Lakehead students (l to r) Ruixia Liang, LinLin Feng, and Chenhan Chu of China are preparing to complete their Business degrees at the Orillia campus.

Travelling across an ocean alone and leaving your family and friends behind sounds like quite an intimidating experience. For three Lakehead Orillia students, that experience was their reality, and fortunately, the big risk was worth the big reward. 

“I was very excited to come to Canada to further my education. In the beginning, I did get a little homesick, but once I got involved in the Canadian lifestyle I began to enjoy it more and more,” says Chenhan Chu, one of three international students from China who study at Lakehead’s Orillia campus.

Chenhan, along with LinLin Feng and Ruixia Liang, came to Canada in 2012 to further their education in the English language. They first attended Columbia International College in Hamilton for two years to complete their high school diploma and prepare for post-secondary education. After graduation, all three decided that Lakehead Orillia was the university for them and joined the English Language Program taught by Dr. Jeff Hawkins, International Officer at the Orillia campus.

“The English Language Program is aimed at getting students’ proficiency in English up to a level where they feel comfortable and ready to begin their undergraduate studies,” explained Hawkins. “The students spend Monday to Friday together on campus, working on a variety of reading, writing and grammatical studies.”

Hawkins is extremely committed to the program, and, according to his students, is passionate about helping his students succeed.

“I love taking Jeff’s class. He takes total care of our academic needs and always encourages us to ask questions. We all feel comfortable talking to him and learning from him, as he never says no or turns us away when we need help,” said Feng when asked about her experience.

All three students are preparing to complete their Business degrees at Lakehead. When asked why they chose to attend Lakehead, they all agreed that they would not only receive a high-quality education here, but would also have a great community of people with whom to interact and practice their English.  “Larger schools have very diverse populations, so it could be easy to fall into speaking our own language and not have as much opportunity to practice English,” said Chu.

After spending a few months here, the students have discovered some of the highlights of living in Orillia and studying at Lakehead. They all mentioned the rural environment, especially the beautiful fall scenery, as well as the cleanliness and environmentally-friendly feel of the campus. In addition to their studies, the three students have also enjoyed Lakehead’s extracurricular activities, their favourite so far being a trip to Treetop Trekking at Horseshoe Valley. And they all agreed the small size of the campus helped in creating a good community for them and has made them feel comfortable.

Chu, Feng, and Liang are all excelling in their studies, and can’t wait to start their undergraduate classes, hopefully in the New Year.

As the Orillia campus expands, the University expects the number of international students to continue to grow. In addition to Chu, Feng, and Liang of China, Lakehead Orillia is also home to students from Norway, Cayman Islands and Nigeria.

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 Stephanie Edwards is a third year Lakehead University student (HBASc/Anthropology) who works with Lakehead Orillia’s Communications office.

February 12, 2014 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead's Department of Mathematical Sciences is privileged to be a regional host for the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest for the second year in a row.  The contest will be held in Thunder Bay on Sunday, March 23 in the University’s Ryan Building, between 12 and 3 pm.

“The Kangaroo Contest provides students with challenging questions beyond the regular curriculum that will spark their interest in mathematics. Participating in math contests boosts their confidence and gives them the opportunity to interact with like-minded peers,” said Dr. Monica Ilie, Mathematical Sciences Associate Professor.

The International Mathematical Kangaroo Contest is an international mathematical competition that takes place in 51 countries around the world. In 2013 more than 6 million students participated. Among them there were 2,357 Canadian students.

The Thunder Bay contest is open to students from Grade 1 to 8. For more information about the Canadian Math Kangaroo Contest, including registration and fees, go to http://kangaroo.math.ca/. The deadline for registration is March 10, 2014.  

Many prizes will be available in the form of medals and certificates for top-achieving students.

For further information about this mathematics contest, please contact Dr. Maria Grazia Viola (ph: 1-807-343-8688, e: mviola@lakeheadu.ca) or Dr. Monica Ilie (ph: 1-807-766-7224, e: milie@lakeheadu.ca).

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Media: For more information, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years (Fall 2013) and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine's West Campus, Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1^st in Ontario and 2^nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Our Orillia campus is the first in North America to be built entirely to Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED®) standards. Share your Lakehead story as it relates to our Strategic Plan at www.lakeheadu.ca/presidents-office/nurturing-passion, and learn more about Lakehead at www.lakeheadu.ca.

November 14, 2014

For one student at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus, this week’s Remembrance Day services were especially meaningful, representing deep feelings of both sadness and hope.

Josh Briand, 34, is a fourth year Honours Bachelor of Social Work (HBSW) student who has spent over six years on a journey of recovery following a tour in Afghanistan in 2007 and a diagnosis of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD).

