Get all the important information you need about housing as you get ready to begin your journey at Lakehead. Whether you’re looking for a place off-campus or want to understand about on-campus options, this session is a must-attend for new students!
Getting ready to move to a new country and starting your student experience can be both exciting and challenging. We are here to support you! Join us to learn what to consider when planning your move, connect with your advisors, and prepare for a smooth transition to life at Lakehead. We’ll also share helpful information for students coming with dependants, including school registration, childcare options, and other important resources.
Get ready for your journey at Lakehead! Learn about essential supports and services, how to access and manage your Lakehead accounts, and find everything you need to start your studies with confidence.
Lakehead University's Office of Community Engagement and Lifelong Learning (CELL) has received a 2026 County of Simcoe Age‑Friendly Business Recognition Award.
These awards celebrate local businesses, organizations, and community members who help create welcoming, inclusive, and accessible environments for older adults across the region.
Above, CELL Director Nicky Locker (third from left) and TALL Coordinator Anne Hilliard (third from right) accept CELL's 2026 County of Simcoe Age‑Friendly Business Recognition Award from Township of Oro-Medonte Mayor Randy Greenlaw, Commissioner of Health & Emergency Services Jane Sinclair, Township of Essa Mayor Sandie Macdonald, and Warden Basil Clarke.
"Third Age Learning Lakehead (TALL) is one of our flagship age-friendly programs, and we are humbled to be recognized in this way," says CELL Director Nicky Locker. "Seniors are central members of Lakehead University's academic community here in Simcoe County, and their passion for lifelong learning is inspiring for all of us."
TALL includes a five-part lecture series that delivers thought-provoking educational opportunities for adult learners over 50, alongside additional learning opportunities. A volunteer committee of seniors chaired by Anne Hilliard—a retired Simcoe County elementary school principal—advises on focus areas and ensures the program meets the needs of its participants.
A meeting of TALL Committee members.
"TALL enables engagement, connection, and lifelong learning." Locker says. "We want to foster social networks and a sense of community."
CELL does this by making TALL, and other programming that seniors can participate in, easy to access. Events are held on Lakehead University's Orillia campus, locations throughout Simcoe County, and via livestream so that people from across the country—including alumni and people in Lakehead University's Thunder Bay and Barrie communities—can attend.
There are also plans to begin hosting in-person events on the Thunder Bay campus soon.
TALL lectures include a 20-minute coffee break to give attendees time to discuss what they've heard and to think of questions to ask during the Q & A session that follows every lecture. Above, a TALL wine-and-cheese event held at Orillia's St. Paul's Church in March 2025. Lakehead professor Dr. Sandra Jeppesen gave a lecture entitled, "Disinformation, deepfakes, memes, and riots in the context of US elections: Is public debate bad for democracy?"
"When I coordinate CELL activities like TALL, the Ontario Master Naturalist Program (OMNP), Professional Development Training courses, and other CELL workshops, seniors and retirees are often among the first ones to sign up," Locker says.
In fact, a local senior leads the OMNP. Bob Bowles, 81, established this program at Lakehead University 14 years ago, which was the first of its kind in the country. OMNP participants can choose the nine-week online certificate program or individual workshops that take place locally to learn about nature and environmental stewardship.
"The presence of CELL in our community allows seniors to network across all generations, learn, and mentor others," CELL Director Nicky Locker says. "They frequently bring their children and grandchildren to our programming." Above, 81-year-old master naturalist Bob Bowles leads participants interested in learning about mushrooms on a three-hour trek through Simcoe Country's Copeland Forest in his "Magical, Mystical Mushrooms" workshop held on September 13, 2026.
Locker notes that seniors who participate in TALL and OMNP are keen to "show up and be part of the solution when it comes to making the world a better place. They don't shy away from complex issues, such as environmental and social justice, and they often express a desire to get their children and grandchildren involved."
The next TALL series faces these issues head-on. October 7 marks the start of the 2026-27 TALL lecture series "A Time for Change: Evolving Our Civilization" with a talk from climate-technology expert Akhil Puri discussing how we can build lives and institutions capable of meeting the challenges of both today and tomorrow—including AI risk, inequality, climate change, and political polarization.
One lecture that will be sure to get people talking takes place on October 21. "Watching Trump from Afar - Elbows Up World," will be presented by Larry Black, an 89-year-old former NATO research fellow and Canadian Security and Intelligence Service instructor.
CELL partners with diverse community organizations like the Orillia Museum of Art and History, the Couchiching Conservancy, and the Muskoka Discovery Centre to host unique events, workshops, and programming. "We're working together to make our region a place where everyone can participate, share their stories, and continue to learn together," CELL Director Nicky Locker says. Above, participants at a September 16, 2026, TALL session held at the Muskoka Discovery Centre. It was led by Lakehead education professor Dr. Gary Pluim and was called "Reading the World: The Case for Geographic Literacy in Education."
Locker is committed to continuing to do the work that led to Lakehead University's nomination for the County of Simcoe award. "Seniors ask us to tell it to them straight, to give them hope, and to show them how they can take action. They want to leave a legacy of care and activism."
"At its core, CELL promotes an age-friendly philosophy by ensuring older adults have opportunities to learn, contribute, participate, and connect," says Lakehead University Orillia Principal Dr. Linda Rodenburg.
