Student Leader Aliss Chavarri Excels at Taking on Tough Challenges

Caring for others is second nature to third-year biology student Aliss Chavarri.

Growing up in Lima, Peru, her father instilled in her the importance of lending a hand to those in need.

"If there was flooding in interior parts of Peru, my dad and I would travel inland to assist with relief efforts," Aliss says. "We'd carry buckets of water, clean up homes and buildings, look after kids, cook, and do anything else that was needed.

My dad is my hero."

Finding Her Purpose

These childhood experiences have transformed Aliss into a committed advocate and activist.

She spent three months in Baltimore, Maryland, for instance, as a student leader with Habitat for Humanity where she built homes for four low-income families.

Aliss (left) worked long hours as a Habitat for Humanity volunteer in Maryland.

It was this impulse to help people that prompted Aliss to study biology with the ultimate goal of becoming a doctor.

"I chose Lakehead because I wanted to learn in a small community that was close to nature. I also wanted small classes, environmentally sustainable campuses, and an emphasis on experiential learning," she continues.

"During my first semester, I collected soil samples from Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay) and water samples from Lake Tamblyn. It wasn't something that I expected to be able to do so early in my program."

Aliss's interests quickly extended beyond the classroom. She began contributing to campus life as an orientation leader and as a student assistant with Lakehead International.

Aliss is the current Lakehead University Student Union president. She's proud of the many services that LUSU provides, such as the new Wolfpack Volunteer Program. "Students who join the Wolfpack give back to the community by volunteering as well as learn new skills and build up their resumes."

These experiences led to a shift in her career ambitions.

"I realized that although I love science, I don't want to be a doctor. Instead, I want to become a lawyer and advocate for fellow community members."

She's doing that now as president of the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU). In this leadership role, Aliss focused on addressing housing issues and food insecurity as well as promoting diversity and inclusion.

Ending Period Poverty on Campus

One of the initiatives Aliss is most proud of is the recently launched Lily Pad Project.

It's a partnership between LUSU, Pride Central, and the Gender Equity Centre that provides free organic and non-toxic menstrual products in washrooms on Lakehead's Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.

Aliss stocks Lily Pad dispensers with period products.

"After learning that one in five menstruating students miss school because they lack access to menstrual products, I knew that I needed to act," Aliss says.

"These products are as essential as toilet paper and soap, which are provided for free in public washrooms. Period products should be free, too."

Lily Pads dispensers and products are currently available in 40 washrooms, and there are plans to expand this initiative to include all campus washrooms.

An Ingenious Approach to Housing Challenges

In 2024, Aliss began harnessing her entrepreneurial talents to take on an urgent problem affecting international students.

"I discovered that many of them were having trouble finding housing. Since they're new to the country and don't have Canadian bank accounts, they often can't pay rent deposits," Aliss explains.

"Students were also being scammed by fake landlords."

Aliss and fellow biology student Joshua Sanchez created the Nestar website and app to give students safe and accessible housing options.

Aliss (second from left) and Joshua Sanchez (far left) graduated from the Ascend Accelerator program run by Lakehead's Ingenuity business incubator. The coaching and mentoring they received is enabling them to launch their Nestar rental website and app.

Nestar will connect the right tenants with the right landlords through a sophisticated matching system. Once it's fully operational, students will be able to sign leases electronically, pay their rent via credit cards, and run background checks on themselves to give to prospective landlords.

"Students will be able to rent a verified house before they arrive on campus."

Aliss's advocacy continues to be inspired by her father.

"He's always told me, 'If you're doing well in life, why don't you use your skills and talents to help others?'"

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.

About the Moose Hide Campaign

Join us on May 14, 2026 for Moose Hide Campaign Day. The Moose Hide Campaign is a grassroots movement of Indigenous and non-Indigenous men and boys who are standing up against violence towards women and children. Wearing the moose hide pin signifies your commitment to honour, respect and protect women and children in your life and speak out against gender-based and domestic violence.

Thunder Bay Walk to End Violence

Take Action to end violence against women and children

Date/Time: May 14, 2026 at 12pm

Location: Lakehead University Agora

Details: Gather at the Agora at 11:30 a.m., walk will begin at noon.

• Arrive at 1077 Golf Links Road at 12:15pm
• Arrive at Confederation College at 12:45pm
• Guest Speakers outdoor theatre at 1pm

Contact mricher@onwa.ca

To find out more information about the Moose Hide Campaign visit: https://moosehidecampaign.ca/

Wear It Wednesday (May 6, 2026) Employee Challenge

We are inviting workplaces and organizations across Thunder Bay to take part in Wear It Wednesday, a city-wide employee challenge in support of the Moose Hide Campaign.