Briand decided to enter the armed forces shortly after high school during his first year of college. He realized that college wasn’t the best place for him at the time. “I wasn’t really ready for college and I saw my life going in the wrong direction.  I needed some discipline in my life, so I joined the military.”

After heading to Manitoba for training, then to Petawawa to join the Royal Canadian Horse Artillery, Briand felt he was where he belonged. “I liked the military, even with its ups and downs; it helped to turn me into more of a man than the teenager I was. The military was bringing me up to where I wanted to be.”

Briand was part of a military disaster response team in Sri Lanka following the Indian Ocean tsunami in 2004, and then, in 2007, was sent on an eight-month active combat tour to Afghanistan. This is where the situation changed for Briand and created the challenges he has struggled to overcome ever since.

“When I got back from Afghanistan, my life started going downhill.  In Afghanistan, I saw a lot of bad situations and had to do some things that went against my morals. When I got back, this experience translated in PTSD and when I realized I had hit rock bottom, I asked for help.”

Briand began a long series of treatment and referrals within the military, all the while being labeled and treated as a drug addict. Eventually, he was referred to a world-renowned treatment centre in British Columbia, where things started to look up for Briand.

“The Edgewood Centre in BC was where I met a psychiatrist, Dr. Vincent, who was the first one to diagnose me with PTSD,” said Briand. “I just got lucky to get Dr. Vincent; he saw something in me and told me that I was not an addict.”

Armed with a full report and explanation of his PTSD diagnosis, Briand was encouraged.  But to his disappointment, the information in Dr. Vincent’s report was not recognized by the military and Briand was sent back to counseling services to treat drug addiction. Discouraged, Briand slipped back into self-medication.

Another two years passed, and numerous visits with military counsellors and social workers, before Briand came to the realization that something was wrong with the treatment he and his fellow veterans, also suffering from PTSD, were receiving.

“I knew that to survive, something had to change,” said Briand. “I decided that I needed to be part of the change and this determination gave me the ability to handle my PTSD.”

A friend and fellow veteran encouraged Briand to leave the military and go back to school. Briand compared his situation at the time to trying to climb over a wall. “It felt like the military was hanging on to me, making it difficult to get over the wall.”

After nine years in the military, Briand was released and he enrolled in the Social Services Worker program at Sir Sandford Fleming College.

“College was a stepping stone for me,” said Briand. With a goal of wanting to raise awareness of PTSD, help mitigate the stigma associated with the disorder, and advocate for more relevant treatment, Briand learned that he would need more than a college diploma to meet his goals.

“College got me ready for university,” said Briand.  In 2011 Briand was accepted into the Honours Bachelor of Social Work program at Lakehead University. Now in his final year, he says the program has been both challenging and inspiring.

“The program at Lakehead has helped me know more about where I want to go and how to be successful,” explained Briand. “The most important thing I’ve learned is understanding my passion about where I want to be.”  

After graduating, Briand hopes to work in a treatment centre setting working with addictions and trauma. He also plans to pursue a Master of Social Work degree, something he knows he’ll need to achieve his goals.

His long-term plan is to open his own treatment centre to treat military personnel. “I would love to have my own holistic treatment centre and have the contract for military personnel.”

“Josh is a wonderful example of the dedication and drive of our students,” said  Lakehead Orillia Dean & Vice-Provost Kim Fedderson. “He will be taking the skills and knowledge he has gained at Lakehead and contributing to the improvement of our society.”

With the many challenges Briand has overcome, he will no doubt meet his career goals and make a difference, especially to those suffering from PTSD.

In fact, Briand says that Veterans Affairs already uses his journey of challenges and achievements as a success story. “I do feel fortunate when I look at where I was and where I am today.”

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Josh Briand, a Social Work student at Lakehead and a Canadian Forces veteran, hopes to apply his training and education to providing holistic treatment to those suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). 

Kathy Hunt is the Communications Officer at Lakehead’s Orillia Campus and can be reached at kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

November 12, 2014 – Orillia, ON

Lakehead University’s In Conversation speaker series returns to the Orillia Public Library this year with talks scheduled from November until May.

Experts from Lakehead University will give free presentations about dream analysis, sexual violence, the chemistry of food, bacteria growth, local history, and local food policies.

The fall series begins on Monday, November 17 (6:15 – 8 pm) with a talk by Dr. Les Fleischer, Assistant Professor/Psychoanalyst, Department of Social Work, focused on “Understanding Your Dreams.”

“Dreams can be a window to our inner wishes, thoughts, feelings and conflicts that can contribute to greater self-awareness,” says Fleischer. His presentation will focus on how to understand your dreams and will provide explanations for various types of dreams. Dr. Fleischer will also discuss his current research project on the dreams of psychotherapists.

