Wondering about upcoming deadlines to pay your fees? Join our webinar to find out how to make a payment towards your tuition and what your tuition fees cover as a Lakehead student.
Our recruitment staff will be leading the presentation with special guests. Bring your questions for the live Q&A. Register today!
At Lakehead, we embrace the fact that you cannot go home every weekend. From the people you’ll meet to the laughs you’ll share, living in Residence will become a whole new way of life. Staying in Residence allows students to walk to classes, athletics, the cafeteria, and social spots without spending time commuting. Going to university isn’t just about going to class. Your Residence Life Team will ensure you always have something to do!
Have you recently been accepted into a co-op work term for Spring 2026? If so, you will require a co-op work permit to complete this work in Canada. This is separate from your study permit. If you don't already have one, we recommend applying online right away. Work permit processing is very delayed in Canada so please apply early. You can join this workshop to go over the online application with your International Student Advisor.
Dr. Temitope Ojo had big dreams when he was growing up, but working in the natural resources industry wasn't one of them.
"As a kid in Nigeria, we didn't have constant electricity," Temitope says. "So I set my mind on becoming an electrical engineer because I wanted to be part of the solution."
For Temitope's PhD thesis, he did a comparative analysis of two communities that relied upon one primary industry for their survival—Atikokan, Ontario, and Oloibira, Nigeria.
After he finished high school, he applied to the Federal University of Agriculture Abeokuta (FUNAAB), Nigeria.
Then Temitope hit a snag.
It would be a full year before his electrical electronics engineering spot would become available, and he didn't want to wait around. When the university told him they had a spot open in their forestry program, Temitope took it.
His friends weren't sure about this unexpected choice. "They laughed when I told them and said, 'You're going to be a forester?'"
"But I fell in love with forestry," he says.
When he finished his undergraduate degree, graduating with distinction, Temitope put his newfound knowledge to practical use.
In Nigeria, all university graduates are required by law to complete a year of national service with the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to promote national unity and community development. Temitope was eager to use this service year to support reforestation efforts.
"Nigeria is in an environmental crisis caused by deforestation," he explains. "With fewer trees to anchor the soil and break the wind, communities are facing landslides and strong winds that rip roofs off homes."
He planted over 10,000 trees during his year of service—both fast-growing Gmelina and sturdy teak trees.
His herculean efforts earned him a National Youth Service Corps State Coordinator's Award from the federal government.
Temitope was admitted to PhD programs in multiple countries, but Lakehead stood above the others. "I wanted professors with track records of mentoring their students and who specialized in my interests," he says. "I also wanted small classrooms and to be close to nature."
But Temitope wasn't finished with academia. He returned to school to complete a Master of Forest Economics and Management at FUNAAB, graduating at the top of his class.
"Then I decided to continue my passion for forestry, and began looking at PhD programs in the United Kingdom, Sweden, Finland, Hong Kong, and Canada. I picked Canada because it has the best forestry programs in the world."
Temitope's research led him to choose Lakehead. So, in 2019, he made the life-changing journey from Nigeria to northwestern Ontario.
"When you come to Lakehead, you don't only come to study," Temitope says. "Lakehead has the resources to help you fit into the community and to inspire you to give back to the community.
My PhD supervisor, Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu, instilled this ethos in me. I wanted to replicate that goodness."
Soon, Temitope was helping other students transition to life in a new country.
He started a shuttle system, giving new international students rides from the airport to their residences and buying groceries for them with his own money. He also introduced them to services available at Lakehead and in Thunder Bay.
"I became friends with many of the students I met."
Temitope was recognized by the university’s Student Success Centre with Lakehead Leader Awards for Diversity and Inclusion (2020) and Community Engagement (2023).
Temitope contributed in many other ways. He was the president of Lakehead's branch of the Canadian Union of Public Employees and a member of the Graduate Student Association's executive.
He volunteered with the environmental non-profit EcoSuperior, served as a citizen representative and vice-chair of the City of Thunder Bay's Anti-Racism & Equity Advisory Committee, and joined the Thunder Bay Historical Museum Society board, where he now serves as vice-president.