Which organization can get the highest percentage of employees wearing a Moose Hide pin on May 6th.

This challenge is about visibility and conversation. When pins are worn, please ask questions - and those conversations help raise awareness about intimate partner violence (IPV) and gender-based violence (GBV)

Why participate?

• Spark meaningful conversations about IPV and GBV
• Show leadership and solidarity as a workplace
• Support a community-wide effort to end violence
• Build momentum for the Thunder Bay Moose Hide Campaign Walk to End Violence

Register to get your free pin today!

Access to veterinary care in northern communities is becoming increasingly limited, and for many pet owners, that reality is hitting close to home. Fewer veterinarians mean longer wait times, increased travel, and added stress when care is needed most. It’s a challenge that continues to grow, but one that local efforts are working to address in meaningful, community-driven ways.

This April, local Pet Valu owner, Jeff Palmer (HBComm'02), is stepping up to be a part of the solution.

From April 1–30, all three Thunder Bay Pet Valu locations are partnering with Lakehead's Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP) to raise funds to support the training of future veterinarians in the north and for the north.

For Jeff, this initiative is deeply personal. A Lakehead alumnus born and raised in Thunder Bay, Jeff has spent years in the pet industry building a career grounded in care for animals and the people who love them. This is his way of giving back—to the community that raised him, the university that helped shape him, and the pets (and people) he serves every day.

Throughout the month, customers are invited to purchase a paw (ranging from $5 to $100+), add their name (or your pet’s), and watch it join a growing wall of paws displayed proudly in-store, each one representing our community's commitment to bringing veterinary care closer to home.

This is more than a donation. It’s an investment in supporting the training of future veterinarians right here at home, strengthening access to care for animals across Northern communities. It’s about making sure that our furry companions can receive the care they deserve, when they need it most.

Visit your local Pet Valu this April, support CDVMP, and leave your mark, one paw at a time.

Participating locations:

Humanities 101 Program Helped Put Him on a Better Path

John Mulloy says that his life took a terrible turn after accepting an early retirement package from Chrysler Canada.

"Instead of making a fresh start, I became very ill and found myself unemployed, penniless, and without a place to call home," he says.

"At 58 years old, the thought of returning to a manufacturing job was something I could barely contemplate. Physically and mentally, I was at my limit."

Wendat Community Programs Case Manager John Mulloy

It was while accessing services at The Lighthouse—a shelter for people experiencing homelessness in Orillia—that John began to envision a different future for himself.

"Lighthouse staff encouraged me to upgrade my education after observing how easily I interacted with the other participants. They suggested that I might make a good social service worker."

John took their advice to heart and returned to school as an adult student in Georgian College's Social Service Worker program.

Then, shortly after his first semester at college, a Lighthouse employee approached him again, this time about enrolling in Lakehead's Humanities 101 course.

Humanities 101 Unlocks Possibilities

For 20 years, Humanities 101 has been empowering people to believe in themselves.

This outreach program was created to provide a university-level learning experience to community members facing financial or social barriers to postsecondary education.

Participants attend a free one-semester, non-credit course that introduces them to topics in the humanities and social science fields. The course also covers students' transportation costs to campus, gives them access to library resources, and provides them with a meal in the cafeteria on course nights.

"Together we learn to celebrate different perspectives and ways of thinking and being," explains Nicky Locker, the director of the Office of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL).

"Our Humanities 101 students listen to thought-provoking lectures presented by faculty members and are given opportunities to explore interests, engage in civil discourse, and, sometimes, debate."

John (sixth from left) at his Humanities 101 graduation ceremony. "Many students begin to carve out a pathway for themselves that they might have previously found daunting or unattainable," says CELL Director Nicky Locker.

John thrived in this new environment.

"I thoroughly enjoyed the course because it brought to my attention how narrowly focused we can sometimes be without fully realizing it," he says.

He particularly appreciated how Humanities 101 helped students look at the world around them through multiple lenses and with an open mind.

"Little did I know at the time how important this way of thinking would become—not only for my college coursework as it progressed, but also for my future employment," John adds.

A Life Transformed

By December 2025, John had completed Humanities 101 and graduated from Georgian College.

Then, the profound change he'd been seeking truly began to materialize. In January 2026, he was hired as a full-time case manager with Wendat Community Programs.

Wendat is a non-profit in Midland, Ontario, that assists seniors with care needs and adults with mental health needs in the Simcoe-Muskoka region.

"The Humanities 101 course has paid dividends every day since I started my position at Wendat," John says.

