Lakehead University launches 50th Anniversary celebrations

January 7, 2015 – Orillia, ON

This month begins a year of celebrations for Lakehead University as it marks its 50^th Anniversary. While the Orillia campus was opened in 2006, Lakehead University was established in 1965 in what is now the city of Thunder Bay.

The anniversary celebrations will be launched with activities at both the Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses next week, with invitations being extended to everyone in the community.

“Over the past 50 years Lakehead University has built a reputation for being both exceptional and unconventional,” says Dr. Brian Stevenson, President & Vice-Chancellor of Lakehead University. “I invite everyone to join us at our anniversary events this year as we celebrate everything we have accomplished together.”

On Tuesday, January 13, community members are invited to join Lakehead President & Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson for a pancake breakfast at the Orillia campus. The morning launch event takes place from 8:00 – 9:30 am in the University’s cafeteria at 500 University Avenue. Admission and parking are free. For details and to RSVP to the pancake breakfast, visit 50.lakehead.ca.

To commemorate the anniversary, the City of Orillia will raise Lakehead’s 50^th Anniversary flag at the Orillia Opera House on Tuesday, January 13 at 3:15 pm. Everyone is welcome to attend.

Later in the week – also known as “Frost Week” – Lakehead University Orillia welcomes students back to campus with a free skate event and hockey match on Thursday, January 15 at Rotary Place. The free skate runs from 6:50 – 7:50 pm. The Lakehead Women’s Hockey team faces off against Georgian College Orillia at 8:15 pm. Both events are open to the public.

To learn more about Lakehead’s 50^th Anniversary, visit 50.lakeheadu.ca.

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Media are invited to promote and attend the following events:

* Click here to view the invitation. 

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.