The Alumni Association of Lakehead University has been honouring distinguished alumni since 1989 when the first Alumni Award was given. Each year, the Association presents awards to alumni in recognition of their significant personal accomplishments and contributions to the community.
Congratulations to the 2024 honourees!
Stan Nemec
Lakehead University Honorary Alumni Award
Stan Nemec was born in Fort William but spent his childhood in Port Arthur, just a few blocks from the Lakehead University campus. Having grown up in a home full of warmth, generosity, plenty of kids, and an open-door policy for friends in need, Stan’s personality reflects his parents’ friendly values. “I like when I can put a smile on someone’s face with a kind word or gesture,” he says.
As a long-time non-faculty employee of the university, Stan received a staff award in 2016 from Lakehead's president recognizing his exceptional service to the university community. And whether it’s on the clock or in his free time, service to the community is second nature for Stan. For over 40 years, he has volunteered with Thunder Bay Ground Operations, contributing his time and leadership to a wide range of memorable community events, including music festivals, marathons, aviation shows, ski-jumping competitions, curling championships, and strongman competitions, to name just a few.
Stan believes his success in life comes down to doing the best he can with the resources he has and making each day a good day. He would no doubt be the last person to agree with the pessimistic adage that “nice guys finish last”—Stan knows from experience that “an honest day’s work does pay off.”
“I’m very happy to have been nominated, and then accepted, by the Alumni Board for this very prestigious honour to become part of the Lakehead alumni family,” he says. He also expresses gratitude to the university community, administration, and all his colleagues in Printing and Mail Services for supporting his many initiatives, from holiday gatherings to summer barbecues and food bank drives.
As he contemplates to retirement, Stan is preparing to step down from his board position at the Fort William Curling Club. He looks forward to spending more time enjoying the outdoors and being with his friends and family.
To his fellow alumni and current Lakehead students, Stan enthusiastically recommends giving back to the community. “It is a great feeling of accomplishment when you can make another’s day just by lending a helping hand.”
Cathy Tuckwell
Lakehead University Honorary Alumni Award
Though she was born in Edmonton, Cathy Tuckwell’s family history is deeply connected to northern Ontario. “I have been coming to Thunder Bay to visit family and friends since I was wee,” she explains. In fact, her lineage is woven into the city’s roots—her paternal great-grandfather was a Fort William mayor.
This commitment to serving the local community runs in the family. It was exemplified by her parents, who encouraged Cathy and her brothers to volunteer as kids, sending them out to canvass neighborhoods for the United Way. “I encourage all alumni and students to volunteer in your communities,” she urges, adding that everyone has experience and expertise that local organizations need. And she points out that volunteering can be very rewarding on many levels. “In every volunteer activity I have ever done, I have always learned something that helped me develop skills that I was able to incorporate in my professional life.”
Today, Cathy carries on her family legacy of public service by serving on Lakehead University’s Board of Governors. Her time as a governor has opened her eyes to the immense effort involved in delivering a world-class university experience to students. That perspective shift—from former student to someone behind the scenes—was both jarring and enlightening. “'Holy cow,' I thought to myself, 'this is what it takes to provide that education?!'”
Reflecting on her service so far, Cathy is particularly proud of her role in the search for new Lakehead University leadership. “Our new president is off to a great start and we Governors look forward to supporting her efforts over the coming years.”
Cathy enjoys helping others, and attributes her success to a strong moral compass. “My main motivation is to do the right thing,” she says. She speaks with humility and inclusivity about those who help make Lakehead great, explaining that in her role as governor she’s helping to build a bright future for “all the people contributing to the delivery of higher education,” her careful words acknowledging not just faculty and students, but each staff member, community partner, donor, and volunteer. Cathy is committed to building a bright future for the entire Lakehead community.
Debra Woods, HBCom ’05
Lakehead University Legacy Alumni Award
Debra Woods’ life is a testament to the power of seizing opportunities and staying connected to your roots. Born and raised in Thunder Bay, she went on to attend Lakehead where she created many fond memories, from late-night “fake” contract negotiations in the Ryan Building to working on big projects with her peers.
After graduating from Lakehead, Debra moved to Calgary, which she has made her home. Despite her distance from Thunder Bay, Debra’s connection to Lakehead remains strong. After graduating, she stayed involved with her alma mater by helping establish the Calgary Chapter of the Alumni Association, joining the Alumni Board, and later serving on the Board of Governors. In these roles, she has been inspired by the university’s leaders, like former university president Dr. Moira McPherson, and recent Alumni Association president Yolanda Wanakamik, both of whom she describes as intelligent, eloquent, and embodying a passion for lifelong learning.
Debra, believes that her success comes from “hard work and putting myself out there.” She is passionate about connecting with others and leading teams, which has motivated her throughout her career.
