Heleena Stephens, Manager, Food and Conference Services, showed Anna Chief, left, and Jerri-Lynn Orr, right, how to use the new Cano app.  

October 25, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.   

Lakehead University launched a reusable container program in dining facilities on its Thunder Bay campus on October 25. 

Students, faculty, and staff signed up for the free app-based program in the Agora and Main Dining Hall. When they downloaded the app, called Cano, they received a free coffee and a Persian donut. 

Working with Montreal-based start-up Cano Co., Lakehead continues to be a leader in sustainability as it promotes the transition from single-use packaging to reusable food containers. 

Heleena Stephens, Lakehead University’s Acting Director of Food and Conference Services, was excited about the launch. 

“We have worked collaboratively with Aramark and the Office of Sustainability to bring the right program to our institution and to our city," Stephens said. 

Lakehead wanted a streamlined program for on-campus food service providers on a user-friendly platform for students, faculty, and staff. 

“It was very important to move away from piecemeal solutions and singular approaches to sustainability initiatives by considering how we might utilize our positions as a lead employer and institution,” Stephens said. 

She was optimistic that other institutions and organizations across the city might follow Lakehead’s lead in adopting this free, reusable container program as Thunder Bay strives to reach net-zero emissions by 2050. 

The Cano Co. program has many benefits for organizations and users. The no-fee platform makes the program accessible for students who can also earn free food and drink rewards by using the program and returning their containers promptly. 

The app-based program tracks how many takeout containers a user has diverted from waste and recycling streams and the corresponding reductions in carbon emissions, enabling institutions to track waste and emissions savings over time. 

“We know that single-use plastics and food packaging contribute to the climate crisis and climate injustices.  We are thrilled that comprehensive solutions such as the Cano Co. container program are becoming more common and more accessible,” said Aynsley Klassen, Lakehead’s Sustainability Coordinator. 

“It is important that we act now, with an eye toward how we can continue to expand programs like these on our campuses and in our communities.” 

The Cano Co. reusable container program can be accessed at Lakehead University on its Thunder Bay campus at Aramark locations in the Main Dining Hall, with plans to expand the program in the winter term. 

To learn more about the program, visit canocompany.com/en/home or download the free Cano Co. app on the Apple store or the Google Play store. 

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

 Katelyn O’Connor, far right, poses for photos with other graduates.

By Brandon Walker

Katelyn O’Connor is grateful for the lasting friendships she formed over the last two years while studying in Lakehead University’s Master of Nursing (MN) Program. 

O’Connor is in the program’s inaugural graduating class, along with five other students who completed their MN studies in the Nurse Practitioner specialization in the summer. 

Graduates participated in a celebration over the weekend in the Faculty Lounge with O’Connor as the valedictorian. 

The celebration also included four graduates of the Master of Public Health program’s Nurse Practitioner specialization and three graduates of the Nurse Practitioner Certificate Program. 

“Creating lasting friendships was truly one of the highlights,” O’Connor said. 

“It was more than just forming connections – it was finding a community of like-minded individuals who were not only navigating similar challenges, but they are also inspiring in their own right. 

“These connections turned into profound friendships, and the support and camaraderie that blossomed from our shared experiences is something I will always treasure.” 

To O’Connor, the classes were not just about learning. What she will miss the most is the continuous exchange of knowledge and experiences among her classmates, who she says were on similar journeys. 

Lakehead’s MN program offers two streams - Advanced Nursing (AN) and Nurse Practitioner (NP) specializations. The NP specialization is part of a nine-university-provincial consortium, where all Primary Health Care Nurse Practitioner students learn together. 

“It wasn’t just the formal learning, it was the informal networking that happened, the real-time discussions about the latest in healthcare, and the collective support we offered one another. That sense of solidarity, of going through the challenges together and coming out stronger, is truly something I'll miss,” she said. 

Lakehead’s Master of Nursing program provided O’Connor and her classmates with the foundation, the essential knowledge, and the skills required for nurse practitioners in the workplace. 

However, the reality of the NP role reveals an ongoing learning curve. It's a field where experience and guidance play a significant role in shaping one’s confidence. 

