August 15, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Canadian scientists have discovered that certain lake predators are altering their behaviour due to climate change, revealing what the future may hold for these fish and their food.

For years scientists told tales of fish such as Lake Trout adapting their feeding behaviour as temperatures change, but no empirical evidence existed. Now, a recently completed 11-year study at IISD Experimental Lakes Area (IISD-ELA) in northwestern Ontario reveals that Lake Trout have a remarkable ability to adjust their behaviour in the face of changing water temperatures.

“These findings are important for understanding how Lake Trout and other temperature-sensitive fish will respond to climate change,” said Matthew Guzzo, a PhD candidate in the University of Manitoba’s Department of Biological Sciences and lead author of the study published in the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. “Lake Trout are reacting rapidly to changes in water temperature. As soon as the water became too warm, the fish left the shallow, more productive water, and went to the deep part of the lake where the food is of lower quality. And when a top predator is forced to change what it eats, it impacts not only its own well-being, but the whole food web.”

Guzzo and co-authors Paul Blanchfield, Research Scientist at Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and Michael Rennie, Canada Research Chair in Freshwater Ecology and Fisheries at Lakehead University, found that changes in water temperatures, not food availability, guide the Lake Trout’s movements. This fact comes with complex repercussions.

“Our study confirms the importance of springtime shoreline resources in these small boreal lakes for Lake Trout, and how in warmer years their access to this resource is limited,” said Rennie.  “The prediction from this observation is that climate warming should result in slower-growing trout in poorer condition, due to reduced shoreline access.”

The study focused on the ice-free season in the lakes. In a world warming due to climate change, earlier springs bring an earlier opportunity for the trout to forage on energy-rich minnows in shallow water. But a warmer climate means longer, hotter summers, and the water quickly heats beyond the predator’s preference, forcing them to move to cool, deep, less productive water. As a result, the scientists observed a reduction in the fish’s growth and condition, which can impact their reproductive success.

“Lake Trout are a sentinel species – the canary in the coal mine for boreal lakes,” said Blanchfield.  “Our findings provide evidence that Lake Trout are struggling to cope with a rapidly-changing and stressful thermal environment.”

All this could have profound and severe impacts on future populations and their ability to persist through the ever-intensifying effects of climate change.

“This current study isn’t the whole climate change story. It’s showing that fish can adapt to changing conditions. Their behaviour is not static. They’re not just sitting ducks,” said Guzzo. “We are showing that for now Lake Trout can continue to live in these areas that will warm by making the best of a bad situation, but what this means for the long-term persistence of these and other cold-water fish populations is unclear.”

Funding for “Behavioural response to annual temperature variation alter the dominant energy pathway, growth, and condition of cold-water predator” was provided by the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada, the W. Garfield Weston Foundation, Manitoba Fish Futures, the University of Manitoba, DeBeers Canada, Fisheries and Oceans Canada, and IISD-ELA.

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Interviews: The researchers are available for interviews upon request.

For more information, please contact:

Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, Lakehead University, 807-343-8177, or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca

Sean Moore, Communications Officer, University of Manitoba, 204-474-7963, or sean_moore@umanitoba.ca

Sumeep Bath, Media and Communications Officer, IISD-ELA, 204-958-7700 ext. 740, or sbath@iisd.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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

August 8, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead’s Provost & Vice-President (Academic) Dr. Moira McPherson is pleased to announce the renewal of Dr. David Barnett as Dean of the University’s Faculty of Engineering.

“Dr. Barnett has been extremely dedicated to Lakehead University and to the Faculty of Engineering,” said Dr. McPherson. “I look forward to continuing to work with him to achieve goals set out by the Faculty and the University.”

Under Dr. Barnett, Lakehead’s Faculty of Engineering has continued to grow and develop.

Recognized for its unique pathway for college engineering technologists to complete an engineering degree through the transfer program, the Faculty of Engineering has also expanded direct entry and international enrollments, developed new graduate programs, and expanded its research profile.

Dr. Barnett said he was grateful for the strong and continued support of the faculty, staff, and students that he has had the pleasure to work with during his service as Dean.

“I’m honoured to continue leading the Faculty of Engineering as we build on our many successes and continue to strive for excellence in engineering education and research,” he said.

