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Many observers believed that former Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orbán was unstoppable.
Until this spring when Péter Magyar—leader of the Tisza party—defeated Orbán's Fidesz party by winning a two-thirds majority in the 2026 national election.
Orbán, a global figure known for his far-right political ideologies, had ruled Hungary with iron grip for the past 16 years.
Dr. Steven Jobbitt (left) has travelled extensively in Europe and lived a total of four years in Hungary. "Just after high school in 1989, I visited Hungary and fell in love with it. Later, I took time off as an undergraduate student at Lakehead and taught English there. I also did my PhD research in Hungary in 2002-03." He's fluent in Hungarian and is the former managing editor of Hungarian Studies Review.
Lakehead history professor Dr. Steven Jobbitt is an expert in Eastern and Central European history and radical right-wing identity formation in Hungary, so we asked him for his thoughts about the historic ousting of Orbán.
We need to look back to the collapse of communism in Eastern Europe to understand the surge in populism.
Throughout the 1990s former state-owned industries, like oil and gas, were privatized and Hungary's assets were sold off, mostly to foreign investors.
The entire country was treated like it was a fire sale.
Hungary's shift to free-market capitalism was necessary to join the European Union (EU) and to receive loans and support. Unfortunately, this resulted in the birth of a small class of Hungarian oligarchs who grew richer while most Hungarians grew poorer.
One way the populist right captured the political imaginations of the people was by appealing to their resentment of the EU. Hungarians felt the West was exploiting them.
.jpg "Budapest Hungary")
"When Orbán was first elected in 2010, Hungary became the canary in the coal mine for liberal democracy," Dr. Jobbitt says. "It was the first in a wave of formerly democratic governments that rejected the idea of universal human rights and equality." Above, The Hungarian Parliament Building in Budapest sits on the edge of the Danube River. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Ervin Lukacs
People in rural areas and villages, especially in the deindustrialized and impoverished northeast, gravitated to Orbán.
They felt their economic hardship was worsened by being part of the European Union and
by increased immigration.
Many on the conservative right felt that the EU was imposing liberalism upon them and attacking Christianity and families. They were opposed to a greater recognition of women's rights and LGBTQ+ rights.
Orbán told Hungarians: "We don't believe that everyone is equal, there should be leaders and followers."
.jpg "Church in Pecseley Hungary")
"Viktor Orbán positioned Hungary as a protector of the West from Islam and from immigrants," Dr. Jobbitt explains. "His supporters saw themselves as more authentic and moral than other European nations. They endorsed the rewriting of the constitution in 2012 to declare Hungary a fundamentally Christian nation that believed in traditional gender roles." Photo Credit: Unsplash/Zsolt Cserna
But it would be a simplification to see Orbán's support as falling entirely along urban-rural lines.
Fidesz had significant backing from the educated middle class, who may have thought Fidesz offered the best hope for Hungary to have a meaningful position within Europe.
Fidesz also attracted male professionals who felt their power and prestige were slipping away. Even so, there were pro-Fidesz women, including young women.
Why there was significant middle-class support for Orbán remains an important question to study.
Fidesz took control of the media, the judiciary, the government, and the economy.
Freedom of speech was suppressed and corruption levels skyrocketed, creating a mafia state.
Human rights activists were afraid to speak out and criticize the government. Professors and intellectuals with university positions feared they would lose their funding, which did happen, or be fired.
By the end of Orbán's first term in 2014, Hungarians had become cynical. They believed that the future was going to be the same, or even worse, than the present.
There was increasing dissatisfaction with state corruption and the handful of people controlling all aspects of society.
This hadn't been a problem as long as middle and working-class Hungarians were doing okay financially. But over the past couple of years, Hungarians were feeling it in their pocketbooks. Their inflation rate was the highest in the EU.
Péter Magyar, a Fidesz party member, grew disenchanted with Orbán. He defected from Fidesz to become the leader of a small, essentially defunct, opposition party called Tisza.
In an interview on an anti-government YouTube channel, Magyar gave a scathing critique of Fidesz. Part of his critique focused on his outrage that a children's home director convicted of sexually abusing minors had been pardoned by Fidesz. Many Hungarians were similarly angered by the pardon.
