Lakehead Engineers Place First Among International Entrants at Bridge-building Competition

(June 7, 2012 " Thunder Bay, ON)

On May 25 and 26, Lakehead competed at the prestigious 2012 National Student Steel Bridge Competition (NSSBC) as the reigning 2011 champions. This year's inter-collegiate challenge required civil engineering students from 47 American and three Canadian universities, as well as a Chinese and Mexican university to design and construct a steel bridge.Of the five teams invited to participate from outside the United States, our engineers finished first among all international entrants.


Lakehead students pose in the Carolina sunshine with their entry at the NSSBC at Clemson U (L-R: Dr. Tony Gillies, Raquel Almeida, Xaver Kargl, Peter Luckai, Brian Glavish, Tim Klassen, Norman Fong, Conrad Hagstrom)


Overall, Lakehead placed 11th in the field of 52 teams, with 2nd and 4th place results in this rigorous competition's "˜Lightness' and "˜Efficiency' categories, respectively.

"The team had one of the top engineered bridges at the competition, as evidenced by their fourth place ranking in structural efficiency," said Dr. Tony Gillies, faculty advisor to the Lakehead team. "They just could not build the bridge fast enough. Each year the competition gets more intense as designs get more refined."

At the end of the two day event, engineers from U of California, Berkeley would capture the NSSBC 2012 crown, repatriating the title from Thunder Bay to Berkeley.


Peter Luckai and Brian Glavish apply the load test of 2500 lbs. to their bridge





Lakehead's engineering team would like to express their appreciation to the many sponsors who supported their participation at the Regional and National Competitions.

Our team members included Raquel Almeida, Norman Fong, Brian Glavish, Xaver Kargl, Timothy Klassen and Peter Luckai, with faculty advisor, Dr. Tony Gillies and Civil Engineering Technologist, Conrad Hagstrom.

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Media: For more information, please contact Hugh Mullally, Communications Officer, at (807) 343-8148 or media.admin@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. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 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.

Thunder Bay Flood Victims Find Homes at Lakehead University

(June 4 " Thunder Bay, ON)

To help the City of Thunder Bay's efforts during its state of emergency, Lakehead University " together with the Red Cross, the City of Thunder Bay, Thunder Bay Police Service and Thunder Bay Fire Rescue Service " is opening its residences to those in the community whose homes were flooded, or damaged during the recent heavy rains.

Statement made by Dr. Brian Stevenson at the Thunder Bay Fire Hall Station at today's 10 am media conference:


Lakehead President Dr. Brian Stevenson
announces residence housing for flood victims
at Thunder Bay news conference today

"Our first step is to open as many beds as possible to help people affected by this flood," announced Lakehead University President, Dr. Brian Stevenson, at a news conference from the Cumberland Street Fire Station, this morning. "Having recently toured some of the areas hit hardest by the floods, I'd just like to say that no photographs or video could properly illustrate what so many people have lost. It's heartbreaking."

Lakehead University is already providing residence housing for a few dozen flood victims, in addition to over 300 individuals working for restoration companies who are cleaning and restoring water-damaged homes and basements.




Lakehead Director of Residence &
Conference Services David Hare,
outlines residence arrangements
and coordination efforts

Lakehead University's Director of Residence and Conference Services, David Hare, who also spoke at the news conference, stated that "Everybody's kicking in to make sure this happens. "˜No' is not an answer we want to hear, so we're doing everything we can to coordinate and make as many of our residence units available as possible."

Lakehead University residence arrangements are being coordinated through the Red Cross. Anyone wishing to request lodging should call the Red Cross at (807) 473-3905 or (807) 473-3906.





Thunder Bay's Spring 2012 Flood

On May 30, 2012, Thunder Bay City Council declared a state of emergency in the wake of heavy rains that recently inundated several areas in and around the city, leaving more than 1,100 homes and basements flooded with water and/or raw sewage, washed out roads and highways, and an overwhelmed sewage treatment plant. Thunder Bay City Manager, Tim Commisso, recently said the city administration is focused on ensuring homeowners have a safe place to live.

