As the Coronavirus emptied out the streets in the Finnish city of Espoo, sidewalk life became less vibrant.

But that changed in one neighbourhood in the city of nearly 300,000 when a red, six-foot-tall T-Rex dinosaur arrived on the scene.

Representatives from Lakehead University and the Northern Ontario School of Medicine (NOSM) have collected hundreds of boxes of personal protective equipment (PPE) for health care providers in Thunder Bay, throughout Northern Ontario, and Orillia – to help alleviate a shortage caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Gia Spiropoulos is a natural born leader and a serious threat on the basketball court. “My dad got me hooked on the sport,” explains the Lakehead Orillia graduate student from Belleville, Ontario. “When I was a kid, we used to play together.”

Christopher Britt doesn’t consider himself a daredevil, but he jumps at the chance to go heli-skiing on in the mountains bordering Canada and Alaska and surfing in Bali. “My brain is always on, so skiing and surfing – or putting on my goalie gear – are meditative and peaceful for me,” he says. “Risk leads to increased focus.”

Being a kid isn't easy, and when everyday struggles are combined with challenging situations, a child's self-esteem can plummet. Matthew Chater, (BA’08, Psychology/BEd’08) the President & CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Canada, believes that having a mentor can help turn things around for young people.

A great time was had by all at the Lakehead Thunder Bay and Lakehead Orillia Homecoming Weekends!  It kicked off with the official opening of the new Alumni House, and ended with a fun 9-Hole golf tournament. 

For the Carlino siblings, Lakehead University became a home away from home, a place to learn how to learn, to meet new people and grow and push their limits while obtaining the skills needed to work in their desired careers and more!

A few years ago any international student arriving at Lakehead Orillia had a very different university experience than they do now.  Their homesickness was intensified because there were almost no other overseas students on campus.