(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.

Ascend Accelerator graduates (from left) Joshua Sanchez, Aliss Chavarri, Lesly Gunasekara, and Bryan Wong are pictured with Ingenuity manager Alyson MacKay. 

April 9, 2024 – Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont.

Lakehead University recently celebrated graduates from its fourth cohort of the Ascend Accelerator program, hosted by the Ingenuity incubator space.

This year’s cohort saw four student-led Thunder Bay and Orillia-based ventures navigate their way through the entrepreneurial journey. The businesses range from augmented reality (AR) and virtual reality (VR) software development to sustainability consulting services, and Airbnb cleaning solutions.

Along with funding from the John Dobson Foundation, students were provided with a platform to transform their ideas into tangible realities. Participants received mentorship and weekly workshops and were held accountable to milestone goals created over the 10-week program, which ran from January to March.

Ingenuity manager Alyson MacKay said it was exciting to help the students develop their businesses. “I continue to be amazed at the talent that we are seeing in our students. The level of commitment and passion I have seen from these participants is incredible and I look forward to continuing to work with them,” she said.

Nestar is one of four new businesses supported through Ascend. Created by Joshua Sanchez and Aliss Chavarri, the Thunder Bay-based business specializes in providing rental solutions that enhance the renting experience for both landlords and tenants.

Nestar’s user-friendly website provides automatic payment facilities, electronic lease signing, and a sophisticated matching system with integrated background checks to connect the right tenants with the right landlords. The business is committed to setting new standards in the rental industry and transforming the way people rent and manage properties in Thunder Bay.

“The Ascend Accelerator program has had a profound impact on our company, allowing us to navigate challenges and seize opportunities we never thought possible,” Sanchez said.

“Their spaces, webinars, and connections provided us with the resources and knowledge needed to develop, launch and grow our business. We are truly grateful for their dedication to our success and recognize the countless entrepreneurs who would greatly benefit from this program. Thank you for believing in us and helping us turn our vision into reality.”

Sidney Howlett started Sidney Howlett Consulting in Orillia to help organizations navigate the complex landscape of climate action. Her firm delivers a comprehensive suite of services including consultation on climate action and sustainability strategies, professional development workshops, public speaking engagements, and informed research support.

“From access to a lawyer to review my service contracts to guidance in developing my website, the mentorship, funding, and workshops have been instrumental in establishing my business,” Howlett said. “I have already had my first successful climate action consultation with a school board and can't wait to see the impact my services have thanks to the support of the Ascend Accelerator Program."

Bryan Wong’s venture, Sprout Circle, is pushing the boundaries of technology by developing cutting-edge interactive AR/VR solutions that revolutionize education, offering students and professionals alike an unparalleled opportunity to explore and comprehend complex concepts in an immersive 3D environment.

Lesly Gunasekara’s Lavender and Luxe Cleaning Services specializes in premium cleaning services exclusively for Airbnb hosts. From swift turnovers to deep cleaning between guest stays, they ensure Airbnb properties maintain the highest standards of cleanliness.

Dr. Andrew P. Dean, Lakehead’s Vice-President, Research and Innovation, congratulated the five graduates of the program, wishing them luck with their businesses.

“The graduating entrepreneurs have demonstrated exceptional problem-solving skills by addressing market gaps with their unique products and services. Their contributions are meeting consumer needs but also fostering regional economic growth,” Dr. Dean said.

“I would like to congratulate all the graduates. I wish you all the best as you take your businesses to the next level in your entrepreneurial journey.”

For more about Ingenuity, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/centre/ingenuity.

April 5, 2024 – Orillia, Ont.

Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus celebrated a successful 2023-24 athletics season on Thursday, April 4, handing out awards at the annual Athletic Awards Banquet.

Paige Galbraith walked away with the Female Athlete of the Year, with Jonathan Aronov claiming Male Athlete of the Year. Bethany Foster received this year’s Principal’s Award for leadership in athletics.

“Congratulations to all of the award winners, exceptional student athletes, and coaches on a successful season,” said Drake Aldred, Coordinator of Athletics and Recreation. “The annual awards banquet is an opportunity to gather and highlight all of the hard work that goes into the season; your commitment to academics and athletics is remarkable and we look forward to witnessing your continued success as student-athletes.”

Most valuable player and rookie of the year were also announced and presented to top athletes in each of the University’s sports teams: men’s and women’s hockey, dance, and men’s and women’s varsity indoor soccer.

For a full list of awards, please see below:

Major Award Winners

Female Athlete of the Year
Paige Galbraith, Varsity Women’s Indoor Soccer

Male Athlete of the Year
Jonathan Aronov, Varsity Men’s Indoor Soccer

Principal’s Award
Bethany Foster, Varsity Women’s Indoor Soccer

Team Awards

Men’s Varsity Indoor Soccer
MVP: Alec McNeil
Rookie of the Year: Domenic Pecchia

Women’s Varsity Indoor Soccer
MVP: Alison Birkett
Rookie of the Year: Hannah Szeplaki

Men’s Extramural Hockey
MVP: Ryan Graff-Sakasov
Rookie of the Year: Desmond Kropf

Women’s Extramural Hockey
MVP: Rachel Poole
Rookie of the Year: Alexandra Walker

Dance
MVP: Reese Chamberlain
Rookie of the Year: Alexis Sheppard

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Check out the latest Lake Superior Living Labs Network (LSLLN) newsletter for updates on our recent activity and upcoming events. The LSLLN serves as a platform to connect academics and community groups to develop new partnerships and collaborative initiatives across the Lake Superior watershed. For more information visit www.livinglabsnetwork.org.

This month, CERAH has so many amazing events, learning opportunities and updates for you! If you are a future health or social care provider, there are a number of free events and educational opportunities coming up. Click here to access: https://myemail.constantcontact.com/CERAH-E-Blast---April-2024.html?soid....

Alicia Brink and Melissa Roberts representing their birch bark canoe named Bigwaji-waabigwan 'wildflower'. The digital screen loops photos of the full team in the creation process.

The Lakehead Arts Integrated Research (LAIR) Galleries 2024 juried exhibit is now available online.

View the full juried exhibit, which features a wide variety of creative pieces, at https://galleries.lakeheadu.ca/2024-exhibition.html. 

Photos of the exhibits can be found at https://galleries.lakeheadu.ca/happenings.

For more information, please contact Dr. Pauline Sameshima at psameshima@lakeheadu.ca.