Join Lakehead University International (LUI) for Lunar New Year Celebration Week.

LUI has fun events and online cultural engagement opportunities scheduled from Thursday, Feb. 11 to Tuesday, Feb. 16.

Join LUI for its Lunar New Year Kickoff this Friday, Feb. 12 from 11 am - 12 pm in a traditional Chinese Tea-Pouring Ceremony with a special Chinese guest, Jefferson Li.  

Please visit the LUI Online Community of Care, Upcoming events for links to all of our live and virtual activities: lakeheadu.ca/international/online-community/upcoming-events

You can also follow LUI on social media at:

@lakeheadinternationallife

@intlstudentlife

@lakeheaduniversityelc

Check out the agenda below for events being offered throughout the week.

Thursday, Feb. 11

Sharing Lunar New Year Traditions - This event will be asynchronous, just connect with LUI on its social media platforms (@lakeheadinternationallife, @intlstudentlife, @lakeheaduniversityELC) to learn about What Lunar New is and what it means to Lakehead students and others who celebrate.

Friday, Feb. 12

Par-Tea! Join LUI live for the 2021 Lunar New Year Kick off (Year of the Ox) for a community welcome from the Vice-Provost, International, James Aldridge, and a Traditional Chinese Tea Ceremony with special guest host Jefferson Li from 11 am-12 pm. Register here: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_cDD-DdTYTtyRDtgB3JBhIQ 

Saturday, Feb. 13

Join LUI live for a Lunar New Year Takeover for its Virtual Coffee House. This student-hosted event will provide opportunities to learn and engage in Lunar New Year Celebration Fun, trivia and prizes from 10 am-11 am. Click the link to join: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/j/99126460976

Sunday, Feb. 14

Make a Wish (A Lunar New Year Tradition at Lakehead now virtual) Join LUI on its social media platforms (@lakeheadinternationallife, @intlstudentlife, @lakeheaduniversityELC) for this asynchronous event to participate in making a wish for Lunar New Year.

Monday, Feb. 15

Join LUI to learn Cooking a Traditional Lunar New Year Dish. This event will be asynchronous, just connect with LUI on social media (@lakeheadinternationallife, @intlstudentlife, @lakeheaduniversityELC) to participate in learning how to make a traditional Lunar New Year dish with two Lakehead students, Cilvius and Shania.  Lakehead students can check their email for videos.

Tuesday, Feb. 16

Join LUI to share Lunar New Year Cultural Traditions and celebrations on Tradition Tuesday. This event will be asynchronous, just connect with LUI on its social media platforms (@lakeheadinternationallife, @intlstudentlife, @lakeheaduniversityELC) to participate in learning about the Vietnamese traditions with Lakehead student Tran, who is currently studying in LUI’s English Language Centre. Lakehead students can check their email for more information.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

February 11, 2021 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.

Lakehead University’s Ogimaawin Indigenous Education Council (OIEC) has recently undergone a series of transformations following a thorough review of its bylaws, including revisions to its name, its mandate, and its membership.

Formerly known as the Ogimaawin Aboriginal Governance Council, the transition to Ogimaawin Indigenous Education Council came after its members believed that the new name aligned their group with similar Indigenous Education councils at other Ontario universities.

The OIEC continues its evolution as an important advisory body to Lakehead University. Its members include representatives from surrounding Indigenous community organizations and the OIEC has representatives on the University’s Board of Governors and Senate.

The OIEC meets several times a year together as a Council, and also with Lakehead’s President, to discuss and advise on issues related to Indigenous post-secondary education opportunities. The renewed focus elevates the opportunities for membership and input from Indigenous organizations and members at large. 

“The Council members constitute an invaluable resource to our University community, and we are very grateful for the positive impacts they have had, and will continue to have, on Lakehead’s success,” Dr. McPherson said. 

Lakehead University’s Ogimaawin Indigenous Education Council (OIEC) recently named Valerie Stortini as its new Chair.

“The OIEC is an engaged group of people from the University community, as well as the community at large,” said Stortini, who joined the Council in 2017 and is the Employment Counsellor for the Apatisiwin Program at the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.

