A Year-End Reflection from President Gillian Siddall

Lakehead University will be closed for the holiday break from Monday, December 22 to Friday, January 2, reopening on Monday, January 5.

As we approach the end of 2025, I want to extend my warmest wishes to our partners, supporters and friends across all the regions we serve. Your collaboration, insight and generosity continue to strengthen Lakehead University and help us expand opportunities for learners and communities.

This past year marked several important milestones. We celebrated Lakehead's 60th anniversary and launched Shaping the EvoLUtion, our new strategic plan shaped by the perspectives of students, faculty, staff and community partners. It charts an ambitious path forward as we continue to grow, innovate and make meaningful contributions across northern and central Ontario.
We advanced major initiatives that reflect Lakehead's momentum. Construction began on the new facilities for the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program, delivered in partnership with the University of Guelph. This once-in-a-generation initiative was made possible through an extraordinary $10-million gift from Kim and Stu Lang and the generosity of many supporters. With the first cohort now underway, the program represents real progress for rural and northern communities facing a critical shortage of veterinarians.

In Orillia, our shared vision for growth received remarkable support. A $400,000 contribution from the Lakehead University Student Union and a transformative $15-million investment from the County of Simcoe have accelerated our campus expansion plans. In partnership with the Orillia Soldiers' Memorial Hospital, Lakehead Orillia was named the preferred site for the new hospital—an exciting step in meeting the region's future needs.

Our presence in central Ontario continues to grow with the start of construction on the new Lakehead STEM Hub in Barrie. Opening in fall 2026, this state-of-the-art facility will expand access to degree-level STEM education and deepen our connections with local industries.

We also advanced our commitment to truth and reconciliation through the revitalized Gichi Kendaaswin initiative. This renewed, university-wide approach will strengthen Indigenous-led learning and culturally grounded spaces across our campuses. We are grateful for significant support this year, including $1 million from BMO and $100,000 from Canada Life, which will help bring a new Indigenous learning space in Thunder Bay to life.

These achievements represent only a small portion of the work happening across Lakehead every day. What makes this progress possible is the strength of our partnerships and the shared vision we hold for the future of our communities.

If you would like to stay connected with Lakehead throughout the year, I invite you to subscribe to our Campus Connection newsletter, where we share stories, milestones and updates from across the university.

Thank you for being part of the Lakehead story. Once you are part of Lakehead, you are Lakehead for life. I wish you and your loved ones a joyful holiday season and a hopeful year ahead.

Sincerely,

Dr. Gillian Siddall
President and Vice-Chancellor
Lakehead University