"I have discovered how important it is—and I am reminded daily—how we as social service workers must learn to see things through the eyes of our clients.

We must be vigilant in how we perceive them and careful about the judgments we make about the people around us."

Humanities 101 fosters relationships, care, and lifelong learning, which are strong contributors to well-being and to removing barriers to success. Above, John stands in front of The Lighthouse in Orillia. Photo Credit: The Lighthouse

John is now eagerly helping guide his current caseload of 11 clients towards more positive mental health and supporting them in making decisions that bring real independence.

"I want to express my sincere gratitude and thanks to CELL's Nicky Locker and Nick Damer for making Humanities 101 so rewarding and educational.

I can honestly say I would recommend this course to anybody, but particularly to those who want to expand how they see and engage with the world."

Humanities 101 is proud to be celebrating its 20th anniversary. Click here for more information about this transformative community outreach program.

John was recently featured on the Orillia Matters news site. Click here to read more about his inspirational journey.

The Claude E. Garton Herbarium is an Amazing Educational Resource

Tucked into a corner of the Thunder Bay campus is a fascinating universe ready to welcome curious students, scientists, and community groups.

The Claude E. Garton Herbarium on the third floor of the Centennial Building houses a collection of over 115,000 preserved plant and tree specimens.

The herbarium was established in 1967 by Claude Garton, an elementary school teacher and amateur naturalist, who began collecting local plants in the Thunder Bay area in 1933. Above, Kristi Valley and Myles Cummins in the herbarium.

"A herbarium is a plant library, a database, and a museum," Acting Curator Kristi Valley explains.

Lakehead's Herbarium has a staggering array of flowering plants, ferns, shrubs, trees, cacti, mosses, lichens, grasses, and much more. These specimens come from across the globe and range in age from 200 years old to newly harvested.

"We're like a botanical time machine," says Herbarium Botanist Myles Cummins, a recent Master of Science in Forestry grad.

The collection is stored in secure cabinets in the form of vouchers—plant specimens that have been flattened in a press before being mounted on archival paper and labelled.

Plant vouchers can include stems, leaves, flowers, roots, seeds, bark, and cones—each preserving a record of where and when the plant was collected.

Herbariums Are Research and Discovery Hot Spots

The plants in herbarium collections have a multitude of real-world applications.

"Researchers—such as botanists, biologists, geologists, and anthropologists—rely upon our collection," Kristi explains.

A beautiful Pink Lady's Slipper orchid (Cypripedium acaule) collected by Claude Garton in 1975 at Louie Lake in Pukaskwa National Park.

"Anthropologists, for example, have compared roots and seeds in our collection to plants at archaeological sites to learn more about the ecology and culture of past societies."

"We've also helped geologists identify tree species so that they can do vegetation-based mineral exploration, which involves analyzing specimens for metals absorbed into their leaves," Myles says.

Botanists are equally interested in the herbarium. "We've collaborated with herbaria across North America to more accurately name plant species," Kristi says.

Climate-change researchers are similarly keen to use the collection.

They germinate herbarium seeds and compare the plants that sprout from these seeds to plants growing today—allowing them to see how a warming climate has affected different plant species.

They also compare the flowering stages of specimens collected decades ago with living plants to document climate-change driven shifts in flowering times.

A Class Trip You Won't Forget

The Claude E. Garton Herbarium has become a popular destination for northwestern Ontario students, as well as researchers.

"Lakehead biology and natural resources management students frequently use our collection," Kristi says. "We also do outreach programming with local youth groups and high schools."

The herbarium teaches students and STEM organizations how to identify native plant species and invasive plant species by using a dichotomous key, as well as by using the iNaturalist app. The app allows them to monitor species distribution and climate change.

One of Kristi's favourite visits took place this past fall.

Students enrolled in Lakehead's Indigenous Transition Year Program (ITYP) and Indigenous STEM Access Program (ISTEM) toured the facility as part of a botany unit in their general science course.

"It was an experiential learning opportunity for them," says Indigenous Access Programs Coordinator Lisa Primavesi.

These students, who will pursue degrees at Lakehead once they've completed their ITYP and ISTEM studies, stood out for their level of enthusiasm.

The plants in the herbarium are organized systematically by family, genus, and species. It has an almost complete collection of the vascular plants of the Thunder Bay area. Above, ITYP and ISTEM students employ a dichotomous key, similar to a decision tree, to correctly identify plants.

"I was blown away by their genuine excitement for botany," Kristi says. "Some of them even offered to volunteer at the herbarium."

The students took part in a plant ID challenge and spoke to PhD researcher Karla Ramirez Galicia who's studying jack pines.