A few weeks before receiving his PhD in Forest Sciences in 2024, Temitope landed a position as the regional supervisor of the Ministry of Natural Resources' Northwest Region.
In this role, he leads the Regional Information and Analysis Unit, where he oversees natural resource assessment and geospatial analysis. He also develops complex Geographic Information System (GIS) products that support ecological sustainability and natural resource planning across northwestern Ontario.
Temitope served as the vice-chair of the Canadian Institute of Forestry (Northwestern Ontario) and was featured in an article in the September 2023 issue of the Professional Forester. Right, Temitope stands beside Dr. Michel S. Beaulieu after receiving a 2025 City of Thunder Bay Exceptional Achievement – Good Citizen Award.
"It's all thanks to the mentorship of Dr. Beaulieu," Temitope says. "When I was close to graduating, he reviewed my resume and gave me tips and pointers, which got me an interview with the Ministry of Natural Resources.
I'm so grateful to him and to Lakehead for helping me find my dream job."
OVERVIEW:
Bringing a child into the world should always be a joyful experience, but for many northern Ontario families, pregnancy also brings stress and anxiety.
Women across the region report difficulties in finding adequate perinatal and pregnancy care.
"If a woman living outside of a major centre needs her baby delivered, she often has to travel an average of four or five hours," says Health Sciences Professor Dr. Kirsty Bourret.
Dr. Kirsty Bourret (left) is a Francophone settler, midwife and researcher committed to advancing primary care, reproductive justice, anti-racism, and culturally safe care. She bridges clinical practice, policy, and implementation research to strengthen health systems that reflect the communities they serve.
Rural, Indigenous, and Francophone communities face the greatest challenges.
"Over the last five years, birth services in northern Ontario hospitals have been shutting down," says Health Sciences Professor Dr. Helle Møller. "Many of the remaining doctors don't have experience assisting with births, so they aren't offering maternity care."
"It was emotionally difficult to be separated from my two-year-old child for so long."
- Northern Ontario woman who had to leave her community to give birth
Dr. Helle Møller (right) studies the determinants of health, social justice, and equity in health, healthcare, and health education. In particular, she focuses on perinatal people, people on the female continuum, and Indigenous people in northern, rural, and remote regions.
For Dr. Bourret and Dr. Møller, the way to solve this concerning state-of-affairs is obvious. Train more midwives so that they can step into the gap.
Currently, midwives support approximately 40 per cent of all births in Thunder Bay, however, there aren't enough of them to meet demand in the region.
"Hundreds of northern Ontarians who want midwifery services are turned away because of a shortage of midwives," Dr. Bourret says.
Midwives are frontline healthcare providers whose services, which are free of charge, are comparable to those offered by doctors and nurse practitioners.
Prenatal, birth, and postpartum care is the focus of most midwives; however, they can also tend to every aspect of women's health and reproductive needs—from their teen years to menopause and beyond.
This care includes routine health screenings, contraception, early pregnancy loss and pregnancy care, care of mothers, and care of babies for the first two years of their lives.
They also allow women to choose where they will deliver their babies—at home, in a hospital, or at a birth centre.
During home births, midwives bring clinical equipment including blood pressure cuffs, IVs, portable ultrasounds, and instruments for suturing, as well as medications to stabilize newborns and mothers. Some midwives travel up to 400 km to treat patients in rural northern communities. Photo Credit: Association of Ontario Midwives
"There are a lot of misconceptions about midwives, including that they're untrained and unregulated," Dr. Møller says.
"We want the public to know that midwives must complete a four-year university degree and that they are a regulated health profession governed by the College of Midwives of Ontario. They collaborate closely with specialists and are recognized by the province of Ontario as essential to interprofessional primary care teams."
Dr. Bourret is a midwife herself. "I came to midwifery in 2000 because I believe that everyone deserves equitable, safe, and respectful care."
"Midwives have a unique philosophy of care and a huge positive effect on their clients' mental health," agrees Dr. Møller.
They provide continuity of care, informed choice, are on call 24 hours a day for urgent concerns, and travel to clients' homes for postpartum care.
