“Students have taught me more lessons about myself than I ever could have expected,” says educator and Lakehead alum Heidi Warren.

One moment in particular stands out for her. She was trying to lead an elementary school class outside, but as she was hurrying the children along, a young student tried to get Heidi to stop. 

“I was feeling overwhelmed and rushed, and I said, ‘Come on, let’s go,’ and he started to cry. He wanted to show me this incredible picture of a rainbow and hearts that he’d drawn for me on the chalkboard.

Pictured left: “To keep planting seeds for meaningful change in education,” is Heidi’s mission. “I want to continue creating spaces where hearts and minds can grow (including my own).” Above is the chalk drawing created for her by her young student. 

I realized that I needed to take a breath, connect with that student, and look at his picture. It only took a moment, but it made a huge difference.”

Taking the time to build connections shapes Heidi’s approach to learning.

She’s currently on a secondment as a whole child coach with the First Nation School Board in Yukon. Her regular job is as the principal of the White River First Nation’s Nelnah Bessie John School in Beaver Creek, Yukon. 

“I want to support kids so that they thrive because when I was a student, sometimes I got support and sometimes I didn’t,” she says.

Embracing Community in the Arctic

Heidi spent much of her childhood in the Northwest Territories, including Fort McPherson and Inuvik.

Pictured right: Heidi received her Bachelor of Arts and Science and Bachelor of Education in 2010. She’s happy to be teaching in Yukon, where she spent part of her childhood. Right, she stands beside her mother who’s holding her little sister.

 “There’s no separation between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people in the north; we all lived in community together,” she says. 

“My parents taught me that we were visitors and that we should take our lead from Elders and Indigenous people. This gave me a much stronger relationship to the land and to the community.”

Both of Heidi’s parents were educators. “As a young child, I loved being in the classroom with them, surrounded by books and chalkboards.”

These early experiences made her want to be a teacher, but Heidi first tried out several different careers before embarking on an education degree as a mature student. 

“I started at a large university close to Toronto—by that time, my family had moved to southern Ontario—but I found it hard to be in such an impersonal environment.”

Stepping into a New World

Things changed when her mother told her that a university would be opening in Orillia. 

This news prompted Heidi to enrol in Lakehead Orillia’s Bachelor of Arts and Science program (specializing in biology and anthropology) and concurrent Bachelor of Education program.

She began her studies in 2006, becoming a member of Lakehead Orillia’s charter class.

“It was perfect. The professors had high expectations, but they offered great support, and the classes were small.

I remember every single one of my instructors. Anthropology Professor Dr. Tim Kaiser’s belief in me and his passion for his subject were inspirational. Biology professor Dr. Nanda Kanavilil was incredible, too. He always wanted us to strive for the deepest understanding of genetics and biology.”

Nurturing Children’s Self-Worth and Curiosity

Pictured above: First Nation School Board students at a fall camp that helps them stay connected to their culture and language through activities including setting fish nets, moose hunting, duck hunting, camp meal prep, and storytelling.

In her role as a whole child coach, Heidi works with First Nation School Board education assistants and teachers committed to using a holistic lens with their learners. 

Through her coaching, she enables educators to support students academically, culturally, and cognitively to create the sense of safety that’s necessary for a supportive learning environment. “Historically, school hasn’t been a safe space for Indigenous children,” she explains.  

This fall, Heidi returned to the Orillia campus to receive an Exceptional Alumni Award for her transformative work as an educator. “I was very honoured and surprised.”

Pictured left: Heidi (2nd from right) received an Exceptional Alumni Award at an October 25, 2025, ceremony at Lakehead Orillia. “It was lovely to be back again. The ceremony was heartfelt and true to the Orillia way.” 

“I want to fan the flame of kids’ passions and interests,” she adds. “Helping children discover who they are gives me my sense of purpose.”

An Unlikely Forester

Dr. Temitope Ojo had big dreams when he was growing up, but working in the natural resources industry wasn’t one of them.

“As a kid, we didn’t have constant electricity in Nigeria,” Temitope says. “So I set my mind on becoming an electrical engineer because I wanted to be part of the solution.” 

After he finished high school, he applied to the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria. 

Then Temitope hit a snag.

It would be a full year before his electrical electronics engineering spot would become available, and he didn’t want to wait around. When the university told him they had a spot open in their forestry program, Temitope took it.

His friends weren’t sure about this unexpected choice. “They laughed when I told them and said, ‘You’re going to be a forester?’”

“But I fell in love with forestry,” he says. 

Helping Restore a Ravaged Landscape

When he finished his undergraduate degree, graduating with distinction, Temitope put his newfound knowledge to practical use. 

In Nigeria, all university graduates are required by law to complete a year of national service with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to promote national unity and community development. Temitope was eager to use this service year to support reforestation efforts.