“We meet regularly and contribute in many ways to advancing Indigenous content in Lakehead University’s curriculum.  I look forward to continuing in my role as Chair of the OIEC,” she added.

Dr. McPherson added, “I look forward to working with Valerie and the other members of the OIEC as we continue to strengthen engagement with Indigenous communities and work together to enhance experiences and outcomes for Indigenous students.”

Through its Strategic and Academic Plans, Lakehead University has committed to continuing to advance the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Calls to Action and Universities Canada’s Principles on Indigenous Education, recognizing that education is key to reconciliation and to the creation of a culture of understanding and appreciation throughout the University that will support a more equitable future for Indigenous people.

In alignment with the University’s Strategic and Academic Plans, the OIEC conveys the interests and concerns of Indigenous communities and serves as a channel of communication between Indigenous peoples and the University regarding issues that affect Indigenous post-secondary education.

The OIEC is currently undergoing a recruitment campaign to fill 10 vacancies on the Council. There are currently seven vacancies for members from Thunder Bay and Simcoe County organizations and three for at-large members.

Joining the OIEC is an opportunity to make long-lasting contributions to quality education and experiences at Lakehead University, ultimately benefitting students and the communities that Lakehead serves.

There is no deadline to apply. Nominations are accepted on an ongoing basis. Visit the recruitment section of the website for more information.

To learn more about the OIEC, visit lakeheadu.ca/about/sg/ogimaawin-indigenous-education-council-oiec-/about.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca. 

The Simcoe Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) is conducting an Immigrant Health Outcome survey to learn about the health and healthcare experience(s) of foreign born individuals living in Simcoe County. This feedback will be helpful in providing recommendations for changes in healthcare practices and procedures in Simcoe County. The Simcoe County LIP is committed to improving outcomes for immigrant residents.

We need your help in encouraging responses, and individuals participating in the survey can choose to be entered in a draw for a $50 gift card.

The Immigrant Health Outcome survey should take 20 minutes to complete.

The survey link will be available until March 31, 2021.   To complete the survey visit https://survey.simcoe.ca/surveys/immigrant-health-outcome.survey.

Throughout the month of March the County of Simcoe celebrates the annual #ITSTARTS campaign - a campaign to inspire individuals to take action on embracing and celebrating diversity within our vibrant, growing communities. As a supporter of the County of Simcoe, we are thrilled to be a community champion again for the 2021 campaign.

As a community champion LU has been assigned the week of March 15-19 for our outreach to our campus and broader communities. Lakehead University International and the Office of Human Rights and Equity will be hosting an event each day of the week. Given #ITSTARTS is completely virtual this year we've embraced the opportunity to have both Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses involved for the first time. We encourage you to check out these great events:

Monday March 15
#ITSTARTS with the Professionals Panel
12:00PM-1:00PM
For more information and to register, click here: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJMsc-6gpj8jHt1jeePk4oxt8FOgR...

Tuesday March 16
#ITSTARTS with The Newcomer Experience
1:00-2:00PM
For more information and to register, click here: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIqcuuvrzssHN2h4PE_K_hhr7rsL...

Wednesday March 17
#ITSTARTS with the Human Library
10-11:30am
For more information and to register, click here: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJUqdOqgqj0qHdCHbGe6Su2NZkjOK...

Thursday March 18
#ITSTARTS with the Human Library
3-4:30pm
To register visit https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJIlfuGrrDwjHt2q7MWN1iOJI3PUB...

Friday March 19
#ITSTARTS with Trivia
12-1pm
Click here to register for this event: https://lakeheadu.zoom.us/meeting/register/tJYlce-hrDMpG90l092b6OIskwWMb...

To learn more about our events and how to make Lakehead, Simcoe County, and Thunder Bay more inclusive environments, keep an eye on these social media accounts throughout March!

Facebook:
Lakehead University International Orillia
Lakehead University International Student Life
LU Human Rights and Equity
County of Simcoe

Instagram:
@lakeheadhumanrights
@lakeheadlifeor
@lakeheadinternationallife

Congratulations to Dr. Idevania Costa, Assistant Professor in the School of Nursing, on being awarded the Silver medal for “Outstanding Achievements in Patient Care” by the Journal of Wound Care and World Union of Wound Healing Societies Awards on February 20.

