The ISSC is looking for student volunteers for the annual Fall Harvest on Saturday, Sept. 20 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Students will learn from Elders while volunteering.
If you are interested in volunteering on google form https://forms.gle/DVqxNsRvpNJChit86 or contact the ISSC at adm.issc@lakeheadu.ca.
Dr. Abdelhamid Tayebi, professor in the Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, has been named a Fellow of the International Core Academy of Sciences and Humanities. He was selected for this international recognition from his peers for his innovative research and outstanding commitment to the advancement of knowledge in his field.
The Fellowship of the International Core Academy of Sciences and Humanities is a prestigious and globally recognized honour, awarded to scholars who have attained the highest levels of excellence in their respective disciplines. Fellows are selected for their outstanding contributions across various fields, including natural sciences, engineering, technology, mathematics, social sciences, humanities, and the arts, with particular focus on their groundbreaking advancements in knowledge and innovation.
Becoming a Fellow of the CORE Academy is an exclusive distinction, granted by invitation only. Candidates must undergo a rigorous selection process, which includes thorough peer reviews conducted by divisional fellows, academic committee members, and executive board examiners, before being officially elected.
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.
Thunder Bay and Orillia, Ont. – Lakehead University professors Dr. Christopher Mushquash and Dr. Sarah Olutola are joining the Royal Society of Canada’s Class of 2025, one of the country’s highest academic honours.
Dr. Christopher Mushquash, a leading figure in Indigenous mental health and addiction research, clinical care, and training, will be inducted as an RSC Fellow in recognition of his remarkable contributions to shaping policy and practice that improve systems of care across the country. His work integrates traditional knowledge with scientific approaches to ensure care for Indigenous peoples is culturally and contextually appropriate.
“To be recognized as a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada is a tremendous honour made possible through the support and dedication of my family, friends, colleagues, trainees, and research team, but most importantly, the respectful collaboration with our community organization partners, Elders, youth, and communities that our team is dedicated to serving,” said Dr. Mushquash, Canada Research Chair in Indigenous Mental Health and Addiction and professor in the Department of Psychology.
A member of Pawgwasheeng (Pays Plat First Nation), Dr. Mushquash holds several key leadership roles, including Director of the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research at Lakehead, Vice President Research at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Sciences Centre, and Chief Scientist at the Thunder Bay Regional Health Research Institute.
Dr. Sarah Olutola, a rising leader in Black critical theory, African and African diasporic postcolonialism, and social justice, will be inducted into the RSC’s College of New Scholars, Artists, and Scientists. Recognized as both a groundbreaking scholar and a leading voice in young adult literature, her work bridges academic research and creative writing to spark global conversations about race, gender, and youth culture.
“As a scholar, public intellectual, and novelist, I’ve designed the scope of my research and art to materialize the transformative potential of Black feminist scholarship, and I’m truly honoured that the College has recognized my work,” said Dr. Olutola.
An associate professor in the Department of English, Dr. Olutola brings together scholarship and creative writing to engage global audiences, exploring race and gender in popular media and youth culture. Writing under the pen name “Sarah Raughley,” she is the author of several young adult fantasy novels, including the bestselling Effigies series and the recently released The Queen’s Spade, which addresses themes of imperialism, humanitarianism, and adoption.
Lakehead president and vice-chancellor, Dr. Gillian Siddall, extended her congratulations.
“The recognition of Dr. Mushquash and Dr. Olutola by the Royal Society of Canada celebrates their significant contributions to understanding and advancing people, culture and society– building frameworks to support Indigenous youth and communities, and inspiring more inclusive futures,” said Dr. Siddall. “Congratulations to these exceptional researchers whose achievements are affecting real change for people and making a lasting impact on society.”
Dr. Mushquash and Dr. Olutola will be formally inducted into the RSC at a ceremony on November 14.
There's a crispness in the air, and the leaves are just starting to turn beautiful shades of orange and red. But it's the return of students that makes autumn our favourite season at Lakehead.