“Nigeria is in an environmental crisis caused by deforestation,” he explains. “With fewer trees to anchor the soil and break the wind, communities are facing landslides and strong winds that rip roofs off homes.”

He planted over 10,000 trees during his year of service—both fast-growing Gmelina and sturdy teak trees.

His herculean efforts earned him a National Youth Service Corps State Coordinator’s Award from the federal government.

But Temitope wasn’t finished with academia. He returned to school to complete a Master of Forest Economics and Management at FUNAAB, graduating at the top of his class. 

“Then I decided to continue my passion for forestry, and began looking at PhD programs in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Hong Kong, and Canada. I picked Canada because it has the best forestry programs in the world.”

A Friend You Can Lean On

Temitope’s research led him to choose Lakehead. So, in 2019, he made the life-changing journey from Nigeria to northwestern Ontario.

“When you come to Lakehead, you don’t only come to study,” Temitope says. “Lakehead has the resources to help you fit into the community and to inspire you to give back to the community.

Pictured left: Temitope was admitted to PhD programs in multiple countries, but Lakehead stood above the others. “I wanted professors with track records of mentoring their students and who specialized in my interests,” he says. “I also wanted small classrooms and to be close to nature.”

My PhD supervisor, Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, instilled this ethos in me. I wanted to replicate that goodness.”

Soon, Temitope was helping other students transition to life in a new country. 

He started a shuttle system, giving new international students rides from the airport to their residences and buying groceries for them with his own money. He also introduced them to services available at Lakehead and in Thunder Bay.

Pictured right: Temitope was recognized with Lakehead Leader Awards for Diversity and Inclusion (2020) and Community Engagement (2023) from the university’s Student Success Centre. He also received the City of Thunder Bay’s Exceptional Achievement – Good Citizen Award in 2025.

“I became friends with many of the students I met.”

Temitope contributed in many other ways. He was the president of Lakehead’s branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and a member of the Graduate Student Association’s executive. 

He volunteered with the environmental non-profit EcoSuperior, served as a citizen representative and vice-chair of the City of Thunder Bay’s Anti-Racism & Equity Advisory Committee, and joined the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society board, where he now serves as vice-president. 

A New Champion for Northwestern Ontario Forestry

A few weeks before receiving his PhD in Forest Sciences in 2024, Temitope landed a position as the regional supervisor of the Ministry of Natural Resources’ Northwest Region.

In this role, he leads the Regional Information and Analysis Unit, where he oversees natural resource assessment and geospatial analysis. He also develops complex Geographic Information System (GIS) products that support ecological sustainability and natural resource planning across northwestern Ontario. 

Pictured left: Temitope served as the vice-chair of the Canadian Institute of Forestry (Northwestern Ontario) and was featured in an article in the September 2023 issue of the Professional Forester. 

“It’s all thanks to the mentorship of Dr. Beaulieu,” Temitope says. “When I was close to graduating, he reviewed my resume and gave me tips and pointers, which got me an interview with the Ministry of Natural Resources. 

I’m so grateful to him and to Lakehead for helping me find my dream job.”  

Chief Michele Solomon has led Fort William First Nation since 2023, but she’s spent decades caring for her community.

Before entering the political arena, she had a successful social work career specializing in mental health and addictions.

“I was drawn to the helping field because I wanted to strengthen my community, and because social work seemed like a natural fit, given my life experiences,” says Chief Solomon. 

“I had great experiences with all of my Lakehead teachers,” says Chief Solomon. “Professor Dennis McPherson and his Indigenous Canadian World Views course had an enormous impact on me.”

She earned a Social Service Worker diploma from Confederation College and began working with Thunder Bay organizations, including as a team leader and manager with the Dilico Adult Residential Treatment Centre and as a manager with the White Cedar Healthcare Centre. 

A Winding Journey 

After she received her diploma, Chief Solomon began considering university.

“I was trying to advance to management positions, and not having a degree was held against me,” she says.

She decided to enrol full-time in Lakehead’s social work program.

“If my story can inspire anybody, then it’s worth sharing. It might motivate a young mother who feels overwhelmed by the prospect of getting an education.” Below, Chief Solomon takes part in a smudging ceremony. 

“It was a struggle, though, to go to school with four young children,” Chief Solomon says. “So I ended up dropping out before returning to Lakehead part-time in the Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies program. 

The program really resonated with me as a non-status Indigenous person growing up on a reserve—the challenges of identity and the hardships that came with that. It allowed me to understand these issues more deeply and from a different perspective.”

Chief Solomon received her Bachelor of Arts in 2017, with the support of her family.

“My eldest daughter helped a lot with her younger siblings, and my children’s father backed my efforts to be in school.”

A Caring Political Leader

Above, Chief Solomon hugs a fellow community member at the installation ceremony of Lakehead President Dr. Gillian Siddall in 2024. 