Becoming a mother at a young age gave her the motivation and inspiration to push forward in her own journey. She views her daughter as one of her greatest achievements. “She’s a smart, hard-working, and confident woman,” Debra says.
In her downtime, Debra enjoys spending time with family and friends, typically over dinner and wine, and stays active with regular workouts. Looking to the future, her goals are to continue advancing her career and to travel as much as possible.
Debra has received encouragement and mentorship from many people along the way. However, she reflects that the biggest influence on her success has been her willingness to embrace new opportunities and take chances. Her advice to Lakehead students? “Enjoy your time, absorb all that you can, and make friends.”
John Bonofiglio, HBA’81
Lakehead University Alumni Award
Born and raised in eastern France, John Bonofiglio’s parents played a significant role in shaping the path of John’s life. Later, two Lakehead professors, Alain Nabarra and André Cloutier, were instrumental in his journey, mentoring him early in his university education. For over four decades he’s worked at Lakehead; he is currently the coordinator of Multimedia and Educational Technology Support Services.
While he was a student at Lakehead, John joined up with a fellow friend from France to create what was likely the first French student newspaper at Lakehead. The newspaper would go on to achieve significant success, support, and recognition.
During his time as a Lakehead employee, John particularly fondly remembers being part of the 2004 ATAC campaign fundraising team. The group, which also included former Lakehead Chancellor Arthur Mauro, as well as External Relations Director Bonnie Moore, collectively raised $300,000.
John, who describes himself as both friendly and compassionate, considers his finest achievements to be the kind that money can’t buy—namely, the respect he’s earned, and the friendships he’s forged with his fellow Lakehead campus community members. He attributes his success to the many ways that Lakehead has allowed him to get involved and stay challenged in positive ways, all of which keeps him motivated each day.
In his spare time, he enjoys traveling, taking evening walks with his wife during the summer months, going to the gym, and spending time with his family, children, and grandchildren. John also finds joy in landscaping projects. While he anticipates retiring soon, he hopes to remain engaged with Lakehead.
To current students, John offers this sage advice: “Venture, learn, and evolve with an open mind. Do not despair at failures, for they are the reason for personal and professional growth.”
Dick Henderson, BPHE ’73/BEd ’74/MEd ’86
Lakehead University Alumni Award
Reflecting on his childhood, Dick Henderson says, “I sometimes wonder if I have grown up.” His active and innovative mind, restless sleep, and early rising all attest to a vibrance often associated with youth. “It’s only by age that I feel I’ve grown up,” he says.
Dick credits his parents and sister Lynne with providing the foundation for his growth and development. His friends helped with the “informal” education he needed, and a series of influential teachers and, later, professors played a huge role in shaping his path. Lakehead’s own Dr. George Merrill, Dr. Jim Widdop, Susan Evans, Bonnie Benson, Dr. Gord Garvey, and Dr. George Osbourne made up part of what he calls “a wonderful family of professors.”
Dick enrolled at Lakehead in the summer of 1969. He fondly remembers the leadership opportunities he enjoyed, like being a “don” at the university residence, becoming president of the athletic society, and proctoring special events on campus, including a concert by Barry Manilow in the Fieldhouse. Along with a bachelor’s degree in health and physical education, he also received the President’s Award for student leadership at convocation—his proudest moment at Lakehead.
Graduation was a special achievement for Dick, as he had struggled with academics. He went on to complete a master’s degree in education at Lakehead, attending classes part-time while also being a father to three daughters, a husband to his wife Dona, teaching and coaching full time, and taking part in competitive curling. He praises the flexibility and accessibility Lakehead offered with its part-time degree program.
Dick enjoyed his career teaching in the Lakehead Public School system. “I don’t feel I worked a day in my life,” he says, adding that he’s been deeply motivated throughout life by what he dubs his 'mantra:' “The role of myself as teacher/coach is to help the students get along without me.” He adds, “You’ll have to ask them if I have been successful!”
He just celebrated the 50th reunion of his undergraduate class and he is keeping quite busy as a retiree. “It’s hard to believe that there was once time to also teach and coach,” he laughs, adding, “It’s been a beautiful life.”
Dick’s advice to current Lakehead students is to stay in touch with alumni groups after graduation. “The friends you make at Lakehead will be your friends for life,” he says. “Even if you are not in constant touch with them all, should your paths ever cross, you will fondly remember your days at Lakehead University.”
Therese Lim, HBScN ’91, BA ’93
Lakehead University Alumni Award
Though she was born in Vancouver, Therese Lim moved to Thunder Bay as a very young child and has spent most of her life in the Thunder Bay community. Early on, her mother was an important influence. “The example of a professional who balanced home, work, and motherhood certainly shaped my work ethic,” she notes. Her faith has also played a central role in her life.
While a student at Lakehead, Therese received a great deal of support from her professors, whom she says promoted professional pathways that have led to her becoming involved, and even take on leadership roles, at the local, provincial, and national levels of her professional nursing associations.
