Lakehead Leader Awards ceremonies were held with 26 students in Thunder Bay and 14 students in Orillia receiving awards. Award recipients were recognized for their achievements in one or more of the following categories: Community Engagement, Diversity & Inclusion, Innovation, Sustainability, Academic Excellence, and Rising Star. In addition, nine students (five in Thunder Bay and four in Orillia) were recognized with a Lakehead Luminary award in recognition of achievements spanning multiple categories. Congratulations to all of the award winners!

(pictured from left) John Zussino, lecturer, and Dr. Isabelle Lemee, associate professor, from the Department of Languages, Michael Fayrick, Rhapsody Shepard, Mark Piovesana, president of the IISLU, and James Aldridge, Vice-Provost, International. 

April 25, 2024 - Thunder Bay, Ont.

Two Lakehead University students will have a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to live and learn in Italy this summer thanks to the Institute of Italian Studies at Lakehead University (IISLU).

Third-year political science student Michael Fayrick and second-year concurrent education student Rhapsody Shepard have each received a $2,000 bursary from the IISLU. This bursary will allow them to participate in a transformative four-week program in Siena, Italy in May, organized by the University for Foreigners of Siena in collaboration with Lakehead International.

The program offers students from diverse backgrounds a unique opportunity to immerse themselves in Italian language and culture through structured language study, extracurricular activities, and excursions.

For Fayrick, a third-generation Italian Canadian, this is the opportunity to discover more about his heritage and culture. “My mother’s side of the family came to Thunder Bay from Italy so having the opportunity to go abroad to learn about my culture and the language is going to be awesome.”

Learning how to read and speak Italian will also support two of his passion projects: research into the rise of early Fascism in Italy and the translation of his Nonno’s Second World War Italian Army service records.

“I wouldn’t have considered this opportunity without the support of the Italian Institute,” said Fayrick. “It’s incredible and I love the principle of why they are supporting a program like this – to promote Italian language and culture and ensure that it carries on across generations.”

Shepard always wanted to learn as many languages as possible. Initially quite shy, learning languages allowed her to feel like part of a community but also allowed her to keep a sense of independence.

“As the only one in my family who can speak more than one language (English), I see multilingualism as something of my own that I can make something of and decided to keep pursuing it in university,” she explained. “I think language is fun and I want to make it fun for others.”

“I’m excited about the experience and cultural aspects of studying abroad in Italy. While you can learn a language anywhere, truly understanding its depth requires immersing yourself in that culture and actively learning and hearing it over an extended period.”

Shepard believes this experience will greatly enhance her comprehension of Italian and support her ambitions of becoming a high school language teacher. “Grazie! I want to thank all the language professors at Lakehead, and the Italian Institute for their passion and for providing this opportunity. It motivates me to continue learning languages, knowing that these opportunities for development are possible.”

Mark Piovesana, president of the IISLU, said the Institute is pleased to partner with Lakehead International to offer this opportunity to students.

“Our mandate is to promote and preserve Italian language, culture and history in Thunder Bay and Northwestern Ontario,” Piovesana said. “These bursaries are just the beginning, igniting interest and opportunities for Lakehead students eager to embrace Italian language and culture. We hope that this bursary will encourage other students, whether they are studying art or engineering, to enroll in language courses at Lakehead.”

According to James Aldridge, Vice-Provost, International, global mobility programs, such as the one in collaboration with the University for Foreigners of Siena, help students build critical global and intercultural competencies.

“As we continue to foster a culture of internationalization on our campuses, we are grateful to partners like the Institute of Italian Studies for supporting scholarship opportunities that allow our students to have language and cultural immersion opportunities where they not only learn new language skills, but hopefully gain the critical intercultural competencies that we know are important for job success and navigating the modern globalized world,” he said.

“Thank you to the Board of the IISLU because without this support we wouldn’t be able to offer this outstanding opportunity for students.”

Innisfil, ON – The Town of Innisfil and Lakehead University will be hosting the first ever Lakehead University South Simcoe Innovation Week from April 30 to May 2, in partnership with Nottawasaga Futures, the Town of Bradford West Gwillimbury and the County of Simcoe. The event, funded in part by the County of Simcoe Entrepreneurial Innovation Fund, will bring together entrepreneurial thinkers from across Simcoe County to access business and innovation oriented workshops and events.