As her children grew older, Chief Solomon was able to devote more of her time to helping her community at the systemic level.

In 2015, she successfully ran for the position of Fort William First Nation councillor and served in that role for eight years before being elected Chief.

By 2018—as well as serving as a councillor—she was working for the groundbreaking Ontario Native Women’s Association, managing their Indigenous women’s leadership programs. 

“I’ve had the privilege of representing the Fort William First Nation in the Robinson-Superior annuity court case since 2018, including giving testimony,” Chief Solomon says. 

That year, she also deepened her Lakehead connection. She taught the Indigenous Perspectives class at the university’s Bora Laskin Faculty of Law.

“It was wonderful to be part of a dialogue with students,” Chief Solomon says. “I was able to engage with up-and-coming law professionals who opened their hearts and minds to that learning experience.”

Carving Her Own Path

“I’m dedicated to advancing the Fort William First Nation’s wellbeing, prosperity, and economic development, and finding ways to inspire our youth,” Chief Solomon says.

“It’s also important to me to represent the community in a positive way and to act as a bridge between the Indigenous and the non-Indigenous community.”

Chief Solomon (fourth from the left) spoke at Dr. Gillian Siddall's May 2024 installation ceremony, during which Dr. Siddall was installed as Lakehead's president & vice-chancellor. The ceremony was held at Anemki Wajiw (Mount McKay) on the lands of the Fort William First Nation.

While Chief Solomon was embracing these new roles, she was quietly continuing her university education to earn an Honours Bachelor of Arts in Indigenous Studies.

“I painfully chipped away at the degree, taking a course here and there,” she says.

In 2025, things came full circle.

She gave opening remarks on behalf of the Fort William First Nation at Lakehead’s May 29 convocation ceremony.

The following day, she attended another Lakehead convocation ceremony. This time, she sat with fellow graduating students before walking across the stage to accept her HBA degree.

Chief Michele Solomon speaks at Lakehead’s May 29, 2025, convocation ceremony. “When I was in college, my children were very young. When I was in university, my kids were adolescents. Now, I’ve graduated with my HBA, and I’m a grandmother with eight grandchildren.” 

Chief Solomon encourages other community members to consider post-secondary education.

“It brings Indigenous voices and understandings to places where they might not otherwise be heard. Education allows us to be stronger. It opens the doors to a good life, and it makes a difference to the lives of your family.”

"Lakehead has been really pivotal to shaping who I am and my career," Sidney says. She currently teaches a second-year environmental education course at Lakehead Orillia. "I take students on field trips to do land-based learning."

Sidney Howlett didn't expect her life to change the day she spoke to youth climate activists at an Alberta high school in 2020.

Sidney—who was then an engagement manager with the environmental education foundation GreenLearning Canada—was giving a talk about climate change solutions.

"One of the students asked me if we were going to overcome climate change because she was worried about her future," Sidney says.

"I said, 'Of course,' because I didn't want to burden them with my own anxieties. But afterwards, I cried because I felt that it was false positivity."

Sidney Confronts her Fears

At the time, Sidney had been thinking about going back to school. 

Sidney has always had an affinity with the natural world. "I never came home with clean clothes. My mom said she was afraid to check my pockets because she never knew if she'd find rocks, sticks, or bugs."

She had already earned an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science and a Bachelor of Education at Lakehead Orillia in 2017. This was followed by over two years teaching at a French-immersion school in Peterborough, Ontario, and five years working for environmental non-profits.

The youth activist's poignant question led Sidney to take an online course investigating how educators can help young people navigate the difficult emotions that climate change evokes.

One of the course speakers was Lakehead education professor Dr. Ellen Field. She's a leading researcher on the policy and practice of climate change education in the Canadian K-12 school system.

Dr. Field's talk spurred Sidney to enrol in Lakehead Orillia's Master of Education degree, specializing in environmental and sustainability education. Dr. Field became her thesis supervisor.

"My thesis investigated climate emotions and how to foster emotional resilience in the classroom in a way that's honest, but that protects young people's hope," Sidney says.

She also joined Dr. Field's research team, of which she's still a member, and worked on projects like the Climate Action Accelerator Program, which helps K-12 schools create climate action plans.

An Ethical Entrepreneur

While completing her master's degree, Sidney heard about the university's Ascend Accelerator initiative. It's a program that gives Lakehead students and alumni the training and tools to start their own businesses.

Sidney (right) gave presentations to educators across the country with Dr. Ellen Field (left) about climate action policies. She also worked with Dr. Field on the Climate Leadership Within Canadian School Boards: 2023 Review. 

Sidney completed the program in 2024 and launched Sidney Howlett Consulting—a company that helps educational organizations implement climate change solutions.

"Ascend connected me with experts to incorporate my business, set up my website, provide financial advice, and draft my contracts. Thanks to their support, I've already successfully consulted with multiple school boards."

