakehead University offers up to four years of free tuition to Canadian students coming directly from a recognized Canadian high school with an average of 95% or higher.

Lakehead University's free tuition scholarship influenced local student Moira Haggarty's decision to attend Lakehead University. "Attending university is expensive, particularly because I intend to continue my education after my undergraduate degree and there are four post-secondary learners in my family," says Moira. "Because of the financial benefit of free tuition," Moira adds, "I was able to spend this past summer volunteering overseas and can now dedicate more time to my studies.Being a student at Lakehead has turned out to be a fantastic opportunity for me:I now attend my university of choice, I am a varsity athlete on the Thunderwolves Nordic Ski Team, and I continue to love living in my hometown!"

Lakehead continues to offer significant incentives to attract and retain the best and brightest students from across Canada. Phyllis Bosnick, Lakehead's Manager of Student Awards & Financial Aid, explains, "the free tuition offer is renewable at the value of tuition for up to a total of four years, provided that a 90% average is maintained in each subsequent academic year." Bosnick also notes that free tuition scholarship recipients whose University academic averages fall between 80% - 89.9% receive an amended scholarship valued at $2,500 per year.

The free tuition scholarship has also attracted students like Jordan Baird, a first yearstudent fromRossburn, Manitoba who chose Lakehead for the geology program.

"The scholarship," Jordan says, "not only made my financialoutlook a lot moreoptimistic, it also enhanced my ability to enjoy Lakehead a lot more than if I was alwayslooking forways to pay the bills. So far, my experience hereat Lakehead hasbeen fantastic. The professors are great and the courses are very interesting.All in all, I couldn't be more pleased with the decision that I made to come here."

"Lakehead continues to offer free tuition to attract talented students, develop the local economy, and invest in a high-quality, home-grown, future workforce for both Thunder Bay and Orillia," says Dr. Brian Stevenson, President of Lakehead University."This scholarship draws high-calibre students to Lakehead where they add to the classroom dynamic and discover that Lakehead, because of its size, offers research and development opportunities for undergraduate students that are often difficult to obtain at larger universities."

Students don't have to apply for the free tuition scholarship as long as they have applied to Lakehead University. Academic scholarships are automatically awarded to students who meet the eligibility requirements.

As part of its scholarship program renewal, Lakehead is also launching the Northwestern Ontario and Simcoe County Citizenship Scholarship. This scholarship, designed for high school students who exhibit active citizenship within their high school and community, will provide $12,000 over 4 years to successful applicants. One citizenship scholarship will be available to every high school in the Northwestern Ontario and Simcoe County regions " in total, there are 49 scholarships available to be awarded to high school students through a nomination process by each school's guidance office.
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Media: For more information, please contact Communications Officer Janine Chiasson at 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca.

For more information about scholarships and bursaries at Lakehead University visit the Office of Student Awards and Financial Aid website: http://financialaid.lakeheadu.ca/

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Over 8,280 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.

(October 17, 2011 - Orillia, ON) Lakehead University Orillia is opening its doors to prospective students and their families and friends for its Fall Preview Day on Saturday, October 22. The event takes place at Lakehead Orillia's University Avenue Campus from 12:00 noon to 5:00 pm.

Prospective students will have the opportunity to explore the campus, meet their future professors, and learn from current students about what it's like to be a student on campus. Information sessions will help students gain valuable information about Lakehead's programs, courses, and student life. Visitors will also be able to tour the new facilities on campus, including the new 271-bed residence and cafeteria, and learn about the environmental features of the "green" campus. All facilities at the campus have been constructed to meet Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED^®) standards.

"This annual event showcases all of the unique programs and activities that Lakehead University Orillia has to offer," says Betsy Maus, regional recruitment officer."We know that choosing a university is a difficult decision and attending Fall Preview Day is the perfect opportunity for students to see, first-hand, all of the options and opportunities that are available for them at Lakehead."

