April 13, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University will recognize five exceptional people at this year’s Convocation Ceremonies on Friday, May 27 and Saturday, May 28 at the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium.

The Hon. Jean Charest, Helen Cromarty, and Dr. Keijo Virtanen will each receive an honorary doctorate for their work in politics, health care, and research on Finnish immigration to Canada, respectively.

“Honorary degree recipients are chosen based on their excellent contributions to society and their remarkable service,” said Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor. 

Lakehead will also recognize the hard work and dedication of Tammy Squitti and Bill Bartley, who will each be named Fellow of the University.

Murray Walberg, Chair of Lakehead’s Board of Governors, said these individuals were selected due to their contributions to Lakehead University.

“Bill Bartley and Tammy Squitti have made a profound impact on Lakehead University and this is our way of publically saying thank you,” Walberg said.

Honorary Degree Recipients

The Hon. Jean Charest

As Deputy Prime Minister of Canada and Premier of Québec, Jean Charest is one of Canada’s best known political figures.

As Minister of the Environment, he led his country’s delegation at the 1992 Earth Summit on the economy and the environment in Rio and was praised for his leadership role among G7 countries on climate change and biodiversity.

The Charest government has been a world leader on the environment and climate change, and best known for a major initiative for the sustainable development of Northern Québec called “Plan Nord”.

Under his leadership, Québec experienced a sustained period of economic prosperity with stronger economic growth from 2008 to 2012 than the US, Europe, Canada and Ontario, despite a global financial and economic crisis.

For the International arena, his administration was the most active in the history of Québec. Thus, the Charest government initiated an unprecedented labour mobility agreement between France and Québec, and convinced Canada and the European Union to negotiate a broad economic partnership.

Jean Charest is a Partner at McCarthy Tétrault. He provides invaluable expertise to the firm’s clients with his in-depth knowledge and experience with public policy, corporate Canada and international matters.

As a strategic advisor with a unique perspective, he supports clients on complex transactions, projects and international mandates, as they navigate the global business environment.

Jean Charest will receive an Honorary Doctor of Laws during the Friday afternoon ceremony.

Helen Cromarty

Helen Cromarty (Barkman) of Sachigo Lake First Nation began her education as a residential school student and attained her HBScN degree from Lakehead University.

During her 45-year career as a nurse, she worked ICU-CCU for 23 years.  Then as Health Policy Analyst/Health Liaison at Nishnawbe Aski Nation (NAN) and Special Advisor for First Nation Health at Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre (SLMHC).

Helen was in many leadership roles in the development and implementation of health care programs and services delivered throughout NAN and Ontario. 

She made major contributions in the development of Lakehead University’s Native Nurses Entry Program and the Aboriginal Healing and Wellness Strategy.  At SLMHC, she contributed to the traditional and cultural programs and published several articles on health research.

Helen was recognized for her work in First Nations Health by the Aboriginal Nurses Association of Canada, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and the Chiefs of Ontario.

She has an extensive board and committee experience, including Lakehead University, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Wequedong Lodge and Aboriginal Health Services for Accreditation Canada.

Helen is a residential school survivor, friend, sister, aunt, mother, and Kookom (grandmother).  Her husband, Dennis Franklin Cromarty, passed away February 3, 1993.  She is proud of their five children and a very proud Kookom of three beautiful girls. 

Upon retiring in 2013, she felt honoured to have completed the circle in her career.  Her first nursing post was at the Sioux Lookout Indian Hospital, now known as the Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre. 

Helen Cromarty will receive an Honorary Doctor of Science during the Saturday morning ceremony. 

Dr. Keijo Virtanen

Keijo Virtanen’s research work began at the University of Turku, Finland. He published his doctoral dissertation in 1979 on the return of Finnish migrants from overseas countries, particularly the United States and Canada.

In addition to migration and ethnicity, his publications focus on the influence of North-American culture in Finland, the methodological questions of historical research as well as university and science policy.

He held a number of positions in the University of Turku and the Academy of Finland.

He was appointed the Professor of Cultural History in 1990, having worked as an acting Professor since 1983. He was a research assistant at the University of Michigan in 1974-75 and Fulbright researcher in 1988-89.

In the 1970s he made several long trips to Canada and the United States to microfilm archival material on Finnish immigrants.

Keijo became the longest-serving Rector/President of the University of Turku (1997-2012).