For a full schedule of In Conversation topics and dates, visit the Lakehead University website at https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus/community-programs/public-lectures.

The “In Conversation” talks are free, but require registration. Registration is accepted in person at the Orillia Public Library (36 Mississauga St. W.); by email info@orilliapubliclibrary.ca; or by phone at (705) 325-2338.

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Dr. Les Fleischer, Assistant Professor, Department of Social Work  at Lakehead University, will be “In Conversation” at the Orillia Public Library on Monday, November 17 at 6:15 pm.

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

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

October 9, 2014 – Orillia, ON

A professor from the Education program at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus has come up with a creative way to incorporate First Nations perspectives and values into the mathematics curriculum.

On Saturday, October 18, the University will host a one-day Algonquin Looming workshop where participants will learn about the historical and cultural importance of traditional beading.

“Ontario has an Aboriginal Education Strategy that recognizes the importance of First Nations content throughout the Ontario curriculum,” explains Dr. Ruth Beatty, associate professor of Education at Lakehead Orillia, and organizer of the workshop.

While participants learn how to design and weave with beads, the workshop will highlight the mathematical connections between Algonquin practices and the Western mathematics found in the Ontario curriculum.

“This will be a unique experience that combines hands-on learning with theoretical implications for teaching,” adds Dr. Beatty.

The one-day workshop features beaders Christina Ruddy and April Jones, who will guide novice beaders on how to design a pattern, string a loom and weave beads into original works of art.

The workshop is open to the public and takes place from 11 am to 3:30 pm at Lakehead’s Heritage Place site in downtown Orillia (1 Colborne Street West). A fee of $10/person is charged to cover the cost of supplies. 

To register and for further information, contact Dr. Ruth Beatty at rbeatty@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.

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Science and Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education and Graduate Studies. Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1st in Ontario and 2nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Visit http://www.lakeheadu.ca.

November 12, 2014 – Orillia, ON

The establishment of a new Research Centre for Sustainable Communities will be celebrated at an official launch on Tuesday, November 18 at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus.

The community is invited to attend the event to learn about the new Centre and to meet the members of the Lakehead Orillia faculty who helped establish the Research Centre, which is focused on interdisciplinary research that supports sustainable communities.

“I am extremely proud of this accomplishment,” said Dr. Kim Fedderson, Dean & Vice-Provost of the Orillia campus. “Since our campus opened in 2006, we have been focused on a community-centred approach. This Centre will now be a cornerstone for supporting all aspects of community sustainability.”

“The Centre is based on three core areas of research,” explains Dr. Nanda Kanavillil, Centre Director. “We will be promoting research in the areas of social justice, political economy and environmental sustainability.”

The Centre was approved by Lakehead University Senate last March and its unconventional approach to research, with an emphasis on multi-disciplines and collaboration, will be a catalyst for research funding and community partnerships.

The launch event takes place on Tuesday, November 18 from 5:30 to 7:00 pm in the cafeteria at Lakehead’s University Avenue campus.

“This is an opportunity for community members and representatives of organizations and businesses in the region to learn more about the planned activities of the Centre and ways to get involved,” adds Dr. Kanavillil.

Those interested in attending are asked to RSVP to nkanavil@lakeheadu.ca.

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Dr. Nanda Kanavillil, Director of Lakehead’s new Research Centre for Sustainable Communities.

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

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

November 4, 2014 – Orillia, ON

Lakehead University, in partnership with Brewery Bay Food Co., is hosting a fundraiser, November 24, in memory of the late Yuksel Gulmen to help support the Humanities 101 Fund.

For $50, guests will receive a four-course meal including appetizer, salad, entrée, and dessert along with the opportunity to support an exceptional local program.

Humanities 101 is a community-based outreach program that provides access to a university education experience to adult learners, despite financial and other barriers. Dozens of participants have successfully completed the program since it was launched at the Orillia campus in 2012, and several have gone on to explore post-secondary opportunities and make various important life changes.

“Yuksel was one of the original board members who spearheaded the Humanities 101 program, and it meant a lot to her,” says Tony Gulmen, Yuksel’s husband. “Through this program, she aimed to give students back some self-esteem, by not only teaching them skills, but teaching them how to apply those skills. She wanted them to feel like they still had a chance to pursue their academic dreams.”

Without the generous support of community partners, Lakehead University would not be able to offer this extraordinary opportunity in Orillia.

Tickets for the event – with a choice of two seating times (5:30 and 7:30 pm) – are available at Brewery Bay Food Co. (117 Mississauga St. E. in downtown Orillia).