A Future to Believe In

Sidney at a climate protest in Orillia. "I was always the kid who said that we needed to recycle."

"By creating climate action plans through the EcoSchools Board Program, school boards don't need specialized staff or extra funding to implement solutions," Sidney explains. "They have the knowledge, content, and worksheets to do it themselves."

There are many practical ways that school boards, schools, and students can make a real difference. For instance, depaving schoolyards to reduce heat, encouraging electric buses, switching to LED lighting, and supporting students through climate change training.

An inquiry-based learning project about bees I did with one of my classes when I was an elementary school teacher got me interested in climate change.

"I think education is one of the most important levers for creating change," Sidney says. "We need to make systemic-level changes that are carried out by school boards and governments."

Through her company, Sidney gives talks, delivers presentations, and offers research services, all while adjusting to life as the mother of eight-month-old twins.

Her twin boys have given her work new urgency. The drive to protect a flourishing natural world is no longer just about her—it's about the world they will inherit. For Sidney, that future is worth fighting for.

If you're looking for ways to contribute to climate solutions, Sidney suggests checking out Ayana Elizabeth Johnson's Climate Action Venn Diagram webpage.

Kirkland’s research expertise has been bolstered by his work with Lakehead Orillia professor Dr. Daniel Krupp’s SALT Lab, which studies the psychology of cooperation and conflict. Kirkland (HBASc’22) has been analyzing data and doing computer programming for the lab since graduating from Lakehead. Photo: Pexels

Conquering Alzheimer’s disease has become Lakehead grad Kirkland Johnston’s mission.

Alzheimer’s is a “chronic neurodegenerative disease that destroys brain cells, causing thinking ability and memory to decline over time,” according to the Alzheimer Society. 

“Certain genes are strongly correlated with the disease,” explains Kirkland, who’s just finished the first year of a Psychology and Neuroscience PhD at the University of Toronto.

“My research is investigating how certain genes influence the hippocampus—the ridges in the brain responsible for memory and emotion.”

Studying this incurable disease wasn’t part of Kirkland’s original career plans. He majored in psychology and criminology at Lakehead Orillia, graduating with an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science in 2022. His honours thesis, however, sparked his interest in neuroscience. For his thesis, Kirkland examined the biological factors that influence psychopaths’ behaviour, as part of a larger research project run by psychology professor Dr. Beth Visser. 

Pictured left: “When I was younger, I did a lot of gymnastics and acrobatics, and I recently got into it again,” Kirkland says. “I also love mountain biking, running, and spending time with family and friends. It keeps me grounded and happy.”

“From a neuroscience perspective, psychopaths have less developed frontal cortices and less emotionality as well as lower executive function and inhibitions,” Kirkland says. “This influences their level of callousness, impulsivity, and tendency to act in ways that benefit them without regard for anyone else.”

His newfound fascination with neuroscience led Kirkland to complete a master’s degree at Trent University focused on how different behaviours can be triggered by different neural pathways. “I studied how stress can influence chronic pain. Our research team found that if fear is present along with pain, the pain lasts longer.”

Kirkland’s decision to pursue Alzheimer’s research stems not from his scholarly experiences, but from his personal life. “I became passionate about Alzheimer’s disease because some of my family members have suffered from it,” he says.

Kirkland and his supervisor, Dr. Iva Zovkic, are studying histone variant macro H2A1 (mH2A1). Histones are the fundamental building blocks of chromatin, the material that makes up our chromosomes. The Zovkic lab has zeroed in on histones H2A.Z and mH2A1, finding supportive evidence for their role in modulating memory.  “The more H2A.Z there is in the brain, the stronger the association is with impaired memory” Kirkland says. “But if you remove it genetically through surgery, it improves learning and memory in mice.”

Kirkland is looking at how declining estrogen levels in mice increase Alzheimer’s pathology and memory impairment. This is critical because women are almost twice as likely as men to get Alzheimer’s. They also experience more rapid cognitive decline and worse treatment outcomes.

“Part of this may stem from the fact that, for an extremely long time, women were underrepresented in Alzheimer's research studies, " Kirkland says. “Even now, women still aren’t equally represented in studies, which affects how they respond to treatment.”

His goal is to better understand female biology to create more effective Alzheimer’s treatments for women.

Although Kirkland is at the beginning of his career, he is convinced that he’s found his calling. “I plan to continue doing Alzheimer’s research because I want to do meaningful work that has a positive impact on people.”

Helping injured workers and making workplaces across Ontario safe for everyone were the driving forces behind Peter Augruso’s impressive career accomplishments.

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Peter studied labour and industrial relations at Lakehead, where he benefited from the depth of the education he received. “Dr. Jerry Phillips and Dr. Ken Hartviksen, in particular, stood out because they always made time for me,” he says.

