OVERVIEW:

• Prime Minister Mark Carney and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum recently launched the inaugural Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028
• The plan singles out the importance of a Lakehead University initiative—the Canada–Mexico Roundtable on Indigenous and Intercultural Higher Education
• Lakehead University is playing a key role in promoting mobility, inclusivity, and well-being between our two countries

University Initiative is Highlighted in New International Agreement

Lakehead University is being applauded for its role in fostering cooperation between Canada and Mexico in a time of economic and political uncertainty.

During Prime Minister Mark Carney's September 18 visit to Mexico, he and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum launched the inaugural Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025-2028 to strengthen ties between the two nations.

The plan singles out the importance of a Lakehead University initiative—the Canada–Mexico Roundtable on Indigenous and Intercultural Higher Education—as one of the ways to promote mobility, inclusivity, and well-being.

The 2024 Canada–Mexico Roundtable on Indigenous and Intercultural Higher Education (above) was held at the Xalapa Campus of the Veracruzana University in Mexico.

"I was contacted by the Canadian embassy in Mexico about Lakehead University's roundtables while the Canada-Mexico Action Plan was being finalized," says Pierre Sved, Lakehead's international relations manager for Latin America. "They wanted to highlight the roundtables as a model of success."

Canada-Mexico Roundtables on Indigenous/Intercultural Higher Education

Lakehead University is a leader in Indigenous postsecondary education with one of the largest Indigenous student populations of any Canadian university.

In 2012, Lakehead reached beyond its borders to establish the Canada-Mexico Roundtables on Indigenous/Intercultural Higher Education. The purpose was to connect Mexican intercultural universities with Canadian universities and colleges that support Indigenous education.

Intercultural universities are schools located in remote, mostly mountainous, areas of Mexico where the majority of students are Indigenous. The State of Puebla's intercultural university, for instance, is a five-hour drive from its capital city.

Indigenous Initiatives Vice-Provost Denise Baxter and Lakehead students Maya Oversby and Summer Lavellee visit the Palacio de Bellas Artes cultural centre in Mexico City in 2024. Lakehead is grateful for the support Canada-Mexico Roundtables receive from Canada's embassy in Mexico and Global Affairs Canada.

"We wanted to connect the heads of these postsecondary institutions to discuss shared challenges and solutions," Sved says. "Common issues faced by Indigenous Peoples in Canada and Mexico include discrimination and barriers to higher education, jobs, and health care."

The roundtables were created by Lakehead's sixth president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Brian Stevenson, together with the University of Lethbridge, Vancouver Island University, and the Mexican Education Ministry (SEP).

The Power of Working Together

Roundtables happen annually but were interrupted for several years by COVID. They are organized around specific themes chosen by the host school. Past themes have included Indigenous entrepreneurship, human rights, and maternal health for Indigenous Peoples.

Encouraging student and faculty mobility is one of the driving forces of the roundtables.

"Throughout the years, Indigenous students at Lakehead University have participated in outward mobility opportunities, visiting Intercultural universities in Mexico," says Indigenous Initiatives Vice-Provost Denise Baxter.

Cultural activities help students better understand each other’s perspectives and heritage. Above, Summer Lavellee, Indigenous Initiatives Vice-Provost Denise Baxter, and Maya Oversby attend Day of the Dead celebrations in Mexico.

"The opportunity to meet with other Indigenous students and faculty members to engage in rich intercultural learning opportunities has been impactful. We have also been fortunate to host faculty and Indigenous students on our campus and in our region to engage in learning, sharing, and collaboration on future projects," explains Indigenous Initiatives Vice-Provost Baxter.

Today, over 500 Indigenous students from Mexico have studied in Canada as part of the roundtables. This includes 120 students who came to Lakehead, primarily for its language programs, while more than 10 Indigenous Lakehead students have travelled to Mexico. "Many of the students have told me that this was a life-changing experience," Sved says.

Equally important to the roundtables is forging joint research collaborations to solve social, environmental, and economic problems.

Lakehead Garners International Praise

"The influence of the roundtables has spread internationally, building connections in countries such as Ecuador, Chile, Brazil, and New Zealand," says Lakehead Vice-Provost International Dr. Aamir Taiyeb.