We want to extend a special welcome to our first-year students as they settle in at the Orillia and Thunder Bay campuses—and introduce a few of them and their aspirations for the future.
Name: Arianna Valley
Hometown: Port Elgin, Ontario
Program: Concurrent Education (English)
Arianna Valley (l) and her mother Jennifer (r)
"Getting out of the house and going somewhere new is what I find most exciting about starting university," says Arianna.
She and her family, including her aunt, drove to Lakehead's Thunder Bay campus. Many of her dad's relatives live in this area, giving Arianna a built-in support network.
But the real reason she chose Lakehead is because it's the alma mater of her favourite high school teacher, Bethany Boyd.
"Mrs. Boyd is the teacher you'd go to if you had a problem or wanted to talk to someone. And she'd let you sit in her classroom if you needed a quiet space."
Arianna also relies on the advice of her mother.
"I've told her to make lots of lifelong friendships, work hard, and don't procrastinate," says her mom, Jennifer."
Arianna already has a clear idea of what the future holds for her.
"I'd like to be a kindergarten teacher—I've always loved little kids. In grade six, I volunteered in kindergarten classrooms. Later, I did a co-op at a daycare, and I've volunteered at a therapeutic riding centre for children since grade 10."
Name: Anthony Wagaki
Hometown: Nairobi, Kenya
Program: Bachelor of Science in Nursing
First-year nursing student Anthony Wagaki
Anthony is originally from Kenya, but he was living in Toronto when he decided to attend Lakehead. "It took 15 hours to drive to Thunder Bay, but the beautiful scenery was worth the long journey."
A friend of Anthony's who was already studying nursing at Lakehead encouraged him to come. "Then, when I looked into schools, I found that Lakehead is a top-ranked Canadian research university in a welcoming community. It's a serene place away from the noise of a big city."
Anthony has a very personal reason for studying nursing.
"Last year my 12-year-old daughter was diagnosed with diabetes. She was in a coma for 28 days, and I thought we would lose her. I was so inspired by the excellent care of the nurses who looked after her that I decided to become a pediatric nurse focusing on children with diabetes."
Anthony often turns to his grandmother when he's facing challenges or contemplating a new direction. "She always says that life is full of surprises and to be prepared, because anything can happen."
Name: Owen Dale
Hometown: St. Thomas, Ontario
Program: Concurrent Education (History)
Owen Dale (l) and his mother Amanda (r)
"The best thing about starting university is being on the varsity wrestling team," says Owen. "I've already had my first practice and met all the guys on the team."
Owen has wrestled since he was nine years old, and it was a former wrestling teammate who convinced him to go to Lakehead. "He gave me the rundown and said that he loved Lakehead. I met a bunch of the wrestlers up here, and they all seemed amazing."
Getting to Thunder Bay has been a family affair. "We rented an RV and camped along the way," Owen says.
"Both my parents helped me get to where I am today. My dad's been my wrestling coach since I was a kid, and my mom supported me getting here."
"I've told Owen to get involved, make friends, and leave a good mark everywhere he goes. And to make sure that he does his laundry," says his mom, Amanda.
Owen hopes to become a history teacher. "I had great experiences when I did a co-op at an elementary school and coached an elementary school wrestling team."
Student-athletes practice under the lights of the artificial turf field at the West Orillia Sports Complex. The field will host home matches for Lakehead's men's and women's outdoor varsity soccer teams.
Orillia, Ont. – Varsity outdoor soccer has been added to the growing athletics lineup at Lakehead University’s Orillia Campus, providing new opportunities for student-athletes to engage in competitive-level sport.
Led by head coaches Briesk Kouji (men) and Brodie Brown (women), the Orillia Thunderwolves men’s and women’s outdoor soccer programs will kick off their first season in the Ontario Colleges Athletics Association (OCAA) on September 5. The Orillia Thunderwolves also compete in the OCAA in indoor soccer.
