Prestigious Awards
During each ceremony Lakehead University recognizes distinguished guests for their accomplishments including Honorary Degree Recipients, Fellow of the University title recipients, and Civitas Award recipients.
Honorary Degrees
Honorary Degrees are awarded to individuals who have accomplished extraordinary achievements and remarkable service. These individuals support the values of advanced learning and the pursuit of knowledge. These individuals are of provincial, national or international status, have demonstrated a distinctive and significant contribution to the advancement of knowledge in one or more fields of endeavour, have contributed either directly or indirectly to the welfare of humankind, and have made a substantial contribution to the University and/or the regions in which its campuses are located.
The honorary degree to be awarded to an individual is decided by the Senate Honorary Degree Committee. The University confers “honorary” degrees which symbolize the highest honour that can be conferred upon an individual by the University. An honorary degree may be awarded in recognition of scholarly or creative achievements or distinguished public service to the country or region. They are designed by the University’s Senate, its senior academic governing body, as deserving special honour.
Theresa Redsky Fiddler
Doctor of Humane Letters
Spirit name Shooniya Comigook, ahtik (Elk) Clan, Guardian Spirit, Mikinak (turtle) First Doorway Midi Society.
Theresa Fiddler, mostly known as Teri Redsky Fiddler, was raised in Treaty #3 territory. She spent her early childhood in Big Grassy River First Nation (Mishkosiminiziibiing) before moving to her father’s home territory of Shoal Lake 40 First Nation. At age 14, Teri left home to attend Lakewood and Beaver Brae secondary schools in Kenora, Ontario.
At 42, Teri decided to complete her high school education, graduating alongside two of her sons. She went on to serve as Band Councillor for Sandy Lake First Nation for 14 years. At age 59, she applied to college, and at age 61, earned her diploma in Social Service Work.
Today, Teri lives by her late husband Josias’ last request for her to live life in a good way. She continues the traditional way of life and contributes her teachings to many provincial and national organizations. She is a knowledge keeper to the Assembly of First Nations, Chiefs of Ontario, Nishnawbe Aski Nation, and holds her late husband's seat as Traditional Elder with Sioux Lookout Meno Ya Win Health Centre. Teri is currently a Traditional Practitioner Consultant for Sandy Lake First Nation.
In 1969, Teri married Josias and together they raised three sons and two daughters, but lost their son Thomas on November 10, 2022. Recently, she welcomed another family member, her new son, Chris Snyder, and his wife, Stacey. Teri has 22 grandchildren and 19 great-grandchildren.
William (Bill) Heibein
Doctor of Humane Letters
For more than 50 years, William (Bill) Heibein has been woven into the fabric of Thunder Bay. Bill has contributed across a wide range of organizations—18 years with the Rotary Club of Port Arthur to influential roles with the Thunder Bay Symphony Orchestra, Magnus Theatre Northwest, and the Thunder Bay Chamber of Commerce. His commitment also extended to the Ontario government’s advisory council for Old Fort William.
Following his dementia diagnosis, Bill’s impact only deepened. As a founding member of the Ontario Dementia Advisory Group, he brought lived experience to national conversations, including as one of the first individuals to appear before a Senate Review Committee studying dementia across Canada. He has been an advisor to the Alzheimer Society of Canada and contributed to innovative research and programs advancing dementia-inclusive communities across the country.
Bill is a foundational force in dementia advocacy in northwestern Ontario—serving on the Northwest Dementia Working Group, helping establish Dementia Café, where he remains an active participant, and contributing to the development of the Dementia Gardens initiative.
A lifelong musician, Bill plays bass with the Bottom of the Barrel jazz and dixieland band. After 49 years, the band continues to play free concerts in senior and nursing homes, hospitals, and now at Dementia Café. In 2025, Bill’s extraordinary contributions were recognized with the King Charles III Coronation Medal.
The Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C.
Doctor of Education
The Right Honourable David Johnston was Canada’s 28th governor general. During his mandate, he established the Rideau Hall Foundation (RHF), a registered charity that supports and amplifies the Office of the Governor General in its work to connect, honour and inspire Canadians. Today, he is actively involved as Chair of the RHF Board of Directors. In 2018, he was appointed Colonel to the Royal Canadian Regiment.