Above, Lakehead student Summer Lavellee, Mexican student Maria de Lourdes Ayala Mata, Marcos Juarez Martinez, Mexican student Adriana Eloisa Perez Esquivel, and Lakehead Indigenous Initiatives Administrative and Programs Officer Stacey Pawluk visit the Thunder Bay marina in June 2025.

The roundtables' transformative impact was recognized in the Canada-Mexico Action Plan 2025–2028, which states:

"The Canada-Mexico Roundtable on Indigenous Higher Education will serve as a key platform for deepening academic partnerships, advancing research collaboration, and strengthening institutional linkages in support of Indigenous post-secondary education."

Through these roundtables, Lakehead will continue to strengthen partnerships, advance Indigenous education, and celebrate the diversity of Indigenous peoples and cultures that enrich its campuses and communities.

As Prime Minister Carney said when he announced the new bilateral plan, "today, we're beginning a new era of elevated cooperation."

The University of Manitoba will host the next Canada–Mexico Roundtable on Indigenous and Intercultural Higher Education in June 2026.

Your monthly dose of Lakehead pride, impact, and connection has arrived!

In this issue:

• Meet Sidney Howlett, tackling climate change with school boards
• See the bold new strategic plan shaping Lakehead’s future
• Read about Camryn Williams’ lifelong dream come true
• Learn how Canada Life’s $100,000 gift supports Indigenous learning

Read it here: https://www.lakeheadu.ca/alumni/news/e-zine

Share with fellow alumni, students, and friends — let’s stay connected and inspired! 

The Ingenuity Ascend Accelerator provides up to $5,000 in non-repayable funding to help students and recent alumni (6 months) develop their early-stage business ideas — including those that contribute to the bioeconomy.

Bioeconomy startups focus on using renewable biological resources to create sustainable solutions in sectors like energy, agriculture, food, forestry, and waste reduction. If your idea helps the planet and builds a better future, Ascend can help bring it to life.

Examples of student-friendly bioeconomy startup ideas:

• Sustainable packaging made from mushroom mycelium or agricultural waste
• Natural bio-based cleaning products using local plant ingredients
• Precision agriculture tools that reduce fertilizer use with AI or drone tech
• Alternative protein ventures (e.g., mushroom-based meat or insect farms)
• Eco-friendly textile innovations using hemp, flax, or food waste fibres
• Reclaimed wood products with carbon-tracking certification
• Circular economy apps that connect farms with organic waste processors

Whether your goal is environmental impact or clean tech innovation, Ascend is here to support your bio-based business journey.

Applications are open until Dec. 2, 2025.

Apply here: https://forms.gle/dSVmV8awYR5m34Qp6

Content Warning: This story contains discussion of sexual violence.

OVERVIEW:

• Social Work Professor Dr. Jodie Murphy's research is aimed at improving the treatment of sexual assault survivors in the aftermath of assaults
• Dr. Murphy is one of the authors of the recent research paper, "Not Without Judgment," which explores how sociocultural barriers prevent survivors in northwestern Ontario from accessing sexual assault evidence kits (SAEKs)
• A new five-year study is being launched to investigate the handling of sexual assault evidence kits across Ontario to understand how kits are being used and to address gaps in the health care and criminal justice systems

Sexual Assault Survivors Face Bias and Barriers to Accessing Care

Dr. Jodie Murphy's research team is helping sexual assault survivors receive better medical care and fairer treatment from the Canadian criminal justice system.

A social work professor, Dr. Murphy, and her research team began researching sexual violence in 2020 after being approached by the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP).

"They asked me to investigate high rates of 'unfounded sexual assaults,' hoping to better understand and address this serious issue," Dr. Murphy says.

"Sexual assault can happen to anyone, but if survivors don't fit the criteria of a perfect victim, their credibility is often questioned."

Dr. Murphy's initial contact with the OPP led to research with police organizations across Canada, as well as sexual assault survivors, to gain insight from both survivors and police regarding what happens in unfounded sexual assault cases.

Her research team includes Lakehead School of Nursing Professor Dr. Karen McQueen, Lakehead sessional lecturer and nurse Ainsley Miller, and Lakehead Women's Studies Professor Dr. Lori Chambers.

