Lakehead Students are Raising Awareness about Human Trafficking

"As more of young people's lives move into the virtual world, online platforms and apps are increasingly being used to contact, groom, manipulate, and exploit young people," says Lakehead student Taylor Munro.

Taylor and fellow social work students Steven Kearney, Shanta Paudel Khatiwada, Kris Carlson, and Tessa Pasqualino recently investigated this growing problem.

"Social media is now both a place of connection and a place of exploitation," says Taylor Munro (pictured left). She and her fellow students' human trafficking project gave them the opportunity to engage with a complex and urgent social issue early in their academic and professional development.

As part of an undergraduate social work theory course taught by professor Abigale Sprakes, they studied the impact of human trafficking in Thunder Bay and northwestern Ontario.

Their research focused on the online exploitation of young people aged 12–18.

As part of this important work, they developed a social media campaign to raise public awareness about human trafficking.

Social work students Taylor Munro and (left to right) Steven Kearney, Kris Carlson, Tessa Pasqualino, and Shanta Paudel Khatiwada hosted an information table about human trafficking at Thunder Bay's Intercity Mall in February 2026. They say that "one of the most important takeaways from our research is the need to shift how we understand vulnerability."

These efforts were bolstered by a letter-writing campaign aimed at key stakeholders and decision-makers with the power to take action against trafficking.

The students also participated in a community awareness event organized by the Thunder Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking at the Intercity Shopping Centre in February 2026.

Human Trafficking in Northwestern Ontario

The core mechanics of trafficking—recruitment, control, and exploitation—are consistent across Canada, but regional context shapes how it occurs.

In northwestern Ontario, domestic sex trafficking that targets women and youth is the most prevalent form of trafficking.

"It doesn't usually look like what you see in the movies," explains Shanta Paudel Khatiwada.

"Trafficking is less about abduction by strangers, which does happen, and more about abusive relationships, manipulation, and victims being moved between communities."

Trafficking is subtle and embedded in everyday environments, particularly online.

The Rise of a Dangerous Threat

Social media has become a gateway for the trafficking and exploitation of children and youth on an unprecedented scale.

This is particularly the case in northwestern Ontario. The region's geographic isolation and limited access to services and social supports make it more likely that youth will seek connection online.

Approximately 91% of Canadians aged 15–24 report using some sort of social networking platform, making them vulnerable to online predators. This means that young people's access to technology must be balanced with meaningful safeguards and awareness.

Traffickers then deploy a range of online tactics, including grooming through fake identities and sextortion (using images for blackmail).

Luring victims by pretending that they're interested in a romantic relationship, known as the "boyfriend model," is another popular strategy.

"Because of this, many young people do not initially identify as 'victims,'" Steven Kearney says. "But what may appear as a 'choice' is frequently survival within highly controlled circumstances."

Online platform features such as anonymous accounts, disappearing messages, livestreaming, and algorithm-driven connections make it easier to contact, manipulate, and isolate youth—often in a frighteningly short space of time.

The students' research showed that Snapchat is one of the most commonly used social media platforms for trafficking and exploitation.

Who is at risk?

Traffickers are highly skilled at identifying the unmet needs of young people and positioning themselves as the solution.

"They look for signals, both online and offline, such as loneliness, conflict at home, financial stress, or a desire for belonging," Kris Carlson says.

They then set about exploiting these normal human needs."

The social work students discovered that escaping trafficking is not a single moment but a process. Recovery may involve housing, healthcare, counselling, legal advocacy, and community connection. Photo Credit: Pexels/cottonbro studio

There are also social factors and systemic inequities, such as colonialism, racism, and homophobia, which can increase a young person's vulnerability.

For instance, youth who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+ and BIPOC, and those who've had adverse childhood experiences (ACEs), may be at higher risk because they're part of marginalized groups with less access to support.

We All Have a Role to Play

Human trafficking is a crime that affects every aspect of a person's life, including physically, psychologically, relationally, and neurologically.

The research students developed infographics, including this one, that they shared with the Thunder Bay Coalition to End Human Trafficking for their use. Some of the students also posted the infographics to their personal social media platforms to further public awareness.

So how can parents protect their children?

"When children feel safe, seen, and supported, they are more likely to recognize risk before a situation escalates," Tessa Pasqualino says.

"Open, non-judgmental conversations about online spaces, relationships, and safety are essential."

The most effective protection is not to control a young person's world, but to prepare them to navigate it safely.

Likewise, schools and social service providers can play a critical role in prevention and early intervention. Developing strong legislation and protections to keep pace with the constantly evolving world of the internet is equally important.