Visitors to Preview Day are also invited to enjoy a campus pep rally and barbeque at 5:00 pm, presented by the University's department of athletics and recreation. The event will be a kick-off to an exciting hockey match between the Lakehead University Thunderwolves Men's Hockey Team and the York University Lions. The 2011 Jim Wilson Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderwolves Hockey Game begins at 8:00 at Rotary Place, West Orillia Sports Complex on University Avenue, adjacent to the University campus. For ticket information, visit www.orillia.lakehead.ca.

For more information about Preview Day and to register to attend, visit: www.mylakehead.ca.

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Media: For more information, contact Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca

(October 14, 2011 - Orillia, ON) Lakehead University acknowledges and responds to questions and concerns from students living in residence at the Orillia campus with detailed answers and offers of financial compensation.

"We realize that the first six weeks of residence life for our students this year have been anything but typical," says Campus Dean Kim Fedderson.

The newly constructed residence at the University Avenue campus had an opening delay, and as a result more than 100 Lakehead students were housed in local hotels for the first few weeks of the fall semester. When the students moved into their residence rooms in late September, they were faced with further inconveniences as construction of the residence and cafeteria continued.

"Students were excited to move into residence and pleased with their accommodations," noted Jean Acharya, residence general manager. "However, many students expressed their disappointment that some services, such as cable TV, laundry facilities, and cafeteria food services were not fully in place and available at that time."

Since then, laundry services have been installed; satellite TV is available in student lounges; and the cafeteria is scheduled to open for full meal service on Monday, October 17, 2011.

In recognition of these inconveniences, Lakehead University is reducing residence fees at its Orillia campus by $500 for the academic year (September 2011 to April 2012). In addition, all residence students will receive a credit to their meal plans.

"Generally, our residence students have been extremely patient with respect to the challenges we have faced with the completion of our new residence. We appreciate their understanding of the situation and we hope that by listening to their concerns, providing timely information updates, and reducing residence fees this year, we can mitigate any further disruptions to their studies," says Fedderson.

The Orillia campus residence currently houses over 100 students and, once construction is fully complete, will have a capacity for 271 students, all in single room accommodation.

The community will have an opportunity to visit and explore the University Avenue campus and its new facilities at an Open House event on November 10. The event will be held in conjunction with the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC) "Open Doors - Open Knowledge" celebrations taking place across Canada between November 4 - 13.

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Media: For more information, please contact Lakehead University Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University Thunderwolves to face off against York University Lions at Rotary Place, Orillia

(October 17, 2011 - Orillia, ON) In what is becoming an annual Lakehead University event, the Thunderwolves Men's Hockey Team will face off against the York University Lions in Orillia this weekend.

The Jim Wilson Chevrolet Buick GMC Thunderwolves Hockey Game will take place on Saturday, October 22 at Rotary Place, West Orillia Sports Complex on University Avenue in Orillia.

Jim Wilson is pleased to once again support the event as a member of the local business community. "This once-a-year event is a big community draw," says Wilson. It offers a different and very exciting type of hockey experience that brings in spectators from across the region."

The 2011 hockey match is supported by many community businesses and organizations, including media sponsors, The Packet & Times and KICX 106/104.1 The Dock.

Wolfie, Lakehead University's Thunderwolves mascot, makes a visit to Jim Wilson Chevrolet Buick GMC in Orillia to meet Jim Wilson and thank him for his support of the upcoming varsity men's hockey match against the York University Lions.

Last year's game attracted a sell-out crowd and organizers are expecting a similar level of interest this year. Spectators can enjoy a pep rally and barbeque at Lakehead Orillia's University Avenue campus from 5:00 to 7:00 pm, in advance of the 8:00 pm puck drop. "This is a chance for spectators to meet "Wolfie", the Thunderwolves mascot, take part in a variety of fun events and win prizes," says Liz Ross, Lakehead Orillia's Athletics and Recreation Facilitator.