This prestigious award event is considered “the World Wound Care Olympics”. This award is open to all those, around the globe, who have made an outstanding contribution to any area of wound care putting patient at the centre of their work.

Dr. Costa received this award in recognition of the significant contributions she has been making to improve patients’ wound care in clinical, education, and research settings in both Brazil and Canada.

In Brazil, she established wound care clinics that remain functioning and to which she continues contributing her unique clinical expertise.

In Canada she has been working tirelessly to enhance individuals’ engagement in self-management of chronic wounds and advance wound care practice and outcomes. She developed a theory that explains how individuals engage in everyday self-management of chronic, hard to heal, wounds and uncovered the socio-economic factors facilitating or limiting their engagement.

Dr. Costa’s program of research at Lakehead University has focused on addressing the social determinants of health affecting for vulnerable populations (e.g., older adults, Indigenous) living with chronic conditions such as diabetes and preventing its consequences (e.g., foot disease and limb amputation).

She has published several articles in peer-reviewed journals and lectured nationally and internationally to raise awareness to achieve better outcomes in chronic care by understanding the role individuals with chronic wounds play when actively engaged in every day self-management.

 “The literature recognizes that individuals with chronic conditions are in control of their life and every day, while at home and away from the eyes of health-care professionals, they need to make decisions about their own care," Dr. Costa said.

"When we implement a collaborative care approach and places them as active subjects in their own care, they are able to achieve better outcomes and feel great satisfaction with their well-being.”

January 25, 2021 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.

Lakehead University is launching its first Wellness Strategy on Monday, Jan. 25, acknowledging nine dimensions of wellness and describing a plan to support the wellness needs of students, faculty, and staff.

The plan’s mission is to embed systemic health and wellness practices and services into the University, to support the well-being of the communities where faculty, staff and students work, study and live.

“Through the Wellness Strategy, we are furthering our commitment to support the holistic health and well-being of our Lakehead community, recognizing that investing in the enhancement of health and wellness will better position our students for success in the classroom and as they enter the workforce upon graduation,” said Andrea Tarsitano, Vice-Provost, Students, and Registrar.

The development of Lakehead University’s Wellness Strategy has been influenced and supported by Lakehead University’s current Strategic Plan, Academic Plan, and Research Plan, all of which contributed to the objectives, metrics and strategies described in the plan.

It was also developed after consulting with members of the University community who provided feedback on what they hoped to see in the plan.

“The launch of our Wellness Strategy represents a seminal moment for our Lakehead community in striving toward our vision of an inclusive University that supports the diverse and shared wellness needs of our students, staff, and faculty,” said Adam Shaen, Associate Vice-President, Office of Human Resources.

The strategy acknowledges the following dimensions of wellness: social, physical, occupational, intellectual, financial, environmental, emotional, cultural, and spiritual.

Living a healthy and well-balanced lifestyle is even more important since COVID-19 arrived in Canada last year. 

Some of the plan’s objectives include embedding the wellness of students into the onboarding and orientation of new faculty and staff hires, developing more web resources to increase understanding of the services and supports available to students, and applying a health and wellness lens into the Facilities Master Plan highlighting the importance of light, windows, open communal spaces, etc.

Educational institutions across Canada have been advancing their overall perspectives on wellness over the past decade. In 2015, the Okanagan Charter was developed, calling on post-secondary institutions to embed health into all aspects of campus culture and to lead health promotion action and collaboration both locally and globally.

On March 20, 2019, Lakehead University marked the official beginning of its commitment towards the development of a Wellness Strategy that would support, encourage and inspire a culture of holistic health and well-being for the Lakehead community.

Lakehead Thunder Bay and Lakehead Orillia hosted kick-off events called Our Trail to Wellness and the Okanagan Charter was officially signed by Dr. Moira McPherson, President and Vice-Chancellor, and Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans, Principal of Lakehead Orillia.

