The Board of Governors of the University recognizes individuals who have contributed to the growth, development, welfare, and well-being of Northwestern Ontario, Simcoe County and of Lakehead University. This is done by the conferring of the title Fellow of the University. You will recognize University Fellows by their familiar blue gown with a white velvet scarf.
Thunder Bay, Thursday May 25, 2023 at 2:00pm
Committed, energetic, passionate, friendly, helpful … these are the qualities that drew people to Vonnie as a dedicated Lakehead University alumna and as a trusted advisor at Sun Life Financial.
Before Sun Life, Vonnie worked at the University (1974-1997) and graduated with BSc Mathematics (1980), BA English (1982), HBA English (1992) and Graduate Diploma in Business Administration (1992).
Vonnie was the inaugural recipient of the Alumni Legacy Award in 2011. Her long history of active service to the community includes serving as:
Orillia, Saturday June 3, 2023 at 10am
Kim, Annie and the children moved to Thunder Bay when he landed his dream job as an assistant professor in the Department of English. He went on to become Chair of the Department and was later honoured to receive the University’s Distinguished Instructor Award in 1995. Throughout his career, he pursued his interests in rhetorical theory and practice and published extensively on Shakespeare with his colleague and friend, Dr. J.M. Richardson.
On two occasions the family lived in Asia during his visiting appointments at Yunnan University in China and Gifu University for Education and Languages in Japan.
As Dean of the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities, he worked closely with colleagues on a variety of initiatives, including the development of interdisciplinary programming for the University’s proposed new campus in Orillia.
The family returned to southern Ontario when he was appointed Dean, and later Principal, of the Orillia campus. There he worked with faculty, staff, students and the community as they successfully established the university in Simcoe County.
He served, and continues to serve, on a variety of boards—Campus Co-op Daycare, Magnus Theatre, the North of Superior Film Association, Mariposa Folk Festival, the Orillia Centre for Arts and Culture—and is happiest playing his guitar for his grandchildren.