After taking over Tisza, Magyar ran a sustained grassroots campaign promising fairness and an end to corruption and wealth inequality.
He went into the countryside, which had been Orbán's stronghold, and held up to six or seven rallies a day. Magyar made a point of visiting the smallest villages and letting the people voice their frustrations.
Previously, left-wing and centrist parties had only campaigned in the cities. This was a mistake. People in rural areas were really feeling the pinch of globalization and the effects of Orbán's corruption.
Magyar is a pro-European conservative who wants to restore democratic institutions.
He has an ambitious agenda. One of his first acts has been the creation of the National Asset Recovery and Protection Office. It will investigate corruption among Hungarian elites and regain illegally acquired wealth.
Magyar has also committed to stopping oppression and standing up for people who'd been targeted by the previous regime.
The defeat has energized the Hungarian people. There was widespread euphoria in both the cities and the countryside following the election.
It reminded me of the fall of communism when people were dancing in the streets.
Magyar isn't anti-capitalist, however, so unless he finds a way to fix wealth inequality, Fidesz will be able to reignite the culture wars it fed off.
.jpg "Tapolca Hungary")
Victor Orbán's model of "illiberal democracy" was emulated by countries like Poland and Brazil and by populist movements like MAGA in the United States and BREXIT in the United Kingdom. "Many of the people in Hungary that I was in contact with, right up until the week of the April 2026 election, didn't believe Orbán could be beaten," Dr. Jobbitt says. Above, the town of Tapolca in the Hungarian countryside. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Matze Bob
Orbán's fall from grace shows us that authoritarian regimes can be voted out by connecting with a country's disaffected people.
But you have to show them that voting for someone like Orbán or Trump is voting against their interests. You can't just focus on big cities.
Magyar has put extremely competent people in charge of his ministries, but four years isn't a long time to turn around a fundamentally transformed government.
Although the radical right could take power again, Orbán's defeat is inspiring people to fight against illiberalism.
The 38th Canadian Conference on Computational Geometry (CCCG 2026) will take place from August 12 to 14, 2026, at Lakehead's Orillia Campus.
CCCG is an annual international conference that brings together researchers, faculty members, students, and professionals working in computational geometry, combinatorial geometry, algorithms, discrete mathematics, data structures, graph drawing, geometric optimization, visualization, robotics, geographic information systems, and related areas.
As one of Canada’s longest-running conferences in theoretical computer science and computational mathematics, CCCG provides a forum for presenting new research results, exchanging ideas, and developing collaborations across computer science, mathematics, engineering, and applied sciences. The conference welcomes contributions addressing both the theoretical foundations and practical applications of computational geometry.
Hosting CCCG 2026 provides an opportunity to showcase Lakehead University’s research community to national and international participants. It will also highlight the university’s strengths in computer science, mathematics, data science, algorithms, and interdisciplinary research.
Lakehead faculty members are playing key roles in organizing the conference. Dr. Thiago E. Alves de Oliveira and Dr. Xing Tan will serve as general co-chairs. The technical program will be led by Dr. Manfred Lau and Dr. Kevin Wu as program co-chairs. Dr. Moira MacNeil will also contribute as a member of the program committee.
CCCG 2026 will feature two distinguished invited speakers. Dr. Carola Wenk, professor and Chair of the Department of Computer Science at Tulane University, will deliver the Godfried Toussaint Memorial Talk. Dr. Ian Munro, university professor and Canada Research Chair in Algorithm Design at the University of Waterloo, will deliver the Paul Erdős Memorial Talk.
Through hosting CCCG 2026, Lakehead will welcome leading researchers and emerging scholars to Orillia for three days of research presentations, invited talks, academic discussion, and professional networking. The event is expected to strengthen research connections across Canada and internationally while supporting student participation and engagement in computational geometry and related fields.
Further information about CCCG 2026, including submission details, registration, invited speakers, and the conference program, is available on the official conference website:
https://sites.google.com/view/cccg-2026/home
More information about the Canadian Conference on Computational Geometry is available at https://cccg.ca/.
