"I love to bake—it's my escape and one of the ways that I express caring," says Brandon Rhéal Amyot, a soon-to-be graduate of Lakehead Orillia's Bachelor of Arts and Science in Interdisciplinary Studies program. "When I was a kid, my mom and I would bring trays of baked goods to our neighbours during the holidays."

In elementary school, Brandon's baking abilities helped take them in a new direction after a teacher recommended they attend an Ontario Educational Leadership Centre (OELC) summer camp. "I'm from a working-class family," Brandon explains, "so I spent months baking cookies and selling them at recess to raise money to attend OELC—my mum would find me baking at midnight."

Brandon (second from left) attended Georgian College and Carleton University before coming to Lakehead. They will be graduating with a Bachelor of Arts and Science in Interdisciplinary Studies in June 2025. This unique degree gave them the opportunity to study political science, media, film, and communications.

Brandon's sense of civic engagement is a thread that runs throughout their life. Today, they are an inspiring intersectional activist focused on youth, postsecondary education, media, and the 2SLGBTQ+ and Indigenous communities. They spent 10 years volunteering with Fierté Simcoe Pride—a grassroots organization that advocates for the 2SLGBTQ+ community—before becoming the VP Orillia of the Lakehead University Student Union (LUSU).

"I always ask myself, 'How can I fight for students, for Lakehead, and for equity?' I had to fight to open the door to postsecondary education for myself, and I want to leave it open for others. Although I'm the first person in my family to go to college or university, I hope I won't be the last."

Brandon enrolled at Lakehead Orillia because "it's an interdisciplinary campus by design. I didn't want to go to school simply to get a job. I wanted to become a lifelong learner and build skills to uplift communities, and interdisciplinary studies lend themselves to that." Brandon believes there's real power in students working together. "It's what enabled us to open LUSU Orillia's Food Pantry—an emergency food resource for students in need that's served over 2,200 students since opening in October 2022. The Food Pantry is one of my proudest achievements because I've struggled with food security at certain points.

"After Lakehead, I feel much more prepared to be part of the world and to take on the world," Brandon says. "I owe that to my family, friends, and instructors who've encouraged me to stay the path." Photo credit: Jessica Owen

With the increasing wealth inequality and the social and political challenges gripping us, we need to step up in any way we can," adds Brandon, who recently joined the City of Orillia's Poverty Reduction Working Group. They have also officially launched their career, even though they are still a month away from graduation.

"I've been hired as LUSU's first governance and advocacy officer, supporting student leaders, the union, and our university community. I'm also working part-time with the Paapiiwaaniimaan Grassy Narrows Mercury Care Home as an executive assistant with their Operational Planning Committee. These roles are both close to my heart and offer me a way to give back.

We have to take bold risks as students, faculty, staff, and community members, and do it with grit and with love. That's the whole purpose of higher education—Lakehead instilled in me that a rising tide lifts all boats."

September 23, 2014 – Orillia, ON

Researchers at Lakehead University’s Orillia campus are offering the public an opportunity to learn about the water quality of Lake Couchiching — including past, present, and future research studies. The presentation and discussion takes place on Friday, September 26 at 500 University Avenue from 7:00 – 9:00 pm.

“This is an opportunity for anyone who uses or appreciates Lake Couchiching to come and learn about research activities on the Lake,” said Research Assistant Debbie Balika, recent graduate of the Master of Biology program at Lakehead. “Those in attendance will not only learn about the various kinds of research being conducted in and around the Lake, but will have an opportunity to ask questions and join in a discussion about future research activities.”

Balika, along with Lakehead professors Dr. Nanda Kanavillil and Dr. Sree Kurissery of the Sustainability Sciences Department, will discuss their ongoing and future research projects. Special guest, Keith Sherman, Executive Director of the Severn Sound Environmental Association, will share past water quality research results.

The event is open to the public and free of charge. For further information and to confirm attendance, those interested in attending should contact Debbie Balika at dbalika@lakeheadu.ca.

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Media: For more information, please contact Lakehead University’s Communications Officer, Kathy Hunt, at 705-330-4008 ext. 2014 or kjhunt3@lakeheadu.ca.

 In 2015, Lakehead University will celebrate 50 years of exceptional education. Guided by a new Strategic Plan (2013-2018), our University is known for providing an education focused on independent thinking, unconventional scholarship, and a close sense of community. About 9,700 students and 2,000 faculty and staff learn and work in ten faculties at two campuses, in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s first new Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and Faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences and Humanities, Science and Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education and Graduate Studies. Lakehead is among Canada’s Top 10 undergraduate universities (2014 Maclean’s University Rankings), as well as 1st in Ontario and 2nd in Canada for its innovative research (Re$earch Infosource). Visit http://www.lakeheadu.ca.