In addition to ensuring the quality and success of the programs in Thunder Bay, Dr. Barnett will have a new focus as Lakehead builds its partnership with Georgian College, including the delivery of engineering programs in Barrie.

Dr. David W. Barnett

Dr. Barnett joined Lakehead University as Dean of the Faculty of Engineering in July 2012. Prior to joining Lakehead, he spent several years in the aerospace industry working primarily on electromagnetic signature analysis.

After completing his doctoral studies, he joined the Electrical Engineering Department at Saint Louis University. Dr. Barnett later became Chair of the young Biomedical Engineering Department where he focused on program development and his research in biomedical signal processing and electrophysiology.

In his 10 years as Chair, he guided the development of a highly successful program recognized for the quality and success of graduates.

In addition to his DSc degree at Washington University in St. Louis, Dr. Barnett earned an MSc degree at the University of Washington and a BSc degree from Bradley University, all in electrical engineering.

He is a member of Eta Kappa Nu, Tau Beta Pi, BMES and a senior member of IEEE.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

August 2, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

The Joyce Family Foundation is donating $1 million to a unique program at Lakehead University that mentors Indigenous high school students from Northwestern Ontario.

Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson said that thanks to this significant contribution, Lakehead’s Aboriginal Mentorship Program (AMP) will continue to remove barriers to access post-secondary education for young people, in perpetuity.

“The Joyce Family Foundation’s gift is more than a financial gift,” said Dr. Stevenson. “The Joyce family has made an investment in the future generations of Indigenous students by providing Lakehead University’s AMP program with the means to continue to make their university dreams possible.”

Dr. Stevenson also thanked the Foundation’s board, including Ron Joyce, Grant Joyce, Steven Joyce, the Hon. Edward Lumley, Rob MacIsaac, Aileen O’Rafferty, and Michele Allison-Thornley.

“AMP’s success depends on our ability to connect with high school students on an annual basis as they move through their studies,” said Lisa Harris, AMP Coordinator.

“This contribution allows us to focus on fulfilling our commitment to Indigenous youth,” she added.

When Lakehead started AMP in 2013 there were 40 Indigenous youth enrolled in the program. Last year (2016/2017), the program worked with over 2,750 youth from grade one to 12 through outreach programming both on and off the Thunder Bay campus; of these youth, 250 were high school students who worked exclusively with the AMP program. 

“That incredible growth in numbers really demonstrates the need for programs such as this,” Harris said.

Dr. Peggy Smith, Lakehead’s Interim Vice-Provost, Aboriginal Initiatives, thanked The Joyce Family Foundation for recognizing the value of AMP reaching out to Indigenous high school students.

“This is another significant piece in our efforts to improve Indigenous student enrolment at Lakehead University,” Dr. Smith said.

AMP allows high school students to visit the Lakehead Thunder Bay campus to compare healthy versus cancerous skin cells, tour the Paleo DNA and chemistry labs, learn about the human body using the School of Nursing and Northern Ontario School of Medicine manikins, do archaeological digs on campus, participate in outdoor scavenger hunts using GPS, and more.

“The Joyce Family Foundation recognizes Lakehead University as a leader in First Nation education attainment through its Aboriginal Mentorship Program, and we are happy to offer this support,” said The Joyce Family Foundation founder Ron Joyce.

“I believe that education can unleash great potential, and this program is doing just that,” he added.

The Joyce Family Foundation (formerly The Joyce Foundation) is a private, family foundation created by Canadian entrepreneur Ronald V. Joyce, who co-founded TDL Group Ltd. which licenses Tim Hortons restaurants in Canada and around the world. Through its strategic philanthropic work, The Joyce Family Foundation is dedicated to supporting the social, economic and emotional well-being of children and youth by empowering them to develop into healthy, confident, independent contributors to Canadian society. Visit www.joycefamilyfoundation.com.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, Lakehead University, at 807-343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Maureen O'Neill, Foundation Administrator, The Joyce Family Foundation, at 905 336-6993, or moneill@joycefamilyfoundation.com

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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

July 20, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University will welcome alumni and friends back to campus during our annual Homecoming Weekend, taking place from September 28-30, 2017. 