What is Unfounded Sexual Assault?

A sexual assault is deemed unfounded when a police investigation determines that a sexual assault allegation is false or baseless, and that the survivor is not being truthful.

"A large number of survivors, however, told us that their cases hadn't been fully investigated, yet they were still dismissed as unfounded. When this happens, there's no justice or recourse for survivors," Dr. Murphy says.

Dr. Jodie Murphy completed bachelor's and master's social work degrees at Lakehead. She returned to Lakehead in 2015 when she was hired as a professor with the School of Social Work. "It feels like I've come full circle." Photo Credit: Dan Garrity Media

Survivors also frequently reported that the police investigation felt like a secondary victimization. In fact, Dr. Murphy's research with survivors found that police officers often believe in rape myths, resulting in sexual assaults being improperly investigated.

"Many officers, and the general public, still think that rapes are committed by strangers in dark alleys, but in most cases, assaults are committed in private spaces by someone the survivor knows," Dr. Murphy says.

"Sexual assault can happen to anyone, but if survivors don't fit the criteria of a perfect victim, their credibility is often questioned."

The team's research with police officers found that "many police officers wanted better sexual assault training and were passionate about fixing issues in the system," Dr. Murphy says. Organizational constraints in police organizations often create barriers to sexual assault investigations.

Not Without Judgment

Dr. Murphy is one of the authors of the newly released research paper, "Not Without Judgment," which looks at sociocultural barriers that prevent sexual assault victims in rural and remote northwestern Ontario from accessing sexual assault evidence kits (SAEKs).

Dr. Murphy worked with McGill Master of Science student Sydney Timmermans (the study's lead author) and McGill Family Medicine Research Director Dr. Kathleen Rice on this project.

"We investigated the kind of sexual-assault care that victims received when they went to hospital emergency rooms," Dr. Murphy explains.

People who've been sexually assaulted once are more likely to be assaulted again, especially if they're vulnerable. "Survivors have also told us that they start to lose the ability to see red flags because of the trauma," Dr. Murphy says. Photo Credit: Pixabay from Pexels

The study found that hospital staff often weren't properly trained in administering SAEKs, which are used to collect DNA and forensic evidence to help prove assaults.

These intrusive examinations can take up to three hours to complete, but they're crucial because they can lead to sexual assault convictions. In addition, convicted offenders' DNA is entered into a national crime database, which helps identify serial offenders and prevent future assaults.

Inexperience in administering SAEKs was compounded by biases held by some healthcare professionals.

"The study found that Indigenous women were more likely to be disbelieved and denied access to SAEKs than non-Indigenous women," Dr. Murphy says. "Survivors who were intoxicated when they came to the emergency room and survivors who hadn't contacted the police were also less likely to receive a SAEK."

Major New Study into Sexual Assault Evidence Kits

Dr. Murphy and her research team are now embarking on a groundbreaking five-year study looking at how sexual assault evidence kits are used across Ontario.

"There's very little Canadian evidence about SAEKs," Dr. Murphy says.

There's a network of Ontario sexual assault centres skilled in collecting sexual assault evidence kits. Many smaller and remote communities, however, don't have these centres, forcing survivors to go to emergency rooms to have testing done. Photo Credit: Pexels/Chokniti Khongchum

She and her research team will look at the processes and decisions of nurses, doctors, police, and prosecutors, who handle SAEKs.

They'll examine how kits are collected, processed, and used, as well as how healthcare and criminal justice professionals communicate with each other about these kits.

"Our research will identify gaps in systems so that survivors healing from the trauma of sexual assault can find justice," Dr. Murphy says.

Dr. Jodie Murphy's research is supported by the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council of Canada.

As Lakehead celebrates its 60th anniversary, the university continues to lead in student awards, student-to-faculty ratios, scholarships, and research excellence.

Lakehead University maintained its position as Ontario’s top primarily undergraduate university in the 2026 Maclean’s University Rankings. 

The university continues to be recognized for its exceptional education, research excellence, and outstanding student outcomes. Among Ontario universities in the primarily undergraduate category, Lakehead ranked first in student awards and student-to-faculty ratio, second in scholarships and bursaries, and third in total research dollars.