He has been awarded an honorary doctorate by the Klaipeda University (Lithuania) and the University of Tartu (Estonia). He is the Honorary Consul of Estonia in Southwest Finland.

After his retirement in 2012, Keijo continues with his research on migration.

The John Morton Center for North American Studies was established at the University of Turku in 2014 as led by him. He is the Chair of the Council of the Institute of Migration. Keijo and his wife Orvokki have two children, Seppo and Marjaana, and six grandchildren. Seppo has a doctorate in Information Technology and Marjaana in Musicology.

Keijo Virtanen will receive an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters on Saturday afternoon.

Fellows

Tammy Squitti

Tammy Squitti is a Lakehead alumna and the Chairperson on the Board of Directors of Nanabijou Childcare Centre located on the beautiful Lakehead University Thunder Bay campus.  

She has volunteered with this Board of Directors for nine years and was instrumental in the planning and construction of the new $3.5 million childcare centre on campus, offering a nurturing learning environment for children of Lakehead University students, faculty, staff and the community. 

Tammy is a proud Aboriginal Nisga’a Status Indian. She graduated from Confederation College’s Social Service Worker Program and has worked in vocational rehabilitation at The Workplace Safety & Insurance Board for 27 years. 

She obtained the designation of a Registered Certified Vocational Professional from the College of Vocational Rehabilitation Professionals and the Vocational Rehabilitation Association of Canada. While working full-time, Tammy attended Lakehead University as a part-time student and earned her Bachelor of Arts Degree in May 2006.

Tammy’s commitment to the wellness of our community is evident in her 10 years of continuous volunteer service with the Thunder Bay Indian Friendship Centre in the Aboriginal Community Council Program, participating in Restorative Justice Circles to support the people of Thunder Bay.

She also volunteers with the Thunder Bay Police Service sponsorship committee in support of Special Olympics Ontario and the Can Am Police-Fire Games. Tammy is married to Robert Squitti and her favorite role in life is the one called “Mom” to their only child – Robert Squitti Jr.

Tammy will be named Fellow of the University on Saturday morning.

Bill Bartley

Bill Bartley was born in Atikokan, Ontario but soon moved to Thunder Bay when his father Dr. M. W. Bartley became the first Principal of Lakehead Technical Institute (now Lakehead University).

Bill is also a charter student at Hammarskjold High School where he graduated prior to entering Lakehead University to complete his Bachelor of Arts degree.

He followed a career in the Transportation and Distribution industry. Bill also served in the Canadian Armed Forces Reserves for over 20 years across Canada as well as in Germany during the Cold War era.

Presently, he is both the Chair of the Lakehead Region Conservation Authority and the Source Protection Authority; Secretary / Treasurer of the Prostate Cancer Canada Network – Thunder Bay; and Treasurer of the 18 (Thunder Bay) Service Battalion Senate.

Bill is a past president of the Lakehead University Alumni Association; past governor of Lakehead University; former Councillor in the Municipality of Shuniah; past vice-president of the Northwestern Ontario Municipal Association; past board member of the Association of Municipalities of Ontario; and past director of the ROMA Insurance Board.

Over the past two years, Bill has been honoured not only by his fellow alumni but now by his university community. In 2015, Bill was awarded the “Alumni Legacy Award’ and now he will be joining his late father as a Fellow of the University. He looks forward to his renewed association with Lakehead University.

Bill will be named Fellow of the University on Saturday afternoon.

Convocation Schedule

Friday, May 27 – 2 pm

• Faculty of Medicine
• Faculty of Law
• Faculty of Business Administration
• Faculty of Engineering

Saturday, May 28 – 9:30 am

• Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
  
  

Saturday, May 28 – 2 pm

• Faculty of Education
• Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies
• Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities
• Faculty of Natural Resources Management

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

David Tamblyn will become the new chair of Lakehead University’s Board of Governors in October 2016.

April 21, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University’s Board of Governors has appointed current Vice-Chair David Tamblyn as its next Chair. Tamblyn, who has served as the Board’s Vice-Chair since October 2014, will assume the position of Chair following the Board’s Annual General Meeting in October 2016.

“I feel privileged to be named the next Chair of Lakehead’s exceptional Board of Governors and to continue the legacy started by my father,” said Tamblyn, whose father, William Tamblyn, was the University’s first President & Vice-Chancellor.