Returning alumni will enjoy events that bring together lifelong friends, celebrate alumni excellence, and provide a nostalgic return to the university community. Major events include the Alumni Awards Dinner, Wall of Fame Induction Ceremony, Speakers Series, Open Houses and reunions.

“Lakehead University has been the home for more than 52,000 alumni who continue to demonstrate exceptional leadership, across the country and around the world,” said Dr. Michel Beaulieu, Chair of the Alumni Association of Lakehead University (AALU).

“Each fall, Homecoming Weekend draws many of them back home to reconnect with their fellow classmates and honour their time at Lakehead. We welcome them to come home, visit campus, take in some of our events, and enjoy the sights and sounds of the community,” he said.

A full events listing can be viewed online at lakeheadu.ca/homecoming.  The schedule continues to be updated, so be sure to check back often.

Register for Homecoming by clicking here.

EVENT LINEUP:

Alumni Awards Dinner

The Alumni Association of Lakehead University has been honoring distinguished alumni since 1988 when the first Alumni Honour Award was given.  The ceremony will recognize individuals in the categories of Young Alumni, Alumni Honour and Legacy Award.  The event will be held on campus featuring a full awards program schedule and dinner.

If You Go:

What: Alumni Awards Dinner
When: Friday, September 29^th – 6 p.m. Reception, 7 p.m. Dinner
Where: Thunder Bay Campus (location to be determined)

Award Recipients to be honoured
Alumni Honour Award
Ken Boshkoff (HBA ’72) 
Darren Lentz (HBOR, BSc. Bed ’96, Med ’07)

Outstanding Young Alumni Award
Lloyed Lobo (BEng ’05)

Alumni Legacy Award:
David Heroux
Rob Jamieson

Honourary Memberships:
Cam Clark
Cathy Trojan
Fred Gilbert

Wall of Fame Ceremony

Since 1996, the Lakehead Athletics Wall of Fame has existed to acknowledge athletes, coaches, teams and administrators who have made outstanding contributions to Lakehead Athletics over the years. Celebrate the moments in our Lakehead sports history as part of this special ceremony. 

Lakehead Athletics will also be celebrating the The C.J. Sanders Fieldhouse’s 50th anniversary this year, as the Fieldhouse was first opened in the spring of 1968 in honour of one of the university's major benefactors, Carl J. Sanders. The facility has continued to stand strong, becoming a main hub for Thunderwolves Athletics with multiple amenities offered to students and the public.  For more information about Homecoming events offered through Athletics, please visit thunderwolves.ca.

If You Go

What: Wall of Fame Ceremony
When: Saturday, September 29^th – 1 p.m.
Where: The Hangar

Wall of Fame Inductees:
Builders:
Dr. Jack Remus
Bill Keeler (posthumously)

Male Athlete Inductees:
John LaPlante (Men’s Basketball)
Joel Scherban (Men’s Hockey)

Female Athlete Inductees:
Muriel Mortson (Women’s Basketball)
Katie Patroch (Women’s Wrestling)

Team Inductees:
1999-2000 Women’s Wrestling Team

Other Highlights:

• Faculty of Business Reunion
• Department of Languages – Foreign Film Screening
• Alumni Party at The Outpost
• Pre-game socials
• Women’s and Men’s Basketball vs. Winnipeg
• Men’s Hockey vs. UOIT
• Wrestling reunion
• Lakehead University Archives Open House
• Zanatta Alumni Games

…and many more!

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

From left, Deb Comuzzi, Lakehead’s Vice-President, External Relations, presented Carolyn Leroux, General Manager, Bombardier Transportation Thunder Bay, with a thank you plaque. Also in the photo are Dr. Moira McPherson, Provost and Vice-President, Academic, and Christian Leisander, a business graduate student and a past recipient of the Ontario Graduate Scholarship.

July 19, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University’s Faculty of Business Administration is the recipient of a $50,000 gift from the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation to establish The J. Armand Bombardier Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Business.

The purpose of the scholarship is to support eligible students in the University’s business graduate programs, including its Master of Science in Management and Master of Business Administration programs.