Lakehead also gave Peter the opportunity to play on its varsity soccer team, which won the Great Plains Athletic Conference during the 1981-82 season. “As an Italian-Canadian, soccer is part of my culture,” Peter says. “My wife and I coached soccer when our kids were little, and one of my sons earned a soccer scholarship to an American university.”  

Pictured right:  Peter during his time on Lakehead’s varsity soccer team in the early 1980s.

After graduating with a Bachelor of Administration in 1988, Peter worked briefly as a junior executive at Zellers in Winnipeg. His career, however, really got kick-started when he became avocational career counsellor with the Workers' Compensation Board of Manitoba. Peter returned to Thunder Bay a few years later to take the same position with the Workplace Safety and Insurance Board (WSIB), remaining there for 19 years, assisting injured workers seeking to retrain in new careers.

Although the work was gratifying, Peter began to realize that it wasn’t enough for him.  “I wanted to prevent injuries, rather than help people get back to work after they’d already been injured. Some people thought I was crazy because, by that point, I was in my mid-forties and had a good career.”

Undeterred, he successfully applied to become the district manager – operations division, with the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development in 2007. Two years later, Peter was promoted to regional director of the northern region. By 2015, he’d climbed to the highest reaches of the ministry after being chosen as assistant deputy minister (ADM), moving to Toronto to take on this new role. 

As assistant deputy minister, Peter administered a 130-million-dollar budget and was responsible for employment standards, occupational health and safety, and radiation monitoring. 

“I’m proud to say that as ADM, employee engagement and morale were high. I wasn’t afraid to answer questions, and I knew many of my 1,100 staff members.” During his tenure, Peter also incorporated new sexual harassment legislation into the Occupational Health and Safety Act to strengthen protections for workers.

The Beautiful Game

Peter played soccer with men’s recreational leagues throughout his adult years. Then, in 2014, he became reengaged with youth soccer as a volunteer with Ontario Soccer, serving as their president from 2018 to 2024. 

With more time available after retiring from government in 2021, Peter intensified this focus and, last year, successfully ran for president of Canada Soccer—eager to promote the growth of the game from the grassroots to the Olympic level.

Pictured left:  Soccer Canada President Peter Augruso (centre) at the opening of the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup 26 office in Toronto with FIFA President Gianni Infantino (right) and FIFA Vice-President Victor Montagliani (left), who is also president of the Confederation of North, Central America and Caribbean Association Football (CONCACAF).

Peter envisions a future for Canada Soccer where every child is given the opportunity to play, including talented Indigenous athletes in remote communities, through the “Soccer for Life” initiative. “It’s based on the belief that soccer should be a lifelong passion—uniting communities, fostering talent, and making the game accessible to all, regardless of where they live. I want to create an inclusive, thriving soccer culture that leaves a lasting impact across the country.”

The vocal ensemble course that Laurel took as a Lakehead University student led to a lifelong love of choral music. “There’s a powerful and indescribable feeling that comes from people singing the same thing at the same moment—a synergy. The communication between the conductor and an ensemble can be very subtle,” Laurel adds. “You can lift your eyebrow, and the ensemble will know what to do.” 

As a teenager, music educator and conductor Dr. Laurel Forshaw (HBMus’98) spent many of her lunch and after-school hours hanging out in the music room of her Thunder Bay high school. Since Laurel was a member of the school band and an accomplished flutist and pianist, this wasn’t surprising—but there was another reason she spent so much time cloistered in the music room.

“It was an escape from the bullying and politics of high school,” Laurel says. “The music room was a safe space.”

Music became even more deeply enmeshed with Laurel’s identity when she began teaching piano at the age of 14. “That’s how I discovered that I loved connecting with students—it made me want to become a high school band teacher and recreate that wonderful safe space for other kids,” she explains.

This realization led Laurel to enrol in Lakehead University’s music program, which was transformational for her. “The broad focus of the program introduced me to areas I wouldn’t otherwise have experienced,” she says. In particular, the conducting and vocal ensemble courses taught by Allan Bevan were life-changing. “Allan was very demanding as a conductor, but in a quiet determined manner, and as soon as I stepped in front of an ensemble, I thought, ‘Oh, this is what I want to do.’

There’s an old-school approach to conducting that exalts the conductor as an all-knowing, detached, and domineering figure,” Laurel continues, “but I conceptualize the role of conductor as one that is highly collaborative. I want to respond to and work with the sounds created by musicians rather than reacting to ‘correct’ their sounds.”

In 1998, when Laurel graduated from Lakehead, the lure of conducting and the lack of teaching jobs prompted her to pursue a music career outside the school system.

“I’ll always advocate for music to be part of the curriculum for elementary and high school students,” Laurel says (pictured left), “because music allows you to express yourself and hold meaning in unique ways.”