“Our community is fortunate to have world-class post-secondary partners, like Lakehead University, who are able to educate and empower business leaders to innovate within their own organizations,” says Mayor Lynn Dollin. “Through this partnership, we're thrilled to support entrepreneurs and even more thrilled that Lakehead will involve students from secondary schools in an innovation competition that will include future changemakers.”

The inaugural initiative will include an Adaptive Leadership and Design Thinking Workshop for business leaders who are looking at helping their teams incorporate entrepreneurial practices into their organization. A Business Model Canvas Workshop will support current or aspiring entrepreneurs capture their business idea in a simple yet structured business plan which can be used as a foundation to build or scale a business. Experts from Lakehead’s business accelerator, Ingenuity, will also host a student-only event at Nantyr Shores Secondary School to teach students about the entrepreneurial journey and engage them through an innovative competition.

This initiative aligns with Innisfil’s new Economic Development Strategic Plan, and in particular supports the goal of building an innovative and investment ready business community. The purpose of South Simcoe Innovation Week is to connect entrepreneurs with supports like those available at Lakehead’s Ingenuity business accelerator and showcase the expertise available through Lakehead faculty and students. As part of the festivities Lakehead will update the community on valuable and innovative research taking place at Innisfil’s Circle Park.

“Lakehead is proud to be part of a such a creative and innovative entrepreneurial ecosystem,” says Dr. Linda Rodenberg, Interim Principal of the Lakehead Orillia Campus. “We’re excited to be able to bring this programming to the South Simcoe community, and to empower the entrepreneurs of the future.”

South Simcoe Innovation Events will take place between April 30 and May 2, 2024, and registration is required. For more details, and to register, visit these links: 

Business Model Canvas Workshop (in-person)

Business Model Canvas Workshop (virtual)

Adaptive Leadership and Design Thinking Workshop

To learn more about Economic Development in Innisfil, entrepreneurial supports and to stay up to date on news and events, subscribe to our email list.

(Thunder Bay, ON – April 19, 2024) – Confederation College and Lakehead University have signed an agreement that allows students who complete an Honours Bachelor of Kinesiology or Bachelor of Kinesiology degree to receive advanced standing in the college’s Paramedic or Medical Radiation Technology diploma programs.

Shane Strickland, Dean of Health, Negahneewin, and Community Services at Confederation College, emphasized the strategic design of the Paramedic program to address the immediate needs of Northwestern Ontario. "This program not only meets the urgent demand for paramedics in the region but also incorporates vital field experience, allowing students to gain hands-on learning in real medical situations," said Strickland. Highlighting the program's significance, Strickland noted that it is recognized as a priority by the Government of Ontario, with students eligible for the Ontario Learn and Stay Grant, which covers the cost of tuition and books for students who commit to serving in the region post-graduation.

The Medical Radiation Technology program, similarly, stands out with its Accreditation Canada seal of approval, preparing students for the Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists (CAMRT) certification exam. Successful graduates find rewarding careers in diagnostic imaging across hospitals, clinics, and various medical settings. "Our programs are meticulously designed to ensure graduates are not just qualified but are ready to excel in their professional roles," Strickland added.

Lakehead University kinesiology graduates will be well-positioned to seek a career in both health program areas.

Lakehead University's Associate Vice-Provost (Academic), Dr. Michel Beaulieu, highlighted the mutual benefits of this agreement. "This partnership not only acknowledges the value of prior learning, optimizing health care education pathways, it also actively reduces barriers to student mobility within Northwestern Ontario."

Echoing the sentiment, Dr. Ian Newhouse, Director of Lakehead University’s School of Kinesiology, pointed out the versatility of kinesiology graduates.

"Our graduates are discovering that their skills are immensely beneficial in various health care roles,” he explained. “This collaboration with Confederation College opens doors for them to further their careers in meaningful ways."

Aaron Skillen, Vice President Academic at Confederation College, elaborated on the synergy between the two institutions. "This initiative is part of Confederation College’s ongoing commitment to innovating educational pathways in collaboration with partners like Lakehead University. Together, they aim to equip students with practical skills and knowledge, preparing them for the dynamic world of work in Northwestern Ontario and beyond.”

Skillen also added that the pathways offer an especially good fit for students. “We have observed that students with a kinesiology degree transition smoothly into these programs, as they come equipped with a robust foundation of knowledge. This agreement formally recognizes their prior learning, streamlining their educational journey by reducing the number of courses they need to undertake with us."