To learn more about how Lakehead is assisting the City of Thunder Bay, read Lakehead University Offers Place to Stay.

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Media:
To arrange an interview with Lakehead University President, Dr. Brian Stevenson, or Lakehead University Director of Residence and Conference Services, David Hare, please contact Tracey Skehan at (807) 343-8372 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.

CampU offers exciting peek into university life

(May 29, 2012 - Orillia, ON) CampU is a day camp as unique as the wonderful youth it hopes to attract! For the first time, Lakehead University will offer a children's day camp at the Orillia campus on University Avenue. CampU gives campers, ages 8 to 13, the opportunity to participate in a combination of hands-on educational activities and multi-sport fun.

There are five camp weeks to choose from, beginning July 2. Each week focuses on a different theme and educational discipline, including criminology, chemistry, history, visual arts, journalism, creative writing and drama!



One of the most anticipated is the "Who Dun'it?" camp, where campers participate in detective activities. Other weekly themes include Nuts for Nature, Media Savvy, Super Science and Arts U. Campers will also enjoy a day at the beach each week and, for older campers, an overnight stay in residence.

Camp Director Liz Ross, athletics and recreation facilitator at the Orillia campus, says she is excited about how the new camp is coming together. "Our CampU staff are highly qualified and motivated students enrolled in Lakehead University's Bachelor of Education program. They all have experience working with children, and represent some of our top student leaders." Ross adds that it's the variety of programming, along with the chance for campers to experience the campus facilities, which make CampU stand out.

CampU registration is on weekly basis and discounts are available for families with more than one child registered. Online registration is available at orillia.lakeheadu.ca. For further information, contact Liz Ross at 705-330-4008, ext. 2116 or orathlet@lakeheadu.ca


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

Lakehead Summer of Sustainability features special guest speaker: Monday, June 4

Lakehead's next SOS call is answered by a special guest

(May 30, 2012 - Orillia, ON) The next session of Lakehead's Summer of Sustainability (SOS) series features a special guest appearance by Dr. Jeff Hutchings, a world-renowned expert in marine biology and conservation. This is the third event in the SOS series of lectures and takes place on Monday, June 4 at 7 pm, instead of the regularly scheduled Tuesday evening sessions. The SOS series features various speakers who are experts in their field, all concerned with leaving the world intact for future generations.

Dr. Hutchings, who was raised in Orillia, is currently a professor at Dalhousie University in Halifax. His SOS lecture about the effects of climate change on fisheries, aquaculture and Canada's biodiversity promises to be especially engaging and one not to be missed. With close to 200 publications, Dr. Hutchings is a Killam Professor (a title given only to exceptional faculty who have distinguished themselves as scholars), and the president of the Canadian Society for Ecology and Evolution, among many other achievements. ??

"Dr. Hutchings' presence, says series organizer, Dr. Thamara Laredo, professor of chemistry at Lakehead Orillia,represents an outstanding opportunity for the SOS series and its participants. Attendees will be able to hear a first-hand account of the state of Canada's marine ecosystems and the challenges Canada faces in its efforts to conserve and sustain marine biodiversity. Furthermore, members of the audience will be able to ask questions and interact with a true eminence in the field. We are very honoured."

The June 4 event takes place at the University Avenue campus at 7 pm. Admission and parking are free. For a list of all SOS event dates, topics and speakers, visit the Lakehead University Orillia website.

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

See Series event listing.

Campus becomes Camp!

(May 24, 2013 - Orillia, ON)

Lakehead University' Orillia campus continues to grow and this summer, the University will create a new way to service and engage the community. This year, for the first time, Lakehead will open its doors to Orillia families in the form of a summer day camp.

On July 2, Camp U welcomes campers aged 8-13 to enjoy a peek into university life. CampU provides five camp weeks to choose from, each featuring hands-on educational and multi-sport activities.

Different weekly themes are one of the unique features of the camp. Campers can choose from Arts U, Who Dun It? Media Savvy, Nuts for Nature, and Super Science. All themes are based on educational disciplines such as visual arts, criminology, chemistry, and cinematography.