Earlier in the day, Lakehead University hosts its annual Fall Preview Day for prospective students at the University Avenue campus. Between 12 noon and 5:00 pm, visitors will have a chance to explore the campus, attend information sessions and meet students and faculty members.

Visitors are welcome to drop in, while prospective students are encouraged to register in advance at www.mylakeheadu.ca.

Tickets for the Thunderwolves game can be purchased online at orillia.lakeheadu.ca or at Lakehead's University Avenue campus. The cost is $10 for adults and $5 for students and seniors. On October 22, doors open at 7:30 pm; the puck drops at 8:00 pm.

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Media: For more information, contact Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca

(October 12, 2011 " Thunder Bay, ON) Today, Lakehead celebrated and showcased its researchers and students who received over $1 million in research funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) in 2010-2011.

Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism professor, Dr. Harvey Lemelin, is investigating the largely ignored roles of insects and the perception of insects in Canadian society " from bedbugs to butterflies. Dr. Lemelin has been granted over $100,000 in funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) to pursue a study entitled Understanding Human-Insect Interactions in Selected Regions of Canada that will help develop more effective interpretive and educational materials. Dr. Lemelin's work is just one of Lakehead University's many faculty and student research projects that received funding over the past year.

"Research in the social sciences and humanities is central to helping us craft solutions for challenging societal problems. Academic performance, community-based environmental management solutions, and interpersonal relationships are some of the areas that Lakehead scholars have addressed," says Lakehead President Brian Stevenson. "The SSHRC grants help bring researchers from different disciplines together to share perspectives and new ideas that improve our collective understanding of complex issues."

With the support of a Canada Graduate Scholarship worth $105,000 over three years, Lakehead University PhD student Danielle Ransom will examine the important area of body image in her research, Utility of Self-Affirmation Theory: Exploring Self-Esteem, Body Image and Individual Personality Characteristics.

Dr. Rui Wang, vice-president (research, economic development and innovation) emphasizes that "Lakehead's researchers and trainees are well-known for their cutting-edge research on human thought and behaviour as well as the interaction of humans with their environment. SSHRC investments in these areas at Lakehead will help advance our understanding of complex societal and economic challenges that confront our region and the nation, which can lead to "˜Lakehead-made' solutions for the real needs of our society."

SSHRC grants awarded to Lakehead University's researchers include Standard Research grants, an Aid to Small Universities grant, an Insight Development grant, Public Outreach Summer Institute grants, and grants for graduate student research.

The Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) is the federal agency that promotes and supports university-based research and training in the humanities and social sciences. Through its programs and policies, SSHRC enables the highest levels of research excellence in Canada, and facilitates knowledge sharing and collaboration across research disciplines, universities and all sectors of society.

SSHRC Grants Awarded to Lakehead Faculty

AID TO SMALL UNIVERSITIES (ASU)

David Greenwood (Education)
Centre for Environmental, Sustainability, and Place Studies $90,000

INSIGHT DEVELOPMENT FUND

Edward (Keith) Brownlee (Social Work) with co-investigator Edward Rawana (Psychology)
An Examination of the Relationship between School-wide Strength-based Programming, School Climate and Academic Performance of Elementary School Children $60,090

PUBLIC OUTREACH SUMMER INSTITUTE

Margaret (Peggy) Smith (Natural Resources Management)
Building Resilient Northern Ontario Communities through Community-Based Forest Management $26,843

Robert Stewart (Geography)
Clumsy Solutions for a Complex World: Mobilizing Decisions about Lake Superior Areas of Concern and Lakewide Management $39,800

STANDARD RESEARCH GRANT

Edward (Keith) Brownlee (Social Work)
Rational and emotional decision making: Social workers serving family, friends and acquaintances $57,630

Kristin Burnett (History)
Race, Settlement, and Contagious Disease in Alberta, 1890-1940 $36,000

Monica Flegel (English)
Strange Domesticities: Animal-Human Domestic Relations in Victorian Culture $17,905

