Giving people a sense of belonging is one of Taliah Lalande's missions in life.

The fact that she received a 2025 Lakehead Leader Award for Community Engagement proves just how successful she's been.

 Taliah at the final home game of the Lakehead Orillia 2024-25 soccer season. 

A Master of Educational Studies student, Taliah first arrived at Lakehead Orillia as an undergraduate in the Bachelor of Arts and Science program.

"I majored in interdisciplinary studies with a focus on geography," she says. "I love to travel, and the program allowed me to explore and understand the world around me."

But making the transition from high school to university was a little disconcerting. She found herself in a new city where she didn't know a soul.

"There were 14 people in my middle school in Kitchener, so I was used to being in a close-knit group."
Her experience inspired her to help other Lakehead students feel less isolated.

"Loneliness is one of the worst things for mental health, so I decided to help grow students' relationships and connections," she says. "I always checked in with them, listened to them, and brought their concerns forward in meetings."

An Enthusiastic Cheerleader and Supporter

Taliah continued her community building as an intern with Lakehead Orillia Athletics. In this role, she fostered camaraderie among athletes on the soccer and hockey teams and across campus through social media.

"Although I can't play soccer anymore because of an injury, I can still support," she says. "I cheer my loudest and take pictures that the players will cherish."

She's now continuing her work with Lakehead Athletics as a social media and communications assistant.

Taliah (BASED'25) manages Lakehead Athletics' content creation, photography, and communications across Instagram. "I also attend as many events as possible. I love supporting student athletes and building school spirit." Above, Taliah at last season's final Varsity Kick-off soccer event.

As an undergraduate, Taliah also volunteered on the board of the Education Student Teacher Association – Orillia (ESTA-O), first as operations director, then, last year, as vice-president.

Organizing events and activities is another way that she's created a greater sense of community.

"We've led food drives and donated the groceries we collected to the Sharing Place Food Centre in Orillia. We wanted to make sure families had access to the essentials."

She also took charge of Crafts and Cocoa. For this popular event, students sell handmade crafts, baked goods, and small items, while ESTA-O sells hot chocolate, coffee, and tea. "It's meant to draw people together, raise funds for charity, and support local student businesses."

A Student to Look Up To

It was because of her efforts to connect students through ESTA-O that Taliah was honoured with a Lakehead Leader Award.

Presented by Lakehead's Student Success Centre, these awards celebrate exceptional students who inspire the Lakehead community.

Taliah with Wolfie at the Bell Let’s Talk Hockey Night where the Lakehead Extramural Women's Hockey Team played for the Frost Cup. 

According to the Student Success Centre, "Taliah was nominated because of her kindness and compassion, consistently demonstrating a dedication to others in every aspect of their involvement at Lakehead."

She's known for offering solace and support to students under stress.

"Someone later told me that having me sit with them made them feel seen and safe. It reminded me how powerful small acts of care can be, and reaffirmed why I want to work in education."

Helping Children Feel Valued

After finishing her undergraduate studies, Taliah wanted to gain more education and experience before jumping into the classroom. She opted for a Master of Educational Studies with a focus on mental health.

"I want to get a better understanding of how I can help students in my own classroom one day.

I'm most drawn to the junior grades," she adds. "I enjoy helping them build their confidence and deepen their social-emotional learning.

I want to become 'that teacher,' the one that students can always turn to."