Older campers have the opportunity for an overnight experience in the University's brand new residence, while all campers will enjoy a weekly day at the beach. Parents and siblings are invited to camp each Thursday to learn about what takes place during the week.

Counsellors for Camp U are current Lakehead students who have experience working with children in both camp and classroom settings. The camp director is Liz Ross, who is the athletics and recreation facilitator at the Lakehead Orillia campus.

Ross certainly has some stacked credentials when it comes to camping. As a child she was an avid camper attending a variety of camps from year to year. She worked as a camp counsellor for many years and recently held the position of director at a sports camp in the Township of Oro-Medonte.

When asked what most excites her most about Camp U, Ross says it's: "the variety of programming... and the opportunity for young kids to experience the amazing facilities available on campus."

The CampU staff members are pumped and ready to go, according to Ross. The enthusiasm of the staff is refreshing and gives CampU an edge - this is not just a summer job for CampU counsellors; it is a passion! They want to help children and youth to set goals and then achieve them. Campers and staff alike benefit from the setting - a place that is dedicated to learning and community.

Camp counsellor Sami Pritchard noted that working with CampU provides the unique opportunity to integrate past experiences and knowledge into her work.

"We are able to play a key role in the program planning," explains Pritchard. Unlike other day camps where counsellors, for the most part, follow the direction of the camp director, CampU staff design each week's program.

CampU counsellors have experience in lesson planning and they put it to work! They are actively involved in creating the kinds of experiences they want CampU campers to enjoy.

Counsellor Samantha Walsh agrees that being students at Lakehead has given them an extra edge in preparing for the upcoming season.

"Knowing how to create lesson plans that are age-appropriate, hands-on and adaptable [is really helpful]".

Fellow counsellor Josh MacDonald described past placements working in classrooms with children in grades six and seven as "awesome"! He is excited to have the chance to work with the kids at CampU.

With such passionate and qualified staff, CampU campers, along with their parents/guardians, have a lot to look forward to.

This weekend, camp staff will be at the Downtown Orillia sidewalk sale - Mississaga Street Mania - promoting the camp. Visit the CampU booth to meet camp counsellors and try out some camp activities.

Registration is currently open and spots continue to fill up quickly. For further information about camp programs, dates and registration, check the Lakehead website at orillia.lakeheadu.ca or contact Camp Director Liz Ross at orathlet@lakeheadu.ca or 705-330-4008.

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This article was written by Rebecca Akrasi-Sarpong, a Lakehead University student who is currently working as a Marketing Communications Assistant with Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer at Lakehead's Orillia Campus: kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

Fostering Healthy Local Food Systems Garners National Attention for Lakehead

(May 23, 2012 " Thunder Bay, ON)

Lakehead University's Food Security Research Network (FSRN) has been nationally recognized for its dedication to community-service learning.

The FSRN received the 2012 Community Service-Learning (CSL) Award from the The J.W. McConnell Family Foundation " an organization committed to building a more innovative, inclusive, sustainable, and resilient society.


FSRN Campus Community Garden Coordinator Lee-Ann Chevrette shows off last year's bountiful vegetable harvest

Lakehead's FSRN is a collective of students, community members, and University faculty and staff committed to creating sustainable food systems in Northwestern Ontario. Since 2004, the FSRN has used community-service learning to get students involved in promoting local food marketing, production, and distribution initiatives that positively impact the social and economic health of Northwestern Ontarians.

Community-service learning takes students out of the classroom and allows them to contribute to their communities in tangible ways. Community members, faculty, and students learn from each other and work together to strengthen the local food system.


Gardeners from the community of Kitchenuhmaykoosib Inninuwug learned growing and market gardening techniques to become more self-sufficient




"Community-service learning courses provide opportunities for our students to empower people to grow, harvest, and store their own food," says Dr. Connie Nelson, FSRN Director, and a Professor of Social Work at Lakehead. "The courses engage students in projects such as marketing studies for a local chicken abattoir and chickpea products, supporting collective kitchens, examining food systems policy issues, promoting boreal food sources, assisting First Nations in food self-sufficiency, and developing social enterprise initiatives like a local blueberry cooperative."


