The International Student Welcome Experience
Incoming International Students
Lakehead International is excited to meet you at our International Student Welcome Day!
Welcome Day provides new Lakehead students with an opportunity to meet new friends, engage with Lakehead staff and departments, learn about supports and services at Lakehead and within the community, ask questions, and gather all the necessary information they need to have a successful start to their term.
Things to consider for your Winter 2026 arrival:
- You are expected to be on campus for your first day of classes: January 5, 2026.
- The University will be closed at 4:30 pm on December 19, 2025. It will reopen on January 5, 2026, at 8:30 am.
- During this closure, you will not have access to University student services, departments, and staff. This means our staff is unavailable to assist with your arrival if you come during these dates.
- Security Services will remain available 24/7 during the closure
- If you are moving into on-campus residence, please confirm your arrival details with Residence staff before your arrival.
- If you are arriving over the holiday break (December 22nd - January 5th), you are required to submit your Airport Arrival Transportation form no later than Thursday, December 18th at 4:30 PM ET. If you request transportation between December 19, 2025, and January 4, 2026, you will not receive it until after January 5, 2025.
Thunder Bay Campus Orillia Campus Transition Webinars Pre-Arrival Modules
Thunder Bay Campus
Winter 2026 - International Student Welcome Day
Start your Lakehead journey off right! Connect with other international students and the ISS (International Student Services) Team, discover what campus has available for you, and embrace the Canadian way with fun activities! This is a mandatory event, all new students should plan to attend Welcome Day.
Date: Friday, January 9
Time: 2:00 PM - 6:00 PM
Location: The Outpost - On Lakehead Campus
Please note this event is for new Lakehead students only. You can meet up with family and friends after the event!
Orillia Campus
Winter 2026 - International Student Welcome Day
Start your Lakehead journey off right! Connect with other international students and Orillia campus staff, discover what campus has available for you, and embrace the Canadian way with fun activities! This is a mandatory event, all new students should plan to attend Welcome Day.
Date: Thursday, January 8th, 2026
Time: 10:30am - 12:30pm
Location: OA 2005, Simcoe Hall, 500 University Avenue, Orillia
REGISTER HERE!
New International Student Checklist
Check out the step-by-step guide to help you have a successful start to your Lakehead journey!
Connect with a Current Student
Lakehead International’s Peer Mentor program pairs up experienced Lakehead students with a small group of new international students to help them:
- Transition to university
- Adjust to the Lakehead University campus, the Thunder Bay or Orillia community, and Canadian culture
- Access and get to know on-campus or off-campus resources
The Peer Mentor program organizes activities for all participants. It is a great way to meet new students and explore your new home.