"Lakehead has always been a place where students achieve their full potential through transformative, world-class education," said Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice-Chancellor. "Our rising rankings and the success of our graduates reflect the quality and impact of the learning experiences we offer. Equally important, we provide unique pathways and supports for students from diverse backgrounds, ensuring that everyone with potential has the opportunity to thrive. This recognition in Maclean's celebrates the dedication of our faculty, staff, and partners in creating an environment where excellence and inclusion go hand in hand."

As Lakehead marks its 60th anniversary, students continue to benefit from hands-on learning and collaborative research experiences that contribute to strong retention, high graduation rates, and employment outcomes that exceed the provincial average.

The annual Maclean’s rankings categorize Canada’s universities into three groups — primarily undergraduate, comprehensive, and medical/doctoral — and Lakehead stands out in its primarily undergraduate category, shining a light on its deep commitment to student success.

“This recognition also reflects the strength and scope of the research happening across Lakehead,” said Dr. Siddall. “Our researchers and students are tackling issues that matter — from sustainability and health to social equity and innovation — work that continues to raise the university’s national and global profile.” 

According to the Ontario University Graduate Survey (OUGS 2021), 93 per cent of Lakehead graduates find employment within six months of graduation. Within two years, that figure rises to 96 per cent, and 93 per cent report working in roles directly related to the skills gained through their undergraduate studies. These results demonstrate how Lakehead’s distinctive educational approach helps graduates transition successfully into the workforce.

Lakehead’s growing reputation for excellence continues to gain international attention. In the Times Higher Education World University Rankings 2026, released last week, Lakehead placed second in Ontario and second in Canada among primarily undergraduate universities. Together, the Maclean’s and Times Higher Education results reaffirm Lakehead’s position as one of Canada’s top primarily undergraduate universities.

Building on six decades of innovation and community engagement, Lakehead continues to shape the next generation of changemakers who will strengthen the north, Canada, and the world. Prospective students can learn more by joining one of our upcoming fall recruitment events, such as the Orillia Open House on Nov. 8, 2025, or the Explore the North VIP Experience in Thunder Bay on Nov. 14, 2025. Details are available at lakeheadu.ca/admissions/events

The Research and Innovation Bulletin is distributed weekly every Tuesday by the Office of Research Services and includes information on research funding opportunities, events and workshops and updates from our funding partners.

Check out the latest version of our Bulletin, by clicking here.

Important Dates

• Application close: December 2,2025
• Interviews to be held during the Week of December 8, 2025
• Program starts: January 26, 2025 (8-10 week duration)
• Application Link: https://forms.gle/ZXUNtZdzFhf5aMRw7

The Ingenuity Ascend Accelerator is a 10-week business development program designed for entrepreneurial-minded Lakehead University students and recent alumni. Whether you're in the idea stage or working on an early-stage startup, Ascend helps you transition from concept to viable business.

Each cohort accepts up to four business ideas, and selected ventures are eligible to receive up to $5,000 in funding to support business development activities.

The program is designed to:

• Support the launch and growth of student-led ventures
• Offer hands-on business training and mentorship
• Provide a collaborative, resource-rich environment

What We Offer:

• Weekly mentorship and milestone meetings
• Business workshops covering marketing, IP, revenue models, business structure, and more
• Access to Ingenuity's Makerspace, Media Room, and co-working space
• Connections to community partners and local entrepreneurs

What to Expect as a Participant

Throughout the 10-week program, early-stage companies can expect to:

• Participate in networking events
• Attend business development workshops
• Connect with experienced entrepreneurial mentors
• Join milestone meetings with Ingenuity staff to track progress
• Access up to $5,000 in non-repayable funding (restrictions apply)

Eligibility Requirements:

• At least one founder must be a current Lakehead student or alumni (within one year post-graduation)
• Must be willing to commit to the program for 10 weeks
• Must participate in all workshops, events, and pitch competitions
• Must have decision-making authority for the venture
• Must meet the legal requirements to start and run a business in Canada

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: Does it cost anything to join the program?
A: No. The Ascend Accelerator is completely free for eligible Lakehead students and recent graduates.