Her first conducting position was with a local church choir while she was still a Lakehead student. Conducting positions with other groups followed, including Thunder Bay’s Dulcisono Women's Choir and, most recently, the Strata Vocal Ensemble in Hamilton, Ontario. Laurel also worked with young people when she served as the artistic director and conductor of Thunder Bay’s Rafiki Youth Choir (which she founded) and the Thunder Bay Children’s Chorus - Camerata Singers in addition to the private music lessons she offered.

As the years passed, a growing desire to strengthen her knowledge of music education within choral spaces and her skills as a choral conductor spurred Laurel to return to school. In 2011, she completed a Master of Arts in Music Education (Choral Conducting) at the University of St. Thomas in Minnesota and, in 2021, she earned a PhD in Music Education from the University of Toronto. “I was getting tired of teaching private music lessons,” she says, “and grad school opens your mind in ways that you can’t anticipate.” Her graduate studies became a springboard to advance her interest in bringing Indigenous ways of learning and knowing into university music programs and music education more broadly. 

“Until a short time ago, Indigenous music and musical practices have been excluded from choral singing practices and music education in Canada,” Laurel says. “I felt compelled to be part of breaking down this exclusionary framework, starting with the ongoing work of decolonizing myself, recognizing my responsibilities and obligations as a white settler, and engaging with Indigenous musicians and the principles of respect, responsibility, relationship, and reciprocity.”

Laurel has now returned to Lakehead’s Department of Music to teach conducting as well as the Intro to Music Education and Reconciliation course.

“This course uses the TRC’s Calls to Action as a framework for addressing reconciliation through music and music education, weaving Indigenous ways of learning and being with music education practices. It is so rewarding to witness students considering ways in which their own pedagogical practices can serve as sites of reconciliation.”

Want to expand your musical horizons?

Check Out a Few of Laurel’s Favourite Pieces:

 “North” by Ryan O’Neal, arranged by G. Chung
Performed by the Vancouver Youth Choir (Carrie Tennant, conductor)

 “Okâwîmâw Askiy” by Sherryl Sewepegaham
Performed by Luminous Voices (Timothy Shantz, conductor)

 “Ambe” by Andrew Balfour, based on an original song by Cory Campbell
Performed by the Chronos Vocal Ensemble (Jordan Van Biert, conductor)

 “Õhtul” by Pärt Uusberg
Performed by the Vancouver Youth Choir (Carrie Tennant, conductor)

 “Both Sides Now” Joni Mitchell, arranged by M. Wright
Performed by the Barnsley Youth Choir (Matt Wright, conductor)

 “Only in Sleep” by Ēriks Ešenvalds
Performed by the Choir of Trinity College Cambridge

 “Indodana” arranged by M. Barrett & R. Schmitt
Performed by Tuks Camerata (University of Pretoria) (Michael Barrett, conductor)

“Lakehead has not only pushed me to be the best I can be academically, but also the best person I can be,” says Holly Gray, who received an Honours Bachelor of Arts and Science in Anthropology in 2024. Above, Holly and her daughter Alexandria celebrate Holly’s graduation.

“In the fall of 2016, I was bemoaning to my husband and my daughter that although I’d been exercising my body, my mind was in the parking lot,” says recent Lakehead grad Holly Gray.

“My daughter said, ‘Oh, mom! Just take a course.’ I said, ‘Great idea, but what course?’ and she replied, ‘Anthropology.’”

That was the start of a new chapter for Holly, whose curious mind and independent streak was apparent even as a child. 

She grew up in the small village of Victoria Harbour on Georgian Bay where she spent her time swimming, skiing, and tobogganing. Holly also earned pocket money by babysitting for 25 cents an hour. Her favourite early jobs, though, were more unconventional. “I worked on horse farms and in a mechanics shop repairing bicycles, lawnmowers, and chainsaws,” Holly says. “I just loved it, my poor mother, however, was mortified because I was the only girl at my high school graduation with grease under her fingernails.”

Holly then earned a Bachelor of Arts at the University of Guelph. She’d hoped to pursue her postsecondary education further, but life and its challenges got in the way—that is until several decades later when she drove to Lakehead Orillia to sign up for an anthropology course. 

As fate would have it, Professor Tim Kaiser was running a mock archaeological dig on campus that day. Holly went over to talk to him and “Dr. Kaiser, who’s a wonderful gentleman, said, ‘Why don’t you join my class?’”

“The course was called Ancient People and Places,” Holly continues, “so I thought that’s good, since I’m ancient—but I was scared because it was a second-year course.”

Her fears were eased after she spotted two other seniors in the class. One of them, Ginny Majury, became her study buddy. Soon, Holly was taking more courses, with the goal of earning a degree, and she and Ginny were forming study groups and providing tea and cookies for the students who came. Off-campus experiences were equally important to Holly. “I went on a life-altering dig led by Dr. Scott Hamilton and Dr. Frederico Oliveira at the Indigenous community of Slate Falls north of Sioux Lookout, Ontario. We were looking at the site of the original community of Slate Falls before they were forced to move from their island to the mainland.”