Midwives help patients navigate a complex healthcare system by acting as advocates and by offering counselling and referrals. Currently, there are only about 1,000 midwives to serve Ontario's population of over 16 million. Photo Credit: Unsplash/Brian Wangenheim
Dr. Møller and Dr. Bourret are part of Northern Midwifery Care—an interdisciplinary research group committed to ensuring that every woman in northern Ontario receives culturally safe, equitable midwifery care.
The group is leading a large qualitative and quantitative midwifery research study called "Mapping Midwifery Care in Northern Ontario, an intersectional mixed methods study."
"Until now, there was no research showing where midwives are working in northern Ontario and how the midwife shortage is affecting access to primary healthcare," says Dr. Bourret, who is the study's lead investigator.
Dr. Møller is a co-investigator along with Laurentian University midwifery professor emeritus Dr. Susan James and Dr. Patrick Timony with the Centre for Rural and Northern Health Research. Their diverse research team also includes graduate students and northern Ontario client partner researchers with lived experiences, including midwives and doulas.
Over 51 midwives, plus clients from every district in northern Ontario, were interviewed for the research study. "I come from Denmark where midwives provide 85 per cent of care to pregnant and birthing people," Dr. Møller says. Photo Credit: Association of Ontario Midwives
Preliminary results of the study have found that midwives provide timely and continuous primary care across rural, remote, and urban communities in the North and that they are one of the backbones of a good healthcare system.
They divert admissions to hospitals—including costly emergency department visits for women and newborns—and free up hospital resources for other patients.
That's why Dr. Bourret and Dr. Møller are organizing the Northern Ontario Midwifery Symposium this winter, to explore challenges, innovations, and collaborative solutions that will support sustainable midwifery care in northern Ontario.
"Midwives are change agents,"Dr. Møller says.
Make your voice heard by clicking here to register for the Northern Ontario Midwifery Symposium on February 5, 2026.
Dr. Bourret and Dr. Møller's research is funded by the Association of Ontario Midwives. You can learn more about the Northern Midwifery Care research group on Facebook and Instagram. You can also email them at northernmidwiferycare@gmail.com.
Thrive Week is coming to GC in Barrie! Drop by to build your own Thrive Kit and take what you need to support your wellbeing this semester!
"In a small handful of healthy soil, there are billions of microorganisms—like bacteria and fungi—that's amazing!" says Lakehead Biology Professor, Dr. Nate Basiliko.
A love of soil began very early in life for Dr. Basiliko (right). He grew up on a 100-acre family farm in upstate New York. "There was a woodlot on our farm, and my brother and I occasionally tapped trees for maple syrup."
These microorganisms, also called microbes, can do everything from cleaning contaminated water to reducing the severity of wildfires.
Dr. Basiliko has been studying microbes since he was an undergraduate student working in a soil science laboratory at Cornell University.
"I started putting mud into jars and measuring what the microbes were doing, and I've never looked back," he says.
These microbes live in hyper-diverse communities called microbiomes.
"Microbiomes are everywhere—in soils, plants, wastewater, and in our bodies, particularly our lower guts. All living things are dependent on microbiomes."
Although soil science has been around for more than 100 years, a vast amount remains unknown.
"The tools to study soil microbiomes are still limited, but this makes it exciting for students and researchers."
Dr. Basiliko typically studies soils and ecosystems in managed boreal environments in Canada, but occasionally he collaborates with researchers in other parts of the world. Above, he tours the Antisano Volcano in Ecuador.
Dr. Basiliko is particularly interested in the connection between microbes and methane, a greenhouse gas.
Researchers collect a core sample from a peat bog (left). "I love collaborating with students, colleagues, and communities, government, and industry partners," Dr. Basiliko says. Photo Credit: Steph Davidson
"Some microbes eat and break down stagnant organic matter, so scientists are constantly looking for new ways to use them in human-engineered systems like wastewater management and agro-ecosystems," he says.
There's a downside to all this decay, though. "Rotting organic matter without oxygen generates huge amounts of methane, which contributes to global warming."
Luckily, there are methane-eating microbes, called methanotrophs, that consume most of the methane produced in the world's stagnant soils.