Abundant and affordable food is something Canadians once thought they could always count on.
But this is no longer true for many of us.
"We're experiencing multiple food crises as more families are plunged into food insecurity," says Lakehead Interdisciplinary Studies Chair Dr. Jennifer Jarman.
Dr. Jarman's research is centred on social inequality and social justice. "I became interested in rural employment issues when I joined Lakehead," she says. "This led to the book 'The Right to Be Rural,' which I co-edited with Karen Foster at Dalhousie University in 2022.
"This situation has been steadily deteriorating since the pandemic, which was one of the factors that triggered rising grocery prices."
Dr. Jarman is a sociology professor who studies social inequality and its effects. She is also on the board of directors of the Sharing Place Food Centre, a food bank in Orillia.
"We're seeing disturbing trends at the centre," she says.
"More people are becoming homeless, and people with full-time jobs and housing don't have enough money for groceries. Many are paying their rent first and then having to skimp on food."
Dr. Jarman is part of a movement to change this state of affairs.
She and fellow Lakehead professor Dr. Charles Levkoe are co-investigators with the Common Ground Network—a Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) project led by Dalhousie University.
They've received research funding to establish a national research network of social sciences and humanities (SSH) researchers focused on supporting sustainable agriculture, forestry, fisheries, and food systems in Canada.
"The goal is to harness social sciences and humanities expertise to create affordable and ecologically sustainable paths for producing and distributing food. For example, growing more food locally," Dr. Jarman says.
.jpg "Hand Planting Crop")
"More local agriculture could help address food insecurity," Dr. Jarman says. "There's a debate about whether the problem is food prices or insufficient income." Photo Credit: Unsplash/Zoe Richardson
"When tackling food and agricultural issues, input is generally sought from scientists and agricultural experts," she adds.
"Unfortunately, many are often unaware of social sciences and humanities researchers doing related agriculture and food systems work.
That's why we're bringing these researchers together with community stakeholders to create strong teams and networks that make both SSH and community-based research more visible, impactful, and reflective of local and regional needs and realities."
Currently, Common Ground has over 200 SSH researchers.
This is in addition to hundreds of agricultural, fisheries, forestry, community, and industry organizations as well as government partners and Indigenous and settler communities.
For the past year, Dr. Jarman has been a co-lead of Common Ground's 'Relationships Across and Between Rural Communities' pillar.
She—along with PhD student and Lakehead Farm Lab Coordinator Jacob Kearey-Moreland—have been investigating whether smaller Canadian agricultural producers have the necessary infrastructure to get their food to market locally.
This infrastructure encompasses storage warehouses, distribution methods, and secondary facilities such as grinding mills for grain farmers.
.jpg "Farmer in Greenhouse")
A tool assessing the needs of Ontario agricultural producers will be tested in Thunder Bay and Simcoe County. It's being developed by Dr. Jarman and Common Ground collaborators including Dr. Charles Levkoe—a Lakehead health sciences professor and a Canada Research Chair in Equitable and Sustainable Food Systems. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Zoe Richardson
Dr. Jarman is also working with Dr. Levkoe, the Food Action Network of Northwestern Ontario, the Sharing Place Food Centre, Sustain Ontario, and the Food Communities Network on a pilot project to create an assessment tool for Ontario municipalities.
The tool will allow municipalities to engage their stakeholders in building more equitable and sustainable food systems.
"Canada needs more baseline information about its agricultural producers and their needs," Dr. Jarman explains.
"We want to identify these needs before making policy recommendations and engaging in lobbying.
We're particularly interested in infrastructure for socially just food systems for vulnerable people."
Dr. Jarman is excited to be helping coordinate the Common Ground Food Forum taking place June 15-19 on the Lakehead Orillia campus.
.jpg "Vegetable Stand")
"The Common Ground Food Forum will be an opportunity to share experiences from diverse regions," Dr. Jarman says. "Food distribution looks very different depending upon which part of the country you live in." Photo Credit: Unsplash/Peter Wendt
The forum will welcome delegates from the Common Ground Network, the Canadian Association of Food Studies, the Food Communities Network, and Food Secure Canada.