"We want people to remember that young people are not 'seeking attention' when they're online," the student researchers add.

"They are seeking connection, belonging, and safety. When those needs are unmet, they can be exploited."

Parents, educators, and community members can click here to learn more about tools and resources to prevent human trafficking.

If you, or someone you know, may be a victim of trafficking, call the Canadian Human Trafficking Hotline at 1-833-900-1010.

Researcher Dr. Gerardo Reyes is Working to Protect Alvar Landscapes

Ecologist Dr. Gerardo Reyes's curiosity has been captured by alvars—a habitat found in only a few places around the globe.

These unusual and biodiverse landscapes are characterized by exposed limestone bedrock and a patchwork of thin mineral-rich soils.

"Alvars are relics," says Dr. Reyes, a Lakehead Orillia Biology and Sustainability Sciences associate professor.

"They've remained virtually unchanged since the last ice age 12,000 years ago."

Dr. Reyes is a population and community ecologist focused on species conservation, socioecological resilience, and the scholarship of teaching and learning.

Dr. Reyes and his research team want to develop sustainable grazing practices to balance the needs of agriculture with the conservation of alvar ecosystems.

They're doing this through fieldwork analyzing the vegetation and abundance of alvar species and by mapping land use over time.

Endangered Species Thrive in Alvars

In the spring the alvars flood, in the summer they sizzle through drought, and the rest of the year they crack and heave with frost.

Much of the vegetation found in alvars is a mishmash of what would normally grow in alpine, grassland, or arctic conditions.

Trees such as white birch can grow in the fissures of alvars, provided enough soil and moisture is retained. Trees also deepen the fissures through root development. The microhabitats they help create can maintain vegetation cover during the drought periods of late summer.

Alvars are also the home of rare and endangered plants, as well as plant species that have been separated from other populations of the same species found further north or south.

Despite the rarity of alvars, Dr. Reyes doesn't have to venture far from his doorstep to study them.

Remarkably, 75% of the world's alvars are found in Ontario.

The Carden Plain, around the Kawartha Lakes region, is the site of Dr. Reyes's research.

It's there that native fauna including the juniper hairstreak butterfly and the bobolink songbird flit among dwarf lake iris, tiny mousetail, and juniper sedge.

Beardtongue plant (Penstemon hirsutus) is a drought-tolerant native perennial that attracts native checkerspot butterflies and many bee pollinators, making it important for maintaining biodiversity.

Not surprisingly, areas like the Carden Plain are a popular spot for birders and nature lovers.

They are attracting unwelcome visitors, too, which concerns Dr. Reyes.

He says that the Carden Plain is under pressure from urban development, quarrying, livestock grazing, off-road vehicle use, and invasive species.

Can cows help save this fragile habitat?

Dr. Reyes—along with Biology and Sustainability Sciences professor Dr. Nanda Kanavillil and graduate student Brandon Guoth—are taking a closer look at these pressures, particularly at how cattle grazing affects this unique environment.

Dr. Reyes and Lakehead sustainability sciences students (left to right): Avi Balroop, Mateo Velasco, Emily De Geus, Holland Dunlop, and Mika Mackay. Emily and Holland are members of Dr. Reyes's alvar research team.

A portion of the Carden Plain is owned by conservation groups who lease it to ranchers so that groups of 50 to 100 head of cattle can graze there in the spring and early summer.

"We're trying to determine what level of grazing is okay to maintain biodiversity and natural conditions," Dr. Reyes says.

"At what point is it too many cattle for too long a period of time?"

Cattle may stop trees from encroaching on open alvar habitat. This could conserve grassland habitat for at-risk bird species like the bobolink and the eastern meadowlark.

One negative effect may be that the cattle are inadvertently spreading invasive species—or aggressive native species—by scattering seeds as they walk or via their droppings.

On the other hand, cattle grazing may protect alvars by enriching the soil and maintaining its open grassland structure and plant diversity.

Taking Action to Safeguard Biodiversity

Dr. Reyes's alvar research is a newer field of study for him, but it connects with his commitment to socioecological resilience.

"Historically, I've worked mostly in forests," Dr. Reyes explains.

"I study the impacts of harvesting practices such as clear-cutting and partial cutting on forest regeneration and look for ways to better manage our forest resources.

Alvars are a different ecosystem, but they face the same issue—trying to make sure that natural resource use is carried out in a sustainable way.

We want to ensure that we're stewards of our resources."

Dr. Reyes and Dr. Kanavilil's alvar research has received funding from Lakehead's Office of Research Services, the City of Orillia, and private donors. Research team member Brandon Guoth also received funding from the Orillia Fish and Game Conservation Club.

