Are you recycling your office supplies? Now you can!

Save your used office supplies and recycle them on designated days.

On October 2, from 11 a.m. to 1 pm, and October 3, 1 pm to 3 p.m., students, faculty and staff can drop off their office supplies, as well as electronic waste (e-waste) at the designated station in the Agora. This event is supported by the Office of Sustainability, Engineers without Borders - Lakehead Chapter, and Physical Plant.

Accepted items for office supply:

• Binder Clips and Fasteners

• Binders

• Card Filers

• Correction Supplies

• Desk Organizers

• Label Backing

• Markers

• Paper Cutters

• Paperclips

• Pens

• Staplers

• Tape Dispensers

Not accepted: wooden pencils, lithium ion batteries, oil based paints, pressurized canisters, light bulbs. 

These materials will be recycled into new products courtesy of Terra Cycle. The collected items are "mechanically and/or manually separated into metals, fibers, and plastics. Metals are melted so they may be recycled. The fibers (such as paper or wood-based products) are recycled or composted. The plastics undergo extrusion and pelletization to be molded into new recycled plastic products."

Accepted items for E-waste

• Computers and Laptops: Desktops, laptops, tablets, monitors, keyboards, mice, and external hard drives.

• Small Audio/Video Equipment.

• Cell Phones and Smartphones: Including all accessories like chargers and batteries.

• Small Electronics: Calculators, cameras, e-readers, gaming consoles, and small appliances.

While recycling is an important way to divert waste, always consider where you can reduce your purchase and use of these items first.

 Questions can be emailed to lpmckell@lakeheadu.ca

Join us on a sustainability walk this Earth Day. The walk will take us through various sustainability-related features on campus and off the beaten path. So dress for the weather and wear shoes for hiking! 

Meet in front of the Braun Building rain garden - across from the library. The walk is 1.5 hrs. 

Thunder Bay faculty, staff, and students are invited to participate in our Campus Beautification Days as we encourage our Lakehead community to spend some time outdoors with peers and colleagues while lending a hand to spruce up our campus. This year, we are collaborating with Spring Up To Clean Up.

On May 13, from 9-1 pm we will work together to pick up litter across campus. Litter pickers, gloves, and trash bags are provided.

On May 14, from 9-1 pm we will work together to tidy our gardens of debris and trash.

Departments and individuals are encouraged to sign up ahead of time, but drop-ins are welcome. Registration is available via google form. While bringing your own garden gloves and trowels is appreciated, it's not mandatory. 

Location and Amenities:

Look for our welcome table outside the Chancellor Paterson Library, where you'll find all the necessary supplies. Light refreshments will be provided.

Volunteers are welcome to participate anytime between 9 am to 1 pm each day. Check out our registration form for further details: Departmental and Individual Registration.

As an initiative supported by Lakehead’s Wellness Strategy, the Office of Sustainability invites you to take the TBay On the Move Active Commute Challenge this June and win great prizes! 

For the month of June, hundreds of employees across Thunder Bay will swap their vehicle and cycle, walk, run, bus, carpool, rollerblade, telecommute, or even paddle their way to work! Any form of active transportation counts.

Join us in the Agora on June 2, at 11:30-1:30 pm, grab a snack and a beverage, and register for the Active Commute Challenge! We can answer your questions, help you register, and give you a midday boost.

Registration is open--when registering please select or enter Lakehead University as your workplace.

Any employee who logs at least one commute where they did not drive alone will be entered to win a prize. Anyone who registers prior to June 1st and logs an active commute during the first week of the challenge will be entered into a draw to win 1 of 5 early bird prizes including a bike tune-up or a $100 gift card from local bike shop. Winners with the most kilometres travelled will receive a $100 gift card.

Earth Day LU Campus Clean Up

April 22, 2026

12-4 pm - Join anytime in that window

• Join us to 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

Please note: This is NOT the same event as Tbay on the Move Active Commute Challenge. This event is for Orillia Only.