“Lakehead’s instructors have been outstanding—Dr. Frederico Oliveira is a gem of a man—and it’s a gift to be able to meet the kids and be accepted by them,” Holly says. “Everyone from the cafeteria and library staff to security, students, and professors have treated me with kindness and respect. It’s been an incredible joy.” Pictured left, Holly and her friend Ginny Majury on their graduation day.

As the graduation date drew nearer, Holly applied to be the Voice of the Class speaker at Lakehead’s June 2024 convocation ceremonies, not expecting to be selected.

“I felt that being a senior and a part-time student disqualified me from speaking, then I found out I’d been chosen. I was absolutely honoured and thrilled—I was also absolutely terrified.”

Holly has now embarked on a Master of Environmental Studies degree specializing in anthropology, and she’s even considering doing a PhD. “I’d like to investigate the social, political, and legal ramifications of so many things.”

As Holly said in her Voice of the Class speech, “None of us are too young, nor too old to be agents of change in the world around us. Just try to do things, live through the fear of it, and you’ll be amazed at what a different person you’ll be.”

Steve Barkhouse has always been a man with a clear vision of what he wants.

He studied business administration with a focus on organizational relations to prepare himself for a career in the construction field. He’d also put in the legwork by learning carpentry and by studying architecture and business at Ottawa’s Algonquin College before transferring to Lakehead.

Everything seemed to be coming together according to plan when an Ottawa construction firm hired Steve shortly after he received his degree. Then, the 1989 economic recession struck and Steve’s job was eliminated before he even started. 

“After pouting for two weeks” Steve says, “my dad pointed out that I wasn’t going to be living at home rent free. He said, ‘Why don’t you start a business!’ So I convinced my best friend to establish a residential building and renovation company with me in our hometown of Stittsville, Ontario.”

Steve (pictured right) recently received a Fellowship Award from Algonquin College. “I’ve been involved with the college since I attended 40 years ago, and I was very humbled and honoured to be acknowledged,” Steve says. “Algonquin had a partnership with Lakehead that allowed me complete Lakehead’s 3-year business program in 1.5 years, which was good for an impatient person like me,” he adds.

In the 35 years since then, Steve’s company, Amsted Design-Build, has grown to five locations, 60 employees, and has been recognized nationally and internationally for its outstanding work. Among its more recent accolades, Amsted was named the 2024 Ottawa Renovator of the Year⁠ by the Greater Ottawa Home Builders’ Association, the 2024 Ontario Renovator of the Year, and was voted one of Ottawa’s Top Ten Employers in 2024.

“We were also the first Canadian company to be one of four finalists for the Fred Case Remodeling Entrepreneur of the Year Award and winner of the Remodelers Advantage Impact Award. Coming from a small Canadian town, receiving these North American awards was pretty cool,” Steve says. “In an industry, where tradespeople run most of the businesses, it’s fortunate that I’m a businessperson with a trades background. Lakehead taught me the value of reputation and integrity, customer service, financials, short- and long-term planning, and human resources.”

Pictured left: Steve (BAdmin’ 89) gives a tour of one of his building sites. Steve grew up on a hobby farm in Stittsville, Ontario. “We had horses, cows, chickens, pigs, dogs, and cats. I learned responsibility on the farm—even if I was tired after football practice, I still had to feed the animals.”

Steve says that his time at Lakehead was memorable not only because of the excellent education he received, but because of the people he met, including his future wife, and fellow business student, Tracey.

“The Lakehead community took me in when I was young and a bit homesick. The Polish ladies who worked in the residence kitchen were fantastic women who mothered all of us. I also bonded with my classmates and fellow residence students—we had great weekend trips to Duluth and Sudbury.” Other highlights included running into the famous ski jumper Eddie the Eagle at a Thunder Bay ski hill. In 1988, Eddie attracted international attention for being the first athlete to represent Great Britain in an Olympic ski-jumping competition, even though he finished last. “We drank with Eddie at the ski hill bar and then invited him back to rez for a party,” Steve recalls.

A Thriving Business Committed to Community Service

As Amsted expanded beyond Stittsville to Brockville and three Ottawa locations, Steve made it a priority to give back. “Our community supported us, so we want to support them. For our 35th anniversary this year, we pledged to carry out 35 acts of community service, although we’ve ended up doing 46.” 

These acts of service range from building gazebos for retirement homes and cleaning up parks to fundraising for local organizations and sponsoring charity events. Camp Smitty—run by the Ottawa Boys and Girls Club—is particularly close to Steve’s heart. “We’ve donated more than a million dollars to the camp over the past 20 years and built cabins, treehouses, and decks for them.”