A $2-million gift from the Joyce Family Foundation will help more students access a Lakehead University education, removing financial barriers and opening doors to opportunity.

The gift will establish The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary, an endowed fund that will provide three bursaries of $22,000 ($5,500 payable per year for four years) per year and directly benefit students who face financial challenges. The first bursaries will be given out in September 2026. 

"The Joyce Family Foundation Bursary is a door-opening opportunity that removes the financial barriers standing between students and their ambitions,” said Lakehead President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall. “As an access institution, we are thrilled that each year three Lakehead students will have the support of this bursary so they can focus on their studies and achieve their goals rather than worry about financial stress." 

On average, 95 per cent of Lakehead’s domestic student population faces barriers to attending university, such as financial need or being the first generation in a family to pursue post-secondary education. Support from donors helps bridge the gap between provincial student grants and loans and the financial needs of students.

Today’s investment builds on a decade-long relationship between Lakehead University and The Joyce Family Foundation, grounded in a shared commitment to improving access to postsecondary education and supporting student success.

“The Joyce Family Foundation is honoured to continue Ron Joyce’s legacy of investing in young people,” said Rob MacIsaac, Chair of the Foundation. “This bursary program at Lakehead University affirms our shared belief that every student deserves the opportunity to learn, grow, and contribute to their community.” 

Anchored by this transformative leadership gift, Lakehead is kicking off a fundraising initiative to raise $10 million for scholarships, bursaries, and awards over the next five years. With more than $2.6 million already raised, President Siddall explained that the campaign will not only ease financial burden, but it will unlock potential.

“When we invest in students, we strengthen not only their future, but the future of our communities,” she said.

Lakehead University continues to be recognized as a leader in student support and undergraduate education. Among Ontario universities in the primarily undergraduate category, Lakehead ranked first in student awards, second in scholarships and bursaries, and held its position as Ontario’s top primarily undergraduate university, according to the 2026 Maclean’s University Rankings.

Investments like this help ensure that more students, regardless of financial circumstance, have the opportunity to pursue higher education and reach their full potential. Financial aid also plays a critical role in attracting talent, supporting Indigenous participation, and strengthening communities across Northern Ontario and beyond.

Activist Tamara Bernard is Fighting Alongside Indigenous Women and Girls

Content Warning: This article discusses physical and sexual violence

Tamara Bernard often tells the story of two Indigenous women—Jane Bernard, a 43-year-old wife and mother, and 18-year-old Doreen Hardy, who was just beginning her life.

After a visit to Thunder Bay in 1966, Jane and Doreen needed to return home to Gull Bay, Ontario, so they accepted a ride from a seemingly helpful stranger.

They were never seen again by their loved ones.

"They were murdered in what remains an unsolved double homicide," Tamara says.

 Doreen Hardy (left) and Jane Bernard (right) were murdered in 1966.

Jane Bernard was Tamara's great-grandmother. "Trauma from colonial violence has defined my career," she adds.

Tamara is a Lakehead University PhD Educational Studies student, researcher, and activist engaged in thought-provoking public education work aimed at spurring change.

An Enduring Crisis

Although violence against Indigenous women and girls is commonly perceived as a newer phenomenon, it's longstanding and entrenched.

Despite this reality, most research investigating violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada concentrates on the period between 1980-2012.

Tamara's family case from 1966 falls outside this narrow and misleading timeline.

Addressing this gap and advocating for recognition that violence has existed since first contact has become a focus of Tamara's work.

Tamara teaches at Lakehead University's Department of Indigenous Learning and at the Seven Generations Education Institute. She also delivers specialized training to municipal, provincial, and Indigenous police services, parole and probation officers, and other organizations.

"Our women were traded as commodities in the Hudson's Bay Company beginning in the 1600s. This has been normalized and has led to the dehumanization and sexualization of Indigenous women and girls.

In fact, Canada was developed through the enslavement of Indigenous women and girls, predominantly in the Ontario and Quebec regions," says Tamara, who is herself a survivor of violence.

"It was the government's agenda to civilize us to death.

This dehumanization, and ideologies that view Indigenous girls as less human and of less value, are predominant in contemporary society's thinking, which is clear when looking at the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls."

"We focus on the Highway of Tears in British Columbia when we think about Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, but if we don't act now, Highway 11-17 will become the new Highway of Tears," Tamara says.

'The homicide rate for Indigenous women and girls is over six times higher than that of non-Indigenous women and girls. A staggering 63% of Indigenous women in Canada have also experienced physical or sexual assault in their lifetime.