Students interested in learning more about this pathway can visit the Confederation College website www.confederationcollege.ca/pathways

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Confederation College has been serving the citizens of northwestern Ontario since 1967 meeting the educational needs of students in a catchment area of some 550,000 square kilometres. Along with its main campus in Thunder Bay, Confederation College has seven regional sites located in Dryden, Fort Frances, Greenstone, Kenora, Marathon, Sioux Lookout and Red Lake, as well as a growing Distance Education division.    

Confederation College delivers exceptional education and training to an average of 7,000 combined full- and part-time students per year and currently has a total of 600 full- and part-time employees. Confederation’s regional economic impact and contribution is valued at $707.3 million annually.  

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.

(from left) Wadika Faisal, Nadine Elmehriki, Ibrahim Shaheed, Mohamed Abi, Lovely Faith Donaldson, Karl Prentice, Zachary Morgan, Cory Hubbard, Kailash Bhatia, and Dr. Yanglin Gong.

April 18, 2024 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

The Lakehead University steel bridge team achieved top prizes at the annual American Society of Civil Engineers (ASCE) Western Great Lakes Student Symposium in Chicago from April 4 to 6.

The Lakehead team won three awards including first place in lightness, second place in aesthetics and third place in construction economy, and were ranked fourth place overall among the 16 universities competing.

The team was made up of third- and fourth-year civil engineering students: captain Zachary Morgan, co-captain Karl Prentice, Lovely Faith Donaldson, Ibrahim Shaheed, Mohamed Abi, and Wadika Faisal.

In this year’s competition, students were challenged to design and fabricate a 1:10 scale model steel bridge spanning 21 feet over an extra-wide eight-foot river and subject to height restrictions to minimize interference with its surroundings. The bridge was then tested under 2,500 pounds of weight to confirm its stability, strength and stiffness.

“Ever since I started at Lakehead, my goal was to be on the steel bridge team,” said Morgan. “I have had an amazing experience learning skills that will impact my life and my future career.”

The competition experience included conceptual design and details design, fabrication, erection, and testing.

“Every challenge we faced was not just an obstacle, but a valuable opportunity for growth and learning, guiding us to redefine success through perseverance and ingenuity,” Prentice explained. “As a team, we embraced the unpredictable knowing that tenacity fuels innovation and resilience.”

“The competition weekend was a fantastic experience, especially seeing the diverse designs and innovations from many different universities,” added Donaldson.

In addition, third-year civil engineering student Nadine Elmehriki participated in a paper competition, representing the Lakehead ASCE student chapter.

The Lakehead delegation was led by faculty advisor Dr. Yanglin Gong and supported by technologists Cory Hubbard and Kailash Bhatia. Construction company Facca Inc. and the Iron Workers Local 759 in Thunder Bay were the major sponsors for the team.

“The bridge competition challenges our students to extend their classroom knowledge to a practical, hands-on design and construction project that grows their professional and interpersonal skills,” said Dr. Gong.

Dr. Jian Deng, chair of civil engineering in Lakehead’s Faculty of Engineering added, “The Department of Civil Engineering is incredibly proud of our students. Their performance was exceptional and they once again demonstrated that Lakehead can compete and win against tough competition from top U.S. universities in the region.”

The 2024 Lakehead Arts Integrated Research (LAIR) resident artist is Paul Edmonds. His painted stained glass series is featured on the LAIR website. Paul is a self-taught artist who started painting in the 1980s, as a means to convey hope, resiliency, and beauty in the face of adversity.

Paul is known worldwide as the “City of Hope Patient”. He is one of five people who have been cured of HIV. Of this very rare group, Paul is the eldest and had HIV the longest. Through a life-saving stem cell transplant of a rare genetic mutation that makes the body resistant to HIV, Paul is now cured and he no longer takes HIV medication.

Paul serves on the Community Advisory Board for RID-HIV, one of 10 Martin Delaney Collaboratories funded by the National Institutes of Health. He also works tirelessly, speaking at events and raising awareness of HIV cure research. He believes that art has the power to inspire, heal, and bring people together.