Part of Dr. Basiliko's research concentrates on slowing climate change by harnessing these microbes' ability to destroy methane.
In landfills, for instance, putting a layer of healthy, well-aerated topsoil over areas that have been filled with waste prevents most of the methane from escaping into the atmosphere.
Sundew (right) and pitcher plants are two carnivorous plants found in nutrient-poor bogs. In Ontario, 30 per cent of the province are wetlands, making them critical to fighting climate change. Photo Credit: Samantha Mitchell
Currently, Dr. Basiliko is a member of a large research project led by Nipissing University focused on reclaiming wetlands affected by mining operations.
"We're studying wetlands, also known as bogs and fens, in the Sudbury area of Ontario," he says.
"Until the 1970s, nickel and copper smelters released toxic chemicals into the air, causing severe environmental damage."
Typically, bogs act as spongy filters. Their native plants and microbial partners work together to purify polluted water before it flows into lakes and rivers.
Around Sudbury, however, the sheer volume of pollutants released into the atmosphere for almost a century has damaged many wetlands.
One group of plants that disappeared from bogs was peat mosses.
These plants are keystone species that support carbon sequestration, stable water levels, and a unique set of microbiomes, animals, and other plants—including carnivorous ones.
When they disappear, wetland ecosystems collapse.
For decades, the state of Sudbury-area bogs seemed irreversible. But peat mosses have begun to return, thanks to air quality regulations and large investments made by the mining sector.
The wetland research project is attempting to speed up peat mosses' recolonization of their former habitat. The hope is that if peat mosses flourish once again, microbial communities and other bog life will flourish, too.
Wetlands comprise only 2.5% of land surface area in the world, but hold one-third of its total carbon. They can also slow the spread of wildfires. Above, Dr. Basiliko (far right) with colleagues from Laurentian, Saint Mary's, Nipissing, and Brandon universities.
"Our research team is now planning the next stage of research, in collaboration with our industry partners," Dr. Basiliko says.
"We will sparingly take peat mosses from healthy wetlands that have been set aside for horticultural purposes. Then, we'll use drones to transplant them to degraded bogs and fens that could not otherwise be revegetated."
The mosses will be tracked by the researchers to see if they can successfully restore bogs.
"If this experiment works, we'd like to apply our results more globally. Creating practical solutions to serious problems is what inspires me as a researcher."
In 2025, Dr. Basiliko renewed his NSERC Discovery grant, 'Microbiomes Mediating Environmental Change Across Boreal Landscapes.' He is also one of the co-investigators in the wetland reclamation research project 'Mining atmospheric CO2: Assessing the efficacy of novel carbon sequestration strategies in smelter-damaged peatlands," which received an NSERC Alliance Missions grant. This project is led by Dr. Colin McCarter (Nipissing U) in collaboration with Dr. Ellie Goud (St. Mary's U), Dr. Pete Whittington (Brandon U), Dr. Peter Beckett (Laurentian U), and Dr. Florin Pendea (Lakehead Orillia).
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."
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."
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."
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."
This engaging lecture series is designed especially for retired and senior folks (and their networks!) who want to embrace aging with confidence, vitality, and clarity. Blending the latest scientific insights with practical life strategies, the series explores how today’s older adults can thrive—physically, mentally, socially, and politically—in a rapidly changing world. Each lecture is approachable, inspiring, and led by subject matter experts!
Application Deadline: March 1, 2026
Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies/ Department of Mathematical Sciences /Barrie STEM Hub
Reference #SES-2026-27-06 and SES-2026-27-07
Lakehead University, Barrie STEM Hub, invites applications for two tenuretrack appointments at the rank of Assistant Professor in the Department of Mathematical Sciences. The academic rank of the appointment will be commensurate with the qualifications of the successful candidate. The positions will commence on August 1, 2026.
