Student Affairs - Orillia Campus

Hockey is making its return!

After an extended pause of play, OCR hockey is making its return and Lakehead Orillia Athletics is excited to announce tryout schedules and details for both our men's and women's teams.

Our teams compete in the Ontario Collegiate Recreation (OCR) against other colleges and affiliate members of the OCAA. Extramural hockey is a tournament based sport, and our teams compete in two to four tournaments per season through OCR RECSport.

Tryouts will take place September 30 and October 6. For full tryout details and times, visit orilliathunderwolves.ca or email orillia.athletics@lakeheadu.ca.

Fall intramural registration open

Intramural sports offers the Lakehead community an opportunity to stay involved in the sports they love, or to try a new sport while they attend university. All intramural sports are designed so that each student can have fun in a safe recreational setting. No experience is required and all are welcome.

Intramural offerings this fall include Campus Cup, a brand new multi-sport league, and Learn to Row. Visit orilliathunderwolves.ca or email orillia.athletics@lakeheadu.ca for more information.

WellU Wednesdays

Student Health and Wellness is excited to welcome all our new and returning Thunderwolves back to campus!

Transitioning back to student life can be hard, but we are here to support you. For the first six weeks of the term, join us for WellU Wednesdays, where we'll offer different health promotional trainings and activities each week. For schedule and details, visit the Student Health and Wellness webpage.

Have questions? Contact Student Health and Wellness at orluwell@lakeheadu.ca or call 705-330-4010 ext. 2116.

Are you interested in creating a more sustainable university?

The Office of Sustainability is looking for students from Thunder Bay (two graduate, one undergraduate) and students from Orillia (one graduate, one undergraduate) to act as a representative to the Lakehead University Sustainability Stewardship Council (LUSSC). The term is for the 2022/2023 academic year and the LUSSC meets quarterly. Terms are renewable.

This notice serves as an open call for interest from all students to fulfill the role as a student representative to the LUSSC for the 2022/2023 Fall, Winter, and Spring/Summer terms. Self-nominations are welcome.

Please email your interest to serve by including a maximum 250 word statement describing your interest in sustainability and participation on the LUSSC to Devon Lee, Sustainability Coordinator, at dlee2@lakeheadu.ca by Tuesday, Sept. 27.

Details: Sustainability is a diverse, global movement in society, economics, environment, and in higher education. At Lakehead University, sustainability is considered in a pluralistic and inclusive way, encompassing human and ecological health, social justice and equity, Indigenous rights, secure livelihoods, workplace well-being, and leadership for vibrant and resilient communities. Lakehead University aspires to make sustainability a shared priority in all sectors of university life.

The LUSSC provides a forum for students, faculty, administration, and community members to create Lakehead University’s unique sustainability profile by examining key sustainability issues and implementing the 2019-2024 Sustainability Plan impacting all sectors of the University at its Thunder Bay and Orillia campuses.

Setting Boundaries

Personal boundaries can be murky- they vary from person to person and occasionally from situation to situation. Even though personal boundaries can be challenging to navigate, learning how to set and communicate them allows you to prioritize your health and wellbeing.

Take time to reflect on what you want and don’t want in different situations (e.g. work, friendships, romantic relationships). The key to setting boundaries is first figuring out what you want from your various relationships and setting boundaries based on those desires. Once you know your boundaries, it is important to share them with others (remember that no one is a mindreader and might have different boundaries than you). Here are some tips on how to confidently and respectfully communicate your expectations:

Be assertive. Be firm and use clear, non-negotiable language. You can use “I statements” to make sure that you letting others know what you need and why instead of focussing on the actions of others (i.e. I feel overwhelmed after school/work and need time to myself before I can socialize vs. You need to give me space when I get home).
Use “No” as a complete sentence. You don’t always need to justify your decision. If someone asks you to cover a shift or to take on another project, say no without an excuse or explanation.
Protect your time. Remote learning and work have blurred a lot of boundaries, enforce them by designating work/study hours, setting cut-off times for responding to emails/texts or using the do not disturb features on your devices. You can share those times with others to help them be respected (e.g. let your supervisor know when they can expect to receive responses from you or let your roommates know when you are studying so they know not to interrupt).
Remember, you are not responsible for the other person’s reaction to the boundary you are setting. You are only responsible for communicating your boundary in a respectful manner. If it upset them, know it is their problem. Plan on it, expect it but remain firm. Remember, your behaviour must match the boundaries you are setting. You cannot successfully establish a clear boundary if you send mixed messages by apologizing.
Get assistance or support. If setting boundaries was easy, we wouldn’t be sharing this article and some situations are more complicated than others. If you’re experiencing challenges with setting or asserting boundaries, or if someone is causing you difficulty by crossing them, never hesitate to reach out to a mental health professional- you can book an appointment with Student Health and Wellness counsellors or connect with

Province’s GO-VAXX bus coming to Lakehead University

October 5, 2021 – Orillia, Ont.