Prior to his installation as governor general, Rt. Hon. Johnston was a professor of law for 45 years, and served as President of the University of Waterloo and as Principal of McGill University. He was president of the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada and of the Conférence des recteurs et des principaux des universités du Québec. He was the first non-U.S. citizen to be elected chair at Harvard University’s Board of Overseers from which he graduated in 1963 magna cum laude, and was twice named all-American in hockey and was named to Harvard’s Athletic Hall of Fame.
Rt. Hon. Johnston holds degrees from Harvard, Cambridge and Queen’s and has received more than three dozen honorary degrees or fellowships. He has authored or co-authored more than 30 books. He was named a Companion of the Order of Canada in 1997. He has chaired or served on several dozen provincial and federal task forces and committees, and has served on the boards of more than a dozen public companies. He has been married for 61 years to Sharon, and they have five daughters and 14 grandchildren.
Dr. Gary Polonsky
Doctor of Education
Dr. Gary Polonsky is a distinguished Canadian post-secondary leader whose career spanned more than 40 years across five institutions in five provinces, and over half of those years were served as a president.
A native of Thunder Bay, he has been a driving force in expanding access to education, advancing applied research, and strengthening connections between institutions and communities. He began his leadership journey at Confederation College in the 1960s, where he oversaw the creation of the Skills Training Centre that enabled tradespeople in Northwestern Ontario to complete their training locally.
In 1988, he became President of Durham College, a position he held until March 31, 2006. His team’s achievements included tripling student enrolment, creating four rural campuses, and introducing many new programs.
In addition, and unique in North America, Gary was president of two businesses – Productivity Improvement Centre (PIC), and Business and Industry Development Services (BIDS) - owned by Durham College, which together exceeded 2,500 staff and $100,000,000 of revenue annually. The primary product of PIC was Quality Assurance services, resulting in Durham College becoming the first college in Canada to earn an ISO-9000 banner (1995).
In 2001, he became the founding president of the University of Ontario Institute of Technology, now Ontario Tech University—one of the fastest growing in Canadian history. He also remained President of Durham College, making him the only Canadian to have been president concurrently of both a college and a university.
Gary has made significant contributions through public service and volunteer leadership at the community, provincial, and national levels. In Thunder Bay, he was Chair of the Board and the driving force behind building the Thunder Bay Community Auditorium. His many honours include national leadership awards and lifetime achievement recognition for his impact on education in Canada, including two Queen Elizabeth II Golden Jubilee Medals (2002 and 2012).
Fellow of the University
Fellow of the University is granted to individuals who have contributed substantially to the growth and development of Lakehead University or its predecessors. These individuals may have also contributed substantially to scholarship or have given service through active participation in the community through service clubs, community organizations, business and professional groups or charitable organizations. The service given is above and beyond the demand of a career and is of a nature where no pecuniary reward is expected.
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.
Kevin Cleghorn
Kevin Cleghorn is a self-employed lawyer practicing in Thunder Bay. He graduated from the University of Manitoba with an LLB in 1982 and a BA in 1983. He obtained his LLM (family law) from Osgoode Hall in 2012. He has been called to the bars of Ontario (1984), Manitoba (1993) and Saskatchewan (1994). He is a certified specialist in family law, was accredited as a family law mediator by the Ontario Association for Family Mediation in 2022 and was inducted into the Canadian Academy of Distinguished Neutrals in 2022.
Kevin has served as a deputy judge for Small Claims Court in the Northwest Region since 1999, is a past president of the Thunder Bay Law Association, past chair of the board of Governors of Lakehead University, and past president of the United Way of Thunder Bay. He is on the child representation panel for the Office of the Children’s Lawyer. He has taught at Lakehead University since 1994 for the Department of Political Science and the Bora Laskin Faculty of Law. In 2007, Kevin received Lakehead University’s Contribution to Teaching Award.
In 2025, he received the James L. Murray Memorial Award from the Thunder Bay Law Association for displaying the highest standards of professionalism, ethics, and civility. Kevin was recently awarded the Law Society Medal for his contributions to access to justice and legal education in Northwest Ontario.
Brian McKinnon
Brian’s lifelong commitment to education, community, and partnership is rooted in a deep connection to Lakehead University. As a member of Lakehead’s second graduating class, he went on to build a decades-long career that influenced students, educators, and institutions across the region and beyond.
