Lakehead’s next In Conversation event to highlight Orillia’s role in World War II

Michael Stevenson, Associate Professor of History, will discuss the role of Orillia in the Second World War at Lakehead’s next In Conversation event at the Orillia Public Library on Tuesday, January 19.  Photo: Camp 26 military training camp, courtesy of OMAH.

January 12, 2016 – Orillia, ON

Do you know what prominent role Orillia played in Canada’s involvement during the Second World War? The city’s most important contribution involved the No. 26 Canadian Army Training Centre.

The military training centre, popularly know as the Champlain Barracks or Camp 26, will be the focus of the next In Conversation talk at the Orillia Public Library.

“The camp was erected on 20 acres of private property adjacent to the Orillia Armoury, where thousands of home defence and active service troops were trained,” explains Lakehead’s Dr. Michael Stevenson, Associate Professor with the Department of History, who will present the talk.

Dr. Stevenson’s presentation will document the 1942 construction, wartime operation, and postwar dismantling of the Camp 26 training facility, and will include a discussion about its major impact on Orillia.

“Camp 26 and Orillia’s Mobilization for the Second World War” will be presented at the Orillia Public Library on Tuesday, January 19 at 6:15 pm. The event is free and open to the public, but registration is required, and is accepted by email at info@orilliapubliclibrary.ca; by phone at 705-325-2338; or in person at the Library (36 Mississaga St. West).

For a full schedule of In Conversation topics and dates, visit the Lakehead University website at lakeheadu.ca and check the calendar of events. 

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In Conversation series website link: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/about/orillia-campus/community-programs/public-lectures. 

Media Contact
Kathy Hunt, Communications Officer
705-330-4008 ext. 2014
kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has about 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead 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 2016 University Rankings place Lakehead University second in Ontario and among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities, and first among Ontario’s undergraduate universities for Total Research Dollars, Social Sciences & Humanities Grants, and Library Expenses. In 2015, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities.

Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.