“Ever since its inception, the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation has placed education at the core of its actions, firmly believing that high-quality and accessible education is the driving force of society,” said Ode Belzile, Director, Philanthropic Activities, J. Armand Bombardier Foundation.  “We are very proud to collaborate with Lakehead University to create two new scholarships that will help attract and retain the best students in Thunder Bay.”

“Lakehead continues to attract high quality business graduate students from around the world,” said Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Brian Stevenson. “The J. Armand Bombardier Ontario Graduate Scholarship in Business will provide even more incentive to prospective graduate students who are considering Lakehead’s world-class business programs.”

Dr. Stevenson explained that attracting more business students to Lakehead University translates into more business graduates contributing to our local and regional economies.

“This gift demonstrates the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation’s commitment to aspiring professionals and future business leaders in the region,” he added.

The gift from the J. Armand Bombardier Foundation, which will be matched 2:1 through the provincial government’s Ontario Graduate Scholarship Program, will generate $150,000 in student support to create two annual scholarships of $15,000 for the next five years.

“Scholarships give students the opportunity to obtain an education that helps to transform their future, and allows them to focus fully on their education and experiences that will help to enrich their time at Lakehead,” said Dr. Bahram Dadgostar, Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration.  “This new scholarship will also have a high impact on our ability to recruit top students from diverse backgrounds into our programs.”

“At Bombardier we believe in the importance of expanding access to education which develops a talented workforce in our communities,” said Carolyne Leroux, General Manager, Bombardier Transportation Thunder Bay.  “I am proud of the long history of collaboration between Lakehead University and Bombardier Transportation Thunder Bay. This new scholarship will strengthen the connection between our two organizations while fostering the business leaders of tomorrow.”

The J. Armand Bombardier Foundation and Bombardier Transportation are long-time supporters of Lakehead University and have contributed significantly to the experiential learning opportunities available to students.

From site visits to its Thunder Bay plant to active development support of graduate projects, Bombardier has provided Lakehead’s graduate students with practical experiences that allow them to seek solutions to real-world industry challenges as they prepare for their professional careers.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact:

Brandon Walker

Media Relations Officer

Tel.: 807-343-8177

mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca

Ode Belzile
Director, Philanthropic Activities

J. Armand Bombardier Foundation

Tel.: 514-876-4555

O.Belzile@fjab.qc.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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

The J. Armand Bombardier Foundation, a private family foundation, was established in 1965 to carry on the humanitarian work of Joseph-Armand Bombardier and contribute toward the realization of Bombardier’s vision of social responsibility. The Foundation is active in four key areas: Education, Community Support, Healthcare, as well as Arts and Culture. Culturally, the Foundation also plays a very important role through the J. Armand Bombardier Museum and the Yvonne L. Bombardier Cultural Centre, located in Valcourt, Québec.

July 4, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Grade 11 student Yesenia Cheekinew of Surrey, BC, is an advocate for truth and reconciliation.

The First Nations student aims to become a civil rights lawyer and an ambassador in her community. She was selected to attend SHAD Lakehead through a partnership between SHAD and the Minerva Foundation’s Learning to Lead Program for grade 11 female students in BC.

While SHAD is now hosted at a record 13 universities from coast to coast, Cheekinew is participating at SHAD Lakehead in Thunder Bay alongside other student leaders and change makers.

“I have never been so grateful to be given an opportunity to be at this once in a lifetime program,” Cheekinew said.

Cheekinew is troubled by how she hears people talk about First Nations and aims to change that. She is a frequent speaker at elementary schools.

“For all the other First Nations students that strive to go to SHAD, know that anything is possible. We do not need to follow the stereotypes that say we cannot do great things. My success is our success,” she said.

Tristan Salomon de Friedberg comes to SHAD Lakehead from Labrador. The grade 10 student is passionate about dance and ballet and has encouraged other males there to join him.

“Living in a small mining town where hockey is king, I found that stepping out of the norm to pursue my dance passion was character building.”

Salomon de Friedberg has also created a new toy rope for his puppy that lasts longer and started a business with it.

He said coming from a small remote community with limited options and learning other ways to think outside the box makes this summer extra special.

“The opportunity to be in a program like SHAD with students from all over the country who are just as driven to make an impact makes me feel that I’ve won the lottery.”