Daniel Hannah (English)
Transatlantic Erotics, 1783-1916: Gender and Desire in Narratives of Anglo-American Exchange $15,603

Raynald (Harvey) Lemelin (Outdoor Recreation, Parks and Tourism)
Understanding Human-Insect Interactions in Selected Regions of Canada $110,900

David Richards (Business) with co-investigator Aaron Schat (McMaster University)
Investigations of Attachment and Self-Determination in Organizations: Understanding Interpersonal Relationships at Work $18,981

Jennifer Roth (Women's Studies) with co-investigator Monica Flegel (English)
Regulating Fan/Tasies: Fandom, Fan, Fiction, and Internet Policing $75,856

Margaret (Peggy) Smith (Natural Resources Management) with co-investigators David Davidson-Hunt (University of Manitoba), Robin Roth (York University), and collaborator Carol Audet (Nishnawbe Aski Nation)
Giving Voice to First Nations' Views of Land Stewardship: Moving Beyond the Boreal Conservation vs. Development Debate $133,200

Total $682,808

SSHRC Grants Awarded to Lakehead students

Joseph-Armand Bombardier Canada Graduate Scholarships " Master's
Value: $17,500

Natalie Gerum (MEd - Faculty of Education)
Re-Placing the University: The Role of Place-Conscious Pedagogy in Post-Secondary Education

Denise Groves (MA Social Work)
Understanding the Needs of High Risk Youth and How Advocacy Services Provide for These Youth in Need

Kaylin Kainulainen (MSc Kinesiology)
Relating Passion and Perfectionism in Varsity Ice Hockey Players

Heather Koller (MA Social Work)
Engaging Populations at Risk " A Community Outreach Model for Thunder Bay

Holly Morgan (MA English)
Querying the closet in literature of the South Asian Diaspora

Ulysses Patola (MA History)
Racial Hegemony: Identity, Conflict and Struggle over Ice Hockey in Small Town Canada

Jaimi Penney (MA History)
Searching for a "Just Society" Max Saltsman and the Era of Social Change in Canada, 1964-79

Chantal Poirier (MA Psychology)
Experimental Exposure to Thin Women Portrayed in the Media: Self-affirmation and the Reduction of a Self-discrepant Body Image

Streven Strey (MA English)
Ecocritical Examination of the Poetry of Archibald Lampman

Heather Wark (MA Education)
The Development of Unitizing: A Longitudinal Study of the Mathematical Principles Needed and the Strategies and the Models used as Children Construct this Pivotal Mathematical Concept

Nicholina Youroukos (MES " Nature-based Recreation and Tourism)
Entrepreneurs' Perceptions of Tourism: A Case Study of Rural Communities in Northern Ontario

Canada Graduate Scholarships " PhD

Gail Kuhl (PhD Education)
Living Well in a World with Wolves: Investigating the Value of Wolf-Focused Education
Value: $40,000 for 24 months

Danielle Ransom (PhD Clinical Psychology)
Utility of Self-Affirmation Theory: Exploring Self-Esteem, Body Image and Individual Personality Characteristics
Value: $105,000 for 36 months

Total: $320,000

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MEDIA: For more information, please contact Janine Chiasson, Communications Officer, at 807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca.

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Over 8,280 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.

(October 11, 2011 " Thunder Bay, ON) Today in the Lakehead University Agora, the Department of Psychology announced that Bell's Let's Talk Community Fund has provided funding for a study to assess the feasibility of a psychology clinic located at Lakehead's Thunder Bay campus.

According to the World Health Organization, mental illness is the leading cause of disability in Canada, the U.S., and Western Europe. One in five Canadians will experience a mental illness in their lifetime. Yet only one-third of those who need mental health services in Canada actually receive them, often due to the stigma associated with mental illness or because they simply do not have access to programs in their community.