The province’s GO-VAXX mobile vaccine bus is rolling into Lakehead University on October 6.

The GO-VAXX bus will be set up at the Orillia Campus at 500 University Ave. in Orillia from 10 am to 6 pm on Wednesday, Oct. 6. Students, faculty, staff, and community members born in 2009 or earlier will be able to receive a first or second dose of the Pfizer vaccine. No appointment is required.

Each bus operates as a fully functioning vaccine clinic with the necessary supplies and trained staff to provide assistance to people and ensure vaccines are administered safely. All COVID-19 safety precautions will be followed on board, including the required pre-vaccination screening and post-vaccination monitoring.

Anyone wishing to take advantage of the GO-VAXX bus to receive their vaccine is reminded to:

Bring your health card. If you do not have a health card or your health card is expired, bring another form of government-issued photo identification such as a driver’s license, passport, status card or birth certificate.
Eat and drink something before you arrive to prevent feeling faint or dizzy while being vaccinated.
Dress for the weather in case there is a lineup.
Wear clothing that allows for easy access to the upper arm such as a loose-fitting top or a T-shirt.
Wear a mask that covers your nose, mouth and chin.
Do not visit the GO-VAXX bus if you have symptoms of COVID-19.

For a complete list of vaccination clinics within Simcoe Muskoka, visit www.simcoemuskokahealth.org.

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Media: Jaclyn Bucik, Media, Communications & Marketing Associate, at 705-330-4010 ext. 2014 or mediarelations@lakeheadu.ca.

Lakehead University is a fully comprehensive university with approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and over 2,000 faculty and staff at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead has 10 faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Graduate Studies, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Law, Natural Resources Management, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, Science & Environmental Studies, and Social Sciences & Humanities. Lakehead University’s achievements have been recognized nationally and internationally, including being ranked, once again, among Canada’s Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities in Maclean’s 2021 University Rankings; as well as included in the top half of Times Higher Education's 2020 World Universities Rankings for the second consecutive year, and 99th among 1,115 universities from around the world in THE's 2021 Impact Rankings (which assesses institutions against the United Nations’ 17 Sustainable Development Goals). Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.

Student Health and Wellness Launches New Resources to Support Mental Health

We are all experiencing a wide range of emotions as we near the fall semester- nervous, excited, anxious and everything in between. Some of our students will struggle with their mental health as they adjust to our new modes of delivery and the ever-changing public health guidelines that will exist on our campuses. Student Health and Wellness wants to be proactive in encouraging students to access support and we invite all Lakehead staff and faculty to work with us in reducing the stigma surrounding mental health concerns. These resources are simple to use but can lead to a culture on campus where students seek help when it is needed. In addition to the following statements generated for staff and faculty members to consider using, Student Health and Wellness will continue to offer monthly Students in Distress training sessions.

Email Signature

Email signatures are regularly used to communicate information. Using your email signature to communicate your working hours can help to support your own work-life balance and create realistic expectations of response time for students. Linking to the How to Ask for Help guide ensures that even if you do not immediately respond- students are still aware of the support and resources available to them and are encouraged to access them when needed.

Suggested Signature line:

PLEASE NOTE MY WORK HOURS: I check and respond to emails during my working hours of Monday to Friday, 8:30 am to 4:30 pm. I will not regularly see or respond to emails outside of these hours.

Are you ok? Our How to ask for Help at Lakehead guide was made for you.

Need to talk to someone right now? Good 2 Talk is a free, confidential 24/7 post-secondary student helpline. Call 1-866-925-5454 or text GOOD2TALKON to 686868.

Mental Health Syllabi Statement

A statement in the syllabus can send a positive signal of support for students' learning and well-being by including recommendations and encouragement for students to take care of themselves and seek help when they need it. The statement might also be used to encourage classroom conversations about the stigma that keeps students from getting professional help.

Suggested Statement:

As a university student, you may sometimes experience mental health concerns or stressful events that interfere with your academic performance and negatively impact your daily activities.

All of us can benefit from support during times of struggle. If you or anyone you know experiences academic stress, difficult life events or feelings of anxiety or depression, Student Health and Wellness is here to help. Their services are free for Lakehead Students and appointments are available. You can learn more about confidential mental health services available on and off campus at lakeheadu.ca/shw.

Remember that getting help is a smart and courageous thing to do- for yourself, for those you care about, and for those who care about you. Asking for support sooner rather than later is almost always helpful.