The theme of the conference is "Building a Bigger Table."
"We want to introduce people who've never met before to find common areas of interest and forge research and policy alliances," Dr. Jarman says.
.jpg "Cargo Ship")
"From the 1970s onwards, food systems have become globalized," Dr. Jarman says. "This has caused carbon emissions to soar because we're shipping food halfway around the world. It's better to switch back to older ways of doing things—growing food locally and eating food in season." Photo Credit: Unsplash/Andreas Dittberner
She believes that shifting away from globalized food production monopolized by large grocery chains is critical to ensuring food security and the long-term health of the planet.
"People have lived on this continent for thousands of years with sustainable food systems," she points out. "Vegetable crops like potatoes, tomatoes, squash, and berries flourish here and so do wild game, fish, and livestock.
Everyone in Canada should have access to healthy food at affordable prices."
Click here for more information about the 2026 Common Ground Food Forum running from June 15-18 at Lakehead Orillia.
The Common Ground Network was launched in 2024 and is being funded by a five-year Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council (SSHRC) grant led by Dalhousie University in partnership with Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada (AAFC).
Other Common Ground partners include Lakehead University, Arrell Food Institute, Canadian Association for Food Studies, Canadian Centre for Food and Environment, Centre for Studies in Food Security, Centre for Sustainable Food Systems, Collège Boréal, Dalhousie University, Ecology Action Centre, Farmers' Markets of Nova Scotia, Farm to Cafeteria Canada, FarmWorks Investment Co-operative Ltd, Food Communities Network – Réseau Communautés Nourricières,Food for All NB / Ailments Pour Tous NB, Food Secure Canada, HSI Canada, JustFOOD (Ottawa), National Farmers Foundation, National Farmers Union, Northern Ontario Farm Innovation Alliance, Organic Agriculture Centre of Canada, Organic Nova Scotia, Reimagine Agriculture, Selkirk College, Territorial Agrifood Association, The Sharing Place Food Centre, Thunder Bay and Area Food Strategy, the University of Alberta, and Wilfrid Laurier University.
Law professor Ryan Alford launched a landmark legal challenge that took him all the way to the Supreme Court of Canada in April.
He undertook this arduous years-long journey to fight for the right to free speech in the House of Commons and the Senate.
Above, Professor Alford argues his case before the Supreme Court. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association, the BC Civil Liberties Association, the Canadian Constitution Federation, and other civil liberties associations intervened in parallel to Professor Alford to move his legal challenge through the court system.
For 150 years, free speech was an uncontested and fundamental right.
But that changed in 2017 when the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians (NSICOP) was established to allow the Canadian Security Intelligence Service (CSIS) to share information with MPs and senators.
To regulate the committee, the federal government passed the National Security and Intelligence Committee of Parliamentarians Act (NSICOP Act).
Section 12 of the act specifies that NSICOP members—and anyone invited to participate in their proceedings—can't reveal anything they've learned to the public.
If they do disclose information, for whatever reason, they can be imprisoned for up to 14 years.
Professor Alford challenged section 12 for limiting constitutionally guaranteed freedom of speech and parliamentary privilege.
"I wanted to raise public awareness because NSICOP wasn't front-page news when it was enacted and this legislation isn't compatible with our parliamentary system," he says.
"Parliamentary privilege is part of Canada's 600-year-old constitutional architecture," he adds.
"So before anyone takes a hatchet to this architecture, as the NSICOP Act did, they should first consider if it is a load-bearing element of our constitution."
.jpg "Parliament Hill")
An example of how parliamentary privilege can hold the government to account happened during the 2007 Afghan detainee crisis. Canada was one of the countries belonging to the International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan. A part of this military operation, Canada was handing over prisoners to Afghan security forces known to use torture. MPs used their parliamentary privilege to bring this situation to light and halt the federal government's actions. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Benoit Debaix
According to Canada's House of Commons website, "parliamentary privilege encompasses rights and immunities essential for the House of Commons and its members to perform their duties without external interference.