“Lakehead has played a fundamental role in the success of Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario for over fifty years,” Tamblyn added. “I look forward to continuing to work with this Board to maintain the university’s responsibility to the success of its students, and to the prosperity of our region.”

Current Board of Governors Chair Murray Walberg said he’s confident Tamblyn will help further the Board’s strategic goals.

“I am delighted that David has accepted to take on this role at the end of my term, this October,” Walberg explained. “His leadership experience in education, as well as his familiarity and devotion to Northwestern Ontario, will be an asset to our university.”

Walberg’s role as Chair of Lakehead’s Board of Governors, which began in October 2014, will continue through to the end of the Board’s Annual General Meeting in October 2016.

David Tamblyn

David Tamblyn has held several leadership roles in school board administration over the course of his career, including his current position as the Director of Education with the Superior-Greenstone District School Board.

In this capacity he has gained extensive experience in labour relations, board governance, and financial accountability.

David is the Chair of the Northern Ontario Education Leaders (NOEL) and serves on the executive of the Council of Ontario Directors of Education (CODE).

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, David has a long affiliation with Lakehead University — as the son of its first president, an alumni of Lakehead, and more recently as a member of its Board of Governors.

David has an Honours Bachelor of Arts and a Bachelor of Education degree from Lakehead University, and a Master of Education (Education Leadership) from Charles Sturt University.

David has been involved in regional communities as a member of several boards, including the North Shore Economic Revitalization and Community Development Committee, and as chair of the Area in Recovery Plan for Jackfish Bay.

David and his family have called Rossport their home for more than 25 years. He and his wife Ruth live in the north shore village with their two grown children, Mitch and Carly.

For more information about Lakehead University’s Board of Governors, please visit www.lakeheadu.ca/about/sg/secretariat/board-governors.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8372 or mediarelations@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.

An illustration of the geothermal greenhouse that Andreas Zailo designed for the competition.

April 6, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

A fourth-year Mechanical Engineering student from Lakehead University placed first at the Canadian Engineering Competition held recently at McGill University.

In the Engineering Communications category, Andreas Zailo had to present a clear and concise viewpoint on a technical topic to a judging panel. He had to focus on thoroughly explaining technical, social, economic and environmental impacts.

Zailo chose to research the impacts of Net-zero Geothermal Greenhouses for remote and Isolated Communities in Northern Canada for his project. While he entered as an individual, his topic came from his degree project work and he credits his teammates Alex Coulson, Evan Oulahen and Tyler Beckie, and his supervisor Dr. Basel Ismail for helping him prepare for the competition.

“Basically my presentation covered the engineering processes and technologies that were combined and optimized to create a thermally stable growing platform for year-round food production,” Zailo said.

“Afterwards, I had to outline the social, economic and environmental concerns and impacts,” he said.

Zailo first competed at the locally held Lakehead Engineering Competition (LEC) that allows students to enter four categories: Junior Design, Senior Design, Software/Programming, and Engineering Communications. Winners moved on to the Ontario Engineering Competition (OEC) and, ultimately to the Canadian Engineering Competition (CEC) if they continue to place first or second.

In addition to placing first at the OEC against 16 other Ontario universities, Zailo also received the Social Awareness Award. 

Dr. David Barnett, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering at Lakehead University, congratulated Zailo on his accomplishment and noted the “importance of communication skills in the development of a successful engineer.”

The annual CEC competition held in March brought together students from across Canada who have advanced to the national event following local and regional competitions.

From left, teammates Tyler Beckie, Andreas Zailo, Evan Oulahen, and Alex Coulson.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

From left to right, Dr. Sam Salem (Steel bridge team academic advisor), Thomas Gobeil, Curtis Moss, Nick Wegher, Chris Legg, Brad McDonald, Brad DesRochers and Conrad Hagstrom (Civil Engineering Labs Manager).

March 31, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University’s Steel Bridge Team has done it again.

For the third year in a row, the five-member Lakehead team of Civil Engineering students placed first at the AISC/ASCE Regional Qualifier Student Steel Bridge Competition.

This means the team will head to the National Steel Bridge Competition in May.

“This competition allowed our team to finally display their hard work to the public – and we were there to impress,” said Chris Legg, the Steel Bridge Team Captain. “Everyone watching the competition was interested to see what Lakehead brought this year to defend the championship streak.”

Lakehead’s team placed first in construction speed, first for structural efficiency, first in construction economy, and first in lightness, for an overall first-place finish.