Above: A triplex built by Amsted.

Amsted’s success has brought Steve unexpected opportunities.

“I hit it off with CTV News host Leanne Cusack over 15 years ago and began doing monthly on-air television spots sharing home renovation tips with viewers.”

Steve is retiring from Amsted at the end of 2024, but strengthening his community and challenging himself in new ways will continue to be a constant in his life. 

“Bringing people’s dreams to life has been an honour,” Steve says, “whether it’s building an award-winning environmentally friendly home or renovating a powder room that someone has spent years saving up for.”

Watch a couple of Steve’s CTV home renovation segments: 

https://amsted.ca/steve-barkhouse-talks-lighting-on-ctv-news/

 https://amsted.ca/ctv-appearance-how-much-will-24-sussex-cost-to-repair/

"I’m extremely proud to be the first Indigenous woman appointed to the Federal Court,” says Lakehead alum (BA '95) Justice Julie Blackhawk.

Justice Blackhawk is a member of the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte Nation (Kenhtè:ke kanyen’kehá:ka) and her husband Carl and their daughters Kinew and Binesi belong to the Lac Seul First Nation (Obishikokaang). 

“It’s important for the Court to be accessible and reflect the diversity and perspectives of all communities that it serves,” she adds, “and I hope that my appointment will encourage other Indigenous lawyers to consider joining the bench.”

Photo Credit: Balfour

When Justice Blackhawk was appointed on February 9, 2024, it was another important milestone in a distinguished legal career. “I’ve dedicated myself as a lawyer to Indigenous issues and Aboriginal law matters,” she says, “and I’ve developed deep expertise in these areas.”

But her interest in the law was first sparked when she was a Lakehead University student—even though she was initially drawn to Lakehead because of its Concurrent Education Program for Aboriginal students. 

“My mother, who was a teacher’s assistant with our local education board, encouraged me to consider going into teaching,” Justice Blackhawk says. “However, I was not successful in my application for the Aboriginal Concurrent Education Program! Nonetheless, I attended Lakehead with the intention of taking my first year of General Arts and transitioning into the Aboriginal Con-Ed program. During my first year in General Arts, one of my electives was a property law course, and from there I was hooked. I knew I wanted to study and practice law.” 

Pictured right: Justice Blackhawk has contributed to Canada’s legal community in many different ways, including helping create the Practice Guidelines for Aboriginal Law Proceedings (2016) and serving as a member of the Federal Court’s Indigenous Bar Association - Aboriginal Law Bar Liaison Committee. Photo Credit: Balfour 

Justice Blackhawk went on to earn a law degree at the University of British Columbia and then articled with Legal Services of British Columbia (Legal Aid) in 1998 after completing her studies. “The clinic I was employed at focused on poverty law issues, such as housing, workers’ compensation benefits, employment insurance benefits, and some family law.”

In 1999, after her articling was complete, she briefly worked for a small firm, Sommers and Co, in Richmond, British Columbia, where she focused on matters on behalf of British Columbia’s Minister of Child and Family Services.

In March 2000, Justice Blackhawk began a position with the Department of Justice Canada in the Aboriginal Litigation Group. 

“At the time, I was a junior litigator dealing primarily with two mega Aboriginal law litigation files: Prophet River, a claim of breach of fiduciary duty and breach of Treaty 8; and Tsilhqot’in, a claim of Aboriginal title. I moved to Ottawa in 2004 to become part of the Department of Justice in the Aboriginal Law Management Group, where I was responsible for the litigation management and coordination in respect to Métis litigation.”

In 2006, she joined the Specific Claims Branch and focused on matters before the then Indian Claims Commission before moving to the Aboriginal Affairs Portfolio in 2010. 

“I worked on litigation matters for the Department of Justice related to section 35 of the Constitution Act, 1985, Aboriginal rights and title claims at all levels of Court across the county, and I continued in this role until my appointment to the Bench,” Justice Blackhawk explains.

Her vision and commitment have allowed her to blaze new trails in Canada’s legal and justice systems.

“I am very proud of my involvement with the Tsilhqot’in litigation, where I helped develop a framework for the admission of oral history evidence and Elder testimony in litigation, as well as the follow-up work with the Federal Court Aboriginal Law Bar Liaison Committee, where I assisted in drafting of the Federal Court Aboriginal Law Bar Practice Guidelines,” she says.

Justice Blackhawk’s time as a lawyer and her positions with the Department of Justice were equally important because “having Indigenous people working on these issues within government to balance perspectives as we collectively move forward is essential.”

“I am also extremely grateful and proud of my family: my spouse and our two wonderful daughters, my parents and my extended family,” Justice Blackhawk says. “Without them and their unwavering support, I would not have enjoyed the professional success I have had over the years.”