“It is a great step forward for Lakehead Orillia and the Orillia Thunderwolves varsity sport program,” said Dr. Chris Glover, Associate Vice-President, Administration. “We are excited to expand and enhance the student experience and our athletic program offerings with the addition of men’s and women’s varsity outdoor soccer. We look forward to cheering on our teams in their first season.”
Through a partnership with the City of Orillia, the West Orillia Sports Complex on University Ave. will host home matches and serve as the team's training facility. The addition of a brand-new scoreboard at the southwest end of the field only enhances the experience for student-athletes, coaches, and supporters.
“Access to the City’s facilities gives our student-athletes the space and support they need to train while strengthening our connection to the community,” explained Dr. Glover.
“Orillia is thrilled to support Lakehead University as it launches its new varsity men’s and women’s soccer teams,” said Orillia Mayor Don McIsaac. “With the City’s brand-new scoreboard, we’re excited to welcome these teams to their new home at the West Orillia Sports Complex. We look forward to seeing these young athletes thrive and create lasting memories during their time in Orillia and at Lakehead University.”
The first official home matches are scheduled for Sunday, Sept. 7, at the West Orillia Sports Complex.
Cheer on the Orillia Thunderwolves this season!
Lakehead University welcomes spectators and fans to cheer on our student-athletes at the West Orillia Sports Complex! The full list of Orillia Thunderwolves outdoor soccer home games can be found at orilliathunderwolves.ca.
Night had settled over the city of Bhopal, India. Most residents were sleeping peacefully in their beds after an ordinary day in 1984.
But at 1:00 am, a massive chemical explosion at the nearby Union Carbide insecticide plant jolted them awake in panic and confusion. The gas that leaked out killed at least 10,000 people. In the years afterward, 15,000-20,000 more died prematurely.
Bhopal became known as the worst industrial accident in history. Decades later, the site remains polluted, and city residents continue to live with the consequences of the toxic gas that seeped into the soil, the water, and their bodies.
Dr. Rosario Turvey
Dr. Rosario Turvey, a Lakehead geography & environment and sustainability sciences professor, calls what happened in Bhopal an "unnatural disaster."
"The chemical plant didn't have proper safety protocols, the number of staff had been reduced, and many of them weren't properly trained," she says.
Unnatural disasters are caused by the decisions and actions of individuals.
"They are not catastrophes like earthquakes. These tragedies spring from human error, negligence, or greed, as well as deliberate acts of malice."
Other infamous unnatural disasters include the 1986 Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant explosion and the 9/11 terrorist attacks.
Closer to home, a Dryden, Ontario, paper mill discharged around 10 tonnes of mercury into the Wabigoon River in the 1960s and early 70s. The mercury poisoned the people of the Grassy Narrows First Nation, causing birth defects and a multitude of health problems. Today, there's still mercury in the river and it's not safe to eat the fish.
"Some places have ended up being uninhabitable," Dr. Turvey says.
The Twin Towers of New York's World Trade Center complex. In 2001, they were destroyed in a terrorist attack. Photo Credit: Tomas Martinez on Unsplash
Disturbingly, Dr. Turvey says that we're not learning from our mistakes. "We tend to ignore them, but the number of these disasters is rising.
"The question is how many more of these events will the planet be able to handle?" she adds.
Dr. Turvey isn't sitting around waiting for an answer.
She's part of a research team investigating unnatural disasters—also known as anthropogenic disasters and technological disasters.
"There are very few existing publications or resources about this topic. So we're defining what constitutes unnatural disasters and studying their causes and long-term environmental sustainability implications."
Their goal is to create a more resilient world by reducing or preventing these human-induced disasters.
Dr. Turvey's co-investigators are Lakehead Orillia sustainability sciences professors Dr. Sreekumari Kurissery and Dr. Nandakumar Kanavillil.
An abandoned middle school in Pripyat, Ukraine, near the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Photo Credit: Mick De Paola on Unsplash
As part of their research, they're accessing declassified information and reports.