Lakehead professor Dr. Josephine Tan has been working to establish the clinic and says, "This feasibility study funding will allow us to carry out a market assessment to determine how the clinic can be best developed over different phases to complement existing mental health services in this region. We are very grateful to Bell's Let's Talk Community Fund for giving us the funds we need to engage the Northwestern Ontario Innovation Centre to assist us in a study that will also develop a sustainable operating model and budget."

Dr. Lori Livingston, Lakehead's Dean of Health and Behavioural Sciences, believes the clinic is "an important step for the Department of Psychology and will be a real asset to the University, community, and region."

Establishment of a psychology clinic at Lakehead will support the healthcare system in Thunder Bay and Northern Ontario in a number of ways. The clinic will help train competent professional psychologists in evidence-based clinical services and research, and extend existing mental health care services in the community. By offering professional development opportunities for health professionals, the clinic will also improve the retention rate of clinical psychologists in Northern Ontario. The clinic can contribute to research initiatives and collaborations, including those initiated by individuals or communities outside of the University.

In addition, a campus-based psychology clinic can assist the Lakehead University Student Health and Counselling Centre to provide services for students, a need which has been increasing in number and complexity across many post-secondary institutions. Collaborations with First Nations health agencies for the delivery of mental health services will also be pursued.

The Lakehead University Psychology Clinic Study is funded through the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund, part of the Bell Mental Health Initiative. The project received a grant for $12,200.

"We at Bell are extremely pleased to lend our support to the Lakehead University Psychology Clinic and the almost 50 other community organizations across the country that are part of the Bell Let's Talk Community Fund's first year," said Mary Deacon, Chair of the Bell Mental Health Initiative. "These groups are truly making a difference at the grassroots level. We're very proud that, through grants from our Community Fund, we will be helping them to provide much needed resources to enhance mental health services and programs for those affected by mental illness."

Lakehead Psychology student Liane Kandler is working toward her Doctoral degree in Clinical Psychology and fully supports a campus psychology clinic: "An on-campus clinic will provide ample opportunities for quality training and supervised clinical services. This in turn will help to promote academic excellence, enrich the overall student experience, andincrease access tomental health resources in the community."

The Bell Mental Health Initiative is a multi-year charitable program that promotes mental health across Canada via the Bell Let's Talk anti-stigma campaign and support for community care, research, and workplace best practices. To learn more, please visit Bell.ca/LetsTalk.

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Media: For more information please contact:

Janine Chiasson
Communications Officer
807-343-8177 or commun@lakeheadu.ca

Norma Hughes
Bell Media Relations
877-647-3443 or nhughes@ntl.nt.net

About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Over 8,280 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.

Lakehead student overcomes personal challenge and creates award to help others

(Oct. 7, 2011 - Orillia, ON) Just six years ago, Robert Moore was an alcoholic and drug addict who had barely survived seven years of homelessness, 16 years of being in and out of jail, and dangerous associations with organized crime.

Today, Moore is a successful author, award-winning community volunteer, sought-after public speaker, and the first Lakehead University student to create a student scholarship award while enrolled in full-time studies.

Moore, in his second year of the Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW) program at the Orillia campus, recently celebrated six years of sobriety since turning his life around in September 2005.

His remarkable story is documented in Moore's recently self-published book, There's Moore to Life. The book is a compelling account of the struggles Moore faced on his self-destructive path that began at a young age, and the incredible transformation he has made.

Moore's transformation journey began the day he checked himself into a detox centre. This pivotal step led to a three-month stay at the Seven South Treatment Centre in Orillia, which Moore describes as a life-altering learning process. "It gave me the tools to learn how to live in the community," he says, "and also allowed me to return to school."

While completing his high school education at the Orillia Learning Centre, Moore enrolled in an online drug and alcohol counselling program, and began taking courses in the Social Services Worker diploma program at Georgian College. Moore's motivation to pursue additional studies came from his own life experience. "I saw how drugs and alcohol affected my life and I figured that I might be able to help other people."