At SHAD, which was founded in 1980 to help youth reach their potential, students in grades 10 to 12 are immersed in an award-winning, one month enrichment program focused on STEAM: science, technology, engineering, arts and math.

The students interact with renowned university faculty and visionary corporate leaders.  In a unique element of the program, the students are challenged to come up with an original solution to a societal problem they learn about in the first week. It teaches them about entrepreneurship and innovation and leaves the students seeing how they can make an immediate impact.

Chloe Brooks of Fredericton is hoping to become the first in her family to attend post-secondary education and said SHAD will help her become a role model in her community.

“I never expected this chance to participate in such an amazing experience.  I am doing this not just for myself but for other First Nations youth,” Brooks said.  “I would like them to witness an average kid from their community make it as far as possible.”

Dr. Sultan Siddiqui is a Mechanical Engineering Professor and the Director of SHAD Lakehead. He has witnessed the growth of hundreds of young people who participated in the program.

“SHAD encourages young people to get outside of their comfort zone,” Dr. Siddiqui said. “These exceptional individuals are Canada’s future prime ministers, scientists, lawyers and other change makers.”

When the program ends on July 28, the students become part of an important network of close to 16,000 alumni including 32 Rhodes Scholars and leaders in many fields.

The president and CEO of SHAD, Tim Jackson, is ecstatic the program has now expanded to a record 13 host campuses across Canada. He said his number one goal is to make SHAD, as well as the bursaries which enable some students to attend, available and accessible to every deserving student across the country.

“I’ve seen the difference SHAD can make to help youth realize their potential. It is not only great for them as individuals; it’s great for the country as a whole,” Jackson said.

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

For more information or to set up an interview with a student in your area, please contact: Teddy Katz, Vice President, Media Relations | SHAD teddy@shad.ca or call 647 505 8095

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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

SHAD produces leaders for Canada through its award-winning, life-changing, pan-Canadian enrichment platform for high school students. Every year, SHAD helps 800 young Canadians tap into their full potential through an innovative month-long program at one of 13 partner university campuses. There, students apply STEAM (science-tech-engineering-arts-math) disciplines to real-life public policy and entrepreneurial challenges, forging insights and valuable relationships for life. Among its thriving global network of close to 16,000 SHAD Fellows and innovators are 32 Rhodes Scholars, 80 Loran Scholars, and 43 Schulich Leaders.  For more information, visit www.shad.ca

June 29, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University has two new Canada Research Chairs and they are each receiving a grant from the Canada Foundation for Innovation.

Dr. Aicheng Chen is the new Tier 1 Canada Research Chair in Materials and Environmental Chemistry and he is a Professor in Chemistry at Lakehead University.

Dr. Chen became a Tier 2 CRC in 2006.

Tier 1 chairs are outstanding researchers acknowledged by their peers as world leaders in their field, while Tier 2 chairs are acknowledged as having the potential to lead in their field.

As part of his appointment as a Tier 1 CRC, he is also receiving $230,000 from CFI for purchasing research equipment that will be used to develop improved water treatment technology, a need which has become increasingly urgent due to global population growth.

Electrochemical technologies are extensively used when producing metal in the mining industry, for pulp bleaching, energy conversion and storage, water purification, and environmental analysis. 

Dr. Chen is a pioneer in conceptualizing and designing functional nanomaterials (materials containing particles with very small dimensions) used to create green technologies that allow for sustainable energy conversion and storage, wastewater remediation, and water purification.

Hydrogen is considered a clean and renewable alternative to conventional fossil fuels. However, hydrogen storage is a challenge. Dr.Chen is focused on developing catalysts for hydrogen production, as well as designing functional nanomaterials for hydrogen purification and storage.
Dr.Chen is exploring a new strategy for water treatment that involves electrochemical and photoelectrochemical oxidation. Industries such as pulp and paper and mining require improved wastewater technologies in order to address increasingly strict environmental regulations. This new strategy will assist with that.

The nanomaterials also allow Dr. Chen to develop high performance electrochemical sensors and biosensors for environmental monitoring and medical diagnostics.

“My research will likely lead to the implementation of electrochemical technologies in several environmentally friendly applications – from water purification to renewable energy,” Dr. Chen said.