The National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls also revealed that Indigenous women and girls are 13 times more likely to experience violence compared to non-Indigenous females.

Now they are contending with a dramatic increase in human trafficking.

More than Murdered and Missing

This violence led Tamara to establish Tamara Kwe Indigenous Consulting in 2014 to respond to the missing and murdered Indigenous women, girls, and 2SLGBTQI+ (MMIWG2S+) crisis.

Racism and sexism cast a long shadow in Canada. "I don't know a single system that doesn't need to be dismantled and rebuilt to adequately support Indigenous women and girls' needs, whether it's the health care, justice, education, or social services systems," Tamara says.

Tamara is also a member of the Ontario Domestic Violence Death Review Committee, and its Indigenous Subcommittee, where she does death reviews. Her goal is to reduce intimate partner violence by examining and analyzing how systems are responding and identifying any points of missed interventions.

"We are in this space of grief that is hard to overcome," she says, "but I don't want other Indigenous young women or girls to experience what I did when I was growing up.

I'm always asking how we can fill the cups of younger women and children so that they learn about Indigenous women in a positive and strengths-based way and not through deficient ideologies or a dehumanizing culture."

Tamara speaks nationally and internationally, but some of her most important work is speaking to grade 6-8 students. “As a prevention strategy, part of my talks discuss love bombing, grooming, and how to identify a safe adult because girls these ages are at risk of being trafficked.”

One way that Tamara does this is through her Lakehead research.

Her master's thesis—the first of its kind in Canada—used intergenerational storytelling between a grandmother and granddaughter to honour her great-grandmother, Jane Bernard, who is one among MMIWG.

In her study, Tamara and her grandmother shared their stories through letter writing, kitchen table conversations, sharing meals, ceremonies, and reflections.

"My grandmother was given the opportunity to talk about her mother Jane Bernard and to honour her. It healed her in unexpected ways, and it healed me, too.

This is intergenerational healing between grandmother and granddaughter when gathering and sharing knowledge (Indigenous research) is done in a good way (Mino-Bimaadiziwin)."

Her Grandmother's Bundle

In the process of her master's work, Tamara has become a nationally recognized pioneer of Indigenous, story-based research methodologies.

Her PhD research is building upon this work.

It focuses on Anishinaabe women's experiences in post-secondary education, particularly in northwestern Ontario at Lakehead's Thunder Bay campus.

"I want to better understand how institutions like Lakehead can support Indigenous women—not just in accessing education, but in escaping violence, rebuilding stability, and thriving."

Tamara's PhD research entitled "My Grandmother's Bundle" is being completed at Lakehead University through a SSHRC-funded grant (a $105,000 Doctoral Fellowship). It examines violence against Indigenous women as a continuation of colonial systems, while also exploring how Indigenous women navigate pathways to safety, healing, and self-determination. "Grounded in Indigenous methodologies and storywork, I centre lived experience to understand how systems like education, justice, and child welfare shape both vulnerability and resilience," Tamara says. "A key focus of my work is how post-secondary education can serve as a pathway out of violence, even as it exists within colonial structures. Ultimately, my research aims to identify systemic gaps and advance culturally grounded, community-driven responses that support Indigenous women's safety and well-being within their education journey."

Tamara's grandmother earned an education degree at Lakehead, which gave her the autonomy to walk away from domestic abuse in the early 1990s. Tamara is seeing this exit strategy repeat itself today with other Indigenous female learners at Lakehead.

"That's why the title of my PhD research is 'My Grandmother's Bundle,'" Tamara says.

"The stories of my matrilineal line—and those of other Indigenous women I have walked with to exit various forms of violence—have guided me to the focus of my PhD dissertation. That is what I mean when I say colonial violence has defined my career.

I often wonder who I would be if these things hadn't happened to me or my family, or other Indigenous women for that matter.

I encourage everyone to talk about the crisis of violence against Indigenous women and girls in Canada, especially in the Thunder Bay District.

Get educated and become aware because discussing these issues is crucial. It's important to note that making crafts and participating in MMIWG2S+ walks is fine, however, this does not change the ongoing issue."

Tamara will be talking about Jane and Doreen's lives in the public lecture, "Stories That Must be Told." This event commemorating Red Dress Day takes place on Friday, May 1, from 6:00 to 7:30 pm at the MacGregor Recreation Centre in Shuniah. Click here for more information. 

Click here to watch Tamara's powerful TEDx Thunder Bay talk, "We are more than murdered and missing."