The first talk in the TALL lecture series, "How to Build a Self-Correcting Life—and Civilization," is taking place this morning. TALL talks cost $20 per lecture or $80 for the entire series.
Aimed at faculty and graduate students, this session breaks down the Lakehead University REB portal (Romeo), core application components, common pitfalls that delay approval, and tips for navigating delegated versus full board reviews.
We are a resource for you!
Stop by the Student Health & Wellness table to discover recreation and gym options available to you as a student! Explore supports, resources, and practical tips to help you stay active, keep moving, and prioritize your well-being, even as the weather changes and school responsibilities start to ramp up. Prioritize movement that brings you joy - because movement should feel like a celebration, not a chore.
As part of the 7th Annual Academic Integrity Awareness Week, visit the fun, interactive stations designed to help students learn about important academic integrity rules, new emerging trends and academic supports. Free food and draw prizes for participants. No registration required.
The 2026 Alumni Awards will be presented during Homecoming Weekend in Orillia at Lakehead Celebrates – Thursday, Oct. 15.
Dr. Maureen Adamson, BBA ‘86
Rob Jamieson, BA/HBOR (Geography) '94
Dr. Bryanna Scott-Kay, BA (Sociology) ‘98; HBSW '03; MPH '07; PhD (Education) '21
Dara McLeod, BEd '94
Claudette McGowan, BA '17
Dr. Temitope Ojo, PhD (Forest Sciences) ‘24
Linda Henderson, HBPHE ’82, MSc ’85, BEd ‘85
Rebecca Akrasi-Sarpong, BA (English) ‘14
Erin Michele Knight, HBEM '19
Dr. Frances Heylar
Distinguished Alumni Award
The Distinguished Alumni Award is presented annually in recognition of a seasoned Lakehead University alumnus/a well-established in their chosen career or field. The award recognizes significant lifetime contributions by an individual, whether through professional accomplishment, community involvement, or philanthropic dedication.
Exceptional Alumni Award
The Exceptional Alumni Award is presented by the Alumni Association to an alumnus/a who has demonstrated distinction or outstanding achievement in a particular field, community service work, personal accomplishment, or significant local, national, or international recognition for a personal endeavor.
Trailblazer Award
The Trailblazer Award is presented annually in recognition of a Lakehead University graduate, of the last ten years, who has flourished since graduation. The recipient will have shown exceptional and unconventional accomplishment in their professional career, community involvement, and/or philanthropic work in Canada or around the world.
Alumni Legacy Award
The recipient of the Alumni Legacy Award has demonstrated exceptional commitment and contribution to the Alumni Association and the University, exemplifying the highest standards of personal and professional integrity, civic responsibility, vision and leadership. This award identifies the recipient as a valued member of the alumni community.
Ambassador Award
The Ambassador Award is presented annually in recognition of a champion of Lakehead University. This award is presented to an individual whose dedication and continuing support of Lakehead University has made a significant impact on students, alumni, faculty and staff. Presented to an internal or external champion, the award recognizes the exceptional and unconventional community of Lakehead University.
Honorary Membership
This award, given at the discretion of the Board of Directors, is the highest honour that the Association can bestow upon a non-graduate of Lakehead University. It is in recognition of your significant efforts on behalf of, and contribution to the success and advancement of Lakehead University.
Sophie Regalado will join Lakehead University’s academic community as the new University Librarian beginning November 17, 2026.
With over two decades of leadership spanning academic and hospital libraries, Sophie currently serves as Director of the Health Sciences Library and Data Stewardship Office at NOSM University.
“I’m delighted to join Lakehead’s academic community and to lead its exceptional library team as University Librarian,” she says. “Libraries are at the heart of learning and discovery, and I look forward to working with colleagues, students, and the broader Lakehead community in shaping the next chapter together.”
Prior to her time at NOSM U, Sophie held progressive leadership roles within the Health Sciences Library for the Northern Ontario School of Medicine on Lakehead’s Thunder Bay campus. She’s been an active member of Lakehead’s Centre for Research on Safe Driving since 2016 and taught as a sessional lecturer in Lakehead University’s departments of History and Gender and Women’s Studies. In addition, she also served as the Manager of Library Services at St. Joseph’s Care Group in Thunder Bay.
Sophie holds a Master of Information Studies from the University of Toronto and a Master of Arts in History from McMaster University. A distinguished member of the Academy of Health Information Professionals since 2015—the highest professional credential for health sciences librarianship—Sophie has deeply contributed to her field. Her leadership contributions include serving as the Editor-in-Chief of the Journal of the Canadian Health Libraries Association and President of the Ontario Health Libraries Association. Beyond her university roles, Sophie has also held key roles with the Medical Library Association, the Canadian Health Libraries Association’s Board of Directors, and currently chairs the Association of College and Research Libraries’ Information Literacy Frameworks and Standards Committee. Her dedication to the field has been celebrated nationwide, receiving both the Ontario Health Libraries Association’s Outstanding Achievement Award and the Canadian Health Libraries Association’s Canadian Hospital Librarian of the Year Award.
“We are thrilled to have Sophie joining us and look forward to welcoming her to Lakehead University and this new role,” says Dr. Gillian Balfour, Provost and Vice-President (Academic).