Candidates for the position must have a Ph.D. degree in Mathematics completed by the start date of the appointment. A successful candidate should have demonstrated potential for independent research leading to publications in high quality peer reviewed journals and obtaining external research funding. It is expected that the successful candidates' research will enhance the department's existing activities. Applicants should have a demonstrated commitment to teaching with an excellent teaching record. Experience with experiential learning and online or alternative modes of course delivery is highly desired. Successful candidates will also be expected to contribute to the department, faculty, university, and community through service.
These positions will support of several undergraduate programs at the Barrie STEM Hub which is launching in Fall 2026, including honours programs in Computer Science and in three engineering programs (Electrical and Computer Engineering, Mechatronics Engineering and Software Engineering).
Lakehead is a comprehensive university with a reputation for innovative programs and cutting-edge research. Our campuses are located in Thunder Bay on the traditional lands of the Fort William First Nation, Signatory to the Robinson Superior Treaty of 1850 and in Orillia on the traditional territory of the Anishinaabeg, and Rama First Nation. Launching in fall 2026, the Lakehead University Barrie STEM Hub is Lakehead’s new high-tech learning and research space in the heart of Barrie’s waterfront district, with stunning lake views, nearby cafés and restaurants, a vibrant arts and culture scene, and strong public transit links, including direct GO Transit service connecting to parts of the GTA. The Barrie STEM Hub expands access to STEM (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) education in Simcoe County. Lakehead University acknowledges the history that many nations hold in the areas around our campuses and is committed to a relationship with Métis and Inuit and First Nations peoples. Lakehead has approximately 10,000 students and 2,160 faculty and staff. With an emphasis on collaborative learning and independent critical thinking and a multidisciplinary teaching approach, Lakehead offers a variety of degree and diploma programs at the undergraduate, graduate, and doctoral levels through its nine faculties, including Business Administration, Education, Engineering, Health and Behavioural Sciences, Natural Resources Management, Science and Environmental Studies, Social Sciences and Humanities, Graduate Studies, and Faculty of Law. For further information, please visit: www.lakeheadu.ca.
For further information about this posting, please contact Dr. Andrew J. Dean (ajdean@lakeheadu.ca). Detailed information on the Department of Mathematical Sciences and our programs is available at: www.math.lakeheadu.ca.
Review of applications will begin on March 1, 2026 and continue until the position is filled. The electronic application (in the form of one PDF document) quoting Reference #SES-2026-27-06 and SES-2026-27-07 should include: a letter of interest, curriculum vitae, evidence of teaching effectiveness (including a statement of teaching philosophy, course outlines and teaching evaluations for previously-taught courses), a statement of a research plan (current and future interests), copies of the three most significant publications, and the names and contact information of three references. A completed Confirmation of Eligibility to Work in Canada.pdf form must accompany your package.
Applicants should submit their electronic application quoting the above reference number to:
Dr. Todd Randall
Dean, Faculty of Science and Environmental Studies Lakehead University Lakehead University
Thunder Bay, Ontario
Email: applications.ses@lakeheadu.ca
Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities and other equityseeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements.
Lakehead University has an Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Action Plan 2019- 2024 with a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of under-represented groups among applicants, candidates and hires. We encourage candidates to self-identify, if you are from an under-represented group, and prefer candidates with the knowledge, competencies and relationships derived from lived experience. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.
We appreciate your interest; however, only those selected for an interview will be notified. Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process
should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343.8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.
These positions are subject to budgetary approval.
Lakehead University is committed to creating a diverse and inclusive environment and welcomes applications from all qualified individuals including women, racialized persons, Indigenous people, persons with disabilities, and other equity-seeking groups. All qualified candidates are encouraged to apply; however, Canadian citizens and permanent residents will be given priority. This is in accordance with Canadian immigration requirements.
Lakehead University has a goal to recruit and retain a diverse workforce as measured by increasing representation of underrepresented groups among applicants, candidates, and hires. Experience working with Indigenous or racialized communities, and/or members of other equity-deserving groups, is a strong asset. A lived experience or worked experience of any of these issues is preferred.
We appreciate your interest; Lakehead University is committed to supporting an accessible environment. Applicants requiring accommodation during the interview process should contact the Office of Human Resources at (807) 343-8010 ext. 8334 or human.resources@lakeheadu.ca to make appropriate arrangements.