“Now that we have qualified for the National competition, there is a lot more work to be done. We are looking forward to the challenge,” Legg said.

Lakehead's team is composed of Chris Legg, Brad McDonald, Brad DesRochers, Nick Wegher, and Curtis Moss, with faculty advisor Dr. Sam Salem, and technologist support from Conrad Hagstrom and Kailash Bhatia.

“Now that we have qualified for the National competition, there is a lot more work to be done. We are looking forward to the challenge,” Legg said.

Lakehead competed against 10 university steel bridge teams from North Dakota, South Dakota, Iowa, Minnesota, and Wisconsin on March 12.

“Our Steel Bridge Team performed extremely well before and during the competition. I am very proud of the team members’ hard work, solidarity, and enthusiasm,” said Dr. Sam Salem, Steel Bridge Team Academic Advisor.

To top it off, Lakehead also took second place in the technical paper competition. The technical paper was written by Abel Raath and presented by Andrew Olesen. The competition was held March 12 at Minnesota State University in Mankato.

All first and second-place teams move on to the US National Steel Bridge Competition. Approximately 50 teams will compete at the 2016 National Competition at Brigham Young University, Provo, Utah, on May 27 and 28.

This is the 16^th time the Lakehead team has moved on to the national competition in the last 17 years.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807)343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

                                                                                                                        Photo credit:  Liang Bua Team

Liang Bua is a limestone cave on the Indonesian island of Flores. Archaeological excavations in progress.

March 30, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University’s Dr. Matt Tocheri is quoted below about this important discovery. He is available for interviews.
 

Eight years of further excavations and study at the Indonesian cave site of Liang Bua have pushed back the time of disappearance of the ‘hobbits’ of Flores (Homo floresiensis) from as recently as 12,000 years ago to about 50,000 years ago—around the same time that modern humans (Homo sapiens) first dispersed through the wider region and reached Australia.

The new findings are published online in Nature today in an article entitled “Revised stratigraphy and chronology for Homo floresiensis at Liang Bua in Indonesia."

In 2003, archaeologists uncovered the remains of a human skeleton roughly six metres (20 feet) beneath the present-day surface of Liang Bua. The skull revealed an extremely small, chimpanzee-sized brain (about 400 cm³) and the limb bones showed that this fully-grown adult would have stood about 106 cm (3.5 feet) tall. In overall appearance, it was most similar to fossil human species that lived in Africa and Asia between 1 and 3 million years ago. This new member of the human family tree, called Homo floresiensis and dubbed the ‘hobbit’, was first reported to the world in Nature on 28 October 2004.

The skeleton was initially thought to be about 18,000 years old, with fragmentary remains of other individuals found in older and younger layers thought to have been deposited between 95,000 and 12,000 years ago. The surprisingly recent age for the disappearance of H. floresiensis implied that this diminutive human species had survived on Flores almost 40 millennia after modern humans first passed through this island archipelago, reaching Australia by around 50,000 years ago.

New excavations were carried out from 2007 to 2014 by researchers from the National Research Centre for Archaeology (Indonesia), the University of Wollongong (Australia) and the Smithsonian Institution (USA), and revealed a stratigraphic sequence far more complex than originally thought. New dates for the site show that all of the skeletal remains of H. floresiensis are between about 100,000 and 60,000 years old, with stone artefacts likely made by this species continuing to about 50,000 years ago. Modern humans were venturing through island Southeast Asia at around this time, but whether the two species ever encountered each other on Flores or elsewhere is currently unknown.

Lead author of the study, Thomas Sutikna (University of Wollongong and National Research Centre for Archaeology), said, “We didn’t realize during our original excavations that the ‘hobbit’ deposits near the eastern wall of the cave were similar in age to those near the cave centre, which we had dated to about 74,000 years ago. As we extended our original excavations each year, it became increasingly clear that there was a large remnant pedestal of older deposits truncated by an erosional surface that sloped steeply toward the cave mouth.”

This erosional surface was later covered by much younger sediments during the past 20,000 years. “Unfortunately, the ages of these overlying sediments were originally thought to apply to the ‘hobbit’ remains, but our continuing excavations and analyses revealed that this was not the case,” said co-author Wahyu Saptomo, Head of Conservation and Archaeometry at the National Research Centre for Archaeology.