The desire to help others is also what made Moore decide to write his book. "My goal is to give back to the community and help support someone who can't help themselves. This is why I wrote the book - to reach out to those who need it. By sharing my struggles and hopes, I hope to help prevent others from going down the wrong road."

Moore's book sales will contribute to the new Robert J. Moore Award for Lakehead students. "I originally set up the Award with the funds raised from a garage sale I held in the spring," explains Moore. "Now with the publication of my book, I will donate $5 from every book sold to the Award fund." Moore signed a contract with Lakehead University to contribute $5,000 over five years to sustain the award.

Moore created the award to support students who, like himself, have overcome a personal life challenge and who demonstrate community volunteerism and financial need.

Orillia Campus Dean Dr. Kim Fedderson congratulates social work student, Robert Moore, on the publication of his book and creation of a new student award for the University.

"My experience at Lakehead University has been very positive," says Moore. "My college diploma gave me a good foundation and prepared me to come here, but this degree is what I need. I'm getting valuable experience and will gain the qualifications I need to accomplish my goals."

Moore looks forward to continuing his work in the local community. He plans to remain in the Orillia area to work with local youth and hopes to one day open a crisis centre or group home.

In the meantime, Moore will be busy promoting his book, raising funds for the Robert J. Moore Award, and completing his degree.

"I am honoured to be at Lakehead," says Moore. "The staff and faculty here really do want to help students succeed - I'm a prime example. I never thought in my life that I'd get my Grade 12, and here I am with a couple of diplomas, a book, accepted into university, and passing!"

To find out more about Moore and his book, visit www.Theres-Moore-to-Life.com. Locally, the book is sold at Boudicca Fine Used Books on Mississaga Street in downtown Orillia, where Moore will be signing copies on November 19, 2011 from 1 to 3 pm.

For more information about the Robert J. Moore Award and other scholarships, bursaries and awards offered by Lakehead University, visit http://orillia.lakeheadu.ca/scholarships--bursaries/ or call the Orillia campus at 705-330-4008. The deadline for applications is October 15, 2011.

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Media: For more information, contact Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca

(September 30, 2011 - Thunder Bay, ON) Today the medical research community in the Northwest welcomes two new recruits to the region: Dr. Mitchell Albert is the first-ever Lakehead University/Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute Research Chair; and Mr. Scott Gillis holds a dual role as Director of Business Development and Commercialization for TBRRI and MaRS Innovation.

"This is certainly an exciting moment for Thunder Bay. Not only are we recruiting doctors and nurses to our region, we are also seeing leaders in medical research, science, and healthcare commercialization coming to our community," says Keith Hobbs, Mayor of Thunder Bay.

Dr. Albert holds a PhD in Physical Chemistry and was a faculty member at Harvard Medical School. He moved to Thunder Bay from Boston earlier this summer. He is an expert and specialist in hyperpolarized (HP) noble gas MRI: an advanced MRI technique used to image the brain and lungs. Hyperpolarized gas MRI is safe, and has proven extremely effective for diagnosing diseases of lungs, including asthma and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD). As a joint Lakehead University/TBRRI Research Chair, Dr. Albert is continuing to develop and optimize hyperpolarized gas MRI technologies, including hyperpolarized xenon MRI which can be used to image stroke and cancer in addition to the lungs. Dr. Albert is a full-time faculty member in the Department of Chemistry at Lakehead University and will be making both research and teaching contributions to the new PhD program in Chemistry and Materials Science.

Scott Gillis has over 21 years of experience in the pharmaceutical and health industry, having spent most of his career in management working at pharmaceutical giant GlaxoSmithKline. Mr. Gillis moved to Thunder Bay last month from Halifax, Nova Scotia. In his new role, Mr. Gillis will work to commercialize leading research projects evolving out of TBRRI and from other Innovation member institutions, including the commercialization of Dr. John Rowlands' X-ray Light Valve (XLV) technology that produces higher quality, less expensive digital x-ray images than present-day digital medical devices. He'll also be working on the medical isotopes program coming from the new cyclotron.