FSRN members visit Ignace to look at the possibility of setting up a blueberry cooperative


Dr. Nelson recently returned from the McConnell Foundation's National Awards Ceremony in Saskatoon where she accepted the $7,500 CSL prize on behalf of the FSRN. The celebration also included the premiere of a video highlighting the FSRN's projects and achievements.

The money will be used to fund FSRN social enterprise initiatives in collaboration with community organizations, not-for-profits, and charities. Nelson says that immediate needs include a mobile poultry abattoir and storage facilities for extended access to local foods and processing facilities.


The FSRN Campus Community Garden is a place of beauty and abundance



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Media: For more information, please contact Tracey Skehan, Communications Officer, at (807) 343-8372 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 8,700 students and 1,850 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.

Parks Canada and Lakehead University Collaborate to Develop the Framework for a Lake Superior Shared Knowledge Community

(May 25, 2012 " Thunder Bay, ON)

Yesterday, Parks Canada and Lakehead University signed a Memorandum of Understanding that will guide the two organizations in collaborating on research efforts aimed at better understanding the dynamics of Lake Superior's coastal environment and its watershed. This strategic approach will increase our knowledge of the social and ecological systems that support the vulnerable ecosystems of Lake Superior.


Lakehead's Provost & VP Academic Rod Hanley and Parks Canada's Mike Walton ushered in a new phase of collaboration that will help protect Lake Superior


This relationship will complement, support, and advance Parks Canada's conservation objectives within Pukaskwa National Park and the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area (LSNMCA). Specifically, it will contribute scientific expertise to the existing Ecological Integrity Monitoring Program at Pukaskwa. It also will help identify approaches, methodologies, and critical analyses required in establishing an Ecological and Sustainable-use Monitoring Program for the LSNMCA, which covers approximately one-eighth of the lake.

Lake Superior is a globally significant fresh-water lake that contains more than 10 percent of the world's accessible, potable water. Its biodiversity of flora and fauna, geological features, air-quality, and unique cultural heritage merit proactive management and conservation strategies.

Parks Canada is a world-renowned authority in natural heritage conservation, recently celebrating 100 years of Canada's national park service (1911-2011). It is an ideal partner in strategic discussions related to scientific research and environmental studies focusing on Lake Superior.


Andrew Dean (back row, left), the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies, is excited about the research and educational opportunities this partnership will bring


Lakehead University, with two campuses in Ontario, has a strong tradition of supporting excellence and innovation in scientific and environmental studies. The Thunder Bay campus is home to the Centre for Northern Forest Ecosystem Research, as well as the North Shore Remedial Action Plan office. It has hosted numerous international conferences and workshops related to Lake Superior and watershed management, including, "Improving the Health of Lake Superior" and a "Lake Tourism Conference." Lakehead University has been represented on the Interim Management Planning Board for the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area since its inception in 2009.

This relationship will contribute to Lakehead University's vision to become a world leader in research and educational opportunities related to freshwater management, understanding biodiversity, and conservation processes that integrate the vision of northern communities and First Nations.

Through fostering a scientific knowledge community that focuses on Lake Superior, Lakehead's Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies expects to attract international experts to Thunder Bay, along with increasing enrolment in graduate and undergraduate programs.

Working together, and with others, the long-term vision of this collaboration between Parks Canada and Lakehead University is to establish a framework for identifying research opportunities and sharing scientific knowledge to better understand the socio-economic impacts of Lake Superior on communities along the north shore.

Parks Canada works to ensure Canada's historic and natural heritage is protected and, through a network of 42 national parks, 167 national historic sites, and four national marine conservation areas, invites Canadians and people around the world to engage in personal moments of inspiring discovery at our treasured natural and historic places.

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Information:

Parks Canada Media Contact Lakehead University Media Contact

Mike Walton Tracey Skehan
Superintendent Communications Officer
Northern Ontario Field Unit Lakehead University
Parks Canada commun@lakeheadu.ca
(807) 346-2908 (807) 343-8372


About Lakehead
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for a multidisciplinary teaching approach that emphasizes collaborative learning and independent critical thinking. Over 8,700 students and 1,850 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.