While stem cell transplantation is not an accessible cure, the five cured patients have provided scientists with an increased understanding of the virus. The World Health Organization reports that in 2022, 39 million people were living with HIV and 630,000 people died of HIV-related illnesses. WHO contends that “HIV continues to be a major global public health issue”. Through collaborative scientific research and community engagement efforts, HIV research awareness is growing. See related HIV arts integrated efforts in the LAIR Gallery.

The LAIR Galleries regularly feature juried artworks and artists, promoting the power of the arts in research and education. 

Pictured is Stained Glass No. 6, Paul Edmonds, 2023

Enactus Lakehead represented Lakehead University’s Thunder Bay campus at the Enactus Canada Central Region Regional Exposition in Mississauga on March 7 and 8. A team from the Orillia campus also participated this year for the first time.

Each year, Enactus Canada runs a series of regional and national expositions allowing teams to display their work from the past academic year. Enactus Lakehead was recognized as the runner-up in the TD-Entrepreneurship Challenge, an award last won by Enactus Lakehead in 2019.

This year, the team developed a new project called Brain Blitz, which focuses on educating high school and university students on the basics of entrepreneurship and soft skills through numerous activities such as speaker series, soft skills workshops, and hackathons. Enactus Lakehead would like to thank all the students who participated in these events and the faculty and staff who supported our activities! In total, since starting this project in June 2023, Enactus Lakehead impacted over 580 students.

Thanks to many different sponsors, four different competitions were run. The team participated in the Desjardins Youth Empowerment Challenge, TD Entrepreneurship Challenge, and the Innovation and Impact Challenge Powered by Enactus Alumni. At the regional exposition, 29 teams competed for the title of regional champion in their given challenge.

Before the competition, our team ran a Pre-Regionals Community Showcase that was attended by numerous entrepreneurship mentors from across Thunder Bay. The showcase provided the team with valuable practice and feedback on their presentation.

Thanks to all this practice, Enactus Lakehead was recognized as the Runner-Up in the TD-Entrepreneurship Challenge, an award not won by Enactus Lakehead since 2019. Morgan Gordon, the project manager of Brain Blitz, expressed, “it is amazing to be recognized for our hard work and dedication to serving the student community of Lakehead University.”

At the regional exposition, the team also had the opportunity to network with upwards of 1,400 other university students with the same goal.

The Thunder Bay Enactus team will be traveling to the Enactus Canada National Exposition in May to compete with the same project, with the goal of being crowned National Champion, and the honour of representing Canada in the World Cup!

Enactus Lakehead would like to thank all the students, faculty, and staff who have volunteered numerous hours to advise and assist the team throughout all of its activities. Without the support of these individuals as well as our sponsors, inspirational trips like these would not be possible!

March 1, 2024 – Thunder Bay, Ont.

Students, employees and the Thunder Bay community are invited to gather in celebration of Indigenous culture and dance at the Indigenous Cultural Traditions Club's (ICTC) 34^th Annual Powwow.

The annual Powwow takes place in the CJ Sanders Fieldhouse at Lakehead University from March 8 to 10. ICTC is honoured to have Rolling Thunder as the Host Drum.

Warm-ups will be held on Friday, March 8 from 6 to 8 pm. The Grand Entry will take place at 1 pm and 6 pm on Saturday, March 9. A traditional feast will be served at 5 pm. The Powwow will wrap up for the day around 9 pm. On Sunday, March 10, the Grand Entry will take place at 12 pm and the Powwow will end at 5 pm.

The annual Powwow is ICTC’s signature event that showcases tremendous talent and entertainment, free of charge, while reinforcing traditional aspects of Indigenous culture such as drumming, dancing, singing, and giving thanks. 

ICTC (formerly the Lakehead University Native Student Association) is a volunteer LUSU club. The club’s goal is to promote the spirit of unity among Indigenous students at Lakehead through social, cultural, and recreational events in addition to promoting cultural awareness between club members and the greater student population.

Agenda

Friday, March 8
Warm-ups, 6 to 8 pm

Saturday, March 9
Grand Entry, 1 pm and 6 pm
Traditional feast, 5 pm

Sunday, March 10

Grand Entry, 12 pm

Closing ceremonies until 5 pm 

Master of Ceremonies: Todd Genno
Arena Director: Brad Fyfe
Spiritual Advisor: Carmela Moses
Host Drum:  Rolling Thunder

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Media: For further information or to arrange an interview, contact Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications and Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 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.