Lighting Upgrades Across Campus

January 30, 2026

Over the next year, a large number of fluorescent lighting fixtures on both campuses will be removed and replaced with modern LED lighting. These upgrades will take place across all areas, including hallways, classrooms, lecture theatres, laboratories, and offices.

This transition is being carried out to comply with new federal regulations aimed at reducing mercury in waste streams. Fluorescent lighting contains small amounts of mercury, and while each lamp contains very little, thousands are disposed of daily across Canada. The replacement of these fixtures supports national and international efforts to reduce mercury pollution.

All fluorescent lamps removed from our campuses are handled responsibly and sent to a licensed hazardous waste facility, ensuring they do not end up in landfills.

These changes align with amendments to the Products Containing Mercury Regulations, announced by the Government of Canada on June 19, 2024. The updated regulations will prohibit the import and manufacture of the most common mercury-containing lamps for general lighting purposes as of December 31, 2025, allowing Canada to fully align with the international Minamata Convention on Mercury.

Additional information is available on the Government of Canada website (Canada.ca) in the Canada Gazette under:
Regulations Amending the Products Containing Mercury Regulations (SOR/2024-109)

Roth Iams OnSite February 2-5, 2026

Please be advised the representatives from Roth Iams will be on site starting Monday, February 2nd to perform our yearly building condition assessments in the locations noted below. The assessors will be doing a walkthrough of all areas of each building and taking photos to document the condition of various building systems. They will be accompanied by a Physical Plant staff member at all times.

Any questions or concerns can be directed to Adam White, scpmanager.plant@lakeheadu.ca; 807-252-5307.

Buildings and inspection dates are as follows:

February 2nd and 3rd
CJ Sanders Fieldhouse
CJ Sanders Hangar

February 4th
1294 Balmoral St.
Balmoral Street Centre
Music and Visual Arts

February 5th
Power House

Waste Audit Happening December 1-9, 2025

Thunder Bay

A waste audit process is taking place December 1 to 9, across the Thunder Bay campus to inform ways we can improve our waste management and diversion from the landfill. Bin collection times may be different during these dates (bins may be more full than usual before being emptied). If you have any questions, please contact Arno Kalbus, Facilities Manager, facilmanager.plant@lakeheadu.ca or 807-343-8010 Ext. 8962. Thank you for your patience during this audit.