"Today is another example of how key partnerships between Lakehead University, the Health Sciences Centre, and Thunder Bay's medical industry are attracting scientists and business leaders to the North," says Michael Power, CEO, TBRRI. "Both Dr. Albert and Mr. Gillis recognize the new opportunities that exist in our growing scientific and medical research economy, and we are honoured to have them in Thunder Bay."

Dr. Umed Panu, Associate Vice-President (Research, Economic Development and Innovation) at Lakehead University, says this joint announcement is one of many future ones to come: "Dr. Albert is one of the first of a group of new Research Chairs and academics who are being jointly recruited to Thunder Bay. Geography is not a barrier when research and academic organizations pool resources to attract leading minds to our community for the benefit of advanced student training, patient care, and the knowledge economy."

"TBRRI recently joined MaRS Innovation to accelerate the commercialization of technologies flowing out of the institute," says Dr. Andrew Sinclair, Senior Director, Medical Devices and Physical Science of MaRS Innovation. "Our first commercialization target is Dr. Rowlands and his X-ray Light Valve, a platform x-ray imaging technology, which has been spun-out as a company called XLV Diagnostics. We have hired a Chief Technology Officer, Mr. Vlad Sukhovatkin, who has moved from Toronto to Thunder Bay and Mr. Scott Gillis will be a key resource on the Business Development side for XLV and will help us raise capital and look for larger and resource rich partners."

Mr. Scott Gillis will be instrumental in the commercialization process as an integrated employee of TBRRI and MaRS Innovation. MaRS is a non-profit organization based in Toronto helping to commercialize new medical-related technology. Mr. Gillis will bring forward the most promising research projects developed by TBRRI Scientists and assist them with the business expertise required.

"Recruiting a Director of Business Development and Commercialization brings us closer to advancing TBRRI's missions to deliver world-class care to patients in the Northwest and contribute to innovative health technology in Canada," says Dr. Michael Julius, Member of the TBRRI Board; Vice-President, Research, at Sunnybrook Research Institute and Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre; and leader of the international search committee.

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About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Over 8,280 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work at campuses located in Orillia, and Thunder Bay, Ontario, which is home to the west campus of the Northern Ontario School of Medicine. Lakehead University promotes innovative research that supports local and regional socio-economic needs. In Orillia, development continues on building a campus that meets Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards.

About Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute
Thunder Bay Regional Research Institute is an independent, not-for-profit research corporation partnered closely with Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre. Scientists and clinicians work together with academic and industry partners to bring advanced diagnostic technology to our patients. TBRRI strives to improve the quality of patient-centred healthcare by advancing new standards of excellence in the clinical investigation of novel molecular imaging-based diagnostic technologies. www.tbrri.com

About MaRS Innovation
MaRS Innovation stands for Medical and Related Sciences. It is an incorporated non-profit organization with an international, independent, industry-led Board of Directors, and is the commercialization agent for 17 members who are leading Ontario life sciences and commercialization agents. Partners include University of Toronto, Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre, and University Health Network. www.marsinnovation.com

September 22, 2011

Sheri O'Connor enrolled at Lakehead's Orillia campus in 2007 with the intention of becoming an elementary school teacher. She graduated in June with first class standing in the Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science and Bachelor of Education programs (HBASc/BEd). However, instead of pursuing her teaching goals, as planned, she has returned to Lakehead University this fall to conduct lake ecology research as part of her graduate studies.

This is a first for the Orillia campus. O'Connor and fellow student, Debbie Balika, are the first full-time graduate students at the campus. They are both enrolled in the Master of Science in Biology.

For O'Connor, the opportunity represents a complete change to her plans. "I thought I had my life planned out nicely - go back to school; become a teacher; and work at the local elementary school in her community of Bracebridge. Then I came to Lakehead and discovered this amazing school and professors and found a new direction for my life."