The fundraiser also features a silent auction that opens on Monday, November 17, at Brewery Bay Food Co. Bids may be submitted at Brewery Bay before the event and up to 9:00 pm on the night of the dinner, November 24.

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Members of the 2014 Humanities 101 graduating class with program organizer, Dr. Linda Rodenburg (far left).

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

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca

November 13, 2014

A young entrepreneur has joined the student body at Lakehead University in Orillia, and as the newly elected president of the Business Orillia Student Society (BOSS), has great plans for the student organization.

Andrew Ault, 19-years-old, is a student in Lakehead’s Honours Bachelor of Commerce program, and hopes to bring his background and interest in business and sustainable development to the student-run BOSS.

What kind of background does a 19-year-old have in business, you wonder? According to his LinkedIn profile, Ault has quite a bit! At the age of 16 he invented a new energy-saving product called “Energy Boss;” then started his own marketing company at the age of 17; and in 2012 won the “Innovation Youth of the Year” award from the Sault Ste. Marie Innovation Centre.

After graduating from high school in his hometown of Sault Ste. Marie, Ault decided he wanted to get into politics, so he headed to Ottawa and landed a position as a parliamentary intern. While an intern, he studied Public Affairs and Policy Management at Carleton University.

“During my work in Ottawa, I quickly saw the value of understanding business to formulate practical public policy.” Ault began a search for university business programs and was attracted to Lakehead University in Orillia because of the “small college feel” and the program.

“Lakehead stood out among all of the business schools I looked at because of its interdisciplinary emphasis and cross-enterprise perspective,” said Ault. “Ideas from the liberal arts and sciences, along with a foundation of all functional areas of business is critical to solving complex problems in the 21st century,” he added.

Never expecting to run for president of BOSS in his first year at Lakehead, Ault says that he found it easy to get involved on campus. “There are so many opportunities here,” he said, “and if opportunity doesn’t knock, the school is very supportive of its students building new doors.”

Once he takes the BOSS helm in November, Ault will work with his executive and student members on a number of goals. These include building a partnership with Georgian College Orillia; developing services in business consulting and green product development; organizing career speed-dating nights; and hosting a business case competition at the University.

One of the first projects BOSS is working on is the partnership with Georgian. The group is planning a joint event where BOSS at Lakehead will be introduced to Georgian students and encouraged to form a business society at Georgian. “Together we’ll be better than the sum of our parts,” said Ault. “It will be a fusion of insights, including the practical emphasis at Georgian with the theory of our studies at Lakehead.”

With a good foundation built under the leadership of fellow Lakehead University business students, including past-president Mason Ainsworth, Ault looks forward to taking BOSS to new heights.  “By being exceptional and unconventional, I’m confident that BOSS will grow to become one of the University’s most valuable assets.”

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Andrew Ault, 19-years-old, is a student in Lakehead’s Honours Bachelor of Commerce program, and hopes to bring his background and interest in business and sustainable development to the student-run BOSS.

November 21, 2014 – Orillia, ON

Lakehead Orillia’s Media Studies Program is inviting all students and members of the public to a special screening of Sundance Film Festival Favorite, My Prairie Home, directed by Lakehead faculty member Chelsea McMullan.

The documentary will be shown at Lakehead’s Orillia campus in partnership with Lakehead’s Cinema Politica on November 26 at 7:00 pm.  The screening will follow a Media Studies Career session on filmmaking featuring director Chelsea McMullan, currently teaching in Lakehead’s Media Studies program, producer Lea Marin of the National Film Board, editor Avril Jacobson, and cinematographer Maya Bankovic. 

My Prairie Home takes viewers on a lyrical road trip with transgender Canadian singer/songwriter Rae Spoon, offering an intimate portrait of this extraordinary artist blended with stunning images of the Canadian Prairies and McMullan’s imaginative visual interpretations of selections from Spoon’s songbook.

During the career session, the film’s creators will share the triumphs and tribulations of carving out a niche for themselves in the Canadian film industry.  They will discuss their interpersonal relationships having worked together for the past ten years, and the importance of maintaining the creative relationships made in university.   This talk is presented in collaboration with Lakehead’s Department of Student Affairs.

The career session and film screening are open to all students and to members of the public. Admission is free. The career session takes place from 3:30 – 5:30 pm in room 1025, and the film will be shown at 7 pm in room 1033, both located in Simcoe Hall, at the University Avenue campus location.

For further information, view the film’s trailer at www.nfb.ca or email sjeppese@lakeheadu.ca.

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

In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by its Strategic Plan (2013-2018), Lakehead is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies.

Maclean’s 2015 University Rankings places Lakehead University 2^nd in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and 1^st among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2014, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead 2^nd in Ontario and 3^rd among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.