Working with nurse practitioners has been immensely beneficial for O’Connor. She said the reality is her first years in practice will come with their own set of challenges and uncertainties that demand continuous learning and adaptation, but she’s ready for everything that life will throw at her. 

Part of her preparation included doing placements at several health-care facilities, which offered her an incredibly enriching experience. 

O’Connor said her placements at Harbourview Family Health Team, Acute Pain Service at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and the Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic were instrumental to her learning and growth. 

“I’m deeply grateful for the patience and wealth of knowledge these preceptors shared,” she said. 

“In the current health-care climate – where resources are constrained and time is a precious commodity – the dedication of these preceptors in accommodating students alongside their demanding workload is truly commendable. 

“A heartfelt thank you to all those who generously invest their time and expertise, often without compensation, in guiding and educating aspiring nurse practitioners like myself.”

O’Connor described her placements as “incredibly eye-opening and inspiring.” She vividly remembers being in awe while wondering how these individuals acquired such vast knowledge and made their work appear effortless. 

“I distinctly recall feeling as though reaching that level was an unattainable goal.

Watching experienced nurse practitioners navigate their roles seamlessly was not only motivating but also a humbling experience.” 

Even as she began the Master of Nursing program, the role itself seemed somewhat elusive. 

She said interacting with and learning from these exceptional nurse practitioners, who have pioneered programs and clinics to serve patients and improve healthcare, was truly uplifting. 

“Realizing that I could eventually follow in the footsteps of these remarkable role models was an awe-inspiring revelation,” she said. 

Knowing she’s graduating feels surreal to O’Connor. 

She is excited to become a nurse practitioner, “especially those first moments, like writing that initial prescription. It's a mix of the weirdest and proudest feelings all bundled into one,” she said. 

As she looks ahead to a bright future, she is also looking back with gratitude on the time she spent with her professors and classmates. 

“Completing the program and starting in the field, earning a paycheck – it's truly incredible. Yet, amidst these professional leaps, I can't help but miss the routine of our weekly classes. 

“Those check-ins, discussing our placements, and sharing our collective learning experiences, they formed a significant part of the journey.” 

Graduating signifies a tremendous milestone in O’Connor’s life and the lives of her classmates. 

She’s experiencing a mix of pride and disbelief. 

“Looking back at the challenges we've faced, this stands as my most significant achievement. I'm incredibly proud of both myself and my classmates for persevering through the program and emerging on the other side, ready for the next chapter.” 

For O’Connor, the next chapter includes working on the remote monitoring of postoperative patients at the Rapid Access Clinic, which spans multiple hospitals in Northwestern Ontario. 

She is also working occasionally at the Lakehead Nurse Practitioner-Led Clinic and the Acute Pain Service. 

To celebrate her graduation, O’Connor and her partner are planning a trip to Vietnam. 

November 12-18 was National Nurse Practitioner’s Week.

Varsha

Lakehead University PhD student Varsha recently earned third place for her oral presentation at the Canadian Association of Physicists at the University of New Brunswick.

Her research focuses on the development of a mid-infrared laser (2-micron). This type of laser can be used to detect trace gases such as carbon dioxide and in health care for precise cutting into biological tissues. 

Varsha, who is in the third year of her PhD in Chemistry and Materials Science, spent roughly six months on this experiment and prepared for the conference over a few weeks this summer, including five to six hours in front of her group members. 

Her presentation at the University of New Brunswick lasted 15 minutes with a three-minute question and answer session. Varsha said she was excited when she learned that she’d placed third. 

“It was an appreciation for all the time that I put into my work, and it motivated me to focus more on my research in the future,” she said. 

Varsha developed a pulsed laser at 1567 nm using a mixture of gold nanorods and polyvinyl alcohol in aqueous solution as a saturable absorber in aqueous form, which makes it different from other lasers. This laser will be used as a pump source to develop another laser at 2 microns. 

The laser at two microns will be used to detect any form of gas with an absorption band near two microns. 

Varsha said she is happy she chose to study at Lakehead University. 

“The time I am spending at Lakehead University is giving me opportunities to do fascinating research. I am grateful to be here, and I hope that my research will help the community.”

October 12, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.   

Are you experiencing memory loss? Have you received a diagnosis of dementia, including Alzheimer’s disease? 