You could also choose to include this slide with the statement in your lecture. Student Health and Wellness can also provide a short presentation about the wellness services on campus.

We would be interested in knowing whether you use the signature or statement (or a modified version). If you have any questions, feedback, or otherwise would like to suggest modifications, feel free to contact Lindsey Wachter, Health and Wellness Promoter, activities.shcc@lakeheadu.ca.

Keywords:

mental health

Talk Campus has arrived at Lakehead!

We have launched a new mental health service called TalkCampus. It’s a free to download app where you can talk with other students from around the world if you’re struggling and worried about your mental health. Your student email address will give you free access, just download TalkCampus from the app stores.

TalkCampus is anonymous, it isn’t run by us and we won’t be able to see if you are using it, you also won’t be able to see where other students are from. TalkCampus is based around peer support; you can use it if you need some help yourself or you can go on there and listen and support others.

The platform is safe and moderated and is designed as a place where you can just be yourself and talk about how you’re really feeling. Student life can be tough and we know sometimes you might not want to talk to us about how you’re feeling. TalkCampus isn’t a replacement for counselling or professional support however it is a great place to start talking and to make sure that however you’re feeling right now you’re not alone.

Embracing the Winter

Wintertime can be tough mentally and physically without a pandemic placing restrictions on outings, gatherings and activities. But whether we like it or not, the cold weather is here to stay and this year is definitely the time to embrace the season rather than get through it. Try some of the following to make the change:

Dress for the Weather. A popular saying in Norway is “There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothes”. It’s important to prioritize your extremities-if they are cold, you will be miserable. Get warm socks, waterproof insulated boots, mitts or gloves and a toque. To keep your core warm and dry, plan to layer. You need a base layer, an insulating layer and an outer shell.

Find an outdoor activity you enjoy. Now is the time to try something new (or rediscover an old pastime) that makes you want to spend time outside. Snowshoeing, ice climbing, cross country skiing, ice skating, sledding, and fat tire biking are all options even under the current Ontario COVID-19 public health restrictions.

Socialize. While indoor gatherings are restricted, going outside is an opportunity to get together with friends or family. Bundle up and have a bonfire (keep the guest list within gathering limits) or meet a friend for one of the outdoor activities from the last tip.

Shift your mindset. Focus on the small things you enjoy about the winter: the beauty of a fresh snowfall, warming up with hot chocolate, the opportunity to get cozy and lost in a book, whatever is it, try to consciously focus on it instead of focussing on the things you dislike.

If you are struggling with the winter blues, don't forget to reach out and book a counselling appointment with Student Health and Wellness. Our counsellors can give some guidance and help connect you to resources if needed.

-Lindsey Wachter, R. Kin

Health and Wellness Promoter

Making New Habits Stick

Did you start the new year off with the best of intentions to wake up early, eat right, and exercise daily, but are already struggling to maintain your new routine? It’s normal to struggle with new habits, but there is also a lot of research we can learn from on how to make your resolution stick this year.

1. Focus on the process, not on the outcome

A lot of goals focus on the outcome- weight loss, books read, miles ran- but these kinds of goals don’t deliver results, behaviour changes do. And behaviour change is a process- so focus on the habits and routines needed to achieve your overall goal instead of the desired outcome.

2. Too Small to Fail

It’s not uncommon to make sweeping resolutions or set lofty goals for yourself, only to abandon them a few weeks later. James Clear, the author of Atomic Habits, suggests that we need to start small when adopting a new habit by picking a task that is meaningful enough to make a difference, but simple enough that you can get it done. So take a look at your overall goal, break it down to a small task, and build up from there.

3. Engage People Around You

Having other people involved in the process can keep you accountable even if your motivation wanes from time to time. Engagement can be either– Active, where you inform your friends, partner or roommates who might be interested in and cultivate the habit together with them or Passive, where you let others know about your plans and having them morally support you.

There are also a ton of online communities you can join if you don't have anyone in your life who shares your new goal, do a quick google search to find people with similar resolutions. If your goal is fitness related, join our Wolves on the Move Strava community to stay committed.

4. Keep Track

Tracking keeps you accountable for your habits. Every day where you successfully do your habit, give yourself a check. It’s very satisfying to do the checks every time you finish a habit! You can track your habits physically on a whiteboard or journal, or on your computer/device.

Here are some great habit trackers apps:

Habit (iOs)
Done (iOs)
Loop (android)

5. Abandon Perfection

Life happens and you are bound to skip/miss a day at some point. Be kind and patient with yourself and get back on track tomorrow.

-Lindsey Wachter, R.Kin