Chemistry Researcher Wins Major Award for New Discoveries in Nanotechnology

(May 22, 2012 " Thunder Bay, ON)

The Canadian Society for Chemistry (CSC) knows a stellar researcher when it sees one.

Lakehead's Dr. Aicheng Chen has been recognized with the CSC's Keith Laidler Award for his outstanding contributions to electrochemistry and catalysis. He will travel to Calgary later this week to deliver an award lecture at the 95th Canadian Chemistry Conference and Exhibition.


Dr. Aicheng Chen is a trailblazer in electrochemistry and nanotechnology





The Laidler Award, established in 1963, is one of Canada's most coveted chemistry prizes and is given to up-and-coming research scientists whose achievements are having a significant impact on the field of physical chemistry. Past recipients have gone on to become chemists of international stature " including a Nobel Prize winner.

As Lakehead's Canada Research Chair in Materials and Environmental Chemistry, Chen lives and breathes his research. "Even when I was a child I was fascinated by chemistry," he says. With over 110 peer-reviewed journal publications, 72 industrial technical reports, six book chapters, and two patents, his passion for chemistry is indisputable.

This is the second award the CSC has bestowed on Chen " he received the Fred Beamish Award in 2009. It's uncommon for a scientist to be honoured with two CSC awards in such a short space of time, testifying to the pioneering nature of his work.

Chen's research is remarkable for its breadth and complexity. He is conducting work in the areas of electrochemistry, green chemistry, and materials science. These diverse research concentrations are linked by his investigations into nanotechnology and his desire to translate his work from the theoretical to the practical.

"I'm trying to develop new technologies to address pressures on the environment, dwindling energy resources, and health issues through nanotechnology," Chen explains.

Nanotechnology involves engineering and manipulating structures at the molecular and atomic level and uses the nanometer (nm) as the basic unit of measurement. Even the microscopic seems huge in this emerging branch of science. One strand of human hair is 50,000 to 80,000 nanometers wide and human hair grows 10 nm every second.

"Nanotechnology is a very hot field around the world but my focus is developing nanostructured catalysts for the innovative and sustainable development of natural resources," Chen says. "Canada is very fortunate with its abundant natural resources."

He is using nanomaterials to develop water purification treatments, to convert lignin (a component of wood) into value-added chemicals, to create photocatalysts that facilitate solar energy production, and to create new classes of gas sensors. These sensors can detect ethanol and carbon monoxide and are key to developing fuel cell technology and sustainable energy. His research also extends to fighting and treating diabetes with his invention of a new generation of glucose sensors.

Since joining Lakehead in 2002, Chen has raised the University's profile through his innovative approach to chemistry. He has established a cutting-edge electrochemistry lab and attracted some of the brightest national and international graduate students and postdoctoral fellows to his research team.

"Chemistry plays a very important role in everyday life," Chen says. "My team's goal is to discover and apply new technologies so that people all over the world can benefit from our work."

Lakehead University is proud of Dr. Aicheng Chen's commitment and vision, and congratulates him on this latest milestone in his research career.

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Media:
For more information please contact Tracey Skehan, Communications Officer, at 807-343-8372 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.

New Vice-President External Relations is a Dynamic Advocate

(May 18 " Thunder Bay, ON)

Lakehead University is pleased to introduce Deb Comuzzi as its new Vice-President, External Relations.

In her new role, Comuzzi will focus on five areas: alumni relations, community relations and government relations, as well as Advancement and communications.


Deb Comuzzi is soon joining the Lakehead team

"As VP External Relations, Comuzzi will use her impressive competencies in strategic management, philanthropy, volunteer growth and development, and staff performance management to strengthen Lakehead and to reach out to our alumni," says Dr. Brian Stevenson, President of Lakehead University. "She has a rare ability to navigate complex issues and be responsive to stakeholder groups."

A master strategist and passionate advocate for young people, Comuzzi is currently President and CEO of the Children's Health Foundation in London, Ontario. She begins her new role in August, and will be responsible for philanthropic and outreach initiatives to the University's many donors and partners.