If so, then you and your care partner, family, and friends should register for the Living Well With Dementia: Creating Dialogues of Resilience conference. 

The conference will start on Sunday, Oct. 15 with a special Dementia Café: A Place to Belong, at the Urban Abbey from 2 to 4 pm, followed by a dinner. 

Then on Monday, Oct. 16, the conference will be at the Nor’Wester Hotel from 10 am - 4 pm, starting with keynote speaker Myrna Norman from BC who will discuss her experiences of resilience and living well with dementia. 

There will be a second keynote by Rebekah Churchyard on dementia green care farms, and a variety of sessions including resilience and dementia, and sharing stories of hope. 

The North West Dementia Working Group, in collaboration with Lakehead University’s Centre for Education and Research on Aging & Health (CERAH), is delighted to be hosting this conference. 

The North West Dementia Working Group said this conference will be beneficial for people who have experienced dementia. 

This conference will shine a light on the fact it is possible to live well with dementia, to have joy and purpose in life, challenge stigma, share information, and be inspired by people living with dementia, their care families, friends, supporters, and care partners. 

“This is a rare opportunity that will bring together people living with dementia, their family, friends and care partners, community service organizations, and front-line health care workers to connect and learn from each other,” said Carlina Marchese, Knowledge Broker with CERAH. 

“We will focus on living well with dementia and seeing the person before the diagnosis.”  

A $25 registration fee includes all workshop materials and refreshments over the two days. 

For further information, please visit cerah.lakeheadu.ca/events, or contact Carlina Marchese at (807) 343-8010 ext. 7271.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

October 11, 2023 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.   

Five research projects at Lakehead University received more than $650,000 in funding from the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC). 

SSHRC is the federal research funding agency that promotes and supports research and training in the humanities and social sciences. 

Dr. Tamara L. Varney, Professor of Anthropology, is receiving an Insight Grant for $376,413 over four years. She and a team of researchers across Canada continue to investigate the mystery of how and why so many Royal Navy sailors suffered from lead poisoning while based in Antigua during the late 1700s and early 1800s. 

Earlier research found lead in the bones of many skeletons buried near the site of a former hospital on the island. However, the wide range of lead levels puzzled the research team. 

Dr. Varney’s research project was one of the first to use synchrotron X-ray fluorescence imaging or XFI to examine the pattern of lead within bones. The patterning of the toxic element provides information on the timing of lead exposure during a lifetime. 

Now, they are going back to study the social determinants that may have caused the differences in lead levels and patterning – including if rum distilled with lead-based equipment played a role. 

“We’ve seen lead poisoning before in tinned foods, but these skeletons pre-date the Royal Navy’s use of canned goods,” Dr. Varney said. 

“However, rum rations were still very much in use. In Antigua and elsewhere at the time, lead condensation coils were used in the distillation process.” 

There are other possible sources of lead contamination as well, including freshwater catchment and storage, cooking and serving vessels, and medicinal compounds. Ultimately, Dr. Varney hopes to get a clearer picture of how prevalent lead poisoning was among military personnel compared to the general population on the island. 

The team includes co-investigators Dr. Cassidy R. VanderSchee (The King’s University, Edmonton), Dr. David M.L. Cooper (University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon), Dr. Ian B. Coulthard (Canadian Light Source Inc.), Dr. Treena M. Swanston, (MacEwan University, Edmonton), and Dr. Vaughan Grimes (Memorial University of Newfoundland). 

Dr. Aislin Mushquash, an Associate Professor in the Department of Psychology at Lakehead University, and her PhD student Angela MacIsaac are receiving an Insight Grant for $99,349 over three years to research the relationships between trait victimhood and interpersonal stress and trauma. 

Trait victimhood is a personality trait that influences how individuals feel within social relationships. Those high in the trait are more likely to feel hurt or perceive offenses across relationships. While this trait affects people’s perceptions and beliefs about their relationships, it is less clear how this trait is related to actual interpersonal stress or interpersonal trauma. 

“To best support people, it is important to understand their interpersonal experiences as they relate to past and ongoing situational factors like interpersonal stress and trauma, while also considering the influence of more enduring personality traits like trait victimhood,” Dr. Mushquash said. 