Register for Commuter Challenge And Help The Environment and Your Wellness

Lakehead's Office of Sustainability is encouraging you to take the Commuter Challenge this June!

Commuter Challenge is a friendly, national competition that encourages daily commuters to choose sustainable modes of transportation for the benefit of their health and the environment. 

From June 1 – June 7,  employees across Canada will cycle, walk, run, bus, carpool, or telecommute their way to work.  

Register now and put Lakehead in the lead! Please remember to enter Lakehead University as your workplace.

Save the Date!

The Active Commute Challenge (ACC) is a community initiative that takes place during the month of June, where participants replace car trips with sustainable commuting options like walking, biking, taking the bus, jogging, rollerblading, or carpooling. By signing up, you’ll be part of a workplace team and compete against others across the City and District. You’ll track your commutes, watch your team’s progress, and climb the leaderboard for a chance to win great prizes! Joining the ACC is a great way to improve your health and reduce your environmental impact. The average adult spends 9.6 hours a day being sedentary, but by switching to a sustainable commute, you can break that cycle and help meet the recommended 150 minutes of physical activity per week.

 https://tbayonthemove.ca/

• Learn about the basics of heat pump technology

• Explore the Canadian energy rebates available today

• Speak with local residents who have installed heat pumps in their homes

• Visit service provider booths to learn more about the heat pump services they provide

• Enjoy free refreshments

Speakers

Danielle Thom

Danielle is a passionate environmentalist with a background in biology. Since receiving her undergraduate degree from the University of Waterloo, she has worked in various fields including urban forestry, water conservation, waste management, and science communications. She currently works for the City of Thunder Bay where she oversees the implementation of the Net-Zero Strategy as the Climate Action Specialist. Outside of work, Danielle likes to dabble in activities that keep her outdoors. On her days off she has been known to enjoy open water swimming, great lakes surfing, cross-country skiing, biking, and hiking!

John Stephenson

John Stephenson is a principal at FormStudio Architects (Thunder Bay) and a past president of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), with extensive experience with housing, and care and treatment projects that cross the full continuum of care for seniors. During over 40 years practicing architecture John has developed a strong focus in the design, development and ownership of independent living, retirement living, supportive housing, long term care and mental health rehabilitation projects. Stephenson’s portfolio also includes heritage studies, restoration, and adaptive reuse of heritage buildings, as well as educational, cultural, and commercial building projects in Northwestern Ontario, and includes a growing portfolio of work with indigenous communities across Ontario. All this work has been guided by a strong focus on low energy and low carbine design approaches. Over the past eight years John has also been active in advocating for an Architecture Policy for Canada working with the Rise for Architecture committee of ROAC, the Regulatory Organisations for Architecture in Canada. This advocacy work is focused on embedding into policy, issues of the broader public interest in architecture that intersect with concerns for the health and wellness of people and the planet.

Richard Clark

Registered Energy Advisor

Join us for Campus Beautification Days 2024, an immersive opportunity to enhance our shared environment and foster a stronger sense of community within Lakehead Thunder Bay. Taking place on September 20th, 2024 from 11 am to 2 pm, this event invites Lakehead employees and students to embrace the beauty of nature while collaborating with colleagues and friends to rejuvenate our campus.

Activities Include:

• Tidying up our gardens.
• Collecting debris.
• Revitalizing our courtyards.

By participating, you contribute to the creation of a clean and inviting campus environment. Whether you're a seasoned gardener or just eager to lend a helping hand, your presence will make a difference.

How to Participate:

Departments and individuals are encouraged to sign up in advance, though drop-ins are warmly welcomed anytime each day of the event. While bringing your own garden gloves and trowels is appreciated, it's not mandatory. Register via our >>> Google Form <<<.

Location and Amenities:

Look for our welcome table outside the Chancellor Paterson Library, where you'll find all the necessary supplies. Light refreshments will be provided.