To view the Wellness Strategy, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/trailtowellness.

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 Media:  For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s University Rankings 2021; as well as included in the top half of the Times Higher Education 2020 World University Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University has been chosen to be part of the Ontario Council on Articulation and Transfer’s (ONCAT) second MapIt Learning Collaborative with nine other colleges and universities.

The MapIT Project aims to examine the entire transfer process: the steps students take when transferring schools in Ontario and the ‘behind-the-scenes’ workflow steps post-secondary institutions (PSIs) take when receiving applications.

Participating PSIs connected through knowledge-sharing sessions and received a collated map of the transfer journey – from both staff and student perspectives – to reveal pain-points, bottlenecks, and other opportunities for improvement to administrative and communications activities.

“Often the student transfer experience is different from what is imagined by the services facilitating that process,” said Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, Associate Vice-Provost Academic.

“Led by Nick Chamut, Associate Registrar of Undergraduate Admissions, Lakehead will gain a better understanding of how our processes work and improve them to ensure a better student experience.”

In this round, after gathering feedback from participants, ONCAT is casting a greater focus on faculty decision-making processes (i.e., credit assessment) and is re-adjusting its approach due to COVID-19.

After gathering feedback from the first cohort, ONCAT confirmed the next group of PSIs in December 2020: Lakehead University, Centennial College, La Cité collégiale, Northern College of Applied Arts and Technology, Sault College, Sheridan College, Trent University, the University of Guelph, and the University of Windsor. HESA (Higher Education Strategy Consultants) will return as a consultant.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca. 

Established in 2011, ONCAT was created to enhance academic pathways and reduce barriers for students looking to transfer among Ontario’s public colleges, universities, and Indigenous Institutes. For more information, visit www.oncat.ca. For more information about MapIt, please email Carolyn Poplak at cpoplak@oncat.ca. ONCAT is funded by the Government of Ontario.

Funding will support a new industrial research chair and nine new jobs in Thunder Bay

February 4, 2021

Energy, Northern Development and Mines

 February 3, 2021 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.

February is Black History Month and you are invited to celebrate with Lakehead University throughout the entire month.

Lakehead University International (LUI) and the Office of Human Rights and Equity (OHRE), in collaboration with many on-campus and off-campus community groups, invite you attend Black History Month Celebrations.

 The theme is “Where we started,” which begins with a dialogue celebrating the past, followed by conversations about where we are going, and events will wrap up discussing where we need to be and how we will get there together.

Groups participating in virtual events include the Caribbean and African Multicultural Association of Thunder Bay (CAMUT), the African Caribbean Student Association (AFCASA) and the Thunder Bay Multicultural Association (TBMA).

Black History Month kicks off this Friday, Feb. 5 from 12:30 - 1:30 pm (online through Zoom) with a Black Alumni panel discussion facilitated by the following Lakehead Black alumni: Moffat Makuto (one of Lakehead’s first Black student graduates), Bassie Kargbo, Tomi Akinyede, and Bobbi Eegunnike.

This alumni panel is being facilitated by another Black alumni and Black international student service professional, Lateefah Olatunde. The panel includes a community welcome from Dr. David Barnett, Lakehead’s Provost and Vice-President (Academic).

This discussion will provide audience members with a chance to learn about Lakehead’s Black student experience from some of the University’s first Black students.

Over the course of February there are many other stimulating online events planned, including a panel discussion called Where We are Now, with current Black Lakehead students and facilitator Jonathan Erua from OHRE, including a featured presentation from Dr. Semie Sama from the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. 

On Tuesday, Feb. 16 from 1 - 2 pm join Lakehead for the Good Fight, a conversation with Alice Mphafi, a social worker who was born and raised in a political family during apartheid in South Africa – a former freedom fighter, she was arrested and detained for fighting for human rights.

Alice will share her lived experience growing up in apartheid in South Africa and her experiences coming to Canada to study at a northern university situated in a resource-based community similar to Thunder Bay – UNBC in Prince George.

On Wednesday, Feb. 17 from 6-8 pm, AFCASA presents a Black Entrepreneurs night for Black business owners to share their experiences as they help shape a new northern economy. 

