This Lakehead Leader Award Winner is Someone to Look Up to

On the road to success, some people sprint up the corporate ladder, while others extend that ladder behind them, lifting those who need help.

Brandon Rehfuhs, a Master of Science in Management student, offers a firm grip for those coming up behind him because he believes his purpose is to share his knowledge and experience.

The impact he's had on and off campus hasn't gone unnoticed.

Brandon received a 2025 Lakehead Leader Award in the Luminary category. The university's Student Success Centre recognized him with this honour for his success in spearheading projects that address community needs through entrepreneurship.

Brandon (centre), accepts a 2024-25 Lakehead Leader Award, as well as certificates of recognition and achievement, from Student Success Centre Director Paula Jean Broderick (left) and Vice-Provost & Registrar Andrea Tarsitano (right).

A Deep Love for the North

Born and raised in Thunder Bay, Brandon credits his father Axel—who graduated from Lakehead in 1993 with a Bachelor of Administration—with being his most inspiring mentor.

"He started his own water and plumbing business, and taught me about that as well as how to manage people effectively," explains Brandon, who earned his Honours Bachelor of Commerce in Accounting in 2024.

With that foundation to build on, he took advantage of Lakehead's many experiential learning opportunities, like the Enactus entrepreneurship club.

"I joined Enactus in my first year and later became president. They do amazing work helping people in the north."

Brandon loves welcoming new students to Lakehead during orientation, as well as providing academic support through small and large group peer mentorship sessions.

Building a Better World

Brandon's passion for social impact began early.

In 2017, when he was in grade nine, the City of Thunder Bay's Recreation and Culture Division gave him a Young Entrepreneurs Award to recognize his contributions to the community.

Calendars he designed raised $870 for charity.

He credits his time with the Rotary Youth Leadership Academy, Rotary Adventure in Citizenship Program, and the Thunder Bay Police Youth Corps with instilling civic pride. He has participated in many local events including The Terry Fox Run, Empty Bowls Caring Hearts, and Road Cleanup.

"Since then, I've wanted to help people learn more about leadership, public speaking, and soft skills. That's why I deliver workshops through the Student Success Centre," he says.

"I'm also grateful to Ingenuity—Lakehead's first business incubator—for giving Enactus space for hosting workshops and to Ingenuity Manager Alyson MacKay for offering us lots of pointers and assistance."

Through Enactus, Brandon (centre) and his fellow team members Morgan Gordon (left) and Aidan Woodhouse (right), competed at the 2024 Enactus Canada National Exposition.

Brandon has designed and run interactive programs for Indigenous youth groups and university students dedicated to developing critical thinking skills, professional development, and leadership training, as well as a workshop series to help young people develop practical workplace skills.

"I'm mostly just trying to help people be the best person they can be, and I want to help shape the new generation by sharing the knowledge I've gained," he says.

Welcoming High School Students to Lakehead

In 2022, Brandon started working as a program assistant with Shad Canada as another way of giving back.

Shad is an immersive mentorship and entrepreneurship program for high school students that takes place on university campuses. It's focused on young people who want to make a difference in the fields of science, technology, engineering, the arts, and mathematics.

Shad Canada is an international nonprofit organization that inspires students to improve the world through entrepreneurial action. As Shad Lakehead's program coordinator, Brandon helped plan and execute a month-long program for high-achieving high school students that sparked innovation, creativity, and teamwork.

"I love being able to teach the amazing students going into Grade 11 and 12 who come to the program for the month of July," says Brandon, who recently became the program coordinator for Shad Lakehead.

For 'Pitch Day!', he matched entrepreneurial students with business mentors who could help them develop their ideas and pitch them to a panel of judges.

"I've gotten messages from past students who are now in university about how the Shad program affected them and helped them grow," he says.

Forging a Future for All

In 2023, Brandon won the Founder's Bursary presented by the John Dobson Foundation for his superior leadership with Enactus. He also received the Enactus Canada Gold Community Service Leadership Award.

Lakehead's Enactus Team was a runner-up in the TD Entrepreneurship Challenge for their project involving soft skills, entrepreneurship, and mental health.

"Being recognized shows me that other people are seeing the impact we're having, and I'm hoping it inspires them to do this type of work as well," he says.

Brandon wants young people to dream big. He's even started his own business, Garant Enterprises, to teach them soft skills and entrepreneurship.

"They're our new generation of leaders and entrepreneurs, so helping them become their best selves is so fulfilling."