“This research is timely as phrases like ‘victim mentality’ or ‘playing the victim’ are increasingly being used by the public,” MacIsaac said. “It is our hope that these findings will bring greater clarity to the true experiences of those who are high in trait victimhood.” 

Dr. Beth Visser, Interdisciplinary Studies and Psychology, and Dr. Lori Chambers, Gender and Women’s Studies, are co-investigators in the study. 

Dr. Gary Pluim, Assistant Professor in the Faculty of Education at Lakehead Orillia, received an Insight Grant of $51,961 over four years to research a collaborative experience of teaching critical, decolonial global citizenship to Canadian and Ethiopian education students. 

“Research and policy suggest that teachers – including student teachers at university – need to develop a more critical, global lens when it comes to education,” Dr. Pluim said. 

“Despite our increasingly global world, educating teachers is mostly done at the national or even provincial/state levels. The technologies that were advanced during the pandemic are now helping us to bridge international gaps and re-imagine what it means to educate for global citizenship.” 

The study involves investigating the effects of colonization from several vantage points around the world and examining narratives of global history from differing perspectives.  In the study, researchers ask how educators can become prepared to teach global citizenship in critical ways that embrace complex global histories in the service of peace and greater equity.      

Participants from Lakehead’s Orillia campus, in online courses, and from Addis Ababa University in Ethiopia will participate in this research from across the globe. They will provide cross-national insights to qualitatively analyze the effectiveness of co-learning across nations and hemispheres. 

Dr. Pluim and co-investigator Dr. Leigh-Anne Ingram from the Faculty of Education at Lakehead are collaborating on the research project with Dr. Solomon Belay Faris at Addis Ababa University.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation, said the success of these researchers securing SSHRC funding underlines the importance of their work. 

“Lakehead continues to be a world leader in research in the fields of Humanities and Social Sciences,” Dr. Dean said. 

“The research conducted here and in collaboration with other researchers around the world has both local and global applications, which is important because it shows how we can find solutions to a variety of challenges. 

“Thank you once again to SSHRC for recognizing the value of our research projects by continuing to support them. I congratulate the research teams and wish them well as their research progresses,” Dr. Dean said. 

In 2022/23, Lakehead University received more than $2 million in assistance from the Research Support Fund to support the indirect costs of research, which includes costs for supporting the management of intellectual property, research and administration, ethics and regulatory compliance, research resources, research facilities, and research security.

New SSHRC Grants 2023 

Total funding:  $ 652,076 

Insight Grants (three-to-four-year grants) 

Dr. Aislin R. Mushquash, Department of Psychology, Relationships Between Trait Victimhood and Interpersonal Stress and Trauma: a Daily Diary and Cross-sectional Evaluation, $99,349. 

Co-investigators

• Dr. Beth Visser, Interdisciplinary Studies
• Dr. Lori Chambers, Gender and Women’s Studies 

Dr. Gary W.J. Pluim, Faculty of Education, Decolonizing Global Citizenship in Teacher Education: A Case Study of a Critical, Collaborative Experience for Canadian and Ethiopian University Students, $51,961. 

Co-investigator

• Dr. Leigh-Anne Ingram, Faculty of Education 

Collaborator

• Dr. Solomon Belay Faris, Addis Ababa University 

Dr. Tamara L. Varney, Department of Anthropology, Identifying the Social Determinants of Lead Poisoning in British Colonial Populations of the Caribbean, $376,413. 

Co-investigators

• Dr. Cassidy R. VanderSchee, The King's University (Edmonton)
• Dr. David M.L. Cooper, University of Saskatchewan
• Dr. Ian B. Coulthard, Canadian Light Source Inc.
• Dr. Treena M. Swanston, MacEwan University
• Dr. Vaughan Grimes, Memorial University of Newfoundland

Connection Grants (one-year grants)

Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo, Faculty of Education, The Applied Self Regulation Knowledge Conference: Supporting the Well-Being of University Students, $24,886.

Co-investigator

• Dr. Meridith A. Lovell-Johnston, Faculty of Education.

Collaborator

• Dr. Anne L. Showalter, The MEHRIT Centre

Dr. Pauline Sameshima, Faculty of Education, Brokering Scientific Knowledge Through Community Arts Integrated Research, $24,706.

