Tracey Nieckarz (BA'89/HBA'90), a partner at the law firm Buset LLP, has been named a judge of the Superior Court of Justice in Thunder Bay.  Her appointment was announced by Justice Minister Jody Wilson-Raybould.  

Justice Nieckarz replaces Madam Justice H.M. Pierce, who retired from her full-time position to become a part-time judge last year.

Nieckarz was born in Liverpool, U.K. and raised in Thunder Bay. She graduated from Lakehead University before earning her law degree from York University in 1993.

She practised in Thunder Bay for her entire legal career, joining Buset LLP in 2001.  In recent years she focused primarily on family law, including representing children through the Office of the Children's Lawyer.  

The Fleming College Board of Governors is pleased to announce that Maureen Adamson has been selected as the college’s sixth president.

This appointment marks several firsts for the college. Maureen is the first Fleming alumni to lead the college, as well as the first female and the first person originally from Peterborough to hold the position.

Ms. Adamson has 25 years of progressive leadership experience in the postsecondary, healthcare, government and not-for-profit sectors. She holds an MBA from the Rotman School of Management at the University of Toronto, a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Lakehead University and a diploma in Business Administration from Fleming College and is an accredited Director with the Institute of Corporate Directors, Canada.

She was most recently the Deputy Minister of Tourism, Culture, and Sport for the government of Ontario, a 900-employee organization that is responsible for all policy and programming, accountable for the oversight of 20 agencies and attractions such as the Ontario Media Development Corp, Ontario Place, the Art Gallery of Ontario and the Royal Ontario Museum. She also established the first ever Ministry of the Status of Women in Ontario and held the position of Deputy Minister of the Status of Women.

In the postsecondary education sector, Ms. Adamson was the President and Chief Executive Officer of the Michener Institute which is devoted to applied health sciences education and a leading academic partner for the healthcare system in Ontario. She also held the position of Vice-President, Corporate Services at Mohawk College.

From 2011 to 2014, Maureen was the CEO of Cystic Fibrosis Canada, responsible for transformational leadership, strategy, fundraising, advocacy, innovation and research, and clinical investments.

Maureen succeeds Dr. Tony Tilly who will end his 14-year tenure as Fleming’s president on June 29.

The Ledcor Group of Companies, a leading Canadian diversified construction and industrial operations company, today announced the appointment of Don Quan as President, Ledcor Resources and Transportation.  

“On behalf of the Board, I am pleased to announce that Don Quan has been appointed as President, Ledcor Resources and Transportation,” said Dave Lede, Chairman and CEO of the Ledcor Group.  “Don will manage Ledcor’s ongoing operations and expansion into the forestry, biomass and marine and aviation transportation sectors.”

As President, Ledcor Resources & Transportation, Don will oversee Ledcor’s Resources and Transportation division, which includes Forestry, Marine, and Aviation services (Summit Air and Summit Helicopters).

Don joined Ledcor in 2012 as Director, Solid Wood Operations, Resources and Transportation.  Five years later, he became Chief Operating Officer of the Forestry and Marine divisions.  Don is a chartered accountant, and over the past 25 years has worked primarily in the forestry industry. His past positions were with both public and private enterprises and the roles varied from finance to senior operating positions.  

Don holds a Bachelor of Business Administration from Lakehead University.

Andrea Tarsitano (HBComm '01) has permanently taken on the role of Vice-Provost Students & Registrar at Lakehead University.  Having served as the Acting Vice-Provost (Student Affairs), alongside her existing role as Associate Vice-Provost Enrolment & Registrar, the transition to her new role best addresses the needs of the students and the future direction of the University.

Kutcho Copper Corporation is pleased to announce the appointment of Sue Craig (MSc. 1991) as Vice President of Community & Environment. 

As a highly-respected professional geoscientist, Ms. Craig has worked in British Columbia and Yukon for over 25 years on projects from the exploration and development stage to construction, production and mine closure. Ms. Craig's experience includes work with publicly-listed mining companies, Territorial and Federal Governments, First Nations and industry associations.

Ms. Craig successfully led the Environmental Assessment process for NovaGold's Galore Creek project in 2006 and played a key role in establishing the Participation Agreement with the Tahltan Nation. She was co-recipient of the inaugural 2007 Robert R. Hedley Award, presented by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia ("AME"), for her "excellence in social and environmental responsibility" on the Galore Creek project. From 2013 to 2016, Ms. Craig was the Director of Government and Community Relations for Aurico Gold as the Kemess Underground Project entered the Environmental Assessment Process. Ms. Craig first collaborated with a First Nation to implement a Socio-Economic Accord related to a mining project in Yukon in 1995, one of the first of these types of agreements in Canada.