Therese is proud of having been the sole Canadian team member of the US/Canada Rotary Group Study Exchange Team to Taipei, Taiwan, in 2009, where she navigated her new environment using the Fujian language skills she learned as a child in conversation with her grandparents. She remembers surprising herself by successfully delivering a speech in Fujian to a crowd of 300 people. Professionally, she’s also proud to have played a significant role in efforts to transition three local hospitals from paper to electronic documentation.
In her spare time, Therese serves as board secretary of the Canadian Gerontological Nursing Association. She also enjoys reading fiction and cookbooks, baking, crafting, and travelling. With a lifelong appreciation of what she describes as “ceremony, decorum, and protocol,” she fondly remembers “the excitement of faintly hearing the opening strains of Pomp and Circumstance” at her first convocation and has loved attending graduations ever since. “The magic present amongst the graduates as they celebrate the culmination of their educational journey is very inspiring,” she says.
She’s passionate about volunteering, both to express her gratitude for the blessings in her life, and to satisfy the strong work ethic instilled in her from her childhood by her family. Each year she helps with Lakehead's convocation, and she is currently a St. Joseph’s Foundation board director, a Fort William Rotary Club member, and leads wedding rehearsals at St. Patrick's Cathedral. She advises Lakehead students to similarly donate their time and energy to good causes. “Your life becomes immeasurably richer in the connections made (connections that often become dear friends), the opportunities afforded you, and the experiences that lead to personal growth and enrichment.”
One last valuable piece of advice: Never turn down an opportunity just because it seems too daunting. “You will find the strength in you to accomplish great things.”
Jeff Moorley, BA ’10
Lakehead University Alumni Award
Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Jeff Moorley’s parents instilled a strong work ethic in him, to which he attributes his success in life—along with a good dose of what he calls “northwestern Ontario toughness.”
While at Lakehead, Jeff pursued a Bachelor of Arts in psychology. He vividly recalls being an undergraduate student in a time before wi-fi, carrying around a network cable to connect to the internet at the Chancellor Paterson Library.
Academically, he’s most proud of the two awards he received in 2010—the Dean Braun’s Medal, awarded to the graduating student with the highest academic standing in their program, and the Vice-Chancellor’s Medal, a similar honor for a three-year bachelor’s program.
It was his psychology professor Dr. Rupert Klein who sparked Jeff’s interest in the law, and Dr. Todd Dufresne, professor of philosophy, who inspired him to apply to law school. Now a personal injury lawyer, Jeff describes himself as dogged, and “an agent for good.” A partner at White Macgillivray Lester LLP in downtown Port Arthur, he’s currently dedicating his career to “helping people in northern Ontario recover what is owed to them from insurance companies.”
Jeff’s also been coaching the Lakehead mooting team since 2017. A moot court competition pits student groups against each other in a simulated court case. In 2021, he helped the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law students win the Ontario Trial Lawyers Association Cup.
When it comes to accomplishing great things, Jeff particularly lauds the value of a strong group effort, saying, “I’m constantly surprised by the power of a committed team to change our community.” He advises current Lakehead students to resist the lure of elsewhere, insisting the local region is a rich and supportive place in which to invest their time and energy. “You don’t need to look outside of northern Ontario,” he promises, “in order to have a successful and meaningful career.”
Farhan Yousaf, BEng ’21
Lakehead University Alumni Award
Born in Pakistan, Farhan Yousaf was raised in Qatar by supportive parents who encouraged him to embrace education and leadership opportunities from an early age.
Reflecting on his journey, Farhan considers his parents to be instrumental mentors who have played a pivotal role in shaping his career and life. He also credits the Lakehead community for shaping the person he is today. “I attribute my success to the Creator, the prayers and sacrifices of my parents, and the support of my friends and my team at LUSU,” he says.
Farhan fondly remembers the sense of belonging and connection he felt during his time at Lakehead. “Whether it was through student activities, working with the Lakehead University Student Union, or participating in campus events, I always felt like I was part of something bigger, making a difference,” he recalls.
This emphasis on collaboration and shared goals has become the cornerstone of his career, as he describes himself as “community-oriented.” He believes in working hard for what he believes in, while simultaneously supporting others along the way. “It’s the relationships we make and the teams we build that truly drive success,” he explains.
A passionate soccer player and coach, Farhan remains involved in community activities. His goals are to continue to contribute to community development through leadership and mentorship roles, and to work to expand opportunities for students and marginalized communities both within and beyond Lakehead. “I plan to keep pushing for positive inclusive change in any space I am part of,” he says.
He encourages current Lakehead students to make the most of their academic and extracurricular experience. “Build strong connections, find your passion, and give back when you can,” he says. “The support and network you build at Lakehead will be a foundation for your future success.”