These privileges are vital for legislating, deliberating, and holding the government accountable.
This includes freedom of speech and collective rights of the House, such as the ability to institute inquiries, demand documents, and call witnesses to appear."
.jpg "Supreme Court of Canada")
In 2023, the consequences of the NISCOP's Act section 12 became clear. Even though it was discovered that foreign governments had persuaded several federal MPs to interfere in Canada's 2019 and 2021 federal elections, the MPs' identities were prohibited from being released. Above, the Supreme Court of Canada where Professor Alford argued his case. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Tom Carnegie
Professor Alford believes that the NSICOP Act has made Canada's executive branch—the prime minister and the cabinet—too powerful.
"The NSICOP Act was presented as a grand bargain that would give MPs and senators access to highly sensitive security information on the condition that this information wasn't made known outside Parliament.
The unintended effect of the NSICOP Act has been the destruction of a safety mechanism for bringing government transgressions to light. It has made Parliament responsible to the government, rather than the other way around.
"The NSICOP Act could lead to corruption, the eroding of parliamentary democracy, and the degeneration of the rule of law," Professor Alford says.
Professor Alford is a law professor, lawyer, and a distinguished legal scholar. "Canada has become the only country with a Westminster parliamentary system that has limitations on parliamentarians' freedom of speech," Professor Alford says. "Embarrassing the government can now be a valid reason for prohibiting MPs and senators from speaking out if they belong to the NISCOP committee."
"Parliamentary privilege is an essential protection against these wrongs."
Professor Alford is also convinced that section 12 is unnecessary because highly confidential matters have always been discussed in Parliament.
He points to an example from World War Two that hits close to home for him.
"My grandfather was a member of the 1st Canadian Parachute Battalion that landed behind the beaches of Normandy on D-Day," Professor Alford says.
"Although the D-Day invasion plans were reviewed in the House of Commons, this information wasn't leaked. If it had been, I might never have been born."
If, in a rare case, a security breach does occur, Parliament has the power to punish these offences, including expelling MPs.
At the end of April, Professor Alford spent two days before the Supreme Court of Canada arguing his case and answering questions from the justices.
"Much of my work is focused on uncovering errors that creep into legal reasoning and attempting to correct them," Professor Alford says. "It's crucial that Canada has legal scholars who can concentrate on the forgotten fundamentals of the constitution because lawyers don't have the time to engage in these issues. Scholars can point out where something could, or has, gone wrong. That's one of the functions of law schools." Above, a view of Lakehead's law library.
In an 8-1 ruling, the justices decided not to strike down section 12. Despite this decision, they accepted a significant amount of Professor Alford's argument.
"The justices said the sole reason that section 12 stands is because NISCOP committee members volunteered for the committee," he says.
"They also determined that there are no limits on what non-NSICOP members can say in Parliament. This is something the Supreme Court hadn't previously recognized, so the case created an important legal precedent.
Only extremely narrow limits can be imposed on Parliament's freedom of speech and guardrails that hadn't previously existed have been constructed."
Learn more about this issue by reading Professor Alford's newly released book, "By Authority of Parliament: The Constitutional Boundaries of Legislative Power in Canada," published by McGill Queen's University Press.
Lakehead University has appointed Dr. Rhonda Koster as Deputy Provost, Academic Affairs, a new role within the Office of the Provost.
“In this role, Dr. Koster will provide close strategic and operational support while working collaboratively with academic units across the University to advance institutional academic priorities and initiatives,” says Dr. Gillian Balfour, Provost and Vice-President (Academic).
Dr. Koster will continue to support the Provost’s portfolio by overseeing academic program quality and advancing excellence in teaching and learning across the university. She’ll also lead several strategic academic priorities identified in the university’s strategic plan, such as the integration of GenAI in teaching and learning, strengthening academic integrity, expanding college transfer pathways and partnerships, and developing a continuing education framework.