Co-investigators

• Dr. Guillaume (Will) Zhao, University of Waterloo
• Dr. Stephanie Mason, Brock University

Partner Organization

• Weill Cornell Medicine

Dr. Rosario A. Turvey Department of Sustainability Sciences, Summer Institute on Economic Security and Local Resilience, $24,831.

Partner Engage Grants (one-year grants)

Dr. Martha Dowsley, Departments of Anthropology, and Geography and the Environment, Relationships, Bio-cultural Landscapes and Critical Plant Geographies of Manomin/Wild Rice (Zizania palustris) at Lac Seul First Nation, Northwestern Ontario, $25,000.

Co-investigators

• Dr. Jill Taylor-Hollings, Department of Anthropology

Partner Organization

• Lac Seul First Nation

Dr. Lindsay Galway, Department of Health Sciences, Re-storying Cumulative Effects on Land, Connectedness to Land, and Well-being with Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council, $24,930.

Co-investigators

• Dr. Daniel Ducket, Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council
• Dr. Robert Stewart, Department of Geography and the Environment
  
  

Collaborator

• Alejandra M. Orozco-Quintero, Ruwaza Sustainable Development Ltd.

Partner Organization

• Keewaytinook Okimakanak Tribal Council

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

News release

Quotes

“Canada is making transformative investments to clean up the Great Lakes, targeting key areas of concern like Thunder Bay. The Great Lakes are imperative to our environmental, social, and economic well-being, and there is much work to be done to clean up pollution and protect these vital ecosystems. Working hand in hand with our partners will yield positive outcomes for Canadians today, and for future generations.”
– The Honourable Steven Guilbeault, Minister of Environment and Climate Change

“People in northwestern Ontario have a deep appreciation for the waterways that nourish our region, including Lake Superior. Our ways of life are intertwined with water, as are the animals and land. Increasingly, water is under attack through pollution and other changes that cause great damage to the water and wildlife we hold dear. With these federal investments, organizations will have support to continue their hard work on behalf of all of us to restore, rehabilitate, and protect the water systems in our region. Thank you for your vision and leadership as we work together to protect the water we all love.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Indigenous Services

“With tremendous community partnerships and committed local champions, combined with strong financial support from Environment and Climate Change Canada's Great Lakes Freshwater Ecosystem Initiative, the Thunder Bay Area of Concern is embarking on a decadal restoration strategy that integrates wildlife habitat and ecological service restoration into waterfront redevelopment and public access. We are hoping this initiative and capacity is only the beginning of a culture of restoration on the Big Lake and the final stages required to delist Thunder Bay as an Area of Concern.”
– Dr. Robert Stewart, Associate Professor, Geography and the Environment, Lakehead University

“The Lakehead Region Conservation Authority is extremely appreciative of the funding from Environment and Climate Change Canada for the various stewardship projects currently being undertaken in our region. This funding is imperative to helping the LRCA achieve our vision of a healthy, safe, and sustainable Lakehead Watershed for future generations. This stewardship work is vital for the conservation and protection of the Lakehead Watershed, and we are pleased to be able to continue working toward this goal.”
– Donna Blunt, Chair, Lakehead Region Conservation Authority

Quick facts

Mi

• Canada has over two million lakes and rivers and more inland water than any other country.

• These six projects are among the 24 new projects announced on September 28, 2023, to:

  • Restore water quality and ecosystem health in Areas of Concern
  • Prevent toxic and nuisance algae
  • Engage Indigenous peoples in Great Lakes restoration and protection

• Budget 2023 announced a major investment in freshwater in Canada, including:

  • $650 million over 10 years, starting in 2023–24, to support monitoring, assessment, and restoration work in the Great Lakes, Lake Winnipeg, Lake of the Woods, St. Lawrence River, Fraser River, Saint John River, Mackenzie River, and Lake Simcoe.
    • This includes an investment of $420 million over 10 years for the Great Lakes, announced by the Prime Minister, with a focus on accelerating Canada’s implementation of the Canada–United States Great Lakes Water Quality Agreement.
  • $22.6 million over three years, starting in 2023–24, to support better coordination of efforts to protect freshwater across Canada.
  • $85.1 million over five years, starting in 2023–24, and $21 million ongoing to support the creation of a Canada Water Agency, headquartered in Winnipeg.  