You can show your support on Red Dress Day by:

• Wearing red and wearing Red Dress Day pins
• Hanging a red dress in your window or yard
• Taking part in walks, vigils, and rallies in your community
• Donating to the Ontario Native Women's Association or to the Beendigen Indigenous Women's Shelter (Tamara's talk on May 1 is requesting donations to Beendigen)
• Sharing Red Dress Day images on social media with the hashtags:
  #MMIWG2S
  #RedDressDay
  #WhyWeWearRed
  #NoMoreStolenSisters
  #reddressproject

Learn more by reading:

• Reclaiming Power and Place: The Final Report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls
• Amnesty International's Report on Violence Against Indigenous Women and Girls in Canada
• Jaime Black - The REDress Project

Supports for Indigenous Community Members:

• Hope for Wellness Helpline (available 24/7 to all Indigenous people across Canada)
• Ontario Native Women's Association Program and Services Information Line: 1-800-667-0816
• Indian Residential School Survivors Society Counselling Services and Crisis Line: 1-800-721-0066

You can also find more information about this national day of awareness by visiting Amnesty International's Red Dress Day 2026.

Did you know that it takes up to 2700 litres of water to produce a single cotton t-shirt? Save water, save money, and support students by utilizing Wolfie’s Closet on campus!

Wolfie’s Closet is now open, bringing students, faculty, and staff at Lakehead’s Thunder Bay Campus an opportunity to save water, prevent textile waste, and refresh your closet– all free of charge!

Wolfie’s Closet isn't a singular entity or place, but rather a collection of various closets on campus with participating units, including the Office of Sustainability, Pride and Gender Equity Centre, Career Zone, International Student Office, and Ingenuity. Each of these units have made a collective effort to gather gently used clothing that students can take for free.

Clothing can be donated by anyone year round, and regular pop-up clothing swaps provide students with several opportunities to refresh their wardrobe. Out with the old and in with the new (to you)!

Donate to Wolfie’s Closet
Drop off clean clothes at any of these locations during their open hours:

• Office of Sustainability (CASES 2004F)
• LUSU’s Pride and Gender Equity Centre (UC 0019)
• Career Zone (SC 0013)
• International Centre (LI basement)

Accepted Items
Clean and gently used clothing, shoes, outer wear (coats, hats, mitts, boots, etc.)

To Shop
Attend a pop-up or visit one of the following campus closets!

Gwen’s Closet
Location: Pride and Gender Equity Centre (UC 0019)
Hours: Open year-round

• Pop-up events every semester
• Free, gender-affirming clothes available for trans and non-binary students
• Fitting room available
• Looking for a specific item or interested in donating? Fill out the item request form.

Career Closet
Location: Career Zone (SC 0013)
Summer Hours: Tuesday to Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m.
Fall/Winter Hours: Monday to Thursday, 1 to 4 p.m.

• Quarterly pop-up events
• Clothing is always available on a drop-in basis for students needing an interview or professional outfit

International Student Winter Drive
Location: International Centre (LI Basement)

• Happens in winter, around December to February
• Accepted winter gear items: winter jackets, boots, blazers, mitts, hats, etc.

Follow these accounts on social media to stay up to date on the next pop-up location!

Instagram
@lakeheadsustainability
@Lakeheaduingenuity
@ lusu.pridecentral
@gec_lusu
@lakeheadintllife

Facebook
Ingenuity
Lakehead International Student Life
Career Closet Website [https://www.lakeheadu.ca/students/career-development]

If you, or a student you know, needs to urgently access Wolfie’s Closet or have questions, please contact Rachel Portinga, Sustainability Coordinator, at rporting@lakeheadu.ca or fill out this Google Form.

She's Helped Create a Place Where Everyone Knows Your Name

"I love people," says Lakehead alum Erin Beagle (BEd'05).

Anyone familiar with her long history of community work can attest to this fact.

Erin joined Thunder Bay's Roots to Harvest when it was founded in 2007 and now serves as its executive director.

It's a grassroots organization—now known as Roots Community Food Centre—that uses food to connect people and to foster dignity through meaningful programs, initiatives, and advocacy.

Erin (above) says that one of her favourite dishes prepared in the Roots kitchen is their whitefish chowder. "We serve it at the Empty Bowls fundraiser that benefits Shelter House and the Thunder Bay Food Bank."

"People are what keeps me coming back," Erin says. "I get inspired by my staff, colleagues, and the people we serve."

She's also energized by the sheer variety of her work.

"One day I might be writing a grant, the next day I might be changing a car battery, giving a talk at a school, or beekeeping.