Dr. Max Haiven is the new Tier 2 Canada Research Chair in Culture, Media and Social Justice and an Assistant Professor in English at Lakehead University.

Dr. Haiven also received $42,705 in research infrastructure funding from CFI to research the power of the imagination in two key areas. First, he is interested in how economic phenomena – especially the world of high finance – is driven by cultural ideas, norms and creativity. For example, how do billions of dollars appear and disappear on the stock market in the blink of an eye?

The second area focuses on the radical imagination, especially expressed by movements for social justice in Canada and around the world. Dr. Haiven and his collaborators are interested in how a wide variety of activists are responding to today’s financial and economic pressures of globalization, austerity and free-market policies.

At Lakehead, Dr. Haiven is bringing these interests together as Director of the ReImagining Value Action Lab (RiVAL), which he described as an “experimental think-tank for the radical imagination in an age of social media.”

“I plan to work with colleagues and students to discover how important research on these themes can be broadcasted using emerging communications technologies, like social media, online audio and video, teleconferencing and on-demand and hybrid publishing,” Dr. Haiven said.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation, said getting two new Canada Research Chairs means a lot to the University.

“Thank you to the CFI and CRC for recognizing the important research happening at Lakehead,” Dr. Dean said. “Congratulations and thank you to these researchers and to everyone performing research at Lakehead. Your passion and dedication is appreciated.”

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead University's President and Vice-Chancellor, greeted participants at the sixth annual Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Intercultural/Indigenous Higher Education on Monday, June 26.

June 26, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

Lakehead University is hosting representatives from eight Mexican universities and 11 Canadian universities for the sixth Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Intercultural/Indigenous Higher Education.

Representatives are in Thunder Bay from Sunday, June 25 to Tuesday, June 27.

Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead’s President and Vice-Chancellor, explained that the roundtable’s theme is Indigenous entrepreneurship, and that the event brings participants together to share best practices and learn from each other.

“All of these universities hope to remove unnecessary barriers and increase pathways for Indigenous students in Canada and in Mexico,” Dr. Stevenson said. “In addition to developing strategies to foster Indigenous students’ entrepreneurial skills and opportunities across borders, this Roundtable will open doors for research and other partnerships.”

Federal, provincial, municipal and Indigenous representatives and students have been invited to participate in the roundtable discussion. Their goal is to sign a consortium agreement to promote mobility, joint research and Indigenous community activities that explore ways to improve access and programming for Indigenous communities in both countries, as well as promote joint research and institutional collaboration. 

For decades, Canadian universities have worked to increase access for Indigenous students and to improve outreach to Indigenous communities.

Federal and state governments in Mexico have partnered to create a number of regional universities, called Intercultural Universities, to improve post-secondary access for Indigenous peoples.

Over the three days, participants will enjoy tours, meetings, and events hosted by several local and regional Indigenous communities, including the Red Rock Indian Band, Fort William First Nation, and the Métis Nation of Ontario.

For the complete schedule of events for the sixth Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Intercultural/Indigenous Higher Education, please visit:

https://www.lakeheadu.ca/presidents-office/6th-canada-mexico-roundtable/conference-details/agenda.

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

More than 200 students ascended the stage during Lakehead Orillia’s convocation ceremony Saturday. ​ Photo credit: Mark Wanzel

June 10, 2017 – Orillia, ON

Family, friends, faculty and staff gathered at Rotary Place in Orillia earlier today to celebrate the success of Lakehead University graduating students during the Orillia campus Convocation ceremony. 

Over 400 students received their degrees during the ceremonies presided over by Dr. Brian Stevenson, Lakehead University’s sixth president and vice-chancellor, and Lyn McLeod, the University’s ninth chancellor.  Jessica Dawson, Bachelor of Arts & Sciences and Bachelor of Education, addressed the graduating class as the Voice of Convocation.

“Our graduates can’t help but be changed by the Lakehead University experience,” said Stevenson. “They have all proven that education is the most potent tool we can use to change ourselves, and each of them, in turn, will transform everything around us by going into the world and contributing to communities in their own unique ways.”

Graduates ascending the stage during convocation this year to receive their hoods and diplomas were greeted by McLeod, who was officially installed as the University’s chancellor on June 2, 2017 in Thunder Bay. 

