Million-dollar County of Simcoe gift celebrated with Lakehead Orillia students
Pictured (from left) Lakehead Orillia student Cody Avery, Lakehead Orillia Principal Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans, Lakehead University Interim President and Vice-Chancellor Dr. Moira McPherson, County of Simcoe Warden Gerry Marshall, Mayor Basil Clarke from the Township of Ramara, and Mayor Mike Burkett from the Township of Severn.
April 11, 2018 – Orillia, ON
Lakehead University was presented with a $1-million cheque by County of Simcoe Warden Gerry Marshall on April 11 during a special celebration event at Lakehead’s Orillia campus.
Students, staff and faculty gathered in the Orsi Family Learning Commons to celebrate the County of Simcoe’s most recent gift to Lakehead: bringing the total amount of their contributions to approximately $8.5 million since 2009.
“The County of Simcoe has been extremely supportive of our Lakehead Orillia campus since its inception in 2006,” said Interim President and Vice-Chancellor, Dr. Moira McPherson. “These contributions have supported the growth of teaching, community service and research activities on campus, which can be seen through the successes of our students.”
“Our Council continues to step up and invest in expanding our local post-secondary education capacity,” said Warden Gerry Marshall. “This investment supports our economy, fuels our labour market and provides our students with a more affordable local opportunity to obtain a world-class education.”
Fourth-year criminology student Cody Avery also thanked the County for its support on behalf of the student body.
“Lakehead University has allowed me to learn beyond the conventional classroom setting, that is not just academic centered, but goes beyond into community building and experiential learning,” said Avery. “Here, I have found my community and my chosen family.”
During the morning of celebration, Lakehead Orillia Principal Dr. Dean Jobin-Bevans discussed the future growth of the Orillia campus. “Student engagement plays an integral role in the future of this campus and ensuring that they have an exceptional experience at Lakehead is our motivation,” Jobin-Bevans said during the event.
“Investing in our campus to better meet needs of our current and prospective students will reap positive benefits as it impacts future enrollment and further economic development for the region.”
Following the cheque presentation, councillors and students had the opportunity to interact and speak about their university experience in Simcoe County.
- 30 –
Media contact: Jaclyn Bucik, Marketing & Communications Associate, 705-330-4008 ext. 2014, or jbucik@lakeheadu.ca
Lakehead University has approximately 9,700 full-time equivalent students and 2,000 faculty and staff in 10 faculties at two campuses in Orillia and Thunder Bay, Ontario. Lakehead is a fully comprehensive university: home to Ontario’s newest Faculty of Law in 44 years, the Northern Ontario School of Medicine, and faculties of Engineering, Business Administration, Health & Behavioural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, Science & Environmental Studies, Natural Resources Management, Education, and Graduate Studies. Maclean’s 2018 University Rankings place Lakehead University among Canada's Top 10 primarily undergraduate universities, as well as first in Total Research Dollars, second for Citations, and third for Scholarships and Bursaries. In 2017, Research Infosource named Lakehead Research University of the Year in its category for the third consecutive year. Visit www.lakeheadu.ca.