"Right now we're learning maple syrup production and accessing local foods to use in school classrooms and the Roots kitchen."

Taking a Walk on the Wild Side

Erin grew up in Prince George, British Columbia, and spent her summers at the Educo Adventure School, which gave her a passion for outdoor education.

"All of my classmates in Lakehead's OE3 program were interested in alternative models of education," Erin says. "Through OE3, I did placements at Churchill High School teaching problem-based learning in science. It was a great way for kids to learn, and I treasured my time there."

Later, as a young adult, she ran Educo's wilderness experience program.

This sparked a desire to open her own experiential school and enrol in Lakehead's Faculty of Education.

At the time, Lakehead was one of only two Canadian universities to offer the Outdoor, Ecological, and Environmental Program (OE3) to prospective teachers.

"I went to Lakehead's website for more information," Erin says.

"When I clicked on it, there was a photo of the OE3 program head, Dr. Tom Puk, rappelling off a cliff. I thought, 'Oh, these are my people.'"

The Start of Something Big

A couple of years after graduation, Erin was working for the United Way on its national Action for Neighbourhood Change initiative.

"I collaborated with residents in the Simpson-Ogden neighbourhood to build engagement and address issues like crime from a neighbourhood level."

Around the same time she connected with Lakehead social work professor Dr. Connie Nelson and political science professor Dr. Doug West. They'd received a grant for an exciting new project called Roots to Harvest.

"The goal was to engage students from grades 6-12 in food security projects," Erin explains.

Roots has two large urban farms—the Volunteer Pool Garden on Martha Street and the Lillie Street Garden.

Erin became one of Roots to Harvest's first team members and wasted no time getting her hands dirty.

"We started a community garden at the corner of Algoma and Cornwall and promoted farming and food systems at the local level," she says.

She realized that she'd found her calling.

In 2012, Roots to Harvest became a non-profit organization and in 2021, it became part of Community Food Centres Canada, changing its name to the Roots Community Food Centre.

Food, Friendship, and Belonging

Roots excels at delivering transformative programs and services.

Their community food markets in Thunder Bay, Kiashke Zaaging Anishinaabek First Nation, and Whitesand First Nation are improving food security in the region by selling below-cost fruits and vegetables.

In addition, they provide free community meals twice a week to seniors over 60 and—in partnership with the Indigenous Friendship Centre—host a free monthly lunch featuring wild food like moose, berries, and rice.

Roots' urban farm program, which offers employment and skills training to youth aged 15-30, holds a special place in Erin's heart.

"I love that teenager spirit," she says. "Being a young person isn't easy and they meet that challenge."

Roots contributes to the community in a multitude of ways, including improving food security and providing services like free income tax clinics open to people with simple taxes whose income is less than $50,000 per year.

Roots also supports aging in place for seniors, senior wellness and fitness programs, and many advocacy programs in partnership with community organizations.

For instance, they recently held a basic ID clinic to help people get documents such as birth certificates and social insurance numbers.

"Roots is so much more than farming and gardening," Erin says. "It's a place that lifts up everyone from elementary school kids to seniors.

Community members have made Roots their own, and northwestern Ontario is more resilient because of it."

Law Student Jigme Tsering Stands Up for the Marginalized

"There's a saying in my community: If you're born Tibetan, you're born an activist," says third-year law student Jigme Tsering.

As a first-generation Canadian born of refugee parents, she decided to study law as the next step in her longtime interest in environmental justice, social justice, and humanitarian work.

The Tibetan Canadian Cultural Centre in Etobicoke has been one of the places where Jigme has been able to reconnect with her cultural heritage and engage in advocacy.
It was at the centre that she co-founded Nyamdo Mentorship, a program that pairs youth members with mentors to help them plan for academic and career success.

"To be Tibetan is to inherit a history of displacement and resilience," Jigme explains.

"Following the annexation of Tibet by the People's Republic of China and the 1959 Tibetan uprising, many Tibetans, including my grandparents, were forced into exile."

A Law School Like No Other

Jigme, who grew up in the Toronto area, chose to study at the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law because it's the only Ontario law school to offer a specialization in Indigenous and Aboriginal law.

Since arriving in Thunder Bay, she's become a vital part of the legal community.

She was the Dean's Fellow in Indigenous Law, a position created to foster law students' understanding of Anishinaabe legal traditions.

"My grandparents, and other exiled Tibetans, carried their language, faith, and identity across the Himalayas on foot and sought refuge in India and Nepal," Jigme says. Above, some of the students, teachers, and staff of the Tharlam Monastery and Tharlam Academy in Nepal.

