LivingWorks safeTALK is an in-person workshop where you’ll learn how to be more alert to someone thinking of suicide, how to reach out to them, and how to help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support.

safeTALK teaches participants to recognize and engage persons who might be having thoughts of suicide and connect them with community resources trained in suicide intervention. Using a simple yet effective model, Living Works safeTALK empowers everyone to make a difference. With over 120,000 people attending each year, it's the fastest-growing suicide prevention skills training course.

Most people with thoughts of suicide invite help to stay safe. Alert helpers know how to use these opportunities to support that desire for safety. As a safeTALK-trained suicide alert helper, you will be better able to:

• Move beyond common tendencies to miss, dismiss or avoid suicide;
• Identify people who have thoughts of suicide; and
• Apply the TALK steps (Tell, Ask, Listen and KeepSafe) to connect a person with suicide thoughts to suicide first aid, intervention caregivers.

The fee includes: a resource book and a certificate, a safeTALK Resource Kit with a printed wallet card and of the TALK steps and two reusable stickers identifying the participant’s willingness and ability to help. Registration is restricted to the first 25 participants.

Who can participate:

safeTALK training is available to the general public. No previous mental health training or experience required. This training may be particularly beneficial for individuals who regularly work with or support others. (teachers, librarians, social service workers, community volunteers, those working with vulnerable populations, etc.).
Must be 16 years old to participate.

Details:

In LivingWorks safeTALK you will learn how to reach out to someone thinking about suicide and help them keep safe by promptly connecting them to further support. Your role as a connector is the main focus of this training, which features:

• Trainer presentations, facilitated discussion, and skills practice
• Videos that illustrate what happens when signs of suicide are overlooked, and how you can contribute to safe outcomes when these signs are heard and addressed
• Opportunities to further explore organizational applications of the training
• A community resource person will be on hand at the workshop to support your safety and comfort.

Are you interested in learning more about how to grow your own food both indoors and outdoors? If so, this fully online lecture series is for you! The Grow Your Own Series, as heard last year on CBC's Ontario Morning with Mary Ito, had a successful first run in the summer of 2025. Take advantage of our competitive pricing and explore various concepts, ranging from physical science to design and creative innovation, with an overarching goal of empowering participants to grow their own food within the context of a changing Canadian climate.

You can opt to participate synchronously or asynchronously to fit your lifestyle and schedule! You will receive a copy of the live recording, the lecture content as a PDF, as well as a suggested reading list for all purchased lectures. Lectures can be purchased individually or as a package. The first 3 lectures are recommended to serve as background context for the subsequent classes but are not required.

This series was created by Eriel Strauch, who is currently completing an MSc in Biology at Lakehead University in Orillia. Eriel has an HBASc in Environmental Sustainability and over five years of experience working in science communication, as well as spearheading or contributing to various community outreach projects. She is passionate about science education and improving local food security and sustainability throughout Canada.

Join us as we tour the farm, greenhouse, and shop and learn about agriculture at Rama

There will be time for refreshments, a taste of the farm, and networking will follow the tour.

Stopping to shop at various local businesses is an added bonus!

Celebrate Earth Day!

Explore community vendors, enjoy family-friendly activities and take a tour of the Indigenous Garden any time between 4-6pm.

At 6:00pm settle in for a screening of WorkCabin’s documentary Saving the Night Caller, which follows conservation efforts to protect the elusive and enchanting Eastern Whip-poor-will. The film will be followed by a discussion on local conservation work and community action, led by Mark Bisset.

Date(s): Wednesdays, April 29, May 6, May 13, May 27, June 3 (*NOTE: no lecture on May 20th)
Time: 10:00 am - 12:00 pm
Place:  In-person or Live-streamed at St. Paul's Centre in Orillia
Price:  $80 +HST for the whole 5 lecture series; $20 +HST for a single talk.

Discover the joy of lifelong creativity in this inspiring Spring 2026 lecture series with Third Age Learning Lakehead (TALL).

Why do we engage with the arts? Simply put: because it makes us happy. This series explores how connecting with music, visual art, theatre, literature, and creative expression can deepen life satisfaction at every stage of life. Drawing on research, personal reflection, and real-world examples, we’ll look at how the arts enrich our emotional well-being, strengthen community, and bring meaning to our everyday experiences.

