Past Awards and Grants

Lakehead Leadership Award and Lakehead Luminary Award 2020

In 2020, a record number of students were awarded the Lakehead Leader Award in the sustainability category, a program run by the Student Success Centre. Congratulations to all of you!

Sustainability is collective work, and students have historically been on the frontlines of sustainable change. Thank you for your dedication. We are humbled by your leadership. 

You can read their full profiles on the Student Success Centre website: lakeheadu.ca/leader

Shadiya Aidid, Master of Health Sciences, Thunder Bay

Shadiya is currently researching how to make the environmental justice movement and climate change activism more accessible to marginalized communities who are disproportionately affected by climate change. Shadiya was recently the LUSU Sustainability Initiative Coordinator. She is also a member of Fossil Free Lakehead, and has been a member of the Lakehead University Sustainability Stewardship Council and Sustainability Executive Advisory Committee for the past two years. ⁣

⁣When asked why she is passionate about sustainability, she said:⁣ “As an inhabitant of this planet, I believe that it is my responsibility to do my part in seeking climate justice by community organizing, and educating others through my research and my art. It’s essential that we frame climate change, not as a problem of the future, but one that is having an immediate and disproportionate impact on our most marginalized communities. We must encourage sustainability in our homes and on the streets, empowering one another to critically analyze what we are complacent in, and where we can put our energy in making our future sustainable and equitable for all.”⁣

Shayla Auld, Natural Resource Management, Thunder Bay 

Shayla is in the final year of her undergraduate degree in Natural Resource Management. She devoted her honours thesis to analyzing the awareness and behaviour of Lakehead University students regarding plastic usage. This information will be useful to the Office of Sustainability’s waste-related planning. She has also constructed a business plan to implement an affordably priced Green Store Co-op on campus.⁣⁣

Shayla works part-time at the not-for-profit organization, Youth Fusion, to help reduce the school dropout rates of at-risk youth.⁣⁣

When asked why she is passionate about sustainability, she said:⁣⁣

⁣“As the only extant human species on Planet Earth, I believe that it is our utmost responsibility to prioritize sustainability, while encouraging others to follow suit. For this reason, among others, it is my passion to educate the public about the consequences of the climate and plastic crises and what we can accomplish by taking action right here at Lakehead University.”⁣⁣

Rachel Portinga, PhD in Health Sciences, Thunder Bay 

Rachel taught Environmental Science for the last five years in her previous workplace and acted as Faculty Advisor to the student-run Sustainability Club. She has volunteered for Lakehead’s Office of Sustainability, and is a member of Fossil Free Lakehead. She is also the Network Coordinator for the Lake Superior Living Labs Network. In that role she helps connect diverse people working on socially-just sustainability projects across the Lake Superior watershed. ⁣

⁣When asked why she is passionate about sustainability, she said: ⁣

⁣“I have a personal goal to positively influence the affairs of the world—and ecological and social sustainability is how I work towards that goal. Ecological and social sustainability provide a framework that can guide our decisions towards a healthier world, but it will not matter if enough people haven’t heard of sustainability or don’t understand it. So my passion comes from a deep place of educating others about sustainability concepts, why it is necessary, and how to tangibly work towards sustainability goals. I try to help others visualize a sustainable future and take steps to make it a reality.”⁣

Sanjana Sharma, Computer Science, Thunder Bay

Sanjana is pursuing her undergraduate degree in Computer Science. She has played a primary role in establishing the Lakehead University Meal Exchange Chapter, which promotes food produced on local farms, and advocates for equitable and sustainable communities through student-run initiatives. In this work, Sanjana aims to ensure access to ‘good food for all’ at Lakehead. She also sits on the current Board of Directors for LUSU. ⁣

⁣When asked why she is passionate about sustainability, she said: ⁣

⁣“I have found myself focusing more on reducing my carbon footprint lately because I believe that the planet that has given us life deserves better than the degradation it has had to endure for all these years. It is everyone’s responsibility to not hurt the environment for personal gain or sheer lack of awareness, and one of the best ways to do so is through sustainability—consume less, (re)use more!⁣

⁣This personal endeavor of mine is turning into a professional project as I continue to align my values with those of Meal Exchange’s, and I can’t wait to explore more ways to bring sustainable, equitable, and accessible food to our campus!” ⁣

Courtney Strutt, Master of Education, Thunder Bay

Courtney’s thesis is focused on how community activists can address the crisis of values behind climate change-related solidarity work between Indigenous People and settlers. She has also supported curriculum development for the Climate Change Pedagogy course and is a member of the student group Fossil Free Lakehead. Courtney is a member of EarthCare’s Climate Adaptation Working Group and played a key role in prompting the Thunder Bay City Council to declare a climate emergency. ⁣⁣

⁣When asked why she is passionate about sustainability, she said: 

 “As living beings, we are undeniably interconnected with the world around us. While in many ways modern capitalist culture has tried to convince us otherwise, I am committed to learning more about the beauty and complexity of the places that hold me. I am passionate about sustainability work and activism because to me, engaging in sustainable actions reflects this curiosity, as well as the care and responsibility I must assume as a human being on this earth.” ⁣

Jacob Kearey-Moreland, Master of Education, Orillia 

Jacob’s work and support with the Farm Club and its activities at the Orillia campus express his drive to lead the development of innovative solutions that tackle complex problems. 

 In his dedication to food security, Jacob recently wrote a piece for the Argus about a collective food commons, which sparked initiative toward creative and collective solutions in his readers. Furthermore, he has produced local, organic Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) food boxes for a number of years and provides his community with an abundance of fresh food weekly. 

Lakehead Leadership Award and Lakehead Luminary Award 2019

Congratulations to Erin Knight, left, who won the Lakehead Leader Award for her demonstrated exemplary achievement in the category of "sustainability." 

Erin is a member of the Engagement and Operations working groups for the Office of Sustainability, a Research Assistant for LUSU Sustainability, and is assisting with the organization of upcoming Natural Resources Student Society fundraising event through partnership with EcoSuperior (with support from LUSU SI) to promote awareness of single-use plastic by selling stainless steel straws/spork kits.

Lakehead Leadership Award and Lakehead Luminary Award 2018

Congratulations to MEd Candidate Mallory Vanier, right, who won the Lakehead Leader Award for her demonstrated exemplary achievement in the category of "sustainability." Congratulations are also in order for MHSc Specialization Epidemiology Candidate Charlotte McEwen, left, who won the Lakehead Luminary Award due to her demonstrated exceptional leadership in more than one of the award category areas, one of which included "sustainability." Charlotte is the Sustainability Initiative Coordinator for the LUSU Sustainability Initiative. Congrats to both of you on your outstanding contributions! Our University Sustainability Coordinator is pictured in the middle. Photo credit: Dee Shin