During Chancellor McLeod’s closing remarks, she asked graduates to stay aware and engaged participants in their new environments. 

“Lakehead University has provided our graduates with opportunities to learn and, I trust, with an enthusiasm for learning that will last throughout their lives,” McLeod explained. “While I cannot begin to know the challenges that many of them will face, I know that our graduates will be open to new ideas and new approaches.”

Lakehead University also bestowed honorary awards on two outstanding individuals for their contribution to the University and community.  Dr. Rita Shelton Deverell, a strong voice for social justice and a pioneer in Canadian journalism, received an Honorary Doctor of Humane Letters.  Lakehead alumnus Rob Jamieson was presented with the Civitas Award for his incredible support of the Orillia campus, and his ongoing engagement with the University through the Alumni Association.

“Convocation is not only a time to celebrate what our students have achieved, but the contributions of special members of our community, as well,” said Stevenson.

Student award winners included:

• President’s Award: David Venneri, Meghan Young, and Samantha Pritchard

• Lloyd Dennis Award for Outstanding Citizenship (Orillia): Samantha Pritchard

• Dean Braun Scholar Awards for Health and Behavioural Sciences (Social Work): Justin Dwayne Cholette

• Dean’s Scholar Awards for Science and Environmental Studies (Sustainability Studies): Hannah Marie Hancock

• Dean’s Scholar Awards for Social Sciences and Humanities (Interdisciplinary Studies): Leah Katherine Shaw

Lakehead University proudly graduated over 2,100 students in 2017 from its Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.   

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Media: For more information, please contact Jaclyn Bucik, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or jaclyn.bucik@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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Dr. Bahram Dadgostar

June 16, 2017 – Thunder Bay, ON

A new program at Lakehead University will give students advanced standing in pursuing the Chartered Professional Accountant (CPA) designation.

Lakehead University’s Faculty of Business Administration is launching its new Graduate Diploma in Accounting (GDA) program in September, available at the Thunder Bay campus.

“The Graduate Diploma in Accounting will help prepare students to earn the Chartered Professional Accountant designation,” said Dr. Bahram Dadgostar, Dean of Lakehead’s Faculty of Business Administration.

The GDA is accredited by the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. This five-course professional program offered over a semester gives students a head start in pursuing the CPA designation, Canada’s pre-eminent professional business and accounting credential.

“The CPA Accreditation of Lakehead’s Graduate Diploma in Accounting program will serve the best interests of the school, its students and our profession for many years to come,” said Richard Piticco, CPA, CA, CFA, Vice-President, Student Services, Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario. “In building upon our already strong relationship with Lakehead University, we are very proud to have accredited this excellent program.”

To become a Chartered Professional Accountant, candidates must complete the academic pre-requisite requirements, the Professional Education Program (PEP), Common Final Examination (CFE) and 30 months of qualifying practical experience.

Lakehead’s GDA program will provide students with advanced standing into the CPA PEP. Graduates will receive an exemption from the Core 1, Core 2 and all four elective modules, meaning they enter the CPA PEP at the Capstone 1 module.

The GDA seamlessly integrates with Lakehead’s Honours Bachelor of Commerce (Accounting Major). It enhances a student’s competencies by focusing on integrating technical knowledge and applying critical thinking, teamwork, ethical reasoning and communication skills.

For more information, please click here. 

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Media: For more information or to arrange interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media Relations Officer, at (807) 343-8177, 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. In 2016, for the second consecutive year, Re$earch Infosource ranked Lakehead first among Canada’s undergraduate universities. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

About the Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario

CPA Ontario protects the public interest by ensuring its members meet the highest standards of integrity and expertise. CPA Ontario serves and supports its more than 87,000 members and 19,000 students in their qualification and professional development in a wide range of senior positions in public accounting, business, finance, government, not-for-profits and academe. Chartered Professional Accountants are valued by organizations of all types and sizes for their financial expertise, strategic thinking, business insight, management skills and leadership. For information on the profession, visit cpaontario.ca.

For more information, please contact:

Perry Jensen
Chartered Professional Accountants of Ontario
416-969-4271 or 1-800-387-0735, ext. 4271
pjensen@cpaontario.ca