Thunder Bay — Ceremony #1

Friday, June 2, 2017 (Afternoon)

Madame Chancellor.

Family.

Friends.

Faculty and staff.

Distinguished guests.

Graduands.

Today, we celebrate your achievements. Today, we celebrate your transformation. After years of work, years of thought and study, years of effort and success, and after times of tears and laughter, you will walk across the stage, shake the hand of our chancellor, and receive your degree or diploma.

You came to this university of one person. You leave as another.

Welcome to the next chapter of your life's journey.

Your education and experience at Lakehead has transformed you.

But the real magic happens when those who have been changed by our university have an impact on society.

Changed through learning is at the heart of education. Improving our community is at heart of service create Transforming our world is that the heart of citizenship.

You have been transformed, and, in turn, you will transform others.

You will change our world. You will make our world better.

As President of Lakehead University, I am continuously impressed by what can be accomplished when people from within the hour province, across our country, and around the world — with different beliefs, languages, and cultures — come here to learn, to teach, to work, and to live together.

We cannot help but be changed by that experience.

And by been changed — by exploring whole new worlds of knowledge — each of you, intern, can and will transform everything around us by going into the world and contributing to communities in your own unique ways.

I have seen you do remarkable things for those in need:

Our "Voice of Convocation" speaker, Leslie De Meulles, put aside a promising career as a senior public policy adviser because she felt compelled to tell help her citizens more directly by giving vulnerable people access to justice.

Every one of our medical students has lived and worked in the North, provide healthcare to remote communities and reserves that are coping with a lack of medical professionals and resources.

Mechanical engineering students, Evan Oulahen, Andreas Zailo, Alex Coulson, and Tyler Beckie took action against crime food shortages in isolated communities in northern Ontario. Under the guidance of the supervisor, Dr. Basel Ismail, they designed and award-winning hybrid solar-geothermal greenhouse so communities can grow their own food.

Graduands, you have all shown us that integrity and compassion are at the core of what it means to be a Lakehead University student.

Now you can show us what it is to be a Lakehead University alumni.

It is you who continue to build and contribute to Lakehead's proud reputation.

You have all proven that education is the most potent tool we can use to change ourselves and our communities, as well as to create a peaceful and prosperous society.

But while changer is at the heart of education, what does education actually do?

Education empowers.

Education empowers by opening our minds and opening doors.

Education empowers by leading us to more opportunities and choices.

And, education and powers by creating change-makers.

Graduands, you have been shaped by education and by your experience at Lakehead University.

You were challenged.

You were tested.

Now, you are transformed.

Congratulations, class of 2017!