Whether you’re a lifelong arts enthusiast or someone curious about where to begin, these sessions will offer practical, welcoming ways to get involved—no experience required. Learn how to rekindle old passions, discover new creative outlets, and integrate the arts into your life in ways that are accessible, fulfilling, and fun.

Come as you are, and leave inspired to create, connect, and thrive.

Please bring your own mug to enjoy a hot beverage during the intermission. Alternatively, TALL branded travel mugs will be available for purchase for $5 (cash only).
If you are unable to attend the lectures in person, a link will be sent to all registered participants for viewing from the comfort of your own places and spaces! Be sure to invite folks in your network, near and far!

Plus: Enjoy a FREE Lecture on April 27th, celebrating the President’s 60th Anniversary Public Lecture Series from 5:30-7:30pm on the Thunder Bay Campus or via livestream.  Register for this lecture here.

The Ontario Master Naturalist Program (OMNP) is a community program established by Lakehead University Orillia in partnership with Ontario Nature. The first of its kind in Canada, the OMNP provides naturalists and those interested in nature and environmental stewardship the opportunity to broaden their knowledge and expertise of the natural world through formal training and guidance. The Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate Program is aimed at naturalists and those dedicated to environmental stewardship, empowering them to learn and share knowledge of the natural world, and engage as stewards of their local ecosystems and resources.

Since 2015, the Ontario Master Naturalist Program has expanded to include participant workshops and certificate program offerings in Thunder Bay and the Bruce Peninsula.

The Ontario Master Naturalist Certificate Program is aimed at naturalists and those dedicated to environmental stewardship, empowering them to learn and share knowledge of the natural world and engage as stewards of their local ecosystems and resources.

The Spring 2026 program includes eight learning modules taught in a hybrid model, including interactive videos and PowerPoints created for the program, virtual learning resources, a virtual trailhead meeting space, and weekly Zoom webinars with the program's content experts. The eight learning modules are as follows: Geology & Anthropology, Mammals, Plants, Birds, Reptiles & Amphibians, Wetlands, Invasive Species, and Insects.

While this program does include live weekly Zoom webinars, it can also be completed asynchronously. The weekly webinars are recorded and posted to the online course site, allowing for learners to go back and review the recordings on their own time.

Participants will receive a certificate of participation after successfully completing eight modules that combine in-class (virtual) instruction and fieldwork.

The Ontario Benthos Biomonitoring Network (OBBN) is an aquatic macroinvertebrate biomonitoring network for Ontario’s lakes, streams, and wetlands. This course covers biomonitoring theory, sampling methods, benthic-invertebrate identification, and bioassessment calculations. The training is recommended for anyone interested in using benthic macroinvertebrates to monitor streams or lakes using provincially standardized methods. Participants demonstrating proficiency are awarded a certificate of network membership.

In this 7-week online version of the OBBN starting April 29, 2026, you can expect to learn content independently, as well as with an instructor and class group in Zoom meetings. We will meet weekly on Wednesdays at 7 pm via Zoom. This is designed to help make the course more accessible to students outside of Thunder Bay or professionals with busy working schedules. Content on the OBBN protocols and theory will be provided with detailed video tutorials, the OBBN manual, live discussions, and online exercises. Benthic identification will be taught through a combination of independent hands-on projects, video tutorials and exercises that utilise digital vouchers of benthic specimens. There are taxa in the 27 groups that form the minimum taxonomic precision permitted in the OBBN.

The majority of video tutorials were recorded and provided by the OBBN’s former scientific and administrative lead, Dr. Chris Jones. The proficiency of participants is assessed with tests and exercises. Participants who successfully complete the course are recognized as certified OBBN members.

Join the County of Simcoe and Lakehead University on Tuesday, March 31 at Horseshoe Valley Resort, 9:00AM – 12:00PM for an interactive workshop designed to give organizations tools to embed Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Accessibility (EDIA) principles into everyday work practices.

Through guided discussion, practical exercises, and collaborative breakout sessions, participants will explore how to integrate EDIA into strategic plans, policies, procedures, and workplace culture.

This session is ideal for leaders, contributors, teams, and partners who are committed to strengthening human‑rights‑focused, inclusive organizational growth.