As a student, Brian played on Lakehead’s first varsity basketball team—the Mustangs—and contributed to early campus development, including the committee that helped bring the Agora building to life.
After earning his Master of Education degree from Queen's University, he held a variety of leadership roles with the Lakehead Board of Education culminating as Principal of Partnerships. His impact extended well beyond the classroom—coaching basketball, officiating football, and helping found both the Ontario Principals’ Council and the Northern Cancer Research Foundation (now part of the Thunder Bay Regional Hospital Foundation). He later served as President of the Canadian Association of Principals.
In retirement, Brian continued to shape future educators as an instructor in Lakehead’s Faculty of Education and dedicated 16 years of service to the university’s Board of Governors as the Thunder Bay City Council representative. In this role, he strengthened ties between the university and the broader community, fostering critical partnerships, aligning programs with workforce needs, and elevating Lakehead’s regional and national profile.
Brian is proud of his lifelong contributions to Thunder Bay and to education—at home and nationally. He has always believed that the most meaningful work begins with people, bringing them together around a shared vision and building something that endures.
Paul Weber
An entrepreneur in the hospitality industry, Paul Weber has built a reputation for turning bold ideas into high-performing, customer-driven businesses. Paul is the former owner of the landmark Webers Drive-In Restaurant on Highway 11, one of the most popular food stops on the drive from Toronto to cottage country.
Paul’s leadership extends beyond business success. He has played a significant role in advancing community innovation and engagement across Simcoe County and beyond. As Campaign Chair and Board Member for Kempenfelt Bay School in Barrie, he led efforts to raise $1.5 million and helped secure financing for a JK–Grade 12 private school in Innisfil, which opened in 2017. In 2019, he successfully secured a $2.5 million gift from the County of Simcoe for the Barrie YMCA Capital Campaign.
In 2008, Paul accepted the role of chair for Lakehead University’s Your Bright Future campaign, leading a $30 million capital campaign to build the Orillia Campus. Paul took on the role with passion, energy and professionalism. He demonstrated a strong commitment to the vision for Lakehead University and the campus development in Orillia. He knew the potential for far-reaching economic, social, and environmental benefits and often commented that it was truly one of the best things to have happened in the community.
Through Paul’s considerable time, talent and energy, Lakehead developed a wide range of community partners, supporters and donors. Paul was instrumental in enhancing Lakehead University’s ability to meet a critical and growing community need in the region.
Civitas Award
The Civitas Award is awarded annually to recognize a community member who has made a significant contribution to the university’s Orillia Campus.
Luana Dawn Shirt
Luana Dawn Shirt is a Plains Cree (nehiyaw)–anishinaabekwe. Her roots are in Treaty Six Territory with the Saddle Lake Band, Alberta. She grew up among the Great Lakes Anishinaabek (Ojibwe Nation) and Haudenosaunee Nation, and for the last 13 years has made Williams Treaty Territory (Simcoe County) her home. She is a mother of two incredible young adults.
Her commitment to Indigenous education is rooted in family legacy. Her parents were visionary leaders in urban Indigenous education and founders of the Wandering Spirit Survival School in Toronto—the first urban Indigenous school in Canada.
For over a decade, Luana has been a consistent and generative presence in Simcoe County, offering cultural teachings, ceremony, and community support that connect Indigenous peoples and their allies to land, language, and ancestral ways of knowing. Across Ontario she has collaborated with community organizations and post-secondary institutions, weaving Indigenous worldviews into diverse learning environments.
From 2013 to 2016, Luana coordinated the Berry Fast Project for the Orillia Native Women’s Group, delivering rite-of-passage programming for Indigenous girls and their families. She serves as a Cultural Support Worker and Knowledge Carrier for Ontario’s anti-human trafficking training initiatives, and she is an Advisory Member of the Centre for Combating Child Sex Trafficking and Online Sexual Exploitation at Toronto Metropolitan University, contributing Indigenous knowledge and perspective to research and policy focused on protecting children and families.
Luana’s contributions to Simcoe County and beyond reflect a lifelong commitment to reciprocity, cultural continuity, and profound care for community. Whether in ceremony, the classroom, or the circle, she brings her Indigenous Way of Life to foster healing, belonging, and connection to the land.