Once enrolled at Lakehead, O'Connor was attracted to biology courses because of a life-long love of nature and the outdoors. She said that a plant biology course taught by Dr. Nanda Kanavillil, Associate Professor, Biology, in particular, was what started changing her mind about her career. "That course, along with the experience of the Interdisciplinary Studies program in general, including courses in anthropology, really piqued my interest in research. "

During her undergraduate studies, O'Connor got involved with a number of biology research projects, under the supervision of Dr. Kanavillil and Dr. Sreekumari Kurissery, Chair of Interdisciplinary Studies and Associate Professor, Biology. "Sheri's opportunity to do research with us last summer probably transformed her ideas and led to her pursuit of graduate studies," says Kanavillil. "I could easily see through the way she approached problems that she had a researcher's mind."

Lakehead University President Dr. Brian Stevenson (centre) visits a research site with one of Lakehead Orillia's first Master of Science graduate students, Sheri O'Connor, along with her supervisor, Dr. Nanda Kanavillil, Associate Professor, Biology.

Last January, O'Connor said she made up her mind to "go for it." "Doing your Master's is a big commitment," she says ­­-- "another two years in school." For O'Connor that means juggling the responsibilities of her family, which include three children between the ages of 11 and 18.

"I am only able to do this because of Lakehead." O'Connor explains that she needs to go to school close to home because of her family, and also credits the unique Lakehead experience and personal support from her husband with enabling her to pursue her Master's degree. "Learning is so personal here; I don't think this would have happened at a larger school. The relationships and professors' willingness to help students like myself succeed is really what has made this happen. "Without the support of Dr. Kanavillil and Dr. Kurissery, I would not be pursuing my Master's degree. It was their encouragement and determination that made this work within the university."

"We are extremely happy to make this opportunity available," says Kanavillil."We had some challenges to achieving our graduate study program here at the Orillia campus, but the administration and decision makers, both here, and in Thunder Bay, were very cooperative in helping us get the program running."

"This is just the beginning," says Kanavillil. "I'm sure this will have a lasting impact over the next few years, as we develop further research opportunities here at the Orillia campus."

As O'Connor embarks on her studies, she is excited about her paleolimnology research project. "Paleolimnology is the study of past aquatic environments," explains O'Connor. "The purpose of my research is to determine how the shoreline wetlands of Lake Simcoe have changed over time with increased human populations."O'Connor will be taking sediment samples from the Victoria Point wetland area in Orillia and other Lake Simcoe locations to help her to reconstruct the aquatic environment and determine the impact of human influences. "If we know the history of the area and understand how the shoreline has changed, we will be able to develop more precise management targets and restoration objectives. Without knowing what the area was like before [human influences], we don't know what it should be like."

O'Connor also points out that even though the phosphorus levels in the lake are being reduced, the reduction is occurring in the basin or middle of the lake. "Unfortunately, levels appear to be very high in the near shore environment. At Victoria Point, the levels are substantially higher than levels recorded in the basin."

As far as O'Connor knows, this is the first time such a study has been done along the shoreline of Lake Simcoe. "Sheri's research is definitely filling a gap," notes Kanavillil, "and I'm confident that her studies will produce new, important data."

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September 15, 2011 - Orillia, ON

Lakehead University Orillia is looking for a volunteer part-time coach for its Men's Club Hockey Team. Now in its second year, the Club is part of the University's Athletics and Recreation program and is expanding with the growth of the Orillia campus.

To find out more about this opportunity, contact Liz Ross, Lakehead Orillia's Athletics and Recreation Facilitator at 705-330-4008 ext 2116 or orathlet@lakeheadu.ca. Details can also be found here.

Media contact: Liz Ross, Lakehead University Orillia Athletics and Recreation Facilitator: 705-330-4008 ext. 2116 or orathlet@lakeheadu.ca.