Other fun events throughout the month include: Black artist (Lakehead’s own) Mary Wokomah hosting an inspirational live artist at work session; an African Hair workshop; a beading community get together; AFCASA’s virtual painting workshop called Still I RISE; community movie nights and much more.

The month will end with Black Jeopardy hosted by OHRE, where participants will answer Black category questions to win prizes including daily doubles etc.

Throughout the month of February, the community is invited to visit Lakehead University’s Black History Month Celebration website. Each day key moments in Black History will be revealed and visitors to this website can enter daily to be eligible to win gift cards or prize packs that will be randomly drawn at the end of the month. 

Lakehead University International and its partners hope you will participate in this wonderful celebration of Black History on Lakehead’s campuses and communities.

Visit Lakehead’s University’s Black History Month Celebration website now to register for upcoming events. Some may fill up fast.

For further details please contact Sabreena MacElheron at director.iss@lakeheadu.ca.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

A Lakehead University Social Work professor and his research team are releasing the results of research into the impacts of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot (OBIP) and its cancellation.

Dr. Ravi Gokani, Assistant Professor in the School of Social Work, Janice Thibault, an MSW student while working on the project, and current MSW student Bre Sweers interviewed 20 former OBIP recipients from Thunder Bay, as well as 13 key informants – community members who have knowledge of the impacts of the OBIP and its cancellation.

Dr. Gokani initiated the study in response to community need and in collaboration with Angie Lynch from the Kinna-aweya Legal Clinic in Thunder Bay.

“We were responding to the community-based need to know what happened during the Ontario Basic Income Pilot and after its cancellation,” Dr. Gokani said.

“Understanding these two elements, including the transition off of the OBIP, was all the more important given that the research-based elements of the Ontario Basic Income Pilot were cancelled almost immediately, even though payments continued well after.”

Dr. Gokani’s study revealed several things about income security programs in Ontario, including that the OBIP had a positive impact for the short duration it was in place.

“We also found that the existing Ontario Works and Ontario Disability Support programs – and the precarious nature of a segment of the 21st century labour market – are insufficient to meet the monetary and non-monetary needs of Thunder Bay's poorest people,” he said.

In March 2016, the Ontario Government committed to create a Basic Income Pilot Project to test a growing view at home and abroad that basic income could provide a new approach to reducing poverty in a sustainable way.

The Ontario Basic Income Pilot was announced in April 2017 and the first phase to enroll participants was successfully completed in April 2018, with full participation across three pilot sites.

The pilot sites included Hamilton, Brantford, Brant County; Thunder Bay, along with the Municipality of Oliver Paipoonge, the Township of Shuniah, the Municipality of Neebing, the Township of Conmee, the Township of O’Connor, the Township of Gillies; and Lindsay.

The government was interested in how a basic income might help people living on low income better meet their basic needs, while improving outcomes in food security, stress and anxiety, mental health, health and health-care usage, housing stability, education and training, employment and labour market participation.

The province enrolled over 4,000 people in the pilot program and more than 2,000 people participated in a comparison group that did not receive monthly Basic Income payments while actively participating in the study.

The Ontario Basic Income Pilot ensured that participants received up to $16,989 per year for a single person, or up to $24,027 per year for a couple.

People with a disability also received up to $500 per month on top of the amount described above.

People who worked had their basic income reduced by 50 cents for every dollar they earned until their income reached $34,000 if single, or about $48,000 for a couple.

The Ontario Basic Income Pilot ended in March 2019.

Dr. Gokani and his team interviewed former OBIP recipients between November 2019 and March 31, 2020.

“Among other things, our study revealed that receiving the OBIP funds improved the mental and physical health of recipients and that recipients felt humanised,” Dr. Gokani said. “The cancellation of this pilot reversed the positive impacts.”

Findings of the study will be available to the public in the form of a short brochure as of Wednesday, Feb. 10 at lakeheadu.ca/users/rgokani.  

– 30 –

Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8177 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 98th among 766 universities from around the world in THE's 2020 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.