Dr. Koster’s connection to Lakehead spans two decades. Joining the School of Outdoor Recreation in 2004, she spent 8 years as a faculty member before transitioning to the director role in 2012. Since then, she’s held other leadership roles across the university, including Graduate Coordinator of the Master of Environmental Science in Nature-based Recreation Tourism (MES-NBRT) program, Director of the Instructional Development Centre, Assistant Dean and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, and, since 2019, Deputy Provost and Vice-Provost (Teaching and Learning).
“I want to express my gratitude to Dr. Balfour and everyone involved in the search process,” says Dr. Koster. “The feedback shared by colleagues truly means the world to me and I am excited to take on the expanded role of the Deputy Provost Academic Affairs. Lakehead’s commitment to academic excellence, collaborative governance, and meaningful reconciliation is something I am incredibly proud to be a part of. I look forward to continuing to work with our fantastic faculty and staff to support our students and drive our institutional priorities forward.”
Beyond her leadership roles, Dr. Koster has made significant contributions to university governance through service on Senate committees and academic working groups. She’s championed academic excellence through a strong focus on program quality and curriculum development. She’s been a driving force behind teaching and learning innovation, providing leadership to the Instructional Development Centre and Teaching Commons. In these roles, she’s supported faculty development in areas such as accessibility, inclusive pedagogy, and emerging issues such as generative artificial intelligence in education.
“We are confident that Dr. Koster’s expertise, sound judgment, and commitment to academic excellence will continue to serve the University well in this role,” Dr. Balfour says.
Dr. Koster will begin her role on July 1, 2026.
Orillia, Ont. - Lakehead Orillia will celebrate the achievements of graduating students at its Orillia campus convocation ceremony on June 3, 2026.
Lakehead University will celebrate graduating students during its 2026 convocation ceremonies in Thunder Bay and Orillia, while also recognizing distinguished Canadians and community leaders whose contributions have had a lasting impact on education, Indigenous knowledge, public service, arts and culture, advocacy, and community development.
“Crossing the convocation stage signifies not just the conclusion of a chapter—it represents a transformation,” said President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Gillian Siddall. “During their time at Lakehead, our graduates have developed their knowledge, confidence, and resilience. The entire university community is honoured to celebrate their achievements and to be a part of their journey. Congratulations to the class of 2026!”
In addition to celebrating the graduating class of 2026, Lakehead will recognize The Right Honourable David Johnston with an honorary degree and honour Paul Weber with the title of Fellow of the University, as well Luana Dawn Shirt will receive the Civitas Award, recognizing their contributions to education, Indigenous knowledge, public service, arts and culture, and community leadership.
“The Lakehead community is proud to recognize the work and dedication of this year’s honorary degree recipients, fellows, and Civitas recipient,” said Dr. Siddall. “Each has made meaningful contributions to their communities and professions, and their stories will inspire our graduates as they move forward into the future.”
The Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C.
Doctor of Education
The Right Honourable David Johnston was Canada’s 28th governor general. During his mandate, he established the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), a registered charity that supports and amplifies the Office of the Governor General in its work to connect, honour and inspire Canadians. Today, he is actively involved as Chair of the RHF Board of Directors. In 2018, he was appointed Colonel to the Royal Canadian Regiment.
Prior to his installation as governor general, Rt. Hon. Johnston was a professor of law for 45 years, and served as President of the University of Waterloo and as Principal of McGill University. He was president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec. He was the first non-U.S. citizen to be elected chair at Harvard University’s Board of Overseers from which he graduated in 1963 magna cum laude, and was twice named all-American in hockey and was named to Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Rt. Hon. Johnston holds degrees from Harvard, Cambridge and Queen’s and has received more than three dozen honorary degrees or fellowships. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 books. He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1997. He has chaired or served on several dozen provincial and federal task forces and committees, and has served on the boards of more than a dozen public companies. He has been married for 61 years to Sharon, and they have five daughters and 14 grandchildren.
The degree of Doctor of Education will be conferred on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m.
Paul Weber
Fellow of the University
An entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, Paul Weber has built a reputation for turning bold ideas into high-performing, customer-driven businesses. Paul is the former owner of the landmark Webers Drive-In Restaurant on Highway 11, one of the most popular food stops on the drive from Toronto to cottage country.