Comuzzi was raised in Thunder Bay and returns to her hometown with more than 30 years of senior management experience at major Canadian not-for-profit organizations. She started her career at 16, teaching swimming to children at the YMCA.

Since then, she has held such high-level positions as National Executive Director of The Sunshine Foundation of Canada, and Director " Planning, Development and Field Operations with the Canadian Cancer Society.

While at London's Children's Health Foundation, Comuzzi and her team of volunteers and staff raised more than $48 million for the London Children's Hospital and Children's Health Research Institute. Other career highlights include negotiating the merger of the Children's Health Research Institute with the Lawson Health Research Institute, and dramatically enlarging the Sunshine Foundation's volunteer chapter base.

Comuzzi says her first priority is the students. "They are at the heart of what we do."


President Brian Stevenson is looking forward to working with Deb Comuzzi
to shape Lakehead's future

Also high on her list will be a visit to Lakehead's Orillia campus, to get to know the staff, faculty and wider community there, in order to begin to build constructive partnerships " a critical piece to the philanthropy and awareness-raising puzzle.

"Philanthropy in the early days had no strategy around it," Comuzzi says. "You just asked people for money. It's now based on strategy, ethics, broad thinking, and, most importantly, partnerships and relationships."

Comuzzi has a BA in English and Psychology from the University of Western, and in 2008, Western's King's University College honoured her with an Award of Distinction. She also has a Bachelor of Education from the University of Windsor.


The University's new Vice-President, External Relations talks about her approach to alumni relations and philanthropic initiatives with local media

Although she is no stranger to Thunder Bay, she hasn't lived here since she was 18. She looks forward to reacquainting herself with the city, the region and the community. Her family, especially her mother Janet and her father Joe, are excited that she is returning and are busily making plans to celebrate her homecoming. Joe is a well-known local businessman and former Member of Parliament.

Deb Comuzzi is eager to help map the future of Lakehead University and she's pleased that one of her most challenging career opportunities has reconnected her with her roots " proving that there's no place like home.



Comuzzi took in the view of Lake Tamblyn and the University grounds

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Media: For more information, please contact Tracey Skehan, Communications Officer, at (807) 343-8372 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. More than 8,700 students and 1,850 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.

National Conference Attracts Biorefining and Bioenergy Leaders to Thunder Bay

(May 14, 2012 " Thunder Bay, ON)

The Biorefining Research Institute (BRI) and Lakehead University are hosting the inaugural BIOFOR Conference on May 14 and May 15, 2012.

This new national forum investigating biorefining, bioenergy and the bioeconomy has attracted participants from Canada, the United States, Brazil, and Turkey. These research and industry representatives will attend talks and poster presentations, engage in discussions, and tour local biomass operations, the BRI, and other University research facilities.

The BRI has made a name for itself working with local industry and using local resources to revitalize Northwestern Ontario's economy. "The present pulp mills will be the biorefineries of the future," BRI Director Dr. Robert Dekker says. "The Atikokan Ontario Power Generation plant, for example, has successfully trialed wood pellets to run its operation and will switch entirely to biomass in 2014."

Pioneering biorefining/bioenergy solutions is not only critical to the region, it is also critical to the economic and environmental health of nations around the world. "Countries are racing to crack this problem," Dr. Dekker says. "The United States has a $945 million budget for research in biofuels." He has been working in this field since the early 1970s when the OPEC (Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries) oil crisis in the Middle East, and the resulting fuel shortage, shocked western countries into considering alternative energy sources.

The BIOFOR Conference will provide biorefining/bioenergy/bioeconomy innovators with the opportunity to share their knowledge and gain new insights into their quest for alternatives to petroleum-based energy sources.

Students will also be key contributors to the BIOFOR Conference. They will be attending the talks and creating poster presentations. At the end of the Conference, prizes will be awarded for the best Master's and PhD posters.

Visit the BIOFOR Conference website at www.biofor.ca for schedule details and to learn about Conference partners Lakehead University and the Centre for Research and Innovation in the Bio-Economy (CRIBE).

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Media:
For more information, please contact Tracey Skehan, Communications Officer, at (807) 343-8372 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. More than 8,700 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.

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