H. floresiensis is not the only species that suddenly disappears from the Liang Bua stratigraphic sequence about 50,000 years ago. “Vultures, giant marabou storks, pygmy Stegodon (an extinct relative of elephants) and even Komodo dragons vanish from the sequence with H. floresiensis,” according to co-lead author Dr. Matt Tocheri (Canada Research Chair in Human Origins at Lakehead University and Research Associate at the Smithsonian Institution’s Human Origins Program). “Lots of people may have interesting ideas about why these taxa disappear together like this, but the truth is that we don’t know precisely why—and we won’t know with any certainty until much more work is done at Liang Bua and other sites on Flores,” Dr. Tocheri said.

Professor Richard ‘Bert’ Roberts, Australian Research Council Laureate Fellow at the University of Wollongong, oversaw the various dating analyses used in the study. “We dated charcoal, sediments, flowstones, volcanic ash and even the H. floresiensis bones themselves using the most up-to-date scientific methods available. In the last decade, we’ve vastly improved our understanding of when the deposits accumulated in Liang Bua, and what this means for the age of ‘hobbit’ bones and stone tools. But whether ‘hobbits’ encountered modern humans or other groups of humans—such as the ‘Denisovans’—dispersing through Southeast Asia remains an open and intriguing question.”

Other members of the research team included Jatmiko, Sri Wasisto and the late Rokus Due Awe (National Research Centre for Archaeology), the late Mike Morwood, Bo Li, Mike Morley, Tony Dosseto and Gerrit van den Bergh (University of Wollongong), Kira Westaway (Macquarie University), Max Aubert, Rainer Grün and Adam Brumm (Griffith University), Jian-xin Zhao (University of Queensland), Michael Storey (Natural History Museum of Denmark), Brent Alloway (Victoria University of Wellington), Hanneke Meijer (University Museum of Bergen) and Bill Jungers (Stony Brook University).

The research was supported by Australian Research Council grants and fellowships, the Waitt Foundation/National Geographic Society, the Smithsonian Scholarly Studies Program, the Peter Buck Fund for Human Origins Research, and additional funds from the Smithsonian’s Human Origins Program, the University of Wollongong, the Victoria University of Wellington, and the Villum Foundation.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

Dr. Lew Christopher, BRI Director

Tuesday, March 15, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

A Lakehead University researcher is receiving funding from the Canada Foundation for Innovation (CFI) for his biorefining project.

Dr. Lew Christopher, Director of Lakehead’s Biorefining Research Institute, is receiving $59,539 for his work into enabling advanced, high-quality research in Forest Biorefining.

In a forest-based biorefining system, trees are harvested to produce high-value primary products (e.g. lumber, pulp, paper) and residues are used to create a range of value-added co-products.

“By developing new, cost-efficient and environmentally-friendly technologies for value-added products from forest biomass, we will be able to replace oil-based materials with sustainable biomass-based alternatives,” said Dr. Christopher.

“We will also enhance the international competitiveness of the Canadian forest sector.”

Dr. Christopher will use the funding to purchase three pieces of state of the art equipment that will advance his research into the production of value-added chemicals, materials and bioenergy created through the Forest Biorefinery.

With global competition, unstable oil and energy prices, concerns about global warming and incentives for green fuels and chemicals, the Canadian forest sector needs to implement the Biorefinery Concept in order to create additional revenues and remain competitive, Dr. Christopher said.

“This project will position Lakehead University as a leader for research excellence in biorefining,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

“It will result in high-quality research, data, reports, publications and presentations at national and international forums, attracting top researchers in the field,” Dr. Dean added.  

This funding was announced on Monday, March 14 by the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science, with more than $23 million supporting 95 projects at universities across Canada.

“Investments in Canada’s research infrastructure are incredibly important to the nation’s future,” said Minister Duncan. “They give Canadian researchers the tools they need to make new discoveries that will better the lives of Canadians today and for years to come.”

The investment was made through the CFI’s John R. Evans Leaders Fund, designed to help universities attract and retain the best and brightest researchers from around the world by giving them access to cutting-edge research tools.

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Media: For more information or to arrange an interview, please contact Kelly Arnold, Media Relations and Marketing Assistant, at (807) 343-8177.

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.

March 11, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University Thunder Bay will host its annual March Break Open House next week, opening up the campus to hundreds of prospective students and their families and friends.

The Open House takes place from Monday, March 14 to Friday, March 18 and gives prospective students a chance to be a Lakehead student for the day. They can sit in on classes, meet professors and students, and enjoy guided tours of the campus facilities.