She also worked for the Lakehead University Community Legal Services, completed a placement with Legal Aid Ontario's Indigenous Services Division, and was part of the team that helped establish the Indigenous Human Rights Clinic at the Thunder Bay Indigenous Friendship Centre.

"One of the reasons for coming to Bora Laskin was because I wanted to be up north," Jigme says. "I wanted to better understand what the lived experience was like for people."

Equally important to her has been her pro bono work with Legal Advocates for Nature's Defense (LAND) and a summer position with the Canadian Environmental Law Association (CELA).

Fighting Persecution and Environmental Degradation

Jigme's background as the daughter of Tibetan refugees has drawn her to the intersection of economic development and human rights.

"To speak Tibetan, to practice our traditions, or to tell our stories are acts of quiet resistance. This reality has shaped my understanding of the law not just as a system of rules, but as a tool that can either constrain or protect identity, dignity, and self-determination."

Since the 1960s, China has been displacing Tibetans to get access to minerals in the region, damaging sensitive ecosystems in the process.

"Nomadic activists protesting mining on their traditional lands can be disappeared into prisons, and small towns are displaced and flooded for the sake of hydro projects," Jigme says.

For Jigme's birthday, Sonam, a monk at Tharlam Monastery drew this picture of Jigme playing basketball. "We have a shared love of sports, for him, it's soccer and futsal, and for me, it's basketball," Jigme says.

She sees parallels between the treatment of Indigenous Peoples in Canada and the treatment of Tibetan people by the Chinese government.

For her, mining projects like northwestern Ontario's proposed Ring of Fire, which targets critical minerals on Indigenous lands, raise alarm bells.

"Canada's economy is built on the exploitation of Indigenous land, just as China's is on Tibet.

I decided that the best avenue to confront these issues would be through law by amplifying Indigenous voices, ensuring their interests are meaningfully represented, and demanding accountability when they are not.

I see economic development as a foundation for self-governance, and I am committed to contributing to that work."

Advocating at Home and Overseas

Between 2023 and 2025, Jigme worked as a project coordinator and funding liaison at the Tharlam Monastery in the Kathmandu District of Nepal.

Her time there had a profound impact on Jigme.

"The landscape surrounding Tharlam Monastery is a very striking contrast between stillness and movement," says Jigme (centre wearing white shirt). "It's a place that offers many opportunities to practice mindfulness and patience." The monastery itself is a quiet refuge tucked away on a residential lane that sprouts off from the busy main road leading to the iconic Boudhanath Stupa (pictured above).

"Despite having no prior connection to Nepal—even though my dad grew up there—it was the first place where I truly felt like I blended into the community, especially in terms of appearance.

That sense of belonging, along with the monastery's quiet energy, made the experience feel both grounding and unexpectedly familiar."

In her role at the monastery, she secured over $100,000 USD for initiatives such as infrastructure for clean potable water. She also got involved in hands-on projects, like helping develop a waste management system where glass, metal, and plastic could be recycled and sold to raise funds.

"As a Tibetan, it was interesting to see the inner workings and management structure of the monastery, something I would not typically be privy to," Jigme says. Left, young boys training to be monks enjoy some down time at the entrance of the monastery.

After graduating from Lakehead this spring, Jigme will work at a private law firm in Toronto that collaborates with Indigenous organizations.

"I'm committed to thinking globally while acting locally and using the law as a means of safeguarding communities whose voices are too often marginalized."

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.

Join us for Earth Day activities on the Thunder Bay campus and around town on April 22. 

Campus Clean Up
12 to 4 p.m. - Join anytime in that window

• Enjoy some time outside while helping us clean up our beautiful campus!
• Check in at Lake Tamblyn by Faculty Lounge / Cafeteria for materials
• Registration is appreciated, walk-ins are welcome!
• We highly recommend you bring a buddy (or your whole unit!)
• Supplies (gloves, bags, litter pickers, sharps box) will be provided, but feel free to bring your own gardening gloves
• Dress for the weather
• Host: LU Office of Sustainability, with support from EcoSuperior and Physical Plant
• Questions? email Rachel Portinga, Sustainability Coordinator, rporting@lakeheadu.ca

Opening Reception - Northwest Climate Gathering 2025 Artists Residency Show 
2:30 to 3:30 p.m.

• Thunder Bay Art Gallery, 1080 Keewatin St 
• Open to the public, free 
• Show will be up at the Gallery April 21 - 29, 2026. 
• Host: Northwestern Climate Gathering 
• Sponsor: Northern Credit Union 

Earth Day Celebration
6 to 8 p.m. 