Q: Do I need to have a business already running to apply?
A: No. We welcome applications from all stages, including early idea development.

Q: What is the time commitment like?
A: The program includes one milestone meeting per week (up to 1 hour), plus several scheduled workshops. Ingenuity works with participants to find mutually agreeable times that respect academic and work obligations.

Q: Is this program only for business students?
A: Not at all! Ingenuity supports students from all academic backgrounds.

Q: Does Ingenuity take equity in my company?
A: No. Ingenuity does not take equity or royalties from any participant.

Q: Who can I contact for more information?
A: Please reach out to info.ingenuity@lakeheadu.ca for all general inquiries.

Apply today and take the next step in turning your idea into a business!

Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont. – Lakehead University thought leaders and changemakers are headlining a free public lecture series celebrating learning, discovery, and community.

Launching later this month in honour of Lakehead’s 60th anniversary, the President’s Public Lecture Series brings timely, thought-provoking conversations to the university’s campuses and communities in northwestern and central Ontario, supporting access and encouraging broad participation.

The series also invites community members to reconnect with Lakehead in person — to visit campus, engage with faculty and ideas, and celebrate the spirit of discovery that defines our university.

The six-part series will run from October through June and will feature world-renowned speakers, including Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux, Chair on Truth and Reconciliation, and Faculty of Education professors Dr. Gerald Walton and Dr. Sonia Mastrangelo, with more to be announced. Events will alternate between Lakehead’s Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses, with all lectures available via live stream and posted online for on-demand viewing. Most lectures will be held outside of regular business hours to encourage broad community participation.

“We’re marking our 60-year history in a way that centres and celebrates those who have supported us from the beginning—by opening our doors, sharing ideas and knowledge, and most importantly, saying thank you to the communities who built us,” stated Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice-Chancellor. “Lakehead’s story has always been one of partnership –– of what’s possible when people come together to imagine a brighter future. This series is an open invitation to the communities we serve to re-engage, reconnect, and imagine what’s possible when knowledge is shared freely and widely.”

Since 1965, Lakehead University has been deeply rooted in the belief that education should uplift communities. Over the past six decades, Lakehead has grown into a university known for research excellence, student success, and meaningful engagement with the regions it serves.

While an estimated 95 per cent of Lakehead’s domestic students face barriers to attending university, such as financial need, coming from a rural or remote community, or being the first in their family to pursue post-secondary education, Lakehead’s strong graduation rate — the second highest among Ontario’s primarily undergraduate universities — changes the life trajectory of its graduates.

“Last year, Lakehead was recognized by Maclean’s as Ontario’s top primarily undergraduate university — an honour that reflects the outstanding teaching and learning led by our dedicated and talented faculty,” explained Dr. Siddall. “Through this lecture series, I’m delighted to introduce the public to some of those individuals. I’m confident you will enjoy these talks — may they spark new ideas, inspiration, and conversation.”

The President’s Public Lecture Series is open to anyone interested in learning, challenging, and exploring. Attend in person or virtually.

Dr. Cynthia Wesley-Esquimaux will host our inaugural lecture live from Lakehead Orillia on Friday, Oct. 24 at 10 a.m. Then, on Thursday, Nov. 20, Dr. Gerald Walton will untangle the roots of bullying and offer advice on addressing these behaviours live from The Agora at Lakehead Thunder Bay.

For more information or to register, visit www.lakeheadu.ca/presidentslectureseries. 

Orillia, Ont. – The NASA International Space Apps Challenge brought together innovators, artists, coders, storytellers, and problem-solvers from across the region this past weekend to tackle real-world challenges—on Earth and beyond.

Presented by the City of Orillia and hosted by Lakehead University, the two-day event brought together 51 participants of all ages and skill levels, challenging them to form teams and use data from NASA and other Space Agency Partners to design solutions that would educate, inspire, or transform the lives of humans on this planet and in space.

“The Space Apps Challenge continues to show that innovation requires collaboration and diversity of skill and talent,” explained Rebecca Heffernan, Director of Economic Development & Research Support, and co-lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge - Orillia location. “The pride, excitement, and confidence shown by each one of our challengers — elementary students, high school students, college and university students, and community members — was truly inspiring.”