“Our March Break Open House is the next best thing to being a Lakehead student. Not only will visitors be able to connect with faculty members in their program of interest and current Lakehead students, they can take part in a class in session and, depending on their program, participate in an interactive showcase,” said Jo Krisko, Lakehead’s Manager of Undergraduate Recruitment.

Through specialized academic program showcases, students can meet with faculty members of selected programs, see labs, speak to current students in the program, and learn more about the kinds of careers the programs can lead to.

In addition to campus and classroom activities, this year’s March Break event offers bus tours of the City of Thunder Bay for out-of-town guests.  

Detailed daily schedules of events, along with registration forms, are posted online at lakeheadu.ca/future-students/stories/march-break-2016. Further information is also available by calling 807-343-8500 or by emailing recruit@lakeheadu.ca.

Download the March Break schedule here.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

From right, Dr. Baoqiang Liao, recipient of the NSERC Distinguished Researcher Award, with Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Vice-President (Research and Innovation). 

From left, Dr. Alexander Serenko was presented with the SSHRC Distinguished Researcher Award certificate by David Tamblyn, Vice-Chair of Lakehead's Board of Governors, and Dr. Connie Russell, Vice-Chair of the Senate Research Committee Awards

 
March 10, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University’s Research and Innovation Awards of Excellence Reception was held on Thursday, March 10 to celebrate the dedication and achievements of researchers and students.

Dr. Baoqiang Liao from Chemical Engineering received the NSERC Distinguished Researcher Award and Dr. Alexander Serenko from the Faculty of Business received the SSHRC Distinguished Researcher Award.

The Distinguished Researcher Award is the highest honour conferred by Lakehead for research and scholarly activity. 

“It is a great honor to receive this prestigious award. To reach this stage in my career, I have had a lot of support from Lakehead University, outside of Lakehead and from the industry partners and funding agencies that supported me,” said Dr. Liao, a professor in Chemical Engineering.

“Thanks to the University and the Senate Research Committee for giving me this great award,” he said.

Dr. Liao started at Lakehead in 2002 after working for more than two years as a researcher at Zenon Environmental Inc. (now called GE Water and Process Technology.

It was at Zenon that Dr. Liao defined his research direction in membrane filtration and its application in environmental engineering.

Since joining Lakehead University, Dr. Liao has developed an active research program in membrane separations and their applications in water and wastewater treatment, which attracted more than $1.6 million in external funds to support his research and to train graduate students and postdoctoral fellows.

Dr. Liao has published approximately 50 peer-reviewed journal papers and book chapters during his time at Lakehead University. 

Dr. Serenko is an associate professor of Management Information Systems in the Faculty of Business Administration.

“Receiving this award would not have been possible without the contribution of my research colleagues, continuous support provided by my Dean, Dr. Bahram Dadgostar, and the encouragement of my family,” Dr. Serenko said.

“Most importantly, I am very grateful to Dr. Brian Detlor who formed the foundation of my research expertise during my doctoral studies at McMaster University,” he said.

His research focuses on scientometrics, knowledge management, and technology addiction. He has published 70 articles in peer-reviewed journals and many book chapters and conference papers, and won six best paper awards at Canadian and international conferences.

Dr. Serenko received Lakehead University’s Contribution to Research Award in 2007.

Dr. Andrew Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President (Research and Innovation), said he is proud of the University’s researchers and students.

“Congratulations to all Lakehead University researchers and students on your success and thank you for everything you do,” Dr. Dean said. “Research and innovation at Lakehead is more impressive every day and it’s because of your contributions.”

Award recipients

High Output and Publication Excellence (HOPE) Awards

• Bal Ram Adhikari, PhD Biotechnology Program
• Anastasiia Mishchenko, PhD Chemistry and Materials
• Melissa Oskineegish, PhD Educational Studies

Postdoctoral Fellows Poster Awards

Category 1: Impact on Health

• First: Brenda Magajna, Department of Biology
• Second: Francis Hane, Department of Chemistry
• Third: Zhonggang Liu, Department of Chemistry

Category 2: Impact on Resource Sustainability/The Environment

• First: Sapanbir Thind, Department of Chemistry
• Second: Yiqian Zhang, Department of Chemical Engineering
• Third: Weijue Gao, Department of Chemical Engineering

Building Research Capacity Award

• Dr. Scott Pound, Department of English

Student Innovation Award

• Xin Chang, Chemistry

Faculty Innovation Award

• Vineet Johnson, Kinesiology

Canada Research Chair Award - Lakehead University’s newest Canada Research Chairs received a framed letter from the former Prime Minister.