Paul’s leadership extends beyond business success. He has played a significant role in advancing community innovation and engagement across Simcoe County and beyond. As Campaign Chair and Board Member for Kempenfelt Bay School in Barrie, he led efforts to raise $1.5 million and helped secure financing for a JK–Grade 12 private school in Innisfil, which opened in 2017. In 2019, he successfully secured a $2.5 million gift from the County of Simcoe for the Barrie YMCA Capital Campaign.
In 2008, Paul accepted the role of chair for Lakehead University’s Your Bright Future campaign, leading a $30 million capital campaign to build the Orillia Campus. Paul took on the role with passion, energy and professionalism. He demonstrated a strong commitment to the vision for Lakehead University and the campus development in Orillia. He knew the potential for far-reaching economic, social, and environmental benefits and often commented that it was truly one of the best things to have happened in the community.
Through Paul’s considerable time, talent and energy, Lakehead developed a wide range of community partners, supporters and donors. Paul was instrumental in enhancing Lakehead University’s ability to meet a critical and growing community need in the region.
The title of Fellow of the University will be bestowed on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m.
Luana Dawn Shirt
Civitas Award
Luana Dawn Shirt is a Plains Cree (nehiyaw)–anishinaabekwe. Her roots are in Treaty Six Territory with the Saddle Lake Band, Alberta. She grew up among the Great Lakes Anishinaabek (Ojibwe Nation) and Haudenosaunee Nation, and for the last 13 years has made Williams Treaty Territory (Simcoe County) her home. She is a mother of two incredible young adults.
Her commitment to Indigenous education is rooted in family legacy. Her parents were visionary leaders in urban Indigenous education and founders of the Wandering Spirit Survival School in Toronto—the first urban Indigenous school in Canada.
For over a decade, Luana has been a consistent and generative presence in Simcoe County, offering cultural teachings, ceremony, and community support that connect Indigenous peoples and their allies to land, language, and ancestral ways of knowing. Across Ontario she has collaborated with community organizations and post-secondary institutions, weaving Indigenous worldviews into diverse learning environments.
From 2013 to 2016, Luana coordinated the Berry Fast Project for the Orillia Native Women’s Group, delivering rite-of-passage programming for Indigenous girls and their families. She serves as a Cultural Support Worker and Knowledge Carrier for Ontario’s anti-human trafficking training initiatives, and she is an Advisory Member of the Centre for Combating Child Sex Trafficking and Online Sexual Exploitation at Toronto Metropolitan University, contributing Indigenous knowledge and perspective to research and policy focused on protecting children and families.
Luana’s contributions to Simcoe County and beyond reflect a lifelong commitment to reciprocity, cultural continuity, and profound care for community. Whether in ceremony, the classroom, or the circle, she brings her Indigenous Way of Life to foster healing, belonging, and connection to the land.
The Civitas Award will be presented on Wednesday, June 3 at 10 a.m.
Hello Lakehead community,
We have some exciting sustainability updates and opportunities to share with students, faculty, staff, and alumni this week!
Our Community Garden Has a New Name!
At a recent Elders Council meeting, the Elders agreed on a meaningful name for our campus community garden, beautifully suggested by Elder Sheila De Corte: Mama Aki Miijim, which translates to "Mother Earth Food" in Anishinaabemowin.
Miigwech to the Elders Council for guiding us with this gift as we head into the planting season.
Over 30+ Garden Plots Still Available
Want to grow your own fresh produce this summer at Mama Aki Miijim? We still have over 30 garden plots left, and we encourage everyone to register before they fill up! Register today at https://drive.google.com/file/d/1paTq56jtb9bf3yzX0tt1g-suP822FviZ/view.
Who can rent? Anyone! Students, staff, faculty, alumni, and broader community members or organizations are all welcome.
How to Reserve Your Plot:
The LUSU Bike Shack is Open for the Season!
Whether you need to tune up your ride or want to get into cycling after our recent campus rides, the LUSU-operated Bike Shack is here to help. Dedicated to making cycling safe, affordable, and accessible, the Bike Shack offers:
Find out more about the Bike Shack's services and hours here and here.
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.
