Across the Stage

stage

There will be a special energy in the air during your convocation ceremony that will be hard to find anywhere else. It’s the culmination of years spent with late nights, time crunches, and the steady accumulation of new knowledge. When you finally put on that gown, a symbol of resilience, it is the visual proof that you didn't just show up; you achieved! More than just a formal hand-off, convocation serves as a profound rite of passage. It’s one of the few times in life where you and your supporters hit "pause" to acknowledge your growth. Crossing that stage, you aren't just a student anymore; you’re transitioning from using theoretical learning to practical living.

It is a rare, beautiful moment of pure, unadulterated closure before the next chapter begins.  

Congratulations graduates!

Celebrating the Class of 2026

Welcome to the official convocation hub for Lakehead University. We will gather these days to honor the dedication, resilience, and academic excellence of our graduating classes. These ceremonies mark the culmination of years of hard work and the beginning of a new chapter of impact.

Below, you will find all the essential information to help graduates, families, and faculty celebrate this monumental milestone, from ceremony schedules and ticketing to live-stream links for our global community. 
Join us as we salute our newest alumni.

A photo of Students on stage during convocation laughing and clapping

Message from Lakehead University’s President & Vice-Chancellor


President of Lakehead University

Congratulations to you, our graduating class!

As you cross the stage at your convocation ceremony, I invite you to reflect on this transformational moment.

You are not simply walking across the stage to a roar of applause from your friends, family, and supporters; no, this milestone is much more profound. Crossing the stage and obtaining your hard-earned degree signifies stepping into the next phase of your bright and brilliant future.

Whether your goal is to begin working in your chosen field or to continue your education by pursuing advanced studies, completing your degree at Lakehead University has bestowed upon you the gifts of choice and opportunity.

From this moment forward, the key to unlocking your future is in your hands. I know that your journey from the first day of orientation to convocation was not easy. You have grown as a person, you have expanded your mind, built your skill sets, and you are well-prepared for what comes next.

On behalf of our faculty and staff, and alongside your friends, family, and supporters, I offer my heartfelt congratulations. The entire Lakehead community is proud of all you have accomplished, and we are honoured to be part of your life’s story.

Dr. Gillian Siddall, President and Vice-Chancellor
Lakehead University

Read More About President Siddall's Regalia

Message from Lakehead University’s Chancellor


Chancellor

Congratulations and Power to our Graduating Class 

Your class is in the unique position of graduating into a world that is suffering from extremely negative uses of Power and Privilege. Power is used now to wage trade and armed wars. Power is used now to attack education, health, the press, and the arts. Power is used now to belittle and demean individuals, groups, and countries.

However, you are in an equally unique position to counter these negative forces, and I have every confidence that you will.  I join you in thanks for the power given to you by your support teams of family and friends. You are Empowered, and will continue to cultivate your partnerships of faculty and classmates. You are Empowered by your scholarship and abilities to find real solutions to real problems. You are Empowered by understanding the urgent need for truth and reconciliation, and by your active compassion for the demeaned. You are Empowered by your crucial involvements in education, health, the arts, and your love of Canada.

You are ready and need not be afraid.  Greetings. Congratulations. Thank you.

Rita Shelton Deverell, CM, EdD
Chancellor