• Dr. Pedram Fatehi, Chemical Engineering
• Dr. Chris Mushquash, Faculty of Health and Behavioural Sciences
• Dr. Michael Rennie, Department of Biology
• Dr. Matthew Tocheri, Department of Anthropology

Senate Research Committee Awards

Contributions to Research Award

• Dr. Monica Flegel, Department of English
• Dr. Wayne Melville, Faculty of Education

Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC) Distinguished Researcher Award

• Dr. Baoqiang Liao, Department of Chemical Engineering

Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Distinguished Researcher Award

• Dr. Alexander Serenko, Faculty of Business

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807)343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean hosted the opening ceremony for Lakehead University's 11th annual Research and Innovation Week.

March 7, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University held the opening ceremony for its 11^th annual Research and Innovation Week on Monday, March 7 and Dr. Andrew P. Dean invited the community to participate in the many events. 

“This is the time of year when we show the community the important research and innovation happening at Lakehead University,” said Dr. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President of Research and Innovation.

“There are lots of events happening this week where people of all ages can listen to professors and students talk about their expertise. All of the events are open to the public and we hope to see you there.”

Dr. Ted Hewitt, President of the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada, said he was excited to be at Lakehead University. He emphasized why it’s important to invite the public to explore research and innovation.

“Research is fundamental to innovation, but its impact is limited unless people understand, appreciate and ultimately embrace it,” Dr. Hewitt said.

“Driven by the spirit of creative inquiry and intellectual curiosity, great humanities and social sciences research expands our knowledge of who we are, where we have been and where we are going. SSHRC is working to put Canada at the forefront of research excellence, contributing to a lasting culture of innovation to the benefit of Canada and the world,” he said.

 During the opening ceremony, Councillor Frank Pullia read a proclamation on behalf of Mayor Keith Hobbs, stating that March 5 to 11 is officially Research and Innovation Week in the City of Thunder Bay.

For the full schedule of events, please visit lakeheadu.ca/ri.

– 30 –

Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807)343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean tried out an EEG machine, which monitors electrical activity of the brain.

March 3, 2016 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University kicks off its 11^th annual Research and Innovation Week with more than 15 exceptional and unconventional displays at the Intercity Shopping Centre on Saturday, March 5.

 There will be something interesting to see and do for people of all ages – especially children.

“The very popular Passport program is back this year to encourage young people to visit all of the displays to win prizes,” said Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead University’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation.

New this year is a display by the Neuroscience Research Interest Group (NeuRIG), which will present a broad range of neuroscience topics covering brain and eye anatomy and functions, and other important functions.

There will be interactive tasks and demonstrations, as well as activities that the public, including young children, can engage in with the exhibitors.

“R and I Week is a chance for Lakehead University researchers and students to show the community the fascinating work that they do at Canada’s number one research university,” Dr. Dean said.

Other displays include Superior Science, Aboriginal Mentorship, Anthropology, Enrolment Services and more.

Also happening this weekend, on Sunday at 2 pm Drs. Judith Leggatt, Scott Pound and Michael Richardson from Lakehead’s Department of English will discuss the Future of the Book in the Reading Room at the Brodie Street Library.

They will describe the changing nature of books and the emergence of new narrative forms as a result of emergent digital technology and new media.

R and I Week runs from Saturday, March 5 until Thursday, March 10.

Also of interest, two social justice round table discussions will be held on Monday at the Thunder Bay Art Gallery from 2 to 4 pm and 7 to 9 pm. Click here for more information.

On Tuesday, Kevin Ford will talk about turning the tide of offshoring Canadian businesses at a breakfast on at 7:30 am (registration required) in the Faculty Lounge; and Lakehead’s Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies is sponsoring a talk by Dr. Robert Reisz from the University of Toronto Mississauga, who will describe the life of two types of dinosaurs from embryo until they are fully grown on Tuesday at 8 pm in the Ryan Building, room 1042.

For more information and the full schedule, please visit lakeheadu.ca/ri. The public can attend all of the events.

– 30 –

Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807)343-8372, or mediarelations@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.

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