• The new Canada Water Agency is the federal focal point for fresh water, working in partnership with Indigenous peoples, provinces, territories, and stakeholders to strengthen collaboration on fresh water. It delivers key elements of the strengthened Freshwater Action Plan.
  
  Minister Patty Hajdu

October 6, 2023 – Thunder Bay, Ont.   

Lakehead University's Alumni Homecoming Weekend is the biggest event of the year and it's quickly approaching.

Lakehead’s annual celebration will take place from Thursday, Oct. 12 to Saturday, Oct. 14 with events being held both on campus and off.

From socials and reunions to health and wellness sessions and sporting events, Homecoming Weekend offers something for everyone.

“Homecoming Weekend is the main alumni event of the year,” said Mark Tilbury, Director of Alumni House at Lakehead University.

“We strive to provide activities and events for our alumni, their families, and the broader community. It is a terrific display of Lakehead pride and spirit to kick off the academic year.”

The weekend begins with a Kick-Off Party on Thursday, Oct. 12, hosted by the local Thunder Bay Alumni Chapter. Held at Goods & Co. Market, alumni and friends are invited to enjoy an evening of camaraderie, entertainment, food, and giveaways.

Homecoming Weekend also marks the kick-off to the Thunderwolves Hockey season at Fort William Gardens. Following a stellar '22/'23 year, the community is encouraged to come down to the Gardens on Saturday, Oct. 14 for an afternoon Street Party that includes tents, live music, games, food, and much, much more.  

A full list of Homecoming Weekend events can be found at www.lakeheadu.ca/homecoming. Registration is required for most events.   

"We hope to see you there!" Tilbury said.

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Media: For more information or interviews, please contact Brandon Walker, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at (807) 343-8110 ext. 8372 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 nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2023 World Universities Rankings for the fourth consecutive year, and the number one university in the world with fewer than 9,000 students in THE’s 2023 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Joshua Jansen

Lakehead University engineering student Joshua Jansen has been selected in a highly-competitive contest to be a delegate at the Canadian Council for Public Private Partnerships (CCPPP)’s Annual Conference as part of the 2023 Next Generation Talent Student Program.

Jansen, who is a third-year Civil Engineering student in Lakehead’s Faculty of Engineering, is one of just 12 talented post-secondary students from across Canada selected to take part in the CCPPP Annual Conference taking place on November 13 and 14 in Toronto.

“Being chosen as a next generation talent has been one of the greatest honours of my life and I am truly humbled,” Jansen said.

“I have always strived to continuously learn and improve myself, and this exceptional opportunity will enable me to understand much more about Canada’s infrastructure sector, explore career options available in this field, and build my professional network.”

Next Generation Talent student delegates participate in a pre-conference orientation session and attend keynote speeches and provocative panel discussions on challenges and opportunities in the field of P3s from notable leaders.

“This is a terrific accomplishment for Joshua and we are thrilled to see him chosen as a next generation talent in what is a very prestigious, nationwide selection process. He will be an outstanding delegate, and we are all very proud to see him representing Lakehead University at this conference,” said Professor Janusz Kozinski, Dean of Engineering at Lakehead University.

Check out CERAH's monthly updates of news, events & resources related to aging & health here.

Creators of the Rosies of the North website documenting the experience of women workers at the Canadian Car and Foundry plant at the Lakehead during the Second World War have been honored by being inducted into the City of Thunder Bay’s Women’s History Month exhibit.

Based on a National Film Board documentary directed by Kelly Saxberg, the website provides a comprehensive repository of interviews and archival documents related to the women who produced military aircraft at CanCar. Led by Department of History faculty members Saxberg, Ron Harpelle, and Nathan Hatton, the website features the work of current and former undergraduate and graduate students involved in the Department’s public history program, including Shylin Henits, Katie Green, Laura Polcyn, Ximena Gerón Fonseca, and Bryson Irvine.

Further information can be found at the Women’s History Month exhibit, the induction announcement, and the Rosies of the North website.