In 2016, Ms. Craig was recognized by AME for her "exceptional meritorious service to the Mineral Exploration Community" with the Gold Pan Award. She has served as the Chair of AME Mineral Exploration Roundup, as well as a Board Member of AME, and is currently a Director of Yukon Energy Corporation and President of the Yukon Chamber of Mines. She has received a number of awards recognizing her contributions toward environmental stewardship and sustainable development, and was the recipient of the 2017 Canadian Women in Mining Trailblazer award.

Dr. Marc Jerry (MA - Economics, '95) has been appointed the ninth President of Luther College at the University of Regina and Luther College High School.

Jerry is currently a faculty member and past lead/co-chair of the Business Baccalaureate Degree Development Team at the Donald School of Business at Red Deer University.

Before that, he was academic dean at St. Andrew's Theological College and Seminary in Richmond, Va., and associate professor and business department chair at the Bissett School of Business at Mount Royal University.

He also has served as pastor at the Good Shepherd Lutheran Church in Red Deer for six years and on the ELCIC National Church Council for four years.

Dr. Jerry will begin the position on July 1st, 2020.

Dave Simourd (nee Sliz) (MA’86) a proud LU Alumni was recently inducted as a Fellow of the Canadian Psychological Association (CPA) for his Distinguished Contribution to the discipline of Psychology. He also received the CPA Criminal Justice section Significant Contribution Award for his 2018 co-authored book with Dr. C. Tafrate and Dr. D. Mitchell entitled ‘CBT for Justice-Involved Clients’.

Dave has a private practice in Kingston, Ontario and resides with his wife Linda Simourd (MA’87).

Claudette McGowan (BA'17) was recently named by Digital Finance Institute (DFI) as one of Canada's Top 50 Women in Fintech for 2019. Over 400 women were recommended to the Digital Finance Institute by various stakeholders in the industry during the institute’s outreach phase. The women who were ultimately selected and included in this list were selected based on their leadership, vision, and innovation, engagement and impact, in addition to their commitment to growing and supporting the FinTech community.

Currently CIO, Enterprise Technology Employee Experience at BMO Financial Group, McGowan leads a team of information technology professionals in bringing new workplace solutions to global offices. Her passion for technology led to the creation of BMO’s Women in Technology Program. 

The Ontario Historical Society (OHS) is pleased to announce that Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu (HBA'01, MA'03) of Thunder Bay has been elected at the 131st Annual General Meeting of the as the new President of the Society.

A member of the OHS Board of Directors since 2013, Beaulieu holds a BA (Honours), BEd, and MA in history from Lakehead University. He obtained his PhD in History from Queen’s University. A Professor of History and Chair of the Department of History at Lakehead University and an Associate of the L.R. Wilson Institute of Canadian History, he has long been involved in the historical and heritage community provincially and nationally.

Beaulieu is currently the President of the Champlain Society, Vice-President of the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society, a member of the Multicultural History Society of Ontario’s board of directors, and a long-time member of the executive of the Archives Association of Ontario’s Northwestern Ontario Archivists’ Association. Beaulieu also serves on Lakehead University’s Board of Governors. In April 2017 he was appointed as the Honorary Lieutenant Colonel of the Lake Superior Scottish Regiment.

Beaulieu is taking over from Caroline Di Cocco. “Personally, and on behalf of the Board of Directors and members, I would like to thank and extend best wishes to former President, now Past President, Caroline Di Cocco, and acknowledge her many contributions and dedication to the preservation and promotion of Ontario’s rich history and heritage.”

“It has also been a pleasure working with departing Board members Ross Fair (Toronto), Carolyn King (Hagersville), Ian Radforth (Toronto), and Joe Stafford (Kingston). I would like to welcome new Board members Laura Suchan (Oshawa), Eric L. Payseur (Ottawa), and Nora Sawyer (Alderville First Nation).”

“I look forward to working with the Government of Ontario on behalf of our over 850 affiliated societies, member organizations, and member institutions that have played a key role in the cultural sector’s $25 billion contribution to the economy, a growth of 23% since 2010, and one which has outpaced the growth of some of Ontario’s largest sectors.”

Northern Lights Aero Foundation announces 2019 award winners

TORONTO – The Northern Lights Aero Foundation today announced the 2019 winners of its annual “Elsie” award, honouring Canadian women who have made outstanding contributions to aviation and aerospace.

“Our goal is to bring more recognition to women doing incredible work in aviation and aerospace in Canada,” says Joy Parker Blackwood, president of the Northern Lights Aero Foundation. “This year’s winners are all role models for the next generation of women in these industries.”

Named after aviation pioneer and human rights advocate Elsie Gregory MacGill, the award recognizes eight women across seven categories: business, education, engineering, flight operations, government, pioneer and rising star.

Rising Star: Dr. Joelle Thorgrimson (MD'17) is a pilot, physician, physicist and future flight surgeon. She holds degrees in astrophysics, quantum computing and medicine, and has completed her private pilot’s license. Upon completion of her medical residency, she will be posted in Cold Lake, Alberta, where she will complete her flight surgeon training and work as a medical officer with the goal of pursuing aerospace medicine.