Equally important, they hope to travel to multiple locations to do post-disaster assessments. This includes Tokaimura, Japan, where there was a nuclear accident in 1999, and the Bikini Atoll in the South Pacific, where the United States conducted nuclear weapons testing in the mid-1940s and 1950s.
"We need to understand exactly what happened. For instance, have these areas been declared unlivable because of contamination and toxicity?"
Discovering which regions of the world have the most unnatural disasters is another key element of their research.
Once they've determined the causes and consequences of unnatural disasters, their findings and recommendations will be released in a book, most likely in 2026 or 2027.
Radioactive land near the site of the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant.
Photo Credit: Oleksandra Bardash on Unsplash
"Our primary audience will be government policymakers, transnational corporations, relevant environmental bodies, and key stakeholders," Dr. Turvey says.
"When these disasters occur, we lose resources, people, communities, and wildlife—but we have the power to change this and create a more sustainable world."
Dr. Turvey's work supports several United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including SDG 3: Good Health and Well-Being, SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities, SDG 13: Climate Action, and SDG:15 Life on Land.
Annually our myAwards Portal is open from August 15 to October 15 for undergraduate students. This year, Student Awards and Financial Aid is running a contest to "win free textbooks for a semester" (value is $500). Two prizes are up for grabs - one for Orillia and Barrie and one for Thunder Bay!
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.
Lakehead University is set to welcome thousands of students this fall, bringing a renewed sense of energy and possibility to its Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses as the fall 2025/26 academic year begins.
This fall marks a major milestone — Lakehead University's 60th anniversary — with celebrations planned throughout the year, including upcoming community engagement opportunities soon to be announced. Since opening its doors in 1965 in Thunder Bay, Lakehead has grown into a leading comprehensive university with a global student body, deep community roots, and a proud tradition of academic excellence, research, and innovation.
More than 9,300 students are expected to attend Lakehead this year, with 6,800 in Thunder Bay and just over 2,300 in Orillia. The incoming class includes approximately 1,600 international students representing over 80 countries, underscoring Lakehead's growing global reach.
"Fall at Lakehead is more than the start of a school year; it's the start of a journey," said Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice-Chancellor of Lakehead University. "Our campuses come alive with the energy of students pursuing their goals, forming connections, and shaping their futures. It's a time filled with promise - not just for students, but for our entire community. As we celebrate Lakehead University's 60th anniversary, we're also reflecting on the incredible legacy we've built and the bright future ahead."
This year, Lakehead is introducing a refreshed orientation experience designed to support students both academically and socially from day one. Highlights include a peer-to-peer phone call campaign, where student leaders personally welcome incoming students; new faculty- and program-based welcome events focused on building community and classroom readiness; and a reimagined six-week First Year Festival, featuring social events, skill-building workshops, and community engagement. Orientation begins the week of August 27, with classes starting on September 2, 2025.
"At Lakehead, we believe the student experience starts before classes do," said Paula Jean Broderick, Director, Student Success. "From personalized outreach to career-connected learning, we make sure students feel seen, supported, and set up for success."
Lakehead's approach to education blends high-impact academics with real-world experience. All students have the opportunity to participate in experiential learning, and more than 80% engage in work-integrated placements made possible through partnerships with local industry, governments, and community organizations.
The university's economic and social impact is equally significant—generating an estimated $2.57 billion annually in Northwestern Ontario and $328 million in Orillia. With 97.4% of graduates employed within two years, most in roles related to their field of study, Lakehead continues to deliver powerful outcomes for both students and the regions it serves.
With students arriving from near and far, Orientation marks a vital first step in building confidence, community, and a sense of belonging. Activities begin the week of August 27 and continue through the six-week First Year Festival, helping students transition into university life before classes officially begin on September 2, 2025. For more information about upcoming Orientation events, visit: www.lakeheadu.ca/students/orientation/events