• Centennial Conservatory, 1601 Dease St 
• Movie: The Lorax, Popcorn, Tour, Crafts and Activities
• Bring your Water Bottle
• Open to the public, family-friendly, free.
• Co-Hosts: City of Thunder Bay, Northwest Climate Gathering, LU Office of Sustainability 

Dr. Beth Visser Wants to Help People Escape Dangerous Situations

Content Warning: This story includes references to sexual violence.

Dr. Beth Visser is an acclaimed forensic psychologist whose work has led her down some dark paths.

Her previous research investigated individuals with narcissistic, Machiavellian, psychopathic, and other socially malevolent traits who manipulate, deceive, and exploit others.

Dr. Visser, who's also a psychology and interdisciplinary studies associate professor at Lakehead's Orillia campus, has now turned her attention in a different direction.

She wants to understand why women-identified victims and survivors of crime may find it difficult to remove themselves from risky or dangerous situations.

Dr. Visser is an associate editor of both the Journal of Research in Personality and Collabra: Psychology, as well as Lakehead's graduate program coordinator for psychological science. "I want to support talented junior researchers like Theresia Bedard who are doing important work that will have a positive impact on victims and survivors," she says.

Her work is timely, considering the disturbing headlines of the past few years—from the horrifying sexual assault case of Frenchwoman Gisèle Peliquot to the World Junior Hockey sexual abuse scandal to the ongoing Epstein files in the United States.

Dr. Visser's goal is to prevent people from being victimized by sharing her findings with the general public, organizations that support victims and survivors, and fellow researchers.

Victims Are Often Overlooked

"I would go to psychopathy conferences and meet with my peers every couple of years, and none of us were studying victims and survivors," she says.

After a victim's support group representative attended a recent conference and asked how this research relates to victims and survivors, Dr. Visser had an epiphany that has shifted the course of her work.

"I thought it might be more helpful to talk to people who've been exploited by somebody who's psychopathic because they'd probably have better insight into what happened than the psychopathic person," she explains.

"My collaborator Dr. Angela Book and I are exploring why people feel they can't leave a situation when they are afraid."

Dr. Visser is a research volunteer with the Aftermath: Surviving Psychopathy Foundation, which supports victims and survivors. One of her contributions is to provide accessible translations of research articles, and she will be sharing her own research findings with Aftermath.

In their latest research study, Dr. Book, a professor in psychology at Brock University, recalls buying a used musical instrument for her son from a man who told her that the instrument was in his camper van.

"She's a very experienced forensic psychologist, but she got in the van," Dr. Visser says. "Fortunately, she came away with a well-priced musical instrument, but she knew that, objectively, it was a terrible decision.

As women, we're peacemakers. We might have been taught to avoid conflict. What we've found in our research is that, for women, there's this variable called 'silencing the self' that was the strongest predictor for complying in unsafe situations."

Being Polite Can Leave You Powerless

Whether they get goosebumps or some other physiological reaction, women often know in their gut when something is a bad idea or situation.

Yet Dr. Visser says that they may shut down these signals because they want to avoid anything that will cause a confrontation.

"If you can't bring yourself to be rude when you're concerned about your personal safety, it puts you at even greater risk," she says.

Another complication Dr. Visser notes is that although society has changed somewhat since the #MeToo movement, many of the underlying systemic issues remain the same.

"When you listen to women who've testified and gone through the court process, it's still pretty harrowing."

Dr. Visser and her PhD student, Theresia Bedard, are conducting studies with open-ended questions to learn why people stay in dangerous circumstances or appear compliant.

"When we asked people, 'Have you ever been in a situation that you felt like you couldn't get out of?' almost 50 per cent of the women spontaneously responded with a story about some creepy guy.

Dr. Visser (right) and her PhD student Theresia Bedard (left) present their research at the 2025 International Society for the Study of Individual Differences (ISSID) conference in Vienna. They also give public talks to spread awareness of their work. Recently, Dr. Visser spoke to the Psychological Association of Lakehead Students (PALS) and students in Lakehead's Humanities 101 program.

One thing we're learning is that as well as humans' fight, flight, and freeze responses, when faced with a threat, there's a fawning response.

People think, 'If I just make this person happy, they won't hurt me.'"

She's also looking at whether past childhood trauma makes an individual more likely to exhibit a fawning response.

"Maybe you're more likely to try and keep the peace," she says. "We know that previously victimized people are more likely to be victimized in the future."

This is exactly what Dr. Visser hopes her research can help change.

Dr. Visser's research is being made possible by a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) Insight grant.