"The herbarium has a wealth of resources, and I'd like to thank Kristi for setting aside time for the students," says Indigenous Access Programs Coordinator Lisa Primavesi. "It was really special to have the class visit and learn about the herbarium." Right, a student makes a plant voucher.

Another highlight was the opportunity to create plant vouchers.

Prior to their visit, each student collected plants including yarrow, cocklebur, and red clover. They then pressed and mounted their plants before donating them to the herbarium.

Continuing to engage people throughout northwestern Ontario in outreach activities like this is critical to the herbarium's mission.

That's why they partner with the Thunder Bay Field Naturalists, and other organizations, to support community education and plant-identification training.

"We also accompany visiting Indigenous community members on plant walks," Myles says. "We help them source plant materials so that they can teach young people to make traditional medicines."

"Getting young people interested in plants is our goal," Kristi adds. "We're always ready to work with educators and community groups."

If you'd like to arrange a tour or workshop with the Claude E. Garton Herbarium, email Acting Curator Kristi Valley at: kedysiev@lakeheadu.ca

To support the Herbarium, click here. 

Lakehead University and the University of Guelph’s Ontario Veterinary College (OVC) are advancing the next phase of the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP) with the appointment of Dr. Terri O’Sullivan as Program and Operations Advisor to the Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies at Lakehead.

The CDVMP, a joint initiative between the two institutions, is designed to expand veterinary training capacity and help address the significant need for veterinary services in Northern Ontario.

“It’s a privilege to contribute to this important next stage in the implementation of the CDVMP,” said O’Sullivan, a professor in OVC’s Department of Population Medicine. “I am excited to work alongside colleagues at Lakehead and OVC as we help shape a program that will expand access to veterinary training and create long-term benefits for the veterinary profession, animal health, the agriculture sector, and communities across the North.”

“Dr. O’Sullivan brings a wealth of valuable knowledge and experience to this new role that will be a huge asset in helping OVC and Lakehead bring the CDVMP to realization,” said Dr. Todd Duffield, OVC’s Department of Population Medicine chair.

O’Sullivan will continue in her OVC faculty role while taking on a significant service commitment supporting CDVMP implementation and operational development at Lakehead, where she will also serve as External Adjunct Faculty in Lakehead’s Department of Veterinary Science. She will liaise directly with CDVMP leads at OVC to collaborate throughout the program rollout.

“Dr. O’Sullivan’s appointment marks an important step forward in the development of the CDVMP,” said Dr. Jeff Wichtel, OVC’s dean. “Her extensive experience in veterinary education will help ensure that this initiative delivers high‑quality training and meaningful impact for students and communities across Northern Ontario.”

Leadership of this next stage at Lakehead will be guided by Dr. Todd Randall, Dean of the Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies (FSES), who is also serving as Interim Chair of the Department of Veterinary Science. Under his direction, preparations are now underway to begin recruiting faculty and staff, establish operational frameworks, and build the academic and research capacity that will support program delivery.

“Dr. O’Sullivan’s experience in rural community veterinary practise, and longstanding leadership within veterinary education will be an important asset as Lakehead and OVC continue to advance this collaborative program,” said Randall. “Her advisory role will help support the operational planning and coordination needed to bring the CDVMP to life at Lakehead and strengthen veterinary training opportunities in Northern Ontario.”

O’Sullivan will work with leadership at Lakehead and OVC to support key aspects of CDVMP implementation, including operational planning, and coordination between the partner institutions, and preparation for the program’s first phase of delivery at Lakehead.

Learn more about the CDVMP.

Bringing an Indigenous Lens to Everything from Music to Mathematics

"I incorporate the Anishinaabemowin language into all the classes I teach," Hannah O'Donnell says.
"Speaking the language is one of the ways that I look after my students' wellbeing, and my own."

This spring, Hannah will be part of the first group of students graduating from Lakehead's new Keewatinase Indigenous Teacher Education Program (KITEP).

"KITEP's professors are amazing," says Hannah O'Donnell (left). This year, KITEP has students from Orillia, Manitoba, Minnesota, and communities in northwestern Ontario including Eabametoong First Nation and Webequie First Nation.

As part of her studies, she recently completed two teaching placements at the Spirit Bay School in Rocky Bay First Nation, on the edge of Lake Nipigon.

"I taught a JK/SK class and a grade 5/6 class, and I just loved it! It's wonderful to see the children progress and improve," Hannah says.

"Through the placements, I also learned who I am as a teacher."

Hannah lives in Thunder Bay and is working towards her Diploma of Education while holding down a full-time job with the regional Kinoonaadziwin Education Body.