Two of the 12 participating teams will advance to the next round of competition. An additional five teams were recognized for their exceptional performance in an optional local Pitch Challenge. Held on Sunday, Oct. 5, the Pitch Challenge provided teams with an opportunity to receive feedback and compete for additional cash and prizes. Five groups walked away with bragging rights, including:

• Innovation Award: Project Impact by Team Escape Velocity – A comprehensive asteroid impact simulation and planetary defense education platform.
• Impact Award: Astroscope by Team Pizza Planet – A web-based platform for the collaborative exploration of high-resolution geological data, featuring both a 2D deep-zoom image viewer and an immersive 3D/VR moon terrain visualization.
• Storytelling Award: The Day the Sun Burped, an illustrated short story by Team Fluffiest Flamingos, to help kids learn about space weather.
• Honourable mention - youth category: Trash into Treasure by Team Ombs – To make the best use of materials in space and support wellness for astronauts on long missions, the team envisioned printing games on food and hydration packets so that the packaging could be used for other purposes instead of being thrown out.
• Honourable mention: TEMPO Analytics by Team Green Alien House Party – The team developed a mobile application that would allow users to monitor and make informed decisions about the air quality in their community.
    

Special highlights this year included career-focused networking on Day 1 and a video presentation by Canadian Space Agency (CSA) astronaut Jeremy Hansen.

“We're excited to have been able to host this event for the second year at Lakehead University,” said Jessica Lovett, Director of Career Services and Co-op and co-lead, NASA Space Apps Challenge - Orillia location. “The mix of returning and new participants, combined with generous support from local collaborators and new activities offered by the Canadian Space Agency, created a truly astronomical environment for innovation and exploration.”

Lakehead University would like to thank all the participants, mentors, and volunteers for making this year’s Space Apps Challenge a success, and acknowledge the sponsors, collaborators, and friends for their continued support:

• City of Orillia
• City of Barrie
• County of Simcoe
• Town of Collingwood
• Canadian Space Agency
• Manticore Books
• Raytheon ELCAN
• Smart Aviation Maintenance Solutions
• Lobo Media Marketing

We can’t wait for the return of Space Apps in 2026. If you’d like to accept the challenge and join the mission as an event volunteer, contact director.careers@lakeheadu.ca to be placed on a list for information as soon as dates and details become available.

OVERVIEW:

• Lakehead University biologist Dr. Michael Rennie was the chief scientist on a recent expedition of the Blue Heron research vessel
• Dr. Rennie is doing critical research into the Superior Shoal—a 300-metre-high mountain in Lake Superior nicknamed the "Freshwater Everest"
• Data from the Superior Shoal expedition will be used to develop strategies to conserve Lake Superior and other threatened large-lake environments

Behind the Scenes on Dr. Michael Rennie's Unprecedented Expedition

Dr. Michael Rennie has just returned from the nautical adventure of a lifetime.

In early September, he was the chief scientist on a mission to explore a hidden ecosystem. He and a research crew set sail across Lake Superior on the Blue Heron research vessel owned by the University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD).

During the week the research crew (above) was at the Superior Shoal, its ROV submersible did two to three dives per day. Left to right: Zach Melnick (Inspired Planet), Yvonne Drebert (Inspired Planet), Lisa Sundberg (UMD), Tom Frantti (UMD), Jason Agnich (UMD), Gwen Phillips (U Vermont), Dr. Bianca Possamai (U Vermont), Rual Lee (UMD), Ted Gephart (UMD), Lydia Paulic (U Windsor), Dr. Michael Rennie (Lakehead). Photo Credit: Zach Melnick

This voyage was the culmination of over a year of planning for Dr. Rennie, who is a Lakehead University professor in the Department of Biology.

It took a day to load the equipment on the boat and a full day to sail to their destination, 70 kilometres from the Canadian shore.

The Superior Shoal is part of the Lake Superior National Marine Conservation Area and was formed from the lava of a long-ago volcanic eruption. Photo Credit: Zach Melnick

A Soaring Mountain Rises from the Abyss

The Superior Shoal, nicknamed the "Freshwater Everest," reaches 300 metres upward from the lake floor and is rumoured to have caused shipwrecks like the infamous 1975 sinking of the Edmund Fitzgerald.

"It's this strange cryptic environment," Dr. Rennie says. "If you were sailing near it on a freighter, you'd never know it was there, even though its highest peak is just six metres below the surface.

It's swarming with fish, and it's a hotspot of biological activity. This kind of biodiversity can also be found on seamounts in oceans."

Dr. Michael Rennie says that Lakehead has an important role to play as the only research-intensive university on the Canadian side of Lake Superior.

A key goal of Dr. Rennie's expedition was to test his hypothesis that the same conditions that create abundant life on seamounts—geological features combined with currents, light, and water columns—are also responsible for the Superior Shoal's biodiversity.

"It's probable that the algae covering the shoal supports an extensive food web, and the shoals act as a spawning ground for fish."

The expedition was a collaboration between Dr. Rennie and researchers from the University of Minnesota Duluth, the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, the University of Vermont, and the University of Windsor. Other partners included the Grand Portage Band of Lake Superior Chippewa, the Ontario Ministry of Natural Resources, and Parks Canada.

"It takes a village," Dr. Rennie says.

A Filmmaking Odyssey

To view the Superior Shoal, the Blue Heron used a remotely operated vehicle (ROV)—a small submersible equipped with a high-resolution camera—capable of diving among the shoal's perilous peaks and canyons.

Although Dr. Rennie is a certified scuba diver, regulations make the cost of research dives prohibitive. "This means the ROV footage we shot is even more crucial." Above, Dr. Rennie helps prepare a stationary up-looking hydroacoustic submersible to detect concentrations of fish above the shoal. Photo Credit: Yvonne Drebert

The ROV was operated by Zach Melnick and Yvonne Drebert, the filmmakers behind Inspired Planet Productions. "They were absolutely fantastic to work with," Dr. Rennie says.

The filmmakers—with the sponsorship of Parks Canada, Science North, and Canadian Geographic—produced the first-ever livestream of the Superior Shoal during Dr. Rennie's expedition.

A Haven for Lake Trout

The research crew dropped off acoustic receivers at the Superior Shoal. These receivers detect tags that have been surgically implanted in lake trout, enabling scientists to see where fish like the redfin trout (above) travel, and learn more about their behaviour. Photo Credit: Zach Melnick

Dr. Rennie is investigating whether the Superior Shoal ecosystem is crucial to the well-being of the entire lake.

"We know that the shoal is filled with many species of lake trout. This is encouraging since Lake Superior's lake trout fishery collapsed in the 1960s and has only recently rebounded."

On the expedition, the researchers collected genetic material from lake trout to test how similar or different they are to near-shore lake trout populations, and to determine if these lake trout can help repopulate other areas of Lake Superior.

The Mysteries of the Deep

"Seeing the multitude of fish on the shoal, including sculpins, burbot, and rare redfin, siscowet, and humper lake trout species was amazing," Dr Rennie says.

"The most astounding sight for me, though, was pinky-orange hydras pulsing like a vast garden on the shoal," he says of the tiny anemone-like creatures.

Above, carnivorous hydra cover one of the shoal's cliff faces. Award-winning filmmakers and Royal Canadian Geographical Society Fellows Yvonne Drebert and Zach Melnick hope to make a film about Dr. Rennie's Superior Shoal expedition. Photo Credit: Zach Melnick

The research crew was also transfixed by a never-before-seen hunting behaviour of the redfin lake trout.

"They dragged their fins through the algae to chase out organisms so that they could eat them. Until now, no one knew they used this ingenious hunting method."

Dr. Rennie's work has laid the groundwork for future expeditions that will yield unique insights.

"Our research has the potential to create scientific strategies to successfully conserve Lake Superior and other large-lake environments that face threats such as climate change, pollution, and overfishing."

Watch the historic livestream of the Superior Shoal dive.

Dr. Michael Rennie's Superior Shoal research and expedition was made possible by funding from the University of Minnesota Duluth, the Great Lakes Fisheries Commission, and a Discovery Grant and Ship Time grant from the Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council of Canada (NSERC).