"At Kinoonaadziwin, I work with teachers in First Nations communities assisting with Ojibwe language revitalization," she says.

Hannah is able to combine work and school because KITEP has been adapted to better serve aspiring teachers and the communities who need them.

Reimagining the Indigenous Teacher Education Program

"There was an urgent need for change," says Education Professor and KITEP Chair Dr. Paul Cormier. "Especially with Ontario's current teacher shortage, which is most severe in Indigenous communities."

This sparked the decision to overhaul the university's previous model for Indigenous teacher training.

Education faculty and staff worked with Indigenous communities over a five-year period to create something unprecedented.

Lakehead's Indigenous Language Instructor's Program has been incorporated into Keewatinase. "Over the last few years, there's been an acknowledgement in the education system of the value of Indigenous ways of being and knowing, as well as the importance of experiential learning," Dr. Cormier says. The above wall mural was created by artist Moses Amik.

"Native Language Coordinator Tyler Armstrong has been essential to KITEP's vision and design, as have other members of our team," Dr. Cormier says.

"Elder Tina Armstrong also provided support—including leading a special ceremony to rename the program 'Keewatinase' after an ancestral grandmother spirit helper who is guiding us and our work."

A Unique and Responsive Education

Flexible study options are a core element of KITEP.

Most of the courses are online, rather than in person, and are scheduled in the evenings to accommodate students who have jobs or who live outside Thunder Bay.

"Many of our students are from isolated fly-in communities and are already employed as education support workers or Indigenous language teachers," Dr. Cormier explains.

Students also learn from Elders in the communities where they teach, which allows them to learn the local culture and language dialect.

Above, Hannah O'Donnell (right) with her mom Nancy (left) and her sister Hope (centre). "I come from a family of teachers," Hannah says. "My grandmother was an educator at Algoma University and Sault College, and my mom was a high school teacher for 25 years."

After completing two full course credits and 10 days of placements in elementary or secondary schools, KITEP students can be hired as teachers under a Multi-Session Transitional Certificate of Qualification and Registration.

While working, students can complete their remaining practicum hours and fulfill all program requirements to become fully certified teachers.

"This means that they don't have to come to university for four years," Dr. Cormier says.

Helping Children Blossom

At the heart of the Keewatinase Indigenous Teacher Education Program is its commitment to wholistic learning.

"We've taken the Ministry of Education's curriculum expectations and met them within the context of Indigenous cultural traditions," Dr. Cormier says.

"We're educating teachers to teach in a way that aligns with Indigenous worldviews to foster healthy minds," Dr. Cormier says. Above, KITEP team members (l-r): Admin Assistant Melissa Oskineegish, KITEP Chair Dr. Paul Cormier, KITEP Coordinator Tyler Armstrong, and student clerks Nevaeh Rae and Roberta Ogemah

It begins with an annual one-week culture camp that immerses KITEP students in Indigenous teaching practices and worldviews—giving them the ability to weave Indigenous perspectives into their teaching.

"KITEP's approach really helps you focus on the spiritual, emotional, and mental health of students," Hannah says.

In music class, for example, children are taught drumming and singing. This introduces them to Indigenous stories and history, as well as the western approach to beat and rhythm.

With the reenvisioning of the Indigenous teacher education program, enrolment has soared from fewer than 10 students a year to almost 100 students.

"We believe that Indigenous ways of knowing can benefit all children, not just Indigenous children," Dr. Cormier says.

Click here to learn more about the Keewatinase Indigenous Teacher Education Program and their full-time and part-time learning options.

Lakehead's Media Arts Showcase will open to the public on the afternoon of Wednesday, April 1 at the Orillia Museum of Art and History. 

FedNor is investing $1.5 million to help establish the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program (CDVMP) at Lakehead, one of Canada’s first veterinary programs designed for Northern and rural agricultural economies.

The investment will allow the University to purchase the specialized laboratory and research equipment required to launch the CDVMP. This partnership initiative with the University of Guelph will train future veterinarians with the goal of addressing the shortage of veterinary professionals living and working in Northern Ontario. Starting in 2027, students will begin their studies at Lakehead University in Thunder Bay as part of the Collaborative Doctor of Veterinary Medicine Program and complete their training at the Ontario Veterinary College at the University of Guelph. Graduates will receive a Doctor of Veterinary Medicine degree from the University of Guelph.

Read the full announcement: https://www.canada.ca/en/fednor/news/2026/03/government-of-canada-invests-15-million-so-lakehead-university-